Chapter 26

As she walked down the road, Yuxinting felt gloomy. Yang Jingxing said, "Give me Geng Xidong's phone number, I'll call him."

"Ah..." Yuxinting hesitated a bit, "You two don't know each other well yet."

Yang Jingxing said, "That's why it's easier to talk."

After the call was connected, Yang Jingxing shouted loudly, "Geng Xidong, where are you... Is your signal bad... We're waiting for you to have hot pot... Can you hear me... Yuxinting did well today, we want to celebrate... Come quickly, we're waiting for you... If you don't come, I won't have anything to eat, help me out."

Yuxinting, hearing this, became anxious, "You're making things up!"

Yang Jingxing said, "If he doesn't come, he's not a good friend, we won't talk to him anymore!"

Yuxinting was not optimistic, "He said he's already eaten!"

Yang Jingxing said, "He didn't even invite you to eat, how can he still have the mood to eat!"

Yuxinting giggled, then jumped up and straightened her body in protest, "You're making things up."

The two waited for Geng Xidong at the entrance of the hot pot restaurant. Yuxinting spun around with her left foot as the pivot, and suddenly said, "Lend me 200 yuan, I'll pay you back tomorrow."

Yang Jingxing asked, "What for?"

Yuxinting said, "I'm afraid there won't be enough money... I don't dare to carry money, I can't control myself."

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll treat you."

"That's not right..." Yuxinting stared at him.

Yang Jingxing said, "If you don't want to eat, and Geng Xidong doesn't like it, I'm the only one who wants to eat, so of course I'll treat you."

Yuxinting asked, "Do you like hot pot?"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Yes, and we don't have it in my hometown, so I have to eat it before I go back."

Yuxinting was happy, "The crispy meat here is very authentic, not worse than what my mom makes... Let's split it, Geng Xidong probably won't eat much."

Yang Jingxing said, "If we split it by how much we eat, you'd get at most one-fifth."

Yuxinting giggled, "Are you rich, your family is rich!"

Yang Jingxing nodded seriously, "Yes, I'm rich!"

Yuxinting was delighted, "Thank you then."

After waiting for about ten minutes, Yuxinting was getting impatient and looked at the bustling hot pot restaurant hall many times.

Yang Jingxing, with his keen eyesight, said, "He's coming, he's coming."

Geng Xidong appeared, expressionless.

Yuxinting smiled brightly, "Hurry up, I'm hungry."

Yuxinting forgot the purpose of the meal, and once inside, she started looking at the menu, "Can you eat spicy... Let's get a mixed pot... I'll order a plate of crispy meat... fried tofu..."

Yang Jingxing asked Geng Xidong, "Do you want to drink? Beer?"

Geng Xidong glanced at Yang Jingxing and shook his head.

Yang Jingxing said, "I saw Yuxinting practicing the piano yesterday, and I thought she looked a lot like one of Professor Li's female students, so I took her to Professor Li to have a look."

Yuxinting, finding a moment, nodded at Geng Xidong, "Yes, I was so nervous at the time."

Geng Xidong smiled.

Yuxinting ordered a lot of dishes, and Yang Jingxing added a few more. As soon as the dishes arrived, Yuxinting started busy, one chopstick in one hand and a spoon in the other, taking sips of cola when she had a moment, not even inviting Yang Jingxing and Geng Xidong, and sighing to herself, "So delicious, I've been eating rice bowls for two months, what a bliss!"

Yang Jingxing and Geng Xidong chatted, "Do you like it?"

Geng Xidong, who ate quite elegantly, politely said he could get used to it.

Yuxinting actually couldn't eat much, her exaggerated appearance was not very efficient, and once she was full, she called out, "So full, so full." But seeing Yang Jingxing still eating with relish, she rested for a while, then fished in the pot again, and called out again, "So full, so full."

Around seven o'clock, Yang Jingxing's phone rang, it was Tao Meng, which was quite rare. Yang Jingxing answered, "Hello, class monitor, what's up?"

Tao Meng took a while to respond, "Why are you so noisy, are you busy now?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Not busy, what's up?"

"Have you received your grades?"

"Received them."

Tao Meng praised, "You did well this time."

Yang Jingxing asked, "How about you?"

Tao Meng, somewhat wary, said, "What are you trying to say?"

Yang Jingxing quickly explained, "I haven't gone home yet, I heard the grades from my family."

"Oh, I got 130 in Chinese, 121 in Math, 149 in English, 120 in Physics, and 24 in the comprehensive test," Tao Meng reported one by one, "Do you want to know anyone else's?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I knew you were showing off. What place?"

"Fifth in the grade, sixteenth overall," Tao Meng said with a hint of pride, "Why haven't you gone home yet? Where are you?"

"Still in Puhai preparing for exams, it's tough. Have a good New Year."

"Oh. I just arrived in Hainan, accompanying my grandmother to relax... How are you preparing for your exams? It's so noisy!" Tao Meng didn't forget her class monitor duties even on holiday.

"I'm eating right now."

"Oh... Good luck, prepare well." Tao Meng encouraged him with a good mood.

Yang Jingxing, suspicious, said, "Who are you? You sound just like Tao Meng!"

After a few seconds, Tao Meng's angry voice came through, "You'll know who I am when I hang up."

Yang Jingxing grinned, "Have fun. You can wear a swimsuit now, right?"

Tao Meng confirmed she was indeed Tao Meng.

Yuxinting, being nosy, asked Yang Jingxing, "Classmate?"

Yang Jingxing nodded.

"She cares about you!" Yuxinting retaliated, unable to resist picking up a slice of lamb and putting it in the pot.

Yang Jingxing smiled bitterly.

After Yang Jingxing paid the bill, Yuxinting thanked him again. As they went out, Yang Jingxing said, "I'm going back to the hotel, I won't see you off."

Yuxinting, doing some stretches, said, "We can walk back with our eyes closed in this area."

Yang Jingxing waited for a taxi, and Yuxinting came over, "Leave a phone number."

So the two exchanged numbers.

The next noon, the three of them had lunch together again. Yuxinting looked at the egg fried rice on the plate with disappointment, "I thought I wouldn't want hot pot for a long time, but I only managed one night... I haven't had enough lamb!"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Don't hate me, I ate it because you couldn't finish it."

Yuxinting's eyebrows and eyes squeezed together, seemingly making a vow to the sky, "When I have money in the future, I'll open a hot pot restaurant, and a cake shop... and sell cold drinks on the side."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Not a clothing store?"

Yuxinting nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, that too!"

On the afternoon of the 20th, it snowed in Puhai, a mix of rain and snow. At the entrance of the music college, Yuxinting was wearing a black and red plaid coat and black pants, holding a blue umbrella, trying to cover Yang Jingxing's shoulders as much as possible.

Yang Jingxing said, "Go back quickly, your nose is red from the cold."

Yuxinting looked to see if any taxis were coming, "Have a safe trip."

Yang Jingxing nodded, "You and Geng Xidong have a good New Year."

Yuxinting smiled, "There's only a month left, let's work hard."

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll still be your classmate."

"Of course you're confident... But so am I!" Yuxinting shook hands with Yang Jingxing.

On the afternoon of the 21st, Yang Jingxing arrived home. It was already the 22nd of the lunar month, and the streets were already filled with the atmosphere of the New Year. The first thing Yang Jingxing did after entering the house was to go up to the fourth floor to play the piano for Xiao Shuxia. Yang Chengyi had been busy these days, so he didn't have the pleasure of listening.

Xiao Shuxia said it took a lot of effort to get the 400-500 pound piano up to the fourth floor. The movers couldn't do it, so Yang Chengyi had to call his own workers and use a crane, working all afternoon.

Xiao Shuxia wanted to hear Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. In fact, she enjoyed watching her son play the piano more than listening to the music, and after he finished, she even pulled on Yang Jingxing's ear, a unique way of applauding.

Perhaps realizing Yang Jingxing's extraordinary talent, Xiao Shuxia suddenly said, "When you get to university, you can have a girlfriend, but she must be a cultured and refined girl! Choose carefully, take your time."

Around three or four o'clock, friends gathered at Yang Jingxing's house. Lu Lin and Xu Wei arrived first, and the group waited for Du Ling and Zhang Yang for five minutes downstairs. Zhang Yang scolded Du Ling for being lazy and making him take a taxi to her house, which was outrageous.

The five of them rushed upstairs, Du Ling's heels clattered on the stairs, "Wait for me, Yang Xing!"

Zhang Yang squatted in front of the piano, dramatically stroking the lid with his hands, looking intoxicated.

Du Ling tapped a few keys and called, "Move, move. Yang Xing, play a song."

Yang Jingxing sat at the piano, but before he started, his friends burst into exaggerated laughter.

Yang Jingxing, hurt and angry, said, "I'll change careers and become a comedian."

Xu Wei stopped laughing and sighed, "The contrast is really big."

Zhang Yang clenched his fists, "I'm laughing because I'm scared."

Lu Lin said, "Play something by BEYOND."

Zhang Yang scolded, "Your taste is so low, I want to hear classical, Chopin!"

Yang Jingxing really prepared a song for his friends, "Boundless Sky," which he arranged himself, carefully recreating the original song's surging and powerful feeling.

The four-minute song had a strong rhythm and melody in the second half, and the friends stopped laughing, listening intently.

After Yang Jingxing finished, Du Ling clapped twice and asked Lu Lin, "It's good, right?"

Men wouldn't be so sappy. Xu Wei asked, "No problem with the exam?"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Should be fine."

Zhang Yang got excited, "Brothers, let's go to Puhai, the beauties at the music college are waiting for us!"

Du Ling shot back, "What's it got to do with you!?"

Zhang Yang sneered, "My best brother is an insider, a mole, what do you think!"

Du Ling asked Yang Jingxing, "There aren't many beauties at the music college, right? Not like the film school."

Lu Lin chuckled, "Compared to you, not many."

Du Ling got the hint and said, "Yang Xing, play another one, 'Later.'"

She thought it was something he could just play.

But Yang Jingxing tried, just a simple melody with a few chords, like a phone ringtone.

Seeing Du Ling's expression, she seemed easily satisfied. But before Yang Jingxing finished, Zhang Yang couldn't stand it anymore, took over, and started playing randomly.

The friends all played around. Du Ling said she wanted to learn the piano in college, but was discouraged by Zhang Yang.

Xiao Shuxia came upstairs and scolded the kids, "You're not supposed to play the piano like this... Dinner is ready, go eat."

Yang Jingxing stood up and greeted the person behind Xiao Shuxia, "Aunt Zhou, you're here."

Aunt Zhou, whose name was Zhou Qiujie, was in her forties and a regular part-time worker for the Yang family. She would come to help Xiao Shuxia during holidays, birthdays, or when the house needed a deep clean. She had been doing this for many years. She was skilled at cooking and housework, and knew Yang Jingxing's food preferences as well as Xiao Shuxia did.

Zhou Qiujie looked at Yang Jingxing with the same fond smile as before, "You've worked hard studying, Aunt will make you braised pork, I bought good five-flavored pork today."

Yang Jingxing was happy, "Thank you."

Xiao Shuxia asked, "Taller than last year?"

Zhou Qiujie nodded, "You've grown, and you'll grow more." Then she said to Yang Jingxing, "Find a music student girlfriend at the music college, the prettiest one, your mother will approve."

Yang Jingxing was speechless, "She doesn't care if others approve of me!"

Zhou Qiujie glared, "Who wouldn't approve! When you get married, I'll come to cook for you."

This was getting off-topic, so Xiao Shuxia quickly said, "No marriage before 28. Let's go cook, they'll be hungry soon."

Du Ling sarcastically said to Yang Jingxing, "You really are your mother's treasure!"

Yang Chengyi also came back for dinner, in a good mood, and asked the boys where they planned to go that night, offering to drive them. They were going to sing, of course.

They didn't disperse until midnight after having a late-night snack, and got home around one in the morning. Yang Jingxing didn't play the piano, to avoid disturbing his parents' sleep.

The next noon, Yang Jingxing met Liu Miao and Xia Xue. The two girls did well on their final exams, so they were all smiles.

Since Xiao Shuxia was still at home, the two girls decided to wait a couple of days before the concert. Next week, Xiao Shuxia and Yang Chengyi would definitely go to Quhang to buy New Year's goods, and then they would be free.

Today, they would just watch movies at Liu Miao's house. Liu Miao had downloaded several movies about the piano, and as they watched, she asked Yang Jingxing to explain. What's the name of this piece? Why is this one not good at all? Is this one very difficult?

Is the famous "Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3" really that terrifying? Will Yang Jingxing challenge it in the future? Can Yang Jingxing write songs now? What is composing all about? Does it take many years to learn? Does Yang Jingxing have inspiration?

Liu Miao said, "If you go on a trip to find inspiration in the future, you have to bring us."

Xia Xue said, "I think inspiration comes from constant thinking, constant thinking."

Liu Miao remembered, "Right, the birthday song you played for Xia Xue last time was different, you said you would explain."

So Yang Jingxing explained what a variation is and its significance.

The two girls listened attentively, and Liu Miao quickly understood, "You're biased!"

Yang Jingxing admitted, "Yes, I didn't even call Du Ling on her birthday."

Liu Miao huffed, "I want to hear the variation too."

Xia Xue said, "Actually, the original is better."

Yang Jingxing hung his head, "Can't please both sides!"

The two girls laughed.

Yang Jingxing went home for dinner, and Xiao Shuxia guessed, "Did you go see Liu Miao and the others?"

Yang Chengyi saved his son, "We're going to Quhang on Tuesday and coming back on Thursday. We'll bring Grandpa and Grandma to celebrate the New Year this year."

Xiao Shuxia ordered her son, "Go with us, there's a lot to move."

Yang Jingxing was filial, "I won't go."

Xiao Shuxia threatened, "You dare!"

Yang Chengyi said, "I won't go either, I'll have more space for my things."

Xiao Shuxia added, "Don't bring Liu Miao and the others to the house," even though she knew Yang Jingxing wouldn't listen.

Yang Chengyi said to his son, "You've known each other since you were little, after so many years of friendship, no matter what happens in the future, you should cherish this friendship, for Zhang Yang and the others too."

Yang Jingxing laughed.

Xiao Shuxia was angry, "What are you laughing at?"

On Tuesday morning, Yang Chengyi and Xiao Shuxia left at around eight. Liu Miao, who had been keeping track of the situation via text, knew the news and came to Yang Jingxing's house with Xia Xue at nine.

On the third floor, the two girls were still being careful, but once they reached the fourth floor, they relaxed, closed the door