Chapter 3 First, call me "brother" and let me hear it...
Peng Chengyi wasn't entirely indifferent to who Chen Yubai was going out to dinner with that evening.
But she didn't want him to realize how much she cared, because he was much more popular than her at school.
He always acts cold and aloof, yet he spends most of his time with her.
But he was very popular with the boys. Whether they went to play soccer or video games, they all liked to invite him.
However, not many girls in the class were willing to play with him because he was always very cold towards girls.
As his childhood friend who always made him call her "boss," her gender had probably become blurred in his mind.
That's why he became an exception.
She was his only female friend, but he was her only good friend.
This is so unfair.
Thinking of this, Peng Chengyi became even more determined to learn guitar and form a band, and continued to study the music stores on Luosheng Street.
When dinner was over, she said to Zhou Lifen, "Mom, I want to learn guitar."
Zhou Lifen, who was used to her unpredictable nature, was not surprised. Picking out fish bones, she said, "With this much time, why don't you go and study some high school courses in advance?"
"Mom! The high school entrance exam results haven't even come out yet, and you're already being so difficult!" Peng Chengyi grumbled unhappily.
“Isn’t it due this weekend? And high school courses are much harder than junior high. Although you had good grades before, if you don’t work harder, you might end up at the bottom of the class in a top high school,” Zhou Lifen said.
"I'm not even sure I'll get into a top high school. If I went to a regular high school, I definitely wouldn't be at the bottom of the class."
“You kid, are you only competing with students from regular high schools in the college entrance exam?” Zhou Lifen raised her eyes.
“The college entrance exam is still a long way off, and I’ve already studied hard for three years. I can’t even learn guitar during the summer vacation, it won’t take up much time…” Peng Chengyi lowered her head and stirred the porridge in her bowl with her spoon.
Zhou Lifen stared at her sullen face for a moment, then sighed softly: "If you want to learn, then learn, but you can't fall behind in your high school course preparation. Your dad will help you borrow the high school textbooks."
“Okay, no problem!” Peng Chengyi nodded immediately, like a chick pecking at rice.
Although she seemed resistant to the idea of previewing the material earlier, that was because she was already feeling that she couldn't learn guitar.
She had originally planned to review her high school textbooks after the results were released so that she could leave Chen Yubai behind when school started.
She didn't believe that if she couldn't get into the top high school, Chen Yubai could.
When she first entered junior high school, Chen Yubai's grades were much worse than hers, and it wasn't until her third year of junior high that she caught up.
Moreover, in the mock exams before the high school entrance exam, their scores were very close, and they basically took turns being first in the grade.
But those around him always praised him for being smart, and she was always praised for being serious and hardworking.
Even Zhou Lifen would often compare her to Chen Yubai.
They say that she's just smart, and even though she only studied casually in her third year of junior high, she still managed to catch up with her.
If she doesn't work harder, she'll be completely overtaken.
So she was secretly competing with Chen Yubai, especially when she went to take the exam for the experimental class.
When she discovered that the test was much more difficult than she had prepared, she panicked and didn't have time to do the last two big math problems.
When she came out of the exam room at noon and saw Chen Yubai's composed demeanor, she instantly broke down and cried so much that she couldn't eat lunch. Naturally, she also did terribly in the physics and chemistry exams in the afternoon.
Fortunately, Chen Yubai ultimately failed to get into the experimental class.
This shows that he wasn't actually that much smarter than her.
-
the next day.
Because there was no direct bus, Peng Chengyi got up early in the morning, rode the family's bicycle that made noise everywhere except for the bell, and headed to Luosheng Street.
This bicycle has been in service since she was born. The reason it hasn't been replaced is because a new bicycle was bought later and left in the stairwell, where it was stolen.
Although the rise of bike-sharing in the past two years has significantly reduced bicycle theft.
But since there are already shared bikes available, there's no need to buy a new one.
Anyway, she doesn't usually have many opportunities to ride her bicycle. In the past, she would only ride her bicycle to school when she was running late.
Because Chen Yubai loved sleeping in even more than she did, even if she was going to be late, she would knock on his door twice and then rush downstairs to get her bicycle.
Just in case he didn't get up either.
But she wouldn't wait for him anymore, since his mountain bike was much faster than her beat-up bike.
Usually, when they were halfway through the journey, he would catch up with her, shift gears, and ride at the same speed as she pedaled hard, looking relaxed.
That's weird.
Amidst these unpleasant memories, Peng Chengyi quickly arrived at Luosheng Street.
The street is not long, and tall plane trees are planted on both sides.
The lush foliage forms a canopy of shade, and dappled sunlight falls on the middle of the road like scattered diamonds.
Peng Chengyi jumped off his bicycle and, while pushing it, looked around at the shops along the street.
As Zhang Yang said, this street is almost entirely lined with music stores displaying all sorts of signs.
From pianos to guzheng, violins to erhu, there's something for everyone, and occasionally you can hear the sound of wind instruments being tested.
After catching a glimpse of a glass window displaying a poster for "Lonely Rock," Peng Chengyi stopped and looked up at the sign above her head—
Lanle Music Store.
She had seen recommendations for this music store online last night when she was researching it.
It's said to have the most comprehensive selection of guitar brands in Linbin, and the instructors are highly skilled, some of whom are also members of bands.
So she locked her bicycle and headed towards the main entrance of the music store.
Peng Chengyi was a little nervous as it was her first time in such an unfamiliar place.
She peeked cautiously through the glass door for a moment, and seeing that the shop assistants inside were busy helping an older man introduce guitars and probably didn't have time to greet her, she mustered up her courage and pushed the door open to go inside.
The space, which is about 50 square meters, is filled with a dazzling array of guitars and basses, and the air, which is very cool, is filled with a faint smell of wood.
Peng Chengyi nervously gripped the strap of her backpack, pretending to look at the guitar while glancing into the small room behind the counter.
Inside sat a muscular young man, head down, changing the strings on a guitar.
He was wearing a white T-shirt with Gun & Roses printed on it, and his hair, which was longer than hers, was casually tied in a ponytail. On his exposed arm was a string of Latin letters that she couldn't understand.
With deep-set features, thick eyebrows that press down on his eyes, he exudes a cool and roguish charm.
In short, he's the kind of person she would definitely avoid if she saw him.
Could he be the guitar teacher that's being talked about online?
Isn't this a little too... unapproachable?
Seemingly noticing her furtive glance, the man raised his eyes slightly.
Peng Chengyi's heart immediately pounded, and she averted her gaze, pretending to look at the guitar effects pedals in the glass display case.
She was never good at dealing with strangers.
The result is that I'm facing this kind of hellishly difficult stranger again.
Or maybe she should switch to another music store...
Peng Cheng hesitated and took two steps back, only to bump into a solid chest with a thud.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
Peng Chengyi's breath hitched. She didn't dare to look back at the person she had bumped into. She apologized hastily and tried to run away.
But a strong hand grabbed his backpack from behind, stopping him in place.
"Your apology doesn't even look at the person's face; it's not sincere at all."
Upon hearing that familiar young voice, Peng Chengyi paused, then slowly turned her head.
He met Chen Yubai's listless, downcast eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Peng Chengyi looked at him incredulously.
"Just passing by," Chen Yubai said casually.
"...?" Peng Chengyi tilted his head in confusion.
Perhaps realizing her answer was absurd, Chen Yubai loosened her backpack strap and added, "Zhang Yang asked me to buy him some things."
"What is that?"
Chen Yubai paused for two seconds, then said indifferently, "The reed."
"What is a reed...?" Peng Chengyi was still confused.
"For playing the saxophone," Chen Yubai explained vaguely.
He didn't actually know what a reed was, but he often heard Zhang Yang complain that the reed needed to be replaced again because it was too fragile and ridiculously expensive.
"Oh." Peng Chengyi nodded as if she understood, then asked curiously, "Then what are you doing at the guitar and bass store?"
"I was passing by and saw someone acting suspiciously inside, like a thief. I had to come in and rid the people of this menace."
Peng Chengyi reacted for a moment, then glared at him lightly: "Who are you calling a thief? I was checking whether this store was worth signing up for!"
"Oh—" Chen Yubai drawled, raising an eyebrow, "So, have you come to a conclusion?"
"Uh...not yet." Peng Chengyi pursed her lips awkwardly.
The air was still for a few seconds.
Peng Chengyi finally found a way out for himself: "So little brother, you've come at the right time. The boss has assigned you a task: go and find out in my little room how to sign up for guitar lessons here, how much a lesson costs, and how many hours there are."
Chen Yubai turned his face away, chuckled, and then glanced at her with a sly look, saying, "Is this how you ask for favors?"
Although he felt a little guilty under his gaze, Peng Chengyi still tried to straighten his back and put on the air of a boss: "I'm not asking you for a favor, I'm assigning you a task."
"What if I don't answer?" He narrowed his long, narrow eyes slightly.
She protested defiantly, "You can't refuse; you're my little brother."
He lazily retorted, "Didn't you already let me fly free last night?"
Peng Chengyi choked, and could only pretend to be stupid: "Really? I don't remember."
"So young, and already so forgetful? Looks like his IQ really isn't high."
"..."
Peng Chengyi's lips twitched, and she was trying to figure out how to retort when the man in the small room poked his head out: "You two have been standing here at the door for ages, did you come here to learn guitar?"
Suddenly being struck up a conversation by a stranger with a deathly difficulty, Peng Chengyi tensed up and instinctively hid behind Chen Yubai, clutching the hem of his T-shirt.
Chen Yubai paused, glancing at her thick, long eyelashes drooping nervously and her slender, pale fingers gripping his clothes. A barely perceptible smile curved his lips.
"Yes, we came to ask about learning guitar."
Chen Yubai took a small step forward.
The boy's slender and handsome figure, like a tall pine tree, completely shielded her behind him.
"It's 100 yuan per class, one hour per class. The frequency of classes is not fixed. Once you've finished the homework assigned for each class, you can schedule the next class with me." The man paused, glanced at the timid but interested girl behind him, and added, "There's a discount if two people take the class together, it's 80 yuan per person per class."
"Understood, thank you. We'll think about it." Chen Yubai nodded.
"Okay, I'll be here during the day. You can come find me to register anytime you've thought it over." The man smiled, then pulled his head back into the room and continued changing the strings.
Without the pressure of strangers present, Peng Chengyi immediately reverted to her bullying attitude, grabbing Chen Yubai who was starting to walk out and saying, "It'll be 20 yuan cheaper if we sign up together! Since you're already here, why don't you learn with me!"
Zhou Lifen's standard fee for her classes was 100 yuan. If she could persuade Chen Yubai to sign up with her, she could earn an extra 20 yuan in pocket money each time she taught a class.
If she attends classes three times a week, she can save up at least 100 yuan over the summer, which is enough to buy the limited edition bonus comic of "Lonely Rock"!
The temptation was too great for her, and she could no longer let him go so easily.
Chen Yubai paused slightly, glanced back at her, and said in a lazy tone with a hint of mockery, "I've never seen a boss hide behind his underlings."
"..."
Peng Chengyi's expression froze for a moment, unable to find any words to refute him.
Seeing him take another long stride, Peng Chengyi could only grit her teeth and grab his arm, looking like she was about to die for her country, and said, "Then I'm begging you, can you learn with me?"
"You want me to do this?" Chen Yubai curled his lips and turned to her leisurely, saying, "Call me 'brother' first."
A note from the author:
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[Eating popcorn][Eating popcorn][Eating popcorn]
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