A Young Woman's Heart

"There's a commission involved, too."

Before long, the sales clerk came out carrying a brand new violin case, but it looked less well-made than the ones I usually buy, and seemed a bit flimsy.

Fortunately, the shoulder-mounted keyboard isn't too heavy, so the case should be fine.

"After the 12% discount, the total is 675.84, which is 676..."

"Round it down, six hundred and seventy-five will do."

"We round it up or down."

"Never mind then, I won't buy it!" Hua Yinyin seemed angry over just one yuan, leaving Mo Xueyao at a loss.

The other girls looked at her with admiration, and Mr. Xue even cooperated by taking a few steps towards the door.

"Oh dear, I can't argue with you. You're amazing, girl."

So in the end, he bought the shoulder-mounted electronic keyboard for 675.

When it came time to pay, Yu Shu remembered something important.

"Um... I..."

"It's alright, I've already thought it through. Does anyone have any money? We can chip in some for Xiao Shu'er, right?" Hua Yinyin was the first to take out her wallet and pull out a fifty-yuan note. "We're still short one hundred and twenty-five, what about you guys?"

"Huh? This isn't right... We can't use everyone's money..."

"Consider it the band's operating expenses."

"Hmm... then I'll return it to you tomorrow..."

"I'll give you five yuan..." Mo Zhuyou scratched her cheek a little embarrassedly, "Well... that's all I brought, the remaining two yuan is for the bus fare..."

Mo Xueyao put down her schoolbag and rummaged around for a while before taking out a banknote she had kept in a small bag for future use: "I have ten yuan here."

"Yes, me too." Mr. Xue didn't seem to be in a very good financial situation either.

"I'm still short a hundred..." Yu Shu was a little nervous, afraid that she wouldn't be able to buy this shoulder-back keyboard today.

"Don't worry, I have it~"

"That's right, don't worry, Lele is a rich woman!"

"Come on, don't give me that." Although he was smiling happily, Wang Jiale couldn't help but retort, "I don't have that much money!"

Wang Jiale's wallet looked to be of very high quality. When opened, it contained many loose bills, probably about ten ten-yuan and five-yuan notes, quite a few twenty-yuan and fifty-yuan notes, and even two one-hundred-yuan notes.

For high school students in this era, it's equivalent to carrying a huge sum of money with them!

"Here, consider it a gift for Shu'er, you don't need to return it to me," Wang Jiale said generously, making Mo Xueyao look on with envy.

Although both of their parents are business people, there is indeed a big difference between running a company and running a small shop...

Even though her parents only ran a small company.

"I'll definitely pay it back tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow is Saturday." Mo Zhuyou winked playfully.

"Huh? Then, Monday it is...!"

In any case, I eventually bought the shoulder-mounted electronic keyboard, and then at Hua Yinyin's request, I let her unpack it and try it out.

There were no unexpected problems. Both the feel and the sound quality are very good, and it's good enough even without connecting speakers.

Yu Shu looked so fond of her violin case that Mo Xueyao wondered if she would be so enthusiastic about her boyfriend...

She and Mo Xueyao were going the same way, while the others needed to take different buses, so they said goodbye to each other at the crossroads outside the music store.

Yu Shu lowered her head, her face slightly flushed, and hummed a song softly. It was unclear what was on her mind that made her so happy.

"Little Shuer—" Hua Yinyin stood by the platform in the distance, holding up a megaphone with both hands and shouted loudly at her, "You must practice hard from now on—"

"Looks like they'll practice hard, right?" Wang Jiale said happily. "Our band is getting a new member!"

"I'm afraid it'll just be a passing fad," Mo Zhuyou said, puffing out her cheeks.

"The 'three-minute enthusiasm' thing is probably describing you, Youyou, isn't it?"

"I didn't!"

"Who started complaining about being tired and didn't want to learn after less than a week of playing the drums?"

"It wasn't me anyway!"

……

It was already evening, and the bus back was not as crowded as it had been on the way there; there wasn't even a place to stand.

Mo Xueyao and Yu Shu squeezed in with great difficulty, and after finally managing to stand still, the car started to drive off shakily again.

"Hmph hmph hmph~ Hmph hmph hmph..." Yu Shu hugged her violin case tightly, her face slightly flushed with excitement. Even though she was squeezed in the crowd, her mood seemed to remain unaffected.

"Are you that happy?" Mo Xueyao asked helplessly, gripping the handrail tightly with one hand and holding her arm with the other, so that she wouldn't fall on someone else if there was a sudden stop.

"Yes!" She nodded vigorously, then suddenly asked hesitantly, "Can I... learn it well?"

"Don't worry, just believe in yourself. Once you get the hang of a musical instrument, you can pick it up quickly."

"Hmm...can I ask Xiaoyao for help later?"

"Of course you can ask me, but... it would probably be better to ask Xiaoxue and Yinyin? They're more knowledgeable..."

"Hmm... I think I'll ask you."

"What?"

"Mmm..." Yu Shu pouted, pressing her face against the violin case, leaving a few glistening drops of saliva on it. "Because... because... Xiao Yao is definitely the... the most... um..."

"What?"

"You're the kindest to me...!"

"Hmm, I don't seem to have much patience lately... I might yell at you if I get impatient?"

"No, not at all!" Yu Shu leaned closer to Mo Xueyao. "I'm closer to Xiaoyao, aren't I... I feel a little embarrassed to trouble others..."

"Okay, okay, if there's anything I don't know either, I'll ask for you."

"Ok!"

Yu Shu lowered her head and looked at Qin Bao, who was lost in his own fantasy world.

……

Chapter 45 Shen Kelin's Request

Monday, August 2001, 4.

The midday sun was shining brightly, and Taiyin was carrying a transparent watering can in both hands, swaying as she watered the flowers and crops she had planted.

The fine, dense water droplets brought a touch of coolness with the breeze.

Although the counselor at the psychological counseling center is a very kind 'girl' who looks even younger than the students, there are still not many people coming here.

Because many people just pass by here every day, catch a glimpse of her, and feel their wounded hearts instantly healed.

It works far better than any gentle comfort.

It's like a crystal-clear jelly placed on an exquisite tray in summer; just looking at it can bring joy.

The sweet and refreshing taste lingers on the tongue—the closer it gets to summer, the more pronounced this atmosphere becomes at Yukong High School.

"Splash—" The tap was turned on, and cool water, like water drawn from a deep well, splashed onto Mo Xueyao's hands. She squinted her eyes, humming a little tune, and vigorously scrubbed the spoon she used for eating clean.

The dish soap next to it had already been used up once, but the cafeteria lady filled it with tap water, making it extremely thin. You have to squeeze out a lot to barely get any foam out.

That really makes sure not a single bit is wasted.

She suddenly realized that developed countries always promote recycling and not wasting anything, but in reality, poverty is probably the biggest motivation for people not to waste things.

"Slap!" A hand suddenly landed on Mo Xueyao's shoulder. She was already used to such surprise attacks. While pulling a clean handkerchief from her pocket to wrap the spoon, she lazily shook her shoulders, trying to shake the hand off. "Yinyin, don't wipe your wet hands on my clothes after washing the spoon, okay? It makes Mom say I'm unhygienic every time she does laundry..."

However, when she turned around, she didn't see Hua Yinyin with her braided pigtails, but a girl who was more than half a head taller than her.

"Huh... Shen Kelin?"

"Xiaoyao!" she greeted him warmly, looking somewhat embarrassed—which was quite rare.

Mo Xueyao let down her ponytail that she had tied up while eating—probably because her hair wasn't long enough, so wearing a ponytail for a long time would give her a headache.

Perhaps Li Wanyan tied it too tightly?

When she ties her hair herself, she always ties the rubber band a little further at the end, which makes it look looser, but it's much more comfortable.

Shen Kelin casually combed her long hair, and perhaps finding it quite nice to the touch, she touched it a few more times.

"The weather's so nice today, looks like your radio station won't be open for business." Mo Xueyao glanced at her sideways, as if to say hello.

Actually, it's more common for people who are relatively familiar with each other to greet each other like this.

The usual response would be something like, "What a coincidence."

Of course, if it's really unexpected, I might blurt it out.

"Hmm—let's go, Xiaoyao, let's walk and talk on the playground!"

"What? I still have to go to the band room." Mo Xueyao turned her head and glanced at the entrance of the cafeteria. Wang Jiale had already washed the dishes and was looking in her direction.

Hua Yinyin and Mo Zhuyou have disappeared somewhere. I just saw them washing spoons here.

"It's a very—important matter." Shen Kelin put her arm around her shoulder. "It won't take up too much of your time, Xiaoyao. Why are you being so inconsiderate?"

"Okay, okay... I understand..." Mo Xueyao nodded helplessly.

"What would you like to drink? It's on me!"

"No need, I ate a lot at noon." Mo Xueyao touched her lower abdomen, which did seem to be slightly bulging.

"Really? Let me touch it?"

"Go away, go away—" Mo Xueyao rolled her eyes at her and walked down the stairs first. "Alright, alright, what's up? Do you want me to go out and play? Or do you need any help?"

"I guess you could call it helping out?"