SRGA Chapter 42: Bingning, How Much Hope Do I Have?
"Lin Tian, shall we change places to eat?" Lu Bingning suggested.
The waiter happened to arrive with their food cart.
"No need, the food is already here. It's not good to waste food," Lin Tian smiled.
If He Yuhao wanted to show off by playing the piano, that's one thing, but showing off with the guqin was pointless.
He was a master of the guqin.
According to Wu Lao, there was a guqin master in Huaxia, but even if that master were present, Lin Tian was confident he could win.
He was a master at the pinnacle!
"Ding—"
He Yuhao soon began to play the guqin, and the nearby woman's eyes lit up. He Yuhao's skill was quite impressive.
"Not bad," Lin Tian muttered to himself. He could tell from just a little listening that He Yuhao's guqin skill was around professional level seven.
This level was slightly better than the woman who had played before.
"Lin Tian, even though you're not great at music, you excel in running, swimming, medicine, and other areas far more than He Yuhao," Lu Bingning said, offering Lin Tian some food. "Try this, it's delicious."
"Handsome, good at playing the guqin, but unfortunately the girl he likes is interested in someone else. These days, money speaks louder than anything," someone nearby whispered.
Lin Tian and Lu Bingning ignored He Yuhao, chatting and laughing as they ate. This situation made He Yuhao feel a bit out of place.
As the piece ended, many people applauded.
He Yuhao approached their table. "Bingning, what a coincidence to meet you here."
He seemed to completely ignore Lin Tian's presence.
Lu Bingning frowned. "He Yuhao, firstly, I already have a boyfriend; secondly, do you think it's appropriate to follow me here? If you do it again, I'll call the police."
He Yuhao's face turned slightly ugly.
Lu Bingning's words left him with no dignity.
"Bingning, we're classmates. We both love music, and that's something we have in common. Online relationships are unreliable."
"What does he have that you like?" He Yuhao asked, his tone tense.
He and Li Feng were acquainted, and Li Feng had told him that Lu Bingning had a boyfriend, so he rushed over from the capital in a hurry.
Surrounding tables showed surprise at the mention of an online relationship.
"Lin Tian, you're being too hard on yourself," someone at a nearby table chuckled, causing his friend to also look at Lin Tian strangely. Was that what he meant by having a 'long suit'?
"Bingning, don't let him deceive you. He's worthless and only wants to use you for your feelings and your family's money," He Yuhao said angrily.
Lin Tian furrowed his brows. "He Yuhao, you're going too far. Bingning chose to be with me on her own."
Lu Bingning rolled her eyes at Lin Tian.
He Yuhao was left speechless.
He had pursued Lu Bingning for a long time in college, with no results. Now that Lu Bingning was with Lin Tian, she claimed it was her choice?
"Bingning, what common ground do you have with him? You're a top student at Peking University, while he went to a second-rate university. You're proficient in singing, dancing, and playing instruments, while he probably doesn't even know how to play a few keys on the piano," He Yuhao said forcefully.
"Bingning, let me play a piece for you," Lin Tian stood up and walked to the performance area.
Playing the guqin was something He Yuhao learned himself, while Lin Tian's skill was given by the system. Originally, Lin Tian didn't want to embarrass He Yuhao by showing off, but He Yuhao's continuous disdain finally pushed him over the edge.
He had awakened the system, and that was his chance, his strength.
"Lin Tian, you—" Lu Bingning was dumbfounded.
Lin Tian playing the guqin?
According to the information she had, Lin Tian had never been exposed to the guqin before, and mastering it would take quite some time.
"Hello, may I play a piece?" Lin Tian asked.
The woman who had played before quickly agreed, but added a warning about disturbing other guests.
Randomly playing wouldn't be allowed.
"Sure."
Lin Tian nodded and sat back down.
Familiar melodies filled the air once again as Lin Tian played "Feng Qiu Huang."
Many people looked surprised.
Comparing the two performances, it was clear that Lin Tian was superior.
Lin Tian didn't display the level of a professional performer, but he showed a professional level ten skill, which was much better than a professional level seven.
If it were just professional level seven or eight, the difference wouldn't be significant, but there was a noticeable gap between professional level seven and professional level ten.
"Amazing," the woman next to Lin Tian exclaimed in surprise.
She had put in a lot of effort to reach professional level six.
It was surprising enough that He Yuhao was better than her, but for Lin Tian to be even better, and by such a large margin, was truly astonishing.
"How is this possible?" He Yuhao couldn't believe it.
He was a professional level seven, and with a master guiding him, he could tell that Lin Tian had reached professional level ten.
Any further would be the level of a performer.
The requirements for performers in Huaxia were very strict, and they were all very talented.
"This—" He Yuhao was incredulous, and Lu Bingning was equally stunned.
She stared at Lin Tian in disbelief.
Lin Tian had given her a powerful shock.
She had thought Lin Tian had no musical talent at all, but now she realized that he was even better at the guqin than He Yuhao.
Before long, the piece ended.
"Wow!"
The restaurant erupted into applause, even more enthusiastic than when He Yuhao had played.
"Thank you, thank you everyone."
Lin Tian returned to Lu Bingning's side, and He Yuhao had already left before the applause even began.
"Lin Tian, why didn't you tell me you were so good at the guqin?" Lu Bingning whispered, her eyes filled with surprise and admiration.
"You never asked," Lin Tian smiled. "And showing it now can give you a surprise, right? Bingning, how much hope do I have now?"
Lu Bingning's face turned even redder than before.
Yesterday, it was only two or three percent.
But this morning, Lin Tian had shown his expertise in ancient medicine and even treated Xu Hu and the others. Now, he had displayed his impressive guqin skills.
"If I didn't tell you, I still have a long way to go," Lu Bingning huffed.