Chapter 54
Chapter 54: The Ten Great Classical Masterpieces of Shen Zhou—She Knows Them All
Even though they were cousins, Lin Yue and Ye Wan Lan had never been close.
Six years ago, when Lin Huai Jin first brought Ye Wan Lan back from the orphanage, she only came to the Lin Family old residence once a week for dinner. They saw each other in passing and barely spoke.
Back then, Lin Qin and Ye Wan Lan actually got along.
Until four years ago.
No one knew what had gotten into Ye Wan Lan. First she made a scene and dropped out of No. 1 High School in River City. Then she spent two years in the modeling world, and later became Zhou He Chen’s stand-in.
Her relationship with the Lin Family shattered. She never returned.
Now she was back. Who knew if she planned to use Lin Qin as a stepping-stone to Yun Jing?
Lin Yue couldn’t help suspecting ulterior motives—especially when it came to guqin.
Her true intentions were finally showing.
“How can you think that?” Lin Wo Yu frowned. “Your cousin has never begged me. Watch your mouth, or I’ll beat you.”
“Mom, then how am I supposed to think?” Lin Yue’s voice stayed cold. “Teacher Yue is a member of the Gu Qin Association in Yun Jing. If you force someone on her, will she really accept it?”
“If she goes crazy in front of Teacher Yue again, will Sister still be able to show her face?”
“Your Third Uncle said A Lan has behaved well these past two weeks,” Lin Wo Yu said, shaking her head. “She really wants to change.”
She looked tired as she continued, “A Lan isn’t completely unable to play guqin. When she was brought back, she had a qin with her. She probably learned before.”
Lin Yue let out a scornful laugh.
Brought back to the Lin Family at twelve, carrying a guqin?
So Ye Wan Lan had been scheming since she was twelve.
In all of Shen Zhou, who didn’t know the Lin Family of Yun Jing came from Heavenly Music?
Carrying a guqin meant she could play?
Then if he carried a sword, would that make him the Sword Saint?
Absurd.
“This matter is settled,” Lin Wo Yu said, lifting her cup. “Your uncles were raised by your Eldest Uncle. Now that he’s missing, A Lan is his only descendant. We…”
She trailed off, eyes dim, then left the music room.
Lin Yue opened his mouth to argue, but there was nothing left to argue.
“Brother…” Lin Qin called softly, miserable.
If it were the Ye Wan Lan from six years ago, she’d be willing to share.
But the Ye Wan Lan now…
Lin Qin didn’t want to see her at all.
Wouldn’t it be better to treat her like a stranger?
“Sister, don’t be afraid.” Lin Yue’s tone softened as he comforted her. “I won’t let Ye Wan Lan succeed. When she comes to class, I’ll be there too. I’ll watch her. If she dares to say anything she shouldn’t, I’ll throw her out.”
If Ye Wan Lan wanted to take advantage, it wouldn’t be that easy.
At that moment, Ye Wan Lan was in her bedroom, painting.
She wasn’t using rice paper. She used a strip of silk cloth.
It was a landscape.
In her past life, her body had been weak. Painting soothed her heart and steadied her mind.
When she was happy, she painted flowers and birds. When she was calm, she painted mountains and rivers.
“A Lan.” Lin Huai Jin knocked, then came in.
He stopped when he saw her holding a brush, dipping ink, and working with steady hands. Surprise flickered across his face. “Why did you start painting again? A few days ago you told your grandmother you liked guqin and wanted to learn. Don’t tell me you were just saying it.”
After finishing a stroke, Ye Wan Lan set the brush down. “Uncle, there’s no conflict between liking guqin and liking traditional painting.”
“Sure, but do you really have that much energy?” Lin Huai Jin frowned. “I’m worried you’ll try to learn everything and end up managing none of it.”
Ye Wan Lan nodded. “I understand. But I’m not short on time.”
“Good. As long as you understand.” Lin Huai Jin nodded, then said, “Your grandmother and your aunt already spoke with Teacher Yue. This week you’ll take lessons with Qin Qin.”
He rubbed his hands together, suddenly serious. “Let’s do some prep. I ask, you answer.”
Ye Wan Lan raised her brows, turned, and sat properly, hands resting on her knees, posture straight as a student awaiting an exam.
Lin Huai Jin wasn’t used to seeing her like that. “No need to be so formal. We’re just practicing.”
Then he asked, “When Teacher Yue asks what pieces you’ve learned and what you can play, how will you answer?”
Ye Wan Lan paused.
“Tell the truth,” Lin Huai Jin warned, nervousness creeping in. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Ye Wan Lan said calmly, “I can play all ten great classical masterpieces of Shen Zhou.”
Lin Huai Jin stared at her, speechless.
He’d told her to tell the truth, and she’d gone straight into bragging with a straight face.
The ten great classical masterpieces of Shen Zhou—only three survived now. Where would ten even come from?
“Reel it in!” Lin Huai Jin glared at her. “Skip that. I’ll ask you something else. What are the basic finger techniques for guqin?”
“Plucking inward with the index finger is mo. Striking the string with the back of the right index finger is tiao…”
“What styles of guqin are there?”
“Fuxi style, Zhongni style, Luoxia style…”
After several rounds of rapid-fire questions, Lin Huai Jin’s expression eased. He was satisfied.
His niece was still cute, obedient, and sensible—when she wasn’t bragging.
“Dad.”
A gloomy voice spoke behind him.
Lin Huai Jin jolted so hard his heart nearly leapt out of his chest. “Lin Wen Li, why are you so ghostly? Are you trying to scare your dad to death?”
Lin Wen Li’s face was blank. “You were too absorbed. I called you several times. You didn’t hear.”
“What do you want?” Lin Huai Jin shot him a look.
Lin Wen Li held up a book. “I have a few physics questions.”
“You brat.” Lin Huai Jin snorted. “Fine. Fine. I’ll give you the spot.”
Lin Wen Li walked in—and shut the door on him without hesitation.
Outside, Lin Huai Jin could only stare at the closed door in disbelief.
“What questions? Let me see.” Ye Wan Lan took the book.
“These two.” Lin Wen Li pointed.
Ye Wan Lan barely glanced once before grabbing a pen and explaining, line by line, without hesitation.
The more Lin Wen Li listened, the more complicated his expression became.
That kind of physics thinking was terrifyingly strong.
“You…” He stared at her, then at the competition books on her desk. “Are you going to compete in physics?”
“Yeah.” Ye Wan Lan stretched lazily. “I couldn’t refuse our school’s physics group leader.”
Lin Wen Li paused, then asked, “What about the summer training camp?”
The Physics Competition Summer Training Camp was organized jointly by River City’s major high schools. All students participating would be gathered together.
Ye Wan Lan looked at him. “Do you want me to go?”
Lin Wen Li avoided her eyes. “If you go, I can ask you questions in class.”
“All right.” Ye Wan Lan answered without hesitation. “Then I’ll go.”
Lin Wen Li froze, lips pressed tight.
Should he trust Ye Wan Lan again?
He was afraid…
Abruptly, Lin Wen Li stood, grabbed his physics book, and rushed out. He startled Lin Huai Jin—who was drinking water outside—all over again.
“Lin Wen Li!” Lin Huai Jin roared.
Lin Wen Li chose to close the door and ignore the lecture waiting for him on the other side.
Back in the bedroom, Ye Wan Lan added another item to her planner: Physics Competition Summer Training Camp.
She had a habit of making detailed plans. This Saturday morning, she would go to the Lin Family old residence, and in the afternoon, she would go to the Thousand Autumn Years film set.
[Ye Wan Lan]: Principal, please tell the physics group leader that I will attend the summer training camp.
A few minutes later, the principal replied.
[Told him. Old Ren is so excited he’s dancing at home.]
Ye Wan Lan stared at the message.
Thankfully, she hadn’t gone crazy from studying physics.
After finishing the landscape painting, Ye Wan Lan washed up and went to bed.
She slept dreamlessly. When she opened her eyes again, it was morning.
Lin Huai Jin cared a lot about this apprenticeship. He drove Ye Wan Lan to the Lin Family old residence, then rushed to the company to work overtime.
When the door opened, Lin Yue was on the stairs, looking down at her.
“Since you’re here for guqin lessons, put away your little schemes,” he said coldly. “Grandmother and my mom aren’t here today. No one will fall for your act.”
Ye Wan Lan walked past him without stopping—without even looking at him.
Lin Yue was completely ignored.
His punch hit empty air, and frustration burned in his chest.
At 9:50, Teacher Yue arrived at the Lin Family old residence.
Teacher Yue’s full name was Yue Qin Hua. She was fifty-six, a senior member of the Gu Qin Association in Yun Jing. Every week, she traveled back and forth between Yun Jing and River City to teach Lin Qin.
She was very satisfied with Lin Qin as a student—talented, capable, and most importantly, hardworking enough to endure hardship.
“Hello, Teacher Yue.” Lin Yue stepped forward respectfully. “My sister is waiting for you in the music room. But today there’s one extra person. Don’t mind her. She hasn’t learned guqin at all. I don’t know why my mom insists she learn along with us.”
Yue Qin Hua frowned. “Hasn’t learned guqin? But aren’t the Lin Family daughters all—”
“She didn’t always live in the Lin Family,” Lin Yue said, shaking his head. “She only came back at twelve, and she never touched a qin. Not like my sister. Qin Qin has learned since childhood.”
Yue Qin Hua offered a faint smile. “Let’s go to the music room first.”
In the music room, Lin Qin sat in front of the guqin.
It was her fifteenth birthday gift. Lin Wei Lan personally gave it to her, and she cherished it.
Ye Wan Lan stood off to the side.
When Yue Qin Hua came in, Lin Qin greeted her. “Hello, Teacher Yue. This is my cousin. She—”
“I know.” Yue Qin Hua nodded. “Ye Wan Lan. Madam Lin already mentioned it to me.”
She gestured. “Sit. Don’t stand. How long have you studied guqin?”
Ye Wan Lan answered calmly, “A few years. I know a little.”
Lin Yue almost laughed.
A few years? Ye Wan Lan really lied without even blinking—one lie after another.
Good thing he’d warned Teacher Yue in advance.
“I see.” Yue Qin Hua’s expression cooled. “And in these years, what pieces have you learned?”
Remembering Lin Huai Jin’s words, Ye Wan Lan paused and decided to hold back. She spoke slowly: “Lang Tao Sha.”
Lang Tao Sha was a guqin piece.
Among the ten great classical masterpieces of Shen Zhou, it ranked seventh.