Qin Tian and Lu Lei's coordination had no major issues. After a few joint rehearsals, their piano and guitar melodies blended well.
Of course, the difficulty of coordination increased exponentially with each added instrument.
The students who came to join the fun left after watching for a while, leaving only Qian Ling and two other girls to assist the four of them with minor tasks.
On Cao Mingliang's side, under the direct guidance of senior Wang Zijun, he gradually recalled and mastered the basics of drumming.
When Wang Zijun felt it was sufficient, she came over to rehearse with Qin Tian and Lu Lei.
Cao Mingliang practiced alone first, preparing to join when he became more proficient.
"Junior, junior, you guys sound great!"
After another round of rehearsal, Wang Zijun looked at Qin Tian and the other two and praised them.
"Senior, you're a great teacher!"
Qin Tian smiled and they exchanged compliments.
"Yes, senior, you play the bass so well."
Lu Lei echoed with a light laugh.
"Oh, you two shouldn't be so modest. Lu Lei, your piano skills are quite high, and Qin Tian, you're even more so; your guitar skills are professional level."
Wang Zijun said with certainty.
Qin Tian and Lu Lei smiled humbly and did not object.
"Senior, how old were you when you started playing the bass? It feels like very few people learn it!"
Cao Mingliang also stopped his drumsticks and asked curiously.
Wang Zijun looked at him, her smile radiant, and said, "I started in the first year of junior high. Back then, the school organized a New Year's Eve party, and the senior high students formed a rock band. The senior playing the bass was very handsome and played very coolly. I was completely smitten then and begged my family to help me enroll in classes."
"Then what happened?"
Cao Mingliang quickly pressed.
Qin Tian and Lu Lei also looked at their senior with full of curiosity.
"What happened?"
"Senior, what about you and that senior!"
"What are you thinking? Nothing happened. He went for the college entrance examination the next year, you know. I just admired him like an idol. There were many girls who admired that senior as much as I did at the time."
"Did you have no interaction at all?"
"No!"
"Alas, what a pity!"
Cao Mingliang tapped the drum surface with a muffled sound, expressing his regret.
Wang Zijun gave him a playful glare and said, "The good feelings and liking in youth, appreciation is enough. Perhaps when you get closer and understand the other person, you'll find they're not as perfect as you imagined, and that would be an even greater pity."
"Now, whenever I think about those times, I feel it's a very good memory. Isn't that enough?"
After hearing their senior's words, Qin Tian and the other two were deeply touched and looked at her with increased admiration.
"Senior, well said!"
Cao Mingliang sincerely gave her a thumbs-up.
After breaking up with Lü Yanran, he had met all sorts of girls and gotten to know many of them in depth. Those girls, more or less, had similar characteristics.
However, he had never met a girl like Wang Zijun before.
"Oh dear, why am I getting sentimental? Let's stop talking. Come, come, let's do a full joint rehearsal together, and then today's training will conclude!"
Wang Zijun suggested with a smile.
Qin Tian and the other two naturally had no objections.
"Junior Cao, you can do the countdown."
"Got it!"
...
...
After being dismissed from the rehearsal room, Qin Tian sent a message to Xia Nuannuan on his phone.
Xia Nuannuan did not reply, so she was likely still training.
"I'll go cook, and I'll be back to eat!"
Qin Tian sent another message, then put his phone back into his pocket and left the campus.
He bought some fresh vegetables at a nearby supermarket and returned home.
Xia Tian, filled with joy, ran to greet him.
"Let's go, let's cook for Mom together."
Qin Tian looked down and said to the dog.
"Woof!"
Xia Tian barked happily and followed him to the kitchen.
He tidied up the groceries, took out what he needed to cook today, and put the rest in the refrigerator.
After putting on the same couple's apron that Xia Nuannuan had bought, Qin Tian began to get busy.
Xia Tian sat obediently nearby. Occasionally, when Qin Tian dropped something edible, it would bury its head and devour it.
When two dishes were out of the pot, Xia Nuannuan returned.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, Xia Tian immediately barked and ran over.
"You're here to pick me up again? So good. Oh, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts. No, Mom's lower back and legs hurt, I can't squat down, so I can't hold you."
Xia Nuannuan's voice came.
"What's wrong?"
Qin Tian turned to look at her and asked with concern.
Xia Nuannuan touched her lower back and smiled helplessly, "We went to practice dance basics today, and it was harder than I imagined. After all, I'm not a little girl anymore, my old back and cold legs, and my body's flexibility isn't enough."
Qin Tian couldn't help but be amused and teased with a wicked grin, "Didn't I say you need to exercise your flexibility more!"
"I'm suffering so much, and you're still in the mood to joke!"
Xia Nuannuan's face flushed red, and she glared at him with shame and indignation.
"My apologies, my apologies. Go sit on the sofa and rest for a bit. I've stewed some soup and made your favorite dishes. Eat a bit more later and replenish yourself."
Qin Tian turned around and continued to work.
Xia Nuannuan rolled her eyes and said to Xia Tian, who was looking up at her with his head tilted, "Tian Tian, let's go play over there. Ignore him."
"Nuannuan, didn't we say not to call it that?"
"I want to, who told you to be a pervert!"
"How was I a pervert! You're the one who misunderstood, right?"
"Hmph, you know it in your heart!"
"Alas, I'm truly troubled."
Qin Tian sighed.
A moment later, four dishes and one soup, all fragrant and appetizing, were served on the table.
"Come on, you worked hard. Have a bowl of fish soup to nourish yourself first."
Seeing Xia Nuannuan come and sit down, Qin Tian first ladled a bowl of fish soup and placed it in front of her.
Xia Nuannuan gave him an appreciative look, picked up her spoon, and took a small sip of the delicious fish soup. A hint of a happy smile immediately appeared on her pretty face.
"Seeing you like this, what about Shen Siqi and the others?"
"About the same. Siqi is even worse than me. She was limping when she went back."
Xia Nuannuan said with a smile.
"That exaggerated?"
Qin Tian was stunned for a moment.
"There's no other way. People start learning dance when they're young. Our bodies are all stiff now. And this is after the seniors simplified many things; otherwise, we wouldn't be able to learn at all."
Xia Nuannuan said with some helplessness.
"It seems the progress isn't very smooth!"
"Not really. The seniors said we're learning alright. If we continue at this pace, we'll make it in time. Our bodies will get used to it in a few days."
"That's good then!"
"What about your instrument group?"
"They're all doing fine, except for Cao Zei."
Qin Tian ate a bite of food, his expression indifferent.
"What happened to him?"
Xia Nuannuan asked in surprise.
"He wasn't very skilled to begin with, and he'd almost forgotten everything. It was just for the sake of showing off later. Fortunately, the senior you invited also understands drumming and taught him."
"Is that so? Then that senior is truly amazing!"