Chapter 112
Note: Early release, thanks to Sakuradahl's support on Ko-Fi! ʚ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝)ɞ
Lin Ling drove Mu Cai all the way to the front gate of the Capital City Music Academy.
The Capital City Music Academy is the best in the country with a strong faculty and has produced many world-class music masters. They've also had numerous collaborations with top music academies abroad.
Lin Ling studied at this academy during his university years, but he opted to go abroad for further studies in pursuit of a higher musical dream. Being a music academy, it boasts countless talents across all departments and more than one small symphony orchestra. The orchestra Lin Ling used to belong to was the largest in school — it even had connections with well-known foreign orchestras and frequently collaborated in stage performances.
Back then, Lin Ling was one of the stars, not just of the orchestra, but of the entire academy. As a result, he still has the WeChat numbers of many juniors who admired him. Lin Ling had prearranged with a strong-willed junior, now the head of the symphony orchestra, that he wanted to bring a friend to visit them.
The junior seemed very happy and even said they were practicing a performance for the next day, inviting Lin Ling, the former honorary head, to come and give some guidance.
Before arriving at the symphony orchestra's rehearsal venue, Lin Ling ordered many milk teas from the most popular milk tea shop outside the school, planning to give them to cheer them up later.
Mu Cai followed Lin Ling as they wandered around the campus. Seeing the elongated tree-lined road, the students carrying instrument cases, and the winding alleys in what's known as the "Fallen Street" commercial area, bustling with milk tea shops, snack bars, and internet cafes, he felt a sense of familiarity. He was once like these students, pursuing his dream in music. Being in the campus, Mu Cai felt as if he had returned to his student days.
After Lin Ling paid, he informed the milk tea shop staff to deliver the order to the designated location, then turned around to see Mu Cai's sparkling eyes.
However, Mu Cai wasn’t looking at him but looking around curiously.
At this moment, Mu Cai was reminiscent of a well-behaved baby who hadn't been born long ago, his eyes filled with curiosity. It didn’t help that he was also good-looking. Standing underneath the early spring cherry blossom trees, he was already an appealing sight. The joy on his face radiated from him, infecting everyone close by and inadvertently making them smile.
Foot traffic came to a slower pace or even halted as increasing numbers of students began watching Mu Cai. Many had just finished their classes and, with no classes to follow, decided to hang around to 'admire the beauty' more justifiably. Consequently, a long queue formed in front of the milk tea shop, enhancing their business several times more than normal days.
Watching all this, Lin Ling suddenly regretted bringing Mu Cai out. He now understands the true meaning of the idiom 'hiding a beauty in the golden house'—people like Mu Cai should be kept hidden, and not made visible to others!
Of course, he thought so, but it's something Lin Ling can’t do at the moment.
Facing covetous gazes from all directions, Lin Ling calmly placed his hand on Mu Cai's shoulder and said, "The milk tea is ordered, they should deliver it soon. Let's go over there now, our juniors must be waiting anxiously."
He was blatantly twisting the truth. The junior student had previously told Lin Ling that they were busy with rehearsals, and his visit was simply to guide them. But now, as he tells it, it seemed as if the symphony orchestra was desperate to see him.
Mu Cai, unaware of this, thought that the symphony orchestra urgently needed Lin Ling's guidance. He withdrew his gaze and nodded, "Alright, let's go."
From a distance, Pei Congliang followed them like a spy pursuing a target. Witnessing the pair moving forward, he naturally followed.
His actions were evasive, ignoring his surroundings, focusing only on the backs of the two in the distance. His suspicious behavior attracted doubts from many bystanders. However, students studying arts usually come from affluent families. Passersby noticed Pei Congliang's high-quality outfit and handsome appearance, so they didn't immediately suspect him to be a pickpocket or mentally ill person.
Several groups of students watched this suspicious figure and murmured amongst themselves:
"What is this guy doing? He looks like a spy. Didn’t the state channel always remind us to be wary of cyber spies and real-life spies? Do you think he is one of them?"
"No way, which spy would be this low in intelligence? His actions are blatantly obvious. Plus, don't spies gather information by questioning people? Besides, we are a music academy, not some defense technology or industrial university. Do spies need to come to our school?"
"If he's not a spy, then why is he acting so suspiciously, as if he's following someone! Could it be a grudge?"
"Eh! It seems like he's looking towards the guy who was under the cherry blossom tree just now! Could it be, he's seeking revenge? That guy was taken away by another person earlier, so this one might be harbouring a grudge born out of love, planning to kill his romantic rival..."
"…"
It has to be said, the public eye is sharp. Although the students' guesses weren't entirely correct, they were somewhat close to reality.
Pei Congliang was oblivious to the fact that he had been labeled as a pickpocket, a mentally ill person, and spy in rotation. All he knew was the sight of the two people walking together bothered him tremendously - so much that he felt as if he had a vast Hulun Buir grassland forming atop his head, with an added Xilingol grassland.
Simply put, he felt doubly cuckolded!
Following Mu Cai and Lin Ling through tree-lined paths, passing several teaching buildings, Pei Congliang ultimately followed them into a building and up to a fourth-floor music classroom. The door of the music classroom wasn't closed tightly, and Mu Cai and Lin Ling didn't close it completely when they walked in.
Thus, Pei Congliang was able to quietly push the door ajar and peek from outside. The music classroom was large and spacious, equipped with various facilities, instruments, and equipment. A small orchestra was rehearsing, the sound of their instruments filled the room.
The girl leading the orchestra on the podium finished the piece, and on seeing Mu Cai and Lin Ling, immediately called for a halt. She then jumped off the podium to greet the two of them.
The following events were rather mundane. The orchestra on stage played, Lin Ling listened attentively and gave some advice, even demonstrating a few things personally.
Pei Congliang, who was musically illiterate, didn't know why he had been observing this for such a long time. And it was not Lin Ling he was watching so much as Mu Cai.
Standing at the edge of the stage, Mu Cai's figure was slender. His waistline appeared so thin it felt like it could be encircled by a pair of hands. His soft black hair dangled around his ears, contrasting sharply against his snow-white skin. His eyes were comparable to bright morning stars, slightly closed. Mu Cai's rarely-seen indulged expression suggested that he was deeply immersed in the music.
A good while later, as another piece came to an end, Pei Congliang watched through the door crack as Mu Cai stepped forward and said something to Lin Ling and the girl. After listening, they displayed expressions of sudden enlightenment and became excited. The girl even fiercely hugged Mu Cai, almost knocking him off stage with her overwhelming enthusiasm.
From this distance, a high-pitched female voice could faintly be heard, "Oh my God! You're like an angel of music sent down by God!"
Mu Cai, standing on stage, appeared somewhat embarrassed. He was positioned as such that he was side-facing the doorway. His long eyelashes quivered slightly, a blush crept up his snow-white cheeks.
Seeing that the girl in the black skirt on stage was about to pinch Mu Cai's face, Pei Congliang couldn't hold himself back any longer.
Even if he had not admitted to Lin Ling about his relationship with Mu Cai. Mu Cai was, after all, his boyfriend, not someone to be casually manhandled like this!
Pei Congliang was burning with jealousy. His mind was entirely full of the sight of Mu Cai’s laughing profile, and he had long since dismissed Lin Ling from his thoughts. However, before he could rush forward, he found himself the subject of disdain.
A delivery guy, clad in a yellow vest, wielding a helmet and carrying a pile of bags, couldn't help but be suspicious of this lewd man, who was observing through the door crack with his backside sticking out. "What are you doing? What are you looking at in front of someone's classroom door? I'll have you know, this is a university, there are cameras everywhere, don't even think of doing something inappropriate!"
Pei Congliang was initially startled by the delivery boy’s sudden outburst. Now hearing these righteous words, he was infuriated.
What did this guy take him for? He, Pei Congliang, was tall and handsome, how did he resemble a criminal?!
This was slander!
Nonetheless, Pei Congliang couldn't lash out. He had been so riled up earlier that he almost wanted to burst in and announce to everyone that Mu Cai was his. Now being forcibly calmed down, the thought of his earlier impulse made him break into a cold sweat.
If he had indeed barged in, he would have felt briefly satisfied, only to face the scrutiny of Mu Cai and Lin Ling!
Pei Congliang didn't want them to know that he had been following them here like a stalker. Once revealed, Mu Cai might not be moved; if anything, under Lin Ling's provocation, he might think less of him!
It was lewd! He originally had control over Mu Cai. If this information were to leak, he would lose face in front of Mu Cai, then how would he keep him!
Not to mention, Mu Cai was currently angry at him! Upset for using him as a substitute!
Thinking about it, Pei Congliang regretted not paying more attention to Mu Cai initially! Even when Mu Cai had found Lin Ling’s picture, he hadn't explained much, telling him not to rummage through his stuff. Later when Mu Cai met Lin Ling and figured out he was also a violinist, he deduced Pei Congliang's dishonest intentions and had been ignoring him for the past few days.
Therefore, Pei Congliang could only swallow his anger and say, "I'm not a bad guy. I am watching my boyfriend train."
The delivery guy was skeptical. "Then why don't you go in and watch, why are you lurking around here?"
Pei Congliang gave him a grin, "We had a massive fight and haven't made up yet. I want to see him, but I'm also afraid he’ll kick me out, so I had to resort to this.”
He finished speaking and surprisingly lowered his pride, "Please don’t mention this to them when you go in, if he knows about this he'll surely be upset!"
The deliver guy wore a face of doubt and suspicion.
Seeing that the man in front of him was decently dressed and although he couldn't recognize the brand, the clothes seemed to be of good quality, he didn't appear to be a scoundrel. Therefore, he appeased him: "Alright. You step aside first. I'm tired of holding these many bags."
Pei Congliang quickly moved aside, hiding near the wall to not expose his location when the door opens.
As soon as the delivery guy stepped in, he was greeted with enthusiasm by the entire symphony orchestra.
Under the director's arrangement, everyone took a short break to drink milk tea, eat desserts, use their cell phones, and chat. Of course, many people took advantage of this opportunity to sneak peeks at Mu Cai.
Ah, how could someone in this world be so handsome, have such a sweet smile, and be so talented!
However, Mu Cai had no idea that he was the center of attention.
He took a couple of sips from his cup of milk tea, and his gaze started to drift towards the symphony orchestra's first violinist.
That violinist was a boy, who was also secretly glancing in Mu Cai's direction. The moment he saw Mu Cai looking back at him, he blushed, even choking on a pearl from his milk tea in surprise. He finally managed to stop coughing, only to see Mu Cai heading his way in the next second!
The poor first violinist could only watch dumbfounded as Mu Cai approached him. Mu Cai leaned down to ask him, "Are you okay?"
With his face flushed, the boy nodded his head.
Seeing that the boy was fine, Mu Cai opened his eyes and asked with expectation, "So, may I borrow your violin for a bit?"
________________________
Author's note:
The delivery guy warned everyone: Be careful! I met a suspicious man outside claiming to be the boyfriend of someone in your group! He doesn't look like a good person. I fooled him and came in. He's really naive!
Lin Ling: Alert.jpg
Pei Jingyun, forcing his appearance: A chaotic scene is about to begin, and I am not in this chapter!
Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter
No comments:
Post a Comment