Chapter 24: Instead Making Him Seem Like…

When Cui Zhe entered the music room, Xia Mi La and Song Ya-yun were performing a duet.

Song Ya-yun played the piano while Xia Mi La stood beside it playing the violin.

She had studied violin since childhood and had won professional awards, but never planned to pursue a career as a professional performer.

The music was elegant, and so was the person playing it. Her dark, glossy straight hair cascaded down her back, her profile softly outlined by the light.

Xia Mi La carried a composed tranquility about her a quality that would never exist in Pei Duo Xing.

Cui Zhe didn’t interrupt, simply standing to the side and quietly appreciating the performance. Song Ya-yun played the piano excellently too; their duet was a professional-level artistic experience.

Xia Mi La noticed him enter but didn’t stop playing, continuing to complete the piece seriously with Song Ya-yun.

Only when the final note faded did she slowly lower her violin.

Cui Zhe generously offered applause.

Xia Mi La glanced at him: “What brings you here?”

As she spoke, she walked to the side and placed her violin back in its case.

“Mira,” Song Ya-yun asked, “Are you done playing?”

“Yes,” Xia Mi La replied, “I’ll stop for now. You can keep playing for a while.”

Song Ya-yun looked at Cui Zhe moving to sit near Xia Mi La and understood they likely needed to talk, so she nodded: “Alright.”

Cui Zhe approached Xia Mi La and returned to his usual refrain.

He hoped Xia Mi La would return to Azure Dragon Hall. Though this was truly unfair to her, he wished to find a solution that satisfied both sides.

But Xia Mi La’s attitude remained firm.

“Didn’t A He tell you yesterday?” She looked down while organizing her instrument, her tone neutral and unreadable, “We won’t be going back.”

Cui Zhe sensed something discordant.

According to Jin He’s account yesterday, Xia Mi La was being petulant, speaking in anger, trying to advance by retreating…

But now he could detect no trace of petulance in Xia Mi La.

There was no strategy of advancing by retreating she was simply calmly stating a fact.

And Cui Zhe genuinely felt that she wouldn’t be returning.

His original leverage to persuade her had been her loves-truck devotion to Jin He, but what if that devotion had vanished?

Had Mira truly stopped liking Jin He? Even facing this possibility directly, Cui Zhe still found it hard to believe.

“He did…” He paused briefly before continuing, “He also said you want to break off the engagement.”

“Yes,” Xia Mi La finished packing her violin and closed the case lid, “Let’s part on good terms. We’re all good friends I wish him well.”

As she spoke, she lifted her head.

Their eyes met, and Cui Zhe saw her gaze was equally composed, devoid of any jealousy or sorrow.

“…Did you say the same to A He yesterday?” he asked.

“More or less,” Xia Mi La replied.

If this was her tone and attitude, he couldn’t understand how Jin He had misinterpreted it as petulance she clearly wanted to move on.

He didn’t know why she was being so decisive this time… but Jin He’s actions over the past two days had indeed been excessively harsh.

Xia Mi La fastened the clasp on the piano case and glanced at him again: “Is that why you came? What a pity, then your trip was in vain.”

“No.” Cui Zhe snapped back to reality and smiled, “Given the current situation, I can’t shamelessly insist you return. You should take some time outside to clear your minds. If you need any help, just come to me.”

Xia Mi La gave a casual hum.

She felt no need to seek his assistance but didn’t outright reject his goodwill either.

After a moment’s thought, Cui Zhe spoke again: “Well, the account books…”

“Ah, the account books.” Xia Mi La’s tone remained equally casual, “Yi Yi handles all the account books. Go ask her for them.”

“…Alright.”

Half an hour later, Cui Zhe walked toward the lounge carrying the Azure Dragon Hall’s account books.

Truthfully, retrieving the account books wasn’t his real intention it was merely another attempt at testing the waters.

But he hadn’t expected Xia Mi La to hand them over so readily, which instead made him seem like an ungrateful scoundrel who forgets old ties once the tea turns cold.

When he’d arrived at the classroom earlier, Xu Lian Yi had handed him the account books before he could even speak.

It seemed Mira had given instructions in advance.

Xu Lian Yi showed no attachment to the items either: “Take them and look through them. Ask me if there’s anything you don’t understand.”

Cui Zhe genuinely felt somewhat ashamed.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“It’s fine.” Xu Lian Yi actually gave him a slight smile, “It’s better to make a clean break sooner rather than later.”

Her smile held no mockery only relief.

Cui Zhe knew that Xu Lian Yi had always felt Mira was compromising herself by being with A He, but neither Xu Lian Yi nor Cui Zhe himself had expected the day of severing ties would actually come.

They had thought Xia Mi La would continue making those compromises indefinitely.

Cui Zhe slowly reached the doorway, still thinking about Xia Mi La as he pushed it open.

Back in the music room, he had still been somewhat uncertain, and before leaving, he couldn’t help glancing at Xia Mi La one more time.

But Xia Mi La had long ceased caring about his comings and goings she had already returned to the piano, leaning against it while watching Song Ya-yun play.

Her head slightly bowed, she appeared serene and elegant, somewhat immersed. She carried no trace of resentment or sorrow, only the calm detachment that comes with the passage of time.

Feeling somewhat upended, Cui Zhe pushed open the lounge door.

The lounge was sparsely populated today, unusually quiet.

With half the people gone, the emptiness felt natural.

Due to Xia Mi La’s engagement to Jin He, their respective groups had mingled freely since entering Tan Ming, rarely experiencing such clear division.

Everyone had gotten along quite well normally, and suddenly missing a few lunch companions left even Han Lin’s faction feeling quite unaccustomed let alone Xia Hong’s people.

This only intensified their rejection and dislike of Pei Duo Xing all this unhappiness over one sponsored student.

Even yesterday’s small meeting hadn’t materialized… How frustrating. Should they sell off those few stocks or continue buying more?

People sat lazily in the lounge, exchanging information with friends via phone… or venting.

“Yeah, she’s still in the lounge today, wearing that secondhand school uniform she scavenged from who-knows-where.”

“She looks kinda grimy.”

“Jin He must be under some spell.”

Among Han Lin’s faction, Bai You Na stood out as the exception.

Since yesterday noon, members of the Xia Hong Faction had been noticeably cold toward her. They clearly viewed her as a traitor, looking down on her for not leaving with them.

Bai You Na was actually quite unsettled, but after a night of reflection, she felt her choice wasn’t wrong.

Although her mother’s plan was for her to get close to Jin Can, his eccentric personality made him largely indifferent to her he was clearly closer to Xia Mi La. Moreover, her mother had initially made that decision because Jin He was engaged to Xia Mi La, leaving little opportunity for others…

But now the situation had changed. With Xia Mi La and Jin He falling out, their engagement would likely be called off soon. While she couldn’t surpass Xia Mi La in family background, she was more than a match for Pei Duo Xing.

So what she needed to do now was stay in the Azure Dragon Hall, remain by Jin He’s side, and wait for the perfect opportunity to make her move…

For Pei Duo Xing, today felt like the best day since she started school. The White Tiger Hall members hadn’t given up, still scheming to bully her to upset Jin He. But Pei Duo Xing had learned her lesson she stayed close to Jin He all day, denying them any chance to act.

The two sat on a sofa with a chessboard between them, where Jin He was teaching her how to play international chess.

Then Cui Zhe returned.

Jin He noticed what he was holding and asked, “What’s that in your hand?”

“This,” Cui Zhe hesitated slightly, “is the Azure Dragon Hall’s past account books.”

These matters used to be handled by Xia Mi La.

Jin He tossed his chess piece aside upon hearing this. “She’s starting this again. What, does she think we can’t function without her checking the accounts?”

Jin He’s self-persuasion was quite effective he felt even more convinced than yesterday that Xia Mi La was just doing this to get his attention.

Cui Zhe, as an observer who had clearer judgment, had already met Xia Mi La and sensed things might not be as Jin He assumed. But now wasn’t the time to say more.

Pei Duo Xing didn’t overthink it her attention was fixed on the account book.

“Um…” she ventured, “Could I try handling this? I don’t know how yet, but I can learn.”

She genuinely wanted to find ways to contribute and prove her worth.

Cui Zhe handed her the account book. “Sure. Just ask me if you don’t understand anything.”

Pei Duo Xing accepted it gratefully. “Thank you!”

Jin He raised no objections, leaving them to it.

Thus passed a rare peaceful day.

Beneath the surface calm, rumors continued to swirl.

A few reached Xia Mi La’s ears, but she paid them no mind she had her own plans and arrangements.

Early the next morning, she went to her grandmother’s old residence to have breakfast with her, intending to spend the whole day there.

She hadn’t planned to be this attentive initially, but before school started, her grandmother had proactively requested to meet. For someone as busy as her grandmother, this was already a form of acknowledgment.

Feeling she had gained some approval from her grandmother, Xia Mi La seized the opportunity to be more proactive.

Xia Shuzhen wasn’t surprised by her granddaughter’s visit. Having work to attend to, she shared breakfast with Xia Mi La at the old residence before taking her to the company.

Once at the company, she left Xia Mi La in the secretary’s office without further instructions and returned to her own office to handle official matters.

Xia Shuzhen had a total of five secretaries, each managing different projects. Xia Mi La had interacted with the secretary office director a few times, but wasn’t very familiar with the others.

Director Yang, probably concerned that Xia Mi La might get bored, brought her some of the company’s previous data reports to read.

His attitude toward her was quite amiable: “It might be a bit dry.”

Xia Mi La smiled: “Not at all.”

Director Yang also smiled, gentle and respectful: “If you don’t understand anything, I can find someone to teach you.”

Xia Mi La nodded: “Okay, I’ll ask if I encounter anything I don’t understand.”

Like Cui Zhe and Jin He, the original host had also taken some corporate management courses. As for Xia Mi La, needless to say, she had previously enjoyed spending time at her mother’s company just like she was doing now.

So there was no issue of not understanding or finding it boring – she was reading with great interest.

Director Yang observed for a while, noticed she could focus well, and then felt comfortable leaving her alone.

Xia Mi La sat reading through the materials for some time when someone brought her a cup of coffee.

The coffee arrived with a milky aroma and a gentle female voice.

“Miss Mira, please have some coffee.”

The voice sounded somewhat familiar. Xia Mi La instinctively looked toward the speaker.

It was indeed a familiar face.

———————–

Author’s note: No update tomorrow

Ah, let me give a spoiler – this familiar person is the young lady who was hit by Bai You Na in the formal dress shop.