"Oh? Can Xiao Xing'er play the pipa? I don't recall hearing it before! Xiao Xing'er, please play a tune for us!"
Seeing everyone looking at her with expectant eyes, Ji Xingmi glanced out the window. It had started to drizzle at some point, the rain falling from the eaves like threads of water, reminding her of a song she used to play on repeat.
She had also come across a version sung in the soft, lilting dialect of the Jiangnan region, which she found quite charming and had even tried to imitate. Recalling the lyrics, she began to play:
Green bricks embrace tiled eaves,
White horses tread on fresh mud.
Mountain flowers and banana leaves, the twilight dyes a red scarf.
Raindrops drip from the eaves,
Wisps of smoke curl from the kitchen.
Time passes, fleeting and turning, where can I find you,
Searching and searching, cold and lonely~~~~~
Everyone seemed to be transported to a misty, rain-swept Jiangnan by Ji Xingmi's melody. Gu Jingyi had seen Ji Xingmi play the pipa before, but this was the first time he witnessed such a gentle and graceful side of her. For a moment, he was lost in a reverie! He felt something stir in his heart, and before he could grasp it, a dizi melody drifted in from outside.
At first, the dizi tune faltered, but gradually it began to weave together with Ji Xingmi's pipa music, creating an unexpectedly beautiful harmony.
Ji Xingmi also heard it, but for some reason, she directly altered her tune. The dizi music paused briefly, but then rejoined the melody, proving that this player was indeed a master.
Ji Xingmi stopped her playing, and the dizi music also ceased. Just then, their dishes arrived, and everyone shifted their attention. Ji Xingmi, however, felt that this was an opportunity to get acquainted, though she only entertained the thought.
"Jingyi, what's wrong? Still lost in thought?" Ji Haocheng, noticing his friend sitting by the window, gazing out at the scenery, came over and patted his shoulder.
"Heh~ It's just that Xiao Xing'er played so beautifully, and it matched the scenery perfectly. I was captivated."
"Let's go, if you don't hurry, Xiao Qi will finish everything!"
The two walked towards the table, and Gu Jingyi sat down next to Ji Xingmi without further thought.
"Hey~ Brother Jingyi, I heard you've been on blind dates recently. Have you found someone yet?" Ji Haoqi blurted out the question as soon as he thought of it. Ye Yu cast an embarrassed glance, remembering how they had offended Gu Jingyi's mother and even apprehended a relative of the Gu family. Little Qi really had a knack for asking the most sensitive questions!
"I wasn't on blind dates. I was invited to dinner by my aunt that day, and I had no idea my mother would do that. I'm truly sorry!" This apology was directed at Ye Yu, as their family's affairs had indeed implicated them, and it was his fault.
"You should still find someone. Don't you have anyone you like?" Ji Xingmi also asked.
Hearing Ji Xingmi say this, Gu Jingyi felt a strange sensation in his heart, though he couldn't pinpoint why. Seeing her look at him with a puzzled expression, he picked up a piece of food for her with his chopsticks before replying, "I haven't met anyone I like yet!"
"Does your mother want you to marry that Qi Wenjing?" Even Ji Mingxue was curious now.
"She does have that idea, wanting to strengthen ties through marriage. After all, that person is now considered a relative on my mother's side."
"So you've been staying at your unit since before the new year to avoid her? I thought you just had too much work!" Ji Haocheng had only just learned this.
"Do you know which family this Qi Wenjing belongs to?" Ji's father suddenly asked.
"I know, she's Qi Yun's daughter."
Ji Mingxue then put down his chopsticks and looked at Gu Jingyi, saying, "Since you know, why did you let her into your home?"
"How can you catch a tiger cub without entering its lair? Since I know who she is, I need to know her intentions. Moreover, this matter now involves my mother and my maternal family. It's best to investigate thoroughly." Gu Jingyi had indeed noticed something, but he couldn't act rashly yet. After all, his mother was involved, and his maternal grandfather's side also hadn't been fully investigated. He couldn't act impulsively.
Seeing his demeanor, Ji Mingxue knew he had a plan and said no more.