Chapter 9: Backer

To be recognized by Yan Tingyue as a successor, one is by no means an ordinary person.

Lin Woyu was about to nod when Lin Qin stopped her: "Mom, I still have to practice the zither in a while; time is too tight."

Hearing this, Lin Woyu felt a bit regretful: "I'm sorry, Aunt Yan, Qinqin's schoolwork is too heavy, I'm afraid she doesn't have the time."

"Then you two should head back early," Yan Tingyue smiled. "Practicing the zither is important."

Lin Woyu nodded: "We won't disturb you any further. Qinqin and I will be heading back now."

The two went outside, and Lin Qin continued walking along the mountain path with an expressionless face.

Lin Woyu suddenly spoke up: "When you were a child, your grandmother wanted you to learn Kunqu opera. It’s a pity, really."

Lin Qin asked indifferently: "What is there to pity? Can learning Kunqu opera get me to Yunjing and back into the Lin family?"

Lin Woyu was stunned: "Naturally, it cannot."

The Lin family were the successors of the Tianyin Workshop, and they also wished to rebuild it.

The Tianyin Workshop held the guqin in the highest regard, followed by classical instruments like the pipa, sheng, and xiao. Every head of the workshop was most proficient in the guqin.

However, after the Great War, many zither scores and musical techniques were lost.

Over the years, the Yunjing Lin family had tried every possible method to revive the guqin, but with little success.

Lin Qin said: "Then there you have it. I only learn things that are useful to me."

The seven-stringed guqin was the only path she had to return to the main branch of the Lin family.

Only by returning to Yunjing would she have the opportunity to go to the Global Center.

Lin Woyu pondered for a moment: "That’s fine, too. You don't have that much energy; just focus on the guqin."

**

When the sun was high in the sky, Ye Wanlan arrived at Yan Tingyue's cottage in the woods.

"Teacher." She knocked gently on the door and saw the gift box on the tea table. "Do you have guests?"

"An old friend sent someone to drop off some things; they’ve already left." Seeing her, Yan Tingyue raised her hand to pour her a cup of tea. "A-Lan, if it weren't for the fact that we truly only met yesterday, I would really suspect that I had been teaching you for decades."

Ye Wanlan smiled slightly: "The teacher and I are fated."

She had indeed been following Yan Tingyue to learn Kunqu opera for decades.

Yan Tingyue taught her the four skills and five methods of drama and even took out the stage costumes she had treasured for decades to give to her.

But when time reset the next day, they were strangers once again.

She could only keep coming to find Yan Tingyue to continue learning; fortunately, her memories were not wiped away when time reset.

The infinite loop had ended, and this time, she could finally formally take Yan Tingyue as her teacher.

Back in the Qianhe era, the Saint of Music was born.

She had once followed Emperor Ningzhao to meet this Saint of Music. Under his leadership, Kunqu opera reached its peak, and it became a custom for various places in the Ning Dynasty to hold opera gatherings during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Now that Kunqu opera was in decline, she was also trying every possible way to save it.

"It is because you have true talent and the patience to endure," Yan Tingyue said. "Shall we sing this part of 'The Peony Pavilion' today?"

Ye Wanlan nodded in agreement.

She walked to the courtyard behind the screen, closed her eyes, and slowly began to sing.

"It was originally the brilliant purple and vibrant red blooming everywhere..."

The sound of the opera rose, melodious and enchanting.

After the song ended, Yan Tingyue pointed out a few areas for improvement. Ye Wanlan noted them down one by one before leaving.

May in Nancheng was rainy, and a light drizzle began to fall outside.

After a while, the rustling sound of wooden clogs stepping on the grass echoed outside the door, and Yan Tingyue was somewhat surprised.

Who else would come at this time?

She lifted the door curtain.

The mist was hazy, and someone was walking slowly while holding a twenty-four-rib bamboo umbrella.

Amidst the rain and smoke, the young master was breathtakingly beautiful.

Even Yan Tingyue couldn't help but be shaken.

Before she lived in seclusion here, she had seen many scions of noble families, but none could compare to the person before her.

"Aunt Yan, I am very sorry to disturb you at this time," Rong Yu ran in breathlessly behind Yan Tingfeng. "I brought you some tea leaves and sandalwood from Yunjing. This is my brother; you can just call him Little Yan."

"Little Yu, Little Yan." Yan Tingyue was very happy, then sighed, "It's a pity you came late, otherwise you could have met my apprentice."

Rong Yu was startled: "When did you get an apprentice?"

When he first knew Yan Tingyue, she was still serving as the vice president of the Yunjing Art Association. Countless people begged to be her apprentice, including members of the Yunjing Lin family, but they were all rejected.

Yan Tingyue was the only successor to the Saint of Music; her status was naturally lofty.

The fact that Yan Tingyue had a successor was enough to shock the entire Divine Land, and even the World Intangible Cultural Heritage Center would be shaken.

"I just got her yesterday," Yan Tingyue smiled. "But don't doubt it—she will definitely sing better than me in the future. I believe she can revitalize Kunqu opera; no, the entire intangible cultural heritage."

Rong Yu opened his eyes wide: "Who is it?"

Who could possibly earn such high praise from Yan Tingyue?

Yan Tingfeng was lost in thought.

Yan Tingyue did not say much more: "You will meet her eventually. For now, please don't speak of this to outsiders."

"Understood," Rong Yu laughed. "Aunt Yan, these are the tea leaves my grandfather just processed, and this incense is the latest style from the Su family. I brought them all for you."

"Thank you for your trouble, Little Yu," Yan Tingyue said. "Sit down. I had someone catch some fish; let's have a meal together in a while."

Rong Yu sat down obediently, but his mind was still pondering who exactly this apprentice Yan Tingyue spoke of could be.

He asked Yan Tingfeng quietly: "Can you guess who it is?"

Yan Tingfeng took a slow sip of tea: "Not interested."

Rong Yu muttered: "I don't know what you are actually interested in..."

Having known Yan Tingfeng for many years, he still couldn't guess what the other man was thinking about all day long.

What a strange person.

**

Returning to Jiangcheng at three in the afternoon, Ye Wanlan bought some brushes, ink, rice paper, painting pigments, and carving knives at the shop in front of the Art Academy.

"Ye Wanlan?"

A surprised voice rang out from behind her.

Ye Wanlan turned around, her expression indifferent.

"It really is you. Why are you still wandering around at this time?" Seeing her, Xu Li frowned. "Why aren't you hurrying to the hospital to take care of Qin Xian?"

Ye Wanlan didn't look at him and continued walking.

Seeing her just walk away like that, Xu Li quickly took two steps forward: "Qin Xian hasn't woken up yet. I heard you were the one who hit him. Aren't you going a bit too far?"

Xu Li was a friend who grew up with Zhou Hechen and Qin Xian.

Zhou Hechen often posted the pleading essays Ye Wanlan sent him into their small group chat like a joke, and he also knew how much Ye Wanlan fawned over Zhou Hechen.

Who knew Ye Wanlan would suddenly go crazy?

"Enough, Ye Wanlan. Listen to me: go apologize to Brother Hechen, then go to the hospital and take care of Qin Xian until he wakes up," Xu Li advised again. "Just swallow your pride properly. Look, wouldn't everything be solved then?"

"As for Sister Yunyi, her hand wasn't injured; it was just a false alarm. She has always been kind, so she certainly won't be angry with you. Maybe she'll even help you."

Ye Wanlan remained deaf to his words.

Xu Li was completely enraged: "Ye Wanlan, if Brother Hechen gets angry and refuses to help you solve your problems, then when the Qin family makes their move, you'll be finished!"

Ye Wanlan finally stopped in her tracks and tilted her head slightly: "Who told you I need to rely on him?"

Xu Li was stunned and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "If you don't rely on Brother Hechen, who else can you rely on?"

In Jiangcheng, without Zhou Hechen, who would even know the name Ye Wanlan?

Sister Lan: Just kill him.

Brother Yan: (Nods)

Rong Yu: You two, calm down.

Thank you to the darlings for the tips and monthly tickets, see you tomorrow~~

(End of chapter)