Chapter 81: Drunken Old Man’s Intention

“You really did a great job with the skull, Xue Shui. It was masterfully howled and sung.” After Yunze finished annotating, he handed the sheet music back to Jiang Sui.

“Thank you for the compliment, Young Master. Seeing how hard you’ve been working lately, I just wanted to do what I could to help.”

“It’s true, you’re a pretty good person.”

Ever since she started practicing at the Jade Temple, Jiang Sui rarely took the initiative to approach Lu Yunze, so much so that he even found it a bit unsettling.

Of course Jiang Sui understood—if she clung to Lu Yunze too much, it would only backfire. If she wanted to win a man’s heart, her approach had to alternate between advancing and retreating, launching a full assault only at the most opportune moment.

This sort of thing wasn’t suited for the greenhouse flowers like Zhi Yao; even if someone told her the logic, she would only foolishly wait and never think to take the initiative.

Even if she wanted to help Lu Yunze get over his obstacles, it couldn’t be just empty words. There needed to be genuine intent, right? On such a hot day, after practicing at the Jade Temple and breaking into a sweat, being able to drink a glass of cold, refreshing mineral water—wasn’t that a wonderful thing?

Comforting someone with words was fine, but showing your feelings through real actions—that was the perfect strategy!

Maybe, by the time she realized it, Lu Yunze would already be her plaything, hanging off her fingertips.

Just imagining that haughty young lady’s frustrated face, Jiang Sui couldn’t help but let out a sly little laugh.

And thinking about Lu Yunze humbling himself before her, as meek as a dog, Jiang Sui felt a warm current flowing down inside her, heating her skirt and panties.

Jiang Sui was about to get up and leave when Lu Yunze suddenly spoke:

“Lately, it seems I haven’t seen you much. Have you been deliberately avoiding me?”

“I have enough self-awareness.” Jiang Sui smiled lightly. “I’m your maid, Young Master. When you need me, I’ll appear. When you don’t, naturally I won’t disturb your focus.”

“The way you say that, it sounds like every time you cling to me, it’s because I need you.”

“Isn’t it?”

With just a single sentence, Jiang Sui rendered Lu Yunze speechless. On closer thought, it did seem true.

Every time they met, Jiang Sui was always helping him, never once asking for anything in return.

Outside of his family, to have such a good girl treat him like this made Lu Yunze feel a pang of guilt.

“If there’s anything you want, you can just tell me directly. I’ll do my best to help you.”

“Really?”

“As Young Master, I keep my word. If I can’t even meet the needs of my own servants, what kind of Young Master would I be?”

As soon as he finished, Jiang Sui’s gaze became playful.

There it was—the mysterious smile! A hint of secrecy in her eyes, as if she was up to something mischievous.

Since Lu Yunze said so, Jiang Sui certainly wasn’t going to be polite.

And with Zhi Yao busy with her final dance practice these days, the opportunities were all hers.

The next day, after Zhi Yao left the house, Jiang Sui once again went to the Piano Room to find Lu Yunze and tell him her answer.

While Miss Zhi wasn’t home, this kind and good-hearted little maid would take up the task of being Lu Yunze’s private audience, continuing to help him relieve his worries!

Of course, being just an audience was far from enough. Jiang Sui still needed to close the distance between herself and Lu Yunze.

“You want me to play for you right now?” Hearing her request, Lu Yunze froze for a moment.

“That’s right. Don’t you feel lonely practicing all by yourself, Young Master? In that case, why not teach me a little? That way, you can discover your mistakes from a different perspective, can’t you?”

As Jiang Sui spoke, she leaned in, and sat herself right down on his lap.

Thanks to her maid uniform with the open back, Lu Yunze’s chest could press against her smooth skin, her soft hair brushing past his nose with a ticklish itch.

With such warmth and fragrance in his embrace, Lu Yunze swallowed silently, his heart racing faster.

“What’s wrong, Young Master? Why don’t we start?”

Jiang Sui tilted her head slightly, even adjusting her posture.

Her plump arms brushed directly against his thighs, causing Lu Yunze’s lower half to stir again.

“Ahem, let’s start now!”

Lu Yunze raised his arms, and though there was little space, he still wrapped Jiang Sui in his embrace.

Jiang Sui even asked him to hold her arms, letting her experience firsthand what it was like to play the piano as a master.

Throughout the entire lesson, Lu Yunze found his mind wandering—not on the piano or the lesson, but on the details of the girl in front of him.

They were sitting so close, it was impossible to ignore.

Tiny droplets of sweat clung to her delicate skin, sliding down the curve of her neck and vanishing into the silk collar of her maid uniform. Despite being a physically demanding job, her body didn’t carry the usual sticky smell of sweat—on the contrary, there was a cool, fresh scent.

It was different from the youthful scent of other girls he’d smelled before, a little like perfume.

He couldn’t quite tell what it was, but it was a wonderful smell, always sneaking into his senses and making him want to take in a few more breaths.

Jiang Sui didn’t sit still, either, constantly adjusting her position, using every movement as an excuse to brush her body against him. Her slender legs pressed and parted, the tips of her little leather shoes occasionally sliding on the carpet with a soft sighing sound.

But no matter what move she made, it all sent strange tingles up Lu Yunze’s lower half, as if a gentle hand kept pressing the switch on his little “Lu,” urging him to react.

The fabric of the maid outfit was thin as cicada wings, unable to block Jiang Sui’s body heat. The moisture from beneath her sleeves wafted through the air, making Lu Yunze’s neck hot and itchy. He could feel sweat beading at his own temples—not sure if it was the heat or something else. Even his heart lost its rhythm.

The floor-to-ceiling window of the Piano Room wasn’t fully closed; sunlight streamed in, pooling over the girl’s overlapping knees. Her black stockings shimmered with a faint glow, just like the beads of sweat on her neck—captivating the eyes.

Damn, if this goes on, something really will happen.

Lu Yunze shut his eyes, trying to calm his pounding heart.

Think, Lu Yunze! Jiang Sui likes the piano, but her family’s circumstances don’t allow her to practice often. Now she finally has the chance to touch the piano, and even has a teacher for the basics.

How could I lose control just over something like this?

Lu Yunze, where’s your self-control!

TMD, this is really out of hand!

“Hey!”

Noticing his silence, Jiang Sui raised her voice.

“It’s fine, let’s keep going, shall we?”

When Lu Yunze opened his eyes again, they were clear and steady, free of any distractions.

“From now on, I’ll be very strict in teaching you.”

“Alright, okay.”

Jiang Sui agreed cheerfully, but in her heart she muttered: What’s with that look? Did I not tempt him enough?

This time, she wasn’t here for the piano at all—her intention was elsewhere, specifically to target Lu Yunze.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have picked such a suggestive posture that would get her caught if Zhi Yao walked in.

I even forced myself to rub against you with my panties, and yet there’s not a single reaction?

Logically, Lu Yunze should either shyly push her away, or else be overcome by desire and directly pounce on her.

Of course, Jiang Sui wasn’t going to actually let him do that—she just wanted to tease his desire little by little, until not only his mind but even his body became unable to resist her.

Strange, it really was strange.

Lu Yunze was too calm, so composed it was odd.

Jiang Sui decided to up her game!

She pressed down even harder onto Lu Yunze, squeezing her thighs together, then began moving rhythmically, sliding and shifting her hips as if skating on a fashionable river.

Still nothing?

Jiang Sui pretended to be focused on the piano, all the while watching Lu Yunze’s reaction.

Suddenly, Lu Yunze grabbed her wrist!

Could it be…!

“Jiang Sui, this really isn’t working.”

Turning around, she saw Lu Yunze’s face was red, but his gaze was deep and unwavering, not the least bit swept away by desire.

“Why?”

“I’ve already taught you so much, why can’t you still play well?”

“No… after all this time, that’s all the gratitude I get?”

“What, do you want me to praise you or something?”

Lu Yunze let out a deep breath.

“Come, let me guide your hands. This is how it should be played.”

For the next while, Jiang Sui’s arms were firmly held by Lu Yunze, forced to play in time with his rhythm. Whenever she made a mistake, Lu Yunze would sternly point it out, not letting her continue until she corrected it.

If it were just for a short time, it’d be fine, but Jiang Sui made mistake after mistake, on purpose.

Even a very short and simple piece ended up taking ages and exhausting a lot of energy.

Before long, the difference in physical stamina between them became apparent.

“Young Master, can we take a break?”

“Time waits for no one, keep practicing.”

“Young Master, I really can’t do it anymore.”

“Just persist a little longer, how can you give up so easily? Are you even worthy of being a member of the Zhi family?”

“Young Master, if this keeps up, I’m going to break down…”

With the girl’s pitiful sobs, liquid started to flow out.

But it was only from her eyes.

Today would be the hardest and most exhausting day Jiang Sui had ever had since she started at the Jade Temple.

It was also the first time since meeting Lu Yunze that she was forced by him—not allowed to stop.