Chapter 93

The car drove onto a quieter road, lined with flower beds and no shops or buildings. Yang Jingxing suddenly saw a little girl, about seven or eight years old, standing by the roadside, all alone, with a schoolbag on her back. He slowed down and asked, "Shall we find out what's going on?"

Tao Meng agreed and rolled down the window to ask, "Little girl, little girl, why are you here all alone so late?"

The little girl looked at Tao Meng, a bit wary, and said, "I'm not alone."

Tao Meng asked again, "Then who are you with? Where are they?"

The little girl replied, "I'm waiting for my mom."

As they were talking, a woman stood up from behind the flower beds and walked over, taking the little girl's hand. "I'm her mom... Thank you, we're leaving."

Yang Jingxing quickly drove on. Tao Meng laughed, "We were meddling in other people's business, weren't we?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Just in case."

Tao Meng asked, "If she really was alone, were you going to take her home?"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Yeah, we could do something meaningful together."

Tao Meng laughed, "What meaningful things do you plan to do during the winter break?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Not sure yet, what about you?"

Tao Meng said, "I don't have any plans either. Do you go home when you're on break?"

Yang Jingxing said he should.

On Saturday morning, Yang Jingxing finally resumed picking up Yu Xinting. After lunch, he went to the airport to pick up his mother and aunt. His cousin, Wang Hui, sat in the passenger seat and asked Yang Jingxing if he knew any other celebrities besides Duan Liying, especially male celebrities.

Actually, Xiao Shuxia should have been in publicity, not accounting. Now, not only did her relatives and friends know that her son had written a song for the big star Duan Liying, but almost everyone in Jiuchun County knew about it.

Wang Hui was more concerned, "Do you have a girlfriend yet?"

Xiao Shuxia helped answer, "He's not filial, he didn't even bring someone to pick me up!"

After getting home and putting down their things, Wang Hui asked Yang Jingxing to take her on a tour of the school. After walking around for a while, Yang Jingxing took the three women to Room 402, so Xiao Shuxia could see where the hundreds of thousands of yuan had been spent.

Yu Xinting was there, looking surprised, "Aunt, hello."

Xiao Shuxia was also happy, "Xiao Yu, have you eaten?"

Yang Jingxing introduced them, "My aunt, my cousin. Classmate, Yu Xinting."

Xiao Shuyun looked at Yu Xinting and smiled, "No wonder they say all of Jingxing's classmates are pretty girls."

Yu Xinting smiled shyly.

Wang Hui was the first to notice the drum set and called to Yang Jingxing, "Come on, come on!"

Yang Jingxing said, "I don't know how to play, you try."

Yu Xinting was a bit worried, "I'm not very good either." But she still sat down, picked up the drumsticks, and played a few basic rhythms.

This was enough to earn praise from the laymen, and Xiao Shuxia even said, "She's a piano student, Professor Li Yingzhen's top disciple."

Wang Hui didn't hesitate and asked Yu Xinting to play the electric piano. Xiao Shuyun clapped her hands, "Good girl, good girl!"

Xiao Shuxia asked Yang Jingxing suspiciously, "Did all this cost you three or four hundred thousand?"

Yang Jingxing played a segment of "Sun in the Rain" on the double-manual keyboard to show it was worth it, and then, at Wang Hui's request, played the guitar.

After appreciating it, Wang Hui shook Yang Jingxing's shoulders eagerly, "Introduce me to a boyfriend!"

Yu Xinting giggled.

Xiao Shuxia remembered, "What about Tao Meng, are you still playing with her?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "I'm working hard every day, no time to play."

Xiao Shuyun laughed, "Work hard, you'll be less busy than your dad... Have your cousin give you some advice."

Wang Hui looked at Yang Jingxing, "First, your hairstyle is not up to standard, who still has a crew cut these days!"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Rarity is valuable."

Xiao Shuxia said, "Chasing girls takes skill, otherwise you'll be bullied later, and I'll be heartbroken."

Xiao Shuyun said, "If I were a son, I'd let them bully me." Suddenly, she remembered and asked Yang Jingxing, "Does that girl have any siblings?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I don't know."

Xiao Shuyun guessed, "She's probably an only child."

Wang Hui asked Yang Jingxing, "Do you have any photos, let me see."

Yang Jingxing scolded, "Don't let your imagination run wild." He asked Yu Xinting, "Where's An Xin?"

Yu Xinting said, "She's practicing the piano, I'll go later."

Xiao Shuxia invited, "Xiao Yu, stay for dinner, bring your friends... Oh, call Du Ling." Du Ling's family had brought some things for Xiao Shuxia to bring over, and they had agreed on this a few days ago.

Yu Xinting said, "I won't go."

Xiao Shuxia said, "You should, I'll have Yang Jingxing call you if you're not there."

Yang Jingxing smiled at Yu Xinting, "They're richer than me, we'll have a good dinner tonight."

Yu Xinting laughed, "Then I'll call An Xin."

Yang Jingxing nodded and called Du Ling, "Have you left... They're already here... At school... Okay."

Du Ling was shopping and said she would come over right away, asking Yang Jingxing to wait at the school gate. So Yang Jingxing continued to perform on the trumpet and piano for his mother and aunt, and then went to pick up Du Ling, telling Yu Xinting, "I'll come pick you up later."

Yu Xinting nodded, "Okay, aunt, goodbye."

Du Ling stood at the school gate and ran up to Xiao Shuxia with a smile, also greeting Wang Hui. Du Ling and Wang Hui had met in Jiuchun but hadn't really talked much.

In the car, Xiao Shuxia turned to Du Ling and smiled, "Your mom asked me if you have a boyfriend."

Du Ling smiled and shook her head, "Tell her not to worry, I don't."

Wang Hui didn't believe it, "You don't, impossible!"

Du Ling laughed, "Really, no one wants me."

Wang Hui scoffed, "Too many to choose from, right!"

Xiao Shuxia said, "There are many girls in the teacher's college... Take Yang Jingxing to your school and introduce him."

Du Ling laughed coldly, "He's too busy, I've called him a few times, but he's never free... Aunt, he's so stingy, he wouldn't even let me bring my clothes over to wash."

Xiao Shuxia scolded Yang Jingxing, "You're childhood friends, you should take care of each other when you're away from home!"

Du Ling continued to complain, "He hasn't been around since he came here, only when Lu Lin and others came for National Day did we see him for a few days!"

Xiao Shuxia said, "He's a bit busy, he has to study at school and write songs for others."

Du Ling got even more upset, "Duan Liying, I know, I heard from my mom... Yang Jingxing, I'm telling you, you're a terrible friend, we've already decided to get you back when we go home!"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Looking forward to it."

When they got home, Xiao Shuxia took out the sweaters and other things Du Ling's family had brought. Du Ling immediately took off her coat and tried them on.

The house wasn't suitable for guests, so Yang Jingxing decided to take his aunt and cousin to a nearby hotel, and Xiao Shuxia wanted to take a shower and change clothes. Du Ling volunteered to clean up and even went into Yang Jingxing's room to look around.

When Yang Jingxing returned home, he found Du Ling cleaning the stove and cabinets, which had never been used, and scolded, "So much dust!"

Yang Jingxing said, "Take a break, it's rare to have a guest."

Du Ling asked, "You've never brought anyone back?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "How's your game going?"

Du Ling laughed, "Lu Lin is already fifth on the weapons leaderboard." Then she became serious, "We're really upset with you! Zhang Yang has cursed you countless times."

Yang Jingxing said, "Deserves it, I'll play more during the break."

Du Ling gave him a sly look, "Lu Lin said he sent you a website."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "I check it often."

Du Ling scolded, "You guys are so gross."

Yang Jingxing asked, "How do you know we're gross?"

Du Ling proudly, "I took a peek."

Xiao Shuxia called from the bathroom, "Yang Jingxing, come here."

Yang Jingxing went over and saw his mother preparing to do laundry, holding a strand of hair about twenty centimeters long, and said sternly, "From the washing machine!"

Yang Jingxing explained, "I helped Yu Xinting and the others wash their clothes, it must be from their clothes."

Xiao Shuxia looked at him sharply, "You've never brought her back?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "No."

Xiao Shuyun and Wang Hui arrived around four, sat for a while, and then decided to go eat. It was a bit far, so Yang Jingxing let his mother and aunt go ahead while he picked up Yu Xinting. Du Ling wanted to go with Yang Jingxing.

After meeting, Yang Jingxing introduced them. Du Ling was also friendly to Yu Xinting and An Xin, asking, "Are you in the same major?"

After learning more, Du Ling scolded Yang Jingxing, "You always bring two little sisters wherever you go!"

Yang Jingxing said, "I'm like an uncle."

Yu Xinting and An Xin laughed. Du Ling wanted to know more, and although the situation was a bit complicated, Yu Xinting explained.

The restaurant was a nice seafood place with a luxurious private room and a large table. Yang Jingxing sat next to his mother, and Du Ling next to him.

When ordering, Yu Xinting glanced at the menu and passed it to An Xin, the two girls hesitating as they flipped through page after page. Xiao Shuxia said, "Order whatever you like."

Du Ling, being straightforward, ordered a few dishes. Finally, Xiao Shuxia and Xiao Shuyun took over, ordering more generously.

After a while of chatting, the dishes started coming. Only Yang Jingxing ordered rice. He ate two bowls quickly, then started cutting up a four-pound lobster, dividing it among everyone without help from the server.

Yu Xinting held out her plate to receive it, looked at it, and then ate, her eyes squinting in delight, and asked An Xin, "So good."

So Yang Jingxing also handled the lobster claws, dividing them among Du Ling, Yu Xinting, and An Xin. Each of them also got a decent-sized abalone, slippery and smooth. Yu Xinting struggled with the knife and fork to cut a large piece. It was delicious, and Yang Jingxing offered his plate, "Mine is for you."

Yu Xinting shook her head, "No, thank you."

Xiao Shuxia said, "Take it, he doesn't like these."

Yu Xinting had to take it and, in the end, used a piece of fried tofu to soak up the abalone's juice, thinking it was a good idea and suggesting An Xin try it.

Yang Jingxing enjoyed the meal the most, followed by Yu Xinting. Although Xiao Shuxia was friendly to all the girls, she talked more with Yu Xinting, asking about her life at school and if her family had visited her.

Xiao Shuxia also said to her sister, "If only I had given him a little sister back then."

Xiao Shuyun, regardless of the younger generation being present, said, "It's not too late if you want to have one."

Xiao Shuxia didn't have a good response, so she said to Yu Xinting, "Being a girl is tough, if you need help, call Yang Jingxing."

Yu Xinting nodded while eating, "He's very kind to us."

Du Ling laughed, "Of course, that's his style!"

Yu Xinting chuckled.

After the meal, Xiao Shuxia and the others planned to go shopping, and Du Ling offered to go with them. Yang Jingxing said he would first take Yu Xinting and An Xin back to school. Yu Xinting insisted on taking the subway with An Xin and said to send a text when they arrived at school.

They shopped until ten, and Du Ling even bought a piece of clothing. Then they went home, first dropping Du Ling off at school. Du Ling asked Xiao Shuxia about the next day's plans, and Xiao Shuxia said she didn't need her to accompany them.

After dropping off his aunt and cousin at the hotel, Xiao Shuxia started talking to Yang Jingxing about issues. First, about Tao Meng, Xiao Shuxia didn't quite believe her son's previous words, "You really haven't played together?"

Yang Jingxing said, "We occasionally keep in touch, just classmates."

Xiao Shuxia said, "Have you met her parents?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head.

Seeing no hope there, Xiao Shuxia asked, "What's your relationship with Yu Xinting?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Friends."

"Friends!" Xiao Shuxia was impatient, "You have so many friends like that, if Liu Miaomiao and the others were here, you'd be busy!"

Yang Jingxing laughed.

Xiao Shuxia also laughed and scolded, "You didn't inherit any of your father's good qualities... Do Lu Lin and the others have girlfriends?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Lu Lin has an online relationship, Xu Wei is still pursuing, and Zhang Yang hasn't revealed anything."

Xiao Shuxia became worried, "Don't be the last one! When they all bring someone back, and you don't, I'll be embarrassed."

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

Xiao Shuxia said, "You're not in a hurry? Your father said it's the right age to think about these things! I was afraid you'd act rashly, but you've been quiet! This isn't the time to focus on your career, just keep up with your studies, what good is a bookworm!"

Yang Jingxing laughed again. Xiao Shuxia pushed further, "Walking around school, tall and handsome, without a pretty girl by your side, how embarrassing!"

...

The next morning, Xiao Shuxia and Xiao Shuyun went to get their hair done and didn't want Yang Jingxing and Wang Hui to follow. Wang Hui didn't want to shop either and asked Yang Jingxing to take her to the school to enjoy the music.

On the way to the North Building, they met a classmate of Qi Qingnuo, whom they had met during a composition competition. This guy, without tact, asked Yang Jingxing, "Another one?"

Yang Jingxing introduced, "My cousin, here to visit."

The guy quickly greeted and asked Yang Jingxing, "Where's your band?"

Yang Jingxing said he didn't have a band, and the guy asked, "How's the semester showcase preparation going?"

Yang Jingxing said it wasn't settled yet.

Wang Hui, being warm and generous, asked, "Has my brother had a few?"

The guy laughed exaggeratedly, "The enemy of Puyin, he's taken all the pretty girls."

Wang Hui scolded Yang Jingxing, "Not honest, I knew you weren't honest! My aunt said you were innocent!"

The guy quickly said, "Not bad, ha ha."

Later, Wang Hui interrogated Yang Jingxing, but he didn't say anything. After teaching Wang Hui the double-manual keyboard for the morning, he went to pick up Yu Xinting and then had lunch together.

Yu Xinting was a bit embarrassed, only bringing an apple to share with Yang Jingxing and Wang Hui. Wang Hui said it wasn't necessary and asked Yu Xinting, "Are there many girls who like him around here?"

Yu Xinting was surprised and said, "I don't know."

Wang Hui asked, "Can't you tell?"

Yu Xinting shook her head.