The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 403: Elective Class

Chapter 403: Elective Class

“Classical Music Appreciation,” Mi Shi said.

Gao Yang hid his surprise. Mi Shi, the down-to-earth straight A student, didn’t seem like someone who would be interested in classical music.

Still, a book couldn’t be judged by its cover. Anyone could have a classy hobby.

“Sure,” Gao Yang agreed readily.

“Globy and Dajian aren’t interested, but I have a feeling that you’ll like the class,” Mi Shi said gently, visibly happy.

After lunch, the three of them returned to their room first. Taking a seat before his desktop, Dajian booted up Elder Scrolls.

Gao Yang asked Mi Shi for help with the classes he had missed. Mi Shi forgot about time while tutoring him, and the two of them ended up rushing out of the door at four o’clock in the afternoon, hurrying to the multimedia classroom for the elective class.

When Gao Yang and Mi Shi arrived, the classroom was already packed full of students, most of them boys.

They entered through the back door, hunching, sitting in the corner inconspicuously.

Gao Yang looked up to see a black piano by the podium. Sitting by it was a young woman, her lower body covered by the piano.

She was beautiful, her silky black hair running down like a waterfall. She was wearing a gray cardigan for autumn, her make-up free face gentle and graceful in a serene way.

She struck Gao Yang as familiar. He seemed to have seen her somewhere, but couldn’t recall the memory.

Head slightly cocked, the woman played a song on the piano with full focus.

Gao Yang didn’t know much about music, but he could feel the tenderness, melancholy, and mournful feelings of the music, as well as an undercurrent of something else, as if a fateful misfortune was on the horizon. While it was a misfortune, though, it didn’t trigger anxiety or fear, but a willing acceptance of a beautiful tragedy.

Gao Yang found himself immersed in the wonderful music, and he wasn’t alone. The other students listened quietly with a look of enjoyment as well.

Only when the song came to an end did Gao Yang break out of his reverie.

The classroom was quiet. Everyone was still savoring the experience that they forgot to clap.

The teacher spoke in a mannerly, gentle voice.

“That’s the first movement of Moon Sonata, written by a renowned composer a few hundred years ago. The first movement has been described by a poet as a small boat floating on a moonlit lake like a leaf.”

“Moreover, Moon Sonata was a piece the composer composed for his lover. It was said that he paid heavily for his love later on.”

“Now, let’s hear the second movement. It’s lighter than the first and serves as a bridge between the first and the third movements, described by other musicians as a flower between two steep bluffs.”

The teacher played on her piano while telling them the stories of different important figures in classical music, and two hours passed like that quietly.

The sky had turned red outside the windows. It was evening.

“And that’s the end of this week’s classical music appreciation. I’ll see you next week.” She closed the lid of the piano gingerly. Then she propped herself up with one hand while supporting her side with the other hand, standing up with some difficulty.

Gao Yang started. Only then did he notice her protruding belly under the loose white dress with elegant patterns. She was pregnant!

Ah, it’s her!

Gao Yang finally remembered. The beautiful, elegant, and well-mannered teacher was Officer Huang’s seven-month pregnant wife!

“Gao Yang,” Mi Shi called out to him.

Gao Yang turned to him nonchalantly. “Yeah?”

“Give me a minute. I have questions I’d like to ask Ms. Su.” Shi Mi took out a classical music album from his backpack.

“Sure.”

Mi Shi quickly went up to the podium. By then, the teacher was already surrounded by many students, and she was having a pleasant chat about music with them.

Mi Shi joined them. It was clear that he was nervous and bashful, his gaze admiring when he looked at her.

Then someone sidled up to Gao Yang. Noticing it immediately, Gao Yang turned to find that it was Qing Ling.

She didn’t have training today. With her hair running down her shoulders and her wearing a red and white jersey and a short black skirt that accentuated her long legs, she pulled a long face that deterred everyone’s approach.

“Qing Ling? When did you...”

“I’ve been here from the start.” Qing Ling turned to Teacher Su and said in a voice only Gao Yang could hear, “I saw you when you came in. You didn’t see me.”

When Gao Yang and Mi Shi came in, the classroom was already packed, and they had been hurriedly looking for seats before getting transfixed by the piano performance. Thus, Gao Yang hadn’t noticed Qing Ling.

To Qing Ling, however, it was only natural that she would notice two people barging into the classroom, and one of them was a familiar face.

“I didn’t expect you to be into music.” Gao Yang smiled. “I thought you were only interested in getting stronger.”

“I don’t like music,” Qing Ling said coldly. “I wouldn’t be here if not for Officer Huang.”

Gao Yang paused before quickly coming to a realization. Officer Huang’s wife, Teacher Su, came to Li City University for the elective class every Wednesday. Worried about her, he asked Qing Ling to keep an eye on her.

As expected of the man whose defining trait was his love for his wife.

As they spoke, Mi Shi returned with a look of content and excitement on his face. His jaw dropped when he looked up and saw Qing Ling by Gao Yang’s side. Isn’t that the UR goddess Qiu Qiu had chased after?

He didn’t dare to voice his thoughts, of course, but instead looked at Gao Yang nervously, fidgeting. “You know each other, Little Gao?”

“High school classmates.” Gao Yang smiled wryly. “I couldn’t say it last night given Globy’s state. I didn’t want him to have a meltdown.”

“Haha, you’re right.” Mi Shi nodded. He didn’t even dare to glance at Qing Ling. It seemed that he wasn’t good at interacting with a pretty girl his age. “Then you...”

“You should go first. I’d like to catch up with her.”

Gao Yang and Qing Ling both appeared as wanderers now, so he acted earnest and open. Being evasive and putting distance between them on purpose would only attract attention.

“Sure. I’m going to the cafeteria for food.”

Once Mi Shi was gone, Qing Ling turned to Gao Yang. “How are you recovering?”

“Basically fully recovered.” Gao Yang was a little moved. Sniffle, she’s even learned to ask after her friend.

“Then let’s get started with Operation: Heavenbreaker already,” Qing Ling said in a low voice.

...And that’s what you’re actually concerned about.

“Don’t worry. Chen Ying has already gotten started with the investigation. We’re having a meeting at five o’clock tomorrow afternoon.” Gao Yang hadn’t been sitting around the past few days. The work was already ongoing. Before he could tell her the place for the meeting, a familiar voice came from the podium.

“Qing Ling, Gao Yang!”

Both of them turned around, unsurprised.

Officer Huang was dressed in a casual black leather jacket with a white V-neck t-shirt and a pair of dark-colored jeans, his style refreshing. Standing by Ms. Su, he had a hand on her shoulder. They looked like a match made in heaven.

Without hesitation, Gao Yang and Qing Ling walked up to the loving couple naturally.