You're my wife, don't doubt it!

The orchestra's classroom should be on... the fourth floor, oh yes.

From a great distance, Xiao Yao could hear the melodious sound of the cello.

Xiao Yao recognized the piece; it was Paganini's "Variations on a Theme by Moses".

Yu Luying had told him that this was a variation on a theme composed by Paganini based on a melody from Rossini's opera "Messer in Egypt," and it was written with the music of Messer's prayer as its theme.

Xiao Yao remembers that he first heard this piece of music at the school's anniversary performance in the first semester.

He will never forget that the sun shone brightly that day.

Wearing a pure black long dress, Yu Luying gracefully walked out from among the other girls in similar attire on the rostrum of the playground and began her solo performance.

She was tall and looked great in her performance costume, which made her skin appear exceptionally pale.

Xiao Yao had no opportunity to learn music theory, could not appreciate cello variations, and could not even tell what the main melody was. At that time, he just stared at Yu Luying, as if everything around him had gradually disappeared.

He was certain that Yu Luying's face shone with light that day.

He was puzzled. After knowing Yu Luying and becoming good friends with her for several months, he only realized on the first day that she was so...beautiful.

Yu Luying's eyes were filled with clear water, as if it might drip at any moment. Sometimes she would gaze sadly into the distance, as if hoping for some future, and sometimes she would close her eyes and bow her head, like a young girl in quiet prayer.

At that moment, Xiao Yao fell in love with her.

He shook his head, dispelling the not-so-distant memory, and tiptoed to the door of the instrumental music classroom, peeking quietly through the crack in the door.

The melodious music stopped abruptly, and the girl put down the strings and looked in this direction.

Xiao Yao was startled, but pretended to be nonchalant and pushed open the door: "You're here. I noticed your finger was injured, so I came to check on you—"

He raised his hand to show Yu Luying his fingers.

Yu Luying held out her finger with a band-aid on it and lowered her head: "I'm sorry, I accidentally got it on the string... I'll be more careful next time."

"Oh, it's nothing. I'm relieved that you're alright," Xiao Yao said, trying to sound relaxed.

Yu Luying pursed her lips and tucked her hair behind her ear: "Thank you."

Another awkward silence followed, with neither of them moving.

“By the way, last night, your mother…” Xiao Yao hesitated before speaking.

"I should go back now." Yu Luying stood up and began to tidy up her violin case.

"Let's go get something to eat," Xiao Yao blurted out.

Yu Luying didn't say anything, but simply picked up her violin case, lowered her head, and walked out.

--split line--

"Next time—the next two times, it's on me. It's a deal."

Xiao Yao, holding several skewers of honey-glazed chicken thighs and beef tendons, walked to the small square table outside the shop and sat down, placing them on the iron plate in front of Yu Luying.

Then, imitating her, I made the sign of the cross on my chest and clasped my hands together: "I'm starting!"

It was getting dark, and Yu Luying was taking small bites of chicken while staring at the street corner in a melancholy daze.

“Well, it’s been a long time since we’ve eaten here together. We used to come here all the time,” Xiao Yao chimed in.

"Where have you run off to again!" With a crisp ringtone, Teacher Yao sent a text message.

"It's because of you." Yu Luying spoke abruptly, as if she were talking about someone else's business.

"what?"

“Mom is angry because I lied to her,” Yu Luying said softly. “Last week I was helping you with extra lessons after school, but I lied to Mom and said it was because the orchestra needed to practice more… She found out yesterday…”

Xiao Yao was somewhat confused: "No, I...why?"

Yu Luying did not answer his question, but continued, "She got even angrier when you came to my place yesterday."

"I'm sorry, I was just worried about you," Xiao Yao said apologetically.

Yu Luying shook her head, making a "hmm" sound of denial through her nose.

Why does your mother hate me so much?

“She doesn’t dislike you.” Yu Luying emphasized the word “you.”

"So, you're not allowed to date?" Xiao Yao guessed.

“That’s not entirely true,” Yu Luying pursed her lips, “but you, you can’t.”

"Doesn't that still mean he hates me?" Xiao Yao rubbed his forehead.

"Fortunately, Teacher Yao talked to my mom for a long time afterward, and her attitude softened a bit." Yu Luying neatly arranged the slips of paper on the metal tray, took out a tissue to wipe her mouth, and then wiped her hands: "Did you... take a shower yesterday?"

“Teacher Yao is a good teacher.” Xiao Yao decided to only pick up on the first point.

“Teacher Yao is a good teacher,” Yu Luying repeated affirmatively.

"Thank you both." A motorcycle slowly pulled up next to the food stall and turned off its engine.

"Teacher Yao!" Both children stood up instinctively.

A middle-aged man took off his helmet, hugged it to his chest, revealing his sparse head: "You two, you two, sigh... Yu Luying, don't let your mother worry too much, go home as soon as possible."

Yu Luying nodded and picked up her schoolbag: "Goodbye, Teacher Yao."

"Are you leaving or not?" The next question was addressed to Xiao Yao.

Xiao Yao lifted his leg and straddled the back of the light cavalry: "Well then, Yu Luying, see you tomorrow."

"..."

"Stop looking, they've all gone far away." Teacher Yao put his helmet back on and started the engine: "Silly boy, you managed to make up after that, you're really something."

"Teacher Yao, why does Yu Luying's mother dislike me?" Xiao Yao reached out and supported Teacher Yao's waist.

“She doesn’t dislike you.” Teacher Yao’s words were exactly the same as Yu Luying’s.

"what is going on?"

"Hey, other parents have their own considerations, how can I explain it to you?" Teacher Yao twisted the accelerator and sped off.

Xiao Yao leaned back and had no choice but to hug him tightly.

Chapter 29 Suspicion

Today, Qian Shui cooked several of her signature dishes.

"Madam, the dishes are too lavish. Please keep it simple next time," Xiao Yao said apologetically.

"That's right, just keep it simple next time," Teacher Yao said. "Usually when I'm at home, you always—"

"What's wrong?" Qian Shui interrupted with a smile, "I just like this child, so I love cooking for him, what do you think?"

"Teacher's wife, please don't do this..." Xiao Yao was somewhat embarrassed.

"Hey, keep going, what were you saying earlier?" Qian Shui looked at Xiao Yao with a smile.

“That’s all,” Xiao Yao said. “I was carrying a bunch of notebooks out when I spilled them all over the ground. Yu Luying happened to see me and squatted down to help me pick them up. At that moment, I thought, this girl is really kind.”

"Is this what kindness looks like?" Teacher Yao said.

"Anyway, it left a deep impression on me," Xiao Yao recalled. "From that time on, we became friends."

"Mmm," said Shallow Water.

"Then, during the poetry club time," Xiao Yao said, "she sat alone by the window, not talking to the other students, just like that, resting her chin on her hand, looking outside."

Xiao Yao rested his chin on his hand: "It's very quiet, and also very lonely."

“Let me guess,” Shallow Water said with a clap and a laugh.

"After all, we're the only two classmates," Xiao Yao explained.

“You’re very good at it,” Qian Shui said.

"Later, when we were exchanging poems, Yu Luying's poem left a deep impression on me. It was called 'Fallen Angel'."

“Fallen Angel.” Shallow Water repeated the name.

“The fallen angel is firmly chained,” Xiao Yao began reciting poetry to himself: “Her wings are broken by prejudice, she gasps for breath in the pitch-black despair, do you know her name? In the end, she will be driven to the other side of oblivion, returning to nothingness. No, no! The requiem will become a cry, tearing off the mask of the hypocrite…”

"You've memorized it all?" Teacher Yao commented, "This nonsensical poem doesn't sound like something a religious kid would write."

"It seems even good students have a rebellious side. You, as their homeroom teacher, should take good care of them," Qian Shui said.

"Finished eating? Let's go, time to study." Teacher Yao pulled Xiao Yao up by the arm.

"I'll wash the dishes."

"Give me a break! Don't smash my bowls again!"

“Yao Qi,” Qian Shui called out, “I believe this child won’t do anything bad. Please check the surveillance footage for him tomorrow.”

"I understand," Teacher Yao sighed.

The tutoring session that evening went very smoothly, and Teacher Yao even began to wonder why Xiao Yao had done so poorly on the previous test.

"At this rate, you don't need to just set your goal on passing," Teacher Yao said.