“Desert Song” and “White Robe Journey” had different styles – one graceful and elegant, the other domineering like a zither demon. White Robe Journey’s bold style had a broader appeal than Desert Song.
The TV show “Great Yong” was currently airing, clearly portraying this storyline. Many viewers unfamiliar with traditional Chinese music learned that these three master and disciples composed five of the ten most famous ancient zither pieces.
The Bai family’s young miss already had her own fanbase. Before the TV show finished airing, Yan Lu, who played the Bai family’s young miss, had gained an astounding 30 million fans.
Bai Lian spoke seriously.
But Dean Jian felt like hitting her. “You’re quite serious when you’re joking. I don’t know whether to believe you’re Master Qin Jiu’s disciple or to believe I’m Emperor Qin Shi Huang.”
“What do you think?” he asked Bai Lian again.
To think she would brush him off – did she think the old man was so easily fooled?
Bai Lian looked back at the stage expressionlessly, her profile outlined by light and shadow. Her face was cold, and her voice equally ruthless: “The next performance is starting, shut up.”
Dean Jian: “…”
Young people these days!
Beside Dean Jian, Principal Luo sat quietly, not daring to move.
If someone had told Principal Luo earlier that there was someone who dared speak to their traditional music patriarch Dean Jian this way, he would have thought they were crazy.
Now, he thought he might be the crazy one.
Principal Luo pinched his leg lightly – it hurt.
The second piece after opening was a solo pipa performance.
On stage, a single cold light shone on the teacher in a gray qipao. Her hair was pinned up, and gentle pipa notes rang out like flowing water, melodious and lingering.
Without chaotic melodies, just a touch of erhu in the middle. Under the bright moon, a beauty softly whispered of an ancient kingdom’s dreams.
Bai Lian listened even more attentively than before. After the piece finished, Dean Jian saw her still watching the stage. “That was ‘Ancient Dreams’ – isn’t this style beautiful too?”
He had thought Bai Lian would prefer more militant styles.
“Mm.” Bai Lian nodded.
“Our traditional instruments all have beautiful sounds – pipa, guzheng, endless depth,” Dean Jian chatted casually with Bai Lian during the intermission. “Look how popular Yan Lu’s songs are now, more and more people are learning guzheng.”
Indeed, since “Drinking Game” became popular, many people had started learning guzheng.
Dean Jian looked at Bai Lian again, asking casually: “So what do you think about becoming a successor for traditional Chinese music?”
This was his purpose this time.
Bai Lian’s four new songs had spread too widely – even three-year-olds knew these were traditional style songs with guzheng, pipa, bamboo flute…
Now that Yan Lu was famous nationwide because of “Great Yong”, Dean Jian worried Bai Lian might stop composing for her.
Such a representative figure of traditional music would be buried at Jiangjing University.
Culture needed inheritance and development. She naturally carried this aura – if they missed her, Dean Jian felt he might never meet someone like her again.
Dean Jian knew that culture needed to change its presentation to spread and develop.
In fact, traditional music had already launched plans to build Yan Lu into such a representative figure.
Bai Lian was the most important part of this.
“Dean Jian, that’s too heavy for me.” Bai Lian just leaned back, relaxing, her eyelashes lowering lazily.
Rejection.
Another rejection.
Dean Jian had expected this, but the good news was Bai Lian wasn’t as resistant – there was hope this time.
He kept his expression relaxed, speaking unhurriedly: “It’s not heavy. Actually, you don’t need to do much – just keep writing songs for Yan Lu, and help arrange music for the traditional orchestra in your spare time.”
The performance ended.
“How did you find tonight? Any inspiration?” Dean Jian led Bai Lian out through the backstage. “I’m returning to Jiangjing in a few days.”
“I have some new ideas. I’ll think more when I get back to Xiangcheng tomorrow.” Bai Lian looked down at her phone – her friend had already messaged her, and she seemed to have urgent business back home too.
The evening’s performance had been very impressive.
Dean Jian knew Bai Lian had to return to wait for her exam results.
Principal Luo stood respectfully behind them, surprised to learn Bai Lian was from Xiangcheng: “Miss Bai, you’re welcome to visit our Music Association anytime.”
He had already switched to calling her “Miss Bai”, knowing she didn’t belong to any music association or academy.
“I will, thank you for your hospitality today.” Bai Lian thanked Principal Luo.
Implying she didn’t want to join their association.
Principal Luo was somewhat disappointed but not surprised. After all…
Even Dean Jian was at a loss with her, Principal Luo thought irreverently.
Behind them.
Bai Shaoqi and Song Min’s group stood up. Madam Song looked at Bai Shaoqi in surprise, “You’re saying go backstage?”
Neither the Bai nor Song families had formally studied music – they had almost no connections in this field.
“Yes,” Bai Shaoqi followed the crowd out, taking out her phone to find a number. “My mom found Principal Luo from Jiang Conservatory – he helped us get these tickets.”
This was the first time Bai Shaoqi had openly mentioned Guo Yueqing.
Madam Song followed behind Bai Shaoqi. She had always known Guo Yueqing was capable – otherwise she wouldn’t have laid low for so many years, stepping on Ji Mulan and elevating two illegitimate children.
But Madam Song hadn’t expected Guo Yueqing could find Principal Luo.
She followed behind Bai Shaoqi in surprise. Backstage was full of staff who naturally didn’t recognize the three of them.
A few minutes later, a staff member came to lead them to a waiting room. “Please wait here. Chairman Luo went with Dean Jian to see off a guest.”
“He went with Dean Jian to see off a guest?” All three found this incredible.
What kind of guest needed Dean Jian to personally see them off? However, when they asked, the staff member didn’t answer, just smiled politely before leaving the waiting room.
Song Min put down his water cup and stood up to open the waiting room door, his cold gaze scanning backstage.
The front row people were all leaving through the back.
Curtains, instruments, and shadows mixed chaotically.
His gaze fell ahead to the left front, where black curtains swayed. A cyan figure seemed to walk out the exit. Song Min walked forward a few steps, bumping right into someone.
“Sorry.” He withdrew his gaze and spoke.
“It’s fine,” Principal Luo had just seen off Dean Jian and Bai Lian. He recognized Song Min, whom the First High principal often recommended. “Student, are you looking for someone?”
“No.” Song Min withdrew his gaze, pressing his brow.
He returned to the waiting room.
Principal Luo entered a step behind him.
Bai Shaoqi, who had been talking with Madam Song inside, quickly stood up to introduce herself.
“I know you, Bai Shaoke’s sister,” Principal Luo nodded slightly to Bai Shaoqi, secretly thinking there were quite a lot of people surnamed “Bai” this year. “Dean Jian went to see off a young friend, he’s not seeing others at the moment.”
Bai Shaoqi was disappointed. “Then please help explain to Dean Jian that there was a misunderstanding between us.”
She seemed quite familiar with Principal Luo, and Principal Luo was close with Dean Jian.
Bai Shaoke now had a Jiang University professor mentoring him, while Dean Jian was on the same level as Jiang University’s president.
Madam Song stood aside, secretly observing this scene.
She lowered her eyes, thoughtful.
At the Jian residence.
Jian Zhe sat bored at the table, listening to Jian Rong chat with Miss Lü.
Miss Lü was his blind date, but she clearly got along better with Jian Rong. Jian Rong was well-known, preparing for North City University’s research program, and talented. Jian Zhe understood.
He played with his phone.
Little Miss Bai: [Tomorrow]
Seeing Bai Lian was leaving tomorrow, he quickly stood up.
“Where are you going?” Mr. Jian had just returned when he saw Jian Zhe about to leave.
Jian Zhe changed his shoes, looking up: “I’m going to see off Sister Lian and… an old grandfather. She’s leaving tomorrow.”
Since returning this time, Jian Zhe had become more reserved. Reading really could change a person’s temperament. The old Jian Zhe had always been impetuous, unable to hide his thoughts.
Today Mr. Jian found his son somewhat unreadable.
“You…” Mr. Jian looked at Jian Rong chatting with Miss Lü, displeased: “You’re just leaving guests like this?”
“Miss Lü gets carsick,” Jian Zhe explained for Miss Lü. “You can ask her if she wants to come see off Sister Lian with me.”
Miss Lü apologetically put down her teacup and stood up, finally looking at Mr. Jian, “Mr. Jian, I am feeling a bit unwell.”
Jian Zhe changed his shoes and took his keys before leaving.
After he left, Miss Lü asked Jian Rong, “Who is he going to see off?”
Sister Lian and an old grandfather? “Should be Bai Lian and Teacher Chou,” Jian Rong thought and explained. “They’re all from Xiangcheng.”
Oh, Miss Lü didn’t say more.
The two women chatted pleasantly.
Bai Lian returned to the hotel with Dean Jian.
Close to ten o’clock, Jiahao Hotel was still brilliantly lit.
Dean Jian’s car stopped at the hotel entrance. Bai Lian got out from the back seat.
The back window lowered, Dean Jian looked at the flowing traffic on the road. “You’re not going back to the hotel?”
Bai Lian looked down at her phone, waving lazily at him. She was concise: “Waiting for someone.”
She didn’t say more, so Dean Jian didn’t ask.
In June, North City’s nights were notably cool. The Song family’s car stopped at a red light not far away.
In the back seat, Song Min immediately saw Bai Lian by the roadside.
She wasn’t standing properly, but sitting on a round road bollard, one foot casually propped up, her cyan dress spread over the bollard, the edges barely touching the ground.
Above her was a white street light, light pouring down through dust particles, casting her clothes in a cold radiance.
She held her phone, seemingly messaging someone, her bony hand tapping the screen intermittently, her elongated shadow cast by the street light beside her.
Song Min was too absorbed. Bai Shaoqi in the back seat quickly noticed.
She followed Song Min’s gaze out the window.
Even without seeing her face, Bai Lian’s aura was too distinctive – she could recognize who it was.
She had already seen in the class group chat that Bai Lian had come to North City. This was Bai Shaoqi’s first time seeing her in person. She withdrew her gaze and asked Song Min, “How many points do you think she’ll score?”
“Math and science were equally difficult. I don’t know either.” Song Min came back to himself, his expression cold.
As they spoke, a black car stopped beside Bai Lian.
Song Min and Bai Shaoqi were familiar with the model – a Maybach.
But strangely, this car’s chassis seemed higher than the standard version, and the body materials were different from what they were familiar with, especially the sides and front windshield.
Song Min knew something about cars.
His gaze turned back to this car: “When did they release this model?”
Bai Shaoqi didn’t know.
But the driver was thoughtful, recognizing it immediately: “This is a factory-modified car.”
As for the glass, the driver’s finger paused on the steering wheel…
Was that… bulletproof glass?
The back door opened, and a tall figure in black stepped out of the car.
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