{Chapter: 317 A beautiful scene}
Faced with the two options presented by the system, Lin Yuan paused to consider.
Honestly, it wasn't a difficult choice. Either path wouldn't drastically affect his overall situation.
Both rewards—advanced cooking and advanced hacking—were undeniably useful in their own right.
However, Lin Yuan didn't often find himself cooking. It wasn't a hobby he particularly enjoyed, nor was it something he did regularly. On the other hand, hacking skills—while also situational—could offer strategic advantages in a world increasingly connected by technology. That kind of skill had the potential to be incredibly impactful at the right moment.
As Lin Yuan was weighing his options, he suddenly felt a gentle tug on his arm.
He turned to see Gui Qingtong clinging onto him, her delicate arms wrapped around his elbow. She shook his arm lightly, her lips forming a soft pout, and her eyes sparkling with an unspoken plea.
There was something incredibly earnest in her expression—half affection, half childish demand.
Lin Yuan let out a faint chuckle. He had already made up his mind.
[Choice made: Do not reveal your true identity to Xie Shixuan.]
[Reward: Advanced Hacker skill acquired!]
After confirming his selection, Lin Yuan turned back toward the curious twins with a calm and confident smile.
"Yes," he said smoothly, "I'm Gui Qingtong's father."
Gui Qingtong beamed with happiness. A bright smile spread across her face, and her body relaxed slightly, clearly pleased with his answer.
Lin Yuan had chosen the second option not just for the reward—but because he didn't want to disappoint Qingtong. After all, today he had come in the role of her father. If he were to suddenly change his story and say he was only her brother, it would undoubtedly upset her. She had gone to great lengths to support his cover, and he didn't want to undermine that trust.
Besides, the "Advanced Hacker" reward could open up a range of opportunities and conveniences. From gathering hidden information to accessing exclusive systems or bypassing digital obstacles—it was a resource worth having.
From a purely strategic perspective, it might have been more beneficial to clarify the truth to win the favor of the l*l¡ twins more directly. After all, they would surely feel more intrigued and emotionally connected if he positioned himself as their "big brother" instead of a father figure. But Lin Yuan wasn't worried. He had plenty of time—and charm. Winning over the twins could wait.
For now, protecting Gui Qingtong's feelings came first.
Xie Shixuan gave a small, awkward laugh, clearly trying to mask her disappointment.
Despite that, she still seemed happy—after all, she got Lin Yuan's contact details and managed to speak with him one-on-one. For her, it was still a win.
After some more light conversation, both Xie Shixuan and Xie Shiyin politely said goodbye and left.
As they walked away from the classroom, the sisters chatted between themselves.
"Hey, sis," Xie Shixuan said with a furrowed brow, "do you really believe he's Qingtong's father? I still think something's fishy. He's way too young—and did you hear the way he said he'd rather be called 'Brother'? That's not how a dad talks!"
Xie Shiyin, more reserved as always, shrugged lightly. "I don't know," she said softly. "But… something doesn't feel right."
"You're not as interested as I am!" Xie Shixuan pouted, her eyes narrowing in playful irritation. "Whatever. I'll investigate on my own!"
Her eyes lit up with mischief.
"In fact," she added in a lower voice, "I already checked his WeChat. His last name isn't Gui—it's Lin!"
Her thoughts began to spiral.
"Both he and Qingtong admitted he's her dad, sure. But maybe there's a secret. Qingtong's family is supposed to be loaded—especially her mother. What if… Brother Lin is actually being kept by Qingtong's mom? Like, a contract boyfriend or something!"
Xie Shixuan's imagination spun out of control. In her mind, a whole tragic drama had already unfolded—a handsome young man forced to act as a father figure while secretly suffering under the control of a rich, powerful woman!
"I must find out the truth," she whispered to herself, clenching her tiny fists. "If Brother Lin is really suffering… I'll rescue him!"
Meanwhile, Lin Yuan had absolutely no idea that such dramatic thoughts were swirling around in the head of a certain determined l*l¡.
He was completely focused on finishing up the remaining parent-teacher conference duties.
Once he had gone over the key points and offered some gentle reminders to Gui Qingtong, his presence was no longer needed. The rest of the meeting consisted of procedural steps—form-filling, standing in line, and other tasks that didn't require his participation.
He decided it was time to take his leave.
More importantly, he had plans to meet someone else—Chi Qian.
Just before stepping out of the conference room, Lin Yuan quickly sent a message to her.
Chi Qian had asked earlier if they could rehearse together sometime. She had mentioned wanting to play another duet with him.
Lin Yuan had agreed. And based on their past chemistry, he knew the session would be enjoyable—for both of them.
Besides, Gui Qingtong didn't need him anymore. The remaining tasks were simple and well within her capabilities.
She nodded understandingly when Lin Yuan told her she had to handle the rest alone.
Gui Qingtong wasn't the type to be coddled. In fact, coming from a single-parent household where her mother, Mei Yuxian, was always busy with work, she had learned to be mature and self-reliant from a young age.
She gave him a confident smile, showing that she could manage things on her own.
Before leaving, Lin Yuan affectionately patted Gui Qingtong's soft ear—an action that made her cheeks slightly pink but also made her grin.
Then he turned and headed toward the exit.
Just as he stepped outside, his phone buzzed again with a message from Chi Qian.
Chi Qian: "Brother Lin Yuan, let's do an ensemble together, okay? It's been forever since we last played together. I'm kind of looking forward to it~ (smile)"
Lin Yuan glanced at the message and couldn't help but laugh softly.
Chi Qian still hadn't changed her habit of overusing cute emoticons.
He shook his head in amusement and typed a reply:
Lin Yuan: "Sure. Where are you now? I'm on my way."
Chi Qian: "Building G, Room 403. It's in the piano department building. The room is right next to the main piano studio on the fourth floor. (smile) My phone's running out of power—it might shut down at any moment. Just come find me, Brother Lin Yuan. (smile)"
Lin Yuan: "Okay, I'll head over now."
Just after sending his reply, however, Lin Yuan frowned slightly, sensing something off.
Hadn't Chi Qian mentioned that she was in the teaching building of the piano department? But... which one exactly?
The Jiangbei Conservatory of Music was a prestigious institution, known not only for its musical excellence but also for its sprawling campus layout. Lin Yuan had only been here a couple of times, and he wasn't too familiar with the exact building codes.
Opening the campus map on his phone, he quickly searched for Building G.
To his dismay, several buildings were labeled with the letter 'G,' and worse, multiple of them were related to music education and piano instruction. It seemed that the piano department had more than one teaching facility.
Lin Yuan immediately sent a follow-up message to clarify the exact location.
Unfortunately, no response came.
A minute passed. Then two. Still nothing.
"She must've run out of battery already," Lin Yuan muttered with a sigh.
With the campus gates locked for the day and his car parked outside, Lin Yuan realized searching each G Building on foot would take forever. It wasn't practical—especially with how large the conservatory grounds were.
Thinking quickly, he decided to call someone who knew the campus well.
He dialed Yu Shanshan.
"Hello? Shanshan?" he said after she picked up.
"Brother? What's up? Why the sudden call? I'm kind of busy right now." Her voice came with background chatter, and she sounded as if she had food in her mouth. "Hey, Xiaofang, come on, eat this piece of meat. Xiaoxue, don't be shy! This one's for you, baby…"
From her tone, Lin Yuan guessed she was probably dining with her usual group—what she proudly referred to as her 'wives.'
Suppressing a chuckle, Lin Yuan said, "I told you earlier I'd be visiting the school today to attend Gui Qingtong's parent-teacher meeting, remember? Well, now I need to meet up with Chi Qian. She said she's in G403, but I don't know which G Building that is."
"Oh, G403…" Yu Shanshan paused, trying to recall. "Hmm… I can't really describe it well right now. It's hard to explain over the phone…"
She clicked her tongue in frustration, then suddenly said with resolve, "Never mind. I'll come get you. I'm just about done here anyway."
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Lin Yuan replied, pleased by her quick decision.
True to her word, Yu Shanshan showed up less than ten minutes later.
And she wasn't alone.
To Lin Yuan's mild surprise, she came accompanied by three charming and fashionable girls. All of them were petite and dressed in stylish, artsy outfits—clearly fellow students at the Jiangbei Conservatory of Music. Their appearances were as refined and elegant as one might expect from students of such a prestigious institution.
Lin Yuan knew right away—these were her 'wives.'
As the four girls approached, Yu Shanshan greeted him with a teasing grin.
"Cousin, you look a little lost. Something wrong?"
"Yeah," Lin Yuan admitted. "I can't seem to find the right building."
She made an exaggerated sigh of sympathy and said dramatically, "Well, lucky for you, I am here. Your knight in shining armor… or rather, your lovely cousin. I'll help you find your way. But—" she paused with a smirk—"I want something in return."
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"I don't want your money or any of your properties." Her smile turned playful. "All I want is for you to call me… Sister Shanshan. Just once. That's all."
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, waiting to hear that satisfying word from Lin Yuan's lips.
He stepped forward.
Yu Shanshan instantly flinched and took a step back, instinctively shielding her face with both hands.
She remembered too well the last time he pinched her cheeks mercilessly in front of her 'wives,' causing no end of embarrassment.
Seeing her over-the-top caution, Lin Yuan chuckled. "Relax. I won't pinch your cheeks this time."
"Oh really?" she peeked through her fingers, then dropped her arms as she heard his calm tone.
Lin Yuan smiled slyly. "You're right. What you're asking isn't too much."
"Great! Then hurry and call me—"
"But I'm not accepting your help," Lin Yuan cut in smoothly, walking past her and turning instead to the three girls.
"Lovely ladies," he said, flashing a polite and charming smile, "I hope you don't mind if I ask for some directions. Do any of you happen to know where G403 is?"
The three girls were momentarily stunned.
Then, as if a switch had been flipped, all of them rushed forward, speaking over each other in excitement.
"I know! I go to that room all the time. I'll take you!"
"No way! I know it best. I have classes there every week. Let me take you instead!"
"Wait! Are you Yu Shanshan's cousin? You're even more handsome up close… Could I maybe get your contact info after I help you?"
Yu Shanshan's mouth fell open in disbelief as she watched her 'wives' enthusiastically throw themselves at her cousin.
She had forgotten just how attractive Lin Yuan was.
Bringing her girlfriends along had turned out to be a mistake of epic proportions. It was as if she had personally delivered three love-struck sacrifices to Lin Yuan's altar.
Watching them argue over who got to guide him, Yu Shanshan sighed in defeat.
She lowered her head, pouting in frustration. "Ugh… fine. I'll take you. I give up."
Lin Yuan grinned and pinched her cheek gently after all.
Then, under Yu Shanshan's reluctant but obedient guidance, he finally found his way to G403.
Before stepping inside, he paused at the door.
Through the glass window, he caught sight of a familiar figure.
Inside the softly lit room, standing in front of a grand piano, was none other than Chi Qian.
Bathed in the golden hue of the morning sun streaming through the windows, she looked almost ethereal—like a fairy captured in a frame of sunlight.
She wore a flowing light-colored dress that shimmered faintly in the light, resembling a delicate veil of mist. Her long, silky hair cascaded gently down her back, framing a face of such beauty that it could still hearts with a single glance.
As her slender, pale fingers glided across the piano keys with elegant precision, Lin Yuan found himself momentarily spellbound.
The melody that flowed from the instrument was soft and soothing, yet imbued with a sense of longing—dreamy, like something out of a forgotten memory.
In that fleeting moment, Lin Yuan stood in silence, admiring the scene before him, reluctant to break the enchantment.