Huo Jincheng stopped saying anything further.
It was only after they reached the restaurant and had lunch that he brought up a question he had held for a long time.
"Zhi Zhi, are you sure you don’t want to go to the Music Academy? I just don’t understand why you wouldn’t, with your incredible talent. I never asked you before, as I assumed you had your reasons. But if you want to change your mind, it’s still not too late. I can help you get into the best Music Academy."
Lu Xingzhi held a cup of tea, taking a small sip. She lowered her eyes and after a moment, lifted them to look at him, "When I was twelve, I had already received an admission letter from Curtis Music Academy."
Huo Jincheng wasn’t surprised, only curious as to why she didn’t go.
"Is your English so good because you specifically learned it for that?"
"No. My piano and English were both taught by my father. I was only twelve then, and he and my grandparents couldn’t bear to send me abroad. But I didn’t expect that he would pass away that year." When Lu Xingzhi spoke of her family, a shadow passed over her eyes.
For a moment, Huo Jincheng didn’t know what to say, his heart ached slightly.
Lu Xingzhi was only two months old when her mother passed away, never having known maternal love.
At twelve, her father died.
At thirteen, her grandmother passed away.
At fifteen, her grandfather also left.
It’s hard to imagine how she managed to make it through all of that at such a young age.
One can only be so strong.
"Uncle, don’t comfort me! I’m fine. I will live well, because I am the continuation of my mother’s life and the wish of all my family. My mother had a heart condition and wasn’t suited for childbirth. But she chose to give birth to me."
Lu Xingzhi never felt what motherly love was like, yet she has always been cherished by her grandparents and father.
Huo Jincheng went over and hugged her, "From now on, you have me. You just need to be happy."
"Really, I don’t feel bad. Although I miss them terribly. I don’t even like talking about this, for fear that others might pity me." Lu Xingzhi feared those kinds of looks the most.
She never felt she was suffering.
"I don’t feel you’re pitiful. I just want to take care of you well." Huo Jincheng gently patted her shoulder, "With me here, you can do whatever you want. Zhi Zhi, I just want you to be happy."
Lu Xingzhi nestled in Huo Jincheng’s embrace, feeling a tightness in her nose and her eyes slightly red—truly grateful to him.
She spoke softly with a slight tremor in her voice, "Huo Jincheng, thank you."
"No thanks necessary, be good. We have a long life ahead of us. There’s so much more I can do, or would you thank me for life?" Huo Jincheng’s gaze was soft; he wished to take care of her forever.
He felt both heartache and tenderness, and more so, affection for her.
Lu Xingzhi came out of his embrace with a gentle smile, "Alright, then I won’t thank you."
After that moment, Huo Jincheng didn’t ask again why Lu Xingzhi didn’t go to the Music Academy.
The two sat for a while before heading to the school.
After registration, Huo Jincheng escorted Lu Xingzhi to her dormitory.
When she arrived, the other three who would be staying in the dorm were already settled in.
The three had been getting to know one another but suddenly froze upon seeing them.
Had these two come to the wrong place?
"Miss, this is the student dormitory."