Boyfriend's passive-aggressive behavior, she turns the tables and makes him her backup option.

After receiving Xie Jingyao's voice message, Qin Qing clicked her tongue. "Here we go again. You always say you have a girlfriend. I've known you for so many years, and I've never seen you bring one out."

[My girlfriend, what are you looking at?]

"Just curious, remember to bring your sister-in-law next time. It'll be a good opportunity for me to meet her, how about it?"

Xie Jingyao slightly curved his lips: "Okay, I'll introduce you two another day."

Qin Qing stared at her phone screen, and couldn't help but wonder, did Xie Jingyao really have a girlfriend? Or was it just an excuse to ward off unwanted suitors?

However, she had known Xie Jingyao for almost three years and had never seen him bring a girlfriend with him.

Furthermore, Xie Jingyao's social media posts show no signs of women, making him seem completely unlike someone with a girlfriend.

After some deduction, Qin Qing was certain that Xie Jingyao's claim of having a girlfriend was just an excuse.

So she said to Xie Jingyao, "Let's not reschedule. Just bring your wife to the gathering tonight."

Let's see if she wants to go.

……

Si Nian joined the orchestra.

Unable to contain her excitement, Zheng Ruochun said to Si Nian, "Niannian, today is rehearsal. Just like always, go back to your spot and rehearse on stage."

Si Nian paused, then asked, "What about the new cellist? Did he quit?"

"No, her professional skills are not up to par with the overall level of the orchestra, so we switched her with you. She is now the backup candidate."

As they were talking, Zheng Ruochun nudged Si Nian.

Si Nian turned around and saw Chen Bitong in the waiting list.

Chen Bitong was arguing indignantly with the people around her.

Just as the argument was getting heated, she saw Si Nian and Zheng Ruochun.

So she strode over to them. "Teacher Zheng, what do you mean by this? Giving my position to Si Nian and making me a backup candidate—did you get Ting Han's consent for this?"

Zheng Ruochun explained, "Ms. Chen, this decision was made by everyone based on your performance, and it does not require Mr. Lin's approval."

"Are you saying I'm not good enough and don't deserve to perform on stage?"

"That's not what I meant, Miss Chen, please don't misunderstand," Zheng Ruochun replied evasively.

Chen Bitong was seething with anger because of Chen Bitong's mild and unapproachable words.

Chen Bitong looked coldly at Si Nian and said through gritted teeth, "It's just a performance spot, I'll give it to you."

Si Nian seemed too lazy to reply, but deliberately looked her up and down with her eyes.

Chen Bitong clenched her fists in anger. Although Si Nian did not argue with her, her eyes were full of disdain.

She turned and left, then dialed Lin Tinghan's number. Once the call connected, she couldn't help but cry, "Tinghan, they're all bullying me, waaaah..."

Chen Bitong's crying backstage made Zheng Ruochun roll her eyes. She whispered to Si Nian, "Some people say they don't care, but they're actually furious inside."

With only a few days left before the international competition, Chen Bitong certainly can't improve her skill level much in such a short time.

So Si Nian returned to her old position with a clear conscience and participated in the orchestra's rehearsals.

After practicing all afternoon, as it got dark, everyone gradually dispersed.

Si Nian carefully put the cello away and placed it in her dressing room.

She only then saw several messages Xie Jingyao had sent her on her phone.

Si Nian immediately called Xie Jingyao.

Xie Jingyao immediately countered with a question: "You were so engrossed in practicing the piano that you ignored me all afternoon?"

"I only check my phone when I'm about to go on stage for rehearsal, after I've locked it in the dressing room."

Xie Jingyao's slight dissatisfaction vanished instantly.

He knew that Si Nian was going abroad for a competition at the end of the month, so the rehearsal time would definitely be long.

"Did you call me right after the rehearsal?" Xie Jingyao asked.

Si Nian hummed in agreement.

"That's more like it. I have a get-together tonight, a friend's celebration party. Would you like to come along? Let me introduce you to my friend."

"A victory celebration banquet?"

"Yeah, one of my teammates came in third place in the race."

Si Nian subconsciously thought of Qin Qing.

She didn't know Qin Qing, so she wasn't interested and made up an excuse to refuse.

"I have to practice the piano at night, so I can't get away."

Xie Jingyao paused for a few seconds and then said, "Okay."

After a moment of silence, Si Nian said, "I'm going to hang up now and head home."

"..."

After hanging up the phone, Si Nian didn't rush to leave. Instead, she scrolled through her WeChat Moments on her phone and came across a group photo that Xie Jingyao had posted that afternoon.

The photo was a group photo of his team members, with a woman standing in the center. Si Nian could easily guess that this person was Qin Qing.

Standing next to Qin Qing were Xie Jingyao and Lin Wenshuang.

Qin Qing was holding Lin Wenshuang's arm, and the two seemed to have a very good relationship.

Si Nian zoomed in on the photo and couldn't help but wonder if the Lin family had let Lin Wenshuang out to make some moves?

Remembering what Song Shuyi had told her before, that Lin Wenshuang and Zhou Huai had dated, Si Nian wanted to find an opportunity to meet Lin Wenshuang.

So Si Nian opened Xie Jingyao's chat window and said to him, "Take me to dinner tonight, I'll practice the piano again tomorrow."