A Young Woman's Heart

This is actually exploiting a loophole, because the monthly pass is for one person, so you can't swipe it a second time on the same bus within a certain period of time. But if you ride for a long enough time, you still have a chance to swipe it a second time.

There weren't too many people in the car. Mo Xueyao and Li Wanyan found a window seat, opened the window as wide as possible, and let the wind outside blow across their faces.

She prefers buses with open windows to air-conditioned buses.

Of course, this is on the premise that the temperature does not reach 40 degrees Celsius.

Otherwise, it's unbearably hot even with the windows open.

Because the wind blowing in is also hot.

After getting off the car, Mo Xueyao and Li Wanyan walked a little further and arrived at Zuo Ziya's courtyard by West Lake.

The gate remained open as always, and many of the potted plants had been moved to a shady spot to avoid being exposed to the intense summer sun.

The water flowing on the artificial hill was circulating. Mo Xueyao reached out and touched it, finding that it had already been warmed by the sun.

The sound of a piano came from inside the villa. She grabbed Li Wanyan's wrist and quietly approached, only to find that a lesson was being taught inside.

Wang Jiale sat in her seat and listened attentively.

Zuo Ziya, sitting in front of the piano, would sometimes play and sometimes stop to explain carefully. If it was a difficult part, she would repeat it many times.

Her lectures were easy to understand, and even Mo Xueyao and Li Wanyan, who did not have a solid foundation, could understand some of them.

Upon seeing the two standing by the door, Zuo Ziya did not stop lecturing; she simply smiled and nodded at them as a greeting.

Having visited many times, Mo Xueyao was much bolder than Li Wanyan. She very naturally picked up the folding table and chair next to her and sat down next to Wang Jiale.

Every student who came to class today, including Wang Jiale, brought an electronic keyboard.

However, unlike the cheap electronic keyboards that Mo Xueyao's family bought, these electronic keyboards, regardless of their material, all come with three pedals, just like a car's clutch, brake, and accelerator.

"Alright, everyone, let's take a ten-minute break." Zuo Ziya glanced at the time, smiled, and stood up. "You can stretch your legs or go get some water."

So, these students, the youngest in elementary school and the oldest in college, relaxed and went about their own business.

These people have been attending classes for a long time and are clearly used to this regular get out of class schedule.

"Xiaoyao, class monitor, you're here to play again?" Wang Jiale yawned widely while leaning on her piano. "I didn't sleep well yesterday because I was doing homework..."

"Is this an electronic keyboard or a piano?" Mo Xueyao asked curiously, touching the keyboard on her desk. "Is the outer casing made of wood? It looks expensive?"

"Hmm... a few thousand yuan, it's alright."

"This isn't expensive?"

"It's much cheaper than a real piano; this is an electronic keyboard that mimics the materials and feel of a piano!"

"Where's the thread...?"

"It has a built-in battery and can be used without being plugged in."

"Wow, that's amazing..." Mo Xueyao touched it again and again with envy, "The sound quality is also very good."

"Well..." Wang Jiale was a little embarrassed, "Um~ Doesn't Xiaoyao have her own electronic keyboard?"

"Yes, I do, but it's the cheap kind. By the way, your keyboard is a bit bigger than usual, how are you going to bring it over?"

"My dad brought it over in a van."

"Then go back and put it back?"

"Yes."

"That sounds like a lot of trouble." As Mo Xueyao was speaking, she saw Zuo Ziya walking over and greeted her in a very casual manner, "Yo ho, hello Teacher Zuo!"

"Hello, Teacher Zuo," Li Wanyan said.

"Yeah, long time no see. How have you been?"

"Is this how it is? Just repeating the same days, letting time slowly pass by..." Mo Xueyao muttered, "If I wrote my daily life into a novel, I doubt anyone would want to read it, it's pretty boring anyway."

Zuo Ziya smiled, neither confirming nor denying: "Have you encountered any difficulties recently?"

"It's alright, no major problems, haven't encountered any yet. I just came to listen to your lessons and hang out with you!" Mo Xueyao said with a relaxed smile. "Well—after all, mine isn't a piano, so there are many playing techniques I can't do."

"If I have the chance, I should at least buy an electronic keyboard like Wang Jiale's."

"Let's talk about it when we have the money~" Mo Xueyao replied casually. "Art, for ordinary people like us, is enough to enjoy on a leisurely day. There's no need to pursue overly perfect equipment, after all, we can't make a living from this stuff."

Zuo Ziya's smile faded slightly: "Art is indispensable to human society."

“But we still need to eat first. Anyway, I definitely won’t be working in the arts, at least not as my main job,” Mo Xueyao said realistically. “Although I would like to play the piano every day, talk about romance, literature and history… but people have to eat to live.”

“That’s true.” Zuo Ziya’s lips curled up slightly. “These are ultimately things that only the rich can afford to play with.”

"Oh, I didn't say that."

"It's okay, I am indeed a rich person." Zuo Ziya blinked, with a hint of playfulness, "Although I can't say that most of the time."

"Because saying it like that would seem too flamboyant," Mo Xueyao muttered, resting her chin on her hand. "Well, I don't really care, because it's the truth. I think it's more comfortable for people to get along with each other by being honest."

"Hmm." Zuo Ziya pointed to her piano. "If you don't mind, play a piece for me to hear. How much progress have you two made lately?"

Although she said "the two of you," her gaze was mainly focused on Mo Xueyao.

“Okay.” Mo Xueyao said without any hesitation, “I’ll go first.”

So she got up and sat on the piano bench, and began to play the score that was on the music stand.

Although I've never played it before, I don't feel unfamiliar with it.

"You really are talented." Zuo Ziya shook her head. "It's such a pity you don't go and learn piano properly."

"Well, there are definitely people who are much more talented than me when it comes to playing the piano, so it doesn't matter if I am one more."

Zuo Ziya didn't answer; instead, she changed the subject: "Do you still want to be a boy?"

"Huh? What?" Mo Xueyao didn't react for a moment. "What boy? Uh... why are you suddenly asking this?"

"When we first met, didn't you say that you preferred to be a boy?"

"Oh...!" Mo Xueyao felt a little strange, because at this moment Zuo Ziya seemed to be a psychologist, trying to persuade or guide her, "Uh... anyway, it's impossible, just thinking about it casually."

"Hmm...that's true, it's impossible to become a real boy."

"So, just think about it."

Zuo Ziya smiled enigmatically and repeated her words: "Just think about it... right?"

……

Chapter 272 Mother's Day is just around the corner.

It was lunchtime.

The students have all left.

The piano lessons at Zuo Ziya's place are usually half a day.

Only Wang Jiale, a student, remained here. Because her father was always late, she often had lunch with Zuo Ziya.

"Lele, you come here every Saturday for my simple meals. Aren't you tired of them?" Zuo Ziya asked with a smile.

"No, we have big meals of meat and fish for dinner every day at home. I think simple meals are better!"

"Well, I think anything is fine as long as it tastes good." Mo Xueyao swayed casually.

Li Wanyan didn't interrupt, but she was actually not interested in the so-called simple meals.

She felt that this was something only wealthy people who were used to eating rich and lavish food would like to eat, and that it was a kind of unintentional, reverse flaunting of wealth.

For people at the bottom of society, simple meals have no artistic element and are not considered particularly elegant—after all, they eat them every day, and only because they are poor.

"Let's eat something different today," Zuo Ziya said quietly as she sat down at the table. "I ordered takeout."

"What is it?" Mo Xueyao asked without any politeness.

"Hmm~ It's pizza." Zuo Ziya replied casually, then couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Hmm, I don't know why, but I really like girls like you, Mo Xueyao."

"Huh?" Mo Xueyao asked in surprise, resting her chin on her hand. "What do you like about me?"

In the past, she would have blushed and stammered, unable to speak.

But I've gotten used to it now.

Girls often tell each other that they like each other.

This isn't romantic love; it's just a simple liking or appreciation, or perhaps a liking between friends.

It is relatively purer and simpler.

"Frankness," Zuo Ziya replied simply. "Most people would feel embarrassed in this situation, right? Actually, we haven't met that many times, have we?"

"Hey, why are you shy? The closeness of our relationship has nothing to do with how often we meet." Mo Xueyao waved her hand. "It's precisely because I feel comfortable around you that I speak so casually."

"That's why I really like girls like you." Zuo Ziya smiled gently. "People who study art need to be as pure and genuine as you. It's just a pity that many people don't have that, or rather, they can't retain it as they get older."

"Of course, people become more complicated as they grow up."

Will you become complicated too?

"How would I know? But I think it probably is." Mo Xueyao wasn't entirely sure.

"I think, maybe not." Zuo Ziya explained before Mo Xueyao could ask, "Your personality is basically formed. As long as there are no major changes in your life, it will basically stay this way. Maturity will only make you more knowledgeable, not make you vulgar."

"Oh, you're praising me so much, I'm getting embarrassed," Mo Xueyao said with an awkward smile.

"It's not exactly a compliment, but with this kind of personality, you're quite prone to getting taken advantage of."

"Tsk, that's not good at all!"

"There are gains and losses, that's only natural." Zuo Ziya glanced at the time on her watch. "It's just that some people gain more and lose less, while others gain less and lose more."

"Knock knock." Just then, there was a gentle knock on the open villa door. "Ms. Zuo, the pizza you ordered by phone has arrived."

"Thank you." Zuo Ziya stood up. "Put it on the table."

"Ok."

The young man, dressed in a special employee uniform, walked in somewhat nervously, placed an elegant cardboard box on the table, bowed slightly, and left.