People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

Chapter Ninety-Nine: I Don't Have That Kind of Fetish

After Ishikawa Mayu entered the room, Riki immediately closed the door, leaned against the door panel, and her chest rose and fell slightly due to panic.

Almost instinctively, she wanted to vent her anger on the guy in front of her—why did he come so early?

If he hadn't shown up early, how could he have run into his sister and ended up in that awkward situation where he couldn't explain himself?

But she quickly dismissed the thought as soon as it crossed her mind.

She suddenly remembered that she had sent him a LINE message just a few minutes ago, urging him to hurry up. Now, if she were to turn around and accuse him of arriving too early, it would be completely unreasonable.

The pent-up shame and indignation had no outlet, making him feel increasingly stifled and with nowhere to vent.

She turned around abruptly, grabbed Ishikawa Maho's wrist, and almost dragged him toward the chair she had prepared beforehand next to the desk—a chair that had originally been placed not far from her own seat for teaching convenience.

However, just as he was about to sit down, Lixi's gaze fell upon that extremely close distance, and as if burned, alarm bells rang in his mind.

"and many more!"

She gave a low shout, and before Ishikawa Mayu could react, she quickly raised her foot and used the tip of her shoe to awkwardly and hastily push against the chair leg, kicking it back a short distance.

The movements weren't exactly gentle, even a bit rough, but the range of motion was still controlled so as not to make too much noise; the chair only made a short, sharp scraping sound on the floor.

After creating a space that made her feel much "safer," she immediately used her free hand to press down on his shoulder and force him into the chair that had been moved.

"Give!"

Without even glancing at it, she yanked a book titled "Introduction to Composition: A Basic Analysis" from the bookshelf and shoved it into his hand with some force, the spine of the book even accidentally bumping against his fingers.

"Read the first three chapters first! Don't bother me until you've finished!"

His tone was harsh, as if he were issuing an ultimatum, or as if he were desperately trying to convince himself.

After doing all this, she seemed to have completed an emergency safety procedure. She quickly sat back down in front of her computer, put her headphones back on, and stared intently at the project file of "Spring Shadow" on the screen, trying to immerse herself in the world of notes and tracks and isolate herself from the disturbing presence beside her.

Ishikawa Mayu was caught off guard by Riki's smooth-talking, yet clearly chaotic, "settlement process."

The sensation of her grip remained on my wrist, the force of her pressing down on my shoulder was still clearly audible, and even my fingers ached slightly from the book's spine.

He was sitting in a chair that had been forcibly pulled away from him. Although the distance had increased, he was still sharing the same desk with Lixi.

From this angle, you can still see Shiina Riki's profile—a clearly defined jawline, slightly pursed lips, and headphones that almost cover half of her face.

Li Xi stared intently at the screen, but apart from the cursor blinking regularly, there were no actual operations or changes on the project file interface of "Spring Shadow".

She said she was busy arranging music, but judging from her appearance, she was clearly still embarrassed and annoyed by the awkwardness of being exposed by her sister earlier.

After all, she's a girl, so it's understandable that she would feel shy and uncomfortable being teased like that...

A feeling of absurdity and amusement welled up in Ishikawa Mayu's heart, which also eased the lingering fear of social anxiety she had felt when she was being scrutinized by Shiina-neechan at the door.

What is he doing...?

Did Li hope consider him a dangerous source who needed to be isolated?

Could it be that I really have masochistic tendencies like Li hope said? I don't feel angry at being treated like this; instead, I find her flustered and bluffing appearance... kind of cute?

The moment the thought popped into her head, Ishikawa Mayu quickly shook her head vigorously in her mind, trying to shake off this terrible self-doubt.

No, absolutely not! How could Ishikawa Mayu be a masochist! This must be an illusion!

Then he looked down at the thick book "Introduction to Composition: A Basic Analysis" in his hand, flipped through a couple of pages, and then closed the book with a knowing look, gently placing it on the table.

She wasn't stupid. The purpose of Li Xi giving him this book was obvious—she just wanted to find an excuse to keep him quiet and give herself some time to calm down.

If he really foolishly spends the entire afternoon studying introductory textbooks, then he would truly have failed to fulfill the purpose of coming today, and also failed Lixi...

At least it was all for nothing that Shiina-nee-san made fun of me.

He smiled helplessly and casually glanced around Lixi's room.

Besides the necessary office supplies and the professional audio equipment and electronic drum set, there was an entire wall of bookshelves filled with all kinds of books on music theory, arrangement, and mixing, from basic to advanced, covering all categories.

Apart from that, there were almost no decorations belonging to "girls"—no dolls, no posters, and even the colors were predominantly cool tones.

This didn't surprise Zhenyu, after all, Lixi wasn't an ordinary girl.

Looking at the space that was almost entirely filled with music-related items, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional—Li hope was truly serious about music, and it could even be said that he had poured all his heart and soul into it.

Only this shelf of books and the worn-out drumheads probably know how much effort she put into the band behind the scenes.

This focus and seriousness should not be disturbed by unnecessary embarrassment.

Zhenyu gently bent down, trying to make as little noise as possible, unfastened the clasp of the violin case, and lifted the lid.

The violin, lying quietly on the velvet lining, has elegant lines, and the dark lacquer finish gleams warmly under the room lights.

He carefully removed the instrument and bow, his movements practiced and gentle, as if handling a fragile treasure.

Throughout the entire process, he kept an eye on Lixi's reaction out of the corner of his eye—she maintained that stiff posture, her headphones tightly covering her ears, her gaze fixed on the screen that showed no change in operation, as if she wanted to see a hole through the flashing cursor.

Ishikawa Mayu didn't try to remind her. He simply rested the body of the violin firmly against his shoulder and neck, gently leaned his chin against the support, lightly pressed the fingerboard with his left hand, and held the bow in his right hand, hovering it above the strings, making a silent starting gesture.

Then, he turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on Lixi's tense profile, looking at her slightly undulating shoulders and tightly pursed lips.

It's time to break this suffocating deadlock.

He gently lowered his right wrist, and the bow hair made contact with the strings.

A long, warm G note, like the first ray of sunlight breaking through the ice, gently flowed through the room.

Chapter 100 Bluffing

A series of clear and bright notes then emerged, like a spring breeze caressing a newly thawed stream, carrying a vibrant warmth and containing an indescribable gentle power. The melody is not complex, yet it possesses a purity and beauty that strikes straight to the heart; each note seems meticulously crafted, with just the right amount of vibrato and breathiness.

Unconsciously, Shiina Tatsuki's heartbeat synchronized with that clear melody.

She should have interrupted him immediately and questioned him in the harshest tone why he wasn't reading properly and why he was interfering with her work.

But it felt like something was blocking his throat, and he couldn't form any words of rebuke.

The warm melody was like an invisible hand, gently smoothing the restless thorns in her heart, preventing her from having any thoughts of destroying this beautiful moment.

As if possessed, she raised her hand and slowly took off the earphone that she had originally used to block out everything.

The music instantly became clearer and fuller, enveloping her like a warm tide. Every delicate vibrato, every subtle change in dynamics, flowed into her ears without reservation, striking the strings of her heart.

She even subconsciously turned her head slightly, her gaze involuntarily falling on the boy beside her who was playing music with his eyes closed.

The afternoon sun shone through the window, casting a soft halo around Ishikawa Mayu.

His eyes were slightly closed, his thick eyelashes casting soft shadows beneath them, and his expression was one of unprecedented focus and tranquility. His chin rested lightly on the body of the violin, his slender fingers deftly pressing and sliding on the fingerboard, his right hand holding the bow moving steadily and smoothly, every subtle movement carrying a natural sense of rhythm.

He seemed to merge with the instrument in his hands and the flowing melody, radiating a calm yet dazzling light.

Li hope was stunned.

She had seen his lazy and carefree demeanor, his helpless and bitter smile, his ears turning red with embarrassment, and his gentle demeanor when earnestly comforting others.

But Ishikawa Mayu, so immersed in the world of music, seemingly isolated from everything around her, and conversing only with the notes, was someone she had never seen before.

Time passed quietly amidst the warm music, and as the lingering echo of the last note completely dissipated in the air, Ishikawa Mayu slowly opened her eyes.

Those eyes, which always carried a hint of weariness, now held the lingering strains of music and a gentle smile.

His gaze naturally fell on Shiina Riki, meeting her undisguised, slightly bewildered look.

Eyes facing each other.

Shiina Riki turned around abruptly as if burned, so fast that even the hair at the back of her neck fluttered slightly. She faced the computer screen again, leaving him with only a profile of her feigned composure, her taut features, and an uncontrollable blush that quickly spread to her ears.

Her fingers, which were resting on the mouse, tightened unconsciously, and her fingertips turned slightly white.

"...Didn't I tell you to study properly?"

Shiina Tatsuki's voice was tense, trying to regain his usual impatient tone, but inexplicably revealed a hint of weakness and lack of confidence.

"Who, who gave you permission to play the violin on your own?"

Ishikawa Mayu ignored her intimidating accusations and calmly began to pack up her violin, her movements gentle and practiced.

He gently loosened the bow and carefully placed it into the groove inside the violin case, the smile on his lips still lingering.

"Let me see the textbook. It shouldn't be the teaching plan you originally arranged, Teacher Lixi, right?" His tone was somewhat knowing, yet also seemed a little innocent. "I think you seem to need something else to break the deadlock."

Shiina Ritsuki's throat tightened; she wanted to retort, but found herself speechless. So she could only purse her lips and watch as he methodically packed away the violin, the velvet lining gently covering the warm, wooden body.

He closed the violin case and placed the violin at his feet. Then, he rested his elbow on the desk, propped his cheek with his fist, and leisurely turned his head to look at Lixi, whose back was still stiff, with a clear smile in his eyes.

“And,” he continued, his voice softening as if afraid of disturbing something, “Lixi, you looked… a little confused just now.”

He deliberately chose the word "confused." This word is neutral enough to encompass both her personal state of being so embarrassed and annoyed that she almost crashed after being teased by her sister, and it can also point to the technical bottleneck she might encounter in composing music.

“So,” he said, a faint smile curving his lips as his gaze fell on her still-reddened earlobes, “I just wanted to play a piece of music to change your mood.”

His tone was natural and sincere, as if it were just a trivial matter.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, a genuine realization and a hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes, and he asked softly:

"Come to think of it, this seems to be the first time you've heard me play a serious piece?"

Shiina Tatsuki's breath hitched almost imperceptibly.

"So what if it is?" she retorted almost immediately, her tone hard and brimming with a bluff that seemed to come across as someone who had been seen through. Her gaze was fixed on the constantly flashing cursor on the screen, as if it were some unsolved mystery of the world.

How could she possibly admit that her mind was indeed a mess just now? How could she possibly admit that she had actually gotten stuck on the arrangement? Any admission of "confusion" would be like showing weakness to the guy in front of her.

A brief silence fell over the room, broken only by the faint hum of the computer fan. The lingering warmth of the piano music seemed to still hang in the air, creating a subtle contrast with the quiet.

Ishikawa Mayu didn't urge him, but simply maintained the position of resting her cheek on her hand, watching Shiina Tatsuki with great interest.

This person was clearly moved, yet was trying to maintain a calm demeanor...

It's quite fun.

Shiina Tatsuki, however, could hardly bear the silence. The tranquility and excitement brought on by the piano music had not yet fully subsided, and in the quiet room, she could almost hear her own heartbeat too clearly. She had to say something to break the awkward atmosphere.

"...What was that song just now?" She stared intently at the screen, as if talking to the cursor, "What was it?"

She paused, trying to make her tone sound more like a casual inquiry than curiosity.

"I've never heard of this before."

“Oh, that,” Ishikawa Mayu paused, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Riki’s computer screen—on which, the project file for “Spring Shadow” remained almost untouched…

“No name,” he answered softly, his voice unusually clear in the quiet room. “It’s just… watching you sitting there just now, I felt you needed something… to calm you down.”

Chapter 101 Hitting a Wall

"what?!"

Shiina Tatsuki seemed to be burned by the answer, and turned his head sharply. His voice rose because he was so shocked that it even cracked a little.

No name?

But... looking at myself, I feel like I need something to calm me down?

What is this? An impromptu creation? And one specifically created because of her state at the time?

This is just... this is just too much...

She's such a supermodel!

"Stop being so smug!" Her voice was tense, with obvious bluff. "It was just a few notes played casually! Don't act like you're something special!"

She took a deep breath, as if trying to force down all her chaotic thoughts, her gaze fixed on the "Spring Shadow" project file on the screen, her tone stiff as she attempted to bring everything back "on track":

"Now that you've finished venting and raving, let's get down to business! My time is precious, and I don't have time to waste here with you!"

Ishikawa Mayu smiled, not bothering to find out who had just wasted so much time staring at a blank screen. She simply sat up straight and focused her attention on Riki's explanation.

Seeing his cooperation, Shiina Riki secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the irritation caused by embarrassment subsided slightly.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to focus on "teaching," a field she was familiar with.

“First of all, don’t be intimidated by all this dense interface.” Shiina Tatsuki moved the mouse and quickly pointed to the main function area of ​​the DAW software. “This is the track area; each track corresponds to an instrument or vocal. This is the mixer, which controls volume, panning, and effects…”

As the explanation deepened, it expanded from basic interface operations to more specific music arrangement logic. Ishikawa Mayu listened with increasing focus, occasionally asking some key questions.

"So the quantization function is mainly to correct minor rhythmic errors, especially to ensure overall rhythmic consistency when different instrument tracks are superimposed, right?"