"Could you elaborate on that?"
Su Ling's smiling demeanor seemed to lower the temperature of the surrounding environment.
Lu Qing hadn't expected the little brat to suddenly drop such a bombshell, shamelessly bringing up Bai Xing.
This was practically the equivalent of dropping an atomic bomb, wasn't it?
Seeing Su Ling's increasingly ominous expression, before Lu Qing could even begin to explain, Lin Mu continued on her own:
"Oh, you didn't know? Your boyfriend brought a particularly cute girl to my sister's shop last time. She was about as pretty as you, and she even held his arm. They looked really close."
The loli's innocent face delivered a critical blow.
Lu Qing broke out in a cold sweat, desperately trying to defuse the sudden attack.
He had expected Su Ling to be upset, but instead, she merely pondered for a moment before correcting the misunderstanding in a way that surprised both of them:
"Is that so? Thank you for telling me. But... he's my brother, not my boyfriend."
Her expression was calm, showing no sign of irritation or jealousy.
"Huh?"
Seeing Su Ling's reaction, Lin Mu was dumbfounded.
Her little face stiffened, wondering if these two really had a normal sibling relationship.
Pure love?
No, no, a pure and innocent bond?
But...
If it really was just a brother taking his sister out for fun... then did that mean the girl she saw last time was his actual girlfriend?
She couldn't tell for sure, but she felt that the relationships between these people were a mess.
In her eyes, if the so-called "player" was just accompanying his sister for work, then he wasn't a player at all. Instead, she had overinterpreted the situation, and it seemed she was the one in the wrong.
She had been calling him a player based on her own assumptions, which now seemed rather impolite.
Little did she know, for Su Ling, the only person who could get that close to her brother was Bai Xing.
And Bai Xing had already "sampled" her brother thoroughly the night before, far surpassing their previous level of intimacy.
So, in Su Ling's eyes, Lin Mu's words were nothing more than "outdated information"—
Useful, but not by much.
At this moment, Su Ling continued, "It's fine. My brother is quite popular, so it's normal for him to get tangled up with other women outside. I'm used to it. Still, I appreciate you letting me know. It's good to clear up misunderstandings. After all...
Everything else is fine, but if he starts calling someone else 'little sister' outside, I really wouldn't be happy."
"...Hiss."
So that's how it was.
Lin Mu finally understood.
She realized where Su Ling's boundaries lay.
Su Ling was the player's sister, and as such, she wouldn't allow her brother to call anyone else "little sister." If that were to happen, it would be even more serious than him dating someone else.
Meanwhile, Lu Qing also vaguely grasped what his sister cared about most.
—「Twisted Exclusive Love」.
It was a unique kind of affection.
This affection wasn't the sticky, romantic kind between lovers, but rather the irreplaceable doting love of an older brother.
What Su Ling wanted went far beyond simple "mutual attraction" or "mutual benefit."
What she pursued wasn't as complicated as the "mutual dependence" Bai Xing desired.
Instead, this special kind of 「exclusive love」 could be defined as "parasitic love."
—【A love that parasitizes each other, withering and decaying like a seed deprived of nutrients the moment one loses the other.】
Su Ling was experiencing this parasitic feeling, and this profound, intricate 「love」 was something Bai Xing could never attain, nor had she ever experienced.
This emotion was more enduring than romantic love and more delicate than familial love. It existed somewhere between the two, capable of withstanding the test of time.
The feeling of being cared for and protected was something the deeply depressed Su Ling craved the most.
Bai Xing might occasionally enjoy a taste of it through her schemes, but due to time and place constraints, she could only get a "trial version." She could never bask in this state of protection and nourishment for long, as Su Ling did.
So, in Su Ling's eyes, the "small antics" of the "cheating cat" were insignificant.
"Ah..."
At this moment, Lin Mu felt as if she had thrown a heavy punch into thin air. Not only had she failed to affect Lu Qing, but she had also nearly hurt herself in the process. She was momentarily at a loss, unsure of what to say next.
However, Lu Qing wasn't about to let her keep attacking.
He had already allowed her to strike first, which was quite gentlemanly of him.
Now, it was his turn.
"Listen, it's one thing to slander me, but last time you ruined my homework, forcing me to go elsewhere and work late into the night to finish it. Don't you think you owe me an apology?"
Lu Qing leaned on the wooden railing, looking down at the little brat with an expression that said, "I'm being generous by not holding it against you."
His demeanor perfectly captured the mix of roguishness and creditor-like authority.
"...!"
Lin Mu opened her mouth slightly, realizing he had a point.
"So, you were doing schoolwork that time?"
"Yeah, what else would I be doing? Buying a piano? Mosses are so expensive, and as a poor student, I can't afford one."
"..."
Although he was stating facts, Lin Mu felt like he was subtly hinting at something.
"Hmph, fine, then... then..."
Her face turned red as she struggled to find the words, finally stammering out:
"Sorry..."
"Sorry..."
"Ugh, forget it, I'll give you a slice of cake as compensation instead."
Lin Mu, like a deflated balloon, chickened out at the last moment.
She just couldn't bring herself to say it.
"..."
Lu Qing was speechless.
But he understood. As a rich loli who had grown up in a wealthy family, apologizing to someone else was simply too difficult for her.
She was just one word away from a proper apology, but she couldn't bring herself to show weakness or reveal her vulnerable side to others.
"You... you're so stubborn."
He shook his head helplessly, his desire to tease her fading significantly.
However, he couldn't afford to be soft-hearted now. He had to make Lin Mu aware of the "dangers of the world," or else what would she do if she encountered real trouble in the future? Would she be able to handle it properly?
"With that temper of yours, if you run a café and someone really comes to pick a fight, won't you just end up crying?"
In the end, she'd probably have to call her sister to deal with it, right?
Hmm...
Better stick to the original plan.
Thinking this, Lu Qing maintained his stern expression:
"You don't think giving me a little extra treat makes up for everything, do you?"
"Huh?"
"I came here a second time specifically to support you, but you keep causing trouble for me, and you won't even apologize. You... you're hopeless.
If you keep causing problems for others, one day, those problems will come back to haunt you."
"I..."
Lin Mu, hearing this, felt even more guilty and ashamed.
She lowered her head, biting her lip as she poured coffee beans, not saying a word.
Lu Qing felt uneasy watching her.
The mix of pity and his determination to teach her a lesson left him feeling like he was standing on pins and needles.
Was he being too harsh on her?
After all, he was operating from the shadows, while she was out in the open. Using the shadows to attack the light was undeniably unfair.
"Brother."
Suddenly, Su Ling spoke up.
With keen precision, she changed the subject: "So, you were out doing homework with Bai Xing last time, right?"
"Yeah."
Lu Qing nodded, silently praising his sister.
He also felt there was no need to hide this, so he explained a bit, "There's a market research project for school. The final assignment is pretty brutal—we had to form groups and interview businesses. So, we went to that girl's sister's piano shop downstairs, but she kicked us out."
Su Ling: "I see."
"You were the one who chose to leave...! If you had just been a little more submissive, I would've let you in, maybe even introduced you to my sister... You... you just couldn't..."
Lin Mu didn't know what to say. At the time, she had indeed planned to let him in if he had been more compliant—she would've taken him to her sister's piano room, where he could've listened to her play, maybe even hear Blue II.
That kind of treatment was something outsiders could only dream of.
This was a favor granted because he was the "only customer" in her shop, a benefit for a familiar face.
However, he stubbornly refused to back down, acting all tough, and immediately left with his girlfriend.
This undoubtedly dealt a huge blow to her, one that she still struggles to let go of to this day.
Lin Mu felt that her biggest problem was losing out on "not knowing how to express herself."
Many kind intentions turned into hurtful words the moment they reached her lips.
She genuinely wanted to communicate well with others, but somehow, she always ended up hurting people, always using unpolished expressions to sting them, to break the boundaries that should have been respected.
"Really? I don’t believe it."
On the surface, Lu Qing seemed unyielding, but he secretly sighed.
In truth, he saw it clearly.
He knew it was a form of "self-protection mechanism."
What kind of person would be so twisted, so full of thorns?
It was obvious.
A child who had long been lonely, closed-off, and unloved.
Without proper family education, without the full love of parents.
From a young age, she was compared, pitted against others who started from completely different starting lines.
Like a product, forcibly placed on a display stand, one high, one low.
Suffocated by moral blackmail;
Doubting herself because life felt worse than death;
Choosing to rush out the door because there was nothing left to hold onto,
Facing the completely unknown, a storm of gray.
If it weren’t for her sister, she would have already collapsed in the rain,
At such a young age, completely giving up on herself.
It was truly unbearable to watch.
Lu Qing returned to his seat, his emotions complex.
"Forget it, talking to you about this is pointless. What’s done is done, and it’s not like you’d ever lower yourself to apologize. Whatever."
Cold words, devoid of warmth, he decided to stick to his plan.
"..."
Just as Lin Mu was feeling even more wronged, he seized the opportunity and abruptly changed the subject, pointing to the complex and extravagant equipment on the small stage downstairs, saying:
"By the way, my sister has been learning an instrument recently.
I found her a teacher online, and she’s been learning through videos. Her teacher seems pretty skilled, but the equipment isn’t as good as yours. At least it doesn’t look as expensive.
Oh, I meant to ask last time, with all those nice instruments downstairs, do you actually know how to play them? Aren’t you worried they’ll gather dust?"
"Huh?"
As expected of a playboy, with just a few words, he completely dissipated the guilt Lin Mu had barely managed to accumulate.
"Watch your words, okay? You can target me, but I won’t allow you to disrespect my instruments!"
It was extremely clear that those instruments were Lin Mu’s "sensitive spot."
She couldn’t accept anyone joking about them in a teasing tone, nor could she stand "amateurs" looking down on her without understanding anything.
Day and night, she practiced relentlessly, moving forward without fail. Countless videos showcasing her top-tier skills had proven her abilities time and time again. Even if there was still room for improvement, she was far beyond the level of ordinary "hobbyists," not even in the same league.
Even music majors might not surpass her technically, as many of them slack off, skip classes, don’t practice diligently, lack talent, or are limited by their equipment.
Seeing the playboy push his luck, Lin Mu felt she couldn’t take it anymore and directly issued a challenge:
"Let me ask you, are you implying that I don’t deserve these instruments, is that it?"
"I didn’t say that, but if you don’t play something for me, I really can’t tell if you deserve them or not."
Lu Qing put on an innocent face, his mischief practically drowning the Su Ling beside him.
"Brother, you..."
She knew her brother had "started."
She had to play along now, even if he was spouting nonsense, she couldn’t interfere.
Otherwise, if she disrupted his plan, he might not be as affectionate with her at home, and he might not eat the little cakes she made. That would be a disaster.
Su Ling never made bad deals. Letting her brother go last time was already a huge mistake. In this delicate situation, she couldn’t afford to act recklessly.
"Shh, don’t move yet."
Sure enough, Lu Qing signaled his sister to follow his lead.
Su Ling immediately understood and played along—
"It’s true. I’ve only recently started learning the electric guitar, and it’s really hard. Watching video tutorials online isn’t the same as having a one-on-one lesson with a teacher, but private lessons are so expensive. I feel like I can’t afford it... If only someone could guide me."
"!"
She said this lightly to the little girl downstairs, causing the girl to frown slightly, almost sparking a desire to "mentor a newbie."
She nearly blurted out, "If you come to my shop more often and support me, I’ll take you under my wing!"
"..."
Thankfully, at the critical moment, Lin Mu held back.
After all, she subconsciously felt that the pair upstairs were in cahoots. It seemed like there was more to her words, but she couldn’t quite grasp it.
As for the playboy, he was even more outrageous, clearly knowing nothing about instruments yet daring to mock her to her face.
It was truly "stepping on stilts in a toilet—way over the line."
"Fine, you wait. I’ll show you what I’m made of in a bit. But let’s get one thing straight: since you’re here, let’s make a bet. If my skills exceed a certain standard, you lose, and you have to fulfill a request of mine. If my skills don’t meet that standard, and I’m truly wasting these instruments like you said, then I lose, and I’ll fulfill a request of yours. How about it? Do you dare to bet with me?"
At this moment, facing the playboy, she was full of confidence!
"."
Lu Qing stifled a laugh inside, secretly reaching out to hold Su Ling back, then putting on an impulsive front and loudly accepting the challenge:
"Sure!! Let’s bet!! The terms are fine, I accept! But as for skill, I think you should at least be able to play two of the four instruments on stage, right?
Also, these instruments look pretty expensive. To fully utilize them, you’d have to be at a performance level, wouldn’t you?"
Lu Qing tried his best not to sound too knowledgeable, using very "amateurish" terms:
"Anyway, you’ll have to play a few complete pieces for me, something really fast and obviously difficult!
And you can’t look at the sheet music, you have to memorize it. I’ve heard that people who rely on sheet music aren’t that good. If you can’t even memorize a song, you’d definitely suck on stage.
Also, you can’t be nervous or make mistakes. If you make more than three mistakes, you lose!
So the songs you choose have to be ones that either I or my sister have heard before, so I can judge if they match what I remember. Oh, and I usually listen to A… anime songs and really intense rock music. If you can’t play those, you might as well give up now and not force yourself."
SSS-level combo—guidance + provocation + sarcasm + pretending to be an expert—
The smooth chain of moves immediately knocked Lin Mu into a corner—
"Haha."
She lightly tapped her fist on the counter, mimicking the hammering motion of an auctioneer, and confidently replied:
"Deal!"
"After I finish making your drinks and that little cake, we’ll officially begin! I don’t need any preparation!"
"Alright then! Bring it on! Let’s see what you’re really made of."
Lu Qing, acting like a top-tier performer, spoke with such enthusiasm that it seemed he had already won, as if he’d popped open a year’s worth of champagne in advance.
Lin Mu couldn’t help but feel amused, thinking that today she would finally get to beat up that annoyingly good-looking playboy. She thought to herself:
"Your demands are as simple as a child’s! Today, I’ll teach you a lesson and show you and your sister what a true professional musician looks like. When you lose, I’ll make sure to come up with a request that’ll torture you! Like making you come to my shop every week to drink coffee!
I’ll make you spend money here every week to boost my sales! I’ll turn you into a regular audience member, forcing you to listen to me practice endlessly. Whether you want to or not, you’ll have to listen! You’ll be my accessory, helping me improve my live performance skills!
Perfect, absolutely perfect."
"Alright! It's settled then."
……
……