Shen Heng and Yun Sa didn’t have a prejudice against Tang Tu only because he broke up with their daughter. They were very open-minded. It was quite normal for young people to fall in love with each other. No matter who was the one that dumped the other one, it just meant that they weren’t the one for each other. Separating as soon as possible was good for both of them, and this wouldn’t prevent the interactions between the two families.
Shen Mozhen’s parents were also invited to Tang Tu’s concert tomorrow.
Wei Wanru was a very elegant old lady. Even though her hair was already spare, even though her face and neck were full of wrinkles and age spots, even though her posture was a little slouched, these didn’t hinder her elegance.
Her eyes were still bright, and her hands were still slender. It was as if she could play a beautiful Guzheng melody at any second.
“Hello, Professor Wei,” Liu Man greeted her with respect.
“Your Guqin performance of ‘Butterfly Lovers’ was splendid, though I didn’t get a chance to talk to you at the concert,” Wei Wanru complimented Liu Man, “it’s been a very long time since I saw a youngster who could play the Guqin so well. None of the people in the younger generation nowadays are willing to sit down and learn Guqin patiently.”
Liu Man didn’t get cocky when she got complimented on by Wei Wanru; from beginning to end, she respectfully listened to the elder’s opinions.
“Tonight, you did amazing with Mozhen. You were very stable with your playing. Compared with Mozhen, she still needs practice.”
Shen Mozhen lowered her head in shame, listening to her teacher’s criticism.
“I only want to ask you one question right now. When you were choosing your major, why did you choose the piano?” Wen Wanru was confused about Liu Man’s major. She wanted Liu Man to transfer to the Folk Song Major.
Transferring wasn’t hard; however, students usually transfer from instrumental music majors to theoretical majors such as composition and arrangements. Since the establishment of the Capital Music University, there was no precedent for transferring from Western music to folk music.
A transfer like this must get approved by the school leaders.
Wei Wanru focused all her energy on playing Guzheng and teaching students, and she hated the school protocols. She wasn’t in a particularly good relationship with the administrators either, and she didn’t want to beg them.
“My parents chose my major for me,” Liu Man answered truthfully.
Wei Wanru turned to Shen Heng and Yun Sa, and she said, “Did you hear that? It is what happens when parents overly interfere with their child’s future! They don’t know what their child has talent in and don’t know how their child can shine!”
Shen Mozhen’s parents, however, felt that Wei Wanru was also criticizing them in the process.
Because Shen Mozhen had already told her parents and Professor Wei that she didn’t want to join the National Folk Song Orchestra. Shen Mozhen’s dream was to become an independent Guzheng soloist; to put it blandly, she wanted to be a freelancer.
Of course, Shen Heng and Yun Sa strongly disapproved and immediately called their friend in the National Folk Song Orchestra to arrange Shen Mozhen’s job — The Orchestra’s Guzheng First-Chair.
Even though Wei Wanru was getting old, she still really respected Shen Mozhen’s choices. Wei Wanru was trendy and thought there was nothing wrong with being a freelance musician. Even though she might not receive lots of payments in the early years, but with her background, she would not get impoverished. When she got more popular and famous, she would be able to earn lots of money.
Liu Man had noticed this middle-aged couple with an extraordinary temperament a long time ago. Shen Mozhen didn’t introduce them, but Liu Man could still tell that they were her parents.
“We just want our child to suffer less,” Yun Sa told Wei Wanru. She still thought she and her husband were only considering their daughter’s own benefits.
The topic suddenly transferred onto Shen Mozhen, so Liu Man left with the bouquet. Tang Tu glanced at her silhouette.
Liu Man returned backstage and met Tao Zhiyao. Tao Zhiyao said, “Xiaoru sent that girl, who caused a lot of trouble, back to her dorms.”
Liu Man instantly knew Tao Zhiyao meant Wen Fangfei. She asked, still confused, “They’ve friended each other again?”
“That, I do not know. That girl was crying, her face full of snot and tears. She looked very miserable,” Tao Zhiyao described the scene with exaggerated words, “And then, Xiaoru helped her walk back. Before they left, Xiaoru told me to tell you.”
Liu Man could not imagine how Wen Fangfei looked like when she cried since she always had a smile. However, since Wen Fangfei chose to cry in front of Li Xiaoru, it probably meant she knew it was her fault.
“I will change now and give you back your Hanfu,” Liu Man told Tao Zhiyao.
“Changing back wastes lots of time. It’s getting late now, so I will have my driver send you back home to rest first. Don’t you have another performance tomorrow? I will be here, too. It’s not too late for you to return the Hanfu to me then. I don’t wear this set of Hanfu anyway. Even if I want to wear Hanfu, there is a pile of them back at home. I won’t miss this particular one,” Tao Zhiyao’s tone was always so impressive.
Liu Man smiled and didn’t pretend to be polite with Tao Zhiyao. She went to the break room, changed, and put the clothes into a bag. She then started walking out of the concert hall with Tao Zhiyao and Miao Xiaomei.
They hadn’t even reached the exit before Liu Man saw a familiar silhouette in front of them. Tao Zhiyao laughed as she teased her, “Hey, look! God Vet is also here to watch your performance.”
A hint of timidness flashed through Liu Man’s eyes.
“Since he’s here to pick you up, I won’t stay as a third wheel,” Tao Zhiyao said slyly, “My driver should be here already, and I’ll give Miao Xiaomei a ride home. We’re leaving, then. See you tomorrow.”
Miao Xiaomei also said, “See you tomorrow.”
After saying goodbye to Liu Man, the duo intentionally walked at a faster pace straight towards Yu Zhan. Tao Zhiyao glanced at the bouquet of champagne-colored roses he was holding and laughed strangely. She left him with a, “Sure enough, God Vet is so talented even at flirting.”
Then, she left elegantly.
Yu Zhan did not consider Tao Zhiyao’s teasing as critical. Liu Man was his girlfriend. If he didn’t flirt with her, was he going to let other men do it!? Hmph, Yu Zhan would never admit to feeling uncomfortable just now, in the audience, after seeing Liu Man holding the bouquet of lily. He would also never admit to hurriedly rushing here only to reclaim his spot as a boyfriend.
“How did you know I have a performance today?” Liu Man said, confused.
She had only told Yu Zhan she would participate in Tang Tu’s graduation concert, which would be on tomorrow. However, she had never even mentioned today’s concert, hosted by Shen Mozhen.
“Someone told me that.”
Yu Zhan would never sell out his partner in crime — Li Xiaoru.
Even if he didn’t confess, Liu Man could still guess who it was. She felt as if Li Xiaoru had already become Yu Zhan’s spy, reporting to him every word and action from her.
“I’ll take your clothes,” Yu Zhan said as he took the bag that contained her clothes from Liu Man along with the bouquet of lily, doing so all with one single hand. His other hand passed her the bouquet of roses he had bought.
His childish actions made Liu Man laugh out loud.
“Today’s not my solo concert. Why are you giving my flowers?”
“I don’t care who the concert is for. You’ve also performed on the stage. From now on, at every performance of yours, I will be giving you a bouquet,” Yu Zhan swore.
Translated by: Yutong/Puppxteer & Sydney
Edited by: Sydney