Nanyu was an excellent piano teacher. She knew exactly how to pique the students' interest. Coupled with Niannian's high concentration, she learned to play "Happy Birthday" in just ten minutes.
Niannian was overjoyed. She said she would play it for her mom on her birthday.
Nanyu stroked her head and said she could teach her to play more pieces in the future and play for more people.
"Playing the piano is so much fun!" Niannian excitedly grabbed Nanyu's hand, her eyes shining. "Can Nanyu come and teach me to play the piano every day from now on?"
"As long as your mom agrees, I can come anytime." Nanyu readily agreed and playfully pinched her nose. "But let me make it clear first. My teaching fee is quite high."
Niannian laughed along and waved her little hand indifferently. "It doesn't matter. My uncle is very rich."
The "uncle" she was referring to was, of course, Tan Linyuan.
Nanyu laughed so hard that she bent forward and backward.
"What if your uncle goes bankrupt?"
"He won't. Uncle has so much money that he can never spend it all. He can buy Nanyu for a lifetime." Niannian answered seriously.
Nanyu pretended to be surprised and opened her mouth wide. "Is he really that wealthy?"
"Really!" Afraid that Nanyu wouldn't believe her, the little girl said in a hurry, "Uncle loves me the most. He'll agree to anything I ask."
Nanyu had an idea. "Then if you ask your uncle to marry me, will he agree?"
"I don't know..." This was obviously a difficult question. Niannian hesitated for a while and whispered, "But for Nanyu's sake, I can give it a try."
The world of a child was very simple. When they met a friend who treated them sincerely, they would want to give all their candies to that person.
Nanyu was just joking. But now she realized that Niannian had taken it seriously, so she quickly changed her words. "I'm just kidding. I actually already have a fiancé."
Niannian looked a bit disappointed. "So Nanyu is going to marry someone else?"
"Yes."
Niannian suddenly became dejected. All her excitement and joy just now disappeared. "After Nanyu marries someone else, will I never see you again?"
Nanyu smiled and answered her, "No."
Niannian lowered her head. Her childish voice sounded a bit aggrieved. "But I haven't seen my dad for a long time."
Nanyu's emotions suddenly surged, as if a hole had been suddenly torn open and the wind rushed in.
Her throat was dry. She paused for a few seconds before softly saying, "Me too."
She also hadn't seen her mom and dad for a very, very long time.
"Did Nanyu's dad also go abroad to get treated for his illness?" Niannian looked up and asked her in a muffled voice.
Nanyu could easily guess that this must be a beautiful lie made up by the adults because they didn't know how to explain the meaning of death to a child.
She lowered her head and stared into those innocent and clear eyes for a moment.
"He and my mom went to a very far place together," she answered with a smile. "We'll see them one day."
The corners of her lips were curved, but her eyes were wet.
Just then, the door was pushed open.
Nanyu was startled. Her gaze met those cold and calm eyes.
Tan Linyuan was standing at the door, always looking so indifferent. She wasn't sure how much he had heard.
"Uncle Tan," she stood up from the chair, quickly hiding all her emotions and showing her usual docility.
Just like a kitten hiding its injured paw.
Niannian's eyes were full of curiosity. "Is Nanyu also Uncle's niece?"
Otherwise, why would she call him uncle like she did?
Nanyu's eyelids twitched.
... It was so strange.
Before, she could just regard "Uncle Tan" as an ordinary title. But today, reminded by Niannian, she suddenly realized that she had been taken advantage of.
A rather big advantage.
Tan Linyuan let out a laugh. He didn't explain much to Niannian. Instead, he walked over and stroked her head. "What did you learn from Teacher Nan today?"
"I learned to play 'Happy Birthday'!"
The little girl's attention was always easily diverted.
Tan Linyuan nodded. "Play it for uncle to listen to."
Niannian happily sat up straight. Her fingers had just pressed a few notes when she forgot the rest. With Nanyu's reminder, she finally managed to play the whole piece in a rather uneven way.
Her face was red. She felt a bit embarrassed. "Uncle, I'll practice more."
Tan Linyuan didn't say anything. He just nodded. His eyes lingered on Nanyu's face. "Niannian, practice by yourself for a while. I need to talk to Teacher Nan alone."
...
Nanyu followed Tan Linyuan out of the room. She kept her head down all the way. Suddenly, the person in front stopped. Before she could react, she bumped right into him.
Her forehead hit his back. She faintly felt the pain of being hit by his bones.
Tan Linyuan turned around and squinted his eyes. "Do you want to kill me with your head?"
Nanyu said, "... I didn't do it on purpose."
Tan Linyuan looked down at her, as if trying to confirm the truth of her words. After a moment, he laughed. "Then—"
He dragged out the tone. The next second, his voice suddenly turned cold, and the aura around him sank. "Asking Niannian to beg me to marry you. Is that also an accident?"
Nanyu's breath caught in her throat.
These words made it seem as if she was a scheming woman who tried to achieve her goals by deceiving a child.
Before she could open her mouth to defend herself, his slightly cool fingers grabbed her wrist. He unceremoniously dragged her into the room and pressed her against the door with her back to it.
The curtains in the room were drawn tightly, blocking out the sunlight from outside. Nanyu gasped. Her lips were soon captured.
His kiss was familiar but different from before.
The previous kisses were just a catalyst, but today's kiss carried a hint of anger, though not very obvious.
She smelled the cold and clean scent of woody agarwood on him. Her body quickly reacted, and her breathing became chaotic. "Tan Linyuan..."
"Call me Uncle Tan," he said steadily, deliberately reminding her.
Nanyu suddenly came to her senses. She tried to push him away but was afraid that the noise would be heard by others. "No... Shen Yanche is still waiting for me outside. Don't mess around."
Moreover, this was someone else's house.
Tan Linyuan grabbed her arms and slowly said in a very calm voice, "You're already trying every means to marry me, but you're still worried about being discovered by him?"
Nanyu was annoyed by his misinterpretation. She simply closed her eyes and said something outrageous. "If I want Uncle Tan to marry me, will Uncle Tan marry me right away?"
He stared at her for a few seconds and then let go of her wrist. His gaze gradually became scrutinizing. "Sure enough, you have a devious mind."
Hearing this, Nanyu couldn't help but laugh. "Devious mind? Are you acting like the Tang Monk?"
Tan Linyuan was too lazy to argue with her. He reached out and turned on the switch beside the door. The room instantly brightened up.
Only then did Nanyu really see his face.
He was expressionless. There was no trace of desire on his face because of the previous kiss.
Under his intense gaze, Nanyu's cheeks gradually turned red, and her palms began to curl up nervously.
He paused for a moment. "Nanyu, you still haven't thanked me yet."