Li An's suggestion counted.

Page 1 of 3

Eighty-One Thousand One: Let me listen first.

Taking advantage of the fact that Yu Xiaobei hadn’t arrived yet, Li An returned to the classroom and opened the video Ji Yang had sent.

In the video, Ji Yang was playing the Cramer Étude Op. 24 that Li An had assigned just last night. Li An’s intention in giving this piece was to have her further strengthen the support and independence of her finger joints at this stage.

Truth be told, this piece wasn’t particularly difficult for Ji Yang. By the end of last night’s lesson, she had essentially mastered it.

Yet after watching the recording she’d made for him that morning, Li An found himself puzzled.

This shouldn’t be, Ji Yang.

Hearing movement in the hallway, Li An quickly typed out a message.

Eighty-One Thousand One: Practice without the metronome for now. I’ll find you at noon after class.

...

That morning, it was the third-to-last lesson before the exam for Xiaobei and Sun Fengrui. Since he’d focused closely on their progress earlier, both had already completed their exam pieces, leaving Li An with a much lighter workload for the remaining classes.

He kept an eye on their rhythm, checked for missed notes, discussed phrasing, and in no time, two lessons had passed.

After seeing Liu Fengrui out, Li An returned to the office and discovered a bouquet of small flowers identical to the ones on the windowsill, placed on his desk.

He picked them up.

[Welcome to the Yudong family—Yudong Teaching Department]

Suddenly—

“Congratulations, Mr. Li.”

“Congrats, An!”

“Congrats, An!”

“Congratulations, Senior!”

A wave of pressure greeted him. Li An nodded, “Thank you, thank you.”

He’d been wondering why everyone had been so quiet when he first stepped into the office—so this was the reason.

He’d thought about this matter earlier in the morning, but after teaching two classes and dealing with Ji Yang’s issue, he’d forgotten it by noon.

Still, it was a happy occasion: from today onward, he was officially moving from being a freelance instructor to a regular staff member.

Social insurance was finally settled.

Forcing himself, he invited a few colleagues to lunch, but Xu Hongxin and Ma Tao already had plans to eat at Shaxian Snacks, while Chen Xuan and Wang Panpan had ordered spicy hot pot for delivery.

Everyone seemed oddly in sync today.

So Li An went with the flow, set down the bouquet, and took a seat.

He pulled out his phone and opened Ji Yang’s video again, realizing the problem wasn’t with the practice itself, but with Ji Yang’s overall state of mind.

Page 2 of 3

“An, are you coming to Shaxian Snacks?”

“I’ll pass. Just bring me two orders of steamed dumplings.”

After sending Xu Hong a twelve-yuan red packet, Li An opened Ji Yang’s chat and began typing:

‘Did turning off the metronome help?’

Ji Yang replied instantly: It’s okay, I guess. Honestly, I feel like I don’t even know how to practice anymore.

Li An: Can you talk on the phone?

Ji Yang: Sure, sure. Are you done, teacher?

Li An stepped into the hallway and called Ji Yang.

After listening to her troubles, he finally understood. No wonder she’d seemed distracted in class last night.

Yesterday afternoon, Ji Chenguang and Hu Rong had once again discussed the matter of going abroad with Ji Yang, ultimately leaving the final decision in her hands.

From what Ji Yang had just said, Li An could sense her deep reluctance to go abroad, but when it came time to choose, she feared disappointing her parents. After all, the whole family had already invested so much for her to study abroad.

“Teacher, what should I do?”

Li An understood her feelings perfectly.

He’d been through something similar himself.

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree, he hadn’t wanted to return home, but his parents were set on it. Even after parting ways with the violin, he’d insisted on making his own way.

A standoff with his family lasted half a year, until one day they told him, “We found a special teaching post for you. It’s your choice, we’ll support you no matter what.”

In that moment, he hesitated.

But after a night’s sleep, he reaffirmed his original decision: he would walk his own path.

Compared with Ji Yang’s situation now, though his own burdens had been more complex, the emotions were the same.

Drawing on his own experience, Li An weighed Ji Yang’s circumstances and state of mind before giving his advice:

“I suggest you tell your parents honestly what you just told me.”

Ji Yang: “But...”

Li An: “No buts, Ji Yang. Whether you go abroad or not, you can’t afford to waste a single day. You already lost this morning—how many more mornings can you let slip by?”

Hearing the urgency in his voice, Ji Yang felt guilty. “Teacher, I...”

Li An’s tone softened. “Trust your parents. Trust that they’ll help you make the best decision. I believe they care more about you than about whether you go abroad; otherwise, why would they let you decide?”

There was a long exhale on the other end, as if a decision had been made. “I understand, teacher. I’ll talk to them when they get home tonight.”

Li An’s final reminder: “Good luck. Make the most of Professor Yu’s class this afternoon, okay?”

Ji Yang: “Okay, thank you, teacher.”

After hanging up, Li An breathed a sigh of relief. From his conversation with Ji Yang’s parents the other night, he was almost certain that as long as Ji Yang spoke up, the matter of studying abroad would be settled.

Page 3 of 3

He could sense that Ji Chenguang and Hu Rong didn’t see eye to eye on sending Ji Yang abroad.

Li An guessed that leaving the decision to their child had probably been Hu Rong’s last internal struggle.

Ah.

A mother’s fixation on studying abroad truly ran deep.

But when Ji Yang had complained during her break last night about Professor Yu’s perfunctory teaching, Hu Rong had only lightly scolded her in Li An’s presence.

That, to Li An, was a very good sign.

On the way home from work that afternoon, Li An mentioned the matter to Chen Xuan, who was deeply moved.

“It’s not bad. At least she has a choice.”

Li An teased, “From your tone, are you still not satisfied even after getting into China Conservatory?”

Chen Xuan replied, “I’d wanted to go to university in the South ever since middle school.”

Li An laughed, “What, craving a taste of life in Jiangnan’s water towns?”

“For all sorts of reasons, really.”

Chen Xuan smiled. “I just didn’t have a choice.”

Li An nodded. Since she didn’t continue, he didn’t press further. Everyone has a past of their own.

The two crossed the street and entered the gates of their apartment complex.

Chen Xuan asked, “How come you’re heading straight home today? Taking the evening off?”

Li An: “Not really. It’s just more convenient living here now, no need to rush so much.”

Chen Xuan made a soft sound, then pursed her lips. “...Is your evening job far from here?”

Li An: “Not at all. It’s on Huilong Road. Do you know Blue Whale Western Restaurant?”

A strange sense of relief filled Chen Xuan—Li An hadn’t lied to her. “I’ve heard of it, never been.”

Li An thought for a moment. “If you ever have time, you should check it out. The food’s pretty good.”

Chen Xuan hurried a few steps to the elevator, turned with a smile, and asked, “Is that an invitation?”

Li An felt his heart give a sudden thump.

Who could resist such effortless charm?

—

“It is.”