Chapter 302: Violin Solo

Chapter 302 Violin Solo

"I want to..."

Ye Xiaoxiao enunciated each word clearly: "Play. The. Violin."

Zhang Kaining said, "That’s so classy! Xiao Xiao, you can even play the violin?"

"But I don’t know if my performance will be selected."

The school has plenty of art students, so the competition is fierce.

"Of course it will! The school requires each major to submit one or two performances. Our Traditional Chinese Medicine class is small, so we only need one. If the rest of us don’t sign up, you’ll be the only one left."

Zhang Kaining’s words made the others nod in agreement.

Since no one else wanted to perform, letting Ye Xiaoxiao represent the class was a perfect setup—she’d do us proud, and the others could relax.

Ye Xiaoxiao felt her first order of business was to buy a violin.

Now that all the students had finished their thesis presentations, they were just hanging around campus.

That same day, she went out and found a music store, where she settled on a violin.

Though it wasn’t the best fit, it was good enough for a graduation performance.

The price, in her opinion, wasn’t expensive—just ¥2,000 (about $280).

The store owner was a very young man with a head of trendy curls: "Would you like me to tune it for you?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Sure, thank you."

After tuning it, he handed the violin to Xiao Xiao.

"Take it for a spin."

Ye Xiaoxiao played a short piece in the store.

Hearing the music, the owner, who had just tuned the violin for her, jerked his head up, startled. He had never seen this girl before—it was her first time in his shop.

But he recognized the piece she had just played—a highly challenging violin composition. Performing it required fast bow work, strong high-note fingering, precise and rapid shifting, as well as mastery of quick rhythms and flexible bowing.

Though she had only played for three minutes, it was enough to tell she was pro.

"Was that *The Lark* you just played? It sounded beautiful—it made me feel sunlit fields alive with larks."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I haven’t practiced in a while, so I’m a bit rusty."

Owner: "We have a violin club here. Would you be interested? You could come jam with us on Sundays."

Ye Xiaoxiao smiled at him. "Maybe another time!"

After paying, she carried the violin out of the store without looking back.

The owner’s gaze lingered on her back as she left, and only after a long while did he smile.

...

Ye Xiaoxiao practiced on her own for a few days. Once she nailed a full piece, she shot Lu Hanchuan a note.

The letter had nothing in it except a photo of herself holding the violin.

She had previously promised Lu Hanchuan that she would play the violin for him.

He also loved hearing her sing.

But Xiao Xiao felt that he didn’t truly understand music—she thought he was only interested because it was her singing.

Even though this was a graduation recital piece, Xiao Xiao wanted Lu Hanchuan to be her first audience.

Like they were in sync, Lu Hanchuan returned that very afternoon after seeing the letter.

He didn’t even have to ask—he knew Xiao Xiao was home.

"You actually came back."

Lu Hanchuan caught Xiao Xiao as she rushed toward him. "I figured the photo was your way of telling me to come back."

"I’ve been working on a new piece and wanted you to hear it first."

It was five in the afternoon, and playing violin at home wouldn’t bother anyone.

Over the past few days of practice, she had also noticed that someone in the building played the piano every afternoon.

Sometimes, their music blended together, making something oddly beautiful.

Xiao Xiao placed a chair in the living room. "Have a seat."

Lu Hanchuan sat down, while Xiao Xiao stood before him with her violin and gave a proper bow.

With a graceful lift of her wrist, the bow glided across the strings, and music filled the air.

The setting sun streamed in from the balcony, casting golden light on Xiao Xiao’s long hair, making her bright eyes and smile glow, her posture perfect.

A timeless beauty, breathtaking to see.

Lu Hanchuan truly didn’t understand music, but he got lost in it right away.

Now like sparrows singing, now like a stampede, the soaring notes stirred his heart, then stopped short, leaving him wanting more.

Though the music faded, it kept playing in his head.

Ye Xiaoxiao lowered her violin.

A pause. Then, Lu Hanchuan clapped.

He moved closer.

Xiao Xiao’s forehead was glistening with sweat. "So?"

No words needed, your breath sweet as flowers.

So lovely, I’d forget to eat.

He stared at Xiao Xiao, his eyes full of love.

Xiao Xiao blushed slightly, "I asked for your opinion on the music, not for you to compliment me."

Lu Hanchuan: "Why can't I? The musician's part of the performance too."

Ye Xiaoxiao had no comeback—he was being unusually articulate.

"I've decided to play the violin at the graduation party. What do you think?"

Lu Hanchuan: "The piece you just played?"

"Of course not! This one was put together just for you, with some little tweaks here and there."

Hearing this, Lu Hanchuan grinned even broader. "They're getting a free show."

Xiao Xiao tilted her head. "Hmm?"

"They should be paying admission."

"Hahaha, Lu Hanchuan, you're extra charming today."

Lu Hanchuan drew her close. "Am I ever not?"

Ye Xiaoxiao thought about it—when others were around, he always spoke so seriously.

But in response to his question, she just smiled without answering.

Lu Hanchuan wouldn’t be at the graduation party for only one night. The next morning, before Ye Xiaoxiao even woke up, he was gone.

What Xiao Xiao didn’t know was that while she was still asleep, something had appeared on her hand.

It was a bracelet Lu Hanchuan had slipped onto her wrist while she slept.

...

So when Ye Xiaoxiao opened her eyes in the morning, she saw the "White Moonlight" jade bracelet on her wrist.

Made of pure white jade, so clear you could barely see its texture.

If she had seen it at a street stall, she would’ve thought it was just glass.

But since it was from Lu Hanchuan, it had to be real.

Did he sneak out a family heirloom?

Lying in bed, Ye Xiaoxiao let her imagination run wild for a while but left the bracelet right where it was.

Lu Hanchuan wouldn’t be at the graduation party, but Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t feel regretful—her finest performance had been in that golden-hour living room.

Ye Xiaoxiao’s program was already set. After two rehearsals, the big night had arrived.

Early July, the heat was brutal.

As she waited in the wings, Zhang Kaining kept chattering beside her, "Aren't you dressed too simply? Everyone else is dressed so formally."

Ye Xiaoxiao glanced at her white dress. "I like it just fine."

Zhang Kaining: "Well, with your looks, you could make a potato sack look good."

Ye Xiaoxiao clutched her violin. "I’m going on stage."

Zhang Kaining: "Break a leg! I’ll take photos from the audience and prove to the underclassmen that our Class of '88 beauty queen puts the whole university to shame."

Ye Xiaoxiao thought Zhang was being naive—no one else would think that.