Tan Linyuan's voice was not loud, but it carried a compelling aura.
His eyebrows were raised, and the line of his jaw was taut. The imposing manner he exuded sent a chill down one's spine.
Nan Yu sensed that his current mood was quite different from his usual self. It didn't seem like an act; it was more like he was truly enraged. His thin eyes were filled with dark, churning emotions, and his aura was extremely cold.
This was the real Tan Linyuan.
Even Nan Yu, who had mentally prepared herself, felt a twinge of unease at this moment and had a moment of self - doubt.
Could it be that the string of Buddhist beads she had broken was not just an ordinary one, but the seal on his usually aloof and merciful exterior?
The atmosphere in the car instantly dropped to freezing point along with his mood.
It was so oppressive that the driver didn't even dare to breathe loudly. He even eased up on the accelerator, driving the car extremely smoothly, for fear of disturbing the "Buddha" sitting in the back row.
Seeing that the situation was getting out of hand, Shen Yanche became even more flustered. He said awkwardly, "Then, Uncle Tan... How do you think we can make amends to you appropriately?"
He couldn't afford to offend Tan Linyuan, and he definitely wouldn't.
Over the years, the Shen family's current status was, to some extent, due to the support of the Tan family.
If they angered this "Buddha", in the future, if the Shen family needed help, they might not have the slightest chance.
Thinking of this, Shen Yanche's heart started to pound.
Tan Linyuan was sitting at the junction of light and darkness in the car. His facial expression was hard to read, exuding an unpredictable and dangerous aura.
"For a Buddhist bead string to break is a great taboo. It has to be sent back to Changuang Temple for offering. The monks in the temple will re - string it and bless it again."
He said coldly, explaining the Buddhist rules. "You have to go there to offer incense and worship in person every Sunday. On other days, you have to copy and chant scriptures with me until the penance is completely over."
As soon as he finished speaking, the anxiety in Shen Yanche's heart completely disappeared.
Thank goodness. It didn't involve the Shen family, and he didn't blame anyone else. It just required Nan Yu to go to the temple to worship, chant scriptures, and copy some scriptures by hand.
In this case, rather than being a punishment, it was exactly what he wanted.
Since Tan Linyuan became the head of the Tan family, all the major families in the chamber of commerce had been extremely cautious when dealing with him.
They wanted to curry favor with this new master, but at the same time, they were wary of his status as a Buddhist disciple and didn't dare to overstep.
Tan Linyuan himself was also incorruptible and rarely showed any preference for a particular party. No one knew his true thoughts, let alone the future development direction of the chamber of commerce.
Only the Shen family could get a little closer to him because of the old friendship between Shen and Tan Linyuan's grandfather, Tan Wenli, in the early years.
But this was just an appearance in the eyes of outsiders.
Only the Shen father and son knew that in the past two years, apart from the superficial courtesy and respect, Tan Linyuan hadn't really helped them in business.
Moreover, recently, he even seemed to be deliberately distancing himself from them to avoid suspicion, which was enough to make the Shen family extremely nervous.
Anyway, Nan Yu would be the daughter - in - law of the Shen family in the future. If Tan Linyuan and Nan Yu could get closer, it would surely be beneficial.
Thinking of this, Shen Yanche was even more delighted. He quickly urged Nan Yu, "Yu Yu, quickly agree to Uncle Tan."
Since it was Nan Yu who broke the beads, she knew she was in the wrong. She could only respond sullenly, "Uncle Tan, I understand."
Tan Linyuan glanced at her. "At eight o'clock every Sunday morning. There is no excuse for being late."
Nan Yu immediately promised, "Don't worry. I'll keep my word."
Her fair face was flushed. When she made the promise, she looked extremely serious. Her eyebrows and eyes were bright and vivid, like a thriving flower or grass.
After hearing her response, Tan Linyuan finally turned his gaze towards her. There was a lazy smile in his eyes.
His current expression was completely different from before. Every move of his exuded a sense of relaxation.
The cold and threatening aura that had been like an impending storm, almost toppling a great mansion, seemed to have never existed. He was lazily reclined on the seat, his deep eyes calm and cold, no different from his usual aloof and detached appearance as a Buddhist disciple.
However, the look in his eyes when he looked at her was somewhat ambiguous.
Moreover, she heard the man beside her let out a soft chuckle, as if teasing her for her simplicity and gullibility.
Nan Yu subconsciously met his gaze. Seeing his half - smiling eyes, she was completely stunned. When she belatedly realized something, she secretly thought it was bad.
Especially when she saw the inexplicable smile on his lips, which was completely different from the solemn and murderous look before, she realized that she had been intimidated by his controllable aura.
Old fox!
Thinking of her nervous and panicked appearance just now, her face burned.
Tan Linyuan watched the rapid changes in her expression. The smile on his lips gradually spread. He said slowly, "Xiao Yu is really obedient."
His voice was pleasant, like the sound of a bronze bell in a remote ancient temple, deep and steady.
But Nan Yu only felt disgusted at this moment.
The way he addressed her was neither "Miss Nan", nor "Nan Yu", nor "Yu Yu", but the extremely cheesy "Xiao Yu".
Obviously, he not only knew how to take advantage of her weakness but also deliberately pretended to be angry to scare her. He even knew how to disgust her in her own way.
Sure enough, he was more experienced than her, having lived a few more years. Nan Yu thought resentfully in her heart.
Next time, next time she must win against him.
...
Shen Yanche didn't notice the special meaning in Tan Linyuan's address to her. He only thought that the two had resolved their conflict. He let out a sigh of relief and told the driver to drive faster.
After driving for a while, the car finally arrived in front of Tan Linyuan's niece's house.
Tan Linyuan's sister - in - law, Wen Ruoyi, was a very elegant woman. She was gentle in her interactions with others. When she learned that Nan Yu was the piano teacher that Tan Linyuan had specially invited for Nian Nian, she was a little surprised.
"Lin Yuan is really thoughtful. He even remembers such a small thing for our mother and daughter." Wen Ruoyi asked the nanny to make hot tea to entertain them.
Nan Yu accidentally learned from the conversation that Nian Nian's family had been in a car accident a long time ago. Her husband, Tan Tianen, had died after failing to be rescued, and she had been raising her disabled daughter alone.
Although the Tan family was wealthy enough to protect them, the lack of fatherly love since childhood and the physical disability had made Nian Nian a rather withdrawn girl who didn't like to communicate with others.
Therefore, she rarely went out, and all the knowledge she needed to learn at school had to be taught by private tutors.
Nan Yu listened quietly, and her eyes occasionally swept over the photo of the mother and daughter on the tea table.
The little girl in the photo was at an innocent age. Her face was beaming with a bright smile as she nestled in her mother's arms.
For no reason, a sense of sadness welled up in her heart.
Wen Ruoyi smiled slightly. Her expression was dignified and kind. There was gratitude in her eyes when she looked at Nan Yu. "In that case, from now on, I'll have to trouble Teacher Nan with Nian Nian's piano learning."
Nan Yu could tell that this was a sincere thank - you. So she sat up straight, reached out her hand in a friendly manner, and said sincerely, "Don't worry. I'll teach Nian Nian with all my knowledge and spare no effort."
Seeing her earnest and confident look again, Tan Linyuan couldn't help but curl his lips. He lazily interjected, "As long as you don't mislead the students."