Mingzhou High School chartered an entire aircraft to fly the whole grade of students to Fenghua City, which was located on the opposite side of the planet, with an estimated flight time of five hours.
After takeoff, Zhong Yun closed his eyes for a light nap, yet the lively chatter of his classmates reached his ears. Having finally secured this opportunity for a study tour, the students were ecstatic, eagerly discussing all the places they planned to visit.
The itinerary for the academic trip was thoughtfully designed: only the first day required collective activities; for the rest of the time, students were free to roam as long as they returned to their lodging by the designated hour.
Tian Hai, seated next to him, was conferring with Chen Wen about where to go on the first day, then the second, occasionally soliciting Zhong Yun’s opinion. Zhong Yun merely nodded, not truly absorbing the details.
The two quickly finalized their plans. Ever since Chen Wen and Zhong Yun had tasted the cooking made by Xiao Qing, they had clung to the pair like burrs, thus formally establishing the "trio."
At that moment, the atmosphere in the cabin began to subtly shift toward the strange; the volume of conversation dropped, and the boys started glancing around evasively, clearly plotting something.
Zhong Yun quickly sensed the unusual tension and looked around in confusion, wondering if something had happened.
Suddenly, a boy sprang to his feet, his rapidly heaving chest betraying his nervousness. He left his seat and walked toward a group of girls who were speaking in low tones.
All talk in the cabin ceased, every eye fixed on the advancing boy.
The few girls who had been talking exchanged a quick, knowing glance, their eyes flickering momentarily.
Zhong Yun began to understand and couldn't help but admire the boy's sheer courage.
The boy finally stopped in front of a girl whose hair featured a single small braid tucked behind her ear. He stammered, “Um… that is…” He vigorously rubbed his hands together, large beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead; he was clearly past the point of extreme nervousness.
Say it. Hurry up and say it, the onlookers cheered him on silently in their minds.
The girl appeared both shy and delighted. She glanced at the boy, her eyes conveying a subtle encouragement.
“I want to go see the sea of flowers with you!” The boy blurted out in sudden desperation, his shout so loud that even people in the adjacent cabin could hear.
After speaking, the boy froze, his face tight with intense anxiety, waiting for the girl’s response.
“Say yes to him,” Tian Hai started the heckling immediately, igniting the mood of everyone else. The classmates responded in unison, “Yeah, agree!”
Amidst a chorus of whistles and the urging of his friends, the girl nodded demurely.
The boy was ecstatic, nearly jumping out of his skin. He practically ran and skipped back to his seat, his grin stretching from ear to ear. The other boys, filled with envy and jealousy, immediately launched into a playful mock condemnation, kicking up a racket.
With a pioneer established, the rest became simple; boys began making their moves one after another, seizing the chance to invite the girls they admired.
Watching the boisterous scene, Zhong Yun let out a philosophical sigh, “Youth is wonderful.”
Chen Wen happened to overhear him and immediately burst into laughter, “You’ve learned to put on airs now, haven’t you?”
Zhong Yun shot him a sidelong glance. “Don’t compare me to Fei Yingming.”
A strange light flashed in Chen Wen’s eyes. “You know Fei Yingming?”
“Met him once, maybe.”
“That brat is certainly annoying,” Chen Wen chuckled mysteriously, nodding toward the opposite direction. “Aren’t you going to ask?”
Zhong Yun followed his gaze. Liu Yunqi sat quietly in a corner, wearing earbuds, engrossed in a book. Her expression was one of perfect tranquility, as if she inhabited a separate world; the excitement in the cabin didn't seem to touch her at all.
He shrugged. “I was thinking about it, but I was worried you two would be lonely without me.”
Just as he spoke, Xiao Ruo, sitting in front of them, suddenly stood up excitedly. “I have some wonderful news to announce!”
The students quieted down.
“It’s definitely related to Amu again,” Chen Wen murmured.
Just as Chen Wen finished speaking, Xiao Ruo loudly declared, “Just now, Amu released a new song!”
“Really?” A few surprised female voices exclaimed.
Xiao Ruo nodded. “Really. Please enjoy, The Tide.” With that, she pulled out her music player and turned the volume to maximum.
Everyone held their breath, their chests tight. Amu’s previous song had already conquered them; what new marvel would he deliver this time?
Even Tian Hai, a die-hard loyalist of Ming Yunyu, found himself anticipating the music.
A thread-like sound of a xiao flute began, rising and then falling after a few undulating phrases.
Zheng—
A stunning, soul-stirring sound from a guzheng, as if plucked directly on the listeners’ hearts, instantly ignited their blood.
A rapid cascade of notes followed, unleashing a tumultuous overture.
The crowd felt as if they were a solitary skiff caught on a raging sea, tossed and swayed by colossal waves in the darkness, every moment threatening capsizing, holding their hearts in their throats.
The music slowed, the tide gradually calming, and everyone let out a collective breath of relief. Just then, a monumental wave unexpectedly crashed over them, carrying a force of destruction that instantly flipped the skiff.
Everyone plunged into the water, struggling fiercely amidst the terrifying surge, when suddenly, another giant wave struck.
Despair set in, but just as the crest of the wave was about to engulf them, a single ray of sunlight pierced the darkness, shining upon them and sinking into their souls.
The final note dissolved into the air, and only then did everyone snap back to reality as if waking from a dream, involuntarily letting out sighs of wistful loss.
“So intense,” Tian Hai muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
“I haven’t heard this one before either,” Chen Wen murmured to himself, looking down.
Zhong Yun found this slightly odd and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Whether it’s Blue Mingchuan River or this one, The Tide, these are Jialan pieces that have never surfaced before. Do you know what that implies?”
Zhong Yun shook his head.
“Implies what?” Tian Hai asked.
“Our country currently has exactly 297 known Jialan compositions. Every single one has been covered countless times by innumerable vocalists; every Jialan song is already a classic.”
“It’s not that no one has tried to create music in the Jialan style, but those imitations have never managed to replicate that unique flavor.”
“But Amu has achieved it. If he composed both of these pieces himself, then he is the first person in millennia to do so.”
“Perhaps this Amu is a descendant of the Jialan people,” Tian Hai ventured a bold guess.
“Or perhaps he obtained some Jialan compositions through certain channels that have never been made public,” Zhong Yun suddenly offered.
Abruptly, Chen Wen looked at Zhong Yun with a strange expression, making him feel inexplicably uneasy.
Chen Wen then posed a peculiar question to Tian Hai. “Doesn’t it feel a bit hot in here?”
“That last song was too stimulating; you’re the same. Your clothes are damp, everyone’s is,” Tian Hai replied, fanning himself with his sleeve.
Chen Wen pointed at Zhong Yun. “That guy hasn’t broken a single bead of sweat.”
Tian Hai leaned close to Zhong Yun. “Oh, you’re right. Strange. I know what it is—you have auditory dysfunction.”
“You’re the one with auditory dysfunction!” Zhong Yun laughed and chided him. “My sweat glands aren’t as developed as yours.” He then shushed them both. “The class advisor needs to speak.”
Chen Wen and Tian Hai looked over. Sure enough, the homeroom teacher was walking down the central aisle, clapping his hands to draw the students’ attention. “Students who have paired up, please come here to register.”
Seeing that it wasn't a major issue, Zhong Yun took the opportunity to close his eyes and feign sleep again, letting out a silent breath of relief—he had almost exposed himself just now.