“Song Chu, I didn’t mean that…” Yu Xiaoyao was taken aback by his sudden intensity.
“Then what do you mean?” He gazed deeply into her eyes. “Why do you always push me away? Why not give me a chance to get close to you?” He pulled her into his embrace.
Surrounded by warmth, Yu Xiaoyao felt a sourness in her heart. With moisture gathering in her eyes, she hesitated but finally reached out to hug Song Chu back.
Yu Xiaoyao entered the classroom, noticing the empty seat beside her covered in dust. She picked up a tissue and wiped it clean.
A figure appeared on the desktop, and she looked up to see a pair of smiling eyes.
“I’m Yao’s brother,” he introduced.
Yu Xiaoyao remembered Geng Yaoyang holding her while she was upset, and a blush crept to her face. She quickly composed herself and greeted him, “Hello.”
Geng Qianyu observed her closely. “Can I talk to you privately?”
She met his gaze with a cool demeanor.
………………
“Yao already has a fiancée.”
A light laugh escaped Yu Xiaoyao. Geng Qianyu looked surprised by her reaction. Her smile brightened the room, her lips curved as her laughter brought a soft peach hue to her cheeks.
He finally understood why Geng Yaoyang liked her—she was both cold and fiery.
“Sorry,” Yu Xiaoyao said, trying to regain her composure. “It seems like you’re saying something very serious. But…”
“Is it funny?” Geng Qianyu smiled bitterly, reflecting on the current era.
“A little bit, hehe.”
“Do you like Yao?”
Yu Xiaoyao put away her smile, looking at him silently.
Geng Qianyu sensed he had come at an inopportune time. But if Yao didn’t listen to his father and marry Zhizi…
“I just wanted to say—”
“You want to tell me that Geng Yaoyang is already spoken for and ask me to stay away from him, right?” Her words were sharp.
“No! Not at all! If Yao found out…”
“…?”
“What I mean is,” Geng Qianyu adjusted his expression, “I want you to save Geng Yaoyang from a difficult situation.”
“Ah…?” Yu Xiaoyao widened her eyes in shock.
“Yes!” Geng Qianyu laughed awkwardly. He looked at her seriously: “Yao really likes you. Please accept him!”
Yu Xiaoyao looked at him strangely.
“Xiaoyao, it’s time for big cleaning. They’re assigning tasks over there!” Zise ran over to pull her away.
Geng Qianyu stood there…
Assigned to the music room, she followed a large group of chattering girls, trembling with each step. Zise turned back, seeing Yu Xiaoyao’s pale face. “Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, no,” Yu Xiaoyao replied, pulled from her thoughts.
A dusty room. Dust danced in the light… Prince once played the piano there…
“How dirty!”
The piano keys were once snow-white.
“Yes, it seems like no one has been here for 800 years!”
No, Ji Ran played the piano just over two months ago.
“By the way, how long has that piano prince been gone? Did he go back to England?”
“I heard he has a beautiful girlfriend in England…”
A group of ducks quacked noisily, and when someone glimpsed Yu Xiaoying’s pale face, the room fell silent.
Everyone stood there with strange expressions, trapped in awkward silence.
“How strange today! Why is everyone so quiet?” The sunny boy stood in the doorway, smiling and sweeping his gaze over everyone.
“Hehe…” an awkward laugh.
“Everyone can move freely now. I’ll take care of things here!” Song Chu said easily.
“Wow! That’s great!” The girls threw down their tools and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Everything became quiet.
Yu Xiaoying sat by the piano, carefully wiping away the dust from the keys. Her delicate fingers gently touched them, closing her eyes softly. His fingertip’s warmth lingered on the keys, his scent still in the air…
“Xiaoying.” Song Chu walked to her side, looking at her like a wandering soul.
“Hmm?” She didn’t open her eyes.
“What are you thinking about?”
“…”
“Xiaoying!” Song Chu panicked, wanting to wake her up.
His finger accidentally touched the keys, an abrupt piano sound startling Yu Xiaoying.
She opened her eyes, slightly dazed.
Song Chu was heartbroken. He crouched in front of her, grasping her hand. “Xiaoying…”
Yu Xiaoying focused slowly, seeing his heartbroken eyes, and asked in a panic, “What’s wrong?”
Mist spread over Song Chu’s eyes. He suppressed his heartache and asked, “What were you thinking just now?” He knew it would only make him sadder.
“I…” Yu Xiaoying lowered her head, then smiled, “Nothing! The weather is just so nice today…”
Her voice gradually faded as she looked at him.
He gently embraced her, and she quietly stayed in his arms.
In the dusty music room, after a long time, Song Chu said softly, “Let’s date.”
Yu Xiaoying left his embrace, confused. “What did you say?”
“Let’s date.”
She stood there, dazed, looking around. The black piano, the white clouds outside the window, the azure sky—what was missing? Ji Ran, the prince-like Ji Ran…
Suddenly, tears filled her face. This was her and Ji Ran’s piano room…
She began to tremble.
Song Chu, who knew Yu Xiaoying too well, felt suddenly cold, as if thrown into an ice cave. “Xiaoying… don’t…” he pleaded.
Tears quickly wet her face. She trembled uncontrollably. “How can this be!”
She cried out softly, “I wanted to forget.” Yu Xiaoying leaned against the wall, “I tried to forget, but this is Ji Ran’s piano room, where he played and begged me to forgive him. He fainted here and hurt his hand… How could I…”
She looked at him strangely, “How could I date you?”
Song Chu stood there, surrounded by despair, his heart torn apart. He smiled bitterly, murmuring, “I told you long ago, you’re challenging a soul, a perfect void…” Tears flowed slowly as he continued, “How could you win? You’re an idiot! Fool! Naive! Overestimating yourself!”
Seeing his pain, Yu Xiaoying became clear-headed. She rushed over and grabbed him, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry Song Chu…”
Song Chu looked at her, “Why must we be so painful? I just wanted to protect you. Did I ask too much? Did I make you suffer?”
“No…” Yu Xiaoying trembled and hugged him. Tears gushed down, her heart aching, “Let’s date…”
[Volume One: Chapter Twenty-Six Complete]
“Bang!” The door was kicked open, startling Geng Qianyu.
Geng Yaoyang walked in with a dark face.
“Hi! Yao, you’re back so quickly. I went to school to find Yu…” Geng Qianyu’s words evaporated when he saw the delicate face behind him. His eyes widened in surprise.
“Hello, Qianyu.”
The delicate girl bowed in greeting.
“Oh, hello! Zhizi.” A hint of a smile crept onto Geng Qianyu’s handsome mouth.
“From today, I will be studying together with Yaoyang. Please take care of me.”
“Studying together?!” Geng Qianyu exclaimed, quickly looking apologetically at Geng Yaoyang, who was losing patience. “Yao… haha!”
“Want to get beaten up?” Geng Yaoyang’s voice was cold.
“Studying with Yao… haha,” Geng Qianyu laughed louder, with tears in his eyes.
Without warning, a fist narrowly missed him, accompanied by a whistling wind.
“Hey! Go rest first,” Geng Yaoyang said coldly to Zhizi. The girl bowed obediently and quietly went upstairs.
Geng Qianyu watched her go and whistled. He rubbed his face and said, “She’s getting healthier and more beautiful! So gentle. You’re lucky, Yao.”
Geng Yaoyang sat silently on the sofa.
“Why did you come back so soon?” Geng Qianyu asked curiously.
“Missed you,” Geng Yaoyang would never admit he returned because of a troubling dream about Yu Xiaoying and brought along a “burden”.
Geng Qianyu rolled his eyes.
Suddenly remembering something, Geng Yaoyang grabbed him, “Did you go to school to find Xiaoying?”
“Yes!”
“What did she say…”
Yu Xiaoying lifted her head from Song Chu’s chest, her eyes red and swollen. “I’m sorry…”
“Fool!” Song Chu cupped her face. “Why are you apologizing?”
