Tan Linyuan ultimately didn't get to hear Nan Yu's thanks as he wished.
The timely knock on the door saved Nan Yu. Like a drowning man grasping at a straw, she quickly turned around and opened the door.
Tan Linyuan behind her looked at her, his eyes gradually growing deeper, with an air of mystery.
His smile was so faint that it was hardly noticeable.
At the door stood Wen Ruoyi and Nian Nian, sitting in a wheelchair with her face tilted up.
"Sorry," Wen Ruoyi explained helplessly. "Nian Nian has been calling for Teacher Nan in the room. I said I'd take her out to have a look. I hope we're not disturbing you."
Nan Yu shook her head, bent down and pinched Nian Nian's cheek with a smile. "You're not disturbing us. We weren't talking about anything important."
Wen Ruoyi smiled slightly. "Since you're not busy, shall we talk about the piano lessons for Nian Nian?"
The two sides had a very harmonious conversation. Wen Ruoyi offered a higher hourly rate than what Nan Yu originally charged. At first, Nan Yu politely said she could give a discount, but Wen Ruoyi insisted on paying this amount.
"Nian Nian may seem quiet, but in fact she's very dependent on others. You may have a hard time taking care of her in the future, so the rate should be higher," Wen Ruoyi said softly, reaching out her hand. "If there's anything inappropriate in the future, please feel free to point it out."
Nan Yu shook her hand politely, her lips curving up slightly as she returned a smile. "It should be me bothering you in the future. If there's anything wrong, I'll need your advice."
On the other side of the sofa, the man sat with his long legs crossed, looking at her with a lazy expression. He lifted his eyelids slightly. "As long as you don't be late or leave early every now and then, everything else is fine."
In the living room with only a few people, the air seemed to freeze for a second.
... That jerk can't say anything nice. He just has to bring up the sore spot.
Wen Ruoyi was confused and didn't quite understand. "What do you mean by every now and then..."
"Mrs. Wen, you can rest assured. I'll definitely be on time for Nian Nian's lessons, come rain or shine," Nan Yu even stood up from the sofa. "If you're not at ease, you can pay only part of the tuition fee."
She beamed with enthusiasm, trying her best to dispel the slightest doubt that had just arisen in Wen Ruoyi's mind.
Seeing her serious and extremely nervous look, Tan Linyuan finally couldn't hold back his smile. He lowered his face and covered the smile on his lips with his hand.
Nan Yu glared at him resentfully out of the corner of her eye.
Laugh! Keep laughing!
Everything went smoothly. Unable to resist Nian Nian's enthusiasm, Nan Yu stayed to have dinner with them.
Tan Linyuan said he had something to do and left early. However, he still remembered Shen Yanche's request and specially left a driver to take Nan Yu back.
During the meal, Nian Nian accidentally mentioned that she didn't see the Buddhist beads on Uncle's hand today.
At the mention of the Buddhist beads, Nan Yu's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to ask but was afraid of arousing suspicion.
After a long time of mental preparation, she pretended to ask casually, "Is it something important?"
"Of course it is," Nian Nian nodded vigorously. "Uncle said it's for avoiding disasters. It's a very important thing."
"Don't listen to the kid's nonsense," Wen Ruoyi said with a smile as she picked up a chopstick of vegetables for Nian Nian, gently interrupting her. "It's just a story Tan Linyuan made up to amuse Nian Nian."
Nian Nian pouted. "Uncle is a living Buddha. He can't lie. He said he's carrying a deep sin and must..."
"Nian Nian, don't talk when eating or sleeping," Wen Ruoyi said again to stop her. This time her tone was a bit stricter. "If you're not obedient, I won't let Teacher Nan come anymore."
Nan Yu sensed the cover - up in her words and fell silent for a moment.
"Teacher Nan, don't think too much," Wen Ruoyi adjusted her mood. "It's all trivial matters. It would be a joke if we told outsiders."
Nan Yu smiled. She roughly guessed what was going on.
These wealthy families all seem glamorous on the surface, but behind closed doors, each has its own problems.
The Shen family is like this, and it seems the Tan family is no exception.
Nan Yu is not interested in the internal feuds of the Tan family, but she still feels very guilty about breaking the Buddhist beads.
Although Shen Yanche pleaded for her at that time, saying it was an accident, she knew in her heart.
She did break the Buddhist beads on purpose.
At that time, it was just a last - minute idea. She thought that only by making a big scene like this could she stop Tan Linyuan from "messing around" in the car.
She thought she had disguised herself well, but under Tan Linyuan's cold and scrutinizing gaze, her lie was completely exposed.
Now, combined with what Nian Nian said, maybe his great anger that day was not faked.
Maybe the Buddhist beads were really important to him.
She silently put her hand into her pocket. The beads in it were a bit hard.
There was a faint burning sensation in her heart.
...
After dinner, Nan Yu said goodbye to the mother - daughter pair. Outside the door was the driver Tan Linyuan had arranged in advance. Seeing Nan Yu come out, he stepped forward to take her back to the apartment.
The driver drove on the flat road. Nan Yu specifically looked at the navigation. It was the route back to Jinya Xiaozhu. It should be Tan Linyuan who told him.
Nan Yu looked at the vast night outside. After thinking for a while, she decided to apologize to Tan Linyuan.
Although she still thought Tan Linyuan was a wolf in sheep's clothing, one thing was one thing. Moreover, it was he who introduced Nian Nian to her.
She took out her phone but found that she didn't have Tan Linyuan's contact information.
To be exact, she had deleted his contact information before.
Nan Yu pursed her lips slightly and took the initiative to ask the driver in the front row if he could give her Tan Linyuan's phone number.
"I'm afraid not, miss," the driver uncle held the steering wheel, his attitude being cautious. "We have rules. We can't casually disclose the master's information. Otherwise, I'll lose my job."
Nan Yu was speechless.
Although she already knew Tan Linyuan's real identity, in the face of these invisible rules, she once again realized his high status.
He was like the snow on the high mountains and the flower on the altar.
She didn't continue to embarrass the driver. After hesitating for a while, she asked again, "Can you convey my request to him? Just say I want to meet him."
It would be more sincere to apologize in person.
The driver uncle took Nan Yu to the downstairs of the apartment building, carefully called Tan Linyuan, and it took a while to get through.
"Mr. Tan, Miss Nan asked me to ask if you're free. She wants to meet you."
Nan Yu nervously awaited the next words.
"Okay, okay, I see. I'll tell Miss Nan right away."
After the driver hung up the phone, he heaved a long sigh of relief and told her the good news with a smile. "Mr. Tan said he'll be free tomorrow."
Nan Yu was just about to say thank you when the driver added, "He said he'll be at Changuang Temple tomorrow. You can go there directly to find him."
Nan Yu was stunned for a moment and suddenly remembered that tomorrow was Sunday.