As soon as the word “dismissal” was mentioned, even before Liu Baixu could react, the butler and Aunt Huang were already on edge.
Though they were merely servants, the Qin Family was undeniably wealthy and treated their staff generously. For middle-aged individuals like them, working here was a decent job. And now, Qin Nian was talking about letting them go?
How could they possibly accept that?
Moreover, when Young Master Qin Jiaxu approached them earlier, he had assured them that if they took the blame, not only would they keep their jobs, but they would also get a raise.
In a panic, Aunt Huang turned to Qin Jiaxu for help, “Young Master Qin Jiaxu, you promised us just now that if—”
“Promised what!”
Seeing the situation about to implicate him, Qin Jiaxu’s priority was to distance himself and pass the hot potato to someone else.
“Xiao Nian is right. How dare you treat your employer this way? Who knows what you’ll do next? Our Qin Family can’t afford to keep servants like you.”
“But we were just following—”
“Enough.” Liu Baixu interrupted, cutting off their attempts to argue. Though she didn’t usually earn much at home, she knew they couldn’t reveal that the Qin Family had instructed the servants. Otherwise, it would be even harder to cover up in front of Secretary Yang. “Let’s part on good terms. I’ll give you some extra compensation.”
At the mention of compensation, Aunt Huang and the butler finally quieted down.
They lowered their heads, eyes darting as they calculated what would be a reasonable compensation.
And so, the farce came to an end.
Yang Huan, who had watched the whole scene unfold, showed no change in expression. He handed over the gift box entrusted to him by Feng Wang. “Young Master Qin Nian, Mr. Feng knows you were unwell, so he sent this gift box to inquire about your health and to ask when you might come to the Feng Family to teach Miss Feng Yuanyuan the piano.”
Unwell?
Qin Nian immediately understood. It was likely a lie Qin Jiaxu had concocted in front of Feng Wang.
He glanced towards Qin Jiaxu in the corner. The usually gentle Qin Jiaxu was sitting quietly with Liu Baixu, occasionally casting glances in his direction.
Qin Nian found it amusing. So, the attempt to switch places had failed?
He accepted the box. “Please thank Mr. Feng. I should be able to come by tomorrow.”
Yang Huan nodded. “Then I’ll come to pick you up at nine tomorrow morning.”
Coming to pick him up personally? That seemed a bit too grand.
“There’s no need to trouble you, Mr. Yang. Just send me the address, and I’ll make my way there myself.”
Beside him, Qin Ru, repeatedly astonished by the treatment Qin Nian received from Feng Wang, chimed in, “Yes, yes, there’s no need to trouble you.”
Yang Huan smiled. “Mr. Feng is just worried that the Qin Family might send the wrong person again tomorrow.”
As soon as he said that, the room fell silent.
Qin Nian was kept at the Qin Family home. Qin Ru insisted he stay and even had the servants clean out the master bedroom for Qin Nian to move into.
Unbeknownst to Qin Nian, Qin Ru had called a family meeting.
“I don’t care what you’re thinking. Keep it to yourselves,” Qin Ru warned his wife and two sons. “This project in my hands is more important than anything. If it fails, there will be consequences.”
Liu Baixu, having suffered a setback, was as wilted as a withered eggplant. Qin Jiaxu and Qin Jiawei remained silent.
The next day, Qin Nian rose early.
As he passed the dining room, the servants, unusually, approached to ask what he wanted for breakfast.
Qin Nian casually ordered a few dishes. The servants, who once acted arrogantly in front of him, now smiled warmly and respectfully presented the dishes to him.
Such fair-weather friends.
Qin Nian thought idly as he forked a piece of egg.
Though Qin Ru was doing his best to keep him, Qin Nian understood Qin Ru’s motives. He had no desire to be entangled with the Qin Family. When he was of no use, they treated him like dirt, but when he was useful, they fawned over him.
It took being reborn to see their true colors.
He needed to move out as soon as possible, Qin Nian thought. Last night, he had found a decent place on a rental app and planned to visit the landlord after teaching Feng Yuanyuan piano today. If he liked it, he would move in immediately.
Yang Huan was already waiting at the Qin Family’s gate for Qin Nian.
On the way to the Feng Family, while waiting at a red light, Yang Huan glanced at Qin Nian. “Yesterday, it seemed like Young Master Qin Nian was planning to move out of the Qin Family home?”
Qin Nian smiled. “I’m no young master. You can just call me Qin Nian, Mr. Yang. I do plan to move out.”
Qin Nian gazed out the window. Everything around him was so similar to his past life, yet he was different now, and because of that, everything else had changed too.
“Aren’t you happy to have found your biological parents?”
Yang Huan was curious. From his observations, the Qin Family seemed to have little regard for Qin Nian. He couldn’t understand why. Although Qin Jiaxu had indeed been with the Qin Family for over a decade and had genuine feelings, Qin Nian was still their biological son. Why treat him so differently?
Qin Nian pondered. He asked himself, was he happy?
“I suppose I’m happy,” Qin Nian thought. “But not everything that makes people happy is worth celebrating.”
His expression was indifferent, as if being switched at birth meant nothing to him. He felt neither joy at finding his biological parents nor anger at the adoptive mother who had deliberately swapped him.
They soon arrived at the Feng Family home, where Feng Yuanyuan was already waiting at the entrance, clutching her favorite teddy bear.
This was Qin Nian’s second visit to the Feng Family. Last time, it was to their house on Jiangnan Shore. This time, it was to their villa in the city center.
Qin Nian guessed that the incident of Feng Yuanyuan getting lost at Jiangnan Shore prompted Feng Wang to return to the more secure city center.
“Pretty brother!” Feng Yuanyuan ran up to him, looking up with her sweet voice, “Is your illness better, brother?”
Yang Huan reminded, “Yesterday, Young Master Qin came over and said you were sick at home, which is why you couldn’t teach piano.”
Qin Nian chuckled, pinching Feng Yuanyuan’s cheek. “I’m all better now.”
Feng Yuanyuan happily led Qin Nian to the piano in the hall.
It was a large black piano, polished to a shine, showing how much its owner cherished it. Two stools were placed in front, seemingly prepared for Feng Yuanyuan and himself.
Feng Yuanyuan’s chubby little hands were ready to lift the piano lid.
Afraid she might pinch her fingers, Qin Nian quickly helped her open it.
“Uncle said you play the piano beautifully. Is that true?”
Qin Nian replied, “I’ll play for you, and you’ll see.”
“Okay!” Feng Yuanyuan clapped her hands in delight and sat obediently on one of the stools in front of the piano.
Qin Nian sat with her, his right hand gently resting on the piano keys.
Considering Feng Yuanyuan’s age, she likely enjoyed children’s songs. Qin Nian recalled a few tunes and began to play them slowly.
He played the well-known “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” In terms of difficulty, it was quite simple, but to Feng Yuanyuan, hearing her favorite song played so effortlessly by Qin Nian made her admire him even more.
“You’re amazing.”
For the first time, Qin Nian felt a bit shy in front of Feng Yuanyuan.
The recognition he had sought so hard in his past life came so easily now.
Feng Yuanyuan exclaimed, “Why are you blushing, brother? Do you blush when you’re praised?”
Qin Nian pursed his lips, not responding.
He gently turned Feng Yuanyuan’s head back to face the piano. “Alright, Miss Feng Yuanyuan, let’s learn the piano.”
He asked, “What would you like to learn?”
Qin Nian had never taught piano before, in this life or the last, so he was a novice at teaching children.
He tried to recall how his teacher had taught him, only to realize he had taught himself piano before seeking a teacher.
Feng Yuanyuan extended her chubby hand, randomly pressing the piano keys. She looked up. “Brother, my mom’s birthday is coming up. I want to learn ‘Happy Birthday’ so I can play it for her.”
Mom?
That would be Mr. Feng’s sister?
Playing “Happy Birthday” was certainly not difficult. Qin Nian patiently taught Feng Yuanyuan, guiding her hands. The song was simple, and Feng Yuanyuan learned quickly.
Qin Nian needed to pay attention to Feng Yuanyuan’s posture. Children often don’t know the correct hand positions for playing piano, so he had to keep an eye on her and occasionally correct her.
By the end of the morning, Feng Yuanyuan had progressed from playing scattered notes to performing the entire “Happy Birthday” song almost fluently.
“Yuanyuan, you’re amazing.”
Qin Nian didn’t hold back his praise for Feng Yuanyuan.
When Feng Wang returned, he saw the two of them at the piano, playing a simple tune. Qin Nian was beside her, occasionally correcting her posture.
The young man’s hair fell softly against his face as he focused intently on the girl beside him, adjusting her posture, and occasionally reaching out to play a few notes to accompany her.
Watching this scene, Feng Wang felt a part of his heart soften.
Feng Yuanyuan, ever perceptive, heard him approach. She abruptly stopped playing, turned her head towards the door, and jumped off the piano stool to run to Feng Wang.
“Uncle—”
Seeing Feng Wang return, Qin Nian also stood up and greeted him, “Mr. Feng.”
Feng Wang asked, “How’s your illness?”
Qin Nian was momentarily at a loss, unsure how to respond. Did Feng Wang really believe he was sick? Should he tell the truth?
Seeing Qin Nian’s conflicted expression, Feng Wang couldn’t help but chuckle.
Yet Qin Nian remained puzzled and uncertain.
“I know,” Feng Wang finally said, no longer teasing him.
“What you said at the Qin Family, does it still hold?”
Qin Nian found himself feeling quite foolish in front of Feng Wang, like a bewildered goose. Every time Feng Wang spoke, he felt lost.
What he had said at the Qin Family?
He recalled that when Feng Wang visited the Qin Family, after Feng Wang praised him, he had said that if Feng Wang liked his playing, he could play for him.
Qin Nian pursed his lips. “Of course, Mr. Feng. What would you like to hear? I’ll play it for you.”