frightfiction Chapter 283 Guqin
Chapter 283 Guqin
"If you like, I'll bring you some more next time." He spoke gently, as if he were making a promise about something very ordinary.
Xiao Jiu put down her teacup and gently tapped the cup with her fingertips, making a crisp sound.
“Okay,” she replied readily, but her eyes were like the most precise detector, carefully scanning every inch of his expression. “Then… when is the next time, Teacher Gu?”
Gu Xiaoheng met her probing gaze, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. It wasn't a smile, but more like a sign of successful calculation.
“Soon,” he replied.
The encrypted phone that Gu Xiaoheng had placed to the side emitted an extremely slight but unusual vibration.
There is only one short line of code on the screen.
His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, and the aura of a rigorous scholar around him instantly vanished, revealing a cold, sharp edge belonging to the shadows. Although he quickly suppressed it, Xiao Jiu, who had been keeping an eye on him out of the corner of her eye, still keenly caught that momentary change in his aura.
"I'm sorry," Gu Xiaoheng put down his phone, his voice returning to its usual calm tone, but with an undeniable urgency, "There are some urgent matters that need to be dealt with immediately."
Gu Xiaoheng felt that he had released enough bait today, and he would let her make contact with the rest later.
He stood up, straightened the hem of his perfectly wrinkle-free suit, his movements still composed, but his intention to leave was very clear.
Xiao Jiu immediately looked up, her face showing just the right amount of disappointment and a hint of reluctance: "Ah... Teacher Gu is leaving already?" She subconsciously reached out and gently tugged at his suit cuff with her fingertips, then quickly let go, as if realizing she had been impolite and feeling embarrassed.
Gu Xiaoheng paused, looked down at the spot she had pulled, and then at her eyes, which were misty with tears and filled with reluctance.
Tsk, as expected of the little fox. Her behavior towards herself and towards them is the same—not sincere. What to do? He seems to like her even more now.
“You can use the music room until evening,” he said, speaking slightly faster but clearly, “just lock the door when you leave.”
Gu Xiaoheng's eyes flickered slightly behind his glasses. He nodded slightly: "Take care of yourself and don't overdo it and injure your fingers."
"Okay! Thank you, Teacher Gu!" Xiao Jiu's smile was dazzling.
Gu Xiaoheng said no more, turned and strode away, his figure quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor. It was clear that the string of code represented something more important than the small fish he had caught.
The heavy wooden door clicked shut.
The music room fell completely silent, with only the lingering scent of sandalwood incense and the occasional chirping of birds from outside the window.
Xiao Jiu tilted her head slightly, listening intently as Gu Xiaoheng's footsteps faded into the distance until they disappeared completely.
Then, she leaned back slowly and extremely relaxed, a languid and mocking smile curving her lips, a smile completely different from before.
Her gaze fell on the guqin in front of her, and she stretched out her slender fingers to casually pluck the strings.
A string of incredibly smooth, full, and even ancient-sounding notes suddenly poured out, without a trace of the previous awkwardness or hesitation!
Her fingertips danced across the strings, vibrato, glissando, and glissando... her movements were fluid and graceful, imbued with an elegance and skill honed over a thousand years. The stirring and poignant melody of "Guangling San" seemed to come alive under her fingers, sometimes like a gentle drizzle, sometimes like a silver bottle shattering, each note landing precisely in its most fitting place, brimming with emotion and flawless technique.
If Gu Xiaoheng were here, he would surely be shocked by the exquisite zither skills that far exceeded his understanding.
As the music ended, its lingering melody echoed for a long time in the quiet music room.
Xiao Jiu slowly finished her movements, her fingertips lightly pressing on the slightly vibrating strings to stop the lingering sound.
She looked down at her seemingly delicate and boneless hands, a faint golden light flashing in her eyes.
A guqin? Ha.
When she played the zither alone under the moon in Qingqiu, the ancestors of these mortals were probably still uncivilized.
He needed bait to lure himself, but wasn't she also there to lure him? Her inexperience made him think he was the guide, enjoying the process of slowly shaping a blank sheet of paper into the form he desired.
Little did he know that he was the prey who walked step by step into the trap she had set, a trap disguised as an academic charade.
Xiao Jiu stood up, walked to the window, and watched as Gu Xiaoheng's black sedan sped away from the campus like a shadow.
"Urgent matter?" she murmured to herself, a playful smile playing on her lips. "It seems that Teacher Gu's 'business' is busier than I imagined."
She turned back to the piano, her languid expression vanishing, replaced by a slightly awkward yet earnest one. Her fingers returned to the strings, and she began to play haltingly and haltingly.
The piano music reverted to its previous "beginner" mode, and even sounded more out of tune due to the "teacher's" departure.
It was as if that breathtaking, awe-inspiring musical skill had never existed.
But beneath her lowered eyelashes, that calculating glint shone even brighter.
The bait has been placed.
She was very patient, waiting for the fish to swim up and bite the hook.
The live stream will start in the evening.
Xiao Jiu was wearing a light pink pajama set today. Her hair was loosely braided into a fishtail braid and hung down to one side, with a few stray strands lazily clinging to her cheeks. She looked soft and homey. On the table in front of her was a guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument), and next to it was a small cake she had just bought that day.
Xiao Jiu: "Good evening, babies!"
【牧尘送主播小九浪漫马车*1*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9】（抖）
[Mu Chen: I'm first today!]
Xiao Jiu: "Brother Mu Chen is so awesome! (? ?? ? - ? )?"
【泽一送主播小九浪漫马车*1*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9】（抖）
【不见君送主播小九浪漫马车*1*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9】（抖）
【落星送主播小九浪漫马车*1*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9】（抖）
【金主送主播小九浪漫马车*1*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9】（抖）
【Huh? Is this right? Sponsor, why are you starting to have your sister go live on our channel too?】
Wow, that charm is truly enviable!
[Did nobody notice that Jiu Jiu's wife is super soft today? I want to pet her.]
[Hey upstairs, don't you have a wife yourself? Why are you calling me your wife?]
Hmm, my sister's cake looks delicious too.
Hey, isn't this that ridiculously expensive cake shop?
Xiao Jiu: "Yes, this cake is indeed not cheap, but it's really delicious."
When Xiao Jiu saw the comments about the cake, her eyes crinkled into a smile. She scooped up a piece with a silver spoon, put it in her mouth, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction.
Am I the only one who noticed? There's a guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) next to Ninth Sister today.
I remember my younger sister once said that she could play the guqin. Is she going to play it for us today?
Xiao Jiu: "Yes, I mentioned before that I know a little bit about the guqin. I found a guqin and even got a new sheet music. I consulted someone about it this afternoon, and I'll play it for you guys in the live stream."
As she spoke, her fingertips casually plucked a few scattered yet clear notes on the strings. They were out of tune, but surprisingly beautiful.
[Guqin Girl Arrives]
My sister is so talented!
[It sounds so good even when it's just casual, it's really amazing]
What new sheet music did Ninth Sister get? I also learn the guqin.
Xiao Jiu: "Guangling San"
[Ahhh, Ninth Sister, where did you get this? It's incredibly precious!]
Xiao Jiu: "A... friend gave it to me."
[Waaaaah, what an amazing friend! I want one too!]
What the heck? Is this really that expensive?
Of course, these things can't be bought with money.
Those friends of Jiu Jiu are so great!
[Could it be a gift from my older brother?]
Seeing this message on the public screen, Zhou Yanchuan thought of the person the little girl had mentioned that morning. He figured the two of them must have already met.
He felt a pang of sadness, but he didn't show it. The girl was surrounded by more and more people, and he couldn't let that lower his standing in her eyes.
When Gu Xiaoheng heard the girl mention a friend, he couldn't help but scoff. The girl really didn't differentiate between herself and them.
But there was nothing he could do; he simply liked how she treated him, which fueled his desire to conquer her.
Then, she adjusted her posture and gently pressed her fingers on the strings: "I practiced a little this afternoon, let me try again, don't laugh at me~"
She began to try playing the opening moves of "Guangling San," and her playing was a little smoother than in the afternoon, but it still carried a sense of awkward exploration. She frowned slightly, her expression focused, and occasionally when she played a wrong note, she would stick out her tongue shyly, looking both charming and endearing.
[That sounds amazing! Ninth Sister is so talented!]
This sheet music looks really difficult!
[Go, wife!]
【great】
【牧尘送主播小九嘉年华*1*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9*……】（抖）
[Mu Chen is giving away carnival prizes in streamer Xiao Jiu's live stream, everyone come and watch!]
[Mu Chen: It sounds so good, more people should listen to it]
[Li Jie enters the live stream room]
[Misu Soda Water enters the live stream]
[Sleepy Koike enters the live stream]
【…】
[Seeing so many carnival-themed banners every day tells me that Xiao Jiu is going live.]
Hahaha, basic stuff, basic stuff!
[Xiao Jiu, your family treats the carnival like a little heart every day]
[But the streamer is so beautiful! Is she playing the guqin? It sounds so beautiful!]
No wonder he has so many big spenders; the streamer is quite talented.
【青云送主播小九青山流水*1*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9*10】（抖）
"Green Mountains and Flowing Water" is a newly launched medium-sized gift on the platform. The special effect is a dynamic ink painting of emerald green mountains and clear streams, which lasts for ten seconds. It is fresh and elegant, and the price is not expensive but not excessive.
Wait, is there another new big brother here?
[Is it that strong?]
Hey guys, look at us!
[If a streamer tries to poach your talent, kick them out.]
Quite a few people come to Xiao Jiu's live stream to do their homework. Many female streamers will wait in the background when Xiao Jiu goes live and send long essays to those with higher levels.
If you can get your hands on it, then you've made a profit. It doesn't matter where you write it, so why not try your luck with Xiao Jiu? Everyone knows that her live stream is the most likely to produce big spenders.
Xiao Jiu: "Thank you for the gift, Brother Qingyun."
[Qingyun: The sound of the zither is clear and melodious, evoking the imagery of mountains and rivers.
Xiao Jiu: "Brother Qingyun, can you also play the guqin? Or do you enjoy listening to it?"
Xiao Jiu lifted her fingers off the strings, rested her chin on her hand, looked at the camera, and asked curiously.
[Qingyun: I know a little. Young lady, your finger technique, though beginner's, already shows promise, which is commendable. If you are to practice "Guangling San," you need to pay attention to the strength of your right hand's push and pull; don't rush it.]
He directly pointed out the minor shortcomings in Xiao Jiu's practice, using extremely professional and knowledgeable language, yet his tone was humble and did not carry the slightest lecturing connotation.
Xiao Jiu: "Really? I'll give it a try."
Xiao Jiu made the adjustments as he suggested and felt that it was indeed much better than before.
Xiao Jiu: "It really feels much better! Thank you, Brother Qingshan!"
[Green Mountain: No Obstacles]
Wow, that's amazing!
Could he be some hidden master?
[You upstairs, do you think you're reading a novel?]
Hey, it's just a thought.
Xiao Jiu: "Let's continue our competition today! I'll play the piano to entertain you all."
[Oh dear, Ninth Sister has volunteered for a PK, these guys have to show their appreciation.]
[Ze Yi: I will definitely fulfill your wishes, no matter what.]
[Mu Chen: Come on, come on, my backpack is already itching to get started]
[Haha, a guy willingly giving away money, that's so rare!]
【不见君送主播小九嘉年华*1*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9】（抖）
[Bujianjun is giving away carnival prizes in streamer Xiaojiu's live stream, everyone come and watch!]
[Not seeing you: Let's warm up the atmosphere first]
[No, is this the difference between Xiao Jiu's top supporter and those in other livestreams?]
[What kind of family is this? Warming up the carnival!]
Xiao Jiu opened the PK mode and randomly matched with someone. The opponent was a handsome young man who was a bit shy. When he saw Xiao Jiu, his face turned red.
A hermit: "Hello..."
Xiao Jiu: "Hmm, hello big brother, why is your face so red?"
Xiao Jiu leaned closer to the screen, giving Xianyun Yehe the feeling that the girl opposite him was right in front of him, as if the two of them were not separated by a screen, but face to face, and the girl's fragrance wafted over him.
Xianyun Yehe's face turned even redder, and he became even more incoherent.
Idle Clouds and Wild Cranes: "I, I'm fine, wanna play a game?"
The eldest sister in Xianyunyehe's live stream liked his shy demeanor and couldn't help but tease him.
Just like Xiao Jiu, who wouldn't want to tease a handsome, well-built, and shy young man like that?
Xiao Jiu: "Sure, but what's the punishment for losing?"
Xiao Jiu rested her chin on one hand and casually plucked the strings of the guqin with the other.
The carefree hermit said, "If I lose, you can punish me as you please; if you lose, well, you can play a tune."
The carefree man, unsure of what punishment to give her, happened to see her playing the guqin and thought he'd have her play a tune.