After Becoming Roommates with an Obnoxious Wealthy Heiress - Chapter 58

It seems she was indeed very obedient today.

The slender, lingering melody drifted through the glass, traversed the house, and carried far beyond the courtyard, floating into Jiang Feiwan’s ears.

She listened intently, her gaze searching the surroundings until it locked onto a particular window.

Ever since her school days, Jiang Feiwan had been completely tone-deaf; she couldn’t even recognize all seven musical notes. Yet, hearing this graceful and moving rhythm, she couldn’t help but focus her mind, involuntarily drawn in by the music.

Jiang Feiwan didn’t understand music theory, but she could vaguely sense the emotion within the piece.

The melody rose and fell, at times sobbing like a low moan, at others crying out shrilly. It was like a mermaid drowning in the deep sea, desperately seeking oxygen, leaving only a fishtail thrashing with effort. Finally, she raised her head above the surface, only to find her gills could not inhale the air; in the end, she died of suffocation and despair.

Thump, thump…

Jiang Feiwan’s heart seemed to beat in synchronization with the rhythm.

The piece soon came to an end. Yet, Jiang Feiwan remained standing dazed at the courtyard gate, seemingly unable to snap out of it for a long time. It wasn’t until a petal from a goldenrain tree fell onto her left shoulder that she realized the music had finished.

At that moment, Qin Shuyue walked out, carrying a black cloth bag over her shoulder.

Jiang Feiwan lightly brushed away the fallen petal and asked, somewhat dazed, “What instrument were you just using? A Huqin? Or an Erhu?”

Qin Shuyue’s eyes widened slightly. These two instruments were worlds apart from a violin. She reached up and scratched her cheek, replying, “A violin.”

“Oh, oh! I remember now!” Jiang Feiwan followed behind Qin Shuyue as they walked forward, her expression shifting to one of sudden realization. “I thought it sounded familiar! Little President Zhu has a violin in her music room too!”

Qin Shuyue’s expression didn’t change.

When she first arrived at Unit 601, there had been a half-open door on the second floor, revealing glimpses of the room inside. Beside a massive grand piano, a violin had been resting quietly. At that time, Qin Shuyue had naively thought her new roommate must be a girl of refined tastes and artistic sentiment. Despite some misunderstandings in between, she had generally felt quite a bit of goodwill toward her.

But Qin Shuyue had jumped to conclusions too early.

She lowered her eyes and led the way. Jiang Feiwan, walking behind her, naturally didn’t notice Qin Shuyue’s subtle movements. She was still immersed in the melody of the violin.

Jiang Feiwan asked again, “You’ve studied the violin?”

Qin Shuyue gave a soft, neutral “Mm.”

Jiang Feiwan looked at her with pure admiration. Having been tone-deaf and musically illiterate her whole life, she had always felt an instinctive respect and awe for music students she saw at school. Often, what a person lacks is exactly what they desire and admire most, using it to fill a void in their inner self.

Jiang Feiwan was exactly like that. Consequently, she was always drawn to those with talent in the field of music, unable to resist approaching them.

As expected, Jiang Feiwan’s initial attitude toward Qin Shuyue had been limited to her superior’s work arrangements tepid and professional. But now, she was completely and sincerely devoted.

While Jiang Feiwan didn’t understand what level of achievement counted as “mastery,” she found it very easy to enter the world of the music Qin Shuyue played; the imagery appeared in her mind almost instantly. This alone left her deeply impressed.

“Miss Qin, please get in the car.”

Jiang Feiwan actually took the initiative to pull the car door open for Qin Shuyue.

Qin Shuyue was slightly startled. She thanked her repeatedly, feeling confused for a moment, unable to figure out the situation. “Th—thank you, Assistant Jiang. But, there’s no need to trouble yourself, I can open the door myself.”

Qin Shuyue reached out, wanting to take the handle from Jiang Feiwan’s hand, but Jiang Feiwan’s eyes contained a hidden excitement. She placed a hand on Qin Shuyue’s shoulder and looked at her. “It’s fine, please sit.”

Qin Shuyue’s heart felt unsettled, truly unable to understand what Jiang Feiwan was up to. She sat in the back seat, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the favor, and glanced up at Jiang Feiwan with some trepidation.

Jiang Feiwan closed the door with a thump, got into the driver’s seat, and asked with a smile, “Miss Qin, it is now 12:10. Would you like to go to a Michelin-starred restaurant, or an Italian restaurant? Or perhaps Korean cuisine…”

Hearing the string of suggestions pouring out of Jiang Feiwan’s mouth, Qin Shuyue was stunned. However, she waited patiently for Jiang Feiwan to finish before speaking. Her voice was soft and slightly anxious as she held the hard black case of the violin. “There is a noodle shop in the small alley across from the school entrance called Cao’s Noodle House. Going there will be fine.”

To drop from a five-star restaurant to an obscure little noodle shop across from a school was quite a significant downgrade in standards.

However, Jiang Feiwan had noticed that the Longhua Property here was not a neighborhood just anyone could afford to live in. Whether they were white-collar workers or high-level executives, in short… the people living here were certainly wealthy or of high status.

Yet, Qin Shuyue looked out of place here.

For a moment, many questions popped into Jiang Feiwan’s mind, but she swallowed them all back down. She did not question Qin Shuyue’s decision. Her fingers moved silently across the large screen in the center of the car, and “Cao’s Noodle House” popped up. She zoomed in to look; there really was a tiny noodle shop in a corner across from the school.

Without another word, Jiang Feiwan drove the luxury black car smoothly to the front of Cao’s Noodle House.

Now, she was the one who looked out of place in this area.

She got out of the luxury car and was about to open the back door when Qin Shuyue beat her to it and stepped out. Qin Shuyue landed steadily, still clutching the small black bag in her arms.

She went inside and ordered a bowl of “Pot-Cover” noodles. Just as she was about to pull out her payment code, Jiang Feiwan beat her to it, thrusting her own payment code in front of Qin Shuyue’s phone.

The female owner holding the scanner found herself in a difficult position. This wasn’t some high-end hotel; it was just a small noodle shop with items costing around ten yuan. Was there really a need for two people to fight over the bill?

Qin Shuyue was also stunned as she looked up at Jiang Feiwan.

Jiang Feiwan simply gave a light smile and said, “Since Little President Zhu instructed me to follow you, then naturally, I should be responsible for all of Miss Qin’s basic needs. There is no reason to let Miss Qin pay.” As she spoke, she moved the payment code closer and told the owner, “Boss, scan this.”

The owner thought these two were being ridiculous. Dressing so formally and acting so serious—if she didn’t know better, she’d think her shop was some Michelin-starred establishment. She scanned the code with a hint of speechless annoyance.

Beep. Payment received: 11 Yuan.

Jiang Feiwan looked shocked. She re-checked the receipt as if she couldn’t believe it. “What kind of thing only costs 11 yuan for a meal?”

Qin Shuyue looked at her with a troubled expression. What could she say to that? Did the people working for Zhu Lingyi really not know what things cost?

Qin Shuyue walked silently to an empty table, sat down, and placed the violin next to her chair.

Jiang Feiwan said something to the owner, and all she heard was the owner shouting loudly, “How many?! Young lady, I think you’re here to mess with my business!”

Hearing this, Qin Shuyue was horrified. She hurried over to ask the owner, pushing Jiang Feiwan back slightly. “I’m so sorry, Boss…”

Before Qin Shuyue could finish, the female owner asked her again, “You two are acting so strange. Especially that woman behind you, it’s one thing that she’s dressed totally out of place, but she actually wants our kitchen to make a hundred bowls of noodles for her to take away…”

The owner’s voice was strained, almost distorted by shock. “Aren’t you clearly here to cause trouble?”

Qin Shuyue was also dumbfounded upon hearing this and looked back at Jiang Feiwan several times. But Jiang Feiwan looked at her quite calmly, as if she didn’t think there was anything strange about it at all. She even asked them with some confusion, “Is something wrong?”

Hearing this, the owner rolled her eyes at her and stopped talking, heading back to the kitchen to gossip with the chef.

Qin Shuyue pulled her aside. She could understand that it was past noon and anyone would be hungry, but surely not hungry enough to eat a hundred bowls?

Qin Shuyue pulled Jiang Feiwan to sit opposite her and asked, “What are you doing?”

Jiang Feiwan was also dazed, looking at Qin Shuyue. “What’s wrong?”

Qin Shuyue knitted her beautiful brows. “Are you very hungry?”

Jiang Feiwan shook her head. “No.”

Qin Shuyue asked again, “If you’re not hungry, why did you order a hundred bowls of noodles?”

“Because it’s cheap.”

Jiang Feiwan was simply telling the truth. People dining nearby looked up one after another, giving her strange looks before lowering their heads to eat their noodles again.

She remembered when she used to attend business dinners with Zhu Lingyi. When ordering, a single strand of kelp tied in a Chinese knot would cost nearly a thousand yuan, purely for the sake of aesthetics. The actual food on the plate was pitifully scarce. Not only could Jiang Feiwan not get full, but she also had to sit there for two or three hours accompanying Zhu Lingyi. After the dinner finally ended and she had settled Zhu Lingyi, she would be so hungry her stomach was touching her spine, feeling dizzy and faint, and would have to sneak off to get more food.

Hearing that a large bowl of noodles here only cost 11 yuan, she was so excited she wanted to buy a portion for every employee in the company.

Qin Shuyue was choked up after learning the reason. “This… your Little President Zhu…”

Seeing Qin Shuyue’s troubled look and assuming she was worried about Zhu Lingyi, Jiang Feiwan immediately waved her hand. “Little President Zhu’s diet is managed privately; there are no issues with poor nutrition.”

“And our extra meals can be reimbursed.”

Qin Shuyue hadn’t actually intended to ask about Zhu Lingyi. Just as she was about to explain, the front counter called a number. “Number 39.”

Qin Shuyue looked at her ticket; it was her number. So, she swallowed her unfinished words, walked to the counter, and carried the tray back to the table with both hands. On the tray was a bowl filled to the brim with noodles, with a thick layer of shredded white meat spread over the top.

It was her favorite shredded pork noodles.

She picked up her chopsticks and was just about to start when she suddenly felt a gaze fixed on her, intense and unblinking. Qin Shuyue paused and met Jiang Feiwan’s eyes. The moment their gazes collided, Jiang Feiwan quickly looked away. But when she continued slurping her noodles, that burning gaze followed again.

This abnormal staring made it impossible for Qin Shuyue to focus on her meal at all. Someone had to do something.

She put down her chopsticks, sat up straight, and asked, “Assistant Jiang, are you hungry?”

Jiang Feiwan shook her head.

Qin Shuyue stared at her with a complicated look for a moment, then got up from her seat and went to the counter to speak with the owner. After a short while, Qin Shuyue returned. In her hands, she held a bowl of shredded pork noodles identical to her own. She placed it in front of Jiang Feiwan and thoughtfully set out a pair of chopsticks.

Meeting Jiang Feiwan’s surprised eyes, Qin Shuyue puffed out her cheeks and pushed the noodles toward her. “You treated me, so I have to treat you back. I can’t let you spend money for nothing.”

Jiang Feiwan waved her off. “Eh? Is Miss Qin worried about that? It’s alright, we can just get reimbursement from Little President Zhu.”

If she hadn’t mentioned Zhu Lingyi it would have been fine, but once she was mentioned, Qin Shuyue was determined to pay for this meal no matter what. If she didn’t, wouldn’t it be equivalent to Zhu Lingyi treating her to dinner? Qin Shuyue would absolutely not allow that to happen. Paying her back meant they were even, and she could have a proper reason to dislike her.

She chose to selectively forget the fact that Zhu Lingyi had twice called a doctor to save her. Forgetting and saying she didn’t remember was better than remembering and tormenting herself.

Qin Shuyue smiled, offering no explanation to Jiang Feiwan, and picked up her chopsticks to eat her own portion.

Twelve-twenty. Jiang Feiwan was actually hungry, but due to being at work, her professional ethics didn’t allow her to slack off for a second; even if she was hungry, she said she wasn’t. She picked up the chopsticks and began to slurp the noodles properly.

It was Jiang Feiwan’s first time eating in such a small shop. Having followed Zhu Lingyi for so long, she had eaten all kinds of delicacies and fine foods. Occasionally changing the pace actually gave her a different feeling. Jiang Feiwan ate quite happily.

When she looked up again, Qin Shuyue was already holding her violin, sitting quietly opposite her, waiting for her to finish. She quickly bit off a mouthful of noodles and checked the time: 13:00.

Jiang Feiwan suddenly remembered that Qin Shuyue had a class at 1:30 PM. She hurriedly pulled out a tissue and wiped her mouth, but the tissue was too thin and of poor quality; the soup from her lips soaked through the tissue and wet her fingertips. Jiang Feiwan froze, then pulled another tissue to wipe her hand.

Looking at the tissue that tore at the slightest touch of water, she shook her head helplessly. “Miss Qin, let’s go.”

Qin Shuyue shook her head.

Jiang Feiwan was confused.

Qin Shuyue pointed to a clump of noodles left in the bowl and reminded her, “Assistant Jiang, you haven’t finished your noodles.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Qin Shuyue shook her head again. “Waste is shameful.”

Jiang Feiwan was stunned. She had no choice but to pick up her chopsticks again, sighing as she frowned. “Miss Qin, sometimes you really are quite similar to Little President Zhu.”

Hearing this, Qin Shuyue froze. She opened her mouth, but silently swallowed the air instead.

After Jiang Feiwan finished the noodles quickly, she finally managed to get Qin Shuyue into the classroom before 13:30. Just before Qin Shuyue got out of the car, Jiang Feiwan handed her a bottle of water and signaled toward her canvas bag. “Miss Qin, don’t forget to take your medicine.”

She nodded and obediently took the water. Then she got out of the car.

Jiang Feiwan still wanted to follow her, saying she had to see her into the classroom to consider her mission complete. The thought was enough to make Qin Shuyue’s skin crawl. The rumors at school were like thorns stabbing into her flesh. She almost instinctively refused immediately. “No need.”

She firmly stated, “I can go to the classroom by myself.”

Please, she wasn’t a kindergartner who needed a teacher to hold her hand to find the room. Jiang Feiwan couldn’t argue with her, and after consulting Zhu Lingyi and receiving her consent, Jiang Feiwan didn’t linger and let Qin Shuyue go.

However, she couldn’t take her violin into the classroom. It was just that she felt awkward making requests of others. It was Jiang Feiwan who sensed her thoughts and took the initiative to ask, “Do you need me to take the violin back to the dormitory for you?”

Qin Shuyue looked at her gratefully and carefully handed the violin to Jiang Feiwan.

The class lasted until 6:30 PM. Qin Shuyue briefly packed up her textbooks and rushed off to work at the restaurant. After her shift, she immediately hurried back to the dormitory, running all the way, finally returning before 11:30 PM.

Zhu Lingyi was still sitting on the sofa, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, her fingers tapping on the keyboard, appearing very busy with work. However, upon hearing movement outside the door, her fingers suddenly stopped. She looked up, her gaze calmly watching the figure returning through the door.

She pushed up her glasses and looked at Qin Shuyue, who was changing her shoes, asking as if performing a routine check, “Have you finished your medicine?”

Qin Shuyue nodded.

Zhu Lingyi said, “Come here, bring your bag and let me see.”

Qin Shuyue lowered her head and handed the bag over. Zhu Lingyi looked through it, rummaging a couple of times, only finding two empty bags that had contained small pills and medicinal liquid. It seemed she had indeed been very obedient and taken the medicine today.

She put the bag back on the sofa, satisfied.

Then, Zhu Lingyi looked up again, her eyes projecting a sharp gaze. Qin Shuyue felt as if she had been burned and quickly looked away.

She only heard Zhu Lingyi’s voice, like a silver bell but layered with a touch of coldness, as her dark eyes flickered toward her.

“I heard…”

“You can play the violin?”

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