louisehourcade Chapter 42 The School Beauty's Invitation!
Chapter 42 The School Beauty's Invitation!
The afternoon sun streamed through the corridor windows, casting long patches of light on the floor, while tiny dust particles floated in the air.
The entire corridor was eerily quiet.
All eyes were focused on the two people facing off in the middle of the corridor.
One is Su Wanqing, the universally acknowledged "white moonlight" of Jiangzhou University and the most beautiful girl in the music department.
The other is Zhang Yan, a mysterious newcomer who has just single-handedly wiped a family out of Jinghai City.
Su Wanqing's beautiful face, which always wore a gentle smile, was now completely drained of color, as white as a sheet of paper.
She bit her lower lip tightly, her fingertips curling slightly with nervousness as she gripped the hem of her pure white dress.
She looked at the boy in front of her, his clear eyes churning with complex emotions that she herself couldn't quite understand.
There is fear.
Rumors of the Zhao family's overnight downfall swept through the entire campus like a storm, and at the center of the storm was this seemingly harmless boy.
The terrifying power that could unleash thunder silently instilled fear in her instinctively.
But more than anything, it's an irresistible curiosity and attraction.
Who exactly is he?
Why is he able to play such soul-stirring piano music, and so easily stir up a storm?
The calmness and mystery about him that was beyond his years was like a bottomless whirlpool, drawing her in uncontrollably and making her want to explore him.
"Zhang Yan..."
Under the watchful eyes of countless people, Su Wanqing finally mustered her courage, her voice trembling slightly.
"I... I'd like to invite you... to join the classical music club."
Upon hearing this, a collective gasp rippled through the surrounding crowd.
Classical Music Club!
That's the most prestigious and demanding club in all of Jiangda University's student organizations!
Those who get in are all art students with exceptional talent in a particular field.
And Su Wanqing is the president of this year's club!
"My God, the school beauty personally invited me!"
"This treatment is amazing! I heard that someone who won a gold medal in the province last year wanted to get in, but they were rejected!"
Su Wanqing ignored the surrounding chatter, her gaze fixed on Zhang Yan's face, afraid of missing even the slightest change in his expression.
Seeing that Zhang Yan did not immediately refuse, she became a little bolder, and her voice softened considerably, carrying a hint of girlish anticipation and shyness.
"This semester, the club has a grand finale performance of a four-hand piano duet... I, I'm still missing a partner."
boom!
If what happened just now was only a small-scale commotion, then this sentence was like a bomb that completely exploded in the crowd!
A four-hand piano duet with school beauty Su Wanqing?
That was a scene that no male student at Jiangda University could even dream of!
In an instant, countless envious, jealous, and resentful gazes, like knives, shot towards Zhang Yan.
However, Zhang Yan, who was at the center of the storm, did not show any change in expression.
He didn't even lift his eyelids, only glancing down at the watch on his wrist.
Then, under Su Wanqing's expectant gaze and the watchful eyes of everyone present, he slowly uttered two words.
"Feel sorry."
The color drained from Su Wanqing's face in an instant, and she stood there stunned, as if she hadn't heard clearly.
"Wh...what?"
Zhang Yan finally raised his head, his clear eyes calmly gazing at her as if she were an insignificant stranger.
"Not interested."
He paused, then gave a reason that nearly made everyone's jaws drop.
"I also have a part-time job, so I don't have time."
Piano playing was merely a skill assigned to him by the system, not his own hobby.
But if Nie Qingcheng likes to hear it, would I...?
For some reason, Zhang Yan suddenly thought of Nie Qingcheng.
part time?
No time?
The entire corridor was deathly silent.
Everyone looked at Zhang Yan as if he were an alien.
Someone who drives a Cullinan to school says they're going to do a part-time job?
Did you turn down a chance to play a four-hand piano duet with the school beauty in order to take on a part-time job?
What the hell is this magical realism plot?!
Su Wanqing was completely stunned; she felt as if her worldview was being repeatedly rubbed into the ground.
This was the first time in her life she had ever taken the initiative to invite a boy out, and it was also the first time... she had been rejected so decisively, so... absurdly.
Overwhelmed by immense shame and embarrassment, she was engulfed like a tidal wave.
Her cheeks flushed instantly, and her eyes quickly filled with tears.
"Part-time job? You're lying to me, aren't you?"
She doesn't believe it!
She couldn't believe anyone would reject her!
This must be a feigned retreat to lure him in!
definitely is!
Su Wanqing took a step forward, her emotions somewhat out of control, and reached out to grab Zhang Yan's sleeve.
"Is it because of that woman who drives a Rolls-Royce?"
Her voice suddenly rose, carrying a sharpness and jealousy that she herself was unaware of.
"Zhang Yan, wake up! That arrogant rich woman is just interested in you, she's just playing with you! She'll never take you seriously!"
"Why did you have to become someone else's plaything? Why can't you...?"
Amidst the chaos, in a corner of the crowd, a mobile phone camera silently captured this scene.
"Click."
A soft click of a camera shutter was drowned out by the clamor of conversation.
Zhang Yan's brows finally furrowed.
He doesn't like being touched.
I dislike it even more when people use such a self-righteous tone to talk about Nie Qingcheng.
His expression turned cold at a visible speed.
"Let go."
The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an irresistible chill.
Su Wanqing shuddered at his cold gaze, but she gripped his hand even tighter, tears welling up in her eyes, looking like she was about to cry.
"No! I'm doing this for your own good! You can't let yourself fall into this state!"
Zhang Yan was too lazy to waste any more words with her.
He extended his intact right hand, and with slow but precise movements, he grasped Su Wanqing's wrist.
Then, one by one, he pried her fingers off her sleeve.
It wasn't very strong, but it carried an unyielding determination that was impossible to resist.
"It's none of your business how I do things."
He looked at her face, which was filled with shock and grievance, and calmly uttered his last words.
"Also, don't use your ignorance to speculate about a world you can't even imagine."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Without a trace of lingering attachment, without the slightest hesitation.
Su Wanqing was left alone, frozen in place, like a clown abandoned by the whole world, amidst hundreds of sympathetic, mocking, and gloating gazes.
As soon as Zhang Yan stepped out of the crowd, his phone started vibrating incessantly in his pocket.
It was a barrage of messages from Wang Hao.
He swiped the screen.
The next second, a link to a campus forum, highlighted in red and bold, popped up.
The headline is sensational and highly provocative.
[Breaking News! School beauty Su Wanqing publicly pursues him but is rejected! Piano prince admits he's being kept by a mysterious rich woman!]
Below that glaring headline was a high-resolution close-up photo.
The angle of the photo is extremely tricky.
In the scene, Su Wanqing, with tears in her eyes, was clutching his sleeve tightly, her face filled with humble pleading.
He left behind only a cold, impatient profile.
Sunlight streamed in from behind him, separating him from the weeping girl into two completely different worlds.
One is in the light, the other in the shadow.