Chapter 46

On Friday afternoon, during the activity period, Jian Yao took Lu Yan to the student activity center’s cultural and entertainment classroom, where they were rehearsing for the upcoming school anniversary choir performance of “The Night at the Military Port.”

As soon as they reached the hallway, Lu Yan could immediately tell that the piano was out of sync with the choir’s rhythm, making the whole performance sound disjointed.

At the door of the classroom, she heard the instructor speaking to a girl: “Jiang Yiyi, you sang ‘The sea breeze blows gently’ too slowly again. It’s all choppy, and it’s throwing off the harmony.”

Jiang Yiyi responded helplessly, “Teacher, it’s not my fault. It’s the music that’s the problem, I’m just following the melody.”

After speaking, she gave a resentful glance at Shu Mengfei, who was sitting at the piano.

Shu Mengfei immediately apologized to the teacher, “Teacher Zou, I’m really sorry. Although I’ve been practicing hard, I still can’t keep up with the rhythm. But don’t worry, I’ll definitely get it right before the competition.”

Her attitude pleased Teacher Zou, who then comforted her: “It’s okay, the important thing is participation. As long as you try your best, that’s what matters.”

Afterward, Teacher Zou glanced over at the other girls in the room and scolded them: “Look at Shu Mengfei’s attitude. Now look at yours. I’ve told you, this choir isn’t just about singing the song. The most important thing is that you need to have the spirit of teamwork, that’s what choir is about. Instead of complaining, you should learn from Shu Mengfei.”

The girls didn’t take this seriously, and some even rolled their eyes.

Teacher Zou patted Shu Mengfei’s shoulder and reassured her, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll just play the backing track during the performance, and you can just pretend to play.”

This suggestion suited Shu Mengfei perfectly, and she immediately promised, “Teacher Zou, I’ll definitely practice hard!”

Outside the door, Jian Yao whispered to Lu Yan, “Now you know why she’s still in the choir despite not being able to play the piano, right?”

Lu Yan nodded.

She had already seen through Shu Mengfei’s tactics. No matter the time or place, a delicate, “motivated” persona like Shu Mengfei’s was always popular and well-liked.

Jian Yao pushed the door open, dragged Lu Yan into the room, and said to Teacher Zou, “Teacher, I found a student who can play the piano. How about letting her try?”

The moment Shu Mengfei saw Lu Yan, her face changed to a very ugly expression.

Teacher Zou obviously knew Lu Yan. From the last New Star Cup competition, Lu Yan had taken first place with her beautiful and heavenly voice, leaving a lasting impression on him.

“It’s Lu Yan! Do you play the piano?” he asked.

Lu Yan answered, “Yes, I do, Teacher.”

Before Teacher Zou could respond, Jian Yao immediately pushed Lu Yan to the piano, pulled Shu Mengfei aside, and helped Lu Yan sit down, saying, “Well, since you’re here, let’s give it a try. ‘The Night at the Military Port,’ can you play it?”

“As long as there’s sheet music, it’s fine.”

“We have it.”

Jian Yao quickly found the sheet music from the stand, eagerly laid it in front of Lu Yan, and whispered in her ear, “Go for it, beat her.”

Lu Yan glanced at the music, placed her fingers on the keys, and began playing the melody of the introduction smoothly and skillfully.

The choir girls began humming along to the melody, and the girl conducting immediately waved her arms, prompting the girls to open their voices and sing along with the tune.

For the first time, the coordination was flawless. They sang from start to finish without any delays or off-beats.

The first attempt was so harmonious, which was clearly due to Lu Yan’s ability to maintain a good rhythm, unlike Shu Mengfei, whose performance had been a struggle.

Afterward, Jian Yao quickly asked Teacher Zou, “Teacher, what do you think?”

“Mm, Lu Yan plays the piano very well,” Teacher Zou replied.

“Then…?”

Shu Mengfei saw that Teacher Zou seemed to be wavering, so she quickly spoke up, “Teacher, it’s really great that Lu Yan is willing to help. I’ll definitely ask her for guidance. If she’s willing to teach me, I’ll make sure to practice and get this piece right before the school anniversary.”

The faces of the other girls in the choir showed signs of discontent, clearly indicating that Jian Yao had brought Lu Yan here not to teach Shu Mengfei to play the piano.

Teacher Zou furrowed his brow when he heard Shu Mengfei’s words.

On one hand, if Lu Yan could play the piano for the choir, it would be great. There would be no need for any adjustment, and with this strong support, the choir would surely stand out at the school anniversary.

On the other hand, as a teacher, he didn’t want to discourage a student’s enthusiasm. After all, Shu Mengfei really did seem to want to play the piano at the school anniversary.

Although her skills were lacking, she was very dedicated!

Teachers, including Teacher Zou, always liked students who worked hard and strived to improve.

Teacher Zou tentatively asked, “Lu Yan, would you be willing to teach Shu Mengfei…?”

“I’m not willing,” Lu Yan immediately refused.

She had been pampered by her dad since childhood and had always spoken her mind. She never beat around the bush or tried to please others.

“Teacher Zou, my study schedule is tight, and I don’t have much time to teach others. Besides, playing the piano isn’t something you can just teach in a few sessions or after a few days of practice. I’ve been playing since I was eight, and I practice for more than two hours almost every day.”

She glanced at Shu Mengfei and calmly said, “If you want to present a better version of yourself on stage, there’s only one path to take—step by step. There are no shortcuts.”

It’s not something you can just bluff your way through by showing off some quick tricks.

Jian Yao folded her arms and leaned casually against the piano. She said indifferently, “The audience isn’t stupid. They can tell right away whether you’re really playing or just using a backing track.”

As the cultural and entertainment department’s instructor, Teacher Zou also hoped that the school anniversary choir would go smoothly without any unexpected incidents.

After considering the pros and cons, he finally turned to Shu Mengfei and said, “Shu Mengfei, I know you’ve been trying hard, but for the piano performance this time, let’s have Lu Yan play instead.”

Shu Mengfei’s face showed disappointment, and her eyes reddened. She bit her lip and nodded with a look of grievance, “Teacher Zou, I know that Lu Yan plays better than I do. No matter how hard I try, I can’t match her. The more capable person should do it, and I understand…”

The girls around them rolled their eyes at her pitiful expression. It was obvious they didn’t buy it. On the other hand, the boys in the choir, seeing Shu Mengfei’s sad and helpless demeanor, couldn’t help but feel soft-hearted, their protective instincts kicking in.

“She was already chosen to play the piano. It doesn’t feel right to just change it.”

“Yeah, Teacher, I think Shu Mengfei plays pretty well. I can’t tell the difference.”

The girls immediately countered, “Please, she can’t even play a complete tune. How can there be no difference? Wang Qiang, you’re being totally biased.”

Wang Qiang muttered, “It’s true though. Shu Mengfei is so pitiful, let her play the piano.”

Jian Yao sneered, “Wang Qiang, if you think she’s pitiful, then you take the college entrance exam for her. Help her get into Tsinghua or Peking University, and then she won’t be pitiful anymore, right?”

Wang Qiang’s face turned red, and he had no argument left. He could only awkwardly fall silent.

Teacher Zou looked at Shu Mengfei, whose eyes were full of tears, and then at Lu Yan, caught in a dilemma.

Lu Yan shrugged and said, “Teacher Zou, since Shu Mengfei insists, let her play.”

She turned to leave, but the girls immediately protested, “If that’s the case, then we won’t sing. If the boys want to sing, they can follow her tune.”

Teacher Zou still hoped for the choir to perform well at the school anniversary, so he said, “How about this, Lu Yan, you can play the piano for the performance. You’ll have to practice these next few days. Shu Mengfei, if you’re willing, you can stay in the choir and work with everyone to make sure we sing ‘The Night at the Military Port’ well.”

Shu Mengfei’s expression darkened. She definitely didn’t want to be lost among the choir.

If she was going to do something, it had to be the center of attention, the one everyone was watching. So she rejected Teacher Zou’s proposal outright.

After leaving the activity center, Jian Yao said to Lu Yan, “Someone like Shu Mengfei, acting all clever, is actually really stupid. Does she really think Teacher Zou will let her on stage just because she’s playing the pity card?”

Lu Yan looked at Jian Yao in confusion.

“Before, there was no better candidate, but now that you’re here, Teacher Zou definitely won’t let her on stage. This choir performance is tied to the teacher’s year-end bonus. It’s a matter of direct personal interest, so even if Teacher Zou secretly favors her, he will still prioritize the benefits.”

Lu Yan used to think her mom was a very innocent girl when she looked at her mom’s old photos. But now, she realized that this girl, who was affectionately called “Master Jian” by rebellious boys, was far from a naive, sheltered girl in an ivory tower.

She had been exposed to society early on and understood human nature very well.

But how exactly did such a cool and seemingly mismatched girl, someone so different from her big, clumsy dad, spark such an explosive romance with Lu Zhen that it left him unable to forget her for the rest of his life?

Lu Yan was really curious about what exactly had happened between them.

After school, Shen Kuo unusually came to the classroom door to find Lu Yan.

Since Lu Yan’s class hadn’t yet been dismissed, he simply stood at the corridor, waiting patiently for her.

Many girls had noticed Shen Kuo.

He was dressed in a crisp white shirt, his long arms casually tucked into his pockets, lazily leaning against the corridor railing. The last rays of the setting sun illuminated his broad side profile, making his brown eyes appear slightly lighter in the sunlight.

He didn’t show much expression, but there was a sense of inexplicable coldness emanating from him.

In the classroom, most of the girls couldn’t help but glance at Shen Kuo, their attention fully drawn to him.

Shen Kuo was the type of boy whose personality and temperament strayed too far from mainstream beauty standards. Therefore, the girls would often criticize him, saying this or that about him not being good enough…

But in reality, when he suddenly appeared before their eyes, they couldn’t help but feel their hearts racing like a deer’s.

Shen Kuo exuded a deadly charm, but unlike Lu Zhen, who was obviously handsome with a bright, sunny appeal, Shen Kuo’s charm was more subtle… just a single expression or a glance from him could leave people dizzy and evoke the feelings of first love.

Soon, the class bell rang. Lu Yan couldn’t sit still any longer. She packed her small bag and, like a young bird flying into the forest, rushed toward Shen Kuo.

She was wearing a clean, light T-shirt and black pants, with her hair tied in a scorpion-tail braid—simple and refreshing.

Perhaps because the air in the classroom wasn’t circulating, her cheeks were pale with a hint of red, and her earlobes were flushed pink—she looked incredibly cute.

Shen Kuo’s expression softened involuntarily. He extended his index finger and gently pressed it against the girl’s brow, maintaining a small distance between them.

“Mm…” Lu Yan didn’t quite understand.

Shen Kuo looked around, shot her an upward glance, and then turned to leave.

Lu Yan understood the meaning behind his look.

He wanted her to follow him, but without being too obvious—keeping some distance.

Of course, this was school.

One should remember that, no matter the era, a girl’s curiosity about gossip never fades.

Even someone like Lu Yan, who wasn’t usually the type to get involved in others’ business, would hear her deskmate Qi Yuzhi talking in her ear every day about which boy was with which girl.

Lu Yan watched as Shen Kuo’s tall and elegant figure descended the stairs and walked out of the teaching building. She followed half a meter behind him, obediently, like a little tail, walking with him out of the school campus.

Once outside the school gates, Lu Yan visibly relaxed and quickened her pace to catch up with him.

Shen Kuo was tall, and his long legs were striking, so he took big strides. Lu Yan had trouble keeping up, almost running to stay behind him.

Soon, Shen Kuo realized the girl’s predicament. He didn’t say anything but slowed down his pace, letting her catch up and walk beside him.

It was clear Shen Kuo had no romantic experience, or even experience interacting with girls. So, many things were lost on him at first, such as how walking too fast could make the girl struggle to keep up. But he was willing to learn slowly.

Lu Yan curiously asked, “Where are we going, Shen Kuo?”

Shen Kuo didn’t answer directly but said, “I’m taking you somewhere.”

“Where?”

“You’ll know when we get there.”

“Alright.”

Lu Yan followed him obediently, walking by his side as they headed towards the street ahead. They passed through a street under demolition and then went through a commercial market with rows of stores.

When they reached the crosswalk, waiting for the traffic light, Shen Kuo stopped. After about half a minute, when the pedestrian light turned green, he unconsciously took her slender wrist in his hand.

Lu Yan shuddered and looked at him sensitively.

He didn’t show any emotion and kept his gaze straight ahead as he quickened his pace, pulling her along through the crosswalk. Afterward, he naturally let go of her hand.

It was just like how her dad used to hold her hand when crossing the road.

Lu Yan lowered her head, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Her dad, Lu Zhen, always said, “If you like playing with Shen Kuo so much, why don’t you just go be his daughter?”

Before, Lu Yan found it hard to imagine what it would feel like to be “Uncle Shen’s daughter,” but now, she was beginning to feel it.

Shen Kuo wasn’t a man without emotions, but his feelings were deeply hidden—deep and enduring.

He wouldn’t express it openly, but if he loved you, you’d definitely feel it…

While Lu Yan was lost in her thoughts, Shen Kuo suddenly stopped.

She almost bumped into him, quickly stabilizing her step and looking around.

They were now at the edge of the suburban area, with tall grass all around. In front, beyond the bushes, there were railway tracks not blocked by barbed wire.

In the distance, the green hills stretched endlessly, and the tracks were covered with small white stones, extending far into the horizon.

Shen Kuo took a few steps up to the bushes, then stood beside the tracks, looking back at her.

“Come here.”

Lu Yan looked around, feeling like she was about to do something wrong, checking for any railway staff nearby.

Obviously, there was no one around. Aside from the two of them, there wasn’t a soul in sight.

Back then, railway regulations weren’t as strict, and there were no pedestrian overpasses, so people could walk across the tracks freely.

However, Shen Kuo didn’t let her stand directly on the tracks but on the cement path between the two rails.

Shen Kuo bent down, casually plucking a blade of grass and putting it in his mouth, stepping onto the narrow tracks, leisurely strolling along.

It was rare to see him this relaxed, with a slightly mischievous air but also a lot of youthful energy.

Lu Yan walked beside him, letting one of his hands rest on her slim shoulder to help her keep her balance.

“Shen Kuo, why did you bring me here?” she asked.

Shen Kuo answered nonchalantly, “There’s no one here.”

There was indeed no one around, not even a bird. It was quiet, with only the sound of the wind—nothing else.

“Why bring me to a place with no one around?”

“What do you think?”

After he said that, Lu Yan’s ears suddenly turned a bit red.

It took her a moment to realize that they were probably… on a date.

Once she realized this, the atmosphere became tense and ambiguous.

It was mainly because Lu Yan was nervous. Shen Kuo, who had his hand on her shoulder, could clearly feel her body tense up.

“What’s there to be afraid of?”

“Who… who’s afraid?” The girl stammered, her tongue almost tying in knots. “I’m not afraid.”

It was just a date.

Lu Yan walked beside him, her heart pounding.

Although they had spent time alone before, it had never been like this—deliberately looking for a quiet place, just the two of them.

Lu Yan didn’t know what might happen later. She felt nervous and scared… but also a little expectant.

She lowered her head and started to pay attention to her clothes.

She hadn’t dressed up at all. She was wearing something very ordinary and casual because she never expected he’d ask her out. After all, they were both in their senior year, and she hadn’t seen him for days. They could only talk on the phone or text at night to make sure the other was still alive…

“Don’t be nervous.” Shen Kuo seemed to read her thoughts and comforted her gently. “We won’t do anything.”

As soon as he said this, Lu Yan’s face flushed bright red.

She… she hadn’t been expecting anything to happen!

No!

“Let’s just walk around and chat for a bit.” Shen Kuo said casually, “It’s really quiet here.”

So “there’s no one here” meant this. Lu Yan realized she had over-thought it.

Alright then, she shrugged indifferently.

Being with the person you liked, even if it was just walking and chatting casually, was a happy thing.

Lu Yan walked obediently beside him, letting him rest his hand on her shoulder.

When Shen Kuo’s hand brushed against her bag, he noticed that Lu Yan was still carrying her heavy backpack.

Without hesitation, he took the bag off her shoulders and hung it on his own left shoulder.

Lu Yan laughed and said, “I can tell it’s your first time being someone’s boyfriend.”

Shen Kuo looked down at the tracks and gently responded, “Well, you’re my first girl.”

A soft breeze brushed her cheeks, and she felt as though her heart was wrapped in a delicate, light veil, and it felt incredibly comfortable.

Knowing that in the future, she would be Shen Kuo’s “first” was such a great fortune.

“Can I be your only one, Shen Kuo?”

The words slipped from her lips without thinking, and she immediately felt embarrassed. With a soft “Aiya,” she ran a few steps ahead.

Why did she ask such a cheesy question? Was she crazy?!

Suddenly, Shen Kuo lost his balance, jumped off the tracks, and landed lightly on the ground, looking at her.

The girl crouched down in the stone ditch, covering her face, too embarrassed to face him.

“I didn’t hear anything! You can pretend nothing was said just now!”

Shen Kuo’s lips slowly curled into a smile, his tone playful: “I promise.”

She let go of her face, raised her flushed cheeks, and looked at him. Behind him, the setting sun painted the clouds a brilliant red, like a magnificent oil painting.

“I promise, from now on, you’ll be my only girl.”

Forever, there will be no second one.

Lu Yan stared into his dark eyes, which were filled with a determined and resolute light.

She froze for a moment.

After her dad’s bankruptcy, Lu Yan had once gathered all the information she could find about Shen Kuo from the media, to understand him better.

Shen Kuo had remained unmarried well into middle age, kept himself pure, and even when drunk, he never involved himself with any women. He became a topic of gossip among the tabloids in the industry.

She vaguely remembered that during an interview on a financial program, he had been asked if he had ever thought about ending his single life and finding a partner to spend the rest of his life with.

Lu Yan vaguely remembered what Shen Kuo had said—

“I once promised one person that she would be my only one for the rest of my life.”