"What's going on? The next item on the performance list was supposed to be Lili's piano performance, so why is this woman suddenly barging in and causing trouble?" Mao Wenjing complained to Wang Lili's parents on her right.
Sitting to her left was Mao Genhong. Upon hearing this, he gently patted her arm with some displeasure, saying, "Wenjing, don't be so hostile towards Yanyan. Changing the performance order is normal, the backstage staff have their reasons, don't just guess."
Mao Wenjing was even more displeased. She raised her voice, "Did I say anything wrong? Dad, you're just playing favorites! It's a welcome party, what's she playing the suona for? Isn't that bad luck? Who here wants to listen to her play funeral music? Lili's piano is much more sophisticated! Right, Auntie and Uncle?"
Wang Lili's parents chuckled awkwardly, trying to smooth things over. "It's all the same, it's all the same. Suona can be beautiful too. Didn't the host just say she's playing that... 'A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix'!"
Mao Wenjing scoffed dismissively. Just as she was about to say something else, a long, melodious, and high-pitched note pierced through the sky. The noisy atmosphere of the venue instantly felt as if a pause button had been pressed, and everyone's gaze involuntarily shifted to the girl in the center of the stage.
Following that, the suona performance began with a smooth, beautiful, and vocal prelude, presenting a scene of a hundred birds chirping in the audience's ears. Birds chirping at dawn in the mountains, spring returning to the earth, orioles singing and swallows dancing, birds frolicking in the woods. Everyone seemed to be soaring freely with the birds, following the progress of the suona.
Then, the girl on stage began to mimic the calls of various birds with her suona for the second time, vividly portraying the scene of a hundred birds clamoring. The birds danced joyfully, the phoenix spread its wings and soared high, and finally, a hundred birds flew together, concluding the entire piece with a short coda.
When Xiao Wenqiang finished playing the "bow," and put down her suona, the audience seemed to still be immersed in the spectacle of 'A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix.' It wasn't until someone started clapping vigorously, drawing in small groups of people, and then becoming increasingly enthusiastic, that thunderous applause echoed for a long time.
Xiao Wenqiang bowed to the audience below and saw Mao Genhong and Xie Qiao enthusiastically standing and clapping. Xie Yinuo was beaming with excitement, proudly boasting about something to those around her.
She also noticed Zheng Xiao smiling brightly, his passionate gaze fixed on her, so full of fervent admiration that it was almost overflowing. For some reason, Xiao Wenqiang suddenly felt a little shy under his gaze and quickly shifted her eyes to look at Mao Wenjing.
As expected, she found that under Mao Genhong's glare, the latter was reluctantly clapping her hands half-heartedly, her eyes full of disdain. Seeing her looking over, she even rolled her eyes at her.
The host had already come out from backstage and was starting to deliver the connecting remarks amidst the cheers. Lin Lili also rushed back. Xiao Wenqiang then picked up her small suona, waved, and left the stage.
However, after that, everyone lost interest in the subsequent performances. Lin Lili's supposedly sophisticated piano performance, which Mao Wenjing had raved about, naturally failed to capture the audience's attention. After Xiao Wenqiang's suona performance, other instruments seemed to have lost their luster, becoming bland and unappetizing.
This was related to her suona playing skills being far superior to others. Of course, it also couldn't be separated from her suona being a spirit instrument, possessing a rare and captivating timbre in this world.
Unsurprisingly, Mao Wenyan became popular again on the school forum. But this time, it wasn't due to scandals or gossip, but rather the immense shock she had brought to everyone with her suona solo.
For a period after the welcome party, Xiao Wenqiang caught up on her studies with Zheng Xiao whenever she had free time. The school forum's initial exclamations of "Oh my god, they're so perfect together" quickly transformed into a matter-of-fact "Do they even need to say it?" as the sentiment shifted very rapidly.
It was another Friday, leaving exactly four full days until the midterm exams next Wednesday.
"Qingyan, I'm sorry. I was supposed to meet you this weekend to give you one last intensive review session, but I have something urgent come up and might not be able to tutor you," Zheng Xiao found Xiao Wenqiang after school and said apologetically.
"Oh, that's okay, Brother Zheng Xiao. You've already helped me so much. I'll go over my mistakes myself for the next two days. Don't worry about me and go ahead with your business!" Xiao Wenqiang replied with a smile, a little surprised.
"Alright, then let me check the time. If things go smoothly, can I contact you again on Sunday?"
"Whatever works for you. You go take care of your business, don't worry about me."
After bidding each other farewell, they each went home.
Xiao Wenqiang spent the entire Saturday diligently reviewing. She was determined not to be looked down upon by Teacher Xu and those classmates who mocked her.
Inwardly, Xiao Wenqiang was a very strong-willed person. In the past, when she was in the film crew, the crew members she was close to jokingly called her "Brother Qiang." They said that although she looked like a delicate girl, she had an unyielding spirit. Some action scenes made the male actors hesitant, but she would grit her teeth and perform them herself, again and again, never giving up voluntarily.
In the evening, Xie Yinuo came over for dinner again.
"Why haven't I seen Zheng Xiao hanging out with you lately?" Mao Wenjing asked casually.
Xiao Wenqiang noticed that for the first time, she hadn't called Zheng Xiao "Brother."
"Sigh, don't even mention it. Zheng Xiao has been incredibly stressed out these past few days because of that Zheng Ze," Xie Yinuo said with some helplessness.
"Actually, Zheng Ze is quite pitiful. His actions shouldn't be the consequence for a child to bear," Mao Wenjing started to speak in his defense.
"What? Are you very familiar with this Zheng Ze? Why are you defending him so much?" Xie Yinuo also sensed something unusual about Mao Wenjing.
"Not really, I'm just stating the facts," Mao Wenjing denied. "It's just that recently I realized he's in the same class as me, and he seems quite easy to get along with."
"Oh, Old Zheng enrolled his son in your school?" Mao Genhong also put down his chopsticks. "That must have cost a fortune. This Zheng Ze must have some capabilities!"
The school where Mao Wenjing and Zheng Ze attended was Yunbei City's renowned prestigious school – Yunying High School. This school was notoriously expensive, not only in terms of tuition but also because its students were from wealthy families.
However, the teaching staff was very strong, so even though it was expensive, many wealthy people still sent their children there, hoping they would receive a good education and establish a so-called "aristocratic network."
Zheng Xiao and Xie Yinuo, on the other hand, had excellent academic records, so they disdained private schools that could be entered with just money, choosing to rely on their own abilities to get into "Yunbei City First High School."
But for students like Mao Wenjing, whose grades were not very good, and Zheng Ze, who had returned from abroad and hadn't taken the domestic middle school entrance exam, "Yunying High School" was a good option.
"Dad, don't make malicious speculations about others. You haven't interacted with Zheng Ze, he's genuinely a good person," Mao Wenjing's voice became a little shy as she spoke.
She remembered that day when her period unexpectedly arrived early, staining her white dress without her knowledge. It was Zheng Ze who voluntarily took off his jacket and gently tied it around her waist.
At that moment, seeing the gentle look in his eyes and his handsome face, so similar to Zheng Xiao's, Mao Wenjing felt as if Zheng Ze was glowing.
Later, they had more opportunities to interact, and she learned about his family's situation. Knowing that Zheng Ze had to return because of his mother's illness, she felt even more pity for him. So, when she heard Xie Yinuo mention Zheng Ze just now, she couldn't help but speak up for him.
Xie Yinuo said unhappily, "Which side are you on? Why are you defending that Zheng Ze so much? Didn't you always say you liked Zheng Xiao!"
"Don't talk nonsense. Who likes Zheng Xiao? Besides, Zheng Xiao said such unpleasant things to Lili, I heard it all from Lili," Mao Wenjing began to deny having ever liked Zheng Xiao.
Seeing that the two were about to bicker again, Xie Qiao interjected, "Alright, alright, you two siblings shouldn't argue over someone else's business. Let's eat properly!"
Mao Genhong also nodded, "Yes, learn from Yanyan. Eat quietly!"