The next morning, Lin Murun was called into Teacher Xia’s office.
"How have you been feeling lately?" He gestured for Lin Murun to sit across from him.
"I’m doing alright," Lin Murun replied, sitting down properly.
"Between keeping up with your studies and preparing for the performance, it must be quite exhausting, right?" Teacher Xia asked with a smile.
Boss Yuan had asked a similar question yesterday.
"It’s okay. It feels quite fulfilling," Lin Murun’s answer was much the same as it had been the night before.
"If you encounter any difficulties in your studies, you can talk to me or discuss them with classmates you’re close with," Teacher Xia said. "Especially when you come across classic example problems—it’s good to share them with teachers and other students."
His words seemed to carry a hidden meaning. Lin Murun thought of that multiple-choice question that had exceeded the syllabus.
"Are you referring to the practice problems from the High School Affiliated to A University?" he asked.
Teacher Xia raised an eyebrow and praised him, "You’re very candid."
"I did indeed come across that question in a practice set," Lin Murun explained. "Teacher, I didn't intentionally try to guess the exam questions."
Teacher Xia nodded. "You couldn't have known in advance that a question beyond the syllabus would appear in a class quiz. It was also my oversight for printing the example problem on the test exactly as it was."
"However, most of the problems from the High School Affiliated to A University aren't circulated publicly. Where did you see them?" Teacher Xia asked.
Lin Murun answered truthfully, "I borrowed them from a friend."
Teacher Xia nodded again. "The teachers of every subject can see your hard work, and I believe in your abilities. You aren't someone who looks for shortcuts. Coming across the original question was just a coincidence."
"I'm sorry, Teacher. It wasn't intentional," Lin Murun said, lowering his eyes.
Teacher Xia waved it off. "This can't be considered your fault. It was just one multiple-choice question; it didn't carry much weight. And, as Zhou Xuan said, the correct answer could be deduced through the process of elimination."
"But if something similar happens in the future, you should tell me beforehand," Teacher Xia said earnestly. "Lin Murun, even though you’re a transfer student, out of the sixty students in the two experimental classes, you’re the one I have the highest hopes for. That’s why I’m willing to believe you didn't intend to cheat. But what if the other students found out?"
Lin Murun looked up, confused. "Would they think that all my previous high scores were the result of cheating?"
Teacher Xia remained silent, which was a clear affirmation.
"There is a bond of fellowship between classmates, but there is also competition. Moreover, you’re a newcomer; it’s inevitable that some might have exclusionary thoughts," Teacher Xia said. "Aside from studying, you should also spend a little time maintaining interpersonal relationships and take the initiative to integrate into the group."
"Okay," Lin Murun nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Teacher."
"Go on then. This afternoon's performance is a great opportunity to show yourself to your classmates," Teacher Xia encouraged. "Good luck."
When Lin Murun returned to the classroom, he happened to run into Jiang Yuxi, who was going to get water.
"Good morning," Jiang Yuxi greeted him with a smile.
Having seen Lin Murun being called away by Teacher Xia and now seeing him return from the office, Jiang Yuxi, as the informant, could naturally guess the content of their conversation. Yet, whether his psychological fortitude was simply too high or he felt no guilt for stabbing someone in the back after benefiting from them, his expression was perfectly natural, and his tone was no different from usual.
Lin Murun gave him a faint look and replied, "Good morning."
Lin Murun knew very well who had snitched to Teacher Xia. Aside from the owner of the practice book, Si Bin, only he and Jiang Yuxi in the entire Liberal Arts Class 2 had worked on the problems from the High School Affiliated to A University.
"By the way, did Si Bin read that love letter?" Jiang Yuxi asked.
"I don't think so," Lin Murun replied.
"Is that so?" Jiang Yuxi said regretfully. "My friend was still pressing me for an answer yesterday, so I had to ask you."
"Could you give Si Bin a little hint for her?" Jiang Yuxi requested with a smile. "My friend really likes him."
Lin Murun tilted his head slightly, finding it strange. "That’s not something I can influence. Besides, Si Bin doesn't seem to have any interest in that area."
Just then, Si Bin happened to pass by the Class 2 classroom. Seeing that Jiang Yuxi wanted to say more, Lin Murun quickly spoke up, "Si Bin is right at the door. You should tell him yourself."
Jiang Yuxi turned around and indeed saw Si Bin.
Sensing out of the corner of his eye that they were both looking at him, Si Bin stopped in his tracks.
"Is something wrong?" Si Bin was very tall, and he looked down at Jiang Yuxi with slightly lowered eyes.
At this moment, Young Master Si looked to be in a bad mood. Combined with his expressionless face, even if Jiang Yuxi really had something to say, he probably wouldn't have dared to speak.
"Jiang Yuxi was looking for you," Lin Murun said before returning to his seat.
Si Bin raised an eyebrow, his face practically screaming the impatient words: *If you have something to say, say it; if not, get lost.*
"No... it’s nothing..." Jiang Yuxi felt his skin crawl under that gaze.
Si Bin looked him up and down before walking away with a wooden expression.
Whenever Jiang Yuxi saw Si Bin, he would remember the mess back at the Experimental Middle School. Coupled with the fact that he had just set Lin Murun up, he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. Seeing the "Great Lord" leave, he hurriedly returned to his seat, not daring to mention the love letter to Lin Murun again.
The morning passed quickly. After the second period in the afternoon, the class monitor, Huang Hao, urged the students to gather at the music building as soon as possible.
According to the schedule, Liberal Arts Class 2’s performance followed immediately after Class 1. When the students of Class 2 arrived at the music building one after another, Class 1’s poetry recital was nearing its end.
Through the glass window, Lin Murun spotted Si Bin standing at the back of the group at a glance.
"I think their recital was pretty good," Yu Qianyi leaned over to comment. "At least better than our class's choir."
"It feels like they put a lot of effort into it," Li Xi said. "And the poem was well-chosen."
After the group performances came the individual acts. As Si Bin walked out of the classroom, he saw several Class 2 students watching by the window.
A few girls smiled at him warmly and praised, "Your poetry recital will definitely be selected."
Si Bin smiled back and responded politely, "Thank you. I heard your class is doing a choir?"
"Oh, don't even mention it! The music teacher criticized us yesterday for sounding terrible," Yu Qianyi admitted her own class's shortcomings without any psychological burden. "We're just here to go through the motions. Everyone is betting on Li Menglai and Lin Murun’s duet."
"Mhm." Si Bin looked at Lin Murun and smiled. "Then Student Lin will have to work hard."
Lin Murun looked up and replied, "Okay."
In theory, Si Bin could have left after the group performance, but he didn't seem to be in a hurry. Instead, he leisurely walked over to Lin Murun’s side and leaned against the wall.
"I haven't heard Student Lin play a piece yet," Si Bin said.
"Did I not play any pieces at the music store?" Lin Murun asked.
Si Bin thought for a moment. "Mhm. When you were teaching students, you mostly played etudes."
"You two are so close!" Yu Qianyi exclaimed from the side. "You even go to the music store together."
"He is the teacher," Si Bin chuckled softly and replied. "I am just an idle listener."
Lin Murun was indeed a teacher, but in his mind, Si Bin went to the music store because Gao Yuan taught there. Lin Murun felt Si Bin’s phrasing was a bit odd and was about to add a few words of clarification when a teacher poked her head out of the classroom. "Students outside, line up and be quiet!"
The corridor fell silent instantly. If Lin Murun spoke now, it would seem intrusive. He looked up at Si Bin and silently swallowed the words he was about to say.
Ten minutes later, the music teacher opened the door and called the Class 2 students inside.
"Teacher, not everyone is here yet," Huang Hao ran forward to explain. "Two students went to the restroom and haven't returned."
The music teacher frowned and complained, "How can they have no sense of time..." She thought for a moment and said, "Our time is limited, and other classes are coming to perform next. We can't just wait. How about this: Liberal Arts Class 2 will do their individual acts first."
"Monitor, find someone to hurry them up and get them back as soon as possible." The music teacher beckoned to Li Menglai and Lin Murun. "You two go first."
Lin Murun nodded. Just as he turned around, he heard Si Bin’s voice.
"Student Lin."
"Mhm?" Lin Murun looked back.
Si Bin looked at him, smiled, and said, "Good luck."
Four music teachers sat at the judges' table. Seeing them enter, they signaled the student responsible for recording to close the door.
"Li Menglai and Lin Murun from Grade 11, Liberal Arts Class 2, right?" An older teacher looked at the schedule and looked up kindly. "Don't be nervous."
The two bowed to the four judges.
"Begin," one of the teachers said.
Lin Murun positioned his violin and turned to look at Li Menglai.
Li Menglai understood and began to play.
Hearing the music, many students gathered by the window.
Si Bin turned slightly to look into the room.
The warm sunlight filtered through the mottled shadows of the trees, casting dappled light by the window. Those shadows drifted across the floor with the afternoon breeze, brightening and dimming. Lin Murun, dressed in his white school uniform, had his eyes slightly lowered, his slender fingers dancing across the strings.
The scene reminded Si Bin of the afternoon he first saw Lin Murun.
Back then, a casual glance back from the stranger had made his heart race. He hadn't even known the boy's name or age, yet he had stumbled headlong into a one-sided love.
The melodious sound of the violin echoed in the corridor, intertwining with the piano, as hazy and beautiful as the morning sun rising through a thin mist.
"It sounds so beautiful," Yu Qianyi sighed, cupping her face in her hands.
Si Bin couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth curl up slightly.
*It really is beautiful,* he thought.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 夏老师 | Teacher Xia | Lin Murun's form teacher. |
| 袁老板 | Boss Yuan | Likely a nickname for a teacher or school official. |
| A大附中 | High School Affiliated to A University | A prestigious school often mentioned for its difficult materials. |
| 江宇熙 | Jiang Yuxi | A classmate of Lin Murun; the informant. |
| 黄皓 | Huang Hao | The class monitor of Liberal Arts Class 2. |
| 余倩怡 | Yu Qianyi | A female classmate in Class 2. |
| 李茜 | Li Xi | A female classmate in Class 2. |
| 文科二班 | Liberal Arts Class 2 | Lin Murun's class. |
| 文科一班 | Liberal Arts Class 1 | Si Bin's class. |
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