"Mozart, Beethoven, and the like—no need to play those; find something modern." Jiutiao Meijie lifted the piano lid, pressing down on the black keys at the very edge.
The piano responded with an exceptionally high note.
Resting on the black keys, Jiutiao Meijie’s fingers seemed even more slender and pale.
"Just pick any piece." Kiyono’s gaze shifted towards Dubian Che, "Mr. Dubian, you select the music."
"Wait, what’s sight-reading?" Dubian Che asked.
"You play looking at the music score," Jiutiao Meijie casually explained.
"That seems too easy."
"The sheet must be sight-read for the first time," Kiyono Lin added.
"Oh, that sounds pretty hard."
Kiyono Lin gave him a look, "Hurry up and find a piece."
"It has to be the first time, huh." Dubian Che pondered, "Then let’s go with Zhou Jielun’s ’Nocturne.’"
"I’ve heard that, choose another," Kiyono Lin said.
"You know Zhou Jielun?"
"Not familiar, but I’ve heard ’Nocturne.’"
"How about ’Flower Sea’?"
"I don’t recognize the name, but I’m not sure if I might have heard the melody by chance. Sing it."
"Got it." Dubian Che snapped his fingers, "Da da da da, mm mm mm, mm mm mm..."
Both ladies looked at him with a strange expression.
Jiutiao Meijie couldn’t help but laugh and cursed, "You really sing so horribly it’s despairing."
Kiyono Lin nodded in agreement.
"...No need to go on, I know my singing is awful!" Dubian Che gestured enough is enough, "’Flower Sea’, that okay?"
Neither had heard the song before.
Dubian Che found the piano scores for "Flower Sea" online; popular stuff was just a search away.
To be as fair as possible, when one person played, the other had to leave the piano room.
With Kiyono Lin’s ability to spot lies, no one would cheat.
Jiutiao Meijie played first.
The piece flowed smoothly; the notes on the score were not just isolated notes, but sentences with grammar.
By level, it was something that many would have to practice for a long time to achieve.
Then it was Kiyono Lin’s turn.
Dubian Che noticed that Jiutiao Meijie didn’t ask her whether she had sneaked a peek at the score outside; their relationship was not good, but there was some mutual trust.
Kiyono Lin’s melody was light and brisk; though it was her first time playing, her skills and charm were not lacking.
Jiutiao Meijie didn’t need to go out again and stayed behind.
She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes closed listening, her figure’s curves especially graceful.
After the last note dropped, Dubian Che regretted.
There was almost no difference between the two; even if piano examination judges were present, they might end up split in their decision.
Regardless, being "Transcend Level Clarinet," though instruments were spaced, he could discern the good from the bad.
Dubian Che always had this feeling:
Could it be that the system screwed him over more times than it helped him?
"Mr. Dubian, who sounded better?" Kiyono Lin asked.
"It’s, well... you know, all that fighting and stuff..."
"Just say it," Jiutiao Meijie interrupted his stammering.
"Meijie," Dubian Che’s voice turned crisp and clear.
Kiyono Lin’s mouth curved slightly, smiling.
The better sound came from Kiyono Lin; her piece had an added whisper of a melody, like a soft night breeze blowing over the prairie.
"Mr. Dubian, you really love lying," Kiyono Lin said with a smile.
"Lying?" Jiutiao Meijie pulled at Dubian Che’s tie, tenderly caressing his flawless face, "I call this favoritism, and I’m very pleased with the result."
Kiyono Lin’s face turned cold, her icy gaze sweeping across Dubian Che.
’It’s all my fault, no matter what; we shouldn’t have competed,’ Dubian Che returned with such a look.
"Mr. Kiyono," Jiutiao Meijie looked at Kiyono Lin with a smiling face, "how much longer will you stay here? Please don’t disturb our couple intimacy, okay?"
Kiyono Lin glanced at her, politely bidding good night.
She swept her long hair with elegance and walked out of the piano room.
As soon as she left, Jiutiao Meijie’s countenance turned terrifying.
Seeing that something was wrong, Dubian Che quickly said:
"Meijie, listen to me explain. Judging music quality, I really have no idea! Blame the fact that you got me started on this; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to tell who played better!"
"So, the fault lies with me?" Jiutiao Meijie stated each word distinctly.
"Absolutely correct!"
"’Absolutely correct’? Then what about you holding her hand? Explain that to me." Jiutiao Meijie grabbed Dubian Che by the ear.
"Ouch, ouch, lighter!"
On the last night of the winter camping, Dubian Che had quite the ordeal.