Time flew by and Friday arrived.
The sky was clear, with the sun shining brightly.
In Tianlin City, on a certain street in the new district.
At 12:30, a black Bentley slowly pulled up beside the street. In the backseat, Xu Yinsheng gazed out the window. Her eyes fell upon a beautifully refined, ancient-style wooden building, the golden characters “Huating Gufeng” gleaming on its sign.
This place had once been a palace villa during the Yuan Dynasty, complete with a small lake embedded within—its waters crystal clear, artificial mountains rising in clusters, layer upon layer. After the fall of the Mongol Yuan, it became desolate. It changed hands several times, eventually bought by a wealthy merchant. He renovated it, flattening the artificial mountains and walls, installing elmwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows, preserving only the inner lake. Now, it had become a renowned, high-end café—a perfect place for business or hosting guests. Sitting inside, one could glance aside and see the emerald ripples of the lake, picturesque and captivating.
And today, with a mere wave of a certain noblewoman’s hand… Huating Gufeng was booked out entirely!
The driver bent over to open the car door, shielding the top edge with his hand in case she bumped her head. A red high heel daintily stepped onto the ground, revealing a slender, fair ankle to the open air.
Today, Xu Yinsheng was dressed in a black professional suit, her long hair swept up high, looking neat and capable. She slipped out of the car, followed closely by Zhao Yicheng, also dressed impeccably in formal wear.
Arm in arm, the two walked shoulder to shoulder, looking for all the world like a sweet, loving couple as they strolled toward the elegant and tranquil café. But it wasn’t that their relationship had made any progress—it was…
Damn it! Zhao Yicheng, I **** you!!
Once again, as she nearly stumbled in her difficult heels, Xu Yinsheng clung tightly to the man’s arm, just managing to steady herself.
High heels really aren’t made for humans! Zhao Yicheng even specially picked out a pair that were ten centimeters high for her today, supposedly to show off her femininity!
Of course, to outsiders, it looked as though Xu Yinsheng was nearly leaning half her body against the man’s shoulder—an image full of intimacy, just like a couple in their honeymoon phase.
The entire café was empty thanks to the private booking. Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, one could see a grand piano at the very center of the hall. A gorgeously dressed noblewoman sat at the piano bench, her head lowered in focused playing.
A white-clad attendant waiting at the door saw the pair approaching and gently pushed open the tightly shut door.
Soothing piano music flowed gently, graceful and pleasing to the ear. The noblewoman’s attire was impeccable, her temperament elegant and refined. Yet between her brows was a trace of the bold spirit unique to people of the grasslands.
The attendant led the two inside, found them a seat, and bowed slightly before respectfully withdrawing to the side.
Slender fingertips danced over black and white keys, nimble as fluttering butterflies. Beautiful and moving music streamed endlessly from the noblewoman’s hands.
At a particularly soaring passage, her body suddenly leaned forward, then drew back, as if moving with the rising and falling rhythm of the notes—sometimes urgent, sometimes slow.
The music grew more and more intense, as if it would burst through all barriers, soaring past the clouds, challenging the stars in the sky.
Yet at the peak, it stopped abruptly, like a fallen angel plunging into a valley, finally dissolving into a stream of light that faded into nothingness, leaving endless reverie in its wake…
The music came to a sudden halt, but its lingering resonance continued to echo in their ears.
At last, the piece was finished.
“Bravo!”
Xu Yinsheng, seated, applauded.
The noblewoman’s lips curved in a subtle smile. She seemed to thoroughly enjoy being admired, her expression radiant, a pair of tiny dimples appearing at her cheeks.
“You know how to appreciate piano?” Zhao Yicheng asked in confusion. In all the time he’d known Xu Yinsheng, he’d never noticed any interest in music. He lowered his voice.
“I don’t,” Xu Yinsheng replied in a low voice as well. “Didn’t you tell me to behave well today? I’m just doing my part to hype her up.”
“By the way, your mother really is charming… pfft, what was she playing?” Zhao Yicheng’s mouth twitched.
“‘sksndns’, composed by a musical genius two hundred years ago. He was also a homosexual, a vegetarian, a cross-dresser, a drag enthusiast, an environmentalist, and a multi-faith devotee.”
Just then, another round of crisp, delightful applause sounded. The two looked in its direction and saw a young girl in a purple dress stand up from her seat in the corner of the hall, enthusiastically clapping as she walked over in flat shoes.
“Sis, you played so beautifully! In a few years, you’ll be the next piano queen!” The girl’s sweet smile was like a spring breeze, and as she applauded, she ran over to the noblewoman at the piano, intimately linking her arm through hers.
“What a sweet tongue,” the noblewoman—Zhao Yicheng’s mother, Meng Ziyuan—fondly tapped the girl’s delicate nose.
“That’s my little aunt, Meng Dexin.” Zhao Yicheng paused, his brow slightly furrowed. “But she’s supposed to be studying for her graduate degree out of town. For her and my mother to be here together… I hadn’t heard anything about it. It’s really unexpected.”
Noticing Xu Yinsheng suddenly tense up across from him, Zhao Yicheng squeezed her hand under the table, as if to give her a bit of courage.
“Um… I have something to tell you,” Xu Yinsheng said softly.
“What is it?”
“I think I might have flirted with your little aunt before.”
Yuefeng City: ???
Before he had time to think it through, Meng Zixin called out to them from across the room: “A’Cheng.” “Little Aunt,” Zhao Yicheng nodded in response.
“I was planning to take a trip here during the holiday, but as soon as I got off the plane, I ran into Sis at the airport. So I just hitched a ride and came to see you. I hope you don’t mind that I didn’t let you know in advance?”
“Of course not.”
“Does Little Aunt want to visit anywhere? I can have someone show you the sights of Tianlin City.”
“I haven’t decided yet. I’ll see when the time comes.”
“Enough,” Meng Ziyuan interrupted at that moment. She glanced at the quiet girl who had been silent at Zhao Yicheng’s side since the start, and smiled gently.
“Hello, Auntie,” Xu Yinsheng stood and greeted politely.
“Mm,” Meng Ziyuan looked at Xu Yinsheng with a faint smile, then turned to Meng Zixin:
“Xiaoxin, take A’Cheng to pick out some new clothes. His wardrobe is filled with nothing but suits and professional wear all year, just like Tianfu.”
“I’d like to chat with A’Cheng’s girlfriend alone.”
“Alright, Sis.”
It was obvious their gazes had already agreed beforehand. As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Zixin promptly dragged Zhao Yicheng out of the café.
The spacious café was left with only Xu Yinsheng and Meng Ziyuan. Meng Ziyuan set aside the piano and walked over to Xu Yinsheng.
It had to be said, her figure was truly stunning, and she dressed with impeccable taste. Her voluptuous curves and slightly curled black hair draped over her shoulders—one would never guess she was nearly fifty.
The phrase “a mature beauty, her charm undiminished” came to Xu Yinsheng’s mind.
Meng Ziyuan sat in the spot where Zhao Yicheng had previously been. The attendant arrived just in time with two cups of freshly brewed coffee.
Meng Ziyuan smiled as she slid one cup toward Xu Yinsheng.
“Thank you,” Xu Yinsheng said, lifting the cup for a small sip.
A strong bitterness burst through her mouth, making her brows furrow into knots.
Why is this so bitter!
Xu Yinsheng grumbled inwardly but dared not let it show, only sneaking peeks at the noblewoman sitting across from her.
At the same time, Meng Ziyuan was sizing up the young girl covertly watching her.
A’Cheng’s taste is really this low?
But on second thought, her son had raised a bunch of “little pets” in the villa, and this was merely one of them.
Even if this was the favorite brought to meet her, who’s to say it wasn’t just a random pick to fob her off? After all, her good son had inherited all of his father’s best genes, plus had developed a certain psychological disorder since childhood.
After a long, careful look at Xu Yinsheng, she finally withdrew her gaze, picked up her own cup, added a few sugar cubes, and drank slowly.