129: Emotions alone, no skill

The battle at the dining table was nearing its end.

The plate of sweet and sour pork ribs, which had been piled high like a small mountain, was now reduced to just a few broken bones; not a single shred of chili pepper remained on the plate of wormwood, and even the pot of old duck soup had been scraped clean.

Ye Xi slumped gently into her chair, her face a picture of satisfaction and dazed contentment.

"Hic—"

An extremely loud burp rang out abruptly in the dining room.

Ye Xi covered her mouth abruptly, her small face—which had been glistening with grease from the meal just moments ago—instantly flushed bright red, and she looked around with terrified eyes, as if the sound had been emitted by some kind of alien creature.

"Yo, steady breath, using your dantian."

Lin Que peeled an orange unhurriedly, not even lifting his eyelids.

"As expected of someone in music, even your burps have reverb."

"Lin Que!"

Ye Xi was mortified, wanting to reach out and hit him, but she pulled her hand back halfway through the motion.

"Oh my, you child, what's wrong with burping? It just means you ate well!"

Wang Xiulian was grinning from ear to ear, standing up to head back to the kitchen to scoop more rice.

"Dear, there's still some scorched rice in the pot, it tastes best soaked in soup, should Auntie scrape some more for you?"

"No, no, no! Auntie, I really can't eat any more!"

Ye Xi waved her hands repeatedly in fear, her terrified expression making it look as if she were being sent to the execution ground.

"If I eat any more, I'll… I'll be unable to walk!"

Seeing that the girl had truly reached her limit, Wang Xiulian finally put down the rice scoop with regret.

Her eyes rolled, and she turned and ducked into the kitchen; after some rummaging through cabinets, she walked out holding a glass jar.

"Dear, I don't have anything good to give you. This is some pickled garlic I made myself; it's not spicy at all and very crunchy."

Wang Xiulian shoved the jar into Ye Xi's arms, her tone generous and hearty.

"Take it back to eat as a snack, it cuts through the grease!"

Ye Xi held the heavy glass jar, and through the glass, she could see the plump, white garlic bulbs inside.

"Thank you, Auntie!"

Ye Xi nodded heavily, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

"I will definitely eat it all!"

Lin Que shook his head while watching from the side.

If the fans who revered her as a goddess could see this scene, they would probably be heartbroken on the spot.

"Alright, Mom, we have to go back; we have activities this afternoon."

Lin Que stood up and handed Ye Xi her coat.

"Go on, go on, business comes first."

Lin Jianguo put down his newspaper and adjusted his glasses.

"Take it slow on the road, be safe."

After leaving the gates of Xisheng Mansion, a cold wind blew, but Ye Xi didn't feel cold at all, clutching that jar of pickled garlic tightly in her arms.

"Is it really necessary?"

Lin Que walked in front with his hands in his pockets, turning back to glance at her.

The two of them slipped along the base of the wall toward the school.

The afternoon streets were somewhat desolate, with only withered leaves being swept in circles on the ground by the wind.

"Lin Que."

Ye Xi spoke suddenly, her voice, muffled by her scarf, sounding somewhat low.

"Your home… is really nice."

"That's all it takes to be nice?"

Lin Que raised an eyebrow.

"Two dishes and a soup were enough to bribe you?"

"It's not about the dishes."

Ye Xi looked down at her toes, kicking away a pebble.

"At home, we never talk while eating. My dad watches financial news, and my mom stares at my calorie intake chart."

Lin Que paused in his steps, not turning back, but his tone softened slightly:

"That is indeed quite miserable, not even having the freedom to burp."

"Yeah."

Ye Xi gave a bitter smile, looking up at the gray sky.

Ye Xi tightened her grip on the glass jar, suddenly whispering:

"Do you know? This is the first time I've brought something 'smelly' back to the piano room. Before, I wasn't even allowed to bring chocolate."

Lin Que glanced at her:

"Then I suggest you remember to brush your teeth after eating, otherwise the Steinway will be infused with the smell."

"Let it smell!"

Ye Xi hummed, looking up at the gray sky.

"Beethoven loved herring too, why can't I eat pickled garlic?"

Lin Que said nonchalantly.

"Well, your mouth is on your own face, eat if you want to, just be careful when you handle it, don't stain the white keys black."

Ye Xi was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

The bit of sadness from just a moment ago vanished instantly.

"Lin Que, you're good in every way, except for this mouth of yours, it's really annoying!"

"Much obliged, it's a professional habit."

When the two of them snuck back to the side door of Yiyuan Building like thieves, it was exactly one-thirty.

As soon as they entered the lobby, they saw Fei Yuncheng holding a walkie-talkie, pacing around covered in sweat, shouting:

"Where is Lin Que? Has anyone seen Lin Que? Where did he take the guest? If he lost her, I…"

Lin Que was quick-witted, grabbing Ye Xi and pulling her into the nearby stairwell, telling her to sneak upstairs on her own.

He then adjusted his red vest and swaggered out.

Lin Que leaned against a pillar and yawned.

"Director Fei, I just went home to get something."

When Director Fei turned and saw Lin Que, he was furious:

"What took you so long to get something? Never mind, the leaders are coming soon, this afternoon is the internal performance exchange meeting, Professor Yu specifically asked for Ye Xi to test the piano, where is she?"

"Coming, coming."

Ye Xi walked out of the stairwell, her coat already taken off and draped over her arm, the jar of pickled garlic hidden in her backpack in the lounge.

The lazy, comfortable expression on her face vanished instantly, replaced by that standard, impeccable artist's smile.

"I'm sorry, I was just adjusting my state."

Ye Xi nodded slightly.

Fei Yuncheng had wanted to get angry just a moment ago, but remembering what happened this morning, he immediately put on a smiling face:

"Oh… no problem, no problem, Student Ye, the piano room is ready. You can take this moment to familiarize yourself with it."

The performance-grade piano room on the third floor.

The heavy soundproof door closed, completely isolating the noise from the outside world.

In the center of the room, that black Steinway grand piano, worth nearly seven figures, stood quietly.

Ye Xi walked over, her fingers gently brushing across the piano lid, her expression becoming somewhat complex.

"What do you want to play?"

Lin Que leaned against the doorframe, watching her.

"Professor Yu has been talking to me since yesterday, saying she wants to hear 'Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2'."

Ye Xi sat down on the piano bench, opened the lid, her voice sounding somewhat distant.

"That… is considered my signature piece, but it's also my golden hoop."

"If you don't want to play it, then don't."

Lin Que shrugged.

"Anyway, there's no one here, this room is soundproof, even if you play 'Two Tigers,' no one will care."

Ye Xi turned her head, looking at Lin Que, and suddenly grinned, a fierce edge to her smile.

"Who wants to play 'Two Tigers'."

She took a deep breath, raised her hands abruptly, and then brought them down heavily.

"BAM—!!!"

The moment the first note was slammed down, Lin Que's eyebrows twitched.

It wasn't elegant classical music, nor was it some etude.

It was a string of chaotic yet tension-filled bass chords; Ye Xi's body swayed violently with the rhythm, her long hair flying, her fingers jumping frantically on the black and white keys, so fast that one could almost only see afterimages.

The piano music wasn't flowing out, it was being slammed out.

The roar from the bass register was like a trapped beast crashing against its cage; there was only emotion, no technique.

Ye Xi's long hair whipped about with her body, and every keystroke seemed as if she wanted to break the black and white keys.

Lin Que leaned against the doorframe, listening to this string of noise that had no melody to speak of, his eyebrows raised slightly.

This wasn't playing the piano; it was clearly a street brawl.

The piece ended, the final note vibrating in the air for a long time.

Ye Xi's chest heaved violently, a fine layer of sweat seeping out on her forehead.

She turned her head, looking at Lin Que: "How was it? This is what I actually wanted to play."

"Pretty good."

Lin Que gave a thumbs up. "I can tell, it was a filthy tirade."

Ye Xi couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Just at that moment.

"Click."

The piano room's doorknob suddenly turned.

The smile on Ye Xi's face froze instantly, her whole person as if she had been pressed on a pause button.

The door opened.

Professor Yu Yan stood at the doorway, holding a sheet of music in her hand; the gaze behind her tortoiseshell glasses was sharp, piercing straight at Ye Xi sitting on the piano bench.

"That piece just now…" Professor Yu Yan frowned, walking in step by step. "Was that you playing?"