My Name Is Yan Beiyou

Chapter 15

"What are you? How dare you talk back?!"

"Young Master Xu, I didn't, I... Ah—"

A crisp slap abruptly cut off the girl's explanation.

One hand covering her reddened, swollen cheek, the young, pretty girl's eyes brimmed with aggrieved tears.

His eyes nearly bulging from their sockets, Xu Wenyan glared at the omega girl before him. "Get on your knees!"

The girl's pupils constricted instantly, her face turning pale.

She was a housekeeping employee, not some servant from the old days.

Getting slapped for no reason was bad enough. How could he demand that she kneel too?

"You dare look at me like that?"

A vicious glint flashed through Xu Wenyan's eyes. Just as he raised his hand again, He Yiming's voice came from behind him.

"Tsk, what's got you so angry?" He Yiming asked, giving the girl a meaningful look as he entered. "You can leave first."

The girl did not dare linger. With tears in her eyes, she hurriedly ran out.

Xu Wenyan snorted. "She's just a servant. Why are you defending her?"

"What, are you jealous?" He Yiming reached out and pinched Xu Wenyan's chin.

The omega, who had been so fierce moments ago, let out another coquettish hum at He Yiming. "Brother He, when can I go to the Imperial Palace?"

Was He Yiming even capable of this? It had been so long, yet he still hadn't taken him to the Imperial Palace.

Pinching Xu Wenyan's chin as though teasing a little bird, He Yiming said with a smile, "I'll take you tomorrow."

The girl, who had just been verbally humiliated and slapped by Xu Wenyan, ran crying out of the building.

"Xiaolan, did that Xu bully you?"

The girl looked up at He Lanxue's concerned face, and tears immediately streamed down her cheeks.

"Miss He... I can't keep doing this job for even one more day. Please help me settle my wages. I won't be coming tomorrow." The more Xiaolan spoke, the sadder she became. "I may just serve tea and run errands, but I'm still a person!"

He Lanxue comforted her gently for a while longer and told the girl that she would not need to come work for Xu Wenyan tomorrow. Only then did she persuade her to stay.

"Mom, can't you have Brother kick that Xu Wenyan out?!"

He Lanxue went to complain to Mother He.

Mother He shook her head with a bitter smile. "You know your brother's temper."

He Lanxue fell silent. Of course she knew her brother's temper.

He was extremely self-centered and looked down on everyone. Unless he wanted something himself, he would not listen to anyone else.

The only person who could change He Yiming's mind was their father.

But Father He thought there was nothing wrong with an alpha keeping several omegas.

"My brother's taste is terrible. He doesn't like people with breeding and talent, yet he likes sinister people like Xu Wenyan, who only has a pretty face."

The image of Ye Nanxun playing the piano that day surfaced in He Lanxue's mind. Not only had many alphas been captivated that day, but quite a few omegas had been stunned as well.

Unfortunately, after asking around for several days, she still had not found out who Ye Nanxun's friends were.

As usual, Ye Nanxun practiced the piano all morning under Teacher Xu's guidance.

Near noon, Teacher Xu's eyes held appreciation and affection. "Nanxun, starting tomorrow, you can practice at home. You don't need to come here every day. Teacher Jiang is almost finished with his work too. He'll probably contact you this week."

Ye Nanxun agreed.

After lunch, he leaned against the sofa in the practice room and took a short nap.

The wind outside was strong today. The cold wind cut across his face like knives, making it hurt. There was no way he could go stroll through the gardens.

He wondered whether that person would come today.

As Ye Nanxun thought about it, he gradually fell asleep.

When a steady, even knock sounded, Ye Nanxun was still half asleep, unable to distinguish dream from reality.

Then he realized someone was outside the door.

Without even having time to straighten himself up, he hurried over and opened the door.

A familiar figure stood in the corridor outside.

The long, dark-black coat made him appear even straighter and taller, as though he were born to model clothes.

"Sorry, I accidentally fell asleep just now."

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Ye Nanxun's delicate features as he quickly stepped aside from the doorway.

The room was warm. He wore a creamy white turtleneck sweater, and his hair, which he had not had time to tidy, was slightly tousled.

The cheek and ear that had been pressed against one side of the sofa were flushed red, like a steaming peach.

Yan Beiyou glanced over Ye Nanxun's reddened ear tips. "I disturbed your rest."

Ye Nanxun did not know how to respond for a moment. Although he had read plenty of popular guides to social conversation, he truly lacked practical experience.

Fortunately, Yan Beiyou continued on his own. "Your scarf was bitten and damaged by the puppy. If you don't mind, please accept this scarf."

An exquisite paper bag without any logo was held out before Ye Nanxun.

"It's all right. I'd used that scarf for a long time already. It was very old."

Yan Beiyou said, "After all, your scarf was damaged while it was in my care."

Ye Nanxun opened his mouth as though to say something. When he looked up and met the alpha's handsome, calm face, he ultimately accepted the bag the man offered him.

As he turned to place the bag beside the sofa, Ye Nanxun slowly raised a hand and smoothed down the hair he had mussed up while sleeping.

"Have you ever considered working for the Court Orchestra?" the man behind him suddenly asked.

Without much hesitation, Ye Nanxun shook his head. "I really enjoy playing the piano. Naturally, it would be wonderful if I could join the Court Orchestra, but while I'm young, I want to see more of the outside world."

To see the world he had not had time to see in his previous life.

Ye Nanxun turned his head and gave Yan Beiyou a faint smile. "Let me play something for you."

Yan Beiyou sat down on a sofa not far away. "All right."

The tall young man walked to the piano and sat down, his long, fair fingers falling onto the black-and-white keys.

Outside, the cold wind rustled, and the sky was dark.

Inside, the lights shone brightly. Accompanied by the melodious, pleasing piano music, the room felt especially warm and comfortable.

Yet it seemed as though every ray of light in the room had gathered around the person sitting before the piano, his eyes slightly lowered.

And all that warmth combined could not compare to the gentle warmth radiating from the young man absorbed in playing.

Yan Beiyou listened quietly, his gaze resting on Ye Nanxun, calm and focused.

The piece ended.

Ye Nanxun slowly let out a breath.

He turned to look at his sole listener, only to find a pair of deep, tranquil eyes watching him intently.

This alpha looked as though he had slipped away from work to listen to the piano.

After listening to Ye Nanxun's piece, he prepared to rise and leave.

Ye Nanxun walked him to the door.

The alpha, who had already stepped outside, suddenly stopped and turned around. "Will you still be practicing here tomorrow afternoon?"

Ye Nanxun pressed his lips together and said, "I won't be coming to the Imperial Palace from tomorrow onward."

Yan Beiyou gave a quiet hum, then asked, "Can you tell me your name?"

His fingers, hanging at his sides and hidden within his sweater sleeves, curled slightly. Ye Nanxun said, "Ye Nanxun."

"Yan Beiyou."