The Piano Is Great! I've Got to Learn

"Why?"

Orden was surprised. He could tell that Fern cared about Dugu Qing, so why wouldn't she seize the chance to spend some quality time with him?

"Because it's really annoying that Dugu Qing has a stranger's face! I don't want to dream about him looking like a stranger."

Fern grumbled silently to herself, then turned and left.

In the hall, Dugu Qing finished an etiquette lesson and practiced the piano.

In his previous life, Dugu Qing had listened to the works of many masters: Joe Hisaishi, Bandari, Lin Hai, Maksim, Kitarō... He could be considered a music lover.

But the works of these masters—Castle in the Sky, First Snow, Pipa Song, Croatian Rhapsody... had never appeared in this world.

It had been nearly twenty years since Dugu Qing had enjoyed being immersed in piano music.

Now, he placed both hands on the keys. His heart raced and his hands trembled as he began to play softly.

A jumble of notes drifted through the air.

Dugu Qing's ten fingers danced nimbly across the black and white keys, gradually recovering the feeling of playing the piano in the piano shop in his previous life.

His playing rapidly transformed from awkward and halting, with every step a struggle, to smooth and flowing, full of charm.

When he finished playing Two Tigers, Dugu Qing rose to his feet, exhilarated. It was as though he had returned to the carefree state of mind he'd had years ago, when he played in the piano shop after school.

"Amazing. I didn't expect you to know how to play the piano, Dugu Qing. You're truly multitalented."

Fern had appeared beside him at some point and brought her fair little hands together in applause.

"It's very simple. Would you like to learn too?"

"I... I don't think I need to!"

Fern turned and hurried away, clearly reluctant.

All her life, she had learned practical skills, becoming mentally, practically, and financially independent. She had never touched a piano.

If she really learned to play alongside Dugu Qing, she would only make a fool of herself.

Dugu Qing stepped forward and placed a hand on Fern's shoulder with practiced ease.

"Come on! I'm a beginner too. We can improve together!"

With someone he knew by his side, Dugu Qing felt sure he would make rapid progress and quickly return to the fairly decent level he had reached in his previous life.

Speaking of which, this body of his really was the body of a once-in-ages genius! His memory was especially sharp; he could still remember the sheet music he had seen in his previous life. It was incredible.

"No... I can't."

Fern's face turned slightly red, her body tensed, and she stood straight as though her legs had taken root.

Dugu Qing pushed Fern by the back and had her sit on the chair. He placed her hands on the keyboard and gently plucked the strings.

The boy's youthful, vigorous presence washed over her from behind, and his fingers brushed against her skin from time to time.

Fern parted her rosy lips, the tips of her ears growing warm, and suddenly understood.

So this is what learning the piano is like!

You should have said so!

If you'd told me earlier that we could touch skin and press our bodies together... I would have agreed ages ago.

The piano is great! I want to learn too.

Dugu Qing played the beginning of Two Tigers and looked expectantly at Fern.

The corners of Fern's mouth quietly turned up. She was in a wonderful mood, but pretended she hadn't remembered it.

"It's so hard. I didn't remember a single step. Dugu Qing, teach me hand over hand!"

A troubled look appeared on Dugu Qing's face.

Wouldn't it be a little improper to teach Fern hand over hand?

How did that saying go? Men and women shouldn't touch when giving or receiving things. If someone else saw them, they might think the two of them were dating!

Not proper.

Fern reached for Dugu Qing's hand and urged him excitedly, almost coaxingly.

"Hurry up, or it'll be dark soon."

Just then, Frieren, Stark, and Sein came back from the garden, chatting and laughing.

Afraid the three would misunderstand, Dugu Qing felt his face grow hot and hurriedly lowered his head. His chest barely brushed her shoulder as his warm hands gently enclosed her little hands on the keys, guiding them up and down.

Hesitant, labored notes came from the keyboard.

Frieren, Stark, and Sein all looked over.

"Wow! I didn't expect Fern to be learning the piano. She's working so hard."

"Are they really just learning the piano? I can't help feeling there's something strange about those two."

Stark touched his cheek. He couldn't shake the feeling that Dugu Qing and Fern were dating. They were much too intimate; their faces were almost touching...

"Oh, it's you! Do you want to learn the piano? I know lots of pieces."

"No thanks. You two have fun."

Frieren waved a hand to show she wasn't interested and returned to her guest room.

Stark stayed behind like a detective, scrutinizing Dugu Qing and Fern back and forth. When he saw that they really were just playing the piano, he sat down on the sofa in disappointment.

Under Dugu Qing's control, the playing quickly moved past the beginner stage, and he began playing Marriage d'Amour.

When Sein heard the music, it was as though someone had seized him by the throat. He took out a pack of cigarettes, pulled one out, and sat by the window to light it.

The piece came to an end.

Sein applauded enthusiastically. "Beautiful, beautiful! When I get married, I have to use this piece."

"Married? Do you even have a girlfriend?"

Stark looked at Sein sympathetically.

He suddenly realized that he and Sein were a little alike. They were both commoners, neither had any savings, and neither had a girlfriend...

Marriage was a hundred and eight thousand li away for them! He had never even been on a date with a girl...

"I don't have a girlfriend because my standards are high! Back in the day, I was a handsome young man famous throughout our village and all the villages around it..."

Sein was selling his own melons and praising them himself.

A middle-aged maid with a nice figure passed by, and Sein's voice immediately faltered. He didn't dare speak loudly.

"So you've never been on a date with a woman either, have you?"

Stark narrowed his eyes, at a loss for words.

"I've never been on a date either! What's the problem?"

Dugu Qing turned sideways to look back, a simple, innocent light shining in his eyes.

Sein and Stark looked at Dugu Qing, whose chest was pressed against Fern's back and whose fingers were pressing against hers, and a fierce jealousy burst forth.

The two spoke in unison, angered by their embarrassment.

"Shut up! Don't say another word."

He's clearly holding a beauty in his arms, yet he calls himself single every day. People like that are the worst!

"Dugu Qing really has never been on a date. I can vouch for him."

Fern, happy to add fuel to the fire, steadfastly defended Dugu Qing.

"Uh..."

"Let's go! I've already had my fill in this short time. I won't need to eat for three days and three nights."

Stark and Sein exchanged a glance. As though fate had seized them by the throat, they beat a hasty retreat, vanishing at the speed of light.

"Why do those two seem so strange? Could it be that they're jealous because I attract attention everywhere I go?"

"That must be it. Dugu Qing, you have to protect yourself from now on."

"I will."

When the lesson ended, Dugu Qing sat down on the sofa to wait for the meal.

Fern rose to her feet regretfully, keenly feeling how time flew and how merciless the years were.

The butler led the maids in a line as they brought out delicious dishes.

Hearing the commotion, Stark, Sein, and Frieren all came out of their guest rooms and sat down to enjoy the luxurious meal.