"Sss—"
Luo Yu's eyes bulged.
Because Tang Yuehua's soft, boneless jade hand had grabbed something she shouldn't have.
"Huh?"
"What is this?"
Tang Yuehua, puzzled, felt around with her hand.
"Are you carrying a stick in your pocket?"
Suppressing the strange feeling, Luo Yu coughed and said,
"Cough cough, men, you know, when they go out, they must always carry a weapon for self-defense."
"Let me see."
Just as Tang Yuehua was about to curiously turn her head to look, Luo Yu stopped her.
"Focus on playing the qin."
"With your mind so scattered, how can you improve?"
"You're too distracted."
Hearing Luo Yu's stern reprimand, Tang Yuehua felt wronged.
It was her first time being scolded by someone.
If it had been anyone else speaking to her like that, she would have been angry long ago.
It was only because she admired Luo Yu that she obeyed and continued to play.
"Hey, hey hey!"
"If you're going to play, play, but why keep rocking your slim waist like that?"
"Are you trying to seduce me?"
Tang Yuehua said with grievance, "You've misunderstood me, I don't have such bad intentions."
"It's just that the weapon you brought for self-defense is so uncomfortable, I can't help but adjust my position."
Luo Yu said irritably, "Just don't move, and it will be less dangerous."
"What?" asked Tang Yuehua.
"Nothing." Luo Yu cleared his throat. "This is a test for you, to let you focus completely so you can play the qin with greater concentration in the future."
"I understand now." Tang Yuehua's beautiful eyes sparkled, "Did you also use this method to train yourself when you practice? No wonder people's success always has a reason."
"I am willing to accept the test, just let the sticks hit me even harder."
"From now on, even if it pokes me in the lower back, I won't make a sound."
Tang Yuehua took a deep breath and focused intently on playing.
She did not notice the strange expression on Luo Yu's face behind her.
Luo Yu was now convinced that Tang Yuehua had definitely never been in a relationship.
She couldn't even catch on to this.
From time to time, Luo Yu helped Tang Yuehua straighten up her slender willow-like waist.
Or lightly patted her perfect jade back.
"Hmm?"
"Why are you touching my leg?" asked Tang Yuehua, puzzled.
Luo Yu spoke seriously, "Keep your legs tight, it helps with arm strength."
"Then why are you patting my butt?"
"Move forward a bit, you can't sit all the way back on the chair when playing."
"Oh, oh."
Tang Yuehua had considered that this guy might be taking advantage of her on purpose.
But the thing was, the more she played, the more she improved, and soon she played the piece even better.
Such progress made her happy, so she subconsciously overlooked some things.
She looked at Luo Yu with gratitude.
"Your training method is really effective. Can I promote it throughout the entire Yuexuan?"
Luo Yu responded blankly, "Which method?"
"You know, when someone plays the qin, someone else pokes them non-stop from behind with a stick."
"I found that it really can improve the ability to focus on playing." Tang Yuehua said, as if she had found a treasure.
"Er…"
Luo Yu didn't know what to say for a moment.
To tell the truth, he was afraid of getting beaten.
If he didn't tell the truth, he suspected that Yuexuan might actually end up adopting such a training method.
Suddenly, Luo Yu realized that there was something off about the way Tang Yuehua was looking at him.
Hesitant, as if she had something to say but was holding it back.
"What's wrong?"
Tang Yuehua said coyly, "Could you please play that piece from Qinge again?"
"I can, but there's no need."
"Huh?" Tang Yuehua didn't understand.
Luo Yu translated, "In plain speech, that means I can play, but I won't do it for nothing."
"What do you want in return?" Tang Yuehua looked at Luo Yu eagerly.
Luo Yu asked, "How much do you think such a piece is worth?"
"This…" Tang Yuehua pondered, "To a person who understands music, it's actually priceless; it's too crass to measure it with money."
"So what do you plan to give me?" Luo Yu blinked.
"I..." Tang Yuehua sighed, "I'm afraid I can't afford the price."
Luo Yu shook his head.
"No, you can afford it."
"Then you say, whatever I have, I'll give it to you," Tang Yuehua's eyes lit up.
"In the hearts of so many men in Tiandou City, aren't you a priceless treasure?"
"You want me to give myself to you?" Tang Yuehua rolled her eyes and shook her head repeatedly, her hair billowing, "No, no, this is too rash."
Luo Yu waved his hand, "Then forget it."
"Apart from you, a stunningly beautiful woman without equal, I'm not interested in any material possessions."
A brief silence fell upon the room, and Tang Yuehua's inner world was in turmoil.
She suddenly remembered that this man had already touched her all over.
For someone with such a conservative nature, she couldn't possibly find someone else in this lifetime.
And there would not be a second astonishing talent like Luo Yu.
But she felt it might be too soon to agree to him now.
Tang Yuehua's face blushed as she said, "Such matters between a man and a woman, give me some time to think about it. I actually do have a fondness for you, it's just that we've known each other for too short a time."
"I don't even know your name yet, and you've already taken so much advantage."
"Can you give me some time?"
Tang Yuehua's words carried a hint of coquettish pleading, sending a ripple through Luo Yu's heart.
A woman of such dignity acting coquettishly was contrary to her character and especially attractive.
"There's no rush, I understand, a melon forced off its vine is not sweet," Luo Yu did not press further.
Seeing the man's somewhat disappointed look, Tang Yuehua inexplicably felt a bit of pity.
"That—close your eyes."
"What for?"
"Just close your eyes."
As Luo Yu closed his eyes, Tang Yuehua took a deep breath.
She also closed her Beautiful Eyes, her eyelashes trembling lightly, betraying her nervousness.
She pursed her red lips, heart fluttering, and awkwardly planted a kiss on the man's cheek.
Upon contact, Tang Yuehua suddenly felt something was amiss.
Before closing her eyes, she was clearly aiming for the man's cheek, but the sensation on her lips didn't seem right.
She quickly opened her eyes.
To her discovery, the spot she kissed was not his cheek, but his lips.
What—what was happening?
Tang Yuehua panicked, a kiss on the cheek and a kiss on the lips were not the same—this was her first kiss!
She quickly retracted herself, her face blushing like a ripened apple, and exclaimed in shy anger, "You! How could you do this, moving your mouth closer, that's so bad!!"
Luo Yu opened his eyes and spread his hands innocently, "You just told me to close my eyes; you didn't say I couldn't move."
"How was I to know you were going to sneak a kiss? I just moved a tiny bit, and coincidentally, our lips bumped into each other."
"You—you're just making excuses," Tang Yuehua's breath quickened, flustered.
Her first kiss had been stolen just like that.
This guy was utterly despicable!!
"My first kiss, you owe me a first kiss." Luo Yu covered his lips, pretending to be heartbroken, "You're quite the bad woman, deceiving me into closing my eyes, stealing a kiss from me."
Seeing him casting the blame first, Tang Yuehua became even more outraged.
Her perfect composure was shattered, devoid of her usual dignity.
"Ah!!"
"I want to bite you to death, you awful person."
Luo Yu raised his hands in surrender, "If you bite me to death, there'll be no one left to play the qin for you."
"Then play quickly."
Tang Yuehua urged repeatedly, having already kissed, if he didn't play the qin, it would be a total loss for her today.
Luo Yu composed himself and sat down before the qin.
The playful air disappeared, replaced by a sense of confidence and focus.
His fingers danced, and the tune of "Ambush from Ten Sides" resonated in the chamber, lingering long after.
He led the bashful Tang Yuehua into another world, where she was utterly captivated.
Gazing at Luo Yu, focused on his performance, her Beautiful Eyes shone with infatuation.
She felt this man was overwhelmingly charming at this moment.
As the piece concluded and Luo Yu just withdrew his hands,
Tang Yuehua offered a kiss of her own, planting it on his cheek.
"You are truly amazing!"
"You are the most wonderful man I've ever seen!" Tang Yuehua declared.
Her face blushed to the extreme, and she hurried out of the chamber on swift, fragrant breezes.
Luo Yu touched his cheek and looked around the empty chamber.
"???"
"What is this about?"
"Isn't this your home? Why did you run away?"