My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 122

Chapter 122: Xue Mei, You’re My Mom!

After basking in the sun for a while, and after Jiang Xue finished her coffee, they rode the shared bikes back to the school gate, since Ms. Xie was waiting for them.

Along the way, they saw a couple walking hand in hand, one gently combing the other’s wind-blown hair, and before she could even finish, the other gave her a kiss.

Jiang Xue, both envious and flustered, almost lost control of her bike and nearly hit a flower bed.

“Watch the road!” Xiao Luohan, who had also seen the couple, reminded her, amused and exasperated.

Jiang Xue had been highly focused all day and was truly tired. Even after the coffee, she still leaned against Xiao Luohan’s shoulder, her eyes half-closed, on their way back.

Xiao Luohan naturally supported her, so Jiang Xue enjoyed a “loving lap pillow from her girlfriend” on the way home.

The Jiang family was very open-minded. Since the major exam was over, and Jiang Xue didn’t mention it, no one asked. They simply had a sumptuous dinner after returning home—of course, it might also be because Ms. Xie had been invited by Ms. Wei for dinner.

The adults had their own conversations, while Jiang Xue, as always, sat next to Xiao Luohan, enjoying the freshly squeezed and boiled corn juice made by Sister Cheng.

Jiang Xue had thought she had already received all her rewards for the day, but that night, before going to bed, while showering with Xiao Luohan, she suddenly felt a slender hand on her stomach, covered in soap suds.

“The day isn’t over yet, so you still get your hug,” Xiao Luohan said softly. “We can finally rest properly when we get home.”

Actually, they hadn’t gone all the way yet. Their physical intimacy was limited to foreplay, and the rest was still in the theoretical stage.

Tonight was no exception. Xiao Luohan hummed a newly learned melody, skillfully switching between shampoo and shower gel, washing Jiang Xue from head to toe, making her smell fragrant, and finally tucking her into bed, warm and cozy.

Just like how A-Xi hadn’t confessed to Jiang Mei before the college entrance exam, they also had things they had to put aside until after the exam.

The results of the comprehensive quality evaluation would be available at the end of April. If they wanted a pleasant May Day holiday, they could also just wait for the university’s notification.

Unless there was something urgent, Jiang Xue usually chose the latter. After all, they had to wait for the notification to confirm the list of admitted students before making a decision.

She focused on studying Chinese, math, and English until the May Day holiday. On the morning of May 1st, she dressed up in hanfu, carefully applied her makeup, and went to the Yuanxi Lake International Exhibition Center with Xiao Luohan in Jiang Mei’s car to attend the traditional Chinese culture exhibition organized by Ms. Silin.

Xie Xitong always refused to go to such crowded exhibitions on the first day of a long holiday. A few years ago, she had still been energetic enough to take the white cat and wait in long lines at comic conventions, but now, even Jiang Mei couldn’t persuade her.

Cang Ling was still catching up on documentaries and movies, not interested in going out for now. The attention of a “seasoned homebody” was easily captured by these things.

When they arrived at the Yuanxi Lake International Exhibition Center, it hadn’t opened yet, and the staff were making final preparations, but the queues at the entrances had already reached the bottom of the steps, a sea of people, both Chinese and foreign tourists.

Xiao Luohan was participating in the exhibition as a staff member and could enter through the staff entrance with her ID card. Jiang Xue was also allowed in as a family member.

Jiang Mei was just the driver. After dropping them off and making sure they entered safely, she went to a nearby café to find a seat and work.

Yin Yuan was already waiting at the studio’s booth, wiping the long table where the guqin would be displayed. Sensing someone approaching, she looked up and greeted them a little nervously, “Ah, you’re here.”

There had been a big misunderstanding on White Day, and Jiang Xue hadn’t had a chance to visit Ms. Silin since, only sending gifts to Yin Yuan through Xiao Luohan a few times.

This time, she came prepared, handing over a Korean bibimbap lunchbox and milk tea made by Sister Cheng as soon as she arrived, smiling brightly. “Yin Jiejie, thank you for taking care of Xiao Luo! This is bibimbap, you can eat it later at noon or in the afternoon!”

The socially anxious person hurriedly accepted the food and thanked her. She had probably come to set up without having breakfast, so after placing Xiao Luohan’s guqin and explaining what she needed to do, Yin Yuan took the bibimbap backstage and started eating.

Xiao Luohan didn’t have any work experience, so the task Ms. Silin assigned her was simple: just sit there and play the guqin after the exhibition opened. If she got tired, she could rest, just like her usual practice, without any pressure. And if anyone asked, she could introduce them to the guqin. This was also a way to put theory into practice.

“If anyone asks about the studio’s products, just leave it to me and the other two seniors, we’ll handle it,” Yin Yuan reminded her before eating her bibimbap.

It seemed like a relatively easy job, just from the 1st to the 3rd, but considering the generous salary Ms. Silin offered, Jiang Xue felt that it wouldn’t be as easy as it seemed, so she decided to accompany Xiao Luo. Anyway, she wasn’t in the mood to study these three days.

At 9:00 AM, the exhibition center opened.

Yin Yuan turned on the speaker connected to the guqin’s microphone and gestured to Xiao Luohan that she could start.

Crowds of people started pouring into the exhibition hall. Amidst the surrounding noise, Xiao Luohan placed her hands on the strings and started playing the pieces Ms. Silin had listed for her.

Perhaps everyone here was her audience, but Xiao Luohan was used to being alone. She didn’t need an audience’s encouragement and continued playing one piece after another.

Jiang Xue compared the two events. Although the traditional culture exhibition wasn’t as noisy as a comic convention, the various musical instruments combined still created quite a din, plus there were also booths for traditional-themed anime, movies, and games, and even a large stage. It was fine at first, but as time passed, she felt the noise from all directions overwhelming her like a tidal wave.

However, when she turned to look at Xiao Luo, her frustration gradually subsided.

Although Xiao Luo wasn’t passionate about playing the guqin, after months of professional training, and her experiences in the ancient world, just her sitting there and playing could bring a sense of peace to others.

She seemed to be above the mundane world, yet not detached from it, naturally and calmly playing one piece after another, as if treating the exhibition as her temporary practice space.

And their booth was like a quiet island amidst the noise, but this island was full of blooming flowers, and people naturally came to it.

Realizing this, Jiang Xue felt a sense of respect.

She thought for a moment, then took out her English reading comprehension workbook from her backpack—she definitely couldn’t focus on math problems, so she would read some English. If she encountered any foreigners, she could also greet them.

Half an hour later, a few students, attracted by the music, passed by their booth: ??

“Excuse me, is your booth…?” The girl at the front almost blurted out “selling workbooks?”

“If you’re interested in learning about the guqin and its cultural heritage, I can give you an introduction,” Xiao Luohan said gently. “If you want to know about our studio’s products, you can ask the young woman with short hair over there.”

“No, no, no need to trouble yourself! We’re just tired from walking around and came to listen to the music,” the girl hurriedly waved her hands, then stood aside with her companions, listening quietly for a while. Then she couldn’t help but ask, “You play so beautifully! Can you play a piece for me to record?”

“Sure, do you have any requests?” Xiao Luohan asked with a smile. “If it’s something I haven’t heard before, I’ll have to try learning it by ear.”

“If you post it online, remember to tag her,” Jiang Xue said, putting down her workbook and handing over the business card Yin Yuan had prepared for Xiao Luohan.

After their “heart-to-heart” talk on the lawn at N University that day, Xiao Luohan had quickly developed a new plan.

She often watched videos of other musicians on video platforms, some full songs, some short clips, and some even ten- or thirty-minute “medleys.” Those who understood music theory and had their own ideas would even rearrange and play existing songs.

There were even musicians who wore costumes and made funny videos with their friends, but that was another realm she wasn’t familiar with yet and needed to explore further.

So, with Jiang Xue’s guidance, she created accounts on various platforms, discussed it with Ms. Ning and Ms. Silin, and finally, temporarily affiliated herself with Ms. Silin’s studio, but among her followers were two official platform accounts.

The Jiang family was well-connected, and if Xiao Luohan really wanted to try this path, there were professionals to handle promotion and resources.

“Definitely!” the student excitedly accepted the business card and took a few more for her companions, then handed her phone to Xiao Luohan. “This is the song I want to hear!”

Xiao Luohan glanced at the song title. It was a new song by a popular traditional-style singer, released last month during the Qingming Festival. She hadn’t played it before, but she had heard it a few times and had some impression of it, so she searched for it on her phone and put on her earphones.

After listening for about a minute, she dragged the progress bar back to the beginning and started playing along with the music, learning it by ear.

The student excitedly recorded the entire process, repeatedly covering her mouth to prevent herself from screaming. When the last note faded, and Xiao Luohan stopped playing, she spun around excitedly.

“You should be a livestreamer!! It’s so perfect for listening to while doing homework, it’s so calming!” Her companion was also excited. “If you livestream your playing, I’ll definitely make clips for you!!”

Xiao Luohan paused, smiling a little embarrassedly. “I’m also a student, I might not have time.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay! I’ve already followed you! We’ll definitely hear you play again!” The girls showered her with more compliments before leaving satisfied with the video.

“Exhibitions are indeed a good way to attract fans,” Yin Yuan said softly, approaching them and looking at the girls’ retreating figures. “But there are many trivial matters at exhibitions, and if you’re unlucky, you’ll encounter difficult people. It’s easy to get drained after a while. Compared to that, livestreaming indoors is much better.”

Jiang Xue deeply agreed. Just being in the exhibition hall and sitting at the booth made her feel helpless and exhausted.

Fortunately, she didn’t have to do anything, and she could “recharge” from Xiao Luo, listening to her guqin music. Just being there was enough.

But just watching everyone work wasn’t Jiang Xue’s style either. At noon, she bought takeout for everyone and even ordered coffee from a nearby shop with a low “disappointment rate” to “keep them going.”

When the exhibition ended at 4:00 PM, she brought exquisitely packaged cupcakes and gave one to everyone.

“Xue Mei, you’re my mom!” Yin Yuan, the socially anxious person who had been socializing all day, let out a happy, albeit low-energy, cry. “My real mom! I love you!!”