64: I'm determined to be this victim.

"Mr. Gong, please sit," Li Xiuwu said, pointing to the stool opposite the zither. Although he had heard that this man was a master of the guqin, Li Xiuwu still didn't dare let him touch the instrument; after all, this was the genuine scorched tail zither.

Gong Yi frowned. He had originally wanted to test the sound. Facing such a rare and exquisite zither, he felt his fingers itching to play.

However, faced with Li Xiuwu's attitude, he felt helpless. It was someone else's zither, and without the owner's consent, what could he do?

Li Xiuwu sat before the zither, just about to play.

Gong Yi suddenly spoke up: "Was that really you playing just now?"

He was worried about the zither. Could a young man not even twenty years old truly play such a treasure? He didn't want the instrument to be damaged.

Li Xiuwu smiled but didn't speak. At his age, no matter how he explained it, people would be skeptical; only the music itself could dispel such doubts.

His fingers brushed across the strings, and immediately, the classic guqin piece "Guanglingsan" began to ring out.

Gong Yi's expression of concern for the zither froze instantly, then turned into astonishment. He was shaken to his core—how could a youth of this age possess such skill?

His amazement didn't last long before he gradually became immersed in the music. The notes rippled through the attic and drifted outside, carrying an inherent sense of confidence within the melody.

Several Little Fatty Birds flew over and landed on the railing, lining up to listen quietly. Gradually, all the birds in the courtyard gathered: two Orioles, pigeons, swallows, Sparrows, Egrets, several Larks, and even a Budgerigar.

Liu Yifei and Shu Chang also followed the sound of the zither upstairs. Seeing the situation in the attic, they quietly sat down.

Liu Yifei opened the DV70 in her hand and pointed it at Li Xiuwu.

Everyone was completely immersed in the music until the piece ended, and it took a long time for them to wake from the trance.

Gong Yi was the first to snap out of it. He opened his eyes and was startled to see the numerous birds perched behind Li Xiuwu, followed by a wave of pleasant surprise.

He looked at Li Xiuwu with a complex gaze. To have such skill at such an age, and to draw a hundred birds with his music—who would believe it if told?

"Young friend, your zither skills are otherworldly. This old man was truly ignorant."

"My skills are shallow; Mr. Gong, you overpraise me." Li Xiuwu quickly moved aside and went over to help him up.

"If yours are considered shallow, then what does that make my meager abilities?" Gong Yi sighed as he looked at Li Xiuwu, feeling as though he had lived seventy years for nothing.

At that moment, the flock of birds suddenly took flight as Liu Yifei and Shu Chang left the attic.

"The version of 'Guanglingsan' you just played is different from the traditional version?"

"I improvised based on the traditional score and my own understanding," Li Xiuwu replied.

The system had granted him Mastery of Ancient Music, so he knew many legendary ancient scores.

"What a brilliant improvisation." Gong Yi's eyes flashed with sharp intelligence.

Many masters' zither skills were boxed in by specific pieces, unable to make even minor adjustments. He hadn't expected this youth to be able to perform such a variation.

Perhaps only a passionate youth would possess such creativity.

The two discussed music. As a professor of guqin, Gong Yi was well-versed in ancient music, but during their conversation, he found that Li Xiuwu's knowledge was incredibly solid—including many things even he didn't know.

"Good music, good zither, and a good person." He couldn't help but marvel, wishing he could share this with those other old fellows.

"Young friend, are you in school? Would you be interested in coming to the Central Conservatory of Music for a doctoral fellowship?" Gong Yi had an idea. Although the conservatory couldn't teach him much, if he stayed there for a few years, he would be a famous alumnus.

"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Gong, but I am studying at the Beijing Film Academy."

"Beijing Film Academy?" He sized up Li Xiuwu. Does the Beijing Film Academy teach ancient music?

Wait, if the Beijing Film Academy had such an outstanding student, they would definitely have promoted him.

"I don't even know your name yet?"

"Li Xiuwu."

"Li Xiuwu! The top scholar of the college entrance examination from last year?" He was all too familiar with this name.

Li Xiuwu nodded.

"Transfer. No, wait—come teach at the Central Conservatory of Music," Gong Yi said, feeling his words lacked enough persuasion. "I'll call the president and make you a doctoral supervisor."

The name Li Xiuwu had caused their president to curse for half a year. More than once while drinking privately, he'd wanted to catch Li Xiuwu and ask what was wrong with his head—why apply to the Beijing Film Academy? Weren't Tsinghua or Peking University better? Even if he wanted to study art, the Central Conservatory of Music should have been his first choice.

Other academies were at most 'National' level, but they were the 'Central' Conservatory.

Li Xiuwu helplessly declined.

Gong Yi felt a bit regretful. "In the initial music, I heard that you have something on your mind?"

"A little bit," Li Xiuwu admitted with a nod.

Gong Yi looked at Li Xiuwu but didn't press further. If he could say it, Li Xiuwu naturally would.

Li Xiuwu deliberated for a moment and said, "An elder went to great lengths to prepare a resource for me. This resource is very good—the kind that would definitely be fought over if the word got out—but I don't think much of it and don't want it."

"But it's the elder's good intention, and rejecting it outright would make people call me a fool. It wouldn't be understood. I don't care about being called names or misunderstood, I just feel bad that my teacher went to all that trouble."

Li Xiuwu briefly described the situation.

After listening, Gong Yi understood where Li Xiuwu's difficulty lay.

"You're saying that if this news gets out, it will trigger a scramble, and your teacher might not be able to hold onto it?"

"If I want it, it can definitely be held," Li Xiuwu said with confidence. Wang Jinsong had been able to get this role precisely because of Li Xiuwu's reputation as the top scholar of the college entrance examination.

"Have you thought about leaking the news?" Gong Yi suggested.

"Leak the news?" Li Xiuwu looked at Gong Yi, considering the consequences of this approach.

Once the news leaked that Wang Jinsong had the second male lead role for 'The Promise' in his hands, those Beijing Film Academy graduates would surely go crazy looking for the teachers there.

Those who had graduated over a decade ago or had connections would likely fight for this opportunity for their own children.

Perhaps he might even be threatened.

His eyes lit up. Being threatened was good! That's how he'd do it. He was determined to be the victim in this scenario.

"Thank you for pointing the way, Mr. Gong." A smile appeared on Li Xiuwu's face as he thanked Gong Yi.

"You were just too close to the situation. If you'd stepped back, you would have thought of it long ago," Gong Yi said with a laugh. In his view, this wasn't a very complex problem; Li Xiuwu had simply been trapped by the elder's sincerity.

"I still have to thank you, Mr. Gong. Otherwise, who knows when I would have thought of it."

"No need for more thanks. Just come to the Central Conservatory of Music more often when you have time."

"Well..." Li Xiuwu hesitated.

"It's not like our conservatory is going to kidnap you."

Gong Yi sighed; he actually did want to try kidnapping him. "Just come to exchange musical ideas."

"That shouldn't be a problem," Li Xiuwu nodded.

"It's getting late, I should take my leave." Gong Yi stood up.

"Mr. Gong, please stay for a meal," Li Xiuwu urged.

"No need. I just came out for a stroll; if I'm out too long, my family will worry." Gong Yi declined, stretching his body and feeling comfortable all over.

"I'm in a good mood today, my whole body feels great." He went down from the attic and strolled away.

Li Xiuwu saw him to the door.