Rebirth: The Time-locked Girl
Chapter 134 Ye Wanlan: It’s me [2nd update]

Chapter 134: 134 Ye Wanlan: It’s me [2nd update]

At this moment, the silence was once again filled with the sound of the pipa.

"Clang, clang—"

With these two notes, the audience was drawn into the world depicted by the pipa music.

It started with a slowly moving stream under a small bridge, quiet and serene, then the pitch rose as if a stream cleaved through the mountains, cascading down swiftly.

In an instant, there was a wide open road, the massive city gates opened, revealing the bustling millennium-old capital of Fengyuan.

Lights from ten thousand homes, flowers vying in splendor.

Pavilions and towers, resplendent with gold and glitter.

In a fleeting moment, an ancient and powerful dynasty unfolded before the audience’s eyes in sync with the pipa’s melody.

[It’s a new piece! So beautiful to listen to!]

[Wait, which song is this? It sounds somewhat familiar...]

[Pure and Simple Melody! It’s definitely Pure and Simple Melody, trust me, I just finished a music class where the teacher played this pipa piece!]

[Oh my god, it really is Pure and Simple Melody!]

Pure and Simple Melody is not the most difficult piece in pipa music, but its status, cultural and historical value are exceptionally significant.

Composed by Princess Yongning, and lyricized by Ning Zhaozong, it is a symbol of the formidable power of the Daning Kingdom.

[The crew of "Annus Mirabilis" is so generous, how much money must have been spent to invite a pipa player who can perform this piece.]

[In all of Shenzhou, only three masters have played this piece in public, but there must be many more reclusive experts who can, right?]

[I blood pledge for the crew to hold a concert! I can listen to Pure and Simple Melody ten times!]

[Indeed, it’s our ancestors’ heritage that holds significance!]

In just fifteen minutes, the press conference had seized the top five spots on the entertainment rankings.

#Princess Yongning, Pure and Simple Melody#

#Annus Mirabilis Crew’s Grand Undertaking#

#Intangible Cultural Heritage, Pipa Music#

At the same time, Ye Wanlan received the popularity data reported by the crew.

[Ye Wanlan]: For the next month or two, have the crew keep a low profile.

[Cheng Qingli]: Sister Lan, aren’t we going to capitalize on this momentum with further promotion?

[Ye Wanlan]: No, the heat generated by the two events is enough. More promotion would backfire, merely increasing the audience’s irritation. A TV series relies on solid content and acting; promotion comes second.

[Cheng Qingli]: Understood, Sister Lan!

[Cheng Qingli]: Also, the PR department has detected the trace of paid trolls. They’re publishing comments to forcefully change the public’s opinion, and it’s being urgently handled.

Ye Wanlan narrowed her eyes as she opened the screenshot sent by Cheng Qingli.

["Annus Mirabilis" crew is just riding on the fame of the ancients. What does Pure and Simple Melody have to do with the "Annus Mirabilis" series? Just by inviting a pipa player to play?]

[Exactly, you’re filming an alternate history novel, not about Princess Yongning. What’s with the gimmicky promotion!]

[The "Annus Mirabilis" crew is really ruining their image. They just started shooting and have already been promoting non-stop. Don’t end up filming a terrible series that can’t make it on-air.]

Ye Wanlan’s expression flickered, and she closed the image.

Having taken over Shengshi Entertainment for two weeks, she was aware that such matters were commonplace in the entertainment industry. The PR department would have technical staff to deal with it.

The sounds of the pipa were melodious and pleasant. Yan Tingfeng slowly turned his head to look at the girl.

There was an unusual calmness about her that did not match her age, yet her eyes sparkled with youthful vitality and rebellious spirit.

Ye Wanlan, sharp as she was, could not possibly fail to notice Yan Tingfeng’s gaze. She also turned her head, "What is it?"

Yan Tingfeng’s eyes were filled with curiosity, and his phoenix eyes curved into a slight smile, "I’ve heard Miss Ye’s zither before, but I never expected Miss Ye’s pipa to surpass the zither by a notch."

"Actually—"

"Actually what?"

"I like the erhu best." Ye Wanlan smiled lazily, "If you enjoy it, I can also play it for you when I am free."

The erhu, also called the two-stringed fiddle, is another one of Shenzhou’s important classical instruments.

Her reason for liking the erhu was simple. With sunglasses on, she could sit on a stool by the roadside and play all day long.

Because most people would take her for a blind person and not bother her.

Yan Tingfeng’s gaze softened, yet the curiosity in his eyes deepened. He let out a light chuckle, "Sure."

He paused for a moment, then spoke in a seemingly offhand way, "The erhu requires a more profound mastery; without eight or ten years of practice, it’s impossible to bring out its essence."

"Eight or ten years is just a start, this time is only enough to solidify the fundamentals." Ye Wanlan gazed at him calmly and openly, "That’s why I will continue to learn."

"Learning is an endless process, and one must keep studying to grow stronger." Yan Tingfeng stood up, "I have something to attend to, I won’t disturb Miss Ye any longer."

Ye Wanlan nodded her head, "See you at dinner."

She got up, ready to freshen up and change into a new outfit.

"Although there’s no blood on the dagger, there is the scent of fresh blood." His gentle voice came from behind her, "Miss Ye, be careful."

"Thank you for the reminder." Ye Wanlan’s expression remained unchanged.

Yan Tingfeng blinked his eyes and left the room, closing the door behind him.

The next second, the smile at the corner of his mouth and in his eyes had completely disappeared, his brows now icy and distant.

It made one realize that the previous gentle and amiable appearance had been nothing but an illusion.

He turned and descended the steps, "How is it?"

"Young Master, the brothers from section 723 said that those youngsters didn’t fall into the trap by accident," Bing He scratched his head, "especially the one who’s most seriously injured, his abdomen was stabbed, two holes, it’s too vicious!"

Yan Tingfeng listened quietly, neither speaking nor uttering a word.

Bing He tentatively spoke, "Young Master, could it be that Miss Ye..."

"Hmm."

"Ah?! Then, Young Master, what do you think of Miss Ye, she..."

Yan Tingfeng chuckled quietly, "I cannot see through her."

These four words sent a shiver down Bing He’s spine, his hair standing on end instantaneously.

"She’s very interesting, I will continue to observe her," stated Yan Tingfeng thoughtfully.

Even if he had to put aside the tasks at hand, he was determined to stay by Ye Wanlan’s side.

Those he couldn’t see through, were naturally extremely dangerous.

**

The sun dipped low in the west, casting a golden glow.

The last ray of the sunset slowly peeled away from the earth, and the sun completely submerged below the horizon.

Professor Xue specifically called Ye Wanlan over again to instruct her about some matters regarding entering the mountains tomorrow.

"Keep this safe; it’s a specially made communication device." Professor Xue looked solemn, "The signal is intermittent, but as long as the holders of this device are within a hundred meters of each other, they can contact each other."

Ye Wanlan nodded.

"Miss Ye," Yan Tingfeng suddenly spoke up, his voice light, "After we enter the mountains, I will need to hold on to the hem of your clothes. There will be sandstorms in the following days, and I might not see the road clearly."

Ye Wanlan turned around and looked at him for three seconds: "That’s fine."

"Pfft—" Someone finally couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

Yan Tingfeng looked calmly at the source of the laughter.

It was a very young male, about twenty years old, extremely handsome with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, dressed in a carefree and casual manner.

Yan Tingfeng spoke, "Xiang Lefeng."

"It’s nothing, really nothing." Xiang Lefeng stifled his laughter, "The roads here are indeed hard to recognize, especially after entering Yan Mountain. Compasses and any other devices will fail to work."

Professor Xue nodded repeatedly: "You two mustn’t separate at all, Xiao Yan, Xiao Xiang. As men, you must protect Wanlan."

Yan Tingfeng nodded and smiled.

"Wanlan, come over here; I’ll get you some other equipment," Professor Xue spoke, "There’s a notebook that records some matters about Yan Mountain. You should take a look as well."

Ye Wanlan followed Professor Xue away.

"Others might get lost, but you, Yan Tingfeng?" Xiang Lefeng shook his head, "Even if you were to go to outer space, you wouldn’t lose your way. You’re really bad, deceiving a young girl like that."

Yan Tingfeng’s demeanor was unconcerned: "So?"

Xiang Lefeng knew when to back off: "I dare not, there’s no ’so’."

He couldn’t defeat the man before him, so he chose to avoid conflict.

"But I heard that recently, you took away all of my cousin’s collectibles?" Xiang Lefeng raised his eyebrows, "He’s a miser; you’re not afraid he’ll come after you?"

"It seems your information is not up-to-date," Yan Tingfeng spoke indifferently, "I gave him the Dragon-Shaped Ornament."

"What?!" Xiang Lefeng jumped up, "You gave the Dragon-Shaped Ornament to him? Why didn’t you give it to me?"

The Dragon-Shaped Ornament was also an item of the Xiang Imperial Family, only it had been gifted to the Supreme Martial Arts Master at the time—Master of Highest Heaven Tower—by Ning Zhaozong.

Such an antique was an ultimate temptation for those sharing the Xiang surname.

"You?" Yan Tingfeng turned around, "Do you have a piece of King of Yan’s Gold-threaded Black Iron Armor?"

Xiang Lefeng was taken aback: "Although I don’t, I could find it."

"Hmm," Yan Tingfeng was noncommittal, "it won’t be too late to talk about it once you find it."

"Why are you interested in collecting the Gold-threaded Black Iron Armor of the King of Yan?" Xiang Lefeng frowned, puzzled, "You’re not a Xiang, and you’ve never been interested in antiques."

Yan Tingfeng replied, "As you said."

Xiang Lefeng was confused: "What?"

What had he said?

Yan Tingfeng’s smile was gentle, but his gaze was as sharp as a blade: "Deceiving a young girl."

Xiang Lefeng remained silent.

He was wrong, truly wrong.

It was his own foolish tongue; he was slapping his own face.

**

Meanwhile, Professor Xue handed all the prepared items to Ye Wanlan, then said, "Old Foo will rush back today. We’ll enter together later. Look, speak of the devil, and the devil appears. Old Foo, come here!"

Professor Foo arrived, his face covered in dust and looking weary from travel. He guzzled a large cup of water before catching his breath.

"Easy, easy, don’t choke," urged Professor Xue, "Look at yourself, you’re a mess."

"Can’t you speak properly, eh?" Professor Foo was infuriated, "I know, you must be jealous because I met a history genius last time in Jiangcheng."

"Didn’t you say that this history genius was a fake?" retorted Professor Xue unwillingly, "You even told me how the principal of Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School told you a heap of melodramatic gossip, that this history genius was a stand-in, with a first love story and all. Aren’t you ashamed?"

"Professors Foo and Xue," Ye Wanlan suddenly spoke up.

The two professors turned to look at her.

Ye Wanlan spoke calmly and steadily: "The person you’re talking about is me."