The Young Girl's Chronicles of Demon-Slaying

Chapter 13: The Conservatory

After breakfast, Lin Yuqin asked, “I have a class at school today. Do you want to come with me and hang out there?” School! It was only then that Fang Heng remembered that Lin Yuqin was a lecturer at Nan’an Conservatory of Music. Although college campuses weren’t anything out of the ordinary, staying home alone seemed a bit boring. Aside from watching TV, there didn’t seem to be much else to do, so he might as well tag along with Lin Yuqin and take a stroll around campus. After all, schools like the Conservatory of Music are always full of beautiful women, so tagging along to check them out wouldn’t be a bad idea. With that in mind, he nodded in agreement and decided to tag along with Lin Yuqin to the school. Since they were going out, he obviously couldn’t wear his pajamas. Lin Yuqin went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, while Fang Heng went upstairs to his room. He rummaged through a pile of clothes, finally picking out an outfit that looked decent enough to change into. When he came downstairs, Lin Yuqin saw him and teased him about his odd, unflattering combination, so he went back to his room to put together an outfit that suited her taste. Since Lin Yuqin had bought all the clothes, she naturally knew exactly how to put them together. Before long, Fang Heng had changed into a whole new outfit. On top, he wore a pink sleeveless top with a distinct ethnic flair, featuring red button closures that added to its antique charm. On the bottom, he wore light gray cropped pants printed with red plum blossoms, covered by a layer of fine mesh tulle to create a sense of depth. After putting it on and looking in the mirror—what a charming, ancient-style young lady! —Lin Yuqin couldn’t stop praising him. But Fang Heng himself felt quite uncomfortable about it. He wanted to complain, but figured arguing or explaining would be a hassle, so in the end, he simply said nothing, kept a straight face, and followed Lin Yuqin out the door. The weather today was clear and sunny, with a gentle breeze—if it were a Sunday, it would have been a perfect day for an outing. However, since Sunday had just passed yesterday and today was Monday, students in school uniforms carrying backpacks were everywhere on the streets. Seeing these kids, Fang Heng suddenly realized that, looking the way he did now, he seemed to be exactly the right age for middle school. Was he really going to have to go back to school?! …Please, no! He couldn’t help but inwardly groan. He’d finally endured more than twenty years of school life—and now he had to go back? It was just like playing a video game, reaching levels 50 or 60 and seeing graduation in sight, only to suddenly drop back to the teens and have to start grinding monsters and doing quests all over again to level up. Even if there were some fun in it, wouldn’t it still feel tedious? However, this was probably unavoidable. Perhaps he should act more mature and smart to gain greater freedom? He pondered this to himself, and before he knew it, he found himself following Lin Yuqin to a towering stone gate. This stone gate was actually a stone archway, a full seven or eight meters high, with three entrances and four stone lions of varying designs placed in front of the four stone pillars. Overall, the gate appeared to have been roughly hewn from a single massive block of stone. It was carved with figures, flowers, plants, and trees; though not particularly intricate upon closer inspection, it exuded a grand and rustic charm. This stone gate stood here, connected to the iron fence extending to the left and right—which served as a perimeter wall—separating the inside from the outside without feeling closed off. Walking along the path, one could see the dense, lush green trees and shrubs through the fence, and upon reaching the stone gate, two verdant ancient trees with low-hanging branches arched over it, embracing the structure. Delicate vines also climb up the stone gate, creating an atmosphere of serene elegance. This is the renowned Nan’an Conservatory of Music, which ranks second only to the Central Conservatory of Music among China’s music conservatories and is also ranked among the top fifty in the world. This school is considered one of the sources of pride for the people of Yashan City, and Lin Yuqin is a faculty member at Nan’an Conservatory of Music—she must be quite accomplished. It wasn’t far from here to Song Wencheng’s home, so Lin Yuqin and Fang Heng walked the entire way. When they arrived, students were coming and going, so Lin Yuqin took Fang Heng by the hand and followed the crowd through the school gate. Beyond the stone gate lay a wide, cobblestone path winding through the woods, flanked on both sides by lush, towering trees. Their low-hanging branches and green leaves blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving only scattered patches of light on the ground. With such dense shade, the first thing one felt upon entering the school gates was a sense of coolness. Walking along the smooth stone path deeper into the campus, they turned onto a side path and continued onward. Perhaps it’s no surprise, given that this is an arts school, but the green space here appears far more extensive than at other universities. Trees and flower beds are everywhere, and here and there one can spot sculptures—some carved from stone, others made of metal. Their designs aren’t limited to figures or animals; they include various objects and abstract forms as well. Still, the majority are related to music. For example, a cello was leaning against a metal-formed lounge chair. The cello was so lifelike that when Fang Heng first spotted it from a distance, he thought someone had accidentally left a real cello there. It wasn’t until he got closer that he realized something was off—he even reached out to touch it. This gesture drew a giggle from Lin Yuqin, causing Fang Heng to withdraw his hand in slight embarrassment. He berated himself for his sudden lapse in judgment—it was obvious that even on campus, no one would possibly leave a cello by a bench! After she finished laughing, Lin Yuqin ruffled Fang Heng’s hair and continued to tell him about the school’s buildings and history. Fang Heng listened quietly. He was quite curious about such a renowned music school. Glancing around, he noticed that many of the buildings were old but well-maintained, exuding a sense of history, yet their architectural style was quite modern—likely because the school focused primarily on Western music. People bustled along the paths, and young, energetic students walked along, chatting and laughing. Occasionally, a student—presumably someone who recognized Lin Yuqin—would smile and bow to greet her. Lin Yuqin would nod and smile back, but every time they exchanged greetings, these students would cast curious glances at Fang Heng. Fang Heng pressed his lips together and said nothing. After walking for a while, Lin Yuqin asked, “What do you think? It’s a nice school, isn’t it? How would you like to study here?” “…I don’t have a talent for music.” Music is something that really depends on natural talent. Take learning to play the guitar, for example: some people just need to get familiar with the fingerings, have a teacher give them a little guidance, and practice a bit on their own before they can play reasonably well. Others, however, no matter how thoroughly the teacher instructs them or how hard they practice every day, still can’t seem to get the hang of it. So this is not something that can be forced. Lin Yuqin was just teasing when she said that. Setting aside whether Fang Heng had a talent for music—even if he did, getting into Nan’an Conservatory of Music wouldn’t be easy—but in this regard, encouragement is far better than discouragement. After all, who can say for sure what the future holds? “I’m heading to class in a bit. Are you going to hang out on your own, or come with me to class?” Lin Yuqin asked. What’s there to “tag along” for in class? It’s not like he’s never been to class before. Fang Heng replied without hesitation, “I’ll go explore on my own.” “I was actually hoping you’d come watch my class!” Lin Yuqin said, sounding a little disappointed. “…I’ll wander around a bit, then come find you.” “You’re such a good boy!” Lin Yuqin pinched Fang Heng’s smooth, delicate cheek and smiled. “Then I’ll take you to see my classroom first. You can come over on your own later.” “Okay!” Fang Heng nodded. Lin Yuqin led Fang Heng forward, and they soon arrived in front of a building with five large golden characters on the exterior that read: Comprehensive Teaching Building. “This is the place,” Lin Yuqin said, standing at the entrance. “I’m in Room C3-5 on the third floor. It’s easy to find—just come find me once you’ve had a look around.” “Mm-hmm,” Fang Heng nodded. Lin Yuqin then led him over to the security guard at the entrance, where she introduced him to a familiar face before waving goodbye to Fang Heng. After watching Lin Yuqin enter the main entrance of the Comprehensive Building, Fang Heng turned around and glanced around. He wasn’t familiar with the area and didn’t have a specific destination in mind, so he just picked a random path and headed out. He’d experienced college life before. Although Nan’an Conservatory of Music was far more prestigious than the university he’d attended, the atmosphere here was actually quite similar. He wandered aimlessly along the path, occasionally passing small groups of male and female students. The female students he encountered along the way were, as expected, quite pretty—truly living up to the school’s reputation. As he walked and looked around, he also came across some outsiders visiting the campus; it felt just like being at a tourist attraction. After wandering around for a while and satisfying his desire to look at beautiful women, he glanced at the campus map posted by the roadside, walked a full loop, and returned to the front of the administration building. The General Affairs Building was normally off-limits to outsiders, but since he’d made arrangements beforehand, Fang Heng wasn’t stopped and walked right in. He went up to the third floor, followed the hallway, and easily found the classroom where Lin Yuqin was teaching. Peering inside through the window, I saw that this classroom was much like the trapezoidal classrooms at other universities; it also had a multimedia system. The only difference from other universities, however, was that there was a piano in the corner of the lectern. The classroom was quite large, but there weren’t many students—only about a dozen or so. The classroom was well-soundproofed; although I could see a female student playing the piano inside, I could hardly hear any sound from outside. I watched as she would play a passage, stop, and then Lin Yuqin would begin lecturing; after she finished speaking, the student would play again, and Lin Yuqin would point out any mistakes. Seeing that Lin Yuqin was busy, Fang Heng wasn’t in a hurry; he just stood by the window watching. But she soon noticed him. She smiled and made a gesture—one he understood immediately: she was inviting him in. Since that was the case, the door was obviously unlocked. He walked over and gave the door a gentle push; sure enough, the classroom door was ajar. He pushed it open and walked in, then found a seat near the door and sat down. Lin Yuqin was lecturing at the front of the room, and naturally, her every move was the focus of all the students present. So when Fang Heng walked in, he caught everyone’s attention. Seeing a pretty girl enter the classroom, they were instantly curious about who she was—after all, they’d never heard that Teacher Lin had a daughter! In any case, the class continued as usual, and Fang Heng simply sat there listening. (End of Chapter)