Mu Nanqiu looked at Su Yao’s adorably clumsy and innocent expression.
Just by looking at her, she seemed so tempting, and since Su Yao was this naive, Mu Nanqiu figured that with just a little effort, she could probably have her right in her grasp…
But no rush.
Not in a hurry.
After a moment’s thought, she realized she could take it step by step.
The main reason she had Su Yao stay today was simply because she was a bit tempted and wanted to have a small taste first.
Mu Nanqiu had always been patient, and calm restraint was one of her greatest strengths.
Pretending to care casually, she said to Su Yao, “Yao Yao, go find a seat downstairs.”
“Okay, okay.”
Su Yao nodded repeatedly, obediently hugging her clothes and laptop bag as she walked down the steps.
She took a seat in the front row and then fixed her gaze on Mu Nanqiu, who had her eyes closed, sitting quietly in meditation.
The piano’s gentle notes began to play, and the beautiful girl suddenly opened her eyes.
In the dim light, Su Yao quietly watched as Mu Nanqiu’s sole audience, her pure and clear eyes reflecting a beautiful scene.
From the First Song: Building Towers on Flat Ground, rising steadily only to collapse with a crash, then onto the Second Song: Emptiness, cold and desolate.
The Third Song: Like Wind Like Rain was ever-changing and unpredictable.
There was a brief moment of sunshine, but soon dark clouds fell again, as if a repressed emotion in her heart wanted to burst out, only to end silently in gloom.
Watching Mu Nanqiu play alone on stage, Su Yao suddenly recalled the first time she met her in reality.
It was right after her body had transformed, and Wang Jing had dragged her along for a meal.
She was too embarrassed to refuse, so she went.
But just as she was about to step inside, she saw Mu Nanqiu.
Her icy-cold face held a trace of melancholy, and when she looked over at Su Yao, it startled her so much she almost lost her soul.
She ran away immediately afterward.
Because of that, Mu Nanqiu had asked Hua Mingye if she looked scary.
Su Yao took a photo of Mu Nanqiu’s back while she played the piano on her phone and sent it to Muli Jiang, along with two messages.
“Look at this, senior is playing a song just for me alone!”
“Panda with arms akimbo.jpg”
Buzz buzz~
The moment she hit send, Su Yao heard that sound.
She frowned; it seemed to come from the pocket of her senior’s jacket.
It should be her phone, right?
Who could have sent a message?
Maybe a data usage reminder, or a group mention.
Or possibly Wang Jing or Hua Mingye—they were best friends, so it was normal.
There was no need for her to be nervous!
Su Yao fought back her curiosity and didn’t reach for the phone in the jacket pocket she was holding.
By this time, Mu Nanqiu had finished playing the fourth piece.
The long pause afterward made Su Yao think she was going to stop for a break.
Just as she was about to get up, the fifth piece began to play.
Hearing this melody gave Su Yao goosebumps.
So this isn’t over yet, huh?
After the piano version of Two Tigers ended, a flustered Su Yao saw Mu Nanqiu smile and wave at her, which only made her feel more embarrassed.
Mu Nanqiu took her coat, put it back on, and then pulled Su Yao over to the piano, pressing her down on the bench.
Su Yao was a little confused by this.
She looked up at Mu Nanqiu with wide, puzzled eyes.
Mu Nanqiu placed both hands firmly on hers, meeting Su Yao’s gaze seriously.
“Want to try? I’ll teach you.”
“I… I can’t…”
Upon hearing that Mu Nanqiu was going to teach her to play this huge instrument in front of her, Su Yao shook her head repeatedly.
She had never even touched a musical instrument, let alone play the piano.
But Mu Nanqiu was determined; if it didn’t work, she’d make it work.
She grabbed Su Yao’s hand and placed it on the keys.
The cool touch made Su Yao’s heart flutter, but Mu Nanqiu said,
“It’s simple. Just remember where to press. When I was learning, I faked it to fool the teacher.”
“Really?”
Su Yao gave a strange look.
She didn’t believe that.
She couldn’t judge Mu Nanqiu’s skill, but her intuition told her that Mu Nanqiu had mastered this ability effortlessly.
She was a first-timer, so she obviously couldn’t compare.
But since senior wanted to teach her something new, Su Yao decided not to resist.
Mu Nanqiu pressed one key after another, letting Su Yao memorize the positions, grouping them step by step.
Though stiff and awkward, Su Yao found it wasn’t too difficult—just that it didn’t sound very good.
“Try playing it continuously.”
Mu Nanqiu released her hands and stepped back.
Su Yao took a deep breath to calm her nervousness and began pressing the keys in the remembered order.
At first, it was okay, but then it seemed like she forgot the ‘words’.
It became more and more off, originally somewhat rhythmic, but gradually chaotic and finally she got stuck.
Su Yao turned her head blankly, looking at Mu Nanqiu with a wronged expression.
Mu Nanqiu smiled and comforted her.
“Not bad at all. Practice more, and there’ll be a reward when you get it right~”
“Reward?”
If only she’d said that earlier!
Su Yao’s spirits lifted considerably.
After Mu Nanqiu demonstrated again, she practiced for another ten minutes.
Then the little Yao Yao confidently raised her hand to Teacher Mu, applying to take a test.
Her makeup exam results were much better than last time, though she still pressed many wrong notes.
Being able to play the entire Two Tigers was already a huge improvement. Truly something to celebrate.
“My Yao Yao is amazing!”
Mu Nanqiu really wanted to plant a kiss on Su Yao’s face but was afraid to scare her, so she jotted it down in her notebook, planning to make up for it later.
“Hehe~”
Su Yao scratched her head and smiled awkwardly, shyly accepting the praise.
Mu Nanqiu reached out to touch Su Yao’s soft long hair and spoke softly.
“Next is a more advanced lesson.”
“Eh?!”
Su Yao had just been smiling but now couldn’t anymore.
However, seeing Mu Nanqiu’s enthusiasm, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and go along.
But this time it wasn’t like before, where Mu Nanqiu played once and she followed after.
Instead…
Mu Nanqiu stood behind Su Yao, bending down so her chest pressed against Su Yao’s back.
Though separated by thick clothes, this was the closest they had ever been.
“Yao Yao, quickly put your hand on the back of mine.”
Su Yao felt her ears burn as the sweet breath from her senior teased her.
The close proximity made what should be normal words sound ambiguous.
Would this lead to something…
No, no, no, Su Yao, don’t think the wrong way.
Senior just wants to teach you piano, absolutely no naughty thoughts allowed!
She placed her hand on the back of Mu Nanqiu’s hand, watching her fingers—slender, fair, flawless, and elegantly curved.
Truly worthy of a pianist’s hands.
So lovely~
Mu Nanqiu breathed in her hair’s scent.
Su Yao’s scent was light, mostly laundry detergent and shampoo, with no trace of cosmetics.
So clean.
She leaned forward, pressing her weight onto Su Yao, letting out a soft laugh as she spoke teasingly,
“Let’s get started.”