Chapter 35

As the sweltering July arrived, Liu Miao and Xia Xue also had their summer break. Yang Jingxing invited the two girls to his home for a concert and gave them the review materials he had organized for the senior high school entrance exam, hoping it would be helpful.

Among their friends, Yang Jingxing was the first to receive the admission notice, which arrived on July 7th. It was a large envelope from the Puhai Conservatory of Music, which delighted Xiao Shuxia and Yang Chengyi. Yang Jingxing had to call each of his teachers to report the good news and express his gratitude.

On the afternoon of July 8th, the friends gathered again, and Yang Jingxing brought Liu Miao and Xia Xue along.

After seating themselves in a private room at Xiaodongting, Lu Lin couldn't stand Yang Jingxing: "What's with this left and right? Don't want to drink?"

Du Ling chimed in: "We should have two tables."

Xia Xue stood up and sat to Liu Miao's right. Du Ling immediately moved to Yang Jingxing's left, volunteering: "I'll go first!" It seemed she was preparing for a relay.

Zhang Yang ordered a box of beer, and Yang Jingxing added: "Juice, a box of apples, and a box of kiwis."

Xia Xue said: "One bottle is enough, just the kiwis."

Zhang Yang slammed the table: "No way! No soft drinks allowed."

Yang Jingxing said: "It's not for you."

Du Ling scratched Yang Jingxing's arm in frustration: "You're ruining the atmosphere!"

After the food and drinks started, Yang Jingxing quickly became the target, with Du Ling holding a full glass of beer: "Musician, cheers!"

Yang Jingxing clinked glasses with Du Ling and asked the server to place the fish soup in front of Xia Xue and Liu Miao, with Liu Miao naturally serving Yang Jingxing a bowl first.

Du Ling asked Yang Jingxing: "Liu Miao is so gentle?"

Liu Miao glanced at Du Ling and ignored her. Yang Jingxing said: "Serve a bowl for each of the older siblings."

Zhang Yang and the others passed over their bowls, and Xia Xue hurried to help.

After a while, Zhang Yang chased Du Ling away. Du Ling sat to Xia Xue's right and talked to her. After finishing twelve bottles of beer, they clearly weren't satisfied and wanted more.

Liu Miao advised Yang Jingxing: "Don't drink anymore!"

Du Ling, who initially said to get six more bottles, changed her mind: "Let's get another box!"

Liu Miao was unhappy: "You drink yourselves."

Lu Lin was annoyed: "We didn't ask you to drink."

Yang Jingxing persuaded Liu Miao: "Don't say that, or they'll be even more jealous of me, and I won't be able to leave today."

Zhang Yang was angry: "I'm jealous of you! What am I jealous of?"

Du Ling said: "Definitely jealous of your good relationship with your sisters."

Lu Lin asked: "You only know it's a good relationship."

Du Ling said: "Yang Xing even said he would find good husbands for the two sisters in the future."

Yang Jingxing said: "If you feel drunk, don't drink anymore."

Xu Wei also said: "Don't talk about this anymore."

Later, Lu Lin wanted to make Xia Xue and Liu Miao drink two more glasses, but the two girls refused. However, the friends wouldn't let them off, so Yang Jingxing had to do it himself, toasting himself and drinking four glasses in a row.

Lu Lin moved a chair between Liu Miao and Xia Xue, leaning forward with his chin on the backrest, and said drunkenly: "He treats you better than us brothers; he's never helped me drink."

Xu Wei said: "He's been good to them since they were young."

Du Ling said: "His mom even said she wanted to give him a sister."

"Is that all you know?"

"Of course I know!"

After drinking, it was already around seven or eight o'clock. Lu Lin and the others were all over the place, and Du Ling was leaning on Yang Jingxing's arm.

The next plan was to go singing. Xu Wei asked: "Xia Xue, are you coming?"

Xia Xue and Liu Miao looked at each other, then at Yang Jingxing. Yang Jingxing asked: "Do you want to go home?"

Lu Lin said: "Of course, we're all together, the celebration isn't over yet."

During the singing, they couldn't drink much. With three girls present, the boys were just spectators. Liu Miao sang very well and was famous in the school, so she was quite active. Xia Xue sang with Yang Jingxing, not as outstanding but not bad. Du Ling and Xia Xue were at a similar level.

Everyone sang duets with the future musician. Lu Lin even played a female role, singing "My Heart Is Clear" with Yang Jingxing, which made Liu Miao laugh.

By the time they dispersed, it was already around ten o'clock. Yang Jingxing sent Liu Miao and Xia Xue home. Liu Miao suddenly asked: "When did you tell Du Ling you would help us find husbands?"

Yang Jingxing chuckled: "Just kidding, it's free love now; you have to choose for yourselves."

"Why did you say that to her!?" Liu Miao was unhappy.

Yang Jingxing said: "I was boasting; you're beautiful and sensible."

Xia Xue didn't believe it: "That's not it."

Yang Jingxing asked: "Don't you have confidence? You're about to be in senior high school, then college; no need to be shy."

Liu Miao asked: "Then shouldn't you find a good girlfriend first?"

Yang Jingxing said: "I'm a man, I'm not in a hurry."

"But we are!"

"Not in a hurry, not in a hurry." Yang Jingxing tried to appease them: "Want some ice cream?"

The two girls ate the ice cream but weren't bribed. Liu Miao said: "Unless you can find someone as good to us as you are."

Yang Jingxing laughed: "Can't you aim higher?"

"That's as high as I can go."

Yang Jingxing tried to win over Xia Xue: "Xue Xue, you should have aspirations."

Xia Xue looked gloomy: "I don't."

Yang Jingxing felt flattered and said happily: "Okay, I'll buy you two more."

"No thanks!"

Liu Miao suddenly asked: "If we really had boyfriends, would you be jealous?"

Xia Xue was startled, but Yang Jingxing was calm: "I would be a bit, but I would bless you and not let you be bullied."

Liu Miao asked: "If my boyfriend knew about you, would he be jealous?"

Yang Jingxing said: "He shouldn't be, as long as you explain clearly."

"Ha, right!"

Yang Jingxing asked Xia Xue: "Why aren't you talking? Are you thinking about how to explain?"

Xia Xue shook her head: "No, I think everyone has their own opinion, and it doesn't matter how you explain."

Yang Jingxing suggested: "Then find a generous boyfriend. If he's petty, just don't tell him about me."

Liu Miao was dismissive: "So what if I tell him! You're our brother!"

Yang Jingxing chuckled: "I feel a bit guilty."

The two girls laughed.

Yang Jingxing turned the tables: "It's not my fault! Who made you so beautiful? If my future girlfriend isn't as cute as you, I'll be in trouble; women are so petty and jealous."

Liu Miao pulled Xia Xue's hand: "We never get jealous."

Yang Jingxing nodded: "That's true. When I was young, I only had a little pocket money, and I always bought things in pairs. Otherwise, you would have become jealous girls."

Liu Miao was angry: "Was that jealousy when we were young?"

Xia Xue said: "I think it's similar. Parents should treat their children equally, or someone will be unhappy."

Liu Miao disagreed: "That's different."

On the afternoon of the 14th, Yang Jingxing went with his parents to Quhang to buy a car. Yang Chengyi still preferred Audi, but visiting the dealership was disappointing. His A4 was imported, but the new domestic models were much cheaper, and the new A4 had been on the market for a year, making the old model even less valuable.

Since his father worked hard to earn money, Yang Jingxing said he was happy to drive the old car, practically begging to drive it.

Yang Chengyi asked: "Is it the same for you to drive anything except a Ferrari?"

Yang Jingxing laughed: "Yes, yes."

After two days of looking, the final decision was for Yang Chengyi to buy a new A6 and give the A4 to Yang Jingxing. The A4 was in excellent condition, almost new. Besides, as a student, he didn't need such high standards.

Feeling a bit embarrassed about giving his son a used car, Yang Chengyi asked Yang Jingxing to rent a good apartment or house near the school before the semester started, for a more comfortable stay. Ideally, one where he wouldn't have to clean or do laundry.

On the afternoon of the 18th, Yang Jingxing received a call from Tao Meng: "I just got home and saw your message. Congratulations."

Yang Jingxing asked: "Did you have fun?"

Tao Meng said: "Not really, just went to Banff National Park, and my mom was happy. Are you partying again?"

Yang Jingxing found a quiet spot and said: "Okay, now we can talk in private."

Tao Meng was angry: "Who has anything to talk about? You just party every day, wasting so much time."

Yang Jingxing didn't listen: "You just got back from a trip and are criticizing me."

"I do a lot more! Isn't it boring to party every day?"

Yang Jingxing said: "You won't have time to play later, so you should seize the moment."

Tao Meng earnestly: "A little relaxation is fine, but you need a reasonable plan."

Yang Jingxing argued: "Plans can't keep up with changes. After your call, I decided to celebrate for a few more days."

Tao Meng laughed angrily: "You're just making excuses... I won't call you anymore!"

Yang Jingxing pleaded: "No, no, I'll change my mind and practice the piano for two more hours tonight."

Tao Meng said: "I got accepted, but the notice hasn't arrived yet."

Yang Jingxing said: "Then I'll celebrate for a few more days."

Tao Meng lectured: "Be serious! Shouldn't friends encourage each other to improve? You just say silly things!"

Yang Jingxing said: "Don't look down on my friends; there are those from Zhejiang University, East China Normal University, Southeast University... and Fudan University!"

Tao Meng chuckled: "East China Normal University is close. Will you still party every day in college?"

Yang Jingxing said: "She's beautiful, so she probably won't have time to party with me."

Tao Meng asked: "Is that so? How beautiful?"

Yang Jingxing said: "I dare to call her beautiful in front of you; you can imagine."

Tao Meng said: "I heard the music college has few courses, so it's quite relaxed if you want to play."

Yang Jingxing said: "We'll improve together, improve together."

Tao Meng added: "There's still over a month before school starts. You should plan your college life, with long-term and short-term goals. Maintain the passion you had in senior high school."

Yang Jingxing worried: "I want to, but I don't know if I can find a beautiful seatmate."

Tao Meng was angry: "Why do you only think about beautiful girls? You won't live without them!"

Yang Jingxing complained: "It's all your fault, making me taste the sweetness."

Tao Meng said: "Then find a beautiful seatmate!"

Yang Jingxing quickly asked: "What's your plan? Graduate school? Abroad? Or work?"

Tao Meng said: "Finish my bachelor's, go abroad for a master's, and then work in China. What about you?"

Yang Jingxing said: "My future is more uncertain..."

"At least have a direction to strive for, regardless of the outcome?"

Yang Jingxing asked: "Where will you go for your master's?"

"America... What's wrong with that?"

Yang Jingxing said: "Great, I hope I can invite you to the Lincoln Center or Carnegie Hall to see my performance."

Tao Meng was skeptical: "Are you serious?"

"Serious."

"Okay, let's work hard together!"

After hanging up, Yang Jingxing, with dreams of Carnegie Hall, continued to fool around with Lu Lin and the others.

After the 20th, the friends gradually received their admission notices, leading to a series of celebrations. Xu Wei was the first, and when he treated everyone, he asked Yang Jingxing to bring Liu Miao and Xia Xue, which made Lu Lin and Zhang Yang follow suit. Du Ling couldn't be left out.

Lu Lin said: "We're all at a loss; he always brings his family."

On the day Tao Meng received her notice, she called Yang Jingxing again, quite happy. She said she was about to get her driver's license, finish a large oil painting, and practice a new piano piece. In short, she was living a much more fulfilling life than Yang Jingxing.

As August arrived, time passed even faster. College life was approaching, and the friends were excited rather than sad about parting. Besides, they were all close, so it wasn't far to gather.

Liu Miao and Xia Xue started school in mid-August, entering their senior year. They were so encouraged by Yang Jingxing that they were annoyed, saying they had followed him since they were young and didn't know what tension was, so there was no problem. They agreed to call and play the piano every weekend.

Xia Xue was a bit embarrassed: "If you have a girlfriend, you won't have time."

Liu Miao threatened: "If you dare to have a girlfriend, I'll come to your school!"

Xu Wei and the others started school earlier, on September 2nd and 3rd, while the music college only reported on Teachers' Day. So Yang Jingxing first sent off Xu Wei and Lu Lin, then Zhang Yang.

Du Ling also reported on the 8th and 9th, inviting Yang Jingxing to go to Puhai together. However, Yang Chengyi didn't want the two families to go together, so he asked Yang Jingxing to decline.

On the 5th, Yang Jingxing's family drove to Quhang in two cars, first visiting his aunt. His cousin Wang Hui was much warmer to Yang Jingxing, saying she would visit the music college if she had the chance.

Xiao Shuxia boasted about how the professors praised her son, calling him a genius! She didn't care if these words would become a laughing matter later.

On the 7th, they arrived in Puhai. The first thing was to find a place to live. The real estate agent, seeing the family's seriousness, quickly recommended: "There's a very good apartment, not far if you have a car. It's just a bit big, a three-bedroom."

Xiao Shuxia strongly insisted on seeing it. It was indeed very good, over 200 square meters, ultra-luxurious, fully furnished.

Yang Chengyi was ready to leave, but Xiao Shuxia asked: "How much per month?"

"Two thousand."

"So cheap!?"

The agent was a bit embarrassed: "The landlord requires payment in US dollars."

Ah, they were still country bumpkins. The family chose a two-bedroom, simply furnished apartment in a neighborhood about a half-hour drive from the music college. Since they paid a year's rent in advance, the landlord included utilities.

Yang Chengyi asked if they should buy a piano, but Yang Jingxing said it wasn't necessary, as there were plenty at the school.

On the 8th, they went shopping for clothes for Yang Jingxing. As a music college student, he needed four suits, one tuxedo, and seven or eight pairs of shoes. Xiao Shuxia liked them more and more, saying they were much better than the school uniform.

Then they bought daily necessities like blankets and towels. Xiao Shuxia even bought her own toothbrush, saying she would visit occasionally.

On the 9th, his parents accompanied Yang Jingxing to the school for registration.

(University life is about to start, hoping for more excitement, hey)

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