Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Contempt for Intelligence
Gu Yan chose a white piano, opened the lid, placed the sheet music neatly on the stand, and raised her left hand in an almost reverent posture, taking a moment before pressing the first note.
She could touch the piano, she was practicing the sheet music, she was about to undergo an assessment.
This feeling was so unreal, she almost thought she was dreaming.
Yet the touch of the piano beneath her hand was so real, carrying a bit of chill, and her heart trembled.
For someone like Gu Yan, a beginner, playing with both hands felt quite awkward, let alone with just one hand, and with her left hand not being very smooth.
She tried to play "Kiss the Rain" once, but it was not smooth at all, and she made several mistakes with the notes.
Gu Yan was somewhat discouraged, but quickly pulled herself together.
She couldn’t compare herself to the professionals; after all, this was her first serious practice in over ten years, and there would certainly be many obstacles.
Children learn things quickly and can easily adapt, but she was already an adult, so she needed to relax and take her time. As long as she was willing to practice hard, she would see results.
Gu Yan was like an indomitable cockroach, not easily defeated.
What does it matter if her hand was injured? She still had her left hand. What does it matter if her left hand is not dexterous? Hard work can make up for lack of skill, and she refused to believe she couldn’t play well.
This assessment was crucial for her future standing in the music group entertainment department; she must give it her all.
The first time around, Gu Yan couldn’t bear listening to it.
The second time, it was still as unbearably awkward; several notes were wrong, and her fingers could not coordinate.
The third time, Gu Yan focused less on whether the piece was played correctly, and more on the coordination between her left hand’s fingers, but it had little effect.
The fourth time, she still refused to give up, continuing to coordinate the jumping and playing between her left fingers.
...Countless iterations skipped here...
With no one disturbing her, the afternoon passed quickly as she practiced diligently.
You Shuyang called her promptly at six o’clock, instructed by General Manager Tang to have Gu Yan go upstairs and wait for him to leave work together.
Gu Yan now focused entirely on the piano, didn’t pay much attention to You Shuyang’s words, and directly said, "I’m practicing in the piano room right now, so I won’t go upstairs to wait for him. After he gets off work, he can call me. I’ll practice for another half hour."
You Shuyang was in Tang Yuxiu’s office and had the speakerphone on. After Gu Yan finished speaking, he looked at Tang Yuxiu to seek the boss’s opinion.
Tang Yuxiu twirled his pen and nodded at him.
With the boss’s permission, You Shuyang immediately replied to Gu Yan, "Alright, the general manager will personally call you in half an hour."
"Got it." With her eyes on the sheet music, Gu Yan hung up after saying this.
Looking at the disconnected call, You Shuyang’s internal smile was somewhat abnormal; couldn’t he at least be shown a little respect, like saying something before hanging up?
Stowing away his phone, You Shuyang turned to Tang Yuxiu, "President Tang, if there’s nothing else, may I leave work?"
With eyes still on his documents, Tang Yuxiu acknowledged his words with a faint nod, "Go ahead."
Feeling as if pardoned, You Shuyang left the office with a light stride.
Since General Manager Tang had Miss Gu, he had a few more trivial tasks but was leaving work more punctually.
The general manager himself was preoccupied with Miss Gu and didn’t have time to task him.
Suddenly, Gu Yan felt like his lucky star.
After hanging up, it wasn’t long before someone entered the piano room; Wang Qi pushed open her practice room and, seeing her still focused, interrupted, "Gu Yan, work is over. Continue practicing tomorrow."
Gu Yan turned to look at her, "I’ll practice for another half hour and then leave, you can leave work first."
"Okay, don’t push yourself too hard, haste makes waste, relax appropriately."
"I understand, it’s just that I’m feeling in the groove right now, so I’m adding an extra half hour."
Wang Qi couldn’t help but smile at this, "Alright, you continue, I’ll head out."
"Bye-bye."
After Wang Qi left, Gu Yan continued to focus on improving her left hand’s coordination.
Having played through it once more, there was a bit of progress from when she started, but it was still awkward and stiff.
A whole afternoon had passed, but there was no significant effect.
Gu Yan couldn’t help but feel discouraged, yet she refused to allow herself thoughts of giving up.
This was just the first day; those accomplished players, those who played smoothly, used both hands and had years, decades of accumulated results.
For a newbie like her, no immediate effect was acceptable; she just needed to persist in practicing!
She pulled out her phone to check the time; the half hour would soon be over. After practicing two more times, she left the piano room.
Returning to the office, there were hardly any people left, as everyone had already finished work.
Gu Yan found this preferable; at least no one could gossip behind her back every time they saw her.
It seemed that practicing an extra half hour in the piano room while waiting for Tang Yuxiu had its advantages.
She reached her office to grab her backpack just as Tang Yuxiu’s call came through.
"Go to the parking lot yourself."
"Okay."
Without any extra words, Tang Yuxiu immediately hung up the phone, adjusted his suit, and took the exclusive elevator downstairs.
Gu Yan arrived a step ahead of him and was waiting by the car.
Her left hand was holding a bag, and she was looking down, kicking the flat ground lightly with her foot. Because of her hand injury, her hair was left loose, and she wore a simple shirt and jeans, like a young girl.
At that moment, Tang Yuxiu suddenly felt that having someone to go to work with him and wait for him after work felt pretty nice.
Sitting in the car, Gu Yan said, "Should we eat out now, or pack food to eat at home? Maybe you’re not hungry yet, we could go home first and then come out to eat?"
"No need to be that complicated. It’s six-forty now, perfect time for dinner, so let’s eat first and then head back." Tang Yuxiu decided, and Gu Yan nodded without objection.
"Where should we eat?"
"How about the restaurant from last time?" Tang Yuxiu asked, seeking her opinion.
Gu Yan suddenly felt a bit spoiled.
"Let’s skip the western restaurant; let’s have Chinese food. I’ve been craving something light these days," Gu Yan suggested.
Tang Yuxiu recalled Xiang Linghao’s advice that Gu Yan should avoid spicy and fried foods as she had just recovered from a fever a few days ago. With her hand injured, it’s best to keep to light flavors, so he nodded in agreement.
But to be honest, although Gu Yan suggested Chinese food, she was not familiar with restaurants outside, especially upscale ones that matched Tang Yuxiu’s status.
Though she had followed Xue Xianglan to many places before, most were western restaurants, and the Chinese ones were usually Sichuan cuisine, even having visited street food stalls.
"You decide where to go; I’m not familiar with these places."
Tang Yuxiu glanced at her casually, "I’m not familiar with such places either. Call You Shuyang and ask which Chinese restaurant is more refined."
The eating place must be refined; that’s Tang Yuxiu’s standard.
He never wanted to sit on a sofa holding a lunch box like he did last night.
Gu Yan originally thought of using Meituan to search for good restaurants nearby, but hearing his words, she could only abandon that idea.
A restaurant found on Meituan might not meet his standards, and he could despise it. Let’s save such functions for when Xue Xianglan returns, and they can use it together.
She called You Shuyang and conveyed Tang Yuxiu’s message, leaving You Shuyang speechless for a while, realizing even as an assistant he had to worry about where the boss took a girl for dinner.
If he couldn’t resign, could he at least get a raise?
"Where are you now? I’ll check for nearby Chinese restaurants."
"Just arrived downtown."
"Alright, I’ll hang up first, then send the details to your phone."
"Okay."
Gu Yan hung up the phone, and You Shuyang, known for his efficiency, soon sent the location. Gu Yan showed it to Tang Yuxiu, who glanced at it and drove towards the destination.
"Wow, you only need one look to know where it is?"
Tang Yuxiu glanced at her, "If this simple thing requires a second look, it only signifies stupidity."
Gu Yan, "..." She needed a second, even a third look, so he was really calling her dumb.
"Hmph, being highly intelligent is so great, it makes you look down on average intelligence?"
Tang Yuxiu raised his eyebrows slightly, giving her the feeling that he indeed considered himself superior, leaving Gu Yan speechless.
"You count as average intelligence?" Tang Yuxiu suddenly said with profound meaning, making Gu Yan choke.
What did he mean!
Looking down on people is one thing; did he have to despise her like this!
How was she not average intelligence? She considered herself slightly above average!
Conversing with Tang Yuxiu was definitely more than three exchanges and impossible to carry on normally.
She needed to say less to avoid being angered to death.
In less than twenty minutes, Tang Yuxiu parked the car outside the Chinese restaurant You Shuyang located.
The restaurant’s style was quite upscale, featuring live piano music. Gu Yan and Tang Yuxiu sat by the window, savoring the relaxing piano tunes, feeling extremely comfortable.
"I wish I could play this smoothly," Gu Yan sighed slightly.
Tang Yuxiu browsed the menu, casually asked, "How was practice today?"
Speaking of today’s practice, Gu Yan was not pleased, "Not great, no progress at all, completely not smooth, my fingers are stiff, and it’s hard to coordinate."
Tang Yuxiu ordered a few dishes, handed the menu to the waiter, and looked at her, "Discouraged? Thinking of giving up?"
Gu Yan frowned and immediately refuted, "No way! I won’t give up. It’s rare to have such an opportunity, how could I give up easily? Besides, my right hand is injured, working with only my left hand is surely difficult, and I’m a beginner among beginners. It’s only been a day, I won’t foolishly think I’m useless and can’t do anything."
Tang Yuxiu lazily leaned back against the chair, "If you think like that, it’s the best, don’t let me think you’re someone who gives up halfway."
"Don’t worry, I won’t."