After the Top Idol Omega and I Started Living Together - Chapter 51

Chapter 51

In the quiet mansion, two shadows stood facing each other.

The hand resting lightly on the piano keys slowly withdrew, and the calm, composed movement showed no trace of inner turmoil.

Lu Zhao’s words carried a clear hint of ambiguity. Sheng Jingyu looked at her smiling eyes, paused for a moment, and then asked calmly, “What reward do you want?”

Honestly, Lu Zhao hadn’t thought about what she wanted.

She got excited on a whim, wanting to ask Sheng Jingyu for something without reason.

But what to ask for, Lu Zhao didn’t know, or perhaps didn’t dare.

She worried Sheng Jingyu might not agree. Instead of answering directly, she added, “Since I promised to be at your beck and call, shouldn’t you also give me some labor compensation?”

“This profession accepts advance deposits, or I’ll have no energy to work.”

Saying this, Lu Zhao bent forward in front of Sheng Jingyu.

Her two slender arms hung limply as if without strength, and her shoulders sagged bit by bit, looking like a robot out of power.

Sheng Jingyu quietly watched Lu Zhao, knowing this was a basic dance technique.

She rarely used “cute” to describe someone, but at that moment, she found Lu Zhao very cute.

Her hair, falling like an upside-down onion, was cute. Her dangling arms were cute.

The head, just a short distance from her, was also cute.

Lu Zhao felt uncertain, unsure if her teasing behavior might annoy Sheng Jingyu.

But just as she worried about this, a pair of hands lifted her head the next second.

The scent of green grapes brushed over Lu Zhao’s lips.

Sheng Jingyu’s lips were cool, even more so compared to the sunlight streaming through the window.

Lu Zhao’s bending motion froze for half a second. Her warm breath hit Sheng Jingyu’s philtrum, blending with the coolness and gradually warming it.

Sunlight fell before the window, split into beams by the window frame, spreading softly.

The distinct-boned hands held Lu Zhao’s face, and her thick, dense eyelashes lowered slightly, giving a sense of sacred reverence.

This was Sheng Jingyu’s reward for Lu Zhao.

A reward she personally chose.

She thought the phrase “savoring the taste” was too fitting.

Unlike the awkwardness of the previous two times, this kiss from Sheng Jingyu was much gentler and calmer.

She lightly kissed Lu Zhao’s lower lip, her hands sliding from her face to her shoulders, then resting on her waist.

The scent of grapes wafted, and the thin fabric transmitted the warmth gathered in her palms.

The cicadas’ chirping grew louder, like summer’s heat. The tree shadows swayed, overlapping with human shadows. Lu Zhao, with her face held by Sheng Jingyu, leaned inch by inch closer, her slightly arched body pressing forward.

Her knees touched the piano bench, faintly brushing the spread-out skirt.

The shadows drew closer, overlapping. Their fingers interlocked, silently pressing together, and control quietly shifted.

The sea breeze raged, and the scent of lychee burst from its cracked shell, spreading sweetness.

The air, filled with summer’s heat, swirled. Sheng Jingyu felt like she sat on a small boat floating on the sea, with waves wetting her skirt and splashing seawater on her eyelashes.

She indulged in the reward exchange.

As oxygen nearly ran out, Lu Zhao appropriately released Sheng Jingyu.

The sunlight shifted, and a thin layer of sweat seeped through the light fabric.

The scent of green grapes mingled with the sea breeze. It seemed every kiss began this way—not too excessive, but not entirely rational either.

The sunlight was dreamy, and thoughts broke off, unable to connect.

No one questioned the kiss’s meaning; the desire was pure and clean.

The skirt on the piano bench wrinkled from sitting too long. Steadying her mind, Sheng Jingyu regained her usual calm composure and looked at Lu Zhao, asking, “Is this compensation enough?”

Lu Zhao caught her breath, her eyes showing a hint of smugness, and commented, “It’s okay.”

When the vague ambiguity gained a name, whether true or false, it became clearer.

This was their mutual payment, as if even desire was clean, free of any emotions.

But was it really so?

Neither had an answer, not even a denial or confirmation.

“Buzz buzz…”

At an inopportune moment, Sheng Jingyu’s phone rang.

It wasn’t a call; someone sent her a message.

The sender seemed impatient, as the vibrations rang in a string on the piano.

Sheng Jingyu seemed to know who it was. Without looking at the phone, she said to Lu Zhao, “Let’s end today’s lesson here. I have some matters to attend to.”

“Okay,” Lu Zhao nodded, but her gaze lingered on Sheng Jingyu.

It seemed to hold some lingering reluctance.

The afternoon lesson ended somewhat hastily, and the next day, Zhou Huanyin’s class began.

Her proposal came suddenly, as if she received some special news. Despite being abroad, she notified everyone in the group that night, her words full of anticipation.

Unlike Sheng Jingyu, Zhou Huanyin wasn’t Lu Zhao’s only teacher; she had eight students.

Lu Zhao’s luck was never great. Though she drew first in the group, she picked the last number, 8, ruling it out. By the time Zhou Huanyin started her guidance session, it was already evening.

Perhaps because it was late, Zhou Huanyin exchanged a few pleasantries before diving into the lesson.

Since Sheng Jingyu had guided and adjusted her the previous day and morning, Lu Zhao felt fairly confident. She cleared her throat and sang into the microphone, “I can’t forget the day I met you, it was like meeting my destiny…”

Her voice was beautiful, even through imperfect electronic equipment that swallowed some sounds.

The sunset gently entered the frame, and as Lu Zhao’s voice rose, it cast a richer orange hue, like stage lighting tailored for her.

Zhou Huanyin listened, her tired eyes gradually brightening.

She didn’t hold back praise, blurting out, “Ah Yu was right; this song suits your voice perfectly!”

Lu Zhao keenly caught the name from the screen and froze, “Teacher, who did you just say? Ah…”

Zhou Huanyin realized her mistake. If she exposed this, Sheng Jingyu would surely cut ties with her.

Her brain, strained by the time difference, worked overtime. She shouted, “Ah Yun! Your Teacher Jingyun!”

Saying this, Zhou Huanyin shifted the blame to Lu Zhao, “Student Xiao Lu, how could you forget so quickly? You don’t even know who Ah Yun is? Ah Yun!”

Was that so?

Lu Zhao felt Zhou Huanyin hadn’t said Jingyun’s name, or had she misheard?

Seeing Lu Zhao’s confused, skeptical look on the screen, Zhou Huanyin quickly changed the topic to Sheng Jingyu, “Sigh, Jingyun still remembers you.”

“Teacher Jingyun remembers me?” As expected, Lu Zhao’s attention shifted, her eyes full of disbelief and cautious probing, “Did you mention me when talking with Teacher Jingyun?”

“Of course,” Zhou Huanyin nodded immediately, lying to cover her tracks, “I showed her your audition video a couple of days ago. She was so pleased with your cover, saying you captured the song’s essence perfectly and looks forward to your future performance.”

Though the story was entirely made up, Sheng Jingyu had indeed said such things.

Zhou Huanyin glanced at the stormy weather outside, praying not to be struck by lightning.

Lu Zhao didn’t notice Zhou Huanyin’s glance, her heart full of flattered joy.

Hearing that her long-admired star praised her, the usually confident Lu Zhao felt shy, “Really? Did Teacher Jingyun really say that?”

Zhou Huanyin nodded firmly, “Of course, why would I lie?”

She paused, then added with a mischievous look, “And honestly, she likes you a lot.”

The word “like” was so light anyone could say it politely.

But it was also heavy, blooming a field of white roses in Lu Zhao’s heart instantly.

Lu Zhao stood in the flower field, flattered yet cautious.

She wanted to gather all these roses to offer to Jingyun one day.

Softly, Lu Zhao lowered her eyelashes, “I hope I can meet Teacher Jingyun someday.”

Through the window in Lu Zhao’s background, camphor tree branches swayed. Zhou Huanyin, watching through the screen, found it familiar.

Looking at the girl with a soft voice full of anticipation, Zhou Huanyin said seriously, “As long as you want, Teacher Jingyun is always by your side.”

To the unaware, this sounded awkward. Lu Zhao said bluntly, “Teacher, you make it sound like Teacher Jingyun has passed away.”

“Really?” Zhou Huanyin didn’t expect her rare seriousness to flop. She rubbed her nose awkwardly and teased Lu Zhao, “Sigh, she’s practically a living dead anyway. You’ll see when you meet her.”

Hearing this, Lu Zhao’s mind conjured Sheng Jingyu’s image.

She seemed similar. The first time Lu Zhao saw her, she felt like someone floating outside the world, calm but not lively, only in…

“Okay, we’re getting off track. We still have a lesson, and it’s getting late,” Zhou Huanyin pulled Lu Zhao back as her thoughts drifted.

Zhou Huanyin shed her casual chatting demeanor, put on her glasses, and said, “Next time we meet, I’ll be back. You must bring me more surprises than today.”

Lu Zhao tightly grasped this hard-earned chance, promising Zhou Huanyin, “I definitely will!”

When the video call started, the sun still hung halfway up the mountain. By the end, the moon had risen opposite.

Lu Zhao drank most of her full water cup, leaving just a bit at the bottom, reflecting faintly in her eyes. She blinked lightly, showing no fatigue.

The chair swayed gently. Lu Zhao leaned back casually, silently reviewing the day’s lesson.

One was Sheng Jingyu, the other Zhou Huanyin.

Though they seemed unrelated, their teaching styles were magically complementary.

The hours had no overlap or waste, flowing smoothly as if they had coordinated privately.

No way…

Lu Zhao frowned. She vaguely recalled Sheng Jingyu mentioning she knew Zhou Huanyin.

In this big circle, just “knowing” someone meant little. She knew Chen Annie too, who probably only remembered her as the Alpha drugged that night.

A fleeting thought couldn’t convince her.

Or rather, Lu Zhao didn’t believe she was worth Sheng Jingyu going to Zhou Huanyin for her.

What kind of person was she to deserve that?

Instead of believing Sheng Jingyu coordinated with Zhou Huanyin, it was easier to believe they were just capable teachers.

They didn’t teach by the book but adjusted flexibly, which explained the lack of overlap.

“That must be it,” Lu Zhao nodded, giving herself a firm answer.

She looked up at the room’s clock and got up to wash.

“Knock knock”

At that moment, a knock came at the door.

Only two people lived in this house, so Lu Zhao easily guessed who it was.

She quickly walked over, opened the door, and saw Sheng Jingyu standing there.

Night was approaching, and the dim corridor light was softened by the darkness.

Moonlight gently streamed through a side window, falling on Sheng Jingyu’s loose shirt and arms.

She calmly gazed at Lu Zhao, holding a small jar of ointment in her raised hand.

The herbal scent wasn’t strong, but Lu Zhao keenly detected a hint of mugwort.

She didn’t know Sheng Jingyu’s purpose but had a slight guess, asking, “Teacher, what’s this…?”

The room’s light fell on Sheng Jingyu’s face, giving her a carefree look.

She raised her eyelashes, looking at Lu Zhao from a close yet not too close distance, and said clearly, “Since Miss Lu chose to take advance labor compensation, shouldn’t you also fulfill your obligations?”