Mygo, you guys seem to be getting a bit heavy-hearted.

Mr. Yanming had never said anything like this to me before.

He kept saying...

"You are strong, you can do it."

The lamp knew its own limitations.

But... if this is what Mr. Yanming expects of himself...

Well, no matter what... we have to give it a try...

“...However, I don’t want to always rely on Mr. Yanming like this. This time, please...let me try to solve it myself.”

After saying that, he ran away without looking back.

"Wait……"

Yanming tried to reach out and stop him.

But when Deng was in a state of determination, even his usually weak physical abilities were greatly enhanced. He just didn't react for a moment, and his almost sure-fire grab landed in empty space.

"Little Lamp... can it run so fast?"

Xiangzi covered his mouth in surprise.

Is this still the same delicate lamp that she knew, the one she could easily press against the wall with one hand?

Yanming withdrew his foot, which was halfway out, and said, "It's probably because people's physical condition can't be generalized."

"Eh...aren't we going to chase after them, you two?"

Aiyin estimated the speed at which the lamp was running and figured she could catch up with her in a few hundred meters.

"Well, no thanks."

Yanming glanced at Deng's back and said, "Once Xiaodeng makes up her mind, it won't be changed by a few words."

"Did something happen to her band?"

Ai Yin only learned part of the information from her classmates, and most of it was praise and affection for the band, or rather, for "Gao Songdeng" as a person.

Truly useful information.

Actually, there are only two points: "Ring's rising star" and "Xiao Deng is the lead singer".

Aine had no way, nor any reason, to learn more information.

Yanming asked, "Chihaya-kun, are you the kind of person who's good at building good relationships with others?"

"I?"

Aine thought for a moment, "It's...okay, I guess?"

Yanming nodded and continued, "That's where the problem with that band lies."

After a moment's thought, Aine immediately understood the reason:

"So, the other members of the Little Lamp Band are all 'shady characters,' right?"

Turn around.

But she found Yanming looking at her blankly.

"Huh? Isn't it?"

Surely my deduction can't be wrong? That must be what Mr. Yanming meant...

"that……"

Xiangzi nudged Aiyin, then awkwardly covered his forehead and explained, "Yanming... he just looks young, but his mental age is almost eighty. He doesn't understand the meaning of a simplified term like 'yin jiao' (yin jiao)."

"So that's why!?"

Ai Yin was dumbfounded.

“Aine-san.”

The old man Xiangzi was referring to frowned. "What do you mean by 'yin jiao'? Can you explain it to me?"

That's really true!

When Ai-yin gave him a look, Xiangzi shrugged, indicating that he was already used to it.

Yanming is like this.

After a period of explanation.

The old man has finally accepted the new things that belong to the young people.

"In other words, 'introverted' refers to someone who is more introverted in their interactions with others..."

Yanming understood everything. "So, what I mean is that Xiaodeng's band is missing a corresponding 'yangjiao' (positive angle)."

“Papapa——”

Xiangzi clapped for his father with a face full of satisfaction.

After a science popularization session, Yanming suddenly looked almost fifty years younger and even learned to apply what he learned to other situations.

"My original intention was to find a girl with a more outgoing personality, persuade her to join Xiaodeng's band, and help her to adjust the atmosphere in the band, but... Xiaodeng seemed to not want to trouble me, so she ran away."

Yanming revealed his original plan.

What? An outgoing personality?

Pretty? Gentle and cute? Understanding? Pink hair? 36D?

Good heavens, that's exactly me!

"A band, is it...?"

Chihaya Aine smugly pinched the end of her hair and casually remarked, "Speaking of which, I happen to know how to play some musical instruments."

"...?"

A fragrant aroma of tea suddenly wafted into Xiangzi's nose. He looked around but couldn't find the source.

Yanming's gaze fell on the inexplicably excited girl: "Chihaya-san, have you ever learned a musical instrument?"

"Yes, I can play the guitar. But my learning ability... well, it's not bad. After all, I often got first place in middle school and was even the student council president. So if I want to learn other instruments, I should be able to do it quickly."

Ai Yin said modestly.

It's completely impossible to discern her intentions. (Read in a monotone tone)

Chapter 128 Oh my god, Chihaya Aine!

Aine's inner thoughts:

The lamp = the class's darling + the grade's rising star in the band.

Aiyin = a poor boy from out of town.

Joining a band is like marrying into a wealthy family.

Is it shabby? No, it's not shabby at all.

All I need to do is to join Dengjiang's band legitimately as an invited member, and then "casually" reveal the news to my classmates...

Oh my god, Chihaya Aine!

Where did this super-duper celebrity come from?!

Even the rising star of Ring, the little animal of Yuqiu, and the 100% natural beauty had to condescend to invite her to join their band for a powerful collaboration.

Oh my god, Chihaya Aine!

We admire you so much!

We respect and love your teeth!

“Hey hey hey…”

Ai Yin was looking forward to the future, and she had already thought of her future title at school.

[The Pinnacle of Haneoka] [The Band's Answer]

Want to play in a band? Look no further than Ai Yin!

"Then you're pretty awesome."

Yanming nodded, agreeing with Aiyin's statement, then rested his chin on his hand and continued to think, "...Where should we find a 'positive angle' that meets our needs?"

"Ah?"

Look at me! Look at me!

I'm right here! The person you're looking for! Huh? Huh—

Look at me!

"Ah ha ha……"

Xiangzi looked at Aiyin, who was so anxious she was almost jumping up from the ground, and then at Yanming, who was deep in thought. He was at a loss for words to describe the two of them.

"Cough cough!"

Ai Yin pretended to choke on the air and coughed violently, trying to get Yan Ming's attention in this way. "Cough cough cough!"

Hard work pays off. Yanming looked at Xiangzi, who was in distress, raised his head, pulled himself out of his thoughts, and continued.

He took a bottle of throat spray from his pocket and placed it in Aiyindu's hand:

"You're welcome."

After saying that, he went back to thinking about the band.

Of course, even though Yanming was a bit slow on the uptake, it was impossible for him not to notice such an obvious hint.

As for why Aine was deliberately excluded from the selection process...

Ai Yin said she can play the guitar, but... most people who play the guitar regularly don't have hands as delicate as hers.

This kid is probably just a beginner, or someone who has never even been in a band before.

That alone is enough to rule it out.

Yanming wouldn't hold it against her for lying to him, so he pretended to be oblivious and ignored Aiyin's self-recommendation.

"Um, I can give it a try, okay?"

However, Yanming underestimated Aiyin's tenacity.

Even though she was ignored, she still went up to Yanming herself and said those words.

"Ugh……"

Yanming sighed, "Aiyin, what's your reason for wanting to join a band?"

"This……"

Ai Yin never expected that Yan Ming's casual question would be so sharp, hitting the darkest part of her psyche with just one sentence.

Her reason for playing in a band... well, it's just that most people in her class are in bands.

She herself has no interest in musical instruments or even in playing them; she is only interested in the adulation of others.

She couldn't honestly say such a reason.

I need to come up with a better reason...

"It's to... help a friend. After all, look... Xiaodeng seems really troubled by this, isn't she? It's almost affecting her classes."

Aine believed her excuse was airtight enough, and even if this lie was exposed, she could continue to cover it up with other reasons.

Unfortunately... her little tricks were still too naive in the face of a truly skilled liar.

"Helping a friend? That's great."

Yanming sighed, then looked into her eyes and continued, "Compared to Aiyin, the reason I initially joined a band is much harder to admit."

"To be honest, when I first started playing in a band, my only thought was to make those who looked down on me respect me. In other words, I only used the band as a tool for my vanity. It was neither a genuine interest nor a job to earn a living. Compared to the brilliance of my peers, it was really hard to admit."

"So, I came up with a great excuse, which took me a few seconds, and the reason I made up just happened to be the same reason that Chihaya is giving now."