Playing the Piano for You

At the sight of Ye Nanxun.

The round-headed Little Yellow Dog wagged its tail, its four short legs trotting happily through the snow and leaving tiny paw prints as it ran toward the young man.

Ye Nanxun had learned his lesson this time.

Instead of immediately picking up the Little Yellow Dog, he looked around but did not see the man from last time.

"We meet again."

Half-crouching, Ye Nanxun gently stroked the Little Yellow Dog's round head.

"Awoo~"

Its moist eyes narrowed as it sat in the snow, tilting up its head to nuzzle Ye Nanxun's fingertips with its little nose.

After looking around and making sure no one was there, Ye Nanxun pressed his lips together and reached out to scoop the Little Yellow Dog into his arms.

Though the sky had cleared today, it was still very cold outside.

He opened his coat, not caring whether the Little Yellow Dog was clean, and tucked the little fellow directly inside his warm coat.

Ye Nanxun muttered to himself, "I'm not stealing a dog. I'm just helping it warm up."

With the dog wrapped in his coat, he returned to the warm room and swaddled it in his scarf.

"Does your owner often let you run around outside like this? At the very least, he should put you in something warm."

"Are you thirsty? Do you want some water?"

"There are only some snacks here. You can't eat snacks."

Sitting on the sunlit sofa by the window with the dog in his arms, Ye Nanxun chatted with it, a warm and gentle smile appearing on his face from time to time.

When Yan Beiyou stood outside the window, this was the scene he saw.

He raised a hand, curled his fingers, and lightly knocked on the window.

The person inside turned around. Sunlight fell into a pair of emerald-green eyes, making them shine bright and clear.

Ye Nanxun immediately stood up. "I didn't steal the dog. I only brought it inside because I was afraid it would freeze."

The corners of Yan Beiyou's lips lifted slightly. "I never said you stole it."

Ye Nanxun frowned faintly. "Since the dog is yours, you should take good care of it. In weather this cold, you should at least give it some clothes."

Yan Beiyou lowered his eyes and glanced at the Companion Beast, which was curled contentedly in the omega's arms.

Yan Beiyou replied, "Mm, I will."

Ye Nanxun did not have much experience socializing with others, but thanks to his parents' upbringing, he still understood basic manners.

"Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

Ye Nanxun had only asked out of courtesy, politely and symbolically.

Yan Beiyou said, "All right."

He had not expected the man to actually agree.

It was not until he walked toward the door that Ye Nanxun realized something.

Was it inappropriate for an omega to invite an alpha into his room alone?

But this was the Imperial Palace. There shouldn't be any problem, right?

Besides, his pheromones were a Poison Mushroom with deadly venom.

Having convinced himself, Ye Nanxun opened the door to the piano practice room from inside.

The man stood outside. At nearly two meters tall, he was so tall that Ye Nanxun had to tilt his head back to see his face.

This time, Ye Nanxun saw his appearance clearly.

He was an exceptionally handsome alpha.

The room was warm, and Yan Beiyou took off his smoke-gray overcoat.

Underneath, he wore a light-gray cashmere sweater and black casual trousers.

Even though his clothes were not fitted, they could not conceal the alpha's outstanding physique.

Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long, straight legs.

When Yan Beiyou turned around, Ye Nanxun lowered his head. "Do you work at the Imperial Palace?"

Yan Beiyou said, "Yes."

The pair of long legs in his field of vision drew closer and closer. Before Ye Nanxun could grow nervous, their owner stopped.

Yan Beiyou's gaze fell on the open piano some distance away. "Are you with the palace orchestra?"

Ye Nanxun shook his head and handed over the Little Yellow Dog wrapped in his scarf. "No. I've just been practicing the piano here recently."

Yan Beiyou did not immediately take the dog. "Do you like dogs?"

Ye Nanxun looked down at the Little Yellow Dog, a warm smile surfacing in his eyes. "I had one when I was little."

He had always possessed a cool, distant temperament. When he did not smile, he resembled an ice beauty sculpture meant only to be admired from afar.

But when he smiled softly, it was like a flower petal falling onto a lake where the ice had broken, delicate and breathtaking.

His gaze lingering on Ye Nanxun's slightly upturned lips, Yan Beiyou pushed the scarf-wrapped Little Yellow Dog back toward him. "You don't keep one now?"

Ye Nanxun paused. Holding the warm Little Yellow Dog in his arms, he turned and sat down on the nearby sofa. "After the dog I used to have passed away, I never kept one again."

He had watched with his own eyes as the little dog that had grown up alongside him from childhood left him.

He did not want to go through something like that again.

Ye Nanxun still remembered how he had cried for nearly a full day and night.

He could not eat or sleep.

Later, he fell seriously ill.

When his parents asked whether he wanted another dog, Ye Nanxun refused.

The beautiful omega sat quietly on the sofa by the window, warm winter sunlight casting a soft halo over his hair and skin.

As if sensing Ye Nanxun's low spirits, the Little Yellow Dog whimpered twice and rubbed its fluffy round head against the omega's fingers.

Then a soft, pleasant piano melody suddenly sounded beside him.

Ye Nanxun looked up and immediately saw the man sitting before the piano not far away.

Long fingers pressed beautiful notes across the black and white keys. The romance and warmth of winter were especially moving beneath the warm sunlight.

The piece came to an end.

Yan Beiyou lifted his hands from the keys and stood, sighing softly. "It's been a long time since I last played."

Ye Nanxun immediately stood up as well. He took two steps forward, light gleaming in his pale-green eyes. "It sounded wonderful."

Yan Beiyou smiled faintly. "Thank you."

He glanced back at the piano and said regretfully, "It's a pity I didn't get to hear you play. I have to go back and continue working."

The man walked near the door and picked up his coat to put it on.

Ye Nanxun followed him over. Once Yan Beiyou had dressed, he handed him the Little Yellow Dog.

"I'll be here tomorrow too. In the morning, I'll study with Teacher Xu, the piano instructor here. In the afternoon... I'll practice here by myself."

It was not easy to gather the courage to say those words.

But Ye Nanxun thought that since he had stepped out of the manor, he should also try making friends.

He did not want to be like in his previous life, leaving the world after twenty years without ever getting the chance to see more of it.

Looking down at the Little Yellow Dog in the alpha's arms, Ye Nanxun said, "If you come by tomorrow afternoon, I can play for you."

Yan Beiyou did not make Ye Nanxun wait long. "All right."

A trace of amusement passed through Yan Beiyou's eyes as he looked down at the scarf wrapped around the Little Yellow Dog. "Your scarf..."

Ye Nanxun said, "You can give it back to me tomorrow."

Yan Beiyou did not decline. "Mm. Then I'll see you tomorrow."

"Mm, see you tomorrow."