A Young Woman's Heart

She put down her schoolbag and opened the window slightly.

It will get very lively here soon. Even if we're not practicing, we'll be having a lively gathering to drink tea.

The time they spent together was truly joyful, and even though she was often just an observer, she still felt fulfilled.

The whiteboard is always covered with colorful doodles, sometimes changing three times a day, and sometimes not being erased or redrawn for a whole week.

Today, I drew some cute cartoon figures stacked on top of each other on the whiteboard, sandwiched between slices of bread. It looks like they're cosplaying as hamburgers...

Several sheets of paper, including sheet music and lyrics, were attached to the top with magnets, and there was also a business card in the far corner.

This was handed to them by someone backstage after the performance ended and they stepped off the stage that day.

After Hua Yinyin accepted it, she pasted it here.

The man was a bar owner who occasionally hosted various underground bands to perform at his establishment.

The term "underground band" doesn't necessarily mean "unofficial." It actually refers to bands that are in the industry out of passion and don't yet have much income.

However, it was a bar after all, and for ordinary people in Country Z, it was a place only disreputable people would go.

So at the time, I just accepted it out of politeness.

No one seemed interested in performing there, except for Hua Yinyin, who appeared to be somewhat looking forward to it.

“Performance…” Yu Shu gently bit her lip and looked at the only instrument that hadn’t been taken from the band room—the drum set.

Because it's too heavy, Mo Zhuyou usually only takes it back on Fridays.

When she came to her senses, Yu Shu was already sitting in front of the drum set without realizing it. She hesitated for a moment, then picked up the two drumsticks and tapped them gently.

A deep, resonant echo came from the drumhead.

It's like a heartbeat.

She was startled, but her face flushed slightly with excitement.

It was as if she were sitting on a stage, performing on the drums.

The audience below was cheering.

She gripped the drumsticks tighter, a sense of longing welling up within her.

The drum kit is an instrument that requires the use of both hands and feet, and just a few taps can create a pleasant rhythm.

Yu Shu felt as if she could sense the passion Mo Zhuyou had when she was drumming on stage.

A little sweat beaded on her forehead as she tried to spin the drumsticks like Mo Zhuyou, but accidentally dropped them to the ground with a 'clatter'.

"Youyou is so..." The half-open classroom door was suddenly pushed open, and Wang Jiale, who was carrying a bass bag slung across his shoulder, was stunned for a moment. "Oh, is that Shuer?"

"Eh? Eh...!" Yu Shu hurriedly put the drumsticks back in their original positions and stood up from the stool, as if trying to clear her name of any suspicion. However, this was rather cute, like burying her head in the sand.

"Playing the drums? Don't break them, okay? Youyou spent a lot of money on this, even though it's secondhand..." Wang Jiale tilted his head and smiled, placing his schoolbag and instrument case on the table. "Trying out an instrument?"

"Hmm...almost, almost..."

"Try the bass! It's deep and resonant. Although you can barely hear it in an ensemble, you can't do without it!"

"I always feel that... it's very difficult."

"A little bit... but it's not too bad. Does Shu'er know how to read sheet music?"

"Yes, I know a little."

"That's better than what Xiaoyao did back then. Xiaoyao couldn't even read sheet music."

"Huh? No way...?"

"Really?" Wang Jiale took his bass out of his bag and held it out to Yu Shu. "Here, try it. Put one hand here, and then gently... uh, just strum it a little?"

"This...is this how it is?"

"Hmm! How is it!"

"Such a deep voice."

"Right? Just like a mature man, he has charm."

Wang Jiale's description made Yu Shu blush, but Wang Jiale herself was completely unaware that there was anything wrong with what she said.

"Or perhaps you prefer the lighter, more upbeat sound of a guitar, Shu'er? You need a pick for a guitar, but I haven't bought one yet... How about we go to the music store after school on Friday? What do you think?" Wang Jiale asked expectantly. "I'm also going to change the strings on my bass."

"Hmm...but...would joining the band be a hindrance?"

"No problem, you can learn slowly." Wang Jiale tilted her head and leaned close to her face, her twin ponytails tickling her cheek. "If Shuer joins, maybe the Snow Music Band can be kept after we graduate!"

"Huh? Why..."

"Then you can recruit a few more people to join the team, and then you can apply to establish a club, like a pop band club or something?" Actually, Wang Jiale himself wasn't quite clear about the specific process, "but in any case, the name Snow Music Band might be able to be kept."

Her words made Yu Shu hesitate: "I...I definitely can't do it...Being the captain...absolutely not...And...you've all left, what...what am I going to do?"

"Hmm..." Wang Jiale slapped her forehead, realizing she had been thoughtless. She laughed foolishly, "Well... does Shuer have any friends who want to join the band?"

"I don't think so..."

"Anyway, let's practice first. Whether you join or not, music is really fun! Whenever I'm in a bad mood, playing bass for a while makes me feel better."

"so……"

"This can cultivate one's character, otherwise why would people in ancient times have to learn one or two musical instruments?"

"Hmm... then..."

"Then let's go to the music store after school tomorrow afternoon! Let everyone come with you!" Wang Jiale made the decision for her. "You don't have to join until you feel you've practiced enough. Anyway, it's convenient for them to guide you in the band. Oh, by the way, you should ask Xiaoxue about instruments. Although Yinyin knows a lot, she always likes to joke around and her learning efficiency is very poor..."

However, Wang Jiale's learning efficiency in other areas is not high at all.

"You guys are here way too early today. I'm usually here ages before you arrive. What's wrong? The sun hasn't risen in the west yet." Mo Xueyao's voice suddenly came from the doorway. She walked in carrying an electronic keyboard, placed it on the keyboard stand, and teased her playfully.

"Um... I had a bit of insomnia, so I came early," Yu Shu explained somewhat embarrassedly.

"Hey? You have insomnia too?" Wang Jiale blurted out. When he saw Mo Xueyao's sidelong glance, he coughed lightly and explained, "Because I was watching horror stories last night, I held my pee for a long time in the middle of the night. I couldn't hold it in anymore this morning, so I got up first."

Is there any connection between watching horror stories and holding in urine?

"Because I read a horror story, I was too scared to get up to go to the bathroom afterward, so I just went to sleep. That's why I... had to pee in the middle of the night!"

"Hahaha, Lele is such a scaredy-cat!" Mo Xueyao laughed gleefully. "If you're so afraid, why did you even watch it?"

"That's why you watch it...it's so exciting!"

It feels like someone who can't eat spicy food but loves it—a contradiction.

Mo Xueyao simply couldn't understand it.

"By the way, Xiaoyao, let's go to the music store with Shuer tomorrow and see what instrument she likes."

"Finally decided to give it a try?" After putting the electronic keyboard away, Mo Xueyao picked up the kettle, filled it with mineral water from the water dispenser, and immediately started boiling water.

Despite being only a high school student, she has developed a habit of coming over for tea every morning.

It's as if they've prematurely entered middle age.

It seems this habit was introduced to me by Mr. Xue.

Everyone has been influenced by him to some extent.

"Hmm, let's give it a try. I think a guitar would be a better choice, since we happen to need one."

"As for the guitar... with Yin Yin here, it shouldn't be a problem, right?" Mo Xueyao took out a teacup, poured in some tea leaves, and then tapped the table to wait for the water to boil. "It's better to let Yu Shu decide for herself."

"Huh? I...I don't know either..."

"That's why Lele wants you to go and take a look first. Who knows, you might really like the saxophone then?"

"Shu'er playing the saxophone?" Wang Jiale's expression turned strange. "What a weird sight... That looks tiring, she probably doesn't have enough lung capacity, right?"

"That seems to be true. This kind of thing that requires lung capacity really needs someone who is usually a chatterbox, like... Gao Yuan."

At this moment, Gao Yuan, who was still lying in bed, sneezed loudly, which woke him up from his sweet dream.

He stared at the familiar ceiling with his eyes open. It was an extremely leisurely morning, yet he felt inexplicably urgent.

"It's the last semester..." He rolled over, then pushed himself up from the bed with his hands. "Oh well, I'd better get up early."

He had never felt that every meeting, every minute spent with classmates and friends, was as precious as he had felt this semester.

It's like a rope that's about to burn out; the further the flames go, the more anxious you become.

Above his desk hung a schedule, which was packed full of activities, even taking up his time after school.

Despite being an extremely spacious villa in the city, he felt the air was somewhat oppressive.

……

Chapter 42 The Girls' Focus

The last period on Friday was a class meeting. On the podium, Ye Wen straightened her chestnut hair clip and gently tapped the blackboard: "The midterm exam is next Wednesday, and the parent-teacher meeting is on Friday. Parents need to sign the reply slip after taking it home, understand? If any parent can't come, they must tell me in advance."

On a bright and sunny spring afternoon, the beautiful sunlight makes one eager to break free of the 'birdcage' and soar into the free world outside.

"Alright, school's out!" Although the bell hadn't rung yet, Ye Wen had already started organizing various documents and materials on the table with a wave of her hand.

Every Friday, Class 2 of Grade 11 would leave school a few minutes earlier than others during their class meeting. Although it was only a few minutes, it made the students incredibly excited and grateful.

When she told students from other classes about it, she always attracted envious glances.

"Charge!" Liu Xiaowei was the first to rush out with his schoolbag on his back—he had been packing his schoolbag since the beginning of the class meeting, ready to leave the classroom at any time, even though the school gate wasn't open when he arrived.

"Gao Yuan, aren't you going today? It's been so long since we went to the arcade together." Zhou Yong also put on his shoulder strap.

"Well, this semester has been very busy."

"Oh, what a disaster." Zhou Yong patted Gao Yuan on the shoulder with a smile, his face practically screaming schadenfreude.

"Wait a minute!" Ye Banxia suddenly shouted, stomping her foot angrily, "Liu Xiaowei ran away again!"

“Then let Zhou Yong…” Li Wanyan turned her head slightly, but before she could finish speaking, Zhou Yong immediately rushed out of the classroom.

"Ah, I'll go and call Liu Xiaogou back right now!"

But judging from the way he was carrying his schoolbag, he didn't seem to be planning to come back.