Shen Jianian felt it would be untrue to say her heart wasn’t a little disappointed, but she harbored no grievance against Yan Qiusheng. Everyone has different standards in their hearts, which should be respected.
Yan Qiusheng looked at the young girl in front of him with her head slightly bowed, and with a hint of apology, he repeated, "Sorry, I don’t have the energy to take on an apprentice."
"You don’t need to apologize. I’m already very happy just to see you again." Shen Jianian gave a gentle smile, showing her understanding.
"Mr. Yan, are you really not going to reconsider?" Fu Jichen didn’t look at him, lowering his gaze and turning the teacup in his hand.
Yan Qiusheng was silent, looking at him with an assessing gaze, unsure if Mr. Fu’s question was a threat or an inquiry. Because the expression on his face was really hard to read—deep, serious, as if hiding so calculations, unreasonably chilling.
Shen Jianian gently placed a hand on the back of Fu Jichen’s hand. When he looked at her, she shook her head softly and told him in a whisper, "Let it go."
Fu Jichen raised his eyebrows slightly, turning his palm to grasp her fingers.
In this world, there’s no reason to force soone to take on an apprentice. He didn’t want to impose, especially after eting Yan Qiusheng. He had no persistence in this regard, it was rely a habitual effort as a businessman.
"Since Mr. Yan doesn’t plan on it, we’ll leave you be." Fu Jichen raised his teacup, making a gesture similar to a toast, and smiled faintly, "Thanks for having us, the tea was nice."
That was a sign of departure, and upon hearing it, Shen Jianian made a gesture to stand up.
A gentle and warm female voice suddenly interjected with a hint of a sigh, "Qiusheng, they personally ca to visit, showing genuine sincerity in wanting to be your apprentice. Don’t be in a rush to refuse; perhaps you could consider it."
The one speaking was Yan Qiusheng’s mother, standing in the open-style kitchen, washing a basket of freshly picked strawberries. She had heard so of the conversation in the living room and had her own thoughts.
This Half Mountain Villa had beautiful scenery and a tranquil environnt, a good place for recuperation. Originally, Qiusheng had spent a lot of money to buy this place to provide her with a secluded space to take care of her health.
The downside was inconvenient transportation and sparse visits; besides the two of them, only a nutritionist responsible for als and a part-ti cleaner who regularly ca to clean.
She hoped there would be soone to keep her company often and also help Qiusheng engage more with the outside world, rather than focusing all his attention on a dying person like her; it wasn’t worthwhile.
Mrs. Yan brought a bowl of washed strawberries and placed it in front of Shen Jianian, her smile kind, "Try the strawberries I grew, no pesticides, they’re very sweet."
Shen Jianian quickly replied, "Thank you, Auntie, please have a seat."
Mrs. Yan shook her head, having already sat outside for a long ti, "I’ll go see what ingredients we lack in the kitchen, and stay for dinner tonight."
On her way to the kitchen, she passed by Yan Qiusheng and gave him a pat on the shoulder as a hint.
As Shen Jianian ate the sweet strawberries, her expression beca slightly embarrassed. It seed she put her idol in a difficult position...
Yan Qiusheng smiled helplessly. No matter how famous one becos, they still have to behave obediently in front of their own mother. After pondering for a mont, he stood up and said to Shen Jianian, "Co with ."
Shen Jianian blinked in surprise and glanced at Fu Jichen, who raised his chin slightly, "Go ahead."
She followed Yan Qiusheng to a room on the south side, and when he opened the door, it was filled with all kinds of valuable instrunts, both Western and traditional, but cellos were particularly nurous.
The room had good lighting, with the door facing a whole wall of floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The sunlight filled the floor and cast the instrunts’ silhouettes on the wall.
"Pick a cello and play a piece for ," Yan Qiusheng pulled a chair to sit by the door, one foot resting on a cross-bar under the chair, arms folded in a casual and relaxed manner.
His mother’s words weren’t entirely orders; he needed to assess first before making a decision.
Shen Jianian suddenly felt a sense of nervousness, clenching her palms, not wasting ti being picky, randomly opened a case, and carefully took out a cello.
Sitting on another chair, after pondering for a mont, with the idea of catering to his preferences, she chose "Water Song," a piece Yan Qiusheng had perford years ago at a concert in Beicheng, among many pieces.
This was actually very risky. She definitely didn’t have the sa level of skill as Yan Qiusheng, and playing a piece he had perford in front of him was akin to showing off one’s skill in front of a master, which could easily backfire.
As the lodious cello music flowed in the room, Fu Jichen couldn’t sit still alone in the living room, so he rose to follow the sound to find its source.
The door was wide open, the room flooded with sunlight, Shen Jianian bathed in that abundant light, her hair tinged gold, eyelashes cast shadows on her face, quietly and beautifully playing the cello.
Everything around beca her backdrop, and she was so dazzling.
Fu Jichen thought, if it weren’t for the family misfortune she encountered, this is how she should have been.
When the piece ended, Yan Qiusheng released his crossed arms and applauded, offering only two words of evaluation, "Not bad."
Shen Jianian stood up with the cello, nodding slightly. Upon catching sight of Fu Jichen at the door, her cheeks flushed, and her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her throat.
"You’ve been practicing for many years, right?" Yan Qiusheng laughed lightly, teasing to ease her nerves.
Shen Jianian withdrew her gaze, biting her lip shyly, and replied with a soft "Mm." Because of her admiration for him since childhood, she had practiced repeatedly every piece he had perford.
Even if the expression of emotion isn’t entirely accurate, at least the technique won’t fail.
Yan Qiusheng stopped making things difficult for her and directly stated his condition: "I currently have no plans to leave here. If you’ve decided to study music with , you must report here on ti every day. On Saturdays, I take my family to the hospital for check-ups, so you’ll have a day off. Can you accept this?"
Shen Jianian was hit by an overwhelming surprise, feeling dizzy as she opened her eyes wide and looked at Fu Jichen. It seed she was seeking confirmation from him that she hadn’t misheard—that Yan Qiusheng had agreed to take her as a disciple!
Fu Jichen couldn’t stand her being so surprised, yet when confronted with her eyes filled with anticipation, he nodded in agreent.
Silently telling her that she hadn’t misheard.
It had been a long ti since Shen Jianian felt such unhindered happiness. She bowed deeply to Yan Qiusheng, smiling: "Thank you, Master. I will certainly learn well from you."
Yan Qiusheng, who hadn’t accepted new people or things for a long ti, hesitated for a mont before lowering his head and chuckling.
Fu Jichen checked his watch, intending to leave, but Mrs. Yan’s warm hospitality made it hard to refuse. She repeatedly asked them to stay, saying that dinner was ready to be cooked.
Following the notion that respect is better than defiance, the two had to remain and continue visiting, leaving after dinner to return ho.
Soone called Fu Jichen, and from the conversation content, it was work-related. Shen Jianian remained silent, though her heart was violently stirred.
This afternoon felt like a fantasy journey to her, pulling her out of past quagmires and filling her life with new nourishnt, dissipating the haze of hatred.
She seed to glimpse the outline of the road ahead, no longer a straight, dark, suffocating narrow path, but one where light penetrates, perhaps accompanied by flowers and applause.
All these were brought to her by the man beside her.
Shen Jianian felt a rush of bittersweet emotions in her nose, raising her eyes to look to the right. Fu Jichen’s side profile was cold and stern, holding the phone to his ear, his voice hard as he instructed the person on the other end to prepare all eting materials for tomorrow morning’s eting.
After ending the call, Fu Jichen pressed his finger bone against his brow a couple of tis.
Shen Jianian instinctively moved closer to him, raising her arm, her fingertip pressing on the area of his temples: "Is your headache severe? Do you want to rub it for you?"
Fu Jichen lowered his hand and looked at her, the annoyance in his eyes dissipating sowhat, replaced by tenderness.
Thinking he wasn’t convinced, Shen Jianian assured him with a determined look: "I’m very experienced. I used to rub my dad’s temples, and he said it worked."
She rarely ntioned her deceased parents, as it was a pain she was trying to forget. At that mont, she spoke naturally, as if the anguishing grief had lessened.
Shen Jianian paused montarily, her gaze aimlessly fixed on Fu Jichen’s face.
He said, "Then let’s give it a try."
Shen Jianian lowered her eyes, suppressing the sudden palpitations, adjusting her posture, and turned to kneel on the seat, facing him, with both hands placed on either side of his head.
Her fingers moved from the temples to the brow bones, then to the forehead, and finally to the scalp behind the ears, addressing several acupoints that help ease tension.
Her fingers were slender, yet her touch was not weak, alternating between light and firm maneuvers, as if gradually chasing away the fatigue from his body.
Though he didn’t say it, Shen Jianian knew that given his recent return to the group, he couldn’t possibly not be busy. He was able to make ti to be with her for an entire day, which must have required extra work beforehand and would lead to busyness afterward.
In the comfortable pressure, Fu Jichen gradually relaxed, becoming drowsy, yet unwilling to let her continue in an awkward position serving him. He grasped her hand and pulled it down: "That’s enough."
"Fu Jichen, thank you," Shen Jianian suddenly said.
Fu Jichen watched her eyes, understanding her aning. Her gratitude wasn’t only about finding Yan Qiusheng to take her as a disciple, but encompassed much more.
He softly replied, "How do you plan to thank ?"
In the next instant, she was pulled over by him, her waist wrapped up.
In a flash, Shen Jianian found herself seated on his lap, with the man’s arms tightly encircling her waist.
Shen Jianian remained motionless, beneath her were his tense muscles, beside her was his solid chest, and within her breath was his scent. This man perated all her senses without hesitation.
Suddenly, the scene from the morning where she was entwined in bed with him flashed in her mind, her cheeks warming abruptly.
"You... you should let go of ."
Qu Mo was still in the front, and Shen Jianian was embarrassed to speak loudly. Her words were squeezed out in a low tone.
In Fu Jichen’s eyes, all that remained was a sense of shyness mixed with bashfulness. He curved his lips and lowered his head, planting a kiss on her increasingly reddened cheek.
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