Chapter 31

Because he was too lazy to find a parking spot, Cheng Xiaoyu casually chose a KFC drive-thru, bought a meal set with a pair of spicy wings, and then left with the server's envious gaze. Cheng Xiaoyu casually parked the car by the roadside and started eating the burger. After a few bites, he received a text message. He pulled out his folding phone from his pocket, lit it up, and saw an unknown number.

"Hello, Cheng Xiaoyu, I watched your performance yesterday, and I was deeply impressed. Can we meet and get to know each other?"

Cheng Xiaoyu checked the missed calls from yesterday and found it wasn't Ji Yunyun's number. He then saved Ji Yunyun's number and thought for a moment. He hadn't given his number to anyone else, so he replied, "Hello, may I ask who you are? I don't remember giving you my number."

A few seconds later, a reply came back, typed quite quickly, "If you want to know who I am, you'll know when we meet!"

Based on his forty years of experience, Cheng Xiaoyu knew that anyone who approached him was up to no good. He immediately replied, "I'm busy. If you don't tell me who you are, I won't reply to your messages."

"I'm Tang Wenqian, who danced 'Dunhuang' at Gezhi Private School yesterday. If you don't believe me, I can send you a photo."

"No need. How did you get my number?"

"I asked. Do you really not want to see my photo? I'm quite pretty, you know."

Then a prompt appeared on his phone asking if he wanted to accept a file. Cheng Xiaoyu refused and replied, "I'm not interested in women. Don't harass me."

"Ah, not interested in women? Do you like men then?"

"Heterosexuals are only for reproduction; homosexuals are the true love of humanity. Do you understand? Please don't judge me by worldly standards. If you can't accept it, please bless me silently."

"Ha, you're so funny. I like you more and more." Another photo file was sent.

Cheng Xiaoyu refused to accept it again and replied, "Your beauty would only make me jealous. Why show me a photo? I'm not so bored as to joke with strangers. Goodbye."

After a while, a new message came, "Why did you tell me such a private matter? Aren't you afraid I'll tell others?"

Cheng Xiaoyu finished his burger, wiped his hands with a napkin, and held his phone with both hands, replying, "This has been in my heart for a long time. I feel like I can't hold it in anymore. You know, it's so hard to pretend every day among those smelly men. I've always wanted to find a girl to be a sister and confide in. You're the first girl to text me, so I believe you're a good person."

"Okay, don't worry. I won't tell anyone. Are we friends now?"

"Of course. We can be good sisters." After sending this, Cheng Xiaoyu didn't receive a reply, so he put his phone back in his pocket, threw the unfinished KFC into a roadside trash can, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and drove towards Jinling East Road.

The person on the other end of the phone was none other than Xu Qinling. She didn't reply for a while, thinking about Cheng Xiaoyu's image and his offer to be sisters, which she found hard to accept. She also remembered how Cheng Xiaoyu had touched her yesterday, shuddering and throwing her phone under the bed.

In the morning, Xu Qinling had called Su Yuxi, asking her to invite Cheng Xiaoyu out, but Su Yuxi refused. After much persuasion, she finally got Cheng Xiaoyu's phone number from Su Yuxi. She planned to use a photo of her friend to trick Cheng Xiaoyu into coming out and play a prank on him. However, she didn't expect to receive such a message. Xu Qinling still didn't quite believe it, so she decided to send another message later to get more information from Cheng Xiaoyu.

Cheng Xiaoyu didn't know someone was plotting against him. He just thought that anything sent to him was either a trap or a troll, both of which could be dangerous. If it turned out to be a beautiful girl and they met in the future, he could just say he wasn't gay. As the saying goes, "Old ginger is the spiciest," which has a scientific basis.

When he arrived at Jinling East Road, Cheng Xiaoyu found a parking spot and called Wang Ou. Wang Ou said he was on his way, and they agreed to meet at the entrance of Haiyin Art School. After getting out of the car, Cheng Xiaoyu felt a bit cold, so he buttoned up his sports cotton jacket, put on the hood, and walked towards Haiyin Art School. He saw Wang Ou, who was bundled up like a bear, waving at him from a distance.

Wang Ou gave Cheng Xiaoyu a bear hug, "Xiaopang, you were so cool yesterday. I didn't expect you guys to be so amazing, especially Xia Shamo. Her high notes were incredible. Wow, I knew Xia Shamo was pretty, but I didn't know she was that pretty. It looks like the beauty rankings at our school will be shaken up again."

Cheng Xiaoyu, who didn't find much to reminisce about, said while walking, "Did you take any good photos yesterday?"

Mentioning this, Wang Ou got excited, "I haven't had time to sort them yet. The memory card was almost full, so I couldn't take more. It's a bit of a pity."

"How big is your card?" Cheng Xiaoyu asked.

"10GB," Wang Ou said regretfully, "I should have brought an extra card."

Cheng Xiaoyu patted Wang Ou on the shoulder, "I'll buy you ten 10GB cards later. Remember to send me the best photos to my email."

Wang Ou saluted, "I won't let you down."

Cheng Xiaoyu then asked, "By the way, did you give my number to anyone?"

Wang Ou shook his head, "No, who would ask for your number? A guy or a girl?"

"A girl, and she insisted on sending me a photo."

"She must be blind," Wang Ou said indignantly.

"Damn, Wang Dazhuang, I was planning to treat you to dinner, but now you're out."

"Xiaoyu, can you stop using dinner to threaten me? Your behavior really doesn't show much appreciation for our friendship."

"Then I'll charge you for guitar lessons."

"Physical compensation is fine. You can do whatever you want to me," Wang Ou nudged Cheng Xiaoyu with his shoulder and winked.

Cheng Xiaoyu had no choice but to surrender.

Cheng Xiaoyu and Wang Ou visited several music stores. There weren't many guitars, mostly string instruments, pianos, violins, and traditional Chinese instruments. Thinking that in this world, not many people might play the guitar, Wang Ou felt a bit hesitant.

Cheng Xiaoyu quickly dispelled Wang Ou's concerns, saying that the guitar was a great tool for attracting girls. Wang Ou immediately became enthusiastic and dragged Cheng Xiaoyu to continue looking.

Finally, at a slightly more remote Xinghai Music Store, Cheng Xiaoyu saw some guitars. They went inside, and there were many people browsing, mostly looking at violins and pianos, with no one at the guitar section. Cheng Xiaoyu went over to the guitar section and started picking through the guitars, but no one came to assist. Wang Ou, who knew nothing about guitars, just followed along.

Cheng Xiaoyu thought that since Wang Ou had no musical background and wouldn't make a living from music, he should start with a folk guitar. Most laypeople can't tell the difference between a classical guitar and a folk guitar, but there are significant differences. In simple terms, a classical guitar has a pear-shaped body, uses nylon strings, has a thick and short neck (19 frets), and produces a soft, warm, and mellow sound, but with a low volume. A folk guitar, on the other hand, often has a cutaway on the upper right side of the body, uses steel strings, has a thin and long neck (22 frets), and produces a bright, clear, and modern sound with a high volume. Their uses are also quite different. Classical guitars are generally used for solo performances, while folk guitars are mostly used for accompaniment.

After a long time, Cheng Xiaoyu picked a rosewood folk guitar, carefully checked if it was a solid top, if the paint was even, and if there were any scratches. After examining the wood grain, he decided to ask for the price. He called out a couple of times, but no one responded. He noticed everyone was gathered around the piano section, so he went over.

It turned out that two families who knew each other were there to buy a piano but were unsure which brand to choose, whether to buy an upright or a grand. After all, a piano is not a small item, and spending tens of thousands of yuan on a child's toy seemed a bit extravagant. The store owner was out, and the salesperson who knew about pianos was on leave. Only the owner's daughter and a new salesperson were there, and the two young girls were struggling to answer the families' questions.

Cheng Xiaoyu tapped the shoulder of a petite girl with a bob cut wearing a black uniform and asked, "How much is this guitar?"

The girl turned around and looked at the guitar in Cheng Xiaoyu's hand, "Isn't it priced?"

Cheng Xiaoyu shook his head.

The girl said, "Please wait, the boss will be back soon. I'm new and don't know the prices." Seeing the two families about to leave, she quickly went to stop them, "Customers, the boss will be back soon. Please wait a moment."

The girl with a ponytail, wearing a white down jacket, flared jeans, and Nike sneakers, also came out with her phone. Cheng Xiaoyu heard her say, "Dad, where are you buying cigarettes? Come back soon, the customers are about to leave." Cheng Xiaoyu twisted his waist, holding the guitar, and let the pretty girl pass by. He thought, "It's really damn hard to buy a guitar these days. If it weren't for the cold weather, we would have left."

The two families, who apparently knew each other, decided to wait after the bob-cut girl and the ponytail girl promised the best discounts. Since the store was quite large, the air conditioning wasn't very effective, so everyone gathered around the electric heater near the cash register.

Cheng Xiaoyu, with nothing to do, started tuning the folk guitar he had chosen. With his incredible hearing, he didn't need a tuner or reference. He just plucked the strings and adjusted them. Wang Ou, curious, asked what he was doing and what the purpose was. Cheng Xiaoyu explained everything. After tuning the guitar, seeing that the boss still hadn't arrived and no one was paying attention to them, he asked Wang Ou to bring a chair over.

Cheng Xiaoyu sat down, got into position, and said to Wang Ou, "Watch me show you a trick." He swept the strings, and a sound like a stream flowing over smooth pebbles echoed.

Cheng Xiaoyu's left hand pressed the fretboard, and his right hand plucked the strings. For him, this was the first time this body had touched a guitar, but the guitar-playing skills deeply ingrained in his soul flowed out naturally. He played "Day by Day" by Jung Sung-ha, a song by the Korean group BIGBANG, which was still very beautiful even as a guitar solo.

In his previous life, Cheng Xiaoyu had repeatedly watched videos of the talented guitarist Jung Sung-ha to understand the nuances of the song. The early part of the song involves tapping, using the guitar to mimic the sound of a snare drum to enhance the rhythm. The key points are tapping with the fleshy part of the thumb, playing the 6th string with the thumb, and sweeping down with the middle finger.

This technique, called tapping with melody notes, is one of Jung Sung-ha's most commonly used techniques. For those who have played fingerstyle for a while, this might be relatively easy to do with a slight adjustment of the hand position. The technique mainly involves integrating rhythm (sometimes with a swing feel) into the music. The challenging part is how to play the melody notes while preparing to tap. By watching Jung Sung-ha's videos, you'll notice that he makes a gesture similar to Spider-Man, with his middle and ring fingers bent. This is the key! He uses these two fingers to play the melody notes. Because of the Spider-Man gesture, the tapping is not as precise as it would be in regular strumming, where you might hit multiple strings. In guitar performance, precision is crucial. Jung Sung-ha's tapping is usually on the 5th or 6th strings or above the 6th string, as he wears a thumb pick and can't hit the strings directly like we can. Therefore, the tapping position must be precise.

The second high-difficulty technique is called the bass drum. This technique is not as frequently used as the tapping technique. It sounds very much like a bass drum and is mainly used to enhance the rhythm. In performance, after plucking the strings, the hand moves upward, and the wrist forcefully hits the area above the sound hole. To be more precise, it's the bottom of the palm. This technique is often used simultaneously with the melody notes, making it quite challenging to practice.

However, if these two techniques are combined well, it's like having a simple jazz drum set with the guitar. The rhythm and melody of the guitar solo are significantly enhanced.

Cheng Xiaoyu had a strong foundation in guitar performance in his previous life. Although this body couldn't fully unleash his skills, he could still play "Day by Day" completely. The beautiful melody immediately stunned Wang Ou and the people around him, especially since the guitar was still a niche instrument in China, with few people playing it, and those who did weren't very skilled. Cheng Xiaoyu's performance drew a crowd of people looking to buy instruments.

While Cheng Xiaoyu was focused on playing, he didn't notice the crowd that had gathered. When he looked up and saw the crowd, he stood up from the chair and said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."

The pretty girl with the ponytail immediately said, "No problem, no problem. I've never seen someone play the guitar so well. Are you a music student?"

Cheng Xiaoyu smiled, "Sort of. I play the guitar for fun, but my major is piano."

The ponytail girl immediately pulled Cheng Xiaoyu aside, as if she had found a lifeline, and asked, "Then you must know how to choose a piano, right?"

Cheng Xiaoyu hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to get involved in this trouble, but seeing the girl's gentle and lovely appearance, he said, "I know a bit." It wasn't that Cheng Xiaoyu was superficial, but if a less attractive girl had asked, he would have definitely refused. Beauty is a universal attraction.

The ponytail girl smiled, "That's great. Can you help me deal with those two families choosing a piano? Whether they buy or not, I'll give you the best discount when you buy something."

Clearly, this girl was very smart, knowing how to use her advantages to quickly build a rapport with strangers without making them feel uncomfortable. Cheng Xiaoyu nodded in agreement.

The ponytail girl pulled Cheng Xiaoyu over and introduced him to the two families as a talented student from the Shanghai Theatre Academy's piano department, suggesting they consult him about any piano-related questions. The two families, having heard Cheng Xiaoyu's guitar performance, though they didn't understand music, found it impressive and trusted him.

Cheng Xiaoyu wasn't intimidated. Although he wasn't officially from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, he was almost there. Moreover, he had recently studied a lot about pianos and felt confident he could handle it.

One of the young mothers, holding her child, who had been insisting on a grand piano, asked, "He insists on a grand piano, but his teacher says a grand is better, while an upright is sufficient. What do you think?"

Cheng Xiaoyu thought for a moment and said, "It depends on your budget and the space where you'll place the piano. If your budget is limited, an upright is a better choice."

The young mother thought for a moment and said, "My child is just starting to learn, so a very expensive piano isn't necessary. A piano around 20,000 to 30,000 yuan would be fine. Our living room is about 40 to 50 square meters, but there isn't much space left for a piano."

Cheng Xiaoyu smiled, "In that case, an upright is a better choice."

Another parent chimed in, "What's the difference between an upright and a grand?"

Cheng Xiaoyu explained, "For a child's practice, an upright is more suitable. A grand is better for concerts or if you want a luxurious touch at home. The main differences are: First, when playing the same note repeatedly, a grand has a more sensitive soundboard, making it better for fast-paced pieces like 'Flight of the Bumblebee.' Second, a grand has a clear distinction between different registers, with a balanced volume across all notes. An upright has a heavier bass, a moderate midrange, and a lighter treble. Third, a grand's soft pedal changes the sound and volume while maintaining consistent touch. An upright's pedal affects the touch. Most importantly, consider the size of your living room or practice room. A grand can be too loud in a spacious room, and if the lid is opened too wide, the resonance can be overwhelming, even damaging your hearing. In a smaller room, adjust the lid to a smaller angle to balance the volume and reduce resonance. A grand is also more maintenance-intensive, so unless you're committed to a professional path, an upright is a better choice." Cheng Xiaoyu demonstrated on the piano, explaining in a very professional and detailed manner.

The mother asked, "Based on what you said, a grand seems better, right?"

Cheng Xiaoyu shook his head, "Not necessarily. Below 100,000 yuan, an upright is still better than a grand. And a low-quality grand is not as good as a high-quality upright."

The parents, impressed by Cheng Xiaoyu's expertise, asked him to help them choose a piano. Cheng Xiaoyu asked about their budget and helped them pick two good domestic Pearl River pianos. He played "Flight of the Bumblebee" again, stunning the two six- or seven-year-old children, and saw the ponytail girl's appreciative expression. Cheng Xiaoyu felt a sense of accomplishment in his piano skills for the first time.

After the ponytail girl completed the two sales, Cheng Xiaoyu picked a guitar. He asked Wang Ou to take one, and then asked the ponytail girl, "How much for two guitars?"

The ponytail girl looked at the guitars, turned around, and made a phone call. A moment later, she came back and said, "200 yuan for two guitars. Consider it a thank you for your help."

Cheng Xiaoyu scratched his head, "That's too much."

The ponytail girl smiled, "Without you, we would have lost a big sale. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. I should thank you."

Seeing that the guitars weren't too expensive, Cheng Xiaoyu said, "I didn't help much, just told the truth. You're too kind." He was about to pay, but Wang Ou had already prepared 200 yuan.

Cheng Xiaoyu and Wang Ou put the guitars in their cases and were about to leave.

The ponytail girl handed them