Chapter 31 Little Star
The matter of Kong Pandan was just a small episode, and Lu Qingmian still took Jiang Jinyue to the cafeteria.
It was not yet noon, and there were not many people in the cafeteria. It was not yet mealtime, and the window providing food was not open yet. Lu Qingmian took Jiang Jinyue upstairs and chose a window serving barbecue and rice.
When Jiang Jinyue was looking for his newly-issued meal card, Lu Qingmian had already ordered for him. He even asked the cafeteria aunt to add an extra portion of meat for Jiang Jinyue and paid directly with his meal card.
Jiang Jinyue quickly handed over his meal card: "Lu Qingmian, I have money now..."
Lu Qingmian said indifferently: "Let's go together, no need to make it so troublesome."
Not only did Lu Qingmian not require Jiang Jinyue to pay, he didn't even need Jiang Jinyue to bring him the food. He led Jiang Jinyue to a corner and sat down. Then he sat outside Jiang Jinyue and pulled Jiang Jinyue's bibimbap in front of him. After mixing it, he pushed it back in front of Jiang Jinyue.
Jiang Jinyue felt like a little child being taken care of by Lu Qingmian. Holding the spoon handed to her by Lu Qingmian, she looked at the prepared rice, her heart was in turmoil, and she didn't eat for a long time.
Lu Qingmian bought a bottle of hawthorn juice and a bottle of mineral water. He unscrewed the lid of the hawthorn juice and placed it in front of Jiang Jinyue, and warned her in a natural tone, "Don't drink too much, it's very sour."
Finally, Lu Qingmian unscrewed the bottle of mineral water and put it aside.
Seeing that Jiang Jinyue still didn't eat, Lu Qingmian asked, "Why don't you eat? Don't you like it?"
Jiang Jinyue shook her head vigorously, "I like it!"
He scooped a large mouthful with a spoon and stuffed it into his mouth, filling it completely. After swallowing it, he took another sip of hawthorn juice and squinted his eyes because of the sour taste: "So sour!"
Lu Qingmian picked up the hawthorn juice that Jiang Jinyue had just drunk and took a sip. "It's not bad."
After saying that, Lu Qingmian pushed the mineral water towards Jiang Jinyue. Lu Qingmian had just drunk that mineral water.
"If it's too sour, drink this."
Jiang Jinyue felt a strange tingling sensation at the fingertips holding the spoon. He was clearly not thirsty, but he still picked up the bottle of water, brought it to his lips, and took a small sip.
The slightly cool water slid down his throat. Jiang Jinyue lowered his eyes and suddenly caught a glimpse of Lu Qingmian's gaze.
Lu Qingmian had started staring at him at some point, with a slight curve at the corner of his lips. He seemed a little nonchalant, as if he was just looking at him casually, but it made Jiang Jinyue's heart beat wildly for a moment.
He immediately put down the water and picked up the spoon to eat again.
Lu Qingmian suddenly asked, "Is it delicious?"
Jiang Jinyue hurriedly swallowed the food in his mouth and nodded, "It tastes good."
Lu Qingmian laughed: "What's so good about plain water?"
Jiang Jinyue looked at Lu Qingmian helplessly, but Lu Qingmian looked away first: "Eat quickly."
Halfway through the meal, Jiang Jinyue noticed that there were more and more tables of people sitting around them.
Those people were not paying attention while eating, and spent most of their time staring at Lu Qingmian.
Jiang Jinyue looked over quietly and found that many people were taking secret photos with their cell phones.
Lu Qingmian seemed completely unaware and continued eating as usual, ignoring those people.
When those people were secretly watching Lu Qingmian, they would glance at Jiang Jinyue from time to time, their eyes full of inquiry and confusion. After a few glances, they would turn around and whisper with their companions, obviously discussing the relationship between Jiang Jinyue and Lu Qingmian. They seemed shocked that Lu Qingmian had a friend like Jiang Jinyue.
Jiang Jinyue ate slower and slower, and finally put down the spoon with more than half of the food left, having completely lost his appetite.
Lu Qingmian had finished eating long ago. Seeing that Jiang Jinyue had stopped eating, he asked him, "Are you full after eating so little?"
Jiang Jinyue forced a smile and said, "Well, I'm not very hungry."
Lu Qingmian frowned slightly after hearing this. He seemed to have seen through something, but he didn't say it directly. He just stood up and naturally extended his hand to Jiang Jinyue, "Let's go, I'll show you around the school."
Jiang Jinyue didn't put her hand on Lu Qingmian's, "I...I don't want to go shopping anymore. I'm sleepy. I want to go home and sleep."
Lu Qingmian's brows furrowed even more tightly. He walked on the outside of Jiang Jinyue and took Jiang Jinyue's hand. "Then I'll take you home."
When the two men passed by a table of people, the people at that table immediately lowered their heads and pretended to eat, but a small exclamation was still heard.
The exclamation was particularly harsh to Jiang Jinyue's ears. Jiang Jinyue lowered his head, pulled his hand back from Lu Qingmian's, and refused again: "No, I can go back by myself."
Lu Qingmian's expression turned a little colder: "Alright."
After leaving the cafeteria, Lu Qingmian left, seeming a little angry.
Jiang Jinyue seemed even more at a loss and panicked. As soon as Lu Qingmian left, the voices of the students who followed him out immediately became much louder.
"Who is that person? I've never heard of him."
"I don't know. What does it have to do with Lu Qingmian?"
"Friends, maybe we knew each other before?"
"How could Lu Qingmian have a friend like that?"
How could Lu Qingmian have a friend like him?
Jiang Jinyue's heart sank heavily. He walked home with unsteady steps, his mind wandering all the way. After returning to the rental house, he threw himself on the bed. He had clearly only gone to school to attend a class meeting and have a meal, but he seemed to have exhausted all his strength.
“So tired…”
Jiang Jinyue slowly closed his eyes and even began to hesitate whether to go to see Lu Qingmian practice the piano in the evening.
Although he said he was going, Lu Qingmian did not tell him which auditorium to go to or the time.
When they separated, Lu Qingmian seemed angry. Maybe... she wouldn't ask him to go to the auditorium again.
Jiang Jinyue curled up on the bed, his eyes blank, and then he hid his cheeks.
"I'm really bad."
Jiang Jinyue stayed in touch with his phone all afternoon. He was afraid that Lu Qingmian would contact him, but he was also afraid that Lu Qingmian would not contact him.
But until it got dark, the phone didn't ring.
Jiang Jinyue finally gave up. He stuffed his phone under his pillow and went to the bathroom.
But he didn't expect that just as he walked out of the bedroom, a muffled ringing sound came from under his pillow.
The phone is ringing!
Jiang Jinyue stood there in a daze. It took him a few seconds to react. He ran back in a panic and took out his cell phone. The name displayed on the screen was Lu Qingmian.
It’s really Lu Qingmian!
Jiang Jinyue inexplicably began to get nervous. He took a deep breath and slowly picked up the phone.
Lu Qingmian's voice came over immediately, and it seemed a little distorted through the microphone, but it was still clear and pleasant.
"Jiang Jinyue, I'm going to pick you up now. Those people in the student union are really annoying. They've delayed such a small matter until now."
Jiang Jinyue put the phone to his ear. Lu Qingmian's words sounded like they were whispered into his ear. His hand was shaking as he held the phone. His nervous mind was becoming dull. He replied dryly, "Huh?"
Lu Qingmian: "Didn't you agree to come to the auditorium to watch me practice the piano? It's getting dark now, I'll pick you up."
Jiang Jinyue suddenly realized what was happening. He paced back and forth in the small living room, trying to slow his nervous breathing. He whispered, "No need to pick me up! Just tell me where the auditorium is and I'll come find you."
Lu Qingmian disagreed: "It's dark."
Jiang Jinyue shook her head vigorously, then thought about how Lu Qingmian couldn't see her, so she said, "There are street lights. I'm fine."
Lu Qingmian: "Okay."
After getting the address, Jiang Jinyue hurriedly put on his coat, opened the door and ran out without wearing glasses and a mask for the first time.
He was wearing glasses and a mask while running, and even forgot that his long bangs were stuck on his head by the hairpin.
Jiang Jinyue had only been to H University a few times and was not familiar with it. He even went to the wrong auditorium once.
He walked very fast, almost jogging, and when he finally arrived at the door of the auditorium, Jiang Jinyue stopped and looked at the tightly closed door. He tried to slow his breathing, and only when his breathing became less rapid did he slowly open the door.
The auditorium was dark, with only a beam of light on the stage at the front, illuminating a corner of the stage where a black grand piano was placed. Lu Qingmian was not there.
"Lu Qingmian?"
Jiang Jinyue walked in and saw rows of seats hidden in the darkness, with Lu Qingmian nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, a pair of arms hugged his waist from behind, and a familiar voice sounded above his head: "So tired."
After feeling the familiar breath, Jiang Jinyue's tense body suddenly relaxed, and even the illusion that was about to emerge in front of his eyes quickly dissipated.
Lu Qingmian lowered his head and buried his cheek in the crook of Jiang Jinyue's neck, his tall nose touching Jiang Jinyue's skin, his breath gently falling on the crook of Jiang Jinyue's neck.
The overly intimate posture made Jiang Jinyue subconsciously tighten her shoulders and lean her back forward a little, trying to escape from Lu Qingmian's embrace.
Lu Qingmian tightened his arms around Jiang Jinyue's waist, and his thin lips almost touched Jiang Jinyue's neck as he spoke: "Don't move."
Jiang Jinyue didn't dare to move. His breathing, which had finally calmed down, became disordered again. He opened his lips slightly and tried his best to make his breathing sound as quiet as possible, for fear that Lu Qingmian would hear it.
But Lu Qingmian pointed it out bluntly: "Jiang Jinyue, your breathing is so irregular."
Jiang Jinyue immediately closed his mouth and held his breath.
Lu Qingmian noticed that the hand around his waist suddenly pinched lightly, and Jiang Jinyue immediately broke down and opened his mouth to breathe faster.
His clear eyes were full of helplessness. His fingertips carefully touched Lu Qingmian's hand, but he didn't expect Lu Qingmian to immediately dodge away.
Jiang Jinyue's fingertips paused, and he placed his hand on Lu Qingmian's hand again. This time, Lu Qingmian directly let go of Jiang Jinyue's waist, and raised his head against Jiang Jinyue's, but still stood behind Jiang Jinyue.
"Don't touch me." Lu Qingmian's voice was slightly cold.
Jiang Jinyue wanted to turn around, but Lu Qingmian raised his hand and controlled Jiang Jinyue's neck, pressing his palm lightly on Jiang Jinyue's small Adam's apple to prevent him from turning his head.
"Lu, Lu Qingmian..."
Lu Qingmian tilted his head, leaned close to Jiang Jinyue's ear, and asked softly, "Jiang Jinyue, why are you hiding from me during the day? Why don't you hold my hand?"
"I, I..." Jiang Jinyue wanted to explain, but he didn't know where to start.
Lu Qingmian's breath gently fell into Jiang Jinyue's ear, hot and burning, causing a slight itch.
Jiang Jinyue tilted his head slightly in impatience, said "I" several times, lowered his eyes in disappointment, raised his fingertips, and carefully touched Lu Qingmian's hand that was holding his neck.
The back row of the auditorium was very dark, and the light was even dimmer when they stood at the door. Lu Qingmian tilted his head and looked at Jiang Jinyue's ear from a very close distance.
The jade-white ears were stained light pink, and the small earlobes were particularly round and plump.
Jiang Jinyue's fingertips finally touched Lu Qingmian's hand, and Lu Qingmian did not dodge this time.
Jiang Jinyue's trembling fingertips revealed his chaotic heart. He mustered up his courage and said seriously, "Lu Qingmian, next time... next time I won't avoid you."
Lu Qingmian didn't say anything, only his gentle breathing blew on Jiang Jinyue's ears.
Jiang Jinyue felt that the ear on that side was so hot that it was almost burning. He wanted to turn his head away, but he was afraid that Lu Qingmian would get angry, so he raised his neck stiffly.
"That's what you said." Lu Qingmian's voice was closer to Jiang Jinyue's ears, and Jiang Jinyue could feel that his ears seemed to touch something.
The next second, Lu Qingmian bit her earlobe, held it between her lips, and rubbed it gently with her teeth. Lu Qingmian's voice was a little vague: "Jiang Jinyue, don't make me wait too long."
"Lu Qingmian!" Jiang Jinyue exclaimed, and finally couldn't help but want to shrink his neck and avoid Lu Qingmian, but there was a big hand grabbing his neck and he couldn't move at all.
The unfamiliar feeling on his earlobe made Jiang Jinyue's waist ache and his legs wobbled, making him almost unable to stand.
The feeling rushed straight into Jiang Jinyue's brain, making even his ability to think dull.
He seemed to understand what Lu Qingmian said, but also seemed to understand nothing.
The earlobe, which should have been slightly cool, slowly became hot. Time became particularly slow and unbearable at this moment. Jiang Jinyue grabbed Lu Qingmian's arm with both hands, feeling that he had no strength left in his body.
After an unknown amount of time, Lu Qingmian finally let go of Jiang Jinyue's earlobe.
The white earlobe was rubbed red by the teeth, with messy tooth marks on it, and faint wet marks could be seen in the dim light.
Jiang Jinyue could feel the moisture on his ears slowly cooling down in the air, but it was unable to cool down his burning ears.
Lu Qingmian let go of his hand, walked to Jiang Jinyue, and finally held Jiang Jinyue's hand.
He took Jiang Jinyue to the stage. Jiang Jinyue felt weak all over and staggered as soon as he took a step.
Lu Qingmian put his arm around Jiang Jinyue's waist and immediately let go, only willing to hold his hand. He said in a slightly rude tone, "Jiang Jinyue, stand still. How can you be so careless?"
He knew clearly that Jiang Jinyue could not walk steadily, but he deliberately wanted to see Jiang Jinyue following him limply.
Jiang Jinyue was completely unaware of Lu Qingmian's evil intentions and tried to follow Lu Qingmian forward.
When the two of them sat in front of the piano together, Jiang Jinyue let out a long breath, feeling finally relieved.
Lu Qingmian placed his hands on the black and white piano keys, his slender fingers matching the keys perfectly.
Jiang Jinyue heard that Lu Qingmian could play the piano when he was in high school, but he had never heard it.
Lu Qingmian didn't say the name of the song, but pressed down hard with his fingertips, and the fast-paced tune rang out in the empty auditorium.
Jiang Jinyue had never played any musical instrument except for playing the recorder a few times in elementary school, nor had he heard any piano music. He only knew that Lu Qingmian's fingers struck the piano keys so fast that it dazzled him, and the notes that hit his ears one after another made him feel a little nervous.
This song sounded strange. Jiang Jinyue's eyes widened and he looked a little silly.
After playing the three and a half minute long piece smoothly, Lu Qingmian turned around and saw Jiang Jinyue looking dumbfounded.
He chuckled, raised his hand to take off Jiang Jinyue's glasses and mask, and asked, "Does it sound good?"
Jiang Jinyue nodded quickly, and Lu Qingmian jokingly said, "Does it really sound good?"
"It sounds nice... like listening to... the soundtrack of a horror movie." Jiang Jinyue hesitated.
Lu Qingmian laughed so hard that he leaned over the piano, pressing down the notes until a chaotic melody rang out. "You heard it right, this song is called 'Willow'."
"Willow?" Jiang Jinyue had never heard of it and didn't understand it.
Lu Qingmian nodded. "Yeah, it's for showing off my skills. I haven't played it in a long time, so my hands are a little raw. Come over and practice a few times."
Jiang Jinyue didn't realize that Lu Qingmian was unfamiliar with the technique just now.
Lu Qingmian played it several more times. Jiang Jinyue sat beside him obediently, listening very attentively. Every time Lu Qingmian finished playing, he would earnestly praise her, "It sounds good."
Amid Jiang Jinyue's praise, Lu Qingmian played faster and faster, playing without any emotion just to show off his skills, his hands so fast that afterimages almost appeared.
Jiang Jinyue was also very supportive, and his eyes were full of admiration when he looked at Lu Qingmian.
There are many people who admire Lu Qingmian, but Lu Qingmian never takes it seriously.
But Jiang Jinyue's eyes looked at him like that, which made him very addicted.
He wanted Jiang Jinyue to keep looking at him like this.
Finally, after finishing it again, Lu Qingmian had enough. He turned to look at Jiang Jinyue and asked, "Do you want to try it?"
Jiang Jinyue thought of the song Lu Qingmian played and shook his head vigorously: "I can't do it..."
Lu Qingmian grabbed Jiang Jinyue's hand and placed it on one key, while he placed it on the other. "I'll teach you something else."
Jiang Jinyue has beautiful hands. Although she has never played the piano, her slender fingers resting on the keys do not look out of place at all.
Lu Qingmian pressed a note, and Jiang Jinyue followed suit, and then one note after another, Jiang Jinyue soon realized that it was a children's song "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".
Because the rhythm was simple, Jiang Jinyue learned quickly, so Lu Qingmian asked him to try it himself.
Jiang Jinyue still used only one hand, and under Lu Qingmian's watchful eye, he nervously pressed the first note. It was a little jerky at first, but gradually became smoother. Jiang Jinyue felt particularly good listening to the tune he played, and couldn't help but hum along:
"Twinkle, twinkle little star, the sky is full of little stars..."
Suddenly, the overhead lights went out, plunging the entire auditorium into complete darkness.
The piano music and Jiang Jinyue's singing stopped immediately. The sudden darkness made Jiang Jinyue a little scared.
A hand gently grasped Jiang Jinyue's hand that was resting on the stool. Lu Qingmian's voice was particularly clear in the darkness: "Keep playing."
Jiang Jinyue's fingertips curled up in Lu Qingmian's palm, feeling warm and at ease.
He took a deep breath and pressed down the piano with his fingertips again. "Hanging in the sky, shining brightly, like many little eyes."
The piano music became smoother and smoother, and Jiang Jinyue's humming became more lively, "Twinkle, twinkle little star..."
Jiang Jinyue played the piece once without stopping, and immediately played it a second time and a third time.
In the darkness, the black and white piano keys suddenly burst into a few shining little stars when they were struck.
The golden finger appeared in Jiang Jinyue's mind, cheering: "Provide the host with a super Mary Sue little function!"
Jiang Jinyue didn't care about the sound of the golden finger. All his attention was focused on the piano and singing.
His heart gradually soared in the simple melody, and he seemed to have never been so relaxed and happy.
More and more little stars burst out from the piano keys, illuminating the faces of Lu Qingmian and Jiang Jinyue.
Lu Qingmian tilted his head, his dark eyes gazing deeply at Jiang Jinyue.
Suddenly, tiny twinkling dots lit up all around, dancing around in the darkness like happy fireflies.
After the fireflies appeared, the luminous jellyfish that were supposed to live in the sea suddenly appeared in the air, floating up and down in the air without a trace of water.
Jiang Jinyue didn't notice anything. He just focused on the piano keys and played the piano briskly.
In the light, Jiang Jinyue's soft hair hung by her cheeks, the corners of her lips were raised, and she smiled brightly. Her beautiful facial features seemed to be covered with a layer of light, and her eyes were brighter than the stars.
Lu Qingmian watched intently. This was a Jiang Jinyue he had never seen before. Without the ugly armor, she was so dazzling.
If it weren't for that kidnapping, Jiang Jinyue would have grown into such a brilliant person.
On the stage, green grass quickly grew on the ground surrounding the piano, and countless small flowers popped out from the grass. The leaves of those small flowers were thin and the colors were simple, but they grew taller and taller, and more and more lush, until they stopped growing when they were parallel to the piano keys.
The fragrance of the small flowers was very faint, clustered around Lu Qingmian and Jiang Jinyue who were sitting in front of the piano.
The stage turned into a magical sea of flowers, with luminous jellyfish and fireflies dancing to the sound of Jiang Jinyue's piano.
Jiang Jinyue's beautiful fingertips once again pressed the last syllable of this simple nursery rhyme.
He stopped singing and looked at Lu Qingmian.
A breeze blew by, and the small flowers created layers of waves.
Lu Qingmian raised his hands and clapped vigorously, his dark eyes full of seriousness and praise: "Jiang Jinyue, you play very well."
Jiang Jinyue's fingers, still resting on the piano keys, trembled, and he turned around to pick a small flower from the side and handed it to Lu Qingmian.
"Thank you," Jiang Jinyue's eyes were bright. He didn't hide shyly like he used to, not being at a loss when faced with other people's thanks. His clear eyes met Lu Qingmian's dark eyes. "I think I play pretty well, too."
Lu Qingmian grabbed the little flower and at the same time grabbed Jiang Jinyue's hand.
"Jiang Jinyue, you should be so dazzling."
Jiang Jinyue was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded vigorously: "Yeah!"
The journey home from the auditorium was very brisk. Although Jiang Jinyue's beautiful face was hidden again, Lu Qingmian believed that Jiang Jinyue would one day stand freely in the sun.
At night, Jiang Jinyue took a shower and lay on the bed, but he still couldn't calm down.
He took out his cell phone, opened his secret base "Moon's Nest", typed out one word after another on the phone, and wrote a long paragraph of thoughts.
Finally, he deleted those thoughts word by word and only posted two sentences.
“I want to be a better person.”
"I'll be a better person."
The next day, H University’s two-week military training officially began.
Jiang Jinyue got up early and sent a message to Lu Qingmian.
Jiang Jinyue: Can I come and watch your military training?
Lu Qingmian: You’re welcome anytime.
Jiang Jinyue was cheered up and wanted to go out immediately, but she received a call from Chen Keai.
Chen Keai asked, "Yueyue, are you going to watch Lu Qingmian's military training?"
Jiang Jinyue agreed, but Chen Keai asked Jiang Jinyue to wait for him, as he wanted to go too.
"How can you go to the freshman military training empty-handed? You need a parasol, a bench, and some cold drinks. I even bought a big iced watermelon!"
Jiang Jinyue was bewildered: "Is it prepared for freshmen?"
Chen Keai sneered, "Huh, how could that be? It's prepared for us. While the freshmen are going through their painful military training, wouldn't it be nice to rest in the sun and have a cold drink nearby?"
It is a long-standing tradition for freshmen to be tortured by their seniors during military training. Chen Keai was tortured like this during his freshman military training. Now that he has finally reached his sophomore year, how could he not be tortured back!
Today he finally got what he was waiting for!
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