Chapter 67

Indeed, they were all hungry, but Taomeng still maintained a refined demeanor, picking up the vegetables one by one, and most of the time her gaze was on the other three people. Yuxinting focused more on the dishes, occasionally hesitating about which to attack. Qiqingnuo was more generous, and after drinking a glass of juice, she asked Yangjingxing if he wanted to have a bottle of beer. Taomeng disagreed, saying she still had to drive.

Yangjingxing said, "You can drive for me."

Taomeng refused, "I can't drive yours."

Qiqingnuo asked Taomeng, "Do you drive yourself?"

Taomeng nodded, "I drive when I go to school, but my skills are not very good."

Qiqingnuo looked at Yangjingxing, "I see your car has over 40,000 kilometers."

Yangjingxing said, "It's old, a second-hand one."

Taomeng said, "Mine has only 3,000 kilometers."

Qiqingnuo said, "I think his skills are still decent."

Taomeng nodded, "He likes cars, Ferraris."

Qiqingnuo calculated, "A song for 2,500 yuan, write a thousand and you're almost there."

Yuxinting asked, "Isn't it 5,000?"

Yangjingxing said, "She gets half, the lyricist."

Yuxinting admired, "That's amazing, what's the song called?"

Taomeng said, "Morning Glow, don't you know?"

Yuxinting shook her head, "I really want to hear it."

Yangjingxing laughed, "Come, sing one."

Taomeng still refused, "I can't, I just finished it yesterday."

Yuxinting hoped, "Maybe you'll meet Xu Cheng in the future."

Qiqingnuo said, "We met her today."

Yuxinting was surprised, "Really, is she very beautiful?"

Taomeng was blunt, "I think she's just average."

Yuxinting asked, "What did you talk about?"

Qiqingnuo chuckled, "She didn't see us."

"Why?"

Yangjingxing explained, "She's arrogant, I won't write for her even if she begs!"

Taomeng happily despised, "Who would beg you... but I think she's really average, almost didn't recognize her."

Yangjingxing agreed, "You have the right to say that."

While eating and chatting, an hour later, Yangjingxing paid the bill and then discussed the next arrangements. Taomeng was very polite, "Send them back first, I'm not in a hurry."

Qiqingnuo said, "Yuxinting and I will go back to school together, don't worry about us."

Taomeng hesitated, "That's not good."

Yangjingxing was annoyed, "Get in the car, stop being so fussy."

After arriving at the school, Taomeng said goodbye to Yuxinting and Qiqingnuo, and then asked Yangjingxing to send her home, explaining, "Dad is at home, I can't stay out too long."

On the way, Taomeng and Yangjingxing discussed his future. Selling a song was like taking the first step. However, Taomeng thought Yangjingxing should still focus on his studies, after all, the path of learning is endless.

Taomeng said, "I don't think you should aim to write pop songs to get into a music college. I feel that current pop bands don't have music that really stands out."

Yangjingxing said shamelessly, "I can change that."

Taomeng said, "What can you change alone... Will Qiqingnuo become a star in the future?"

Yangjingxing said, "I don't know."

Taomeng asked again, "What about Yuxinting? What will she do after graduation?"

Yangjingxing said, "I don't know either."

Taomeng said, "It feels a bit blind, without a long-term plan for life."

Yangjingxing said, "If life is all planned out, isn't it too boring?"

Taomeng said, "Life is made up of small moments, but the big direction should be clear, with a purpose... Have you discussed this with your parents?"

Yangjingxing said, "I like to take it one step at a time."

Taomeng said, "Then you'll never have foresight and might always lag behind others."

Yangjingxing said, "I don't mind."

Taomeng was annoyed, "I'm being serious with you!"

Yangjingxing conceded, "I should think about it more."

Taomeng got excited, "It's admirable that you can develop in your interests, and you should cherish and work hard. Music can always be explored and developed, with a long-term vision..."

Yangjingxing listened to the life lesson all the way, and Taomeng herself felt she might have said too much, "Actually, I'm happy for you, but I also hope you can maintain a balanced mindset."

Yangjingxing laughed, "When you say these things, I don't dare to look at your beautiful and delicate face, it's too strange."

Taomeng was annoyed, "Disgusting... didn't you used to give me big lectures too?"

Yangjingxing said, "No matter what, thank you for your concern."

Taomeng felt a bit embarrassed, "You're welcome... do you think what I said was too heavy?"

Yangjingxing said, "Put it another way, it's weighty, powerful, and deeply touching."

Taomeng chuckled, "Then say something... frivolous."

Yangjingxing looked at Taomeng, "I think you're a bit different today."

"What?" Taomeng was curious.

Yangjingxing said, "Your chest is bigger."

Taomeng was speechless, stared at Yangjingxing for a while, then turned away, angry.

Yangjingxing asked, "Is this not frivolous enough? Let me think more..."

Taomeng was furious, "This isn't frivolous, it's vulgar..."

Yangjingxing felt wronged, "I'm stating a fact. I'm very sensitive to your small changes, especially this one."

Taomeng was angry for a while, then saw Yangjingxing's serious face and asked, "Really?"

Yangjingxing nodded, "Really bigger."

Taomeng was very annoyed, "It's the bra... it has padding... actually very small, the padding is small, I didn't even notice... maybe because it's more concentrated."

Yangjingxing laughed, "Different perspective... don't use padding in the future, it's uncomfortable."

Taomeng tried to be serious, "Yangjingxing, don't think I don't understand these things... I'm an adult, I don't mind talking about this topic with you, but you need to be serious."

Yangjingxing didn't believe her, "If you really understood, you wouldn't use padding. You're not small, even if you are, it's a delicate beauty..."

Taomeng shouted angrily, "I didn't use it on purpose, do you think I want to make myself bigger? I don't need to!"

Yangjingxing pleaded, "Okay, okay, it's the bra's fault, come, take it off and throw it away!"

"Nice try!" Taomeng came to her senses, "Even if I did it on purpose, do you have to mock me? Everyone has a desire for beauty."

Yangjingxing said, "So do I, I love your natural beauty, I don't want you to ruin the beautiful things in my heart."

Taomeng gritted her teeth, "You... how can you be so disgusting!"

Yangjingxing begged, "You're an adult, understand me."

Taomeng was still angry, thought for a while, and then said, "I just think you have bad intentions!"

Yangjingxing was unhappy, "That's too serious!"

Taomeng was still agitated, "You took off someone's clothes in junior high!"

This was true, Yangjingxing couldn't refute it and fell silent.

This silence was unprecedentedly long, lasting almost ten minutes until the car stopped. Yangjingxing spoke first, "We're here, get out."

Taomeng didn't move, still sitting upright, eyes looking forward, hands holding her bag on her lap.

After a while, Yangjingxing said, "It's my fault, I have bad intentions, I'm vulgar, okay? I'll reform and start anew when I get home."

Taomeng continued to be silent for a while, then said in a low voice, "Maybe we're not suitable to be friends!" and opened the door to get out.

Yangjingxing shouted, "Don't be angry, it's bad for your health."

Taomeng continued to walk, hearing the car door close and the engine start.

After returning to school, Yangjingxing went to Room 402, where Yuxinting and Qiqingnuo were playing the drums and the double keyboard, the melody of "Morning Glow," probably because Yuxinting wanted to hear it and Qiqingnuo wanted to arrange the music. Seeing Yangjingxing, both girls were surprised, and Qiqingnuo asked, "So fast?"

Yangjingxing said, "Continue."

Qiqingnuo teased, "You have a long way to go."

Yangjingxing asked Yuxinting, "Did she learn from you?"

Yuxinting shook her head, "No, I haven't said anything yet."

Qiqingnuo was curious, "What did you say?"

Yuxinting didn't dare to say, "Nothing."

Qiqingnuo was angry, "Then I'll leave first."

Yuxinting held her back, "Don't!"

Qiqingnuo laughed at Yangjingxing, "See, she doesn't dare to be alone with you."

Yuxinting denied, "No, we're playing together."

Yangjingxing said, "Exactly, we can't do it without you."

The three of them played together, with Yangjingxing on the trumpet. He had improved a lot and could now play the trumpet's bright and melodious sound, the result of many days of hard practice.

After a while, Yuxinting stopped playing the drums and switched to the electric piano, which was her major. Qiqingnuo played the strings on the double keyboard, and the three of them performed a trumpet and piano duet with string accompaniment, improvising several classic pop songs, which all sounded good.

Yuxinting's enthusiasm grew, and she said with a smile, "I'll play this."

As soon as the melody started, Qiqingnuo and Yangjingxing followed. Shu Ke, Shu Ke, Shu Ke, the pilot Shu Ke... Yangjingxing played the trumpet very brightly, and Qiqingnuo started with plucked strings, then changed to a grand ensemble, feeling it wasn't enough.

Oh, this made the two little mice seem towering. The two girls laughed as they played, both looking at Yangjingxing.

Just as they were getting into it, He Peiyuan came in, shouting, "Qiu Qiu, don't be so irresponsible!"

Yangjingxing was happy, "You came just in time, we need a touch of ethnic flavor."

How could the three-string fit in with them? But He Peiyuan still took out her instrument and started playing randomly. The four of them racked their brains, playing through all their childhood memories. Of course, many were incomplete, so they just played them randomly.

After playing for the afternoon, the four of them went to have dinner together, smiling and laughing. He Peiyuan wanted Yangjingxing to treat them, but Qiqingnuo said, "Next time, I already treated you at noon."

He Peiyuan was quite upset, "You, you, you, actually abandoned me." Then she shook Yuxinting's shoulder, "You didn't call me either!"

Qiqingnuo said, "We were just accompanying, Taomeng came over."

Yangjingxing was sad, "You're so ungrateful."

He Peiyuan said, "But it's okay, I didn't have time at noon."

Qiqingnuo asked, "Which man asked you out?"

He Peiyuan was proud, "Ah, what a headache, why am I so popular?"

Yangjingxing asked Yuxinting, "Do you also want to be a senior student soon?"

Yuxinting chuckled and shook her head.

After dinner, Qiqingnuo went home, He Peiyuan had to go to work, and even Yuxinting had to go online because her family missed her and wanted to video chat. Yangjingxing lent his internet card to Yuxinting so she didn't have to go to the internet cafe.

On December 4th, a new week began. Although there were still two months until the holiday, it was time to start preparing for the end-of-semester events. The performance department had a showcase, and the composition department had a works exhibition. These events were the highlights of each semester, especially for freshmen, as good performances could lead to more private lessons and focused training.

Although all the students at the music college were professional candidates, the teachers didn't have high hopes for everyone, similar to how engineering schools don't expect every student to become a scientist or win a Nobel Prize. Learning some skills and having a stable job in the future was enough.

However, Yangjingxing was different. Li Yingzhen and He Hongchui both wanted him to focus on the 80th anniversary of the school next year, and to have something impressive to show. The best would be to write a good piano piece and perform it himself.

On Thursday morning, Gan Kaicheng personally notified Yangjingxing to go to the company to sign and collect the money. So Yangjingxing skipped his physical education class and rushed to collect his first income.

Gan Kaicheng also chatted with Yangjingxing for a while, saying, "The song 'Morning Glow' won't be given to Xu Cheng: I showed it to Old Duan the day before yesterday, she liked it but didn't want to release an album..."

Yangjingxing said, "It's not mine anymore, do whatever you want with it."

Gan Kaicheng said, "Let her sing it, if it's done well, you won't be a newcomer for long."

Yangjingxing looked forward, "The sooner, the better."

Gan Kaicheng said, "Bring more songs in the future, ensure the quality."

After saying goodbye to Gan Kaicheng, Yangjingxing called Taomeng. The phone rang several times before she answered. Yangjingxing said, "Hello, can you hear me?"

"I can hear you," Taomeng seemed quite cold.

Yangjingxing asked, "Are you still angry?"

Taomeng said, "I don't care."

Yangjingxing sighed, "I collected the money for you, how do you want it?"

Taomeng said, "Whatever."

Yangjingxing said, "You're busy this weekend, so should I wait until next week? Or should I transfer it to your card?"

Taomeng still said, "Whatever."

Yangjingxing said, "Give me your card number."

Taomeng said, "I don't have it with me now."

Yangjingxing said, "Send me a text later."

Taomeng hung up.

After waiting all day, Yangjingxing didn't receive a text from Taomeng. On Friday noon, he called again, and Taomeng said, "I don't want it, it's too much trouble."

Yangjingxing said, "Even though it's a small amount, it's still earned."

Taomeng said, "Just pretend I didn't work for it."

Yangjingxing chuckled, "You're still angry."

"No, there's nothing to be angry about."

Yangjingxing asked, "Do you really not want to talk to me?"

Taomeng said, "Whatever you think."

"Completely don't care about me?"

"Whatever you say."

Yangjingxing, thick-skinned, "Are you free next weekend? Let's meet."

Taomeng coldly snorted.

Yangjingxing asked, "What's wrong? Not free?"

Taomeng said, "Yes."

Yangjingxing asked again, "What about today?"

Taomeng said, "I have to go home tonight."

Yangjingxing said, "Then now, I'm at your school gate."

Page break AD starts

Page break AD ends