The next day, Lin Lu walked into the classroom with dark circles under her eyes, often spacing out during the lecture.
She had tossed and turned in bed until two or three in the morning the night before, while that person, Lilith, had slept soundly without a care in the world.
“Little Lu, didn’t you sleep well last night?” Su Tang leaned over, staring closely at the dark circles under Lin Lu’s eyes.
“Your dark circles are so heavy… Did something happen last night?”
“Eh? Are they?” Lin Lu touched her face.
“Sigh… My younger sister called last night saying she wanted to come over for a few days, and then I had a bit of insomnia. It’s nothing serious.”
“Ah? Your biological sister?” Su Tang’s eyes lit up, “Little Lu is so pretty, your sister must be very cute too.”
Lin Shuiyue and Chen Xingye curiously leaned in as well.
“Mm, she is my biological sister.” Lin Lu nodded.
“Hehe~ So, Little Lu, were you excited and couldn’t sleep? It looks like you have a great relationship with your sister.” Su Tang’s eyes sparkled.
“I really wish I had a sibling, I’m so envious of you, Little Lu.”
Chen Xingye also grew enthusiastic and asked, “How old is your sister, Little Lu?”
“Uh… my sister is only two years younger than me, and as for hanging out…” Lin Lu thought about it.
She had planned to take Xiaoxi out over the weekend anyway, so it would be fine to bring Su Tang and the others along.
It would be livelier with more people.
“I’ll ask her once she arrives. If she wants to go out, I’ll invite you all to come along.”
“She will definitely want to go!” Su Tang pulled out her phone to start looking up guides.
“Where should we go… An amusement park? Or maybe the zoo…”
Lin Shuiyue gently tapped Su Tang on the head.
“Don’t be so anxious. Wait until her sister arrives first.”
Su Tang stuck out her tongue and put her phone away.
“Oh, right, Little Lu.” Chen Xingye suddenly remembered that Lin Lu hadn’t joined a club yet.
“The counselor said today is the last day to confirm which club students haven’t joined yet. Have you decided which one you’re picking?”
“Mm.” Lin Lu nodded, signaling for Chen Xingye not to worry, “I’ve already decided to join the Piano Club.”
“The Piano Club? That’s definitely a good choice. Their music club can participate in school events and competitions. But then again… Lin Lu, do you know how to play the piano?”
Lin Shuiyue was a bit surprised.
She had never seen Lin Lu play an instrument.
After all, when Lin Lu first joined their major, she didn’t even know basic music theory, let alone how to play an instrument.
“Mm, I’m just at the beginner stage. Joining the Piano Club should be useful for improving my technique.”
Lin Lu thought about it and answered with a nod.
“Ah~ I was really looking forward to you joining my Anime Club.” Su Tang sighed and slumped over the desk, resting her chin on the back of her hand, blinking her eyes at Lin Lu.
“Are you really not going to consider it~”
“Maybe I can be a guest member sometime in the future.” Lin Lu smiled.
“I haven’t even mastered the piano yet, so if I joined two clubs, it would really work me to death.”
“That’s true.” Su Tang nodded and didn’t press the matter further.
“ring ring”
The class bell rang, and the teacher walked in to continue with the previous lesson, but Lin Lu’s thoughts drifted out the window.
“Student Lin Lu.” The teacher suddenly called her, “Come up and answer this question.”
Lin Lu’s thoughts were pulled back, and she quickly stood up to answer.
“Yes, teacher. This piece is in sonata form; the main theme is in G Major, and the secondary theme is in e minor…”
***
After classes ended for the day, Lin Lu packed her books and, after saying goodbye to Su Tang and the others, headed toward the Piano Club alone.
Third floor, outside the Piano Club room.
The club room door was half-open.
Lin Lu stood at the entrance, hearing intermittent piano notes from inside; it seemed as if members were practicing.
Lin Lu politely knocked gently and pushed the door open.
The activity room wasn’t as large as she had imagined.
A Steinway grand piano stood against the wall, and portraits of musicians hung on the walls—Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart…
“Hello, who are you looking for?”
The club member inside saw that Lin Lu wasn’t a regular member and stepped forward to ask.
“Ah, hello, I’m here to see Chen Yuwei.” Lin Lu pulled her gaze away from the room’s interior and said to the member, “She told me to come to the Piano Club today to help me with my membership procedures.”
“Eh?” The member looked Lin Lu over with some surprise, “Then wait a moment, I’ll go call—”
“No need to call her.”
Just as the member was about to help Lin Lu summon Chen Yuwei, Chen Yuwei’s voice suddenly broke off the conversation.
“Student Lin Lu.” Chen Yuwei walked over, her gaze lingering on Lin Lu’s face for a moment before she smiled gently and said, “Come in and sit.”
Lin Lu followed Chen Yuwei to a desk by the window.
The other club members began whispering among themselves.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen President Chen help someone with club membership procedures personally.”
“Who is she?”
“Hm? You don’t know Lin Lu? She’s one of our school beauties here at Beijiang University.”
“It’s her! I heard rumors before that President Chen and she…”
“Shh! You’re done for if the president hears you…”
***
“Sit.” Chen Yuwei pointed to the chair opposite her, signaling for Lin Lu to sit down.
“The entry procedure is simple, just fill out a form.”
She pulled a form from a stack of papers and pushed it toward Lin Lu.
“Name, student ID, contact information, and piano experience; just write whatever.”
Lin Lu took the form and pulled a pen from the holder to begin writing.
She finished the basic information quickly, but when it came to piano experience, she paused.
She thought for a moment and wrote, “Beginner, currently learning.”
Chen Yuwei didn’t rush her, simply sitting quietly across from her, waiting patiently.
Lin Lu finished the form and pushed it over.
“All done.”
Chen Yuwei took it and glanced at it, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.
“Very well, welcome to the Piano Club, Student Lin Lu.”
“Eh?”
Lin Lu was a little dazed.
Was she already in?
Wasn’t this a bit too hasty?
“This… I’m already in? Doesn’t it need…”
“No need. I am the president, so there aren’t that many troublesome procedures. Besides… I already know Student Lin Lu quite well~”
Chen Yuwei smiled.
Just joking, was she ever going to let her little deer go now that she had her?
“Ah? You’re the president?!”
Lin Lu was a bit surprised; she hadn’t expected Chen Yuwei to be the president.
‘Does this count as… taking the back door?’
“Haha, no need to be surprised. My proficiency in piano is quite good, and being club president is no big deal.” Chen Yuwei tucked the form into a folder.
“Of course, your talent is also very good, Student Lin Lu. Yesterday, with that piece, I only adjusted your posture and you improved so much. Even as a beginner, your musical ear is precise, and your finger dexterity is good too. If you keep practicing, you will improve quickly.”
Lin Lu felt a bit embarrassed by the praise.
“Thank you.”
Lin Lu stood up and said, “Since the enrollment is done, I’ll be going now.”
“Since you’ve just joined the club, why don’t I give you a tour?” Chen Yuwei reached out to invite Lin Lu.
“Ah, I’m so sorry, but I really have something to take care of today.” Lin Lu shook her head in refusal.
“My sister is coming to my place today, so I have to pick her up. My apologies.”
“Is that so…” Chen Yuwei said with some regret, “Alright then, since Student Lin Lu has things to attend to, I won’t keep you any longer.”
Then, Chen Yuwei took a small metal badge from her bag and handed it to Lin Lu.
“This is the Piano Club member badge, one for everyone. Although it doesn’t have any practical use, it’s a nice souvenir.”
Lin Lu accepted it.
The badge was a golden piano, crafted with fine, beautiful detail, and engraved on the back with the words “Beijiang University Piano Club.”
When Chen Yuwei saw Lin Lu accept the badge, the corners of her mouth hooked into a smile.
“Then, take care on your way, Student Lin Lu.”
“Mm, goodbye.”
Lin Lu nodded and said farewell to Chen Yuwei.
“ding dong”
It was a message from Lin Xiaoxi on the secondary account Lin Lu had used to add her yesterday.
[Lin Xiaoxi: Sister Xue, I am almost off the train.]
Lin Lu checked the time; she had 30 minutes, which was enough time.
She typed a reply.
[Lin Lu: Okay, I’m heading to the station to pick you up now.]
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