Chapter 37#
Standing high, so this is how far one can see.#
The spotlight hit his body, bringing a touch of warmth. The custom suit was made of Italian fabric, draped vertically and smoothly, making him look like a green bamboo facing the sun.
Jian Yunchen pursed his lips, looking down at the crowd on the first floor.
Among them were many who, in the past, he hadn’t even been worthy of looking up to.
Not long ago, he had been mixed among them, looking up at Jiang Yunhan who stood in this very position.
It wasn’t until he stood here himself that he realized.
Standing high, so this is how far one can see.
So one could easily look down upon everyone’s expressions, and so one could become the center of everyone’s attention without any effort at all.
His hand on the railing slowly tightened, and he couldn’t help but let a smile spread across his face.
Some people were born to enjoy all of this.
But it took him nineteen years to get here.
Yet, he had arrived.
Applause rang out from below, as everyone’s curious eyes landed on him, this newly appeared “young master.”
He and Jiang Yunhan walked downstairs one after the other. Jian Yunchen followed behind him, and for the first time at such close range, he took in every one of Jiang Yunhan’s movements with absolute clarity.
He walked very steadily, neither fast nor slow; the sway of his waist was smooth and natural, his back was straight, and his whole body was steeped in an air of nobility. The smile on his profile was bright and infectious, and even the arc of his nod was exquisite and beautiful.
Jian Yunchen suddenly realized then how clumsy his past “learning” had been.
Jiang Yunhan pulled him along, excitedly introducing him to everyone as his brother.
The first to surround them were Jiang Yunhan’s longtime friends. He had an outgoing personality and many friends. He tilted his delicate chin slightly as he scanned his circle of friends, unable to hide the excitement and pride in his heart as he introduced Jian Yunchen to the group: “This is Jian Yunchen, my brother. You guys better not bully him.”
“Xiao Chen.” He turned his head, his sparkling eyes blinking at him: “These are Sun Chuan and Liang Xiao. If you need anything in the future, just bother them. No need to be polite with them.”
Sun Chuan and Liang Xiao smiled first, then indicated that he shouldn’t be a stranger.
He nodded, but didn’t take it to heart.
He knew that these people were only giving him face for Jiang Yunhan’s sake.
But the thing he needed least was Jiang Yunhan’s “face.”
Dealing with guests was much more exhausting than he had imagined. Questions were endless, always wrapped in an exquisite outer layer, but underneath were sharp thorns that would leave one’s hands bloody if one wasn’t careful.
Jiang Sheng soon rescued them.
Before Jian Yunchen could breathe a sigh of relief, he saw Jiang Sheng pull back a red velvet cloth covering something nearby. Such a massive object didn’t look out of place appearing here at all; its black lacquer reflected the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, echoing the warm-colored strings.
Jiang Yunhan’s eyes lit up: “Is that the piano ordered before? It actually made it in time.”
“I had it expedited specially.” Jiang Sheng looked toward Jian Yunchen: “Yunchen, this is a gift for you. Try it out and see if you like it.”
Jian Yunchen stood in place, his gaze sweeping over that row of black and white keys, but his feet didn’t move.
Jiang Yunhan was eager to try: “Xiao Chen, do you like it? Pianos from this brand are the most comfortable for me to play.” He pursed his lips, looking at Jian Yunchen somewhat tentatively: “Dad didn’t know what to give you when you came back, so he asked for my opinion when picking the gift. Do you like it?”
Jian Yunchen couldn’t help but turn his head to give him a deep look.
Jiang Yunhan was stunned by the look, but that predatory glint in the other’s eyes vanished in an instant, as if it were merely his imagination.
“Xiao Han, you go and test the sound first.”
Jiang Yunhan nodded, then looked at Jian Yunchen again, asking for his consent.
Jian Yunchen smiled, “Then I’ll have to trouble Brother.”
Melodious piano music flowed slowly from Jiang Yunhan’s fingertips like a clear stream. The rhythm, alternating between heavy and light, captured everyone’s attention. People gathered around spontaneously, and his ears were filled with marveling whispers.
Jian Yunchen stood in the inner circle with everyone else, casting his gaze upon the protagonist of this banquet.
Without knowing when it began, the subject of everyone’s discussion had slowly shifted from the name “Jian Yunchen” to “Jiang Yunhan.”
The curiosity toward him had passed; now, only praise for Young Master Jiang remained.
And Jian Yunchen didn’t even share the surname Jiang.
He listened to the people behind him praising and sighing over Jiang Yunhan, and even followed suit, clapping along with them.
When Jiang Yunhan played the piano, the pride and confidence radiating from his entire body truly made him worthy of being called the “protagonist.”
Qin Mu stood behind Jian Yunchen, looking down at him.
Unsure of what Jiang Sheng had said, Jian Yunchen actually sat down in front of everyone the very second the applause died down.
Just as Qin Mu thought Jian Yunchen was going to play, options suddenly popped up in front of him:
[Detected that the host has entered a key plot point of the villain’s family recognition. Please make a choice within five seconds:]
[A. Mock him. (Damage 5%)]
[B. Suppress him. (Damage 15%)]
[C. Control him. (Damage 20%)]
Qin Mu slowly raised an eyebrow. Did the multiple-choice questions have to accompany the entire story?
Jian Yunchen sat with his back to him, his spine straight and his hands on the keys, but he didn’t strike a single note for a long time.
Gradually, nasty whispers began to mix into the air and reach Qin Mu’s ears.
He gave a soft chuckle and chose C.
Thus, ignoring the startled looks of the crowd, he stepped over to the piano and, ignoring Jian Yunchen’s stunned expression, naturally sat down beside him.
Qin Mu tilted his head to look at him and casually struck two notes.
He remarked: “The intonation isn’t bad.”
“Are there any pieces you like?”
Jian Yunchen looked at him, his voice stiff as he slowly exhaled: “Una Mattina. (The Intouchables)”
Qin Mu smiled: “Good taste.”
He grabbed his hand firmly; the two of them were very close, and Qin Mu’s chest once again pressed near his shoulder.
It was very hot. That familiar scent surrounded him completely, and thus he could no longer hear those comments, whether good or bad, around him.
Led by Qin Mu, their fingertips overlapped, jumping rapidly across the keys.
This song was extremely powerful, a completely different style from what Jiang Yunhan had played earlier.
The deep piano sound, accompanied by heavy accents, was like an approaching storm.
Jian Yunchen’s hand was held tightly by Qin Mu. Even in such a situation, Qin Mu’s hand wasn’t the slightest bit slow, knowing the position of every key perfectly. He couldn’t help but turn his head slightly to look at him.
Qin Mu’s expression held a rare focus, with stray fragments of hair falling over his forehead, and the light tracing the silhouette of his profile.
Qin Mu leaned in, sparing a bit of energy to tease him, “So distracted?”
The tips of Jian Yunchen’s ears turned red, and he withdrew his gaze.
When the piece ended, Jian Yunchen’s arms were slightly stiff. Qin Mu left the floor as soon as he finished playing, not caring about anyone’s reaction.
Jian Yunchen remained in his seat, turning his head to look at Jiang Sheng.
There was a faint scent of gunpowder in his gaze.
Before he had gone up, Jiang Sheng had whispered in his ear:
“The difference between you and the heir of the Jiang family is exactly this—a world you haven’t even begun to understand.”
“This place, and you, are two different worlds.”