Chapter 5: Encounter 1

Chapter 5: Encounter 1

Under the sign of "Cloud's Fruit Shop," Yun He was busy stacking a box of fruits.

"Alright, son, your mom and I can handle the rest later. You've got school starting tomorrow, so you shouldn't be working," Yun He's father, Yun Qingtian, wiped his sweat with a short-sleeved shirt, addressing his son.

"It's fine. I only have a lunch date with Yongzi at the Art Plaza tomorrow morning. I don't have anything else to do today," Yun He replied. He had arrived at the shop early in the morning and had been assisting all along after delivering breakfast.

"It's already half past ten. Go home, take a shower, and have lunch with Yongzi outside. You don't need to worry about your dad and me," Cai Mingzhi emerged from the shop, holding a palm-leaf fan to cool her son down.

"We don't have any urgent matters. There's no rush. I'll cook some food for both of you back home and bring it over to the plaza later," Yun He offered.

"Alright, child, do as you please. By the way, when you go back, bring a bag of fruit for Aunt Zhang. Your Aunt Zhang's pastries have been a recent favorite for your dad and me," Cai Mingzhi suggested.

Yun He carried the fruit to Aunt Zhang's doorstep, wiped his forehead, and knocked on the door.

"Who's there?" After a moment, Aunt Zhang's voice sounded through the door.

"Aunt Zhang, it's me, Yun He," Yun He replied, standing close to the entrance.

"Oh... Little He." Aunt Zhang's voice drew closer, her smile evident as she opened the door.

"Hi, Aunt Zhang," Yun He greeted, lifting the bag of fruit in his hand. "My mom asked me to bring some fruit over. Thank you for the snacks."

Yun He smiled politely, glancing aside to take in the clean and cozy interior of the house. On the living room floor was a basketball, likely belonging to her son.

"Aww, your mother is too kind. I'm at home anyway, so I might as well make some snacks. My son isn't really fond of sweets, but it's great that your parents enjoy them. It gives me a sense of accomplishment," Aunt Zhang said, genuinely pleased.

"Hehe... everyone in my family loves sweets..." Yun He chuckled, feeling a bit bashful.

"Then that's fantastic! Now someone appreciates my cooking skills," Aunt Zhang laughed.

Yun He noticed a row of men's sports shoes by the entrance, guessing they belonged to Aunt Zhang's son. They were from trendy sportswear brands popular among young people.

"Aunt Zhang, is your son at home?" Yun He asked hesitantly, curious to see the handsome guy his mom had been raving about.

"Oh, he's not here. He's out working," Aunt Zhang replied.

"Working?" Yun He was slightly surprised.

Having moved here for just a month, he's already working part-time? Does the family really need money? But judging from the shoes on the shoe rack, they don't seem cheap. Yet, living in this neighborhood doesn't give off an affluent vibe... So, are they wealthy or not?

"Ah, yes. Since he arrived, he couldn't sit idle, so he found a part-time job... He doesn't have any friends here anyway, it's better than just staying at home doing nothing," Aunt Zhang still wore a warm smile. "Little He, your mom said you attend No. 9 High, right? My son also transferred to that school. Perhaps you two will bump into each other on the first day of school tomorrow."

"Oh..." Yun He felt a tinge of disappointment. It seemed rather difficult to meet this highly praised handsome guy.

After delivering the fruit, Yun He went home, took a quick shower, changed his clothes, and prepared noodles with sauce for his parents before sending them to their shop.

At the stone monument in the designated Art Square, Yun He saw Lin Yong eagerly waiting with two cups of milk tea in hand.

"Should we eat first or look for the teacher?" Yun He took one of the milk teas as he approached Lin Yong, sipping it while asking.

"Let's find the teacher first. I'm burning with impatience here," Lin Yong drank from the other cup.

"What are you in such a hurry for? You can't learn it instantly just because you're anxious," Yun He rolled his eyes. "Besides, it's noon; don't teachers take a break and eat lunch?"

"Dude, then why did you even ask me what to do first?!" Lin Yong grumbled.

"I was just pretending to consider your opinion, got it?" Yun He smiled with the straw in his mouth.

The duo arrived on the food street and entered a restaurant that offered an array of international cuisines. Yun He ordered a bibimbap, a Korean specialty, while Lin Yong opted for a curry dish, representing Indian flavors.

During their meal, Yun He was constantly engrossed in his phone, texting away. After they finished, they split the bill evenly.

"Out of all these shops, which one should we choose to find a teacher?" Lin Yong asked.

Exiting the restaurant, they strolled down an artsy street where several music schools lined the road.

"While I was eating, I contacted my former piano teacher. He's now teaching at a training center, and he said they have a guitar instructor suitable for your situation," Yun He said, stopping in front of an elegant-looking storefront. "Here it is."

Looking up, Lin Yong saw the sign above the door: Melodic Sound Music Studio.

"Brother Yun, I knew you'd come through!" Lin Yong's face lit up with joy as he thumped Yun He's shoulder playfully but forcefully.

"Hey, easy there," Yun He winced. "Do you want me to accompany you to every single place in this scorching heat?"

"Brother Yun, you always put in effort without seeking praise!" Lin Yong exclaimed, exasperated.

"Alright, enough talk. Let's get inside before I melt," Yun He urged, gently pushing Lin Yong into the training center.

The two arrived at the reception desk, where the young lady behind it immediately greeted them with a warm smile. "Hello, welcome to Melodic Strings. How may I assist you?"

"Hi there, my surname is Yun, and I have an appointment with Mr. Huang," Yun He stated his purpose concisely.

"Alright, please wait a moment," the receptionist replied as she dialed an internal number and conveyed the situation.

In no time, a middle-aged man wearing glasses emerged. He had a kindly appearance and greeted Yun He with a warm smile. "Little He! It's been ages; you've grown so much that if we met on the street, I might not even recognize you!"

As he spoke, Mr. Huang gave Yun He a friendly hug.

"Haha, not quite that exaggerated, Old Huang," Yun He chuckled. "But your youthful appearance almost made me think a college student had walked in."

"Hey, you rascal, should I scold you for being disrespectful or praise your sweet talk?" Mr. Huang looked at Yun He with amusement.

"Well, isn't it up to you whether you want to hear it or not?" Yun He asked playfully.

"Hahaha... I love hearing it! You've always been a chatterbox since you were young." Mr. Huang glanced at Lin Yong, standing beside Yun He. "This must be the classmate you're learning guitar from, right?"

"Yes, that's him. This is my deskmate, Lin Yong," Yun He confirmed with a nod.

"Hello, Mr. Huang. I want to learn the guitar!" Lin Yong exclaimed, his face displaying a look of determination that made Teacher Huang smile.

"Alright, learning a musical instrument is always a good thing. It cultivates your temperament. Come, let me first give you a general tour of the school, and then I'll introduce you to a guitar teacher."

The two boys followed Mr. Huang into the school. They passed through a grand hall filled with various instruments: pianos, drums, guzhengs, saxophones, guitars, suonas, pipas... There were even some instruments that Lin Yong had never seen before. The hall was bustling with students, exuding an atmosphere of vitality and youth.

"Brother Yun..." Lin Yong nudged Yun He with his elbow, whispering his name.

"What's up?" Yun He asked.

"Brother Yun... I'm a bit intimidated. I feel like this place is too refined for my vibe..." Lin Yong commented, looking around at the artistic ambiance.

Yun He glanced at Lin Yong and followed Old Huang as they walked through the hall toward a side corridor. On both sides of the corridor were individual rooms, from which faint sounds of music could be heard. The doors were made of transparent glass, allowing them to see into each room from the corridor.

"Firstly, the term 'vibe' should never apply to you, and secondly—"

"We're here," Old Huang suddenly stopped in front of a glass door. "The teacher I'm introducing you to is in this classroom. He's currently teaching a lesson, so let's wait for a moment."

"Thanks, Old Huang. Amen," Lin Yong muttered softly, knowing from his understanding of Yun He that the latter's unsaid words couldn't have been complimentary.

Three figures stood at the classroom door. Through the glass, Yun He spotted a young man sitting in the center of the room, his back to them as he strummed a guitar. Dressed in a black T-shirt, the movement of his shoulder blades with each pluck of the strings was visible. His posture was upright, and even though they could only see his silhouette, an aura of charisma subtly emanated from him.

Opposite the boy sat two girls, cradling their own guitars. Their expressions held a bashful fondness typically found in young women. One of the girls happened to glance upward, noticing someone outside. She then subtly gestured towards the door, catching the attention of the young man across from her.

The guitar music abruptly ceased. The young man turned, cradling his instrument as he looked toward the entrance.