NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: Know How to Prune One's Own Love Affairs
Chapter 14: Know How to Prune One’s Own Love Affairs
“President Chu, look at how dramatically the academy has transformed over these two years. Every cent of Chu Group’s investment in the academy has been well spent, used where it was truly needed.”
Principal Li Jie of Beijing Drama Academy smiled warmly as he guided the VIP, leading this bigshot toward scenic spots, new buildings, and lively areas to showcase the academy’s excellence.
The school had held a board meeting, and the Chu family was the largest shareholder in the Beijing Drama Academy.
After the meeting, Principal Li personally showed him around the school.
How much investment they could secure depended on this man’s mood, so Principal Li was doing his utmost to showcase the academy’s best features.
“Wow, that piano playing sounds beautiful. I wonder who’s playing.”
“Who else could it be? Definitely Senior Su Mu. He’s the top student in our school’s piano performance department, the undisputed number one.”
Two girls walked past the teaching building, chatting sweetly about the piano music.
Chu Hanting stopped abruptly upon hearing Su Mu’s name, thinking it was a coincidence at first, then remembering that person was indeed a third-year student at Beijing Drama Academy.
“Is something wrong?” Principal Li noticed Chu Hanting stopping, his gaze directed toward the music building.
He smiled and said, “President Chu, this is our new instrument building constructed last year. It has practice rooms for various instruments, specially designed for students to train, along with vocal rooms, recording studios, and other new facilities…”
Chu Hanting walked toward the music, with Principal Li explaining beside him.
As they approached the piano room, the music suddenly stopped.
Not just Chu Hanting, even the principal paused mid-sentence.
Anyone could tell the piece hadn’t actually finished but had been abruptly cut off.
Su Mu’s piano playing was the kind that, once you listened for a while, would entrance you, unconsciously drawing you into its mood.
The sudden halt was like having a delicious dessert snatched away mid-bite.
Unsatisfying, uncomfortable.
As Chu Hanting approached, Su Mu’s firm rejection could be heard from inside: “I’m sorry, but I can’t accept this.”
“Why?” Lin Xiang’s eyes were red. After much hesitation and encouragement from friends and classmates, she had finally taken the step to confess.
She had considered the possibility of rejection, but believing herself to be attractive and from a good family background, she couldn’t understand why Su Mu would reject her.
“But I like you. I’ve liked you for three years.” She had fallen for him the moment he spoke as the freshman representative during orientation.
She had loved him secretly for three years – who was he to reject her feelings?
“Just because you like me, does that mean I have to like you back? Let me be honest – I already have someone I like,” Su Mu said directly.
He has someone he likes? Who? And if so, why did he agree to the arranged marriage?
Chu Hanting felt somewhat uneasy. He knew he shouldn’t feel this way – it was just for show in front of the elders, not genuine. Wasn’t it normal for Su Mu to pursue his own feelings and have someone he liked?
He wanted to leave quietly, but his feet seemed glued to the ground, preventing him from turning away.
Principal Li didn’t understand why President Chu wanted to stand here eavesdropping, but with his duty to serve their benefactor, he naturally wouldn’t disturb him.
He too found himself guiltily listening in on the students’ private matters.
Hearing such an unceremonious rejection, he secretly felt anxious for the girl. ‘Hey, this kid could at least reject people more tactfully. The girl took the initiative – at least let her save face!’
Lin Xiang didn’t believe it, thinking it was just an excuse to reject her confession.
Being at the same school, she’d never seen anyone by Su Mu’s side, nor had there ever been any rumors about his relationships.
“Su Mu, what don’t you like about me? I can change. I really like you, please give me a chance? How can you know you don’t like me when we’ve never spent time together?”
Lin Xiang was indeed quite attractive – oval face, long legs, slim figure, striking features. While perhaps not “peerlessly beautiful,” she definitely qualified as a “beauty.”
Now heartbroken and unwilling to give up, her eyes welling with tears, anyone who saw her would feel sympathetic and hesitate to speak harshly.
But Su Mu was the exception.
His brow furrowed with impatience – her persistent pursuit after his clear rejection was becoming annoying.
“I said I don’t like you. Give up, we’re not compatible. It’s not that you’re not good enough, I’m not worthy.”
“No, no, no, Su Mu, you are worthy! How could you not be? Won’t you be with me?”
As she reached to grab his sleeve, Su Mu barely dodged it, irritation showing on his face.
If she weren’t a woman, he would have thrown her out already – but his patience with polite words had run out.
“Can’t you understand basic human speech? Do I need to make this ugly? Whether you’re good or not has nothing to do with me. I don’t like you means I don’t like you. Just go, stop disturbing my practice.”
His tone couldn’t have been more dismissive.
Outside, the principal listened with interest – young people these days were so direct about love, unlike his generation’s shy, hesitant confessions where even saying “love” took endless stammering.
Lin Xiang burst into tears at Su Mu’s shout.
Being rejected was painful enough, but being yelled at too – how dare he!
Su Mu felt nothing about this – she’d brought it on herself. Couldn’t she just leave quietly after being rejected?
Clearly he wouldn’t get any practice done today. He prepared to leave.
But as his gaze shifted, he caught unexpected reflections in the glass window.
He wasn’t sure why that person would be here.
But his bad mood from the interrupted practice and unwanted pursuit instantly vanished.
His lips curled into a smile as he turned back, “Didn’t you ask what kind of person I like?”
Lin Xiang froze mid-cry, confused – she hadn’t asked that, wasn’t it just his excuse to reject her?
To her surprise, Su Mu continued, “I like someone handsome, wealthy, older than me, and most importantly – he’s male.”
As he spoke, his eyes stayed on the shadowy reflection in the window, a smile playing on his face.
“Waaah!” Lin Xiang cried even harder, wiping her tears before finally fleeing in apparent shame and shock, holding up her skirt as she ran.
Outside, the principal was dumbfounded, thinking how harsh that was. He clearly didn’t believe Su Mu was telling the truth, assuming it was just to chase the girl away.
But Chu Hanting’s lips curved upward, his mood considerably improved. “Little liar,” he thought, they’d only known each other a few days and he was already claiming to like him.
“Double the Chu Group’s investment this semester.”
“Oh, good, good. Ah?… That’s wonderful! Thank you, President Chu.” Principal Li’s face creased into a chrysanthemum of smiles.
This was exactly what he’d hoped for – more funding to help the academy improve in every aspect.
Just then, a teacher hurriedly approached Principal Li, whispering something that seemed urgent.
Sure enough, Principal Li said: “President Chu, I have some matters to attend to at the school. I won’t be able to accompany you further. Would that be…?”