Encountering Gu Xi often spelled trouble, so why not let Gu Xi solve the trouble?
This was akin to fighting fire with fire!
Lin Yuan found himself quite clever.
And with Gu Xi's assistance, everyone's efficiency improved significantly.
Previously, only Lin Yuan could provide piano accompaniments for the composition department. Now, Gu Xi's presence allowed Lin Yuan to share more than half of the workload, giving him occasional breaks.
"Gu Xi, you should take a break too," the composition department members insisted, feeling guilty for burdening Gu Xi with their busy schedule.
They hadn't expected Gu Xi to be so eager to help.
Not only did she assist with arranging and playing accompaniments, but she also worked tirelessly without rest!
Yet, her demeanor remained friendly and approachable, devoid of any arrogance or coldness.
"I'm not tired," Gu Xi replied with a smile.
Of course, she was exhausted. Assisting so many people would tire even the most skilled pianists!
But compared to physical exhaustion, Gu Xi was mentally exhilarated like never before.
Father Qu had sought her help!
And Lin Yuan had turned to her for piano accompaniments.
If Lin Yuan had asked her to help with anything, even moving bricks, Gu Xi wouldn't hesitate. It was an honor to be needed by Father Qu. Countless others would leap at the chance to assist him!
Moreover, this was the opportunity Gu Xi had dreamed of—a chance to get closer to Lin Yuan, to win his favor.
So Gu Xi felt a twinge of gratitude towards the composition department. Without their requests, Lin Yuan might never have sought her out.
She wasn't afraid of exhaustion; she feared being deemed worthless in Father Qu's eyes. How could he favor someone he deemed worthless?
As the students conversed quietly:
"The rumors are completely unfounded."
"Gu Xi is actually very approachable."
"She's just as enthusiastic as Lin Yuan."
"Perhaps exceptional people aren't as aloof as we imagine. When Lin Yuan first joined the composition department, we thought he was quite cold. But upon getting to know him, we found him to be quite pleasant."
These snippets reached Gu Xi's ears intermittently, lifting her spirits even more.
Wouldn't this help alleviate some of the negative impressions Lin Yuan had formed of her?
She discreetly observed Lin Yuan's reaction.
Lin Yuan sat comfortably, relaxed in his chair. Was he satisfied with his own abilities and demeanor?
This spurred Gu Xi on even more!
However, some classmates speculated privately that Gu Xi's willingness to help was likely due to Lin Yuan. They even approached Lin Yuan to inquire about Gu Xi's sudden change in behavior.
Lin Yuan shook his head.
How could he know what Gu Xi was thinking?
Gu Xi had simply stated that if anyone needed assistance, they should just ask. Lin Yuan wasn't surprised by such kindness. He often heard similar offers from those around him. From his earliest kindergarten memories, people had always been quick to offer help, and few refused such requests.
If others could easily assist him, then he would reciprocate in kind.
Until 11:40.
Someone finally suggested, "It's getting late. Let's take a break and treat Lin Yuan and Gu Xi to dinner!"
"Sounds good," Lin Yuan perked up.
Seeing Lin Yuan's agreement, Gu Xi nodded eagerly. She wouldn't miss a chance to have dinner with Lin Yuan. "Thank you," she said.
...
The campus had both cafeterias and restaurants, with the latter being pricier.
To express their gratitude to Lin Yuan and Gu Xi, the group opted for the best restaurant on campus instead of the cafeteria, ordering a table full of delicious dishes.
Lin Yuan enjoyed his meal immensely.
Afterwards, the restaurant served a variety of desserts.
Lin Yuan immediately spotted the pudding jelly, one of his favorites.
"This is a specialty here," the students explained, presenting the pudding jelly. Since there were only two servings available, they gave one each to Lin Yuan and Gu Xi, the guests of honor.
Delicious!
Lin Yuan happily devoured the strawberry-flavored pudding jelly.
Observing Lin Yuan's delight, the students chuckled awkwardly. "This pudding jelly is in limited supply. The restaurant only makes a small batch each day. We'll buy some for you next time."
"I haven't tried this yet," Gu Xi admitted. Almost instinctively, she offered, "If you don't mind, you can have mine..."
The surrounding students glanced at Gu Xi, initially surprised but gradually relieved.
Turned out, Gu Xi, the piano goddess, was just like the other girls in class. They often offered Lin Yuan their favorite snacks.
Gu Xi didn't feel embarrassed despite noticing the curious gazes. She only cared about Father Qu. What did she care about others' opinions?
Yet, she couldn't help but wonder, "Am I being too obvious?"
Lin Yuan accepted Gu Xi's offer with a simple "Okay."
Who in the world would refuse ice cream and pudding jelly?
Gu Xi felt relieved.
It seemed Lin Yuan truly enjoyed pudding jelly.
By the way, he also seemed to like ice cream. But the last time she dared to take ice cream from him...
After the meal, they continued recording piano accompaniments for their classmates. After a busy day, they finally finished.
The classmates expressed their gratitude profusely.
Once everyone had left, Gu Xi slumped into her chair, exhausted.
A whole day of running around had taken its toll on her. Yet, the thought that her relationship with Lin Yuan had improved slightly lifted her spirits, and she clenched her fists in determination.
"Stay calm."
"Don't rush things!"
Winning Father Qu's approval would be a long journey, and Gu Xi was prepared to be patient.
Meanwhile, at Xingman's company, Sun Yaohuo, who was about to leave work, suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
"Is Jiang Kui up to something again?"
Sun Yaohuo considered himself invincible, except when it came to Jiangkui.
He couldn't forget the sight of Jiangkui buying all those milk tea flavors for Lin Yuan.
"He's a formidable opponent."
Sun Yaohuo clenched his fists, ready for whatever lay ahead.