A Young Woman's Heart

"Why aren't Xiaoyao and the others here yet?" she muttered, picking up her bass and gently strumming it a few times with the pick.

"There might be other things going on."

"I think so too. Usually, the house should be almost clean by now, right?"

"Let's do something else first."

"Hmm, I'll practice my bass first." Wang Jiale found a seat and began to play softly.

It's the bass solo version of "Fallen Leaves Are Like Potato Chips".

The relatively somber tone makes the song less cheerful and more mellow.

Playing music is a pleasant activity, but if you do it too often, it can become tedious and boring.

Fortunately, people who love music can adjust their mood the next day, keeping each day fresh.

If you get tired of playing one piece, switch to another. If you really don't want to play according to the score, you can improvise completely. Sometimes you might even find a few nice melodies that inspire you!

So as the piece was played, it changed.

"The most frustrating thing is that he's always a step behind everyone else, and he has no money—in his pocket!" Mr. Xue couldn't help but hum along to Wang Jiale's melody, then laughed and said, "'Stupid Kid'?"

"Yes, you could tell?"

"Yes, I really like this song."

"But you're not a stupid kid."

"That's why I like it."

"Hmm, what a strange reason."

"Speaking of which, do the bands in other classes also compose and write their own music and lyrics before performing?"

"As far as I know," Mr. Xue pondered for a moment, "there are only Class 7 and Class 5."

"Hey, what about the other classes? Especially Class One, don't they write their own lyrics and compose their own music?"

"Class 1 probably hasn't decided yet, while the other classes will all play the school song."

"Huh? Our school even has a school song?"

"Of course."

"Never heard of it..."

"You'll be able to hear it when you're a senior in high school."

"why?"

"During the senior year graduation ceremony, we will sing the school song together."

"Xiaoxue, you know quite a lot! It seems you know quite a few friends from other classes and grades?"

"I know some of them."

"I never knew you had such a wide social circle. Turns out you're a social butterfly!" Wang Jiale teased.

"Not really," Mr. Xue said with a modest smile.

Wang Jiale glanced at him sideways, and to keep the classroom from being too quiet, she started playing the piece written by Hua Yinyin again.

For Wang Jiale, being alone with Mr. Xue was a bit awkward because he was always silent, but if you had something to talk about, he could keep talking, just like a pre-programmed conversational robot.

It makes you unsure whether you should talk about it or not.

As she played, Wang Jiale stopped again. She really did like to chat. Fortunately, Mr. Xue wasn't a quiet person, and if she wanted to talk, they could still have a conversation.

"So, are all boys really like they appear to be?"

"Look at the person."

"Mr. Xue, are you like that, as you usually appear? Do you sometimes appear humble when you're actually happy inside?"

Fortunately, the other party was Mr. Xue. If it were someone else, they might have felt that Wang Jiale was mocking them.

Sometimes.

"Hmm, that's only human nature." Wang Jiale strummed the bass strings. "Do boys get jealous too?"

"Of course."

"Isn't it wrong to always be jealous?"

“That’s called being too controlling.” Mr. Xue smiled. “Lu Bolun isn’t that kind of person. He just sometimes doesn’t know how to express himself.”

"Huh? Well... I wasn't talking about him..." She scratched her cheek sheepishly, "Um..."

"Hehe." Mr. Xue chuckled lightly, as if he had already seen through her.

Has Xiaoxue ever had a girlfriend?

"No," Mr. Xue said, closing the book.

"All correct."

"Yes, there are no mistakes."

"Wow, that's impressive... So, by the way, why don't you have a girlfriend? Someone like Xiaoxue shouldn't have trouble finding one, right?"

"I just felt there was no need for it."

"Ugh—you're like an old man, don't you have any of that... adolescent stirrings?"

No, not at all.

"Alright alright……"

After a moment of silence, it was finally Mr. Xue's turn to ask: "Are you having any troubles?"

"Oh... well, not really... well, actually, I did have a boyfriend in junior high, but it was just within school, nothing outside of school, and we broke up in the second year of junior high..."

"Oh……"

Aren't you going to ask me for my reasons?

"Hmm, why?"

"Just like Xiaoxue said, it feels like she has too much possessiveness."

"Lü Bolun is much better than him."

"It's better, but... they always like to... how should I put it... spy on my life? It feels pretty gossipy."

"Oh?" This surprised Mr. Xue a bit. His eyes clearly said, 'Aren't you more gossipy?'

"Well... people always need to have their own lives. I don't like to tell him everything, especially some trivial things. It feels like such a hassle. He always wants to go to and from school together, but when it's time to go to school, I still prefer to come with Tongjue."

"Ah."

"Then recently he seems to be acting a little sullen. He's not a baby who hasn't been weaned, there's no need for him to always be clinging to him, right?"

“You might have been neglecting him a little…” Mr. Xue carefully considered his tone.

"Huh? I think it's alright...?"

"This happens when your efforts don't yield any returns."

"But you still often chat together after class, don't you?"

"There isn't enough positive feedback."

"It's not like a game, there are rewards for this..."

"I'm just speaking from a psychological perspective," Mr. Xue asked. "Do you like him?"

"Why are you asking this all of a sudden... I still like him... It's quite fun going out with him, it's just... it feels like we're clinging to each other too much."

"Then you should tell him to his face, instead of keeping it to yourself."

"Huh? Would it be inappropriate to just say it directly?"

"No, it's better to say it out loud. It will prevent him from making wild guesses and will put his mind at ease."

"Is that so? Hmm... I don't know how to say it... or how to put it more tactfully?"

"Just tell him what he has to say."

"Hmm... Xiaoxue may have never been in a relationship, but she seems to know quite a bit, doesn't she?"

"I only know a little bit," Mr. Xue said modestly with a smile, picking up his bamboo flute.

……

Chapter 44 What?! A fight broke out?!

Almost everyone had left the classroom, leaving only Li Wanyan, Mo Xueyao, and a few others who planned to lock the door and leave.

"What are Lele and the others doing?" Mo Xueyao asked casually.

"A man and a woman alone in a room..." Hua Yinyin chuckled.

Mo Xueyao slapped her on the head: "Xiaoxue would never do such a thing, okay?"

"Squad leader, squad leader!" In the middle of our conversation, Zhou Yong suddenly rushed over, out of breath.

"What's wrong?" Li Wanyan asked, staring intently at him. "Tell me slowly."

"Ha...ha...they're fighting!"

"Huh?" She frowned instantly. "What's going on? Is it someone from our class?"

"Yes, yes, Duanmu Ji... and others from other classes, and Lao Li also went to help out..."

"Old Li" refers to Li Hongran, which is what the boys in the class usually call him.

Upon closer examination, something seemed amiss, and Li Wanyan keenly noticed it: "A lot of people?"

"Yes, a group of people...! And someone on the other side has a knife!"

"Call the police."

"No, class monitor, there are people from our own class here. If we call the police, they'll get punished too!" Zhou Yong quickly shook his head. "Is there anyone else who can help? Maybe if more people go, we can scare them away."