45 Chapter 45: Lin JinYan, Don’t Touch Me.

Walking for about 15 minutes, Su Ning eventually reached the private 'club room' where Lin JinYan was currently resting. The latter had a bad habit of skipping lunch at M Academy, finding the cafeteria to be unsanitary for his standards. So, Su Ning brought a canteen of vegetable porridge and some sliced apples. She doesn't usually have lunch with Lin JinYan but once in a while she would bring him something to eat if she cooked the night before. Su Ning actually found it odd that Lin JinYan would willingly eat what she cooked; her skills were definitely not at par with the cooks at M Academy or the chefs employed at the Lin Mansion.

After giving a light rap at the door, Su Ning entered to see Lin JinYan casually playing Pachalbel's Canon in D major on the piano. The latter had previously told her that this song was easy to play and he would gladly teach her piano. Su Ning ended up declining Lin JinYan's offer back then. Having poor eye hand coordination, Su Ning sucked at physical education, art class, and even mobile games. She knew instructors have been grading her with A-s or B+s due to her diligence and effort; she was only able to keep her ranking in the special class due to her high scores in other subjects. In fact, she was particularly proficient in language, maths and sciences, hence her decision to pursue software engineering in university. Plus, there is only a limited amount of hours in a day; after keeping up with her studies, teaching Xiao Mu, hanging out with her buddies, playing on her phone, and occasionally participating in school events, there isn't much time left for seriously learning an instrument. In addition, to have a musical prodigy such as Lin JinYan teach a dilettante like her would be a sacrilege to the world of music.

Instead, She quietly placed the food container on the coffee table in front of the couch and waited patiently for Lin JinYan to finish the piece. After a few minutes, the sweet melody ended and Lin JinYan closed the fallboard of the baby grand piano.

He walked over to Su Ning with a smile on his face, "Did you wait long, NingNing?"

Su Ning shook her head and began to unscrew the lid of the insulated soup container for her friend. She handed Lin JinYan a spoon and the latter began to eat the porridge deliciously. That's right, there is no way this kind and gentle young boy had been involved with the audition. Su Ning just needed to confirm with him to clear any suspicions that came up from her conversations with Zhang Wei and Wang Lei.

"JinYan-ge, your expressions….your really make it seem like my cooking is so delicious," Su Ning laughed with a shake of her head.

"Mm. I wish NingNing could cook for me everyday." (Lin JinYan)

"That is such a dangerous wish. Only a few of my dishes are edible. Hahaha" (Su Ning)

After Lin JinYan finished the bowl of porridge, he began to snack on the apple slices brought by Su Ning. Suddenly, the latter looked directly at him and asked, "JinYan-ge, how come you didn't tell me you are playing Prince Eric?"

"Oh, you found out? I wanted to surprise NingNing. This is the first time we are performing together." Lin JinYan answered with a soft smile before continuing "Since I am graduating this year, it's likely the last time as well."

"....Mm. Just, JinYan-ge didn't use to perform in the M Academy musicals so I was surprised." (Su Ning)

"En. It's because I really wanted to perform with NingNing." (Lin JinYan)

"JinYan-ge, I heard something at lunch today and.." Su Ning took a few seconds to compose her thoughts before continuing "I want to make sure you didn't get involved with my audition."

"Hmmm?" Lin JinYan looked at Su Ning with an indulgent smile.

"There were a lot of junior sisters who are more experienced and talented than me who auditioned. For me to win the role of Princess Ariel is very shocking." Su Ning pointed out.

"So...I wanted to make sure, this role is what the judges decided to give me based on merit and not because of JinYan-ge. Do you understand what I am saying?" Su Ning asked tentatively.

"I don't understand," Lin JinYan responded with a bland smile.

"I think NingNing performed the best out of all the people who tried out."

"Yes, but... is that what the panel of judges also thought?" Su Ning asked with a somewhat exasperated tone. She really wanted to hear the truth from Lin JinYan and was trying to word her questions without sounding like she was blaming him.

"To be honest, I heard that the judges really liked Bai Anna as Ariel. And to be honest, I am not sure how I was able to win the spot from her as well. Classmate Bai is pretty amazing."

"Ah… I think she is just alright. My NingNing is still the best." (Lin JinYan)

"..." Su Ning was left speechless for a few seconds before she could regain her voice "JinYan-ge, I also heard that the judges seemed to have copies of my performances from 4 years ago. I didn't mention those at all during the audition because a long time has passed and I didn't compete since then."

"Mm, I gave them to the panel so they can better judge NingNings skills." (Lin JinYan)

"..." (Su Ning)

"NingNing are you feeling bad about that Bai girl? Her family can always buy a spot in a prestigious university after graduation. You don't have to waste time worrying about her." Lin JinYan spoke in an offhanded manner.

"Lin JinYan...what are you saying? Did you tell the judges to give me the lead role?" Su Ning asked a feeling of dread slowly trickling in.

"NingNing ahh..Why are you being so serious. I just told them I would participate in this year's musical as long as you are my female lead. Those girls who auditioned… they never had a chance to begin with." Lin JinYan answered with a slight laugh.

"How..How could you do this? Even if classmate Bai is able to purchase admissions to a prestigious university, there are other students that may not have such favorable financial situations." Su Ning earnestly explained, thinking of Song Yu's situation.

"But, NingNing, why should I care about them?" Lin JinYan asked impassively.

Hearing such a cold answer coming from Lin JinYan, Su Ning couldn't help but let out an audible gasp.

"Lin JinYan, don't you see? This is wrong. Manipulating the results of an audition - robbing people of their chances could negatively affect their future." Su Ning tried to explain anxiously but she could only see Lin JinYan looking blankly at her.

'He is so indifferent. Lin JinYan, he doesn't put other people in his eyes at all. He doesn't care what happens to them.' Su Ning realized.

"NingNing, aren't you focusing too much on other people? Honestly, it's not like I did anything wrong. The organizers wanted me to participate so badly because they knew the resulting exposure of tying the Lin Family name to this show. I only made one request for my participation - that is to have you as my Ariel. They were the ones greedy for money and fame. If they really wanted to, they could hold 'real auditions' for each role, without you and me participating at all." Lin JinYan explained, justifying his actions.

Su Ning had already lived to 29 years old in her past life, she had been subjected to office politics and had been beaten weary and resigned at the time of her death. But right now… the person in front of her - Lin JinYan - is only 17 years of age, yet how could he speak of such worldly things so callously. This was someone she spent the past 4 years with, someone whom she always thought as a kind and gentle brother. Su Ning never imagined Lin JinYan was capable of such dark and calculated thoughts.

Suddenly, Su Ning couldn't bear to be in the same room as Lin JinYan. The latter had noticed Su Ning's silence and reached out his hand to touch her face, a gesture he's always done out of habit. However in an unconscious movement, Su Ning slapped Lin JinYan's hand away before his fingers could touch her face. This caused the handsome youth in front of her to widen his eyes in shock; Su Ning has never refused his touch before.

"NingNing..why?" Lin JinYan asked with a confused expression on his face.

"Don't! Lin JinYan, don't touch me." Su Ning spoke her voice trembling.

"NingNing!" Lin JinYan called out, a slight desperation visible in his voice. He attempted to hold Su Ning's hand but the latter stood up from her seat evading his touch.

"I don't want to speak to you right now." Su Ning said resolutely as she gathered her things.

"Wait! NingNing!" Lin JinYan began to panic seeing Su Ning prepare to leave the room. He didn't know why but he felt a strong sense of desperation seeing Su Ning afraid and disappointed. He couldn't bear to be abandoned by Su Ning. Lin JinYan managed to reach out and hold Su Ning in a half embrace just as she got to the door. He was still trying to think of the words to say to return their relationship back to normal when Su Ning turned around and pushed against his chest with both hands.

"Lin JinYan, stop it." (Su Ning)

"NingNing, I'm sorry. Don't be mad." (Lin JinYan)

Su Ning stared into Lin JinYan's eyes for several seconds before shaking her head. She pulled away at the hands grasping her wrists before sadly saying, "Lin JinYan, what are you sorry for? You don't even know what you did wrong." With these words, Su Ning turned around and resolutely walked through the club door leaving Lin JinYan alone in the room.

"NingNing! Don't leave! Please! I'm sorry." Lin JinYan pleaded, but the girl did not look back.