Chapter 101: The Piano Room Secret

Fang Meng had been watching Jiang Qian’s expression closely, observing those two teachers who had been teaching for over half a year and were still chatting confidently.

She knew those two were probably about to be let go.

The next day was Friday, and the last two periods in the afternoon were physical education classes.

On Fridays, the students were unusually excited, knowing they could look forward to the refreshing weekend.

Lin Zheng Ran remembered that Jiang Qian had something for him in the piano room from yesterday, so as soon as he saw her disappear on the playground, he quickly told the teacher and headed to the teaching building.

Arriving at the newly established but not yet open piano room in the multimedia building, Lin Zheng Ran heard a beautiful piano melody drifting from afar before he even got close.

Standing at the back door of the classroom, he gently pushed it open, and Jiang Qian’s piano playing halted at the first climax of “Observing Snow”.

The teachers’ guidance from last night hadn’t improved her skills at all; at most, she had just gotten familiar with the piece.

As the music stopped, Jiang Qian turned her head and saw Lin Zheng Ran standing there, her cold eyes fixed on him as she stood up: “You’re here.”

“What did you say you had for me?”

Lin Zheng Ran walked over to Jiang Qian, and she pulled a key from her pocket:

“It’s this. It’s the key to the piano room. The teachers gave it to me last night. Didn’t you say before that you had no place to practice piano? With this key, you can come here anytime you want to practice.”

Jiang Qian looked around the room and said seriously:

“Our school doesn’t have piano classes, so even though I donated these two pianos, if there’s no event needing them, no one will come to this classroom. You won’t have to worry about anyone disturbing you. Plus, it’s the same piano from that night—I saw you were comfortable playing it.”

She looked up at Lin Zheng Ran and handed the key forward: “This is to repay you for teaching me piano last time. Your simple advice helped me a lot.”

Lin Zheng Ran thought this second miss was quite grateful and explained with a smile:

“Actually, I helped you because when the teachers assigned the new student performance, I didn’t have a piano. You brought an extra one for me to use, so I was just returning the favor. You don’t need to give me anything else.”

Jiang Qian stared at Lin Zheng Ran’s smiling face, suddenly feeling a slight blush as she looked away, her curiosity flaring up again.

But she quickly composed herself and looked back at him:

“Is that so? So you helped me for that reason. Well, I’ve already given you the key, and it’s awkward to take it back now. How about…” she said hesitantly:

“You can think of it as me asking for another lesson today in exchange for the key. Anyway, this room can be your private retreat for the next three years—since no one else can get in.”

[The key to the Hall of Melodious Sounds; once obtained, you can enter the Melodious Workshop freely. This place is rich in spiritual energy, making it an excellent spot to rest.]

The Melodious Workshop, huh.

Lin Zheng Ran took the key.

“Alright, sometimes I do need a quiet place. I’ll take it then.”

[You obtained the key to the Hall of Melodious Sounds. Due to your encounter with the eldest princess, you gain one point in stamina.]

Jiang Qian smiled rarely and sat back at the piano.

She placed her hands on the keys and played “Observing Snow”.

“I’ve tried this piece for a long time, but I just can’t get it right.”

At the first climax, she got stuck, so Lin Zheng Ran grabbed a chair and sat beside her.

Jiang Qian asked: “Right here, I know how to play it, but the notes always feel off, not flowing into the next rhythm. How should I improve?”

Lin Zheng Ran picked up the “Observing Snow” sheet music she had on the piano.

After flipping through it quickly, his All Things Affinity skill made him gain proficiency fast, but it also brought surprise: “This piece is really tough—it’s a standard threshold composition.”

Jiang Qian was surprised: “It is a threshold piece, but you haven’t heard it before? You’re so good at piano.”

Lin Zheng Ran stared at the score and said honestly: “No, I haven’t. Though I always want to experience everything, time is limited, so there’s a lot I don’t know.” He glanced at Jiang Qian: “But I know it now.”

He suggested: “Can I play it first? I need to try it myself to pinpoint the key parts.”

Jiang Qian nodded and stood up to let him have the spot.

Lin Zheng Ran sat on the stool, but felt a bit awkward because it was still warm from where Jiang Qian had been sitting.

The lingering warmth…

He took a deep breath, memorized the score, and let his fingers dance melodically across the keys.

Jiang Qian, standing nearby, was truly stunned.

After all, if this was really Lin Zheng Ran’s first time playing, the smoothness and ease he showed were far beyond what her teachers could achieve.

It was hard to believe this boy was only a teenager; among the masters she’d met, none without three or four decades of talent and practice could do that.

After finishing once, Lin Zheng Ran found the piece interesting and played it again.

Jiang Qian’s lips parted in awe; she was speechless.

His second play was even more skilled than the first.

This boy…

Jiang Qian slowly closed her lips and watched Lin Zheng Ran’s focused expression while playing; for the first time, she felt someone was beyond her reach.

And the more she interacted with him, the clearer the gap between them became.

In her cool eyes, a hint of admiration appeared—something she’d never felt before.

After two plays, Lin Zheng Ran stood up and smiled: “I’ve got the techniques down. Your turn. It’s actually simple; let me point out the specifics, and you try to see if it helps.”

Jiang Qian sat back down, suddenly feeling her face flush.

It was for the same reason Lin Zheng Ran had felt awkward earlier.

Lin Zheng Ran carefully explained the methods he’d figured out, and as Jiang Qian listened, she confirmed he was truly different.

What he said was easy to understand, almost enlightening with every word.

After hearing Lin Zheng Ran’s guidance, Jiang Qian nodded confidently: “Got it. I’ll try.”

She played “Observing Snow” carefully, and this time, the first big climax went off without a hitch, transitioning smoothly to the second high point—where Jiang Qian’s expression turned tense and shocked, as she’d never nailed it before.

Lin Zheng Ran reminded: “The second tough spot is coming; the notes jump a lot. Just like I said, don’t hesitate.”

Jiang Qian nodded, her fingers gliding gracefully, and with his guidance, she passed the second point smoothly!

Keep in mind, she’d practiced half the night before and still hadn’t grasped it.

But Lin Zheng Ran had taught her just a couple of things!

Suddenly, her hands stopped on the keys.

The smooth music left her expression shocked, mind blank, and heart racing.

Lin Zheng Ran thought she hadn’t finished because she hadn’t learned it and said regretfully: “Just one more spot to go. So close to success. But even stopping here, you should understand the techniques I mentioned, right?”

Jiang Qian clenched her hands slowly, her curiosity about this man peaking again.

Her face full of youthful shyness, her voice even softer: “Yeah, I get some of it. Teach me once more? I’ll try to play it all the way through.”

“Sure.” Lin Zheng Ran sat beside her.

He went over the methods again, and Jiang Qian faced him, listening intently to every word, her eyes following his every move, full of admiration.

Outside the classroom, Fang Meng had arrived unnoticed and was staring through the window at the way Jiang Qian looked at Lin Zheng Ran.

Those involved don’t realize it themselves.

But as an outsider, Fang Meng saw that Jiang Qian’s initial casual curiosity toward Lin Zheng Ran was starting to take root in her heart.