A Young Woman's Heart

Upon closer inspection, it turned out he wasn't actually wearing a headset microphone at all.

So it's obvious that someone was doing the voice-over.

"Fresh, just-made matches... Matches for sale... Such great matches!"

Aside from the dramatic opening sequence, the story seems to be unfolding normally.

“Sir.” He stopped a student who was walking by wearing a cardboard cutout that read “Suit and leather shoes”.

The scene before her eyes was all symbolized, and Mo Xueyao, who had a rich imagination, even felt that the scene was quite 'wonderful'.

"Sir, do you need matches?" The 'little girl,' who was kneeling on the ground and was more than half the height of the boy, asked in a weak voice, "Buy a box, buy a box to take home."

"Sure, of course, I do need matches, but this box isn't enough, I need the whole thing."

"All of them? Really, sir?"

"Of course, would you be willing to invest all your matches in me? In return, I will give you a penny as a dividend on the 29th of each month—starting from the next month. If these matches come in very handy, you will receive even more money."

"Sir, even so, it can only be considered that you are repaying the money I owe you."

"No, no, this is an investment."

The little girl's tone turned cold: "I think I don't need it anymore, sir."

"Why not? This will be a decision you won't regret."

The 'little girl' took out a matchstick, and the sound of striking a match seemed to come from the background sound of snow falling.

"You see, even if these matches are burned, they won't be invested in you."

“Oh, that’s a real shame, but if you don’t invest, you’ll never be able to pay off your birth loan.” The man circled the girl with a hint of sarcasm, tapping his cane on the ground repeatedly, the sound of his shoes crunching in the snow filling the background. “Our great company lent your parents a huge sum of money for your birth, and you’re the one who has to pay it back—because without that money, you certainly wouldn’t have been born.”

The little girl didn't say anything. He lit one match after another and threw them into the snow.

Of course, it didn't actually make a scratch at all.

However, with the realistic sound effects, it feels as if the match was really dropped in the snow, and you can even smell the black smoke rising from the match as it is quickly extinguished by the snow water.

The 'sir' left in a carriage.

The little girl walked along, striking a match as she went.

He walked to a 'street lamp' and looked up at the man hanging from it.

—In reality, the boy was just standing on tiptoe, but he cleverly used the illusion to make it look like he was actually being suspended.

He swayed like a swing.

The little girl held up a match: "Sir, would you like to buy some matches?"

"Oh, what a wonderful match! It can warm my cold body, even if only for a brief moment."

"Do you need it?"

"I don't need it. Leave it for someone who needs it more. Please don't waste it."

Why were you hung on the streetlight?

"Because I don't want to be exploited."

So the 'little girl' continued walking, moving forward on the makeshift stage made of cardboard.

—In reality, he was just standing still; what was actually moving were the cardboard cutouts.

He saw a man with a broken leg kneeling on the ground: "Sir, do you need a match? It's warm."

"But it was too short-lived."

"You can draw one stroke at a time, slowly."

"It's too faint."

"Okay, sir, what happened to your leg?"

"I sold them, I don't need them anymore! Look! What wonderful things I traded them for!"

"what is that?"

“Happiness!” The man held up the sparkling diamond ring in his hand.

Although it was actually just a small flashlight that could emit light.

The little girl continued walking and encountered several different people.

Finally, he asked wearily, "Sir, if you don't buy these matches, I think I might really freeze to death."

"Oh, great, I need these matches." The boy, playing a gentleman, struggled to pick up a round ball. "Please light it with the matches."

"what is that?"

"A fire that warms us all." He looked at the 'little girl'. "You have great strength. Please, I'd like to trouble you to throw it out."

"what is that?"

"A fire that can warm you and me."

"and then?"

"Then they'll devour us."

"We will die."

"Yes, but the fire will continue to burn for a long time after we die."

Will it go out?

"meeting."

"Then what to do."

"Someone will light another cluster."

So the 'little girl' picked up the black ball and threw it.

Actually, it's made of foam; it can't be thrown very far at all.

It looks flimsy and has a cheap feel to it.

Some people couldn't help but laugh at this.

Indeed, there were quite a few laughs along the way.

But Mo Xueyao, who was truly contemplating the story, couldn't quite manage a laugh.

Then, a loud explosion came from the school's multimedia classroom, probably taken from a movie, mixed with some chaotic human voices.

The exceptionally loud explosions gradually subsided.

The red curtain slowly closed as the narrator spoke.

This time it was a male voice.

"For many years to come, there probably won't be another 'Little Match Girl'."

"Pfft, haha, this story is a bit nonsensical, but it's quite fun, and the props are really interesting." Wang Jiale and several other girls burst into laughter.

"Ugh, what are they talking about? It's all nonsense..." someone commented quietly.

Mo Xueyao remained silent, as if she had something stuck in her heart that she couldn't express.

But Hua Yinyin, who was standing next to her, suddenly started clapping.

Applause slowly began to rise throughout the multimedia hall.

But it doesn't seem that intense, nor that real.

……

Chapter 128 Various Programs

(One)

In the center of the stage, a piano, as beautiful as a woman, lies across the room.

This is the second program of the New Year's Day cultural performance.

Piano solo.

Mo Xueyao had never heard this piece of music before.

It is as tranquil and secluded as a spring in a deep mountain forest, carrying the fragrance of that ancient forest.

And the person playing the piece was none other than Taiyin.

No, look closer, there are two!

Students who had been to Ye Wen's house before weren't too surprised, but those who hadn't couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

—A pair of incredibly alike twins.

The only way to tell them apart is by whether they are wearing a headband with fox ears.

This is a four-hand piano duet.

For two people to perform well together, they not only need to have a good understanding of each other, but also need to have a high level of skill and technique.

Mo Xueyao leaned against the back of the chair in front of her, her eyes slightly narrowed, as if she were seeing two girls dancing gracefully deep in the forest.

The yellow-green vines danced gracefully in the wind.

"Amazing..." Even Hua Yinyin, who was usually quite arrogant, couldn't help but exclaim in amazement and continued to hold her breath and listen.

In the past, the teachers' performances were usually placed last, but this time it seems they've been mixed up, or even placed as the second performance.

Many students were moved and truly felt that this was indeed a rare and grand annual event.

Even if you don't like listening to music, just watching two exquisitely beautiful girls, like works of art, playing the piano on stage is enough to captivate you—not to mention that they are actually much older than the students, which gives them an even more special charm.

The attraction of someone who looks much younger than their actual age has been irresistible throughout history.

When the song ended, Mo Xueyao was still a little reluctant to stop.

"Sigh—Taiyin-sensei is so cute... I must save up enough points to exchange for her character model!"