The Young Miss of the Xu Family is a Little Strange (5)

Tian Meng closed her eyes as she listened, and though she didn't think much of the skill, her expression was one of complete seriousness.

When Yan Mo glanced over, he couldn't help but admire.

Xu Mingyue was beautiful, that was undeniable. But with the soul switched, Tian Meng gave Xu Mingyue's aura a sort of mysterious tint, to the point where she simply felt more fairy than human, and that with a single breath, she may disappear from view, never to be seen again.

For the first time, Yan Mo could not pay attention to the music, and was entranced by the person beside him.

Tian Meng who could sense someone staring at her: ...

Her family's system who was dutifully recording everything: ...

Wasn't this... bad?

What cultivating feelings with the female lead, wasn't he clearly cultivating feelings with her, the villain, right now?

Tian Meng's face stiffened slightly as she used all her efforts to keep calm. This was no good. As expected, she should have rejected him without any care for his face!

When intermission came, Tian Meng really couldn't take it anymore, excusing herself to the bathroom, taking her silver clutch with her.

As she exited the room, she came across a beautiful lady. The two of them paused, looking at each other.

The system immediately told her the woman's identity: "This should be Cheng Le, Cheng Xing's daughter."

Tian Meng knew Cheng Le from the information. This person could be considered another cannon fodder rival of Qin Yu's. Because Cheng Le liked Yan Mo, she had a bad opinion of Qin Yu and would constantly come up with reasons to bully and make fun of the girl.

Tian Meng had a bad feeling about this.

Cheng Le's prideful face had on it a surprised expression, glancing at the room that Tian Meng had just come out of - from what she knew, that should be Yan Mo's room. She had already heard from her butler that apparently Yan Mo had come in with a girl. It was actually this brat, Xu Mingyue?

Xu Mingyue and Cheng Le meddled in the same circles, so of course, the two were familiar with each other. That being said, because Cheng Le was older, they could only be considered vague acquaintances.

Cheng Le's beautiful and mature face twisted into one of disgust and disdain. "You are the one who came with Yan Mo?"

Tian Meng smiled coolly. "Indeed, young master Yan was kind enough to invite me to your mother's concert."

Cheng Le immediately felt offended as Tian Meng emphasized the fact that she had been invited by Yan Mo and not the other way around.

On the other hand, Tian Meng felt exhausted, not wanting to continue. Dealing with cannon fodder, this should be the job of the protagonists! Not her! She was the villain! The villain!! So why was she taking the place of Qin Yu to exchange poisonous words with this cannon fodder known as Cheng Le!?

"How could he invite you?" Cheng Le said, not believing it. A younger girl like Xu Mingyue, not only that, but Cheng Le believed that in terms of skill in the piano, the two of them should be comparable. In that case, wouldn't the better choice be herself? So why was it that Yan Mo, who had never invited her, would actually go an invite Xu Mingyue to a concert?

Tian Meng cast her a cold glance. "Perhaps you should ask young master Yan about that. It's not my fault that he seems to prefer me over you," she said, before leaving without another word.

In fact, the reason that Yan Mo would never look at Cheng Le despite her relationship with one of his favorite pianists, Cheng Xing, was because of Cheng Le's skill in the piano. Because she worked hard from a young age, and even more so in order to draw Yan Mo's attention, she had very high technical skill. But, her playing had no emotion. As a result, perhaps to an amateur's eye she was a very good pianist, she would never be able to rise up and achieve acknowledgement from those experts in the music circle. Of course, Yan Mo was included among those.

She quickly walked to the bathroom before Cheng Le could recover. Although she had a lot of biting words that she could send over to the girl, she didn't want to, for the sole sake that this wasn't even supposed to be her job, it was Qin Yu's!

She gripped the edge of the bathroom sink, looking into the mirror for a few moments before sighing and washing her hands, letting the cool water run over her skin. She truly felt that she was getting way too stressed out from the recent developments. The anxiety of it was looming over her, making her want to scream a little.

"Little White, why is this happening? This is a little too strange right?" Tian Meng said, drying her hands.

Her family's system was also unsure, finding it strange as well. Tian Meng had been doing very well before this, and though he had initially been a little worried when they had moved away from scripted performances, Tian Meng had displayed her capability very well, constantly fine tuning her performance with each different world, selecting what she thought was the best role to play.

It had started out the same in this world, so why was it going so wrong?

Was it because she wasn't enough like a villain outwardly, instead having chosen to play the villain in the shadows?

The system voiced its thoughts and Tian Meng furrowed her brow.

"But clearly I played such a villain in the Ten Thousand Cultivation Worlds before, and didn't it go very well?" She said, and the system also had to acknowledge this.

In that world, Tian Meng had been the elder apprentice sister of the female lead in one of the world's greatest virtuous sects. But she had fallen to the dark side from jealousy as the female lead rose up and displayed her genius, capturing the hearts of many men, including the one that Tian Meng's original host had a crush on and was meant to be engaged to. Of course, Tian Meng couldn't lightly reveal this and had thus chosen to. become a villain in the shadows, making sure to handle it perfectly so that her identity as a demonic cultivator would not be revealed.

She tilted her head. Maybe it was a different in the mindset of cultivators that allowed her to so smoothly complete her mission?

She wasn't sure.

She now seriously began to once again reconsider her original plan. Should she reveal her "true personality" a little sooner than expected? Should she not perform as well in the Franz Liszt competition, in order to allow Qin Yu more room for maneuvering?

In the end, she couldn't come to a conclusion and had to leave the bathroom to return to the room where Yan Mo was waiting for her.

Yan Mo nodded, not asking about why she had taken so long - that would be insensitive. Anyways, didn't all girls like to take a long time in the bathroom, to do things like touch up their makeup and stuff?

Tian Meng had actually wanted him to say something so that she could direct his ire toward that Cheng Le girl, but thinking about that, this was even more like acting as a female lead? Tian Meng shivered. No, no, no, this was too terrible! If this continued, she would truly end up hospitalized from the stress of it all.

The rest of the concert passed her by in a daze, but Yan Mo found such an expression to seemingly be even more attractive, though Tian Meng had not noticed him this time.

He sent her back home, feeling a swirling emotion deep in his heart, standing there for a long time even after Tian Meng had disappeared into the house.

Tian Meng also had a certain feeling in her heart as she looked at his silhouette from the window of her room on the second floor. But unlike the burning fire in Yan Mo's heart, Tian Meng's heart only felt increasingly colder.

Cold, very cold, frozen with fear!

If her point value wasn't negative, then that would be good! But she could still salvage this situation. As long as she could craft the ending to her desires...

A couple of weeks later would be the new talent competition that Qin Yu was meant to compete in. Tian Meng had been keeping an eye on the girl and knew that Qin Yu's skill had increased, much more than in the original storyline. Perhaps it was because this dire situation was making Qin Yu feel a sense of danger, causing her to work harder and awaken her inner powers.

Tian Meng couldn't say, but it was a good thing. Just, she couldn't let this situation affect the female lead's playing - even if her skill increased, if these emotions caused her sound to become. chaotic, no longer possessing that warm quality that the male lead liked so much, then wouldn't it have an adverse affect instead?

As for Tian Meng, she had made changes to her original plans, changing the way she played her song just slightly - not in terms of changing any notes, but just the feel.

What had originally been a beautiful song that would conjure the image of Odette dancing by a lake (although she knew that the original song was not played during Odette's dancing), she now changed it so what emerged from people's mind would not be Odette, but Odile.

She had even chosen a new dress - she was discarding her previous calm and cool like the moon image for a more... "villainous" image.

Since the line between villain and protagonist was being meddled, she needed to clearly define herself as a villain now. She was not acting much like a villain these days, and this must be why things had gotten like this - at least, that was what Tian Meng had deduced in the end.

But the problem was that she couldn't run over to bully and act villainous toward Qin Yu, feeling worried about Qin Yu's mentality.

She would at least need to wait until after the competition.

For this, Tian Meng had rejected Yan Mo's invitation to the new talent competition. Yan Mo didn't think much of it, only thinking that she didn't want to hear her older half-sister play. Even so, Tian Meng insisted that Yan Mo attend anyways and tell her about it, claiming that she didn't have the time and needed to instead practice for her own competition.

Yan Mo agreed, not thinking this was odd.

As for Tian Meng, she didn't want to interfere, feeling that her presence could interrupt this critical moment where the feelings between Yan Mo and Qin Yu would have originally bloomed.

When the time came, though she was curious, she did not sneak over to the competition venue to take a look herself - that was just like begging to get caught. So she instead sent the system over to record everything!

After it was over, he played back his recording for her, which she watched with a nervous heart.

Qin Yu's piano playing really had improved by leaps and bounds, though this didn't surprise her, but she could see on Yan Mo's face that he was surprised. It was just a flicker, and quickly disappeared, but Tian Meng felt that this could be considered a minor victory already.

As for Qin Yu's playing, Tian Meng felt relaxed that although it did not have the exact same qualities as before, it could still be considered acceptable and had not strayed too far off course. Instead of being like the warm spring sun, it could now be considered like the warm and dazzling spring rain. Although there was a hint of gray and gloomy emotion, it still had a glittering brightness to it, a hope that there would be a rainbow after the rain.

In fact, Tian Meng felt that this was even better. There was more depth than before, and Tian Meng felt that a play style which could bring out more than one emotion in one song was good. This was good. She felt like she could almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

But the most important thing was Yan Mo's reaction.

She looked at him with a critical eye, straining herself to catch even the faintest flickers of emotion. After the surprise, he had revealed a faint look of appreciation. That being said... Tian Meng felt that... he looked slightly bored? No, no, how could that be the case? Listening to the music of the female lead and to actually look bored, this was...

She couldn't have gone so far off track that she had already completely broken the string of love between the two leads, right?

But she quickly felt relieved when she saw that small bit of boredom replaced with interest as he listened on.

This was good! This was really good! Things were not all lost.

After confirming that Yan Mo had really regained his interest in the female lead, Tian Meng could finally relax, her legs going soft as she sunk back into her chair. Because she was a little too excited earlier, she had been unable to sit down, but now... now she felt that things were finally going her way.

The system was also happy. After all, he couldn't bear to see his host so stressed out like that. In addition, if she didn't get a lot of points, then his grading would also be low... So of course, he was of one mind with Tian Meng. He was still unable to figure out why this world's male lead was so interested in Tian Meng though - he knew Tian Meng's skill himself, and could say that in terms of acting as a villain, she was one of the best out there (this was not just him being a prideful parent talking here). It was rare for her to miscalculate like this, and she hadn't done so since she was just a child and only just beginning to go without a script.

Even so, he couldn't help but warn her. "Don't let your guard down yet. The female lead and male lead are already going beyond our expectations. It's unknown what the end result will be."

Tian Meng sniffed, looking offended. "Of course. Who do you think I am?" She had regained a little bit of her hurt pride back already, arrogance filling her expression as she straightened her back up and lifted her chin slightly. That's right. She had played more difficult storylines and villains before this. What was she getting so down for? A little setback wasn't much!

The next day, Yan Mo visited her at home, and Tian Meng, though a little reluctant, could only invite him inside for tea. After all, she wanted to hear what he had thought of Qin Yu's playing from his own mouth.

"So how was the new talent competition?" Tian Meng asked as a maid poured Yan Mo and her a cup of tea. She waved the girl away, her eyes on the steaming amber liquid. She held up the cup, softly blowing on it a few times.

"It was quite good. There were some pleasant surprises." Yan Mo replied, eyeing Tian Meng cautiously, seemingly waiting for her to react negatively in any way.

Yes. Like her good older sister. Tian Meng couldn't help but think, but her lowered lashes kept any emotions that flashed through her eyes hidden. "Is that so?" She calmly replied. Yan Mo felt relieved, for some reason, to see that Tian Meng didn't even blink, her face still as calm as it had always been.

He began excitedly chatting about the performances of the competitors, still taking care to not mention Qin Yu.

Tian Meng nodded, putting on a careful mask of polite interest, a thin smile on her face.

When Yan Mo took a break to slack his thirst, Tian Meng set down her own cup, a finger rubbing against the porcelain. "You haven't mentioned... Qin Yu." Tian Meng said, her smile widening.

Yan Mo paused. "What is there to mention?" He said, portraying a cool indifference.

"Of course I want to know how she did." Tian Meng said, slowly blinking at Yan Mo, as if her interest was only a passing one, oh so innocent.

"She only did average. Not as good as young miss Xu." Yan Mo said with a dismissive tone.

"Of course she's not as good as me. She's only been playing for... what? Half a year now?" Tian Meng's eyes were icy cold. "She must have truly improved at the speed of light to even be able to participate in the competition, hm?"

Yan Mo could tell that Xu Mingyue was feeling threatened. Recalling Qin Yu's performance, though it truly wasn't good as Xu Mingyue's, he could understand why. After all, Xu Mingyue had been playing all her life, and Qin Yu for only half a year! It was an absolutely shocking level of improvement.

"Young master Yan likes talents like these the most, doesn't he?" Tian Meng continued, and Yan Mo blinked.

This... was this jealousy?

He couldn't help the grin that snaked across his lips. "Don't worry, that girl is worth nothing compared to young miss Xu. Comparing your two piano skills would be blasphemy! Young miss Xu doesn't need to worry at all about a thing like that."

Tian Meng almost choked on her own spit. What was up with that delighted expression as he badmouthed his love interest? Was there something wrong with the male lead's brain??

Seeing Tian Meng's doubtful gaze, Yan Mo heaped on even more insults onto Qin Yu, looking very happy in doing so. But this didn't make Tian Meng happy at all. In the end, she sent Yan Mo off while thinking that the situation hadn't changed despite Qin Yu's improvement in skill.

"Why! Why is he still more interested in me than her!? Does this make sense to you!?" Tian Meng shouted at her family's system, shaking him back and forth as she held him in an iron grip.

"Unless he's the type of male lead to badmouth his female lead?" The system doubtfully said, not even believing himself.

Tian Meng didn't believe it either. Her actions had even changed the personality of the male lead so much? It couldn't be, right?

She let go of Little White to clutch her head. Was Qin Yu's piano skill still not good enough to seduce Yan Mo back to her side? She might really have to give up on showing a dazzling performance at the Franz Liszt competition then... Lest she go on the path of no return!