CH 10

“Dr. Xu,” he called out once again.

She saw his soft lips gently part.

Xu Qingyan lowered her eyes and politely thanked him, “Thank you, goodbye.”

She deliberately avoided making eye contact with him, ensuring she wouldn’t get too carried away.

The vehicle entered the main road, and the driver asked for the destination. Xu Qingyan didn’t feel like going home and being alone, instead, she thought of visiting Ling Qiao.

Ling Qiao, the girl who had a bit of an unconventional style, loved smoky punk aesthetics, and yet, she studied classical piano. That’s right. Onstage, she radiated elegance and grace, while offstage, she rocked rivets and torn holes. Sharing a loft with a group of music enthusiasts, she dwelled in a creative hub of like-minded souls. However, Ling Qiao found herself standing at the crossroads of her career, torn between pursuing the path of a professional pianist and opting for a more traditional role as a teaching assistant at a music academy, gradually transitioning into a teacher. The decision weighed heavily on her, and she remained uncertain about which direction to choose.

According to her own words, she didn’t possess Xu Qingyan’s talent. Xu Qingyan smiled, thinking she was just finding excuses, casually brushing off this topic.

Talent, as elusive as it may be, does not necessarily dictate one’s destiny.

Upon arriving at the loft, Ling Qiao was caught in the midst of hopping around and slipping on her shoes, simultaneously rummaging through her bag for the keys.

“What are you up to?” asked Xu Qingyan.

Ling Qiao, dressed in formal attire with a light touch of makeup (not the smoky kind), caused Xu Qingyan to gaze at her in astonishment for a moment before confirming her identity.

Spotting Xu Qingyan, Ling Qiao immediately grabbed her. “Hurry, we’re running late!”

Xu Qingyan rushed forward, steadying her. “What’s the matter?”

“Oh, today is Maestro Zhao’s piano concert. We have a rehearsal in the afternoon, and I’m part of the production team. I’m going to be late.”

“Well then, you go ahead. I don’t want to keep you.”

Seeing Xu Qingyan about to leave, Ling Qiao quickly grabbed her. “Perfect timing, come with me.”

Without a chance to ask why, Xu Qingyan was swiftly pulled by Ling Qiao like a gust of wind, heading towards the theater.

Since Xu Qingyan had given up on her own musical path, she hadn’t been paying much attention to such performances. In the past, she would have been the first to snatch up tickets. Today, Ling Qiao had hoped to bring Xu Qingyan inside with the help of her position as a staff member, but their request was unexpectedly denied.

Seeing Ling Qiao’s troubled expression, Xu Qingyan thought for a moment and patted her shoulder. “It’s okay, you go ahead and handle your work. I’ll wander around nearby and head home later.”

Ling Qiao was quite unwilling, refusing to believe that Xu Qingyan had no attachment to the piano. However, with someone urging her from inside, she reluctantly went in first.

Xu Qingyan was not unfamiliar with this theater. She had performed here several times before, once representing her school orchestra, another time at the Asian Piano Competition, and yet another time as a guest performer in a national-level concert.

As those memories crossed her mind, she composed herself, determined not to let herself delve further into their depths. She carefully pushed aside the thoughts, keeping her focus in the present moment. 

Adjacent to the theater was a piano shop where she used to be a regular. She loved coming here to catch a glimpse of the Steinway grand piano in the corner. Sadly, her pockets were not deep enough, and the shop owner had explained that this piano was a family heirloom, not for sale, only for display. However, if she liked, he could let her play a few notes on it.

There were pianos more luxurious than this one, but only this particular piano shared her birth month and day. Such uniqueness held significant meaning for her.

It had been nearly a decade since her last visit. With a resolute determination, she made a conscious effort to detach herself from anything piano-related, refraining from seeking out information or stepping foot into that shop. Only occasionally did she indulge in practicing at home. She didn’t want to leave any space for regrets. And now, she had reached a point where she could face it all with a serene acceptance.

Pushing open the glass door, the place had undergone renovations, and the layout differed slightly from her memory. However, the air still danced with the molecules of music. She recalled the corner on the ground floor where the owner had specially placed his precious antique piano. As she circled around, she saw many fine instruments, but that particular piano was nowhere to be found.

Reluctantly, she approached a store employee and asked, “Excuse me, I’m wondering if the Steinway piano that used to be here was sold?”

The employee, a young student-like girl, looked puzzled and shook her head. “When I started working here, there was no piano as you described.”

“What about the owner? Oh, I remember everyone called him Teacher Zhang.”

The employee smiled awkwardly. “I’m sorry, but our boss is not the Teacher Zhang you mentioned.”

Expressing gratitude to the young girl, Xu Qingyan gazed at the room full of pianos, feeling a slight sense of disappointment within her heart.

After all, over a decade had passed, and a change in ownership was a common occurrence. Perhaps she was making a big deal out of nothing.

Since she was already here, Xu Qingyan decided to look around.

She sat down in front of a Bösendorfer piano, a brand that required the wood used in its production to undergo natural drying for 10 years, followed by an additional 3 years of drying after it was cut into materials. The strict craftsmanship had puzzled Shen Yu Chu when he accompanied her to see the pianos. After Teacher Zhang finished his introduction, Shen Yu Chu almost burst out laughing.

At that moment, she had given him an elbow, and he held his stomach, saying, “I have to say, it’s just like your personality, no wonder you like it.”

“Do you like this piano?” 

Xu Qingyan was taken aback. Without realizing it, her hand had indistinctively touched the piano keys. It felt as if she had touched something scorching, and she quickly withdrew her hand, standing up in a rush. “I was just looking.”

The person she asked was a young male employee, fair-skinned and exuding a youthful charm. He smiled warmly at her.

He stood in front of her, blocking her way, and she couldn’t easily get around him. Just as she was wondering, he suddenly widened his smile and said, “Don’t you remember me?”

Xu Qingyan was caught off guard by the question. She wasn’t face-blind, but this person was so handsome that if she had met him before, she wouldn’t have forgotten.

“Oh,” he slapped the back of his head. “I forgot, you didn’t see me at that time. No, wait, you should have seen me.”

Xu Qingyan was puzzled. What was going on here?

The other person hesitated for a moment but continued to smile, saying, “You were really brave back then. But I guess Second Brother wouldn’t really make things difficult for you. Otherwise, I would have helped you out a bit more.”

In an instant, Xu Qingyan’s expression changed, and the scene from that night flashed before her eyes. She immediately realized the identity of the person in front of her.

Li Huai noticed Xu Qingyan’s sudden change in expression. He raised his hands innocently and said, “Oh, sis, don’t be angry. I’m just an ordinary college student working here part-time.”

Xu Qingyan regained her composure on her face. She discreetly took a step back and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’ve mistaken me for someone else. Please step aside.”

Li Huai scratched his head, a perplexed look on his face. “That doesn’t seem right. I have a good memory for faces, I don’t make mistakes like this.”

“……”

Is this person really from the Li family? Is he truly Liang Jiankong’s younger brother?

Li Huai waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t worry. If my brother wanted to do something to you, he wouldn’t have waited until now. Sister, I’m not a bad person, so you don’t have to be afraid of me.”

Xu Qingyan twitched the corner of her mouth, unsure of how to react. Did they think she looked naive, innocent, and foolish?

Li Huai continued rambling, oblivious to Xu Qingyan’s inner turmoil. “Sister, do you like the piano? Can you play it? You’re not only a doctor but also a pianist. You’re like a goddess. My brother…”

Before he could finish his sentence, someone interrupted him. “Xiao Huai, why aren’t you at school? What are you doing here?”

Xu Qingyan instinctively clenched his fist, taking a moment to compose herself before slowly turning around.

The glass door behind Liang Jiankong closed slowly, blocking out the summer sunlight and obscuring his expression. After a brief moment, he strode towards them with long, confident strides, stopping just in front of her.

Their previous encounters had been shrouded in darkness or fraught with unusual circumstances—a hospital bed, a sickroom. Now, under the warmth of the sun, she saw him clearly for the first time. Sunlight cascaded upon him, infusing his presence with a touch of radiance. His almond-shaped eyes glimmered with a gentle smile, and even the faint scar near his left eye couldn’t diminish his allure.

Liang Jiankong wore a soft, light grey cotton-linen shirt, with the sleeves slightly rolled up, paired with straight black trousers. As he stood there casually, in this world where appearances mattered, who would associate him with the second-in-command of XX Corporation?

“Dr. Xu, what brings you here?” Liang Jiankong seemed to have just noticed her presence.

Caught off guard, Xu Qingyan had no choice but to respond, “Just strolling around, ended up here.”

Li Huai grinned mischievously, “Brother, you scared her.”

Liang Jiankong glanced at him, his expression unreadable. “Let’s not change the subject.”

Li Huai shrugged helplessly, “Well, I don’t have classes this afternoon, so I thought I’d come early. We can attend the concert later. Weren’t you supposed to be somewhere else? How did you return so quickly?”

“Handled it and came back,” Liang Jiankong replied, shifting his gaze towards Xu Qingyan. She was dressed in her usual plain attire, her face devoid of any notable expression.

Liang Jiankong gestured for someone to bring him a glass of water, indicating his hurried journey. After finishing the glass, he turned to Xu Qingyan and asked, “Dr. Xu, you mentioned last time that you can’t play the piano, right?”

Li Huai exclaimed in surprise, “With Dr. Xu’s elegance, it’s such a shame she doesn’t play.”

Xu Qingyan felt a strange sensation within her as she realized Liang Jiankong was waiting for her response. His ability to remember her casual remark revealed his hidden depth. Reluctantly, she replied, “It’s not that I can’t play, but rather I choose not to.”

Before Liang Jiankong could inquire further, Li Huai interjected, “Why?”

“No talent,” she replied abruptly, declining any further discussion.

Liang Jiankong pressed a key on the black and white keyboard, producing a clear note that resonated throughout the first floor. He then pressed another key, a simple melody played with just one finger. It was evident that he didn’t possess piano-playing skills, but he managed to extract a few notes.

“Brother, don’t ruin this fine piano,” Li Huai couldn’t help but intervene, separating Liang Jiankong from the instrument.

Xu Qingyan gazed at the piano keys, her emotions fluctuating before finally settling into calmness.

After a moment, she looked at Liang Jiankong, who was engaged in a “friendly” conversation with Li Huai. At this moment, they truly seemed like ordinary siblings from an ordinary family.

It seemed that Li Huai was the one least afraid of Liang Jiankong. After teasing his elder brother, he formally invited Xu Qingyan to enjoy the master’s concert together.

Xu Qingyan didn’t consider herself particularly likable. Perhaps it was Li Huai’s outgoing and carefree nature that made him casually address her as “sister,” displaying a sense of familiarity.

Seeing that Xu Qingyan was still hesitant to accept, Li Huai turned to blame Liang Jiankong, “It’s all your fault, brother. You better leave quickly, or I’m sure Sister will be too scared to come with me to the concert.”

Liang Jiankong, on the other hand, stubbornly refused to leave. He comfortably settled himself on the piano stool and leisurely remarked, “Since I’m here, I might as well be enlightened by some highbrow art.”

Li Huai, unimpressed, sighed, “Fine, anything is better than Third Sister who only knows how to dress extravagantly and snatch boyfriends.”

Xu Qingyan couldn’t help but chuckle, unable to contain herself. A soft laughter escaped her lips, adding a rare touch of vibrancy to her usually plain face.

Liang Jiankong, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, turned around and inexplicably looked at her for a moment.