With no classes scheduled that morning, Qi Kejing had the front desk girl lock the door and hang up a "Manager Away on Business" sign.
She then pulled Mingzhu into the break room, pushed her into the manager's chair, dragged another chair over to sit across from her, folded her arms, and spoke coldly.
"Talk!"
Mingzhu sat up straighter.
She was actually brimming with joy and excitement, eager to share it with someone close.
"I thought that blind date wouldn't lead anywhere, but imagine my surprise—the children's guqin class I subbed for Teacher Gu? It was filled with my students. And one of them turned out to be his niece..."
Her soft, gentle voice carried a hint of laughter, flowing quietly through the space.
Qi Kejing's previously fierce demeanor softened as she listened to Mingzhu's words, her gaze lingering on the cheerful curve of her eyebrows and eyes.
Such a joy-filled expression...
Qi Kejing smiled silently too, her eyes holding a hint of tenderness.
When Mingzhu finished speaking, she leaned forward slightly, playfully taking Qi Kejing's hand and calling out softly, "Jingjing Sister."
Qi Kejing deliberately huffed in response.
She pinched the soft, pale cheek with her other hand and teased, "You only remember I'm your sister when you're afraid I'll get angry."
Mingzhu simply tilted her face upward and smiled.
Qi Kejing felt both heartache and bitterness. "Is he really as wonderful as you say? You haven't been charmed into a daze, have you?"
Mingzhu's eyes crinkled. "Of course he is! Can't I tell who's good to me and who isn't?"
Qi Kejing retorted, "But you can't just get married to him without a word! And hand over your bank card! Ming Xiaozhu, I never knew you were such a love-struck fool before."
Ming Zhe lowered her eyes obediently, her posture submissive.
After Qi Kejing finished her long-winded lecture about the terrifying consequences of marrying someone who might be a bad person, a scoundrel, or a lazy bum, Ming Zhe nodded earnestly. She even reached out, groping until she found Qi Kejing's back, patting her gently to soothe her.
Qi Kejing felt a surge of irritation.
While she doubted He Yin's temperament could produce a truly terrible son, what if?
This was marriage.
A decision to form a new family together.
Ming Zhuo had always seemed gentle and compliant, but Qi Kejing never knew she possessed such boldness.
With that thought, Qi Kejing grabbed Ming Zhuo's hand and deliberately snapped, "Don't try to fool me."
With both hands held fast, Ming Zhu shifted the executive chair with her feet, creeping closer until her head brushed against Qi Kejing's.
She nuzzled against her.
Qi Kejing snapped, "Ming Xiaozhu, stop being so clingy!"
Detecting the softening in Qi Kejing's tone, Ming Yue finally sat up straight, her almond-shaped eyes crinkling with a faint smile and dimples appearing.
"I know you worry about me, care for me, and love me deeply, which is why you always consider my best interests."
"But... he's different."
Ming Zhu whispered softly, "If I hadn't agreed to him, I would have regretted it."
Qi Kejing fell silent for a few seconds before muttering, "I really want to see what's so great about him that makes you defend him like this."
Her softened tone carried a hint of sourness.
Though Qi Kejing herself had graduated only a few years ago, she'd long grown accustomed to looking after Mingzhu. Now, she felt a vague, bittersweet pang—as if she were sending her own daughter off to be married.
"Anyway—as long as you like him. But Xiao Zhu, don't let yourself get hurt."
Mingzhu blinked, then nodded slowly and earnestly.
The front desk girl brought over breakfast, already cold.
Qi Kejing clutched her rice ball, biting into it fiercely before asking through chews, "You haven't told my mom yet, have you?"
Mingzhu rested her elbows on the table, chin propped in her hand.
She shook her head at the question.
"Teacher only knows I'm seeing Shang Chi. She doesn't know we got married yet."
She blinked, her clear, delicate features showing a hint of reluctance.
"After all, she's still recovering. If she found out, she'd rush back immediately. I don't want to put her through that."
Qi Kejing caught the unspoken implication and snorted.
"I get it. You want me to help keep it a secret, right?"
She said coldly, "Hiding it for now is fine. If that Shang guy treats you badly, you can still get divorced before she returns."
"..." Ming Zhuo felt a slight urge to laugh and softly agreed.
Qi Lan had booked a two-month short-term stay at a convalescent home.
Nearly half a month had already passed. By the time she returned, it would likely be around Christmas.
Mingzhu listened to Qi Kejing's rhythmic chewing sounds, her long lashes gently lowered as a faint smile touched her lips.
"Oh, right," she suddenly remembered, "did you call me here today for something?"
This time, it was Qi Kejing who fell silent.
She crunched on the peanuts in her rice ball, taking a moment before speaking softly.
"The deadline for the Huayu Folk Orchestra auditions is coming up soon. The spot my mom secured is about to expire."
"Xiaozhu, aren't you still planning to give it a shot?"
"..."
Mingzhu hadn't anticipated Qi Kejing bringing this up, and her expression froze for a moment.
Huayu was the most renowned traditional Chinese orchestra in the country, attracting the very best in folk music. Directly under the Ministry of Culture, it had provided live accompaniment for banquets hosted by national leaders and foreign dignitaries.
With the current global surge in Chinese cultural trends, Huayu is frequently invited to perform and engage in cultural exchanges at prestigious concert halls abroad.
As the pinnacle of Chinese folk music ensembles, Huayu's recruitment standards are exceptionally rigorous. Formal ensemble positions are rarely opened—often only once every few years—and only virtuosos who have passed a grueling series of trials are selected.
Most members of the formal ensemble are promoted from the preparatory ensemble.
But there are exceptions—
When a full member retires, they receive a recommendation slot, bypassing the reserve ensemble's training period to grant someone direct entry into the full ensemble's assessment.
Qi Lan possesses such a recommendation slot.
It was reserved for Ming Zhuo.
Even if Ming Zhuo never intended to join Hua Yu, Qi Lan had no plans to give it away.
Having taught the most gifted and talented student,
It inevitably raised her standards, making others seem lacking in talent by comparison.
Qi Kejing stuffed the last rice ball into her mouth and sighed. "I heard Hua Yu's lead guqin player is planning to retire. So even though I know you have little ambition for fame, I wanted to try persuading you one more time."
"Xiao Zhu, with your talent, you belong shining on that national stage."
"..."
Ming Zhu remained silent.
Qike Jing took this as a silent refusal and scratched her head. "But I understand—you prefer a quieter life. Besides, you're married now, settled down with that wild man—"
"Jingjing, I have a question."
Ming Zhu suddenly spoke up, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. Her usually soft, gentle voice unexpectedly carried an unusual seriousness.
Qi Kejing perked up, her expression turning solemn as well. She sat up straight and asked, "What question?"
"Hua Yu," Ming Zhu asked earnestly, "does he pay well?"
Qi Kejing: "?"
Qi Kejing replied blankly, "My mom's base salary back then was ten thousand a month, plus extra subsidies for performances. It should be higher now after all these years... Wait, what do you mean?"
Mingzhu pondered for a moment before finally nodding.
"I plan to give it a shot."
Before Qi Kejing could react with excitement, suspicion flashed in her eyes. "Why the sudden change? You never wanted to go out before."
Even two months ago, when the Hua Yu Preparatory Troupe first started recruiting, Ming Zhu had refused outright.
The only recent change was Ming Xiaozhu secretly getting married to some random guy behind her back.
Could it be because she got married? Because of that random guy?!
Unbeknownst to Qi Kejing, resentment bubbled up inside her.
Ming Zhuo hesitated for a few seconds before slowly nodding.
"The income from part-time work is too unstable."
She added sheepishly, "I need to support my family."