Chapter 23: I Also Want Cake (23)
When they got down to business, the atmosphere between the three became less tense.
Jiang Zhiyan modified the piano and cello scores based on the original. The entire piece would take more than eight minutes to perform, which was a bit long for the school’s gala. If they didn’t shorten it now, the teacher would ask them to do so later. After shortening the score and ensuring it flowed smoothly, she and Liang Xi rearranged the dance part.
Yang Xiao couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Zhiyan a few more times. Although she looked down on Jiang Zhiyan, she had to admit that this person was capable. Who was it that said she was just a pretty face?
“Do you have any other opinions?” Jiang Zhiyan looked at Yang Xiao.
“Huh?” Yang Xiao came back to her senses and shook her head. “No.”
She felt like she was being dragged along.
“Then let’s do this. I’ll print out the revised scores, and if there are any problems, we can change them later.” Jiang Zhiyan said.
“Okay.” Liang Xi and Yang Xiao nodded.
“I feel like you can do everything.” Liang Xi looked at Jiang Zhiyan. “We all have the same amount of time.”
“Not the same amount of time, I have much more time than you.” After saying that, Jiang Zhiyan left with her laptop.
The two people in the room didn’t understand. Liang Xi thought Jiang Zhiyan was probably being modest, while Yang Xiao strongly felt that she was subtly showing off. She glanced at Liang Xi and confirmed it, Liang Xi had fallen for it.
Yang Xiao once again felt that Jiang Zhiyan was impressive. This person was clearly unlikeable, but she somehow managed to avoid stepping on Liang Xi’s landmines, and even increased her favorability.
Jiang Zhiyan printed several copies of the score and distributed them to everyone, then they practiced individually.
As Yang Xiao practiced, she wanted to slack off, but Liang Xi, a dance student, didn’t stop, learning the dance smoothly. Jiang Zhiyan’s cello playing also didn’t stop, and listening closely, it seemed like she could almost play the entire piece. What monsters were these two?
She posted a message on her WeChat Moments.
[What’s it like to be with two super-studious workaholics?]
Yang Xiao shook her head, throwing the random thoughts out of her mind, and practiced seriously.
Jiang Zhiyan sat on the stool, looking at Liang Xi, and played along with the accompaniment Liang Xi was using. Liang Xi paused slightly, then reacted, glancing at Jiang Zhiyan with some surprise.
The two didn’t speak. Jiang Zhiyan just played along with Liang Xi’s accompaniment again and again. The accompaniment she was using wasn’t the same version they had revised, but Jiang Zhiyan still managed to play it.
Finally, Liang Xi turned off her video and practiced with Jiang Zhiyan’s cello playing. The piano music was a bit messy, but it didn’t affect the two beside her.
Liang Xi saying she wasn’t good at dancing was pure modesty. She was very quick at learning dances and paid attention to details. Jiang Zhiyan occasionally stopped to give her some pointers, and Liang Xi could immediately understand her meaning.
Before dinner, Jiang Zhiyan recorded the accompaniment with the cello and piano and combined them.
Yang Xiao stood to the side, no longer wanting to speak. From initial shock to current resignation, she had always been someone with a good attitude.
“Do you want it?” Jiang Zhiyan looked at Yang Xiao. “I’ll give you the separate cello and piano accompaniments, you can combine them yourself when you go back.”
“Thanks.” Yang Xiao sighed.
“Let’s go, dinner’s on me. There’s a new buffet restaurant on this street, it’s not bad.”
…
“Lately, I always see Jiang Zhiyan and Liang Xi coming and going together. She rarely comes to find you anymore. Did you two break up?” Wei Ting looked at Lin Shenyu gloatingly.
Lin Shenyu frowned: “No.” But it was almost the same.
He wasn’t sure what his current status with Jiang Zhiyan was. She had said she wanted to help him make Wei Ting uncomfortable, but now he was the one being constantly irritated by Wei Ting.
Now that he had calmed down, he felt that the conversation he had with Jiang Zhiyan at the hospital was childish and made him cringe.
“You’re right, I’ll break up with her right now.”
“What did I say?” Wei Ting’s eyes widened. “Haha, it’s not that easy to break up with her. She’ll come running over, crying her eyes out, and then you’ll soften, and then, a few days later, you’ll be dumped by her, and you’ll even feel like you’re the one who wronged her. It’ll take a few days before you realize you were played, and you won’t even be able to say anything.”
Lin Shenyu frowned: “You don’t seem to hate her that much.”
“Hate her? Who said I don’t hate her? When she was with me, she always tried to get closer to Yan Yanzhuo. Now that she’s close to Liang Xi, making Yan Yanzhuo…”
“He’s been in a worse and worse mood lately, I think he just likes Liang Xi and won’t admit it. Tsk tsk tsk, Jiang Zhiyan is impressive. Liang Xi hasn’t gone to find Yan Yanzhuo recently.”
Wei Ting chuckled meaningfully, his mood clearly very good.
A message from Jiang Zhiyan popped up.
“Let’s see.”
[Jiang Zhiyan: Okay.]
The two fell silent. Lin Shenyu had already guessed it. Wei Ting glanced at Lin Shenyu several times. He didn’t say anything, clearly wanting to watch the show, but out of humanitarianism, he still patted Lin Shenyu’s shoulder.
“Just laugh if you want to.” Lin Shenyu shrugged off his hand. “Idiot.”
“Lin Shenyu, do you want to fight? I’m kindly trying to comfort you!”
Ten seconds later.
“Holy shit, holy shit, Lin Shenyu and Wei Ting are fighting!”
…
Jiang Zhiyan didn’t go. She sat calmly in her seat, choosing the clothes she would wear for the performance. They had passed the program selection and were confirmed to be performing on stage.
When news of the fight came, many people in the class looked at her, but because of what happened to the last person who badmouthed her, no one dared to say anything.
Those people had all transferred schools and left shortly after the incident. One of them died in a car accident on the spot. Although the investigation concluded it was an accident, it still felt a bit strange.
“Yan Yan!” Liang Xi stood at the door and waved at Jiang Zhiyan.
Jiang Zhiyan stood up and quickly walked over: “What’s wrong?”
Liang Xi opened her phone and looked at Jiang Zhiyan, her eyes sparkling: “How about this one! I think this black one would suit you very well, then Xiao Xiao can wear this one, and I’ll wear this one.”
“Three different colors?” Jiang Zhiyan looked at Liang Xi.
“Yes, isn’t the theme of this dance related to life? I’m the nascent life, white. Your two solo parts also correspond perfectly. Xiao Xiao is the vibrant and passionate life, red, and your solo part is just as life approaches its final chapter.” Liang Xi looked at Jiang Zhiyan expectantly.
Jiang Zhiyan glanced at her, looked away, and nodded: “Hmm… You’re right, but at the end, I don’t feel like it’s sadness, but rather the feeling of having experienced a lot and returning to zero. I think I can also wear white.”
“You’re right, the white one in your style also looks good and suits you well, then let’s go with white.” Liang Xi changed her mind quickly.
“If you want to see me in black, you can buy the black one too.” Jiang Zhiyan said, then quickly added, “Does Yang Xiao have any objections?”
“She said she doesn’t want to deal with these trivial matters.” Thinking of Yang Xiao, Liang Xi laughed. “She has other pieces to practice, she’s been very busy lately. Am I being a bit mean?”
“That’s normal. I can already imagine her suffering expression.”
“Yes, she’s doing her homework right now, saying she wants to finish some of it at school.” Liang Xi glanced at Yan Yanzhuo passing by, her expression unchanged, as if she was looking at a stranger, then looked away.
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