Chapter 17: Main Plot (Part 2)

Chapter 17: Main Plot (Part 2)

Stepping across the courtyard paved with stone bricks, the sound of raindrops on leaves receded into the background as Huo Qing said, "Erbai, you've come to our great aid."

She mentioned that her mother loved the sound of the piano, and in earlier years, it was her father who played for her birthday. She wasn't gifted in that area, so after her father's passing, it was her brother who took over the tradition each year.

Due to her mother's poor health and need for rest, the birthdays were kept quiet affairs without much fanfare, usually just the family gathering together. This year, however, her brother couldn't make it back, and it would have been too somber an occasion without him. So, she had the idea of finding someone who could play the piano, at least ensuring her mother's happiness for the day.

Having never practiced piano herself, she didn't know anyone in that field. She was planning to ask one of her friends' piano teachers when she coincidentally heard the music from the live stream.

And thus, the situation unfolded as it did.

Under the eaves, someone took the umbrellas from their hands, and Huo Qing looked towards the man standing by the main gate, saying, "This is Uncle Wang, the butler."

She then introduced, "This is my friend Chen Erbai."

Chen Bai and Uncle Wang exchanged nods, the former handing over the flowers he held.

The exterior of the manor appeared grand, and indeed, its interior matched its outsized appearance in scale.

On one side of the house was the living room, where a crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling that soared several stories high, bathing the room in bright light. Huo Qing quickly surveyed the living room, ensuring no one was around before whispering, "The piano room is on the second floor."

She didn't look like someone who lived here; rather, she seemed like a person who had come to steal something.

The butler, accustomed to such behavior, said, "Madam is in her room and won't be coming down now."

Relieved, the intruder led the way up to the second floor.

The piano room was situated on one side of the house, facing the light, so it would be brightly illuminated when the weather was clear.

Chen Bai entered the room, casting a glance at the grand piano placed right in the middle.

Huo Qing remarked, "This piano hasn't been used for a long time. Can we use it directly?"

Chen Bai lowered his head to open the lid, his fingers gently touching the keys as he played a few simple notes, saying, "It needs tuning, which will take about an hour."

Though she didn't understand the intricacies, Huo Qing nodded in understanding: "My mother's room is far enough that she won't hear us here. I'll keep her occupied; meet me back downstairs in an hour."

In certain aspects, she was similar to an enthusiastic agent obsessed with making money—full of energy and vigor. Despite wearing a dress, it didn't hinder her movements as she promptly dashed off at the first opportunity.

The room was filled only with the incessant sound of rain tapping against the window.

Chen Bai lowered his head, pressing his fingers further onto the black and white keys; his pale eyes, framed by his pinkish strands, flickered slightly.

This piano was identical to the one he had used for over a decade. The keys were slightly heavy to the touch, the rebound speed just right, but it hadn't been tuned yet, resulting in subtle discrepancies in its tone.

The tuning process was long and monotonous, yet Chen Bai found it tolerable, calmly repeating the adjustments.

Uncle Wang, the butler, came to ask if there was anything he needed help with. Upon learning that Chen Bai didn't require assistance for the moment, he stood aside, watching the tuning process unfold.

The person sitting at the piano was adept, meticulously tuning each key until the instrument was restored to its proper state. He straightened up, turning his head casually to say, "If a piano hasn't been used for a long time, it would be better to tune it once a year or every half a year."

It wasn't a demand, merely a small suggestion from someone who often played the piano, to which one could choose to listen or not.

Uncle Wang assured him that he would relay the advice faithfully.

Just as an hour had passed, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor. Huo Qing, with her usual vivacity, reappeared at the door, leaning against the frame to ask, "Is it ready?"

Chen Bai sat back down on the piano stool, smiling as he said, "It's done."

The rain outside grew heavier, dark clouds piled up, and the indoor lights shone brightly.

A woman in a wheelchair was pushed out of the elevator by someone.

The living room was empty, and the butler descended from a side staircase. She asked, "Where's Little Qing?"

The butler pointed upstairs.

A sound came from the second floor.

Not too light, not too heavy, it was the sound of a piano.

The only person who could play the piano in this house now was Huochuan, who was currently out of town, and because he had taken it up halfway through his life, he wasn't actually that good at it.

Looking towards the approaching butler, the person in the wheelchair was about to ask something when the piano prelude sounded above, causing her movement to pause; the hand she had raised slowly lowered again.

It was a very familiar prelude.

Above one side of the living room was the piano room, with walls removed for an open structure. The unique layout of the house allowed the piano music to be heard clearly here, without any obstruction or distortion.

The woman in the wheelchair, Zhang Ling, no longer plays the piano but still listens.

As the mellow tones begin to rise, she lifts her gaze slightly.

The piano's timbre has changed somewhat from before; it must have been tuned, and tuned well. Both the tuner and the player are of high caliber.

The rising tones then become gentle again, imbued with a faint aura of happiness and infinite tenderness within their calmness.

A piece comes to an end.

"Rachmaninoff's 'Lilacs.'"

In the silence, the smile on Zhang Ling's face, seated in her wheelchair, can't be contained as she remarks, "It must be something Little Qing did."

She looks towards the approaching butler and then asks, "Who is the pianist?"

Rachmaninoff Op. 21, No. 5, 'Lilacs,' one of her all-time favorite pieces.

Knowing these things and being at home, there's only this girl.

No wonder he had suddenly come to her room for a forced chat before; it turns out he was preparing all of this.

She just didn’t expect the young girl could actually find someone.

In the past two years, the only music she often heard was the off-key lilac tune played by her son who lacked any musical talent, and she had almost forgotten that it was originally a warm and relaxing piece.

Uncle Wang said this was a gift from the young lady.

"The one playing the piano is a friend of the young lady."

Uncle Wang bent over to hand over the bouquet, saying, "These flowers are from that friend for Madam."

Zhang Ling's hand, resting on the blanket on her lap, slightly lifted as she accepted the bouquet.

The bouquet wasn't made up of common flowers like carnations, but consisted of white and purple sword lilies, which were in full bloom. When held close, a faint, pleasant fragrance could be smelled—it wasn’t overpowering, but very pleasant.

She lowered her head to look at the bouquet for a few more moments, reaching out to touch the gradient petals, then turned her head with a smile, saying, "Remember to find a vase to keep them. It would be perfect to place them on the table in this living room, they look nice."

Uncle Wang agreed.

As the melody paused between pieces, a figure appeared hanging over the balcony on the second floor, clad in a white flowing dress—none other than Huo Qing, who had been absent from sight until now.

She waved towards the living room, inquiring about the next song they desired to hear.

It seemed the evening’s entertainment was by request.

Huo Qing, positioned on the balcony, had found herself an impromptu role as a messenger.

As the piano notes echoed through the manor once more, outside in the courtyard, amidst the torrential downpour, a car pulled into the entrance gates.

The people in the courtyard were taken aback upon recognizing who was in the car. They turned to alert those inside but were promptly stopped.

The driver got out and offered an umbrella to the person seated in the back, whose response was a polite decline.

Several figures moved through the gray, drizzling curtain of rain.

The closed gate swung open once more, admitting a man with his suit jacket draped over one arm. Upon entering the house, he heard the sound of piano music drifting down from upstairs as his eyes fell upon the woman sitting in the living room.

Zhang Ling, fussing with the flowers in the vase by the door, paused at the sound of movement. Surprised, she whispered, "Why have you returned?"

Huochuan handed his slightly damp suit jacket to the butler and said, "There was a torrential downpour at my destination, causing my flight to be delayed."

Knowing that the storm would persist for some time, he didn't wait; instead, he canceled his trip outright upon hearing about the delay.

He glanced at the flowers in the vase and asked, "Has anyone visited?"

Zhang Ling looked toward the second floor's music room and said with a smile, "Little Qing brought a friend over. She's up there too. If you're interested, you can go take a look."

She had initially planned to go upstairs as well, but since listening to the music from here or upstairs made no difference, and it was troublesome to make the trip, she decided to stay put.

—She seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.

Huochuan retracted his gaze and went upstairs for a glance.

As he ascended the stairs, before even reaching the hallway, he could see Huo Qing standing outside the music room in a peculiar pose, holding her phone up to snap pictures inside.

Upon hearing footsteps, she turned around and swiftly signaled for silence before he could speak, her expression unusually serious.

Thus, Huochuan remained silent, following her line of sight.

Amidst the swaying shadows of trees beyond the window, raindrops kissed the glass before sliding down, while in the heart of the room stood a figure with a back as straight as a young pine tree. Head bowed, strands of pink hair veiled his faintly outlined eyes, and slender fingers danced across the black and white keys. The heavy keys sank and sprang back up, echoing the rhythm of the music.

The melody shifted from gentle to fervent, strings quivering as each note piled upon the last. Despite the intensity, the pale hands remained steady, betraying no sign of panic, their composure unshaken.

His gaze fell upon a light-colored knitted jacket he had seen once before, and it was then that Huochuan recognized the person.

Some people, when they don't speak, seem transformed, almost unrecognizable in every aspect.

"..."

Time stretched on without any sound from the person beside her, prompting Huo Qing to finally tear her eyes away from her phone screen, casting a glance over her shoulder.

There stood her brother, whose emotions were usually inscrutable, leaning against the railing. His eyes were fixed on the individual within the music room, and he loosened his tie with a downward tug.

Something seemed off, yet the man made no extraneous movements. Shrugging off her unease, Huo Qing turned her attention back to her phone.

As the final note faded into silence, tranquility enveloped the music room once more.

The man in the room retracted his hands from the piano keys, propping himself up on either side with them as he leaned back slightly. Then, he turned to look towards the door.

He successfully met the gaze of the man standing outside.

Chen Bai understood.

While playing the piano earlier, he had noticed someone seemed to have joined him at the side, and indeed it was so.

It looked like the God of Wealth hadn't managed to make money today.

Missing out on a lucrative opportunity, Chen Moubai genuinely felt regret this time.

Regretful, yet without showing it on his face, Chen Bai smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, extending a polite greeting.

Huochuan responded, "Long time no see."

In an instant, by the door, Huo Qing who was metaphorically invisible perked up her ears high, her spirit rejuvenated.