This star just wants to learn.

"Study? Study my ass."

Pu Tong never expected that the first hurdle for playing the guzheng would not be reading music or fingering techniques, but simply hand pain.

After only a few days of practice, eight of his ten fingertips were an unnatural deep red, and three of the blisters had already burst, revealing the tender pink flesh underneath, which was so thin it was almost transparent.

He just wants to go back and slap his past self twice, saying, "You were so cocky, now you've finally fallen for it!"
"That's not something you can say lightly."

Yu Wanwan dipped a cotton swab in the brownish-red medicine and carefully touched his fingertips. "You're ruining your image by saying that."

He didn't even go out and ask around. Everyone knows that Pu Tong loves to study... Saying something like "study my ass" is just ruining his image.

Pu Tong was just talking; he had chosen his own path, and this little bit of physical pain wouldn't make him give up.

The hand pain is secondary; the main problem is that the hand pain severely affects the efficiency of practice.

His plan was a last-minute, desperate measure, and if his hand injury delayed him for a few more days, it would truly be too late.

The most difficult part is the left hand.

The left hand of the guzheng not only needs to press the strings, but also needs to perform techniques such as "vibrato" and "plucking", which requires greater pressure and more precise positioning.

His left index and middle fingers were a truly pitiful sight—after the blisters burst, the skin shrank and curled up, revealing the tender, bright red flesh underneath, with some areas oozing clear tissue fluid.

"It'll hurt a little, just bear with it." Yu Wanwan sighed helplessly. "I'm going to start now."

These lines are awful...

Before Pu Tong could react, the cotton swab soaked in medicine touched his wound. This time, the pain was greater than ever before, and Pu Tong couldn't help but scream out.

He, a grown man, doesn't usually yell unless he can't help it. He clearly felt how the active ingredients in the medicine invaded the damaged tissue, how they stimulated blood vessels to contract and dilate, and how they awakened every dormant pain receptor.

This is the importance of learning—knowing pain and understanding the principles behind it… although this theoretical knowledge doesn't stop him from screaming without regard for his dignity.

"So it was King Pu practicing his high notes. I thought he was slaughtering a pig."

Pu Tong gasped, and when she looked up, she saw Iori Yukino walking into the practice room with a mischievous grin, followed closely by Lin Yuxi, and even Xie Mu and Sun Yilin were there.

The place where he practices the guzheng is right next to the company's "tutoring center," so it's no wonder everyone heard such a commotion...

This was definitely the most embarrassing moment for Pu Tong in a long time. He had always been an "omnipotent" figure in front of his friends, and he had never been as embarrassed as he was now.
However, he quickly dismissed the thought as soon as it came to mind. No one is perfect, and true friends are those who can show their vulnerable side without reservation when interacting with others.

Without a doubt, everyone is.

Then everything will be fine. So what if he yelled? Who isn't just a pitiful, weak, and helpless high school student?
"How dare you say I practice high notes? If you're so good at mixing them up, then you do it all."

Pu Tong raised his hands in front of his eyes. Senior Liu said that once the calluses grew out, the new layer would harden and become tough enough to withstand the friction and pressure of the strings.

This process wasn't long, but for him it felt like an eternity. His fingers ached terribly; Pu Tong felt like he was cosplaying Ziwei every day...

Although it was hard not to laugh when they heard Pu Tong shouting, they were still stunned when they saw his hands in person.

His hands can be used to compose three hundred poems, or to get a pentakill in games. He has also personally played many national-level pieces of music.

Who could have imagined that these hands would turn like this in just a few days?
As friends, they felt somewhat uneasy, as Pu Tong had sacrificed so much for this family...

"Master, from now on I will be your right-hand man!"

Only Xie Mu could describe him as having "left and right arms" so aptly. Anyone who didn't know better would think Pu Tong's hand was truly crippled and needed Xie Mu as a prosthetic. Having weathered many storms, Xie Mu had matured considerably, but in front of Pu Tong, he remained that same immature, eccentric teenager.

If Pu Tong had a gang, he would undoubtedly be the right-hand protector. If his master told him to go east, he would never go west; if his master told him to chase a dog, he would never chase a chicken.

"You can be my finger, I can't live without it now."

Pu Tong didn't want to disrupt everyone's studies. With less than three months until the college entrance exam, every second counted. There was no need to revolve around him; after all, it didn't matter whether he took the exam or not...

As graduation approaches, and perhaps it's just Pu Tong's imagination, the people and things around him seem to have become a bit sentimental.

It wasn't as unforgettable as in the novel, nor as moving as in the TV series; it was like a train slowing down as it arrives at a station, moving forward gently.

But precisely because of this, the scenery along the way is much clearer than usual, and in the final days, everyone will discover many things that they hadn't noticed before.

When his gaze occasionally met that of his classmates, they all seemed to be conveying through their eyes: Please don't forget me...

This is the highest praise for someone who has amazed your youth. No need to seek contact or intersection, just to leave a mark and draw a unique stroke in their destined wonderful life.

Pu Tong has nothing else to offer but an exceptionally good memory; he would never forget his classmates even if they turned to ashes.

A few days later, the pain in his fingers was still there, but he had become able to talk and understand.

Of course, this is just the beginning. The cocoon will grow old and become thinner, and then it will grow old again, in a continuous cycle.

In this cycle, Pu Tong finally began practicing the competition piece, "High Mountains and Flowing Water," a guzheng piece with a total of 145 measures and a very high level of difficulty.

He wouldn't play ordinary pieces; he only plays his best, the most treasured pieces, making the most of his skills.

Seeing that Pu Tong was prepared, Yu Wanwan and the others finally felt relieved. Mastering one skill is definitely much simpler than trying to master everything.

The most important thing now is the quality of the piece. As long as the piece is good, it doesn't matter if it's Hedy Wendy, Turbid Heart, or Skadi.

"Since we're going to play the piano anyway, why not bring Lin Yuxi on stage as well? Having her dance along would be a bonus..."

Although it was meant as a joke about Lin Yuxi being a accessory, Iori Yukino's words also had a bit of ulterior motive.

Everyone knows her dream is to dance at the Golden Hall; as long as it comes true, who cares if it's just a decoration or not?

"Don't make things worse."

Lin Yuxi understood her wicked idea, but still refused without hesitation.

To be honest, it would be a lie to say she wasn't tempted by this suggestion. She dreamed of standing on that stage, as tall as her grandmother back then.

However, this dream depends on the occasion. Pu Tong is handling serious business and cannot be careless in the slightest. Adding a dancer to the instrumental duel would be completely superfluous.

"It's okay, it's fine for us to be spectators."

Yu Wanwan quickly smoothed things over, saying, "These two are really something. They clearly meant well, but couldn't they just say it sincerely?"

While the three women chattered away, Pu Tong quietly turned her head away, not joining in their daydreams about the so-called temple of art.

Actually, he didn't plan to take them with him this time... (End of Chapter)