Not to Be Rude, but You Really Can Play?

What's up with this teacher?

Why was she racking up so many Emotion Points just by taking attendance?

Suddenly, Xu Yi felt a chill. He looked up and saw Yu Xue staring at him.

"Chen Fu."

No one answered for a long time.

Xu Yi was also furious at him for not knowing what was good for him.

Skipping such a great class? No wonder he was single.

The moment Yu Xue lowered her head, Xu Yi promptly called out.

Negative Emotion Points +100

What was wrong with this woman?

Had she spotted me?

Clack~

Yu Xue slammed her book down on the desk, then spoke in a chilly voice.

"I picked up the wrong class roster."

Xu Yi: "???"

The guy beside him chimed in right away. "I was wondering why all those names sounded so unfamiliar.

Bro, you might be screwed. You'd better run."

Hahaha... Who gets it? I laughed so hard I inhaled my food through my nose.

Xu Yi was something else.

Wasn't Yu Xue going to explode with rage?

Xu Yi nodded and tiptoed toward the back.

"Stop!"

Xu Yi turned around and saw Yu Xue smiling sweetly at him.

But there was no hiding the coldness in her eyes.

"Student, you can either get reported to the whole school or stay here and take my class. Pick one," Yu Xue said.

Something was off! This was really off!

But Xu Yi didn't have time to think it over. He promptly chose to stay for class.

A school-wide notice wasn't a big deal. He had the principal backing him now, after all.

But it wouldn't be good if his client got dragged into this.

He'd been substitute teaching at the school for years, and still had a perfect record. That was all thanks to his dedication.

Xu Yi gave an awkward smile, then returned to his seat.

"Bro, you're so done for. The goddess Yu's turned into a battle-hardened warrior. She's definitely thinking about how to deal with you later."

Xu Yi waved a hand. "No need to say more. As long as my client doesn't get dragged into this, she can do whatever she wants to me."

"You're really dedicated. Bro, let's exchange contacts. I'll come to you when I need a substitute teacher. Can I get a discount?"

"You'll pay five yuan more than everyone else."

"???"

Negative Emotion Points +20

Yu Xue spoke again. "We're changing this class into a midterm exam. Anyone who fails will have their graduation delayed."

"Huh?"

"Please, no, Goddess!"

"Wasn't the midterm supposed to be next week? Since when do we get surprise exams?"

"If the exam can be pushed to next week, I'd even date Goddess Yu!"

"You want to have your cake and eat it too."

The classroom erupted in complaints.

Smiles never disappeared; they just shifted onto Yu Xue's face.

Xu Yi was starting to panic too. What a nasty woman!

She must have moved the exam up on purpose just to target him.

"Bro, what are we being tested on?" Xu Yi asked.

"You didn't ask when you were subbing? It's a piano class, so obviously it's a piano exam."

Xu Yi: "..."

The only thing I've ever played since I was born is my little guy. When have I ever played the piano?

Xu Yi immediately started bombarding his cockroach client with messages, telling her to hurry over for the exam.

But you could never wake someone who didn't want to get up for an eight a.m. class.

Ding! Congratulations, host. You've met the requirements for a ten-pull in the Bronze Tier. Would you like to draw?

"System! Please let me get something piano-related. I'm willing to give up Genshin Impact for a whole year."

Ding! Congratulations, you received women's underwear.

Ding! Congratulations, you received women's underwear.

Ding! Congratulations, you received women's underwear.

Ding! Congratulations, you received mastery of all musical instruments.

Ding! Congratulations, you received women's underwear.

"The system is awesome!"

Do you know what musical-instrument mastery means?!

Xu Yi cheered inwardly as a flood of memories soon surged into his mind.

Hmph~

A little piano exam? Piece of cake!

Soon, the students all headed to the recital room.

Yu Xue looked at Xu Yi with a teasing smile. "Student, the whole exam will be recorded and added to your file."

"Then make sure I look handsome?" Xu Yi smiled confidently.

Astonishment Value +30

Yu Xue couldn't help but freeze. So confident? Could he actually play?

Hmph, it wouldn't help him even if he could!

The piece I'm teaching is one my teacher composed herself. She specially gave it to me.

He hadn't attended my class, so there was no way he could play it.

Thinking of this, Yu Xue smiled again.

The recital room was huge, with all kinds of instruments arranged around it.

There were Western instruments and traditional Chinese ones—everything you could think of.

Right in the middle stood a piano that looked incredibly expensive.

The guy from before explained, "Goddess Yu bought that piano with her own money. I heard it cost hundreds of thousands."

"Hm?" Xu Yi's eyes widened in surprise.

"The piano our school had was old, and the school refused to buy a new one. So she paid for this one herself, so all the students could play on a good piano."

"Looks like she's rich, too. Maybe I'll ask if she needs any kind of part-time service," Xu Yi muttered.

Not long after, Yu Xue began calling students up to play in order of their student numbers.

A camera was set up at the back to record each performance individually.

"Tsk... This piece is pretty hard. The student just hit two wrong notes. They'll probably lose quite a few points," Xu Yi commented.

"Bro, can you play the piano?" His deskmate looked a little surprised.

"I know a little. A little."

"Then you really are screwed. This piece isn't available anywhere, and we're not allowed to look at the sheet music during the exam."

"A real man fears nothing."

"Ai Xiaoxing."

When Yu Xue read the name, she looked toward Xu Yi.

Xu Yi strode forward without hesitation. "Here."

Negative Emotion Points +50

"You're Ai Xiaoxing?" Yu Xue asked with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Yes. I've had a cold these past few days, so my voice sounds a bit like a man's."

Negative Emotion Points +200

"Heh~"

Yu Xue let out a cold laugh, then said, "I'll give you a chance. If you pass the exam, I'll turn a blind eye.

"If you fail, I'll report you to the whole school, and Ai Xiaoxing's graduation will be delayed."

Xu Yi gave a slight nod, then sat down gracefully on the chair.

He casually pressed a few piano keys, producing a burst of noise.

Negative Emotion Points +20

Negative Emotion Points +20

Negative Emotion Points +20

Not bad. I just got another 60 Emotion Points.

His deskmate lowered his head in despair. So much for knowing a little.

"What are you doing?"

Yu Xue's expression turned completely cold. "If you're going to insult music, please leave."

"Don't get me wrong, teacher. I'm just getting a feel for the tuning."

"Hmph. Go ahead."

Xu Yi raised his hands slightly, then let them fall.

Elegant notes seemed to soar out of the piano, then poured forth like a surging waterfall.

His deskmate's face instantly stiffened. "Bro, not to be rude, but you really can play!"

Yu Xue's rosy lips parted slightly, and her big eyes went blank for a few seconds.

How was this possible?

Ding, ding~

As the final note faded, Yu Xue sprang to her feet. Her chest, which was as approachable as ever, rose and fell.

Shock Value +50

Shock Value +50

Shock Value +50

This was exactly the feeling!

Xu Yi looked calm on the outside, but inside, he was over the moon.

Showing off was secondary. Emotion Points were what mattered.

The entire room fell deathly silent.

The music students wore expressions of disbelief and bewildered defeat.

A substitute could play better than they could?

Was he using cheats or something?!

"How do you know how to play?" Yu Xue broke the silence, her voice trembling with excitement.

"I heard it so many times just now. Isn't it only natural that I learned it?" Xu Yi replied matter-of-factly.