Chapter 3, Piano

Send the email again, but it has vanished without a trace

Yes. She hasn't played the piano since she started middle school; she did learn it when she was younger," Su Zhi said, "Speaking of which, she has learned quite a bit. As for the piano, playing simple pieces shouldn't be a problem, but complex ones might be difficult.

So you are facing financial difficulties? Why not apply for a scholarship

After all, as a teacher, even when discussing such topics, the tone is handled with great appropriateness, being very candid and gentle. Su Cuo bit her lower lip and said, "It is not someone else; my uncle and aunt adopted me."

I suspect that her birth chart conflicts with the talent competition

Su Cuo seemed oblivious, gradually moving towards the backstage. The auditorium began to grow noisy as people arrived one after another. Su Cuo started to feel an uncontrollable headache.

I am a consultant for this company. Just a couple of days ago, I discovered that you are actually a student in my class. Bai Jilin looked at me with appreciation, saying, "It's rare. Studying is already quite busy, and you are also working part-time as a programmer. To be honest, you are much stronger than the graduate students in the computer science department. Your midterm exam results are also very good, although your English is relatively weaker. However, as a rule, a programmer's English shouldn't be too poor."

"Oh," Xu Yihai said, lowering his eyes, his gaze hidden behind his long eyelashes. "I inquired and found out that someone temporarily changed your performance program, but when I tried to ask further, I couldn't find out exactly who it was."

After she left, Su Cuo opened her computer again to write the last few lines of code. While debugging the program, she listened to the music outside. After a moment, the music played again, and Su Cuo focused intently for a while. The unprecedented sound of enthusiastic applause followed, and there was no doubt that the performance had been a great success. This type of dance is not easy to master, but once learned well, it is incredibly moving to perform, with the female dancers as beautiful and captivating as the blooming petals of a flower. It is no surprise that Lin Zheng received everyone's admiration. This type of dance is not easy to master, but once learned well, it is incredibly moving to perform, with the female dancers as beautiful and captivating as the blooming petals of a flower. It is no surprise that Lin Zheng received everyone's admiration.

Why don't you turn on your phone

However, seclusion does not equate to tranquility; one can still hear the announcements from outside, the music, and the incessant sounds of applause and cheers.

When the sound of the qin flowed from Su Cuo's fingertips, the buzzing noise that had hung in the air of the auditorium came to an abrupt halt. The melody rose and fell, intertwining highs and lows, blending movement and stillness, at times gentle like a contemplative chant, and at others as exhilarating and decisive as a waterfall cascading for miles, as if the most tenacious hero were silently shouting against fate.

At the back entrance, Xu Yihao and a beautiful girl were whispering about something. During the day, Lin Zheng, dressed in a gray coat, had very attractive features and was exquisitely dressed. The value of the earrings on her ears was roughly equivalent to the value of a program written by Su Cuo.

The manager looked at Su Cuo in disbelief and said, "Her? This little girl?"

When did my phone turn on!

Her gaze fell upon her senior sister Liu Fei in the distance. Mi Shi resembled her very much; her family background was impeccable, and she was a very kind and gentle person. Although she could not avoid being delicate, there was not a trace of arrogance in her demeanor. She exuded a gentle temperament, treating others with courtesy and politeness, leaving no room for criticism, embodying the grace of a true lady from a distinguished family. It is hard to find anyone who does not like a girl like this

It also involves developing application software and performing micro-material image recognition. For technical issues in physics, the senior students outside will assist you. This project is in great need of personnel, so it is best if you come tomorrow

As the time approached, Su Cuo went to the changing room to put on a brown long skirt. It was quite tiring to wear, but according to Su Zhi, she looked exceptionally beautiful in it

Senior sister, you speak.

The two young men were quite astonished, sizing up Su Cuo for a long time, and simultaneously laughed, "A talented woman and a beauty. Is there anything you cannot do?"

Bai Jilin has three graduate students, two males and one female, all of whom are humorous and interesting individuals. In particular, the senior sister named Liu Fei is very warm-hearted, treating Su Cuo like a younger sister, embracing her enthusiastically without showing any sign of distrust simply because Su Cuo is a freshman.

After most of the students had left, she cautiously approached the lectern and said, "Professor Bai—"

Lin Zheng's expression suddenly changed. She was well aware that Xu Yihao had never shown enthusiasm towards girls, and his interactions with her were mostly polite. However, this Su Cuo was clearly different. The classmates in the ballroom gradually began to notice this scene, each one of them gasping in surprise. Yet, the two parties involved seemed completely oblivious, as if the world did not exist beyond them

Su Cuo did not expect the topic to return to herself, feeling a bit surprised, "I participated."

What piece was played? Su Cuo had no impression at all; she merely stared blankly as the sheet music flipped page by page. When it was time to dance, she stood up, ready to leave, but unexpectedly saw two individuals walking towards her. They were both dressed in impeccably tailored suits today, truly a rare display of elegance. Su Cuo had never felt as exhausted as she did today, yet she couldn't help but steal a few more glances at them. In such a splendid and luxurious environment, with such handsome young men, didn't it resemble some kind of scene from a movie? Su Cuo had never felt as exhausted as she did today, yet she couldn't help but steal a few more glances at them. In such a splendid and luxurious environment, with such handsome young men, didn't it resemble some kind of scene from a movie? A prince meets a princess, and then a romance begins? Su Cuo thought to herself, how moving the atmosphere in the air was; I really should have brought a camera.

"Whether it makes sense or not, I won't turn on the machine." Su Cuo pouted

The crimson curtain slowly parted, and millions of eyes were watching her

When Mi Shi smiled, she revealed teeth like shells, and Su Cuo couldn't help but want to rush forward and touch her fair face. When Mi Shi smiled, there were dimples at the corners of her mouth, "You are the legendary Su Cuo, aren't you? Zi Jia and your brother always mention you. You have no idea how much I've wanted to meet you, and today I finally get to see you."

Sometimes I cannot help but let my legs take me to the reading room where I once met her, or I deliberately ride my bike past the Physics Department building, always harboring some unspoken hope in my heart. I have seen her from a distance a few times; she is always in a hurry, pedaling swiftly, constantly rushing to the laboratory, the study room, or the cafeteria. Sometimes, when the wind rises, it stirs a few strands of her long hair at her temples.

"Su Cuo, what are you doing?" Lin Zheng approached, asking with a hint of surprise, "Still looking at the computer? Truly making every second count"

However, at this critical moment, she received a notification to participate in the Talent Showcase Competition, as one of the two representatives from the college for the preliminary selection. Su Cuo attempted to reason with the seniors from the student council, but the president appeared very composed and serious, saying, "Su Cuo, there is no need to worry. The so-called talent competition is actually just a beauty pageant. It doesn't matter if you have no special skills; you can simply go up and sing a song, it is completely effortless. This is also an honor for the college, as you should know how many years it has been since our college has made a splash in any on-campus cultural and entertainment competitions..."

Su Zhi returned to the judges' table and sat down. Chen Zijia asked him: "What happened to Su? He looks terrible."

At noon, the first snowfall since the onset of winter finally arrived as scheduled, gently fluttering down, with small snowflakes cascading through the air.

Noticing Xu Yihai's gaze, Su Cuo dared not look at him. In fact, she felt like a soldier who had lost his armor, hastily retreating backstage before he could say anything else. She was among the twenty or so participants and would likely have to wait for about an hour and a half. She found her seat, took out her laptop, and began to write code, as the location was quite secluded with fewer people passing by. Su Cuo's comrade, another girl from the Physics Department, had grown somewhat impatient from waiting and was pacing back and forth.

At this moment, Su Cuo finally realized what had happened. She looked almost astonished as Xu Yihao bent down in front of her, his eyebrows slanting elegantly towards his temples, strikingly handsome in a somewhat unusual way. She calmly withdrew her hand from his palm, smiled, and said, "Senior Brother, have you forgotten? I sprained my ankle, so I definitely can't dance."

Mi Shi was greatly pleased, her eyes sparkling, "Su Cuo, is what you said true?"

She spoke for a long time but found no one responding. Looking around the dormitory, she discovered that Su Cuo was missing again, and she couldn't help but be greatly alarmed, "Where is Su Cuo? Where is Su Cuo?"

Su Cuo expressed her gratitude politely: "Thank you, Senior Brother. I will head to the laboratory first"

There was no longer any time to wait. She bowed deeply to the audience, then turned decisively with a frantic determination. Everyone thought she was about to leave the stage, but instead, she walked step by step, steadily towards the piano, her footsteps slow yet unwavering. The light fell upon her head, cascading from the tips of her hair to the ends, softly reflecting a dark red sheen.

Xu Yihao is wearing a short-sleeved sports outfit consisting of a white top and blue pants, with a pair of headphones hanging around his neck

Xu Yihai was more restrained this time, and there was a smile on his face, which gradually widened at the corners of his mouth

He took out his phone and found Su Zhi's number in the contacts. After hesitating for a long time, the phone rang; it was Chen Zijia. After asking a few simple questions, he said: "Have you reached home? Where is Su Cuo? Has she gone back? Her phone is off, and Su Zhi is looking for her."

Su Cuo said: "What does it matter? It's fine."

Su Cuo gently pushed, "Senior brother, please get out of the car quickly. Otherwise, how can I get down?"

In a single sentence, it was said that Su Cuo's nerves were highly tense. The other party was the dean, and she did not have the courage to be careless

These are all expected matters. Su Cuo can still calmly endure the gaze of his classmates, but the gaze of Bai Jilin is somewhat difficult to bear. He called out Su Cuo's name and said: "Su Cuo, stay after class."

Due to the small number of participants in the School of Physics, Su Cuo directly skipped the first round and entered the second round. Su Cuo had never been one to shy away from the stage, but her lack of enthusiasm for this event left her feeling unmotivated. Even when she arrived at the bustling venue, she still appeared listless. After taking a deep breath, when she opened her eyes—Su Zhi had already approached her, grinning at her while holding a judge's sign in his hand

Su Cuo pursed her lips politely and said, "Thank you for the compliment, I feel undeserving. What brings you here?" After asking, she knew it was a meaningless question. Everyone present at this banquet was well aware of each other's identities. It was not surprising to see Xu Yihao and Chen Zijia here.

Vaguely recalling having heard someone mention that there are a total of 10 judges for the competition, with each of the two schools providing half, I wondered if there was really no one from West University. How could they let Su Zhi and Chen Zijia come? Ignoring the numerous infatuated gazes from the girls in the auditorium, Su Cuo completely disregarded her ladylike demeanor and pulled Su Zhi to a corner of the auditorium, asking, "Why didn't you tell me you were going to be a judge?"

Su Cuo was standing in the corridor competing with Su Zhi to see whose voice was louder

Su Zhi shouted: "Su Cuo, where did you run off to this afternoon?"

The manager inclined his body and said, "The chairman is on the top floor, I will escort you up."

In fact, Xu Yihai heard this sentence word for word, and he was also aware of the abrupt parts, but the overwhelming surprise left him no time to ponder the unreasonable aspects. He remained as still as an old monk in meditation.

"Someone has tampered with my program, shouldn't I be angry?" Su Cuo said, "If it were you, would you not be angry?"

Su Cuo smiled slightly, saying, "It's just random playing, nothing good or bad about it."

Su Zhi looked at Su Cuo's frantic state with pity and soothingly said, "If you don't tell me that you are participating in the competition, then why should I tell you that I am here to be a judge"

They took a taxi back to school. Su Cuo felt both hungry and tired, dozing off in the car, with the sound of the wind whistling past her ears. In a daze, she felt someone gently pat her shoulder. She struggled to open her eyes and saw a handsome face, so similar to the one in her memories. Suddenly, she felt at ease, smiled sweetly, and rested her head on his shoulder.

As the piece concluded, she stood up and exited the stage calmly and expressionlessly

"It's nothing, it's nothing," Lin Zheng looked at Xu Yihao and spoke casually, "Yihao can give you a higher score, right"

The science center indeed looks different from other buildings, with not a speck of dust on the floor. Of course, Su Cuo understands that the absence of dust is to prevent static electricity, as the equipment inside is truly precious.

The two boys noticed Su Cuo's hesitation. One said, "Your filial piety is commendable," while the other added, "Junior sister, if you don't go, it would be too disrespectful. Just go." "I..."

Su Zhi, filled with rage, ironically laughed and said, "How is it that you still have the audacity to be reasonable when you haven't even turned on the machine?"

Liu Fei asked while walking, "Where are my parents?"

Su Cuo smiled and said, "Teacher Bai, are you seeing this exception in me now? After all, there are only a few English words in the program, and they do not involve grammar. Moreover, I do not work on the kernel, only on applications; I only need to utilize English words, not to understand them"

What was said made a crowd of people around laugh

I said, "Why do you look so familiar? I've been thinking about where I might have seen you before these past few days." Liu Fei smiled and said, "You are the girl who plays the piano, right? You play very well."

After speaking, she bowed slightly and left. She stepped outside the hall and into the elevator. Xu Yihai hurriedly chased after her, squeezing in at the last second before the elevator doors closed, "Let's go back to school together"

It is not the result of the matter; the beginning of the matter is that I was deceived and bullied

There is no need for regret. I certainly concede defeat.

Since this is the case, Su Cuo pleaded with a sorrowful voice, "Then please give me a low score along with Chen Zijia."

Su Cuo's gaze fixed intently on him, "... ... Can you dance? I cannot."

Su Cuo advised her: "Senior sister, since you have come, you should find peace in it"

Chen Zijia had an inkling, yet still asked, "What happened?" Of course, nothing was revealed. In fact, he had already guessed nearly everything before asking. Those who are proud often find themselves lonely. Given Xu Yihao's personality, it is quite difficult for him to express his feelings.

The elevator is a panoramic one, with glass walls on all four sides. As the movie progresses, it rises higher and higher, offering a comprehensive view of the various landscapes below. It is just before dusk, the sun has set behind the mountains, and Su Cuo's expression remains calm and unperturbed. She watches as the vast city beneath her recedes further away, the lights in every corner of the city illuminating rapidly from near to far. The city, which had just moments ago appeared somber, suddenly enters a bustling and vibrant evening life.

Bai Jilin's nano materials laboratory is not located in the Physics Department's labs, but rather in the Science Experiment Center. When Su Cuo entered the school, she had heard that every laboratory in the Science Experiment Center was funded by the state with enormous sums, with equipment often costing tens of millions, and that ordinary people were not allowed to enter freely. At that time, she felt quite skeptical and never expected that she would be able to step into this legendary building so soon

"Yes," Su Cuo Mo said, "A friend introduced me to this part-time job; they are developing a software, and I am responsible for one part of it. How did you know?"

In just a moment, her entire body became frozen, and a sharp pain pierced her heart. All the blood flowed there, refusing to move again, solidifying into a huge lump, blocking her completely. What does this mean for her? Every person has their temper. Therefore, until the holiday, he no longer contacted her

Su Cuo nodded at her, pointed to himself with a serious expression, "Mi Shi, look at me, what part of me resembles the legendary figure? Your great name is truly renowned, I do not know how long I have admired you."

Xu Yihai pressed his hands firmly on the table, his gaze fixed intently on the back of the stage

His cold smile was just like the weather at that moment. It was early Saturday morning, and the temperature had plummeted, the air felt frozen, solidified in the atmosphere, dry and harsh. Outside the science center, there was an eerie silence, and the sound of fallen leaves being crushed underfoot was particularly jarring

With a softened tone, Yang Xue said, "It's good that you're back. Why not give your brother a call? They are almost going crazy with worry."

Xu Yihao felt mostly annoyed deep down. He remained silent throughout the journey. The glow of the streetlights illuminated her features, and a colorless light reflected off her fair face. That brightness was blinding. Ahead was an intersection, and Su Cuo softly said, "I am going back to the dormitory. Goodbye"

Do you want to know the reason?" Su Cuo pointed to the clocks on the walls of the hall, then her gaze shifted from Xu Yihao to Chen Zijia and finally to Mi Shi. She smiled at them calmly, "For example, right now, I need to leave the hotel within three minutes, and I must return to the laboratory at school within half an hour, even though it is already close to nine o'clock. Because there, I still have a pile of work to do. That is the reason.

Lin Zheng stepped down from the dance floor and was immediately greeted by this scene. Sitting there, Su Cuo smiled up at Xu Yihang, who had his hands resting on the armrests of her chair, looking down at her from a position of elevation, almost in an embrace, far beyond what the term ambiguous could describe

After a while, Xu Yihao returned to his bedroom, opened his computer, and wrote an email: Su Cuo, are we just friends?

Do you know your score? You are in second place. If it weren't for your brother giving you a low score, you would definitely be in first. After your performance, we were actually planning to congratulate you, and the reporters from the school TV station were also looking for you to interview you, but we couldn't find a trace of you at all. Lu Linlin said excitedly, "Su Cuo, how can you still say that you can't do anything? You play the piano so well. I heard Senior Chen Zijia say that the piece you played is one of the most difficult piano pieces, and you hardly made any mistakes in the first half."

She hung up the phone first

Arrived. Bai Jilin stopped.

Is this the part of the program you wrote for Shideng Company

The rooftop restaurant is enormous, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows lining the entire space, already attracting a large crowd of guests. At a glance, there are at least four to five hundred people, each appearing well-dressed, exuding an extraordinary demeanor, and engaging in refined conversation. Most of the gentlemen are clad in suits, while the ladies are elegantly and nobly attired; the long table is piled high with an array of snacks, cakes, and pastries, resembling small mountains.

"Senior brother, morning run?" Su Cuo said, "It's a good habit." They were conversing across a row of bicycles, yet neither of them moved.

Xu Yihao could only see her lips moving, clearly speaking, yet no sound emerged. Before any feelings were fully understood, the lights in the ballroom dimmed; when they brightened again, Xu Yihao suddenly grasped her meaning and took her hand, placing it in his palm

She said, we are just ordinary friends, what does this mean? How can she be so inconsiderate of his feelings

Su Zhishen took a few breaths, and his tone became much calmer. He asked, "Why did you play the piano like that? It seemed as if the sky was about to collapse."

I cannot do anything, I can only sing," Su Cuo said, "the least difficult.

Chen Zijia has been learning the piano for several years, and his piano skills are quite remarkable. After listening to the host's words, he turned his head in surprise and said to Su Zhi: "I didn't know Su Cuo could play the piano. But how did she think of playing such a difficult piece?"

Bai Jilin adjusted his glasses and said in a gentle tone, "If you are not in a hurry to eat, please come to my laboratory for a visit"

Her name began to be called over the broadcast. Su Cuo walked onto the stage, unexpectedly, she did not hear any music, nor was there anyone handing her a microphone. Several backstage staff were lifting a piano to the front of the stage and setting up the sheet music. She felt a vague sense of unease, her face turning pale. Through the curtain, she heard the host announce: "Contestant, Su Cuo from the Physics Department; Performance piece, piano solo, Rachmaninoff's 'Piano Concerto No. 3', excerpt from the third movement."

How?

Deng Ge patted Lu Linlin on the head and said, "Stop talking so much and focus on eating your dumplings. Can't you see she's gone to the hallway to make a phone call?"

The day after the midterm exam, the talent competition officially got underway. The competition is divided into three rounds: the first round is a selection within the college to choose three to five candidates; the second round is a preliminary round for the entire school, selecting fifteen male and female students; the third round is the competition against X University

The audience erupted in thunderous applause; most of them did not understand the piano, but they understood music. Su Cuo returned to the backstage, ignoring the congratulatory words from everyone. She packed her bag, changed out of the long dress she wore during the performance, and calmly left the auditorium

"Indeed, it is unconvincing, not convincing at all," Su Cuo smiled, "Senior brother, since you do not believe me, then do not ask me for the reason."

Su Cuo was completely at a loss for words to argue with Su Zhi for the first time, and she felt utterly defeated

Alright, go greet the senior brothers and sisters

The auditorium was originally extremely quiet, but after a moment, various sounds began to emerge in succession. Su Cuo remained motionless, standing in the center of the stage, her face pale as she stared at the piano, her hands clenched together, as if filled with a deep-seated hatred, her fingers twisted until they turned a deep red. Her eyes were bright, filled with anger, grievance, fury, and even a kind of hysterical despair; everyone who knew Su Cuo and could see the stage was deeply astonished, having never witnessed such a complex array of emotions. She stood there, her thin shoulders trembling, her chest rising and falling, desperately trying to suppress her emotions. Her eyes were bright, filled with anger, grievance, fury, and even a kind of hysterical despair; everyone who knew Su Cuo and could see the stage was deeply astonished, having never witnessed such a complex array of emotions. She stood there, her thin shoulders trembling, her chest rising and falling, desperately trying to suppress her emotions.

Su Cuo was indeed surprised at heart; after their last direct confrontation, the two had not had another opportunity to meet. She did not expect that he held no grudges from the past.

The house was, as usual, dark and empty. He lay on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling, where the patterns gradually twisted and transformed into Su Cuo's enchanting smile. He was not a child; he clearly understood the direction of his feelings. But what about her? Just a second ago, she had leaned against his shoulder, and the next second, she rejected him with the most flawless attitude, keeping him at a distance. Xu Yihang thought through gritted teeth that as long as one is human, one will be greedy; you cannot give me a little and then reject me.

Su Cuo remained silent, and after a long while, finally spoke, her voice having diminished significantly: "I truly am on the verge of forgetting how to play the piano. During the competition today, I also forced myself to go over there—"

Xu Yihai was taken aback; he never expected Su Cuo to be so proactive. He was so excited and nervous that his palms were sweating. He supported her shoulders, wanting her to be more comfortable while sleeping. He struggled to adjust his position, but then he heard her soft voice: "Don't move, I'm exhausted. When we get near my house, you can tell me to get off, but for now, let me sleep for a while"

"Have you been deceived and bullied?" Su Zhi snorted, "Then you have deceived even more people. Did you not tell them that you have no special skills? Why do you not hold yourself accountable but instead blame others?"

Liu Fei's parents' wedding banquet was held in a hotel with extremely high entry standards in the city, where only well-dressed individuals came and went. Su Cuo suspected that if he were alone, he wouldn't even be able to step through the main entrance.

She asked the two boys: "Can you believe that a freshman girl can write programs this well? When I was her age, I didn't even know what a programming language was."

Xu Yihao said: "Plays very well"

Su Cuo felt both tired and exhausted; she wished to treat them as if they were air, but she could not do so. She tilted her head to glance at the ground, then raised her head to reveal a playful smile and greeted, "Hello, both of you."

"I came to listen with my ears," Liu Fei smiled, "You are too modest"

Of course, there is no rush

"Haven't you been studying in the library these past two days?" Xu Yihao did not expect to encounter Su Cuo here, feeling both surprised and delighted. "I looked for you several times, but I didn't see you."

I am fine, just went out shopping. Su Cuo lifted a bag in her hand and shook it, saying, "I bought you all some late-night snacks, all of which are your favorites."

Tomorrow is my parents' thirtieth wedding anniversary, and there will be a party in the evening. However, I want to surprise them, but I have been unable to find someone to play the piano. Could you please help me? I promise it won't take long at all. Liu Fei looked at Su Cuo without blinking.

Do not underestimate her," Liu Fei said coldly, "At the very least, she plays much better than those you have chosen.

"However, why did you resolutely withdraw after participating in the talent competition?" Mi Shi asked her, sincerely inquiring, "I haven't competed with you yet, and I feel very regretful."

Liu Fei, after she had seen enough, embraced her and said to the manager: "By the way, I found someone to play the piano, so you don't need to worry anymore"

The nanomaterials laboratory was not as spotless as Su Cuo had imagined, nor was it as quiet as other areas of the science center. On the contrary, it was quite lively, with three graduate students engaged in a heated debate over something, making quite a racket, completely oblivious to Professor Bai and Su Cuo entering the room. As they argued, they used a lot of terms, mixing Chinese and English, and the technical jargon was so abundant that she could hardly understand it.

Her expression was so sincere and earnest that Su Cuo almost lacked the courage to utter the word of refusal in front of such eyes

Chen Zijia's smile is gentle, "How could I feel guilty about receiving this?"

Su Cuo's lips curved into a gentle smile, radiant and warm, "Understood. You all go ahead and eat. I will make a phone call."

She glanced back at Su Cuo; she could not allow this freshman to underestimate her, and soon she regained her composure

Lin Zheng changed into her outfit, an Indian-style floral dress. Her waist and arms were slender and soft, and she was tall, exuding a vibrant and enchanting presence. Su Cuo praised her endlessly: "Manipuri dance, created by Shiva, you will surely dazzle the entire audience. I cannot think of anyone else who could take first place but you"

Su Cuo heard Chen Zijia over there advising: "Acuo, just come back. Let's talk about serious matters."

Politeness often creates distance. Xu Yihai lacks experience in pursuing girls. Two or three weeks ago, their relationship seemed to have progressed, so why has it become distant again now

"Go ahead," Bai Jilin said kindly as he came out of the office, "I grant you leave."

Xu Yihao did not respond; he did not even look at her, but turned a corner and took another path home

Mi Shi is curious, "Why are you so busy?"

"Good." Su Cuofei nodded quickly, as if afraid that Bai Jilin would change his mind, "However—"

What Su Cuo said was by no means an exaggeration. As soon as Mi Shi entered university, she was successively recognized as the most beautiful girl in her department and later, in her sophomore year, she was elevated to the title of campus beauty at Xida. Besides her outstanding appearance, it was rumored that her family background was also very good, though to what extent no one knew. Most of the rumors in this world are true, and seeing her attire, she already had an idea in her mind

The news of Su Cuo's talent showcase competition has spread like wildfire within less than a day. Most people acknowledge her reasons, but Su Zhi clearly does not agree, only letting out a cold laugh over the phone, "You know the reason in your heart."

Su Cuo followed Bai Jilin into the small office. Bai Jilin pointed at the computer screen. Su Cuo understood the situation with just a glance.

"It's nothing," she smiled, "I appreciate your kind words"

Xu Yihai was moved; he had not felt anything just moments ago, but now he suddenly realized that the half of his body where she had leaned against had gone numb.

Liu Fei held Su Cuo's hand as they entered the hotel, walking briskly with an air of nonchalance, as if she were entering her own home. Even the lobby manager hurried over to greet her with a warm smile. Su Cuo did not have time to wonder about it before she understood the reason.

Xu Yihao looked at Su Cuo, a smile gradually appearing on his face, "Alright"

Upon returning to the dormitory, it was already past 10 PM that day. As soon as I pushed the door open, everyone surrounded me. Yang Xue shouted fiercely, "We searched for you all afternoon and evening, checking the library study rooms, fearing that something might have happened to you. Where on earth have you been?"

Xu Yihao felt her touch, turned to look at her, her face as pale as jade, her eyes very bright, filled with a glow of admiration. At that moment, the ballroom was extremely noisy, the clamor as deafening as the roar of a train passing through a tunnel, buzzing in everyone's ears. Su Cuo's voice was not loud, even quite low, and Xu Yihao could not possibly hear what she said clearly. But he guessed her meaning, raised his voice, and said: "Yes, she has been learning to dance since she was little." At that moment, the ballroom was extremely noisy, the clamor as deafening as the roar of a train passing through a tunnel, buzzing in everyone's ears. Su Cuo's voice was not loud, even quite low, and Xu Yihao could not possibly hear what she said clearly. But he guessed her meaning, raised his voice, and said: "Yes, she has been learning to dance since she was little."

She affectionately wrapped her arms around Chen Zijia, holding him tightly, and then said to Su Cuo: "I saw you playing the piano, and you played 'Adelaide on the Water' exceptionally well. I truly wish I could dance to such piano music."

Su Cuo shook his head with a smile, "No, I have returned to school."

"It did not cause any serious consequences." Su Zhi was unconvinced

Xu Yihao stepped closer and said earnestly, "You play the piano very well"

This is indeed correct. The problem is that Su Cuo excels in mathematics, physics, and computer science, but her English is significantly poor. Her spoken English and grammar are quite terrible; during English class, when the teacher asks questions, she stammers and cannot produce a complete sentence. Both she and her previous teachers are baffled as to how her English could be in such a deplorable state. She can only recognize some words, and her grammar is simply incompatible with her brain.

At the end of her speech, there was a slight tremor in her voice, which made Bai Jilin feel somewhat emotional. He had taught many students, but he had never seen such a beautiful girl who was so determined. He paused for a moment and said, "I have a job for you, will you take it?"

Lin Zheng asked Su Cuo: "What will you perform?"

"No, please, just be a little fair." Su Cuo smiled politely, "I will go in first."

When she woke up, she found herself leaning against Xu Yihai. Su Cuo felt as if she had been doused with a bucket of cold water, and she hurriedly retreated, unable to utter a single word for several seconds. The taxi driver in the front seat turned around, smiling as he looked for change, and said, "Such a beautiful girlfriend, not bad, not bad"

When Su Cuo changed into her clothes and returned to the hall, the banquet was about to begin.

Su Zhi shook his head, "I don't know what she is thinking either. Just a moment ago, she said she was just singing."

Su quickly developed a fondness for this laboratory

Professor Bai, I recently participated in a talent competition at school, but there might be a slight issue with the timing. The finals are next week. " Su Cuo paused for a moment, noticing Bai Jilin frowning, and quickly added, "It’s really fine if I don’t go to that. I just need to trouble you to call the student council and let them know that I am very busy. That would be sufficient.

"We were brought here by someone," Xu Yihao continued the previous topic. He raised his hand and pointed to the crowd at the center of the venue, where a girl, stunningly beautiful and seemingly otherworldly, approached. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall; she wore a pair of very high boots and a pure white gown, exuding elegance and grace. Su Cuo had never seen anyone whose aura matched their attire so perfectly. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall; she wore a pair of very high boots and a pure white gown, exuding elegance and grace. Su Cuo had never seen anyone whose aura matched their attire so perfectly.

Su Cuo said: "I went to the bookstore"

Xu Yihai spoke in a low voice: "We came back together, she has returned to the dormitory"

Of course, Su Cuo said, "I have always loved beautiful things"

Su Cuo lowered her head and looked at the tips of her shoes, an endless sorrow surging in her heart. "They are wealthy, and they give me a lot of money, treating me very well, just like a biological daughter. But... I no longer want to spend their money"

The judges on the panel were whispering among themselves. Xu Yihao leaned over a judge, patted Su Zhi, and asked, "She said this to you, but did not mention playing the piano at all?"

After the events of the competition, Su Cuo became an overnight sensation in both the college and the school. Everyone knows that Su Cuo from the Department of Physics not only excels in her studies but is also quite skilled at playing the piano. During the course of General Physics, when the teacher called out Su Cuo's name, nearly everyone in the department turned to look at her, achieving a near 100% turn rate.

Bai Jilin's tone shifted: "Su Cuo, your file states that your parents passed away early and that you were raised in someone else's home?"

Su Zhi scrutinized Su Cuo with a strange gaze and slowly said: "Acuo, I have never understood what is wrong with you. Why are you so afraid of these activities? Is it really that difficult to perform on stage? Do you think that by hiding your abilities, they will truly disappear?"

The piano was placed on a platform in the corner of the hall, slightly elevated by one step compared to its surroundings. It was an expensive piano regarded as a genuine article by collectors, a rarity that most people would not even have the opportunity to see, let alone purchase. Su Cuo stood quietly there, gazing at the piano body, seemingly oblivious to the changes around her, as if waiting for the passage of time to transform the world. After a long while, she finally walked over at the urging of the host, her hands slowly resting on the keyboard

Due to the snowfall, they did not want to go out, so the four of them ordered takeout. Over the course of a few days, Su Cuo and Liu Fei got along extremely well. As girls from the School of Physics, they were indeed in sync on a spiritual level, and their interactions were effortless. She kept serving Su Cuo food.

"By the way, Xiao Su," Liu Fei suddenly asked, "Did you participate in that talent competition a few days ago?"

Su Cuo did not want to be labeled with the three big hats of not loving her class, not loving her college, and not loving her school—actually, even one would be enough for her to bear—ultimately, in order to prove that she is a young person of the new era with ideals, pursuits, and a love for the collective, Su Cuo signed an unequal treaty and left in silence

I would like to ask you for a favor. Liu Fei held Su Cuo's hand

Quickly receiving a reply: Senior brother, if we are not friends, what are we? Thank you for taking me back tonight

"Don't say anymore, Aco." At some point, the person on the other end of the phone had turned into Chen Zijia. Su Co heard him sigh softly, his voice warm and pleasant. "I have also studied piano for many years. I know how much time and what level of skill is required to play the 'Third Piano Concerto' well. Do you really think this excuse sounds convincing?"

As the midterm exams approached, Su Cuo began to feel anxious. Her roommates in the dormitory exchanged puzzled glances, saying, "What are you joking about? Are you really going to be defeated by the exam? Who else but you is the best student in the class?"

Su Cuo looked up and asked, "What?"

Her hands were very cool and soft, as if they had no bones; Xu Yihao couldn't bear to let go once he held them. He walked around the table to stand in front of her and gently whispered in her ear: "Su Cuo, shall I teach you?"

A hush fell over the crowd, as the staff huddled on either side of the stage, gesturing and miming actions, almost jumping in frustration. Su Cuo shifted his gaze to the left, catching a glimpse of a figure in a dress fleetingly passing through the darkness, their eyes openly expressing mockery.

Chen Zijia turned his head to look at the girl, and a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes. He turned around and smiled as he introduced, "Su Cuo, this is Mi Shi, just like you, she is a freshman."

Indeed, Su Cuo brushed her hair away from her forehead and said, "Professor Bai asked me to help out in his laboratory, and with the added benefit of a scholarship, I had no choice but to set aside my study sessions."

Mi Shi looked excited and took her hand, saying, "Let's go eat something"

What else can be done? There is no way at all. Su Cuo paused for a moment, then said: "It will happen."

Su Zhidong was moved. He recalled how she looked when her parents brought her back to their home when she was very young. At that time, her parents, who were actually his uncle and aunt, had both passed away in a car accident. She was only six or seven years old, pitifully small, standing silently at the door, holding a box of Go pieces in her hands

Su Cuo maintained a calm demeanor, even sporting a smile on his face, "Uncle, you have misunderstood. We are just ordinary friends."