Liu Baixu’s words nearly shattered Qin Nian’s self-esteem.
He even began to doubt whether he was suited to learn the piano at all, and could only turn to his teacher for help.
The elderly music teacher smiled and said, “Qin Nian, there’s no age barrier for the piano. What determines how well you play has always been your love for it. So play to your heart’s content. One day, it will reward you.”
Although Qin Nian initially learned the piano to please Liu Baixu, he fell in love with the instrument during his studies.
In his previous life, Qin Nian was reclusive and inexpressive. Whenever he suffered grievances at the Qin family, he would play the piano, as if confiding in it, using it as an outlet for his emotions.
After being humiliated by Liu Baixu, Qin Nian, with his teacher’s help, did not give up on the piano. He thought that since Liu Baixu’s dream was to win an international piano award, he would use that award to prove himself and present it as a gift to her.
At that time, his goal was an upcoming national competition, and coincidentally, Qin Jiaxu also planned to participate in it.
The music teacher, who had witnessed Qin Nian’s playing skills, was confident about the competition, believing that Qin Nian could definitely win the championship.
However, just half a month before the competition, Liu Baixu was involved in a horrific car accident.
The worst diagnosis from the doctors was that Liu Baixu might never wake up again. In such a situation, Qin Nian couldn’t focus on the competition and chose to stay by her side in the hospital.
On the day of the competition, Qin Jiaxu won the championship as expected.
Watching Qin Jiaxu lift the trophy on television, Qin Nian couldn’t quite describe his feelings. But when he turned to look at Liu Baixu, he saw her eyelids trembling, trying to open.
Overwhelmed with joy, Qin Nian called for the doctor.
When Liu Baixu awoke and learned of Qin Jiaxu’s victory, she was overjoyed, caressing Qin Jiaxu as she said, “Heaven must have let me wake up just to see you win.”
Qin Jiaxu smiled and said, “The greatest value of this award is that it brought Mother back to us.”
Qin Nian watched the mother and son share this tender moment, feeling out of place whether he stayed or left.
Even the doctor couldn’t help but smile and say, “It’s all thanks to your younger son who stayed by your side day and night. I haven’t seen such a considerate young person in a long time.”
Liu Baixu glanced at Qin Nian, her smile still lingering, and softly said, “A young master’s body, a servant’s fate.”
Instantly, Qin Nian felt a chill run through his body.
Liu Baixu meant that although Qin Nian had the status of the Qin family’s biological son, he was destined to serve others, like a servant.
A young master’s body, a servant’s fate.
Recalling those six words, Qin Nian felt a wave of nausea, as if he might vomit.
Unconsciously, he found himself seated at the newly purchased Crystal Piano, his hands brushing over the keys as he played a short piece to test the sound.
The custom-made piano had a naturally excellent tone, clear and bright, like a nightingale’s song.
The butler, hearing someone playing the piano just after he had left, turned back to see Qin Nian seated at the piano.
The butler’s expression was displeased as he approached and said, “Young Master Qin, this piano was specially bought for Young Master Jiaxu. You’d better not touch it, what if you damage it?”
Qin Nian ignored him, his hands continuing to play. He tried another short piece, saying, “Aren’t I also a child of the Qin family? Why can’t I touch it?”
The butler chuckled awkwardly, “This is a valuable item. If you damage it, Young Master Jiaxu would be upset.”
Hearing this, Qin Nian stopped playing, looked up, and met the butler’s gaze. “If I’m not mistaken, I’m also an owner of this house, right? As your employer, what gives you the right to boss me around?”
The butler, seeing that Qin Nian was unmoved by either soft or hard tactics, dropped his perfunctory smile. “Fine, I’m just a servant and can’t persuade you, Young Master. If it gets damaged, you’ll have to explain it to Madam and the others yourself.”
With that, he turned and snorted, muttering under his breath, “What a piece of work, really thinks he’s a young master.”
The muttering was just loud enough for Qin Nian to hear. He glanced at the butler’s departing figure with a cold expression.
Once he had adjusted to the feel of the piano, he began to play.
He played Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” a piece he had loved most in his past life.
“Swan Lake” comes with its own story.
His teacher had told him about the beautiful princess Odette, who was cursed by an evil sorcerer to become a swan by the lake. Prince Siegfried, visiting Swan Lake, fell in love with Odette, who could only return to her human form at night, and the two fell in love.
However, during the prince’s bride selection, the sorcerer had his daughter, the Black Swan, disguise herself as Odette to attend the ball, and the prince was deceived into dancing with the Black Swan.
Odette, who had come from afar, was heartbroken upon witnessing this scene.
Michel had told Qin Nian that this story had two endings.
One was a happy ending, where the prince saw through the sorcerer’s trick, defeated him, and broke Odette’s curse.
The other was a tragic ending, where the prince was killed by the sorcerer’s curse, and Odette remained a swan forever.
At this moment, Qin Nian felt that the ending should be the prince and the Black Swan living happily together, while Odette died alone in the dark Swan Lake.
In his past life, wasn’t he just like Odette, watching from the shadows as Qin Jiaxu and his family lived in bliss?
As he played, Qin Nian thought about this. He had played this piece so many times that it was almost second nature. He reached the passionate part, where the prince fought the sorcerer in the snow for his beloved Odette.
The music flowed through the open window into the courtyard.
At that moment, the Qin parents were downstairs with Feng Wang.
At the banquet, Qin Ru had seized the opportunity to invite Feng Wang. The next day, fearing Feng Wang might change his mind, Qin Ru had sent someone to Feng’s residence early in the morning to invite him over.
The music was smooth and melodious, and even a layperson could tell the pianist’s skill was exceptional. Feng Wang felt the music was a perfect antidote to the annoyance of listening to Qin Ru’s incessant chatter all morning. As they passed the lawn by the entrance, standing under the second-floor window, Qin Nian was playing by the window.
Liu Baixu was also delighted to hear the piano. The only one in the Qin family who could play the piano was Qin Jiaxu. Previously, although Qin Jiaxu’s skills were indeed good, Liu Baixu had critiqued that his playing was too mechanical, lacking any emotion. She hadn’t said it aloud, but it even lacked spirit.
But now, the piano music from upstairs was full of spirit. Just listening, one could imagine how the pianist’s fingers danced lightly over the keys.
Such great progress, she wondered how long Jiaxu had been practicing without her knowing.
For a moment, Liu Baixu felt even more affection for Qin Jiaxu.
She glanced at Feng Wang, seeing him look up at the window with interest, and smiled, “At this time, it should be Jiaxu playing the piano. Mr. Feng, are you interested in the piano too?”
Qin Jiaxu?
The young man who had been so eager to please him last night, Feng Wang had seen such expressions countless times since becoming the head of his family. Could someone so eager to flatter play such a piece?
Feng Wang was a bit surprised.
But he nodded, “Sure.”
The three entered the house. Qin Jiaxu, having heard from Qin Ru the night before that Feng Wang would be visiting in the morning, had been waiting with tea in the first-floor living room.
When he heard movement at the door, he immediately went to greet them.
His face was filled with barely contained joy. “Mr. Feng, you’re here. My father has specially prepared some Liu’an Guapian tea for you, which he’s been collecting for a long time.”
His tone was enthusiastic, but halfway through, he noticed his mother’s strange look, as if he shouldn’t be there.
Liu Baixu was also a bit confused, forcing a smile, “Jiaxu, why are you here?”
Qin Jiaxu looked puzzled, not understanding what was wrong with his behavior. “I’ve been in the living room the whole time, Mother.”
Liu Baixu forced a smile, “Then who is playing the piano?”
Only then did Qin Jiaxu realize that continuous piano music was coming from the second floor. Since he usually played piano records in the house and was entirely focused on waiting for Feng Wang’s arrival today, he hadn’t noticed anything amiss.
Qin Jiaxu was momentarily stunned. “Maybe the butler is playing a record.”
Even as he said it, he found it absurd. The Qin family didn’t even own a “Swan Lake” record.
Feng Wang, having understood the situation, smiled and suggested, “Why don’t we go upstairs and take a look?”
With Feng Wang’s request, Father Qin and Mother Qin naturally agreed, but Qin Jiaxu began to feel uneasy.
Having learned to play the piano from a young age, Qin Jiaxu could naturally tell how skilled the pianist was. But in this house, besides himself and his mother, no one else could play the piano, and the servants wouldn’t dare touch his things.
As they got closer to the second floor, Qin Jiaxu’s grip on the handrail tightened, and he had a ridiculous suspicion in his heart.
When he saw the person playing the piano, that absurd suspicion was confirmed.
In the second-floor hall, Qin Nian was seated at the piano, his fingers dancing over the keys like fluttering butterflies.
The music grew more intense, yet Qin Nian’s expression remained calm. His hair, still slightly tousled from waking up, gave his head a fluffy appearance. Qin Nian’s profile, along with the Crystal Piano, was bathed in sunlight, the pure white curtains billowing in the breeze. The scene in the hall was dreamlike, as if stepping into a fantasy.
Among the four who came upstairs, only Feng Wang remained composed. The others, especially Qin Jiaxu, each had their own thoughts. Before Qin Nian returned to the Qin family, Qin Jiaxu had hired a private investigator to look into him. The investigator had reported that aside from his academic performance, Qin Nian was unremarkable.
Why could Qin Nian play the piano now?
Qin Nian noticed the visitors and turned to see the four people who had come upstairs.
Seeing Feng Wang, Qin Nian realized, “Mr. Feng, are you here as a guest?”
Feng Wang nodded lightly and praised, “You play the piano well.”
Qin Nian was taken aback, then felt a bit shy. In fact, aside from his teacher, this was almost the first time someone had complimented his piano skills. Even if it was just polite, he was still happy.
“If Mr. Feng likes it, I can play a few more pieces now?”
Qin Ru frowned, “Mr. Feng is here to discuss business. He doesn’t have time to listen to you play the piano.”