[You soon realized that working under Yelan was not as unbearable as you had expected.]
[Perhaps because the two of you had already worked together for some time, Yelan understood your capabilities very well.]
[The tasks she assigned you were all quite simple. You didn't take long to adjust to working at Yanshang Teahouse.]
[However, there was still one problem with working here…]
[Just as the sky was beginning to lighten, you were jolted awake by the blaring sound of a suona.]
[Lying in bed, you opened your eyes. Your expression was helpless, yet the corner of your mouth still lifted slightly.]
[You threw on a coat and walked out into the courtyard of Yanshang Teahouse.]
[Quite a few colleagues had been woken up as well. They stood there bleary-eyed, looking at you.]
["Kael, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is here again, banging drums and gongs right outside… It's been more than half a month now, hasn't it…"]
["Yeah… We get woken up by funeral music every single morning. It feels like we're about to be sent off ourselves…"]
[You gave them an apologetic smile.]
["Sorry about that. I'll go stop them right away. It's still early. You can go back to sleep for a bit."]
[The moment you opened the gates of Yanshang Teahouse, you saw Hu Tao's back.]
[She stood with her back to you, waving her arms enthusiastically as she directed the band in front of her.]
["Hey, you on the gong, put some strength into it! No slacking off!!!"]
[The musician she singled out looked at Hu Tao with a pained expression.]
["Director, we've been getting up before dawn every day. Doing this nonstop has everyone short on sleep. We don't even have the strength anymore!"]
[You watched Hu Tao plant her hands on her hips, her voice still ringing with energy.]
["Didn't I already give you bonuses? Hang in there a little longer. Double bonuses!"]
[When the band members noticed you standing at the entrance, they quietly set down their instruments.]
[Director Hu Tao claimed that bringing them here was for practicing funeral music.]
[But everyone had figured it out long ago.]
[That was not her real purpose at all.]
[It was obvious why she came.]
[She came to see you.]
["Hu Tao, why are you here again?"]
[Hearing your voice, Hu Tao turned around, her expression full of righteous indignation.]
["What? Did you buy out Chihu Rock or something? I can't bring a band over here for morning practice?"]
[For some reason, every time you looked at Hu Tao's face now, you felt a bit guilty.]
[Maybe it was because you knew, deep down, that you had left in too much of a hurry back then, without any real justification.]
[You scratched the bridge of your nose.]
["Practicing is fine, but there are other residents around here. You're making this much noise every day. Someone's bound to complain eventually."]
["Hmph! Mind your own business!"]
[Hu Tao crossed her arms and looked at you disdainfully.]
["Didn't I already tell you? My business, and Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's business, have nothing to do with you anymore!"]
Then why are you putting in so much effort to come see me every single day?
[You kept that thought to yourself.]
[You were afraid Hu Tao would get embarrassed and angry…]
[And pull out the Staff of Homa.]
[You had originally thought that after parting at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor that day, Hu Tao would never want to see you again.]
[But to your surprise, she showed up early the very next morning after you moved to Yanshang Teahouse.]
[And she came up with such a strange, and extremely noisy, way to see you.]
[You knew why.]
[That day, Hu Tao had already cast aside her pride and begged you, only for you to leave without hesitation.]
[What little pride she had left would not allow her to lower herself again.]
[So she could only use this method to maintain some kind of connection with you.]
[You had to admit that when you heard the funeral music that first time, you felt a strange sense of relief.]
[There would always be a place for Hu Tao in your heart.]
[It was precisely because of your indulgence that she could come here every day for her so-called morning practice.]
[Otherwise, you could have easily asked Yelan to step in and drive her away.]
[If you did that, Hu Tao would be utterly heartbroken and give up on you completely.]
[On the surface, Hu Tao looked carefree and bold, but her heart was sensitive and soft.]
[She sensed your reluctance and your silent permission.]
[Each day's funeral music became a strange, unspoken understanding between the two of you.]
[In a good mood, Hu Tao waved at the band.]
["All right, that's enough practice! Let's head back!!!"]
[You watched her skip away, shaking your head as a doting smile appeared on your face.]
[What you didn't know was that as you watched Hu Tao's retreating figure, someone was standing behind you, staring at you with undisguised irritation.]
[Yelan narrowed her eyes.]
[So that little girl still hadn't given up.]
[The bond between you and Hu Tao was far deeper than Yelan had anticipated.]
[Staying at Yanshang Teahouse clearly wouldn't sever the connection between the two of you.]
[She would have to find a way to separate you completely.]
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Next target 350PS :)