The noble, aloof, yet somewhat apathetic piano prodigy is back.

"Did your family check up on you?"

Lin Que asked a question he already knew the answer to.

"Um."

Ye Xi gave a vague reply.

She was rummaging through her bag for her wallet when she suddenly stopped.

The ringtone was muted.

But the vibrations continued to hum, like an invisible urging.

"that……"

Ye Xi bit her lip, her eyes constantly glancing towards the door, speaking very quickly.

"Emergency help needed."

Lin Que raised an eyebrow: "?"

Ye Xi pointed somewhat awkwardly to the still-vibrating bag:

“I didn’t bring any cash, but my WeChat account has a linked card with transaction notifications, so my dad can see my location.”

Ye Xi bit her lip, her eyes constantly glancing towards the door, speaking very quickly.

"Could you pay for me? I'll transfer the money to you using my alternate account."

I have some secret savings, all in a secondary account, and I haven't withdrawn it yet... Oh dear, no time to explain!

As she finished speaking, she blinked her exposed eyes.

With a hint of cautious pleading.

Lin Que understood, but didn't say anything; he simply took out his phone.

Show the QR code and push it onto the table.

"Beep".

Ye Xi quickly scanned the screen with her private phone, which was covered in cartoon stickers.

A friend request immediately popped up on the phone screen.

Lin Que took a closer look and almost lost his composure.

The applicant's profile picture is of a cute cartoon bunny playing the piano.

But what's really out of place is the huge iron hammer he's carrying on his back; his online name is even more heavyweight.

[Beethoven on the run].

Lin Que looked up at Ye Xi.

This girl was dressed head-to-toe in designer brands, and possessed a cool and elegant demeanor.

But behind the scenes, he uses this kind of online name?

The contrast is incredible.

"Approved."

Ye Xi shook her phone, her voice low and urgent.

"I really have to go. Oh, right, I haven't told you my name yet."

My name is Ye Xi. Today... thank you for the soup, and for your twisted logic.

After saying that, she didn't wait for Lin Que's response, and didn't even dare to look back.

He turned around, quickly lifted the curtain, and rushed into the cold wind.

The cotton curtain swayed a few times, bringing in a gust of cold wind.

Lin Que looked at the empty seat.

He glanced at the grumpy rabbit avatar on his phone again and tapped "Accept" lightly.

[Beethoven on the run]: Transferred 20.00 yuan.

[Beethoven on the run]: Keep the money, consider it hush money! Don't tell anyone I drank duck blood vermicelli soup! [Cleaver][Cleaver]

Lin Que looked at the conspicuous red envelope and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

【木欮 (jué)】: No need for hush money, just treat me to plum blossom cakes next time. Remember, the one that's closed.

After sending the message, he slammed his phone down on the table and leaned back in his chair.

"Boss, check please! Both of these will be charged together."

"Okay!"

The boss wiped his hands and ran over.

There are thirty-six in total.

After paying, Lin Que stared at the glaring "20.00" on the screen and laughed in exasperation.

This young lady.

Eighteen yuan for the meal, twenty yuan for hush money.

So her big secret about duck blood vermicelli soup was only worth two yuan?

After paying, Lin Que was about to put his phone back in his pocket when...

Out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly caught a glimpse of several swaying figures reflected in the window paper.

The alley was originally filled only with the sound of the wind.

At that moment, however, one could faintly hear hurried footsteps and hushed conversations.

Lin Que's heart skipped a beat. An ominous premonition had just risen when he hadn't even had time to straighten his collar.

At that moment, the cotton curtain at the shop entrance was suddenly lifted from the outside.

The blinding flashes of light burst forth instantly, making it impossible for people to open their eyes!

He's here!

An uncontrollable roar of excitement shattered the tranquility of the small shop.

The customers around the shop looked up in this direction, puzzled.

Immediately afterwards,

A burly man carrying a camera and a reporter holding a microphone barged in.

The camera and microphone, like two dark cannon barrels, were pointed directly at Lin Que.

"Lin Que! Do you have any explanation for your public criticism of Editor-in-Chief Fang as a 'fraud' on the forum?!"

"I heard that you refused to wear your representative badge. Is this an open act of defiance against the Provincial Writers Association?"

...