After a long while, Lu Shouyue moved his eyes away from the computer screen and sighed, "This music score, the handwriting is exceptional, the melody is exceptional, and the significance is exceptional as well.
Wanwan, you also play the Ancient Zither, so you should know that our current music scores all use the simplified character notation, but this score is an original text notation.
Do you know what this means?
The only surviving text notation in the world today is in Japan’s Shenguang Temple, which is the ’Jieshi Tune·Youlan’, a handwritten copy from the Tang Dynasty during Wu Zetian’s era. If the one in your hand is truly Xiao Chong’s handwritten copy, it will replace the Youlan piece as the earliest surviving original text notation today."
Lin Wanwan laughed and said, "Just based on a photo, Mr. Lu, you believe it’s real?"
Lu Shouyue calmly said, "It’s about eighty to ninety percent certain. Wanwan, have you seen the physical Ancient Zither score?
Lin Wanwan smiled mysteriously, "Not only have I seen it, I have it in my hand."
Lu Shouyue was not surprised upon hearing this and sighed, "Xiao Chong, the sixth-generation grandson of Xiao Tong, I never thought he was such a brilliant individual, but unfortunately, he died young. Truly, the heavens envy the talented. Wanwan, might I have a chance to see the original manuscript?"
Lin Wanwan generously said, "Of course, once I return to Yongcheng, I’ll show Mr. Lu. By the way, Mr. Lu, if this score were to go up for auction, how much do you think it would be worth?"
Lu Shouyue replied with a smile, "The entrance threshold for Ancient Zither scores in the rare books and classic collections market isn’t high, with values ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. Although this one in your hand is a text notation, since the Ancient Zither scores are very complete and detailed, academically, it might not be very strong.
After all, there is still a ’Jieshi Tune·Youlan’ in the world, and uniqueness is a very important factor in assessing value.
However, the calligraphy here is truly strong, outstanding among various talents, forming its own style. Even if you don’t treat this score as a classic collection, there will be many people willing to buy it as a calligraphy piece. Well, I am one of them. Wanwan, are you planning to sell it?"
Lin Wanwan said with a smile, "I’ll think about it."
Anyway, if necessary, I can have Xiao Chong transcribe another copy for me. If I could hype up Xiao Chong’s calligraphy, wow, wouldn’t just reselling Xiao Chong’s calligraphy make me a fortune?
Of course, for now, it’s just a thought. I haven’t gotten to the point of needing money that badly yet.
Just the thought that I could earn money so easily suddenly made me lose all motivation to strive; wealth is simply at my fingertips!
Ah, life, so lonely like snow.
Lu Shouyue, watching the ever-changing look of triumph on Lin Wanwan’s face, found it quite amusing. In reality, as long as you interact with her in person, you can feel that she is very approachable, not a lofty figure, and has a rather childlike side, completely unlike the aloof and indifferent manner of not replying to WeChat or answering calls.
Ah, if only this moment could last forever.
While his thoughts were running wild, Lin Wanwan glanced at her phone and exclaimed, "Oh, it’s almost ten o’clock, I need to go back, it’s too late."
Lu Shouyue snapped back from his thoughts and chuckled, "It’s not even ten, how is it late already? Wanwan, are you such a good girl who sleeps before ten every day?"
Lin Wanwan stood up, waved her hand, and said, "More or less. Mr. Lu, I need to get going, thank you for inviting me today, I had a lot of fun."
Lu Shouyue picked up his phone and walked to her side, a bit reluctant, saying, "Are you really leaving? The villa is so big, there are many rooms, a lot of people will be staying over tonight, you could stay too; there are many activities left for tonight. Oh, and your friend, Chen Jinyu, she’s likely staying too, you could room together."
Lin Wanwan shrugged, "No, I’m not used to sharing a bed with someone."
Lu Shouyue blurted out, "Then what about sharing with your husband in the future?"
Realizing his blunder right after speaking, his face turned red, and just as he was about to apologize, Lin Wanwan unhesitatingly replied, "I don’t intend to get married." Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel·fire·net
Lu Shouyue’s smile froze, instantly feeling down, but maintained a forced smile, "You’re so young, why would you think that?"
Lin Wanwan smiled silently, her demeanor natural and childlike, holding the stair railing, she gracefully descended the stairs.
Lu Shouyue followed step by step, "Alright then, since you’ve decided, let me walk you out."
Lin Wanwan cheerfully replied, "No need, no need, you enjoy yourself. It’s easy for me to get a taxi. Just let your friends know for me, I won’t disturb their pleasure."
Seeing Lin Wanwan continuously heading outside, Lu Shouyue asked, "Aren’t you even going to say goodbye to your friend?"
Lin Wanwan nonchalantly said, "No need, WeChat will do. She’s going to be busy tonight, I’d rather not disturb her."
In such occasions, Chen Jinyu is naturally among those busy socializing.
"Alright then, but don’t refuse my offer to walk you out. I’m free anyway, and do I look like the kind of person who would go wild with them outside?"
Lin Wanwan thought for a moment, indeed, that seemed to be the case, and bashfully said, "Then I would trouble Mr. Lu."
Lu Shouyue helplessly said, "Wanwan, can you not be so polite? Our relationship isn’t that distant, right?"
Lin Wanwan gave him a slight smile and playfully said, "You’re right, Mr. Lu, then could you not apologize to me for everything either?"
"Have I been?" Lu Shouyue chuckled, thinking, wasn’t it just being too cautious and afraid of saying the wrong thing and upsetting you?
The two returned to the basement garage, still driving the same car from the afternoon.
As the car drove through the busy streets, the sound system still played the ’High Mountain and Flowing Water’ piece, and the two occasionally exchanged a few words along the way, enjoying a harmonious journey.
The cars beside them overtook them one after another, with many people sticking their heads out of their windows to look at them, wondering who the idiot was driving under forty on a sixty-limit road. Why can such a person drive a Rolls-Royce, and not me?
However, no matter how slowly they drove, or how much they detoured, from the villa to the hotel was only half an hour anyway.
As soon as they reached the entrance, Lin Wanwan, like a joyful little deer, opened the door and jumped out of the car, waved her hand, and went into the hotel without a hint of lingering.
Lu Shouyue watched her back until she disappeared from view, then stepped on the gas and drove away.
Back in her hotel room, Lin Wanwan quickly washed her hair, took a shower, dried her hair, tied it into a casual ponytail, and opened the Space-Time Gate to return to the Great Tang.
Anyway, in the remote Qiong State, after today, who knows when next time would be, she didn’t care at all about being uncovered or not.
The more chaotic it is, by the time it spreads to Mao County, the less likely it would be for anyone who knows her to associate her with it.