Chapter 55

The place to eat wasn't far, and the group walked there. Wang Rui and Liu Siwan were quite enthusiastic towards Tao Meng, chatting with her all the way. Yang Jingxing carried the cake, walking at the back.

Qi Qingnuo asked, "Do you want me to help you carry it?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "No need."

Suddenly, Qi Qingnuo said loudly, "Hey, the girl you like is over there!"

The group turned around. Qi Qingnuo was quite helpless, "Why are you all turning around!"

Yang Jingxing was quite disdainful, "You all fell for that!"

Wang Rui scolded Qi Qingnuo, "You're so loud, even passersby are looking!"

How boring, everyone continued walking. Qi Qingnuo asked Yang Jingxing in a low voice, "Who is the most nervous?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Me!"

Qi Qingnuo giggled, took a few steps forward, and put her arm around Yu Xinting's shoulder.

After arriving, Yu Xinting asked Tao Meng, "Is this place okay?"

Tao Meng said, "It's pretty good."

The group went in and booked a large private room. Tao Meng sat next to Yu Xinting, Yang Jingxing sat to Tao Meng's right, and Qi Qingnuo caught up with Yang Jingxing, "Make up for Sunday today!"

Yang Jingxing asked Yu Xinting, "Eat first or have the cake first?"

Yu Xinting was a bit hesitant. Tao Meng said, "Eat first."

Yu Xinting then said, "I'll eat a little less, otherwise, I won't have room later."

They ordered dishes, and it felt like Tao Meng was the guest, so they let her look at the menu first. Tao Meng let Yu Xinting do it, saying, "I don't mind, I'm not picky."

The two menus went around, and they ordered about ten dishes. The girls drank fruit juice or cola. While waiting for the food and chatting, Wang Rui said Yu Xinting had double good news, celebrating her birthday and becoming the deputy leader, so they should celebrate well. Speaking of which, although Yu Xinting hadn't officially joined 306, everyone already treated her as one of them.

Liu Siwan said, "Both 402 and 306, the leaders of both groups are so nice to you, you should toast to them later!"

Yu Xinting said honestly, "Okay."

He Peiyuan said, "Deputy leader, take good care of us in the future."

Wang Rui laughed, "Me too!"

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll promote all of you to deputy leaders."

Tao Meng was interested, "Who is the leader, then?"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Me."

Tao Meng frowned, "What kind of group is it?"

Everyone chattered, explaining that 402 was a club just established by the music college's genius, Yang Jingxing, gathering a group of elite performers and composers, with a bright future.

And 306 had already achieved great success. If they collaborated with 402, they would reach new heights. Moreover, the two clubs had many connections, so the collaboration would be smooth.

He Peiyuan also called out, "I'm already tired of 306, no handsome guys, where's the passion? 402 is my new home."

Qi Qingnuo was angry, "I'll kick you out immediately, neither side will want you!"

Tao Meng asked Yang Jingxing seriously, "Aren't you a bit repetitive?"

Qi Qingnuo said, "No, his vision is broader, his ambition is greater."

Tao Meng doubted, "He's only a freshman, what qualifications does he have to be the president?"

Yu Feifei said, "It's about ability!"

Yang Jingxing explained, "Actually, I just wanted a classroom, they helped me gather people, who really treats me as the leader?"

Tao Meng asked Yang Jingxing what he needed the classroom for, and then said, "You can rent a house, why bother others?"

Wang Rui said, "What's the trouble? Save money to treat us to a meal."

Yang Jingxing said, "Alright, this meal is on me."

Yu Xinting quickly said, "No way!"

Qi Qingnuo told Tao Meng, "He just became the leader yesterday afternoon, he might not have had time to tell you."

Tao Meng said, "He must have prepared for a long time, right?"

Yu Xinting said firmly, "No, it was a last-minute notice, I didn't know before, really."

Yang Jingxing asked Tao Meng, "Are you going to congratulate me?"

Tao Meng said, "Isn't that the theme of today... Alright, congratulations!"

Yang Jingxing clasped his hands and laughed, "Thanks everyone, it's all thanks to you."

Wang Rui said, "What do we have to do with it, what did you do on Sunday?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I went to invite guests."

Tao Meng was unhappy, "I said I wanted to come, didn't I!"

Yang Jingxing said, "Still, it's all thanks to you."

Tao Meng glared at Yang Jingxing.

Yang Jingxing pleaded, "At least give me a little face, okay?"

Tao Meng quickly changed her expression and laughed at the others, "You must all hate him, he never says anything nice."

Yang Jingxing quickly used a pitiful look to gain sympathy, but Qi Qingnuo still said, "Yes, we hate him, no one cares."

Liu Siwan laughed and agreed, "We avoid him when we see him."

Wang Rui also said, "The whole music college knows, especially the girls."

The others laughed. Yang Jingxing, with a thick skin, said, "See, my resilience exceeds your imagination."

He Peiyuan revealed, "It's because we want you to have an easier time, you should thank us."

Tao Meng said, "He actually had no friends in high school."

Qi Qingnuo asked, "You weren't friends?"

Tao Meng said, "We became desk partners later, before that, we were quite distant."

Yang Jingxing interrupted, "Let's talk about high school desk partners, I'll go first. My high school desk partner was beautiful and smart, your turn." He called Qi Qingnuo.

Qi Qingnuo called Tao Meng, "You go first."

Tao Meng said, "My desk partner was very annoying!"

Yang Jingxing threatened, "I'll tell Cao Linglan."

Tao Meng directly said, "I'm talking about you."

Liu Siwan sympathized, "Yang Jingxing, you're so pitiful."

Yang Jingxing tried to please Tao Meng, "I'm complimenting you."

Everyone laughed. Tao Meng was a bit embarrassed, explaining, "We often joke around."

Yu Xinting said, "It's not that bad."

Tao Meng asked again, "What are your plans for the club's development?"

As they chatted, the dishes were almost ready, and they started eating. Of course, everyone raised their glasses first, wishing Yu Xinting a happy birthday. Tao Meng was more formal, "Wishing you academic success."

Wang Rui said, "Wishing a bunch of boys to chase you, so you can pick carefully."

Qi Qingnuo said, "Wishing 402 to flourish."

...

Yang Jingxing said, "Thanks everyone for representing me."

Yu Xinting laughed, "Thanks everyone... let's eat, I'm so hungry."

Yang Jingxing also cared about Tao Meng, "How's the taste? This fish is good, no bones."

Tao Meng nodded, "Pretty good."

Yang Jingxing reminded Yu Xinting, "Eat more, there's not much cake left."

Yu Xinting nodded.

Seeing Yang Jingxing's glass was empty, Tao Meng called, "Could you pass me the juice?"

Yang Jingxing, with his long arms, easily reached it, but Tao Meng's glass was still half full.

Tao Meng said, "Pour it for yourself... What's this dish? It's quite good."

Qi Qingnuo said, "It's made with tofu and steamed bun, and egg white. The steamed bun is soaked in water and then coated with egg white and fried, it takes skill."

Tao Meng laughed, "You're quite knowledgeable."

Qi Qingnuo said, "306 has a reputation, called the Food Club. Shao Fangjie isn't here, she's the expert."

Tao Meng laughed, "How many people are there?"

"Eleven."

"Are they all girls?"

Qi Qingnuo laughed, "They occasionally treat me as a guy."

Liu Siwan got excited, "We're all her wives, fighting over her, non-stop!"

Tao Meng laughed, then asked, "What about 402?"

Qi Qingnuo said, "Five guys, five girls, including me, six guys and four girls."

Tao Meng looked at Yang Jingxing, "You're the leader, you should achieve something, right?"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Everyone, let's work hard!"

Tao Meng glanced, "There are six of us here today, I'll toast with tea, wishing your club smooth development."

Everyone cooperated, raising their glasses. Tao Meng added, "Also wishing 306... He Peiyuan, sorry, I won't forget you play the sanxian next time."

This made everyone at the table thank Tao Meng.

Tao Meng said, "The atmosphere at the music college is a bit different from what I imagined, you all are very close."

Wang Rui said, "You only see us, last time the brass department had a fight, and they were hospitalized."

Liu Siwan said, "306 has also had a few people come and go."

Tao Meng began to doubt Yang Jingxing, "Can you handle it?"

Yang Jingxing was proud, "That's why I have two capable deputy leaders."

Tao Meng looked at Yu Xinting and Qi Qingnuo, "Trouble for you."

Yu Xinting said, "No, we haven't done anything."

Qi Qingnuo laughed, "You can be an external manager."

Tao Meng said, "I don't have time, school is quite busy."

After finishing the meal and chatting for a while, it was time for the cake. Yang Jingxing opened the box and placed it on the table, inserted nineteen candles, and lit them all, then asked everyone, "Sing the birthday song?"

Yu Xinting shook her head, "No need."

Qi Qingnuo disagreed, "Watch me show off my singing!"

Tao Meng also said, "Sing, it's quite fun."

Yang Jingxing said to Qi Qingnuo, "You lead."

Qi Qingnuo put on a serious face, puffed out her chest, and started singing. The others followed, and after a few lines, Yu Xinting's face was red with tears, not daring to look up, only staring at the cake.

Yang Jingxing led the applause, "Make a wish and blow out the candles."

After Yu Xinting blew out the candles, Yang Jingxing started cutting, giving everyone a piece, and there was plenty. Everyone said it was delicious, and nothing was wasted.

Yu Xinting said, "So many strawberries."

Yang Jingxing said, "The most are in the middle, for you."

Tao Meng praised, "It's pretty good, the mousse flavor is very authentic."

After eating the cake and checking the time, it was almost eight, time to leave. Yu Xinting paid the bill and told Yang Jingxing, "The cake box is pretty, I want to take it home."

Yang Jingxing refused, "You didn't invite your dorm mates, and there are still a few candles, keep them as a souvenir."

Yu Xinting laughed, "Okay."

The group walked back to the school, and both Qi Qingnuo and Yu Xinting invited Tao Meng to visit often. Yu Xinting also said, "They are all so talented, the last concert was so lively!"

Tao Meng said, "I'll come if I have time."

Yang Jingxing had to take Tao Meng home. Before parting, Yu Xinting thanked Tao Meng for the gift. Yang Jingxing invited Qi Qingnuo, "It's on the way, come with us?"

Qi Qingnuo said, "I'm not in a hurry, you go ahead."

In the car, Tao Meng looked at Yang Jingxing and asked, "Are you angry?"

Yang Jingxing was puzzled, "Why would I be angry?"

"You turn on the lights... I wanted to be there for you properly." Tao Meng was a bit frustrated.

Yang Jingxing said, "You did great."

Tao Meng doubted, "Are you really not angry at all?"

Yang Jingxing asked, "Did you say something embarrassing about me while I was in the bathroom?"

Tao Meng was annoyed, "I really wanted to give you face..."

Yang Jingxing said, "You've given me enough face."

Tao Meng continued, "But you didn't even tell me about forming the club!"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "It's not a big deal, just for fun."

Tao Meng loudly, "I know you're not just for fun! I feel like you don't value our friendship at all!" Yang Jingxing had already started the car, Tao Meng shouted again, "Stop, stop!"

Yang Jingxing looked at Tao Meng helplessly.

Tao Meng asked again, "Are you angry?"

Yang Jingxing was very sure, "No!"

Tao Meng was quite disappointed, "Does it mean you won't be angry no matter what I do?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Do you think I don't care because I'm not angry?"

Tao Meng was silent for a moment, then looked ahead and softly answered, "Yes."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "That's bad, I'll have to be angry at you all the time."

Tao Meng couldn't help but laugh, then became serious, "But if you talk to me like that in front of my friends, I'll be angry!"

Yang Jingxing was surprised, "Are you self-reflecting?"

Tao Meng said, "I know I didn't do well today, but I didn't want to!"

Yang Jingxing consoled, "Don't be so hard on yourself, be more relaxed, or I'll have to reflect too."

Tao Meng said, "I want to handle our relationship well, I don't want you to just tolerate me."

Yang Jingxing looked at Tao Meng, "Even if there is tolerance, it's normal, and you haven't done anything. Tao Meng, I hope you can be more relaxed and natural in your friendships, family, and future relationships. Don't try too hard to maintain them. You have the natural ability to be a good friend, you don't need to put in extra effort."

Tao Meng clearly didn't understand Yang Jingxing's meaning, coldly and disappointedly said, "Your point is that you don't want our friendship to improve, and if you get tired of me one day, you'll leave easily, right?"

Yang Jingxing countered, "What if you get tired of me? Are you going to..."

"Yes!" Tao Meng was very sure, "I'll do my best to save it! I'll find the root of the problem, change, and improve!"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "I'm glad to have you as a friend, thank you."

"Then what about you?" Tao Meng stared at Yang Jingxing fiercely.

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll cherish it and work hard with you."

After a long silence, Tao Meng said, "Drive, it's not early."

After leaving the music college, Yang Jingxing spoke first, "Not driving too fast, right?"

Tao Meng nodded.

Yang Jingxing asked again, "Do you want to turn on the air conditioning?"

"No need."

"Did you eat enough for dinner?"

"Enough!" Tao Meng was impatient.

"Am I talking too much?"

"..."

"Are you annoyed by me? Let's work hard together."

Tao Meng couldn't hold back, "You're so annoying, on purpose!"

Yang Jingxing said, "Let's practice."

Tao Meng laughed for a while, then asked, "What was the most angry moment in your life?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I haven't been that angry... When I get angry, I'm scared of myself, I don't dare to do it easily."

Tao Meng laughed, "I'm not scared!"

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