Zither Emperor

Chapter 18 – Zither Calls Ming Xue (IV)

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Nina unhappily ordered, “Stop this nonsense. Go pack up your things immediately. You are a student of the Divine Music division. At this institution, you must listen to everything I say.”

Looking at the imposing Nina, Ye Yin Zhu was really at a loss. Xiang Luan, at this moment, laughed into her sleeve from behind Nina. Although Hai Yang’s face was ice-cold, even her gaze had nevertheless softened.

Ye Yin Zhu asked probingly, “Grandma Nina, who will I live with over there?”

A happy look flashed through Nina’s eyes as she smiled and scolded, “You’re such a confused little boy, asking so many questions. You are the pillar of the Divine Music division. Don’t tell me that you’re thinking to room with the female children? Thinking to reach the beauties?”

“Eh…, you know I don’t think like that. I’m just saying that over there, I will be living by myself. Is it possible for Sura to follow me and move over there also? We get along very well. If I’m over there as the only male student, it will be extremely lonely.”

Nina said with slight anger, “Out of the question. That boy is a part of the Assassin division. How can he live in the dormitory of the Divine Music division? Go get your things immediately. I don’t have time for your dallying.”

Ye Yin Zhu frowned and shook his head, saying, “Forget about it. Grandma Nina, I’m not moving.”

“Eh?” Nina narrowed her eyes. Xiang Luan, highly familiar with Nina, realized that this was a sign that she was getting angry and hastily intervened. “Ye Yin Zhu, Dean Nina had prepared a personal villa for you, just like Hai Yang’s. You don’t need to immediately move all of your things there, but you should thank Dean Nina.” As she said this, she sent Ye Yin Zhu a meaningful look.

Ye Yin Zhu didn’t understand Xiang Luan’s intention and still shook his head as he said, “No. Sura is my good friend. I don’t want to separate from him.”

Against Xiang Luan and Hai Yang’s expectations, Nina suddenly softened instead of exploding with anger as they had anticipated. Nina, somewhat helplessly, said, “As you wish. Anyway, the place is big enough. Only, I don’t want to see any situations involving male students harassing female students. If that occurs, you and he will take hike.” Finished speaking, she turned around and, not looking back, left.

Xiang Luan lightly covered her small mouth as she softly cried out in surprise, “By the heavens! Did Great Aunt have a change in nature? When did you become such a good speaker?”

Hai Yang looked at Ye Yin Zhu and said, “Thank you for yesterday.” Her voice was somewhat shaky, but the pitiful light in her eyes caused Ye Yin Zhu’s heart to ache for no reason.

“Senior, if you hadn’t intervened at that time, I couldn’t have even formally entered the institution! All of us are fellow students, so we should help one another.” Sensing Hai Yang’s somewhat peculiar gaze, Ye Yin Zhu appeared slightly shy.

To the side, Xiang Luan stepped forward, laughing happily as she displayed a heartfelt, delicate, and ruminating expression. “Oh, so Hai Yang came today for the special purpose of thanking you. When the moment comes, we must inconvenience you with the other nine additional treatment sessions. Well, we’ll help you move.” As she said this, her gaze swept the surroundings, her eyes exuding a bit of revulsion. “This place is too messy. In the end, our Divine Music division environment is significantly more comfortable.”

At this moment, the gazes of several nearby students focused on the door to Ye Yin Zhu’s dormitory. Xiang Luan’s title of the Divine Music division’s peerless beauty wasn’t in vain.Even Ye Yin Zhu and his innocent, pure heart raced because of her, let alone an ordinary student. According to them, every one of Xiang Luan’s smiles, every one of her simple movements, brimmed with an endless attractiveness that resembled a goddess’s descent from the world of immortals.

Ye Yin Zhu looked around. “Sura doesn’t know we’re moving. Seniors, you two can go back first. When Sura returns, the two of us will move.”

Xiang Luan had just opened her mouth when a serene voice echoed. “I’m here.” Sura slowly emerged from the shadows beside the dormitory. His eyes expressed a somewhat unusual emotion. Ye Yin Zhu and the two girls hadn’t seen him. At this moment, the black dagger he grasped in his hand within his sleeve trembled slightly.

When Ye Yin Zhu had followed Yue Ming as they left together, Sura followed behind him. He had also clearly heard everything that Nina told Ye Yin Zhu earlier.

“Sura, it’s good that you’re here. Dean Nina allowed us to change dormitories and move to the Divine Music division district. After you attend class, we’ll move over there; it’s only a little further away, so there’s no problem.”

Sura nodded slightly, his eyes meeting Ye Yin Zhu’s relatively clear ones. “Let’s pack our things then.”

The dormitory Nina had arranged for Ye Yin Zhu wasn’t far from Hai Yang’s dormitory. It was also a small, white villa. There was still only one bedroom, but it was larger than all of the rooms in the work-study dorm combined. The living room, kitchen, bathroom, each room was larger by a considerable amount. What Ye Yin Zhu loved the most about the dorm was the environment. At the fringes of the Divine Music division residence district was an encirclement of tall trees. Not only was the air fresh, but it was also very peaceful. Occasionally, some music could be heard in the vicinities, resulting in an untroubled heart and pleasant spirit.

After several days, Ye Yin Zhu and Sura’s lives gradually became routine. Early in the morning, every day, the two of them would eat a cooked meal beforehand. Sura would then head over to the Assassin division’s training field at the college to train while Ye Yin Zhu stayed inside the dormitory and practiced his zither magic.

At noon, Sura would rush back to prepare a decent lunch for the two of them to consume. They would then leave together to the Floating Orchid Pavilion for work. Sura worked as an ordinary waiter while Ye Yin Zhu performed for the entire afternoon.

Once night fell, Floating Orchid Pavilion closed, and they would return home together. After dinner, they would practice for a while before going to their respective beds, finishing the day tired.

When Ye Yin Zhu was in the Desolate Jade Sea, every day’s life would be tranquil and disciplined like this. He loved this routine of life.

He discovered that ever since he’d moved here, Sura spoke less, even though he was still as hardworking as he was before. Once in awhile, he would sit alone, lost in thought and seemingly worried. When Yin Zhu asked him, Sura would always shake his head, silent.

✶

In the blink of an eye, six days had already passed.

In the evening, after Ye Yin Zhu and Sura returned from the Floating Orchid Pavilion together, Xiang Luan and Hai Yang were already waiting for them in front of their door.

“Yin Zhu, where did you two go? You’ve returned so late,” Xiang Luan said, dissatisfied. Clearly, the two girls had been waiting there for some time. Although she wore her school uniform, it was unable to conceal her brilliance. Also, whether she was angry or happy, her beauty caused Ye Yin Zhu’s heart to be unable to stop from accelerating a bit.

Ye Yin Zhu smiled and responded, “It’s nothing. Sura and I just went for a walk.” Sura had confessed to him that it was best if the others didn’t know of their part-time jobs.

Opening the door, the two girls let themselves into the villa. Xiang Luan impatiently stated, “Tomorrow, the Freshman Competition finals will begin; how are your preparations?”

Ye Yin Zhu, startled, only now recalling that the one week resting period was already over. Scratching his head, he said, “The preparations don’t matter. Senior, who are our opponents?”