Chapter 18: Zither Beckoning Ming Xue (Part 4)_1

Nina huffed, "Cut the chatter and start packing. You're a student of the Divine Music Department. In the academy, you listen to me."

Seeing Nina's assertiveness, Ye Yinzhu was a little helpless. Xiang Luan, behind Nina, was snickering, and while Haiyang appeared icy as ever, her gaze was gentle and warm.

Ye Yinzhu tentatively asked, "Granny Nina, who will I be rooming with in the dorm?"

A hint of amusement flashed in Nina's eyes as she teasingly scolded, "You rascal, you always have so many questions! You're the only boy in the Divine Music Department, are you expecting to share a room with a girl? Dream on."

"Er... I didn't mean it like that. I was just wondering, if I'm the only one living there, could Sura move there with me? We get along well and being the only male student there would be too lonely."

Nina fumed, "No way. That kid is from the Assassin Department, right? He can't live in our Divine Music Department Dormitory. Go get your stuff, I don't have time to waste here."

Ye Yinzhu frowned and shook his head, "Nevermind then, Granny Nina, I'm not moving."

"Hmm?" Nina narrowed her eyes. Xiang Luan recognized that look, it marked the beginnings of Nina's temper and she quickly interjected, "Ye Yinzhu, Director Nina prepared a private villa for you just like Haiyang's. Go get your stuff and move there. Say thanks to Director Nina." As she spoke, she gave Ye Yinzhu significant glances.

But Ye Yinzhu didn't pick up on Xiang Luan's signals. He shook his head and said, "No, Sura is my good friend, and I don't want to be separated from her."

To Xiang Luan and Haiyang's surprise, Nina, whose temper they had expected to flare, suddenly softened. With a hint of resignation, she said, "Do as you please. There's enough room over there anyway. But I don't want to see any male students harassing our female students. If that happens, you both can pack your bags." After speaking, she left without looking back.

Xiang Luan gasped in a low voice, "My goodness! Did the old lady turn over a new leaf? When did she become so reasonable?"

Haiyang looked at Ye Yinzhu, "I wanted to thank you for yesterday." Her voice was a little husky, the sorrowful look in her eyes making a pang of pain shoot through Ye Yinzhu's heart.

"Senior Sister, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have officially entered the academy! As classmates, we should help each other." Under Haiyang's strange gaze, Ye Yinzhu blushed.

Xiang Luan leaned in closer, her alluring face filled with playful expressions, "Haiyang specifically came to thank you. You still owe her nine more treatments. It's going to be quite the trouble for you. Now, let's help you move." She glanced around, a look of distaste in her eyes, "It's too messy here, our Divine Music Department's surroundings are much more comfortable."

By this point, the eyes of many passing work-study students were fixed on the front of Ye Yinzhu's dormitory. Xiang Luan was known as the most beautiful girl in the Divine Music Department. Even Ye Yinzhu, an innocent child, was entranced by her charm, not to mention the ordinary students. Xiang Luan's every smile and simple action drew them in as if she was a goddess descended from heaven.

Looking around, Ye Yinzhu said, "I don't know where Sura went. Senior sisters, why don't you go ahead without us? We'll move once Sura returns."

Just as Xiang Luan was about to respond, a calm voice rang out, "I'm here." From the shadows beside the dormitory, Sura slowly emerged, his eyes filled with an odd emotion that the three of them couldn't read. Unbeknownst to them, his hand gripping a black dagger in his sleeve was trembling slightly.

Sura had been following behind Ye Yinzhu since he left with Yue Ming, hearing everything Nina had said to him.

"Sura, I'm glad you're here. Director Nina said we're changing dorms, to the Divine Music Department. In the future, getting to your classes will be a bit of a walk. Is that okay?"

Sura nodded lightly, meeting the clear-eyed gaze of Ye Yinzhu, "Let's start packing."

The dormitory Nina assigned for Ye Yinzhu was not far from Haiyang's dormitory and was also a small white villa. There was still only one bedroom, but it was larger than all the work-study dorm rooms combined. The living room, kitchen, bathroom, everything was vastly superior compared to before. What Ye Yinzhu liked most, however, was the environment surrounding the dorm. It was on the edge of the Divine Music Department Dormitory Area and was surrounded by tall trees. The air was fresh and the area was very quiet. The occasional sound of music drifting over from nearby was refreshing.

In the following days, the lives of Ye Yinzhu and Sura gradually fell into a rhythm. Every morning, after breakfast, Sura went to the practice field in the Assassin Department for cultivation, while Ye Yinzhu practiced his Zither Magic in the dorm. Sura would rush back before lunch to prepare meals, and then they would go to Floating Orchid Villa for work. Sura was a regular server there while Ye Yinzhu consistently played music all afternoon until the Floating Orchid Villa closed. Post dinner, it was time to cultivate. They sat on their beds, resting from a long day's fatigue.

Back in the Blue Sky and Sea, Ye Yinzhu lived a peaceful and routine life, which was what he preferred. However, since they moved here, he noticed Sura was just as diligent as before but spoke less oftentimes sitting quietly, seemingly lost in thought. When asked, he would shake his head without uttering a word.

Just like that, six days passed in the blink of an eye.

By evening, when Ye Yinzhu and Sura returned from Floating Orchid Villa, Xiang Luan and Haiyang were waiting for them at the front door.

"Yin Zhu, where have you two been? So late already." Xiang Luan exclaimed in discontent, obviously having waited for them quite some time. Despite being in her school uniform, it couldn't hide her radiance. Her coquettish mix of annoyance and delight quickened Ye Yinzhu's heartbeat.

Ye Yinzhu smiled and said, "Nothing much. Sura and I just went out for a stroll." Sura had advised him not to let others know about their part-time job.

They let the two girls into the villa and before they could settle down, Xiang Luan eagerly asked, "How are your preparations going? The finals of the New Students Tournament is starting tomorrow."

Ye Yinzhu was startled, having forgotten that the one-week break was now coming to an end. Scratching his head, he replied, "There's nothing really to prepare for. Senior Sister, who are our opponents?"