Playing the Piano for You

Chapter 12

The moment he saw Ye Nanxun,

the round-headed little yellow dog wagged its tail, its short little legs carrying it in cheerful steps that left tiny prints in the snow 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 and did not see the man from last time.

"We meet again."

Half-squatting, Ye Nanxun raised a hand and gently stroked the little yellow dog's round head.

"Awwoo~"

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

After checking around and seeing no one, Ye Nanxun pressed his lips together and scooped the little yellow dog into his arms.

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

He opened his coat and, without caring whether the little yellow dog was clean, tucked the little fellow straight inside his warm coat.

Ye Nanxun muttered to himself, "I didn't steal a dog. I'm just warming it up."

Wrapping the dog 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 pastries here, and you can't eat pastries."

Holding the dog, Ye Nanxun sat on the sunlit sofa by the window and talked to it, a warm, 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 corner of Yan Beiyou's lips lifted slightly. "I never said you stole it."

Ye Nanxun's brows furrowed faintly. "Since the dog is yours, you should take proper care of it. In weather this cold, you should at least put some clothes on it."

Yan Beiyou lowered his eyes and glanced at his companion beast, which was nestled contentedly in the omega's arms.

Yan Beiyou replied, "Mm, I will."

Ye Nanxun did not have much experience socializing, but his parents' upbringing had taught him basic social etiquette.

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

Ye Nanxun was merely asking symbolically, out of courtesy and politeness.

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 a problem.

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 poisonous mushrooms laced with deadly toxin.

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

The man stood outside the door. 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 features clearly.

An exceptionally handsome alpha.

The room was warm, and Yan Beiyou took off his ash-gray long coat.

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

Even though his clothes were not form-fitting, they could not conceal the alpha's exceptionally fine physique.

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

When Yan Beiyou turned around, Ye Nanxun lowered his head. "Do you work in the imperial palace?"

Yan Beiyou said, "Yes."

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

Yan Beiyou's gaze fell on the open piano not far away. "Are you with the court orchestra?"

Ye Nanxun shook his head and handed over the little dog wrapped in his scarf. "No, I've only been practicing the piano here lately."

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

Ye Nanxun lowered his eyes to the little yellow dog, a trace of warm amusement surfacing in his gaze. "I had one when I was little."

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

But when he smiled lightly, he was like a petal falling upon a lake whose ice had shattered—delicate and captivating.

Yan Beiyou's gaze lingered on Ye Nanxun's slightly upturned lips, and he pushed the little yellow dog wrapped in the scarf back toward him. "You don't have one now?"

Ye Nanxun paused. Holding the warm little yellow dog in his arms, he turned and sat on the sofa beside them. "After the dog I had before passed away, I stopped keeping them."

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

He never wanted to go through something like that again.

Ye Nanxun still remembered crying for nearly a whole day and night.

He could not eat or sleep.

Later, he fell seriously ill.

When his parents asked whether he wanted to get 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 though sensing Ye Nanxun's lowered mood, the little yellow dog whimpered twice and rubbed its fluffy round head against the omega's fingers.

Suddenly, soft and pleasant piano music reached his ears.

Ye Nanxun looked up and immediately saw the man seated before the piano some distance away.

Long fingers pressed graceful notes on the black-and-white keys. Winter romance and tenderness became especially moving beneath the warm sunlight.

The piece came to an end.

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

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

Yan Beiyou smiled faintly. "Thank you."

He turned to glance at the piano, then said regretfully, "It's a pity I didn't get to hear you play. I need 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, and in the afternoon... I'll practice here by myself."

It had not been easy to gather the courage to say those words.

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

He did not want to be like in his previous life, leaving the world just like that after living for 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 before saying, "All right."

A hint of a smile passed through his eyes. Yan Beiyou lowered his head to look at the scarf wrapped around the little yellow dog. "Your scarf..."

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

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

"Mm, see you tomorrow."