{Chapter: 316 Cute things!}
After Lin Yuan gently helped Xie Shixuan rise from the stage, he calmly made his way back to his seat in the audience.
But even after he sat down, the atmosphere in the room had completely changed.
The aftershock of Lin Yuan's violin performance lingered in the air like a spell cast over the crowd. The haunting notes of The Devil's Trill seemed to echo faintly in everyone's ears, refusing to fade into silence. The once orderly and casual final review now felt like a chaotic mess in comparison—his skill had effortlessly raised the bar far beyond what anyone anticipated.
Originally, this school event had been intended as a formality, a light-hearted review meant to showcase the students' musical progress. But Lin Yuan's performance was no mere display—it was a full-blown concert-level masterpiece. In comparison, everything else seemed… painfully underwhelming.
Some teachers, clearly music aficionados, were left silently frustrated. How were they supposed to grade anyone else fairly after that? How could they continue with the review process when their minds were still trying to process the sheer power of what they had just witnessed?
Luckily, the rest of the event was not graded too seriously. Otherwise, there might've been backlash and complaints from students and parents alike.
As Lin Yuan resumed his seat, Gui Qingtong turned to him, her bright eyes sparkling with admiration and a little bit of awe.
"Wow! Brother Lin Yuan… I mean, Dad," she quickly corrected herself, her cheeks turning slightly red from embarrassment, "you can play the violin that well?"
Lin Yuan gave a soft laugh and nodded, his tone calm but warm. "Of course. Did you forget? I was the one who taught you the basics, remember?"
Hearing this, Gui Qingtong nodded hurriedly, feeling a bit flustered by the curious stares around them. "Yes! Right! Dad, you have to teach me more when we go home, okay?" she said in a slightly louder voice to make sure others heard the "Dad" part clearly.
The final review eventually came to an end, along with the student performances and introductions. Now, a short intermission was announced before the next segment: the parents' meeting. That would be the time when school administrators would explain the general enrollment procedures and other formalities regarding the academic term.
As soon as the break began, a subtle yet noticeable shift occurred.
One by one, girls—some shyly, others boldly—began gravitating toward Lin Yuan. Some openly stared at him, while others tried to act nonchalant. Some had clearly been encouraged—or outright pushed—by their parents, who saw Lin Yuan not only as rich and refined but possibly influential.
Lin Yuan, sitting with a composed and elegant posture, was like a magnet in the room.
His presence was unmistakable. He wasn't just handsome—he had an aura of effortless charm and mystery. With striking features that rivaled or even outshined popular celebrities, paired with his world-class violin performance and that air of quiet confidence, he became the center of attention.
And then there were the subtle signs of wealth. A custom-made, understated luxury suit. A rare Vacheron Constantin watch worth more than 10 million. And, although not currently visible, word had already spread about his 50-million-yuan Bugatti Veyron.
Naturally, he became a subject of both admiration and curiosity.
Some girls approached under the guise of talking to Gui Qingtong. Others simply wanted a closer look at this mysterious, elegant man who didn't seem like an ordinary father figure at all.
Despite all the attention, Lin Yuan remained calm and distant, handling the growing number of interactions with polite disinterest. He responded only as necessary, never leading anyone on, and his expression barely shifted.
Gui Qingtong had been mentally prepared to guard Lin Yuan against flirtatious women, but she didn't expect to be called away first.
She turned to see two familiar faces—her best friends, the identical loli twins, Xie Shixuan and Xie Shiyin.
"Qingtong!" they called together, waving her over. She immediately walked toward them, curious.
"What's going on?" she asked.
Xie Shiyin remained silent, her expression cool as always, while Xie Shixuan gave a sweet smile.
"Qingtong," Shixuan began, "I just wanted to ask… is that really your father? I mean, I've never seen your dad before. He's so young and incredibly handsome… Are you sure he's not your older brother or something?"
Before she could finish the sentence, Gui Qingtong interrupted sharply, her tone rising ever so slightly.
"No! He's my dad!" she said quickly, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Why are you asking?"
As a girl herself, Gui Qingtong had a sixth sense for danger—and in that moment, she sensed a potential rival.
Something about the way Shixuan looked at Lin Yuan, and the subtle tremble in her voice, made her uneasy.
Xie Shixuan froze for a second, then gave an awkward laugh and said, "Sorry! I didn't mean anything weird. I was just curious… Your dad's violin playing was amazing. I was the accompanist, remember? It was really inspiring. I feel like I actually improved just by playing alongside him. That's why I wanted to get to know him better."
Gui Qingtong tilted her head slightly, her index finger resting against her lips in a thoughtful gesture. Her expression was calm, but there was a subtle sharpness behind her gaze.
"Hm… but aren't you specializing in piano? The violin doesn't really have anything to do with your practice, does it?" she asked, feigning innocence.
Xie Shixuan gave a sheepish smile, not quite sure how to respond.
What she didn't realize was that Gui Qingtong had already activated "alert mode."
She knew Lin Yuan attracted beautiful women like moths to a flame. There was already Yan Ruyue, Chi Qian, Qiao Siying… even Yu Shanshan might count, although her position was unclear.
And now, even her own best friend seemed to be in danger of falling for him.
Gui Qingtong had long made up her mind—no matter how many women Lin Yuan attracted, she would be the one to stay by his side and become his first future wife. That's why she had to be vigilant. She knew how naturally charming Xie Shixuan could be—cute, soft-spoken, and always well-liked.
Gui Qingtong's heart burned with silent determination.
No matter how many girls tried to get close, no matter how cute or talented they were… she wouldn't let anyone take Lin Yuan from her.
Not without a fight.
Xie Shixuan remained completely unaware of why Gui Qingtong seemed so on edge and defensive around her. She tilted her head curiously, her eyes sparkling with sincere admiration.
"Even though your father plays the violin and I play the piano, I really felt something during our duet," she said earnestly. "It was like… I improved without even realizing it. His rhythm, his control—everything was so natural and seamless. I have a feeling he's probably amazing at the piano too. I'd really love to get to know him better!"
Gui Qingtong blinked, momentarily surprised by the girl's sudden praise.
Did Xie Shixuan somehow find out that Lin Yuan could also play the piano?
Or was she really just amazed by the collaboration and eager to seek guidance?
Gui Qingtong studied her classmate's face carefully. She wasn't sure yet, but something felt off.
Still, after a moment of hesitation, Gui Qingtong finally nodded. "Alright," she said, a little reluctant but trying not to show it. After all, they were classmates and had a good friendship, and both Xie Shixuan and her twin sister, Xie Shiyin, had always been kind to her.
Guiding them through the small crowd, Gui Qingtong led the twin girls toward Lin Yuan.
The moment they began approaching, a noticeable shift occurred in the surrounding atmosphere. The adorable duo drew attention with every step. One wore a gothic black Lolita dress, her long twin tails tied neatly with velvet ribbons, while the other was dressed in a modern schoolgirl JK uniform, complete with pristine white knee-high socks. The stark contrast between the two made them appear like characters straight out of an anime convention—cute, eye-catching, and charming in different ways.
It was the kind of aesthetic that could make any otaku's heart flutter.
Lin Yuan, seated comfortably with a composed smile, glanced up and noticed the pair heading in his direction. He raised a brow slightly—not out of surprise, but mild curiosity. He hadn't expected the two to approach him directly.
He easily guessed who took the lead. Xie Shixuan, with her outgoing and lively personality, was clearly the initiator. Her more reserved twin, Xie Shiyin, trailed just behind her like a shadow—silent, cautious, and cool-eyed.
Lin Yuan studied them with a calm gaze. Xie Shixuan looked up at him with a strange mix of excitement and shyness, as though trying to act grown-up while hiding her blush. Her sister, in contrast, stared with those frosty, indifferent eyes that seemed to be evaluating something only she understood.
Both reactions matched what Lin Yuan had observed earlier during their introductions.
With a soft chuckle, he turned to Gui Qingtong. "Qingtong, what's going on?" he asked gently.
Gui Qingtong quickly gestured toward the twins and made the introductions. "Dad, these are my classmates and friends. You probably remember them from the stage earlier. This is Xie Shixuan and her sister, Xie Shiyin."
The twins bowed politely.
"Uncle… Hello, Uncle…" they said, their voices sweet but polite.
Lin Yuan's expression froze for a second as he heard the word Uncle from the lips of two clearly youthful girls.
But then he quickly reminded himself of the identity he had adopted—that of Gui Qingtong's father.
In that context, it was appropriate. Still, deep inside, he didn't exactly like it.
"I'd still prefer being called Brother," he said with a half-joking smile, eyes twinkling with amusement.
Xie Shiyin stayed quiet, her expression unreadable.
But Xie Shixuan beamed brightly. "Hello, Brother!" she chirped, her tone far more relaxed.
Gui Qingtong narrowed her eyes slightly, sensing something was off about the way Xie Shixuan so easily switched terms. Something about the girl's tone made her feel...uneasy.
Trying to keep things on track, she quickly interrupted, "She said she wanted to ask you about piano techniques."
Xie Shixuan nodded vigorously. "Yes! When I played alongside you earlier, I felt like my piano skills jumped a level! It was like magic, really. I want to keep learning from you, Brother! Could I get your contact info? QQ, WeChat, even Alipay is fine!"
Before Gui Qingtong could say another word, Xie Shixuan had already rushed through her request in a single breath—her excitement spilling out faster than she could control.
"Happy?"
"Huh? Oh! I meant to say 'Alipay'! That was a slip of the tongue!" she laughed nervously, correcting herself quickly.
Lin Yuan, of course, wasn't the picture of moral restraint. He had a natural appreciation for cute girls, and the twins—especially the lively Shixuan—piqued his interest. He saw no reason to decline and calmly exchanged contact details with her.
Trying not to appear too eager, Xie Shixuan followed up with a few questions about piano fingering techniques and the use of pedal control. Lin Yuan answered them in detail, his explanations clear, concise, and filled with useful insights.
After a few moments, Xie Shixuan's curiosity got the better of her. She tilted her head again and asked, "Um… are you really Qingtong's father? You seem so young… and really handsome too…"
Although she had asked Gui Qingtong earlier, the doubt still lingered in her mind. Lin Yuan just didn't look like any father she had ever seen. If anything, he looked like an older brother or even a senior classmate who had just graduated.
Even Xie Shiyin, who rarely spoke, stared at him directly now. Her cold gaze held a glint of quiet interest as she awaited his response.
Lin Yuan hadn't expected that question again. Before he could answer, a familiar system notification echoed in his mind:
[Ding! Heroine Xie Shixuan is curious about your relationship with Gui Qingtong! Please make a choice:]
Option 1: Reveal your true identity to Shixuan—that you're not really Gui Qingtong's father.
Reward: [Advanced Chef] skill!
Option 2: Maintain the lie and continue pretending to be Gui Qingtong's father.
Reward: [Advanced Hacker] skill!
---
Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly. His smile didn't fade, but his mind had already begun calculating the best course of action.
Two paths. Two very different rewards.
And a growing number of curious eyes watching his every move.