Mother's Piano

The next day, a light rain fell outside, gentle and lingering. Because of the wound on his back, Bai Yunsheng had spent the entire previous night sleeping facedown. When he woke up today, the left side of his face was slightly numb. Bai Yunsheng lazily lifted his eyelids and pressed his tongue against his cheek. Only after the numbness faded did he slowly climb out of bed.

He glanced out the window. The dim weather and fine patter of rain had, for once, swept away some of Bai Yunsheng's exhaustion. He carefully got out of bed, but still pulled at the skin on his back. Pain struck instantly, and Bai Yunsheng could only sit at the bedside to recover.

After an unknown amount of time, someone knocked on the door. Bai Yunsheng looked up at the time, then stood with some difficulty. He slowly made his way to the door and opened it.

One of Feng Yanshan's men stood outside.

Bai Yunsheng paused for a few seconds before asking, "What is it?"

"Chairman Feng wants you in the study."

Wasn't Feng Yanshan away on a business trip? How had he returned so quickly?

Bai Yunsheng asked, "What is it about?"

The man did not answer. He merely said, "Chairman Feng told you to dress appropriately. Teacher Wu Shanye has arrived."

Bai Yunsheng's listless eyes brightened at the name Wu Shanye. He had not expected Teacher Jiang to move so quickly, much less for Wu Shanye to come looking for him in person. Bai Yunsheng suppressed the excitement in his heart and hid the delight in his eyes, nodding. "Understood. I'll be right there."

The man gave a hum and left with his back straight.

Bai Yunsheng returned to the washroom and looked at himself in the mirror.

After a night's rest, along with the medicine Doctor Luoluo had given him, his complexion was much better than yesterday's. He no longer looked quite so fragile.

His face was not pale enough.

His eyes did not look pitiful enough.

Bai Yunsheng lowered the corners of his eyes and instinctively took a deep breath. He looked up at the ceiling and, for once, spotted a patch of mold that seemed utterly out of place in the Feng Household. Bai Yunsheng stared at it for a while. Then, suddenly, he tore down a towel, bit it between his teeth, and in the next instant slammed his back viciously against the wall...

"I'm terribly sorry to come bother you so early. After Old Jiang told me about it yesterday and showed me the video, my heart simply wouldn't settle down. I just had to come take a look." Wu Shanye sat in a rosewood chair with his back ramrod straight. Steam drifted slowly upward from his tea as he spoke. "You have such a treasure, yet you never told me."

Feng Yanshan knew of Wu Shanye. Previously, he had put in considerable effort to make Wu Shanye Feng Tingfan's teacher, but Wu Shanye had refused. Put nicely, he had declined; put bluntly, he simply had not thought Feng Tingfan worthy.

Even Feng Yanshan had not expected Wu Shanye to contact him a year later. Fortunately, the project he had been discussing on his business trip was nearly settled, so he had rushed back without stopping. Establishing a connection with Wu Shanye meant gaining indirect access to circles he had never touched before. Feng Yanshan had always treasured anything that benefited him.

Feng Yanshan smiled and offered Wu Shanye tea. "For my son to earn Teacher Wu's..." Before he could finish, the study door was politely knocked on three times. Bai Yunsheng's voice followed. "Father."

Feng Yanshan said, "Come in."

The door slowly opened. Bai Yunsheng stood straight in the doorway, though a closer look would reveal that his body was trembling. "Father. Teacher Wu." He dipped his head after speaking.

Feng Yanshan met his gaze. Just as he was about to say something fatherly, Bai Yunsheng's complexion made him freeze. Feng Yanshan noticed it, and naturally, Wu Shanye did as well.

Wu Shanye was different from what Bai Yunsheng had imagined. He was very easygoing. Though it was their first meeting, he spoke as if they had known each other for a long time. "What's wrong? Why do you look so pale?"

Wu Shanye was famous for cherishing talent. Feng Yanshan immediately rose with perfect timing. "What—what happened? He was fine before I left." As he spoke, he took the initiative to support Bai Yunsheng.

Feng Yanshan's hand was broad. Bai Yunsheng had imagined countless times what it would feel like to have his father's hands holding him. Would they be as warm as his mother's?

But he had thought about it for years, and until the day he died, he had never experienced it.

Now he had, yet Bai Yunsheng felt only disgust.

Bai Yunsheng smiled and unobtrusively moved away from Feng Yanshan's hand as he sat down. "I accidentally fell yesterday."

Wu Shanye asked, "Did you injure your hands?"

Bai Yunsheng shook his head, then stood up. "I had originally planned to visit Teacher Wu in person. I didn't expect Teacher Wu to come first."

Wu Shanye waved a hand. "Yesterday, Teacher Jiang sent me a video of you playing the piano. The moment I saw it, I couldn't wait any longer. I originally wanted Teacher Jiang to act as a go-between, but I didn't expect you to be a child of the Feng Household, so I came myself. If your hands are fine, how about playing something?"

Bai Yunsheng glanced at Feng Yanshan. "All right."

Wu Shanye asked, "Where is your piano?"

Bai Yunsheng was just about to answer when Feng Yanshan spoke. "Second floor. The music room."

Bai Yunsheng pressed his stiff lips together.

The second-floor music room.

That was Feng Tingfan's domain.

Wu Shanye was somewhat impatient. "Then let's go."

The three of them made their way to the music room.

The music room was large. The piano stood alone in the dim center, lonely and proud. The rain outside showed no sign of easing; instead, it seemed to be falling harder and harder. Its hurried sound gradually blended with Bai Yunsheng's heartbeat.

Feng Yanshan turned on the lights. The piano was instantly draped in brilliant light, the darkness around it driven away. Its white body resembled a young girl in a white wedding dress, so beautiful that one could not look away.

Wu Shanye was a professional, after all, and he recognized at once that the piano was extraordinarily expensive. He patted Bai Yunsheng on the shoulder. "Go on."

Bai Yunsheng took a few careful steps, then his pace quickened and quickened. Only when he reached the piano did his breathing calm. His burning gaze fell upon it.

This was Mother's piano.

Mother often said it was a beautiful girl.

Bai Yunsheng's eyelids grew hot.

It truly was beautiful.

Seeing that Bai Yunsheng had not moved, Feng Yanshan reminded him, "Begin, Yunsheng."

Bai Yunsheng did not respond. He sat down.

A key was pressed.

Wu Shanye, who had been calm moments earlier, took a step forward, his bright eyes fixed on Bai Yunsheng.

Just like in the video.

And there was something more that the video could not convey.

Emotion—surging, overwhelming emotion.

Hurried piano notes.

Hurried rain.

It was exhilarating, like a red-haired girl drunk on wine and dancing alone.

Wu Shanye's eyes gradually widened, and his hands slowly clenched. Beside him, Feng Yanshan occasionally watched Wu Shanye's expression, gradually gaining confidence.

As the final key was pressed.

Something bright red slowly ran down Bai Yunsheng's back, striking the floor heavily.

Across the white tiles, it spread into a vivid flower.

It was as though that final note had painted the deepest stroke across the final second of this moment.