Volume One, Chapter 17: Four Hands, One Melody

Wen Xuyu stepped onto the stage, the little girl gazing at her with wide, timid eyes.

The hostess handed her the trophy.

Wen Xuyu reached out to accept it, the trophy cold to the touch. She bent halfway down, her voice gentle, "Congratulations."

The little girl, no more than ten years old, wore two thick braids and had a dusky complexion, looking shy and well-behaved.

After taking the trophy, the girl was required to perform a piano piece on stage.

The staff quickly wheeled a grand piano to the center of the stage, while Wen Xuyu withdrew to the side under the guidance of the host.

The girl turned, sat on the piano bench, took a deep breath, and placed her fingers on the keys.

Yet ten seconds passed, then twenty... and the keys remained silent.

The girl's fingers began to tremble, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

Whispers stirred among the audience.

"I don't think this girl sponsored by the Qiao family is anything special."

"I heard she comes from a mountain village, said to be talented in piano, but now..." someone scoffed, full of disdain.

"People from small places just can't compare. On a stage like this, she falters—how could she ever make something of herself?"

Standing to the side, Wen Xuyu keenly caught the panic in the girl's eyes, her brows knitting in concern. How could these people speak so harshly about a child?

Meanwhile, on the second floor of the private box.

Bian Xunzhou stood at the gilded railing, hands in his pockets, his gaze locked onto the figure on stage.

Feeling a surge of anger rise in his chest, his dark eyes deepened, his lips parted with a faint sneer, "Wen Xuyu, you really can't resist meddling, can you?"

Next door, Lu Baiqian was also watching the scene unfold.

Meng Jin, standing behind him, couldn't help but worry, "Second Miss Wen isn't going to mess up this charity auction, is she?"

Given her expression now... it was a little frightening, as if the next moment she'd whisk that near-crying little girl off the stage!

"Don't worry, she definitely has a foolproof plan!" Lu Baiqian's tone brimmed with confidence.

Meng Jin was puzzled, wondering, How does Third Young Master know Second Miss Wen so well?

*

Onstage, the host listened to instructions through her earpiece, just about to take action.

But someone moved faster than her.

Wen Xuyu strode swiftly to the little girl's side, bent down and whispered to her, a strand of hair falling from behind her ear, "Don't be afraid, let's play together, shall we?"

The girl looked up in surprise; Wen Xuyu was already seated beside her.

"What piece are you planning to play?" she asked softly.

"...Schumann's 'Dreams.'"

"Good, let's do it together—and let those who underestimated you regret it!" Wen Xuyu winked, her tone teasing.

"...Okay!" Light ignited in the little girl's eyes.

The performance began.

Wen Xuyu placed her hands on the keys, playing the opening notes. Her fingers, long and fair, danced on the black-and-white keys like sprites.

The girl took a deep breath and followed suit.

At first, her notes were hesitant, but guided by Wen Xuyu's gentle firmness, she gradually found her rhythm.

In the auction hall, the previously noisy chatter vanished in an instant, everyone's attention drawn to the pair on stage.

Their four hands played in perfect harmony.

As the piece progressed, Wen Xuyu deliberately softened her own presence, allowing the girl's melodic line to shine.

When the music reached its climax, she subtly added notes and rhythms, elevating the entire piece to a new height.

A smile slowly blossomed on the girl's face, her fingers growing ever more confident.

At last, the piece ended, and Wen Xuyu rose with the little girl to take their bow.

The hall fell silent, then someone began to applaud, and the applause came in waves, lasting more than a minute.

*

At the host’s signal, Wen Xuyu led the little girl offstage, into the backstage area, as the auction continued.

"Thank you, beautiful sister!" The girl's eyes were bright, rimmed with red as if she might cry.

"No need to thank me. Keep working hard, and don't be afraid when you face difficulties!" Wen Xuyu crouched down, gently ruffling her hair.

"Mm!"

Suddenly, steady footsteps sounded behind them.

"Miss," a voice called.

Wen Xuyu turned to see a distinguished lady and a young woman approaching.

The lady carried herself with stately grace, her silver hair impeccably arranged, her eyes marked by the dignity of years, though now they held a rare softness.

"And you are?" Wen Xuyu asked in confusion.

"I am the mistress of the Qiao family, and this is my daughter, Qiao Wanyun."

The Qiao family? The hosts of tonight’s auction—the Qiao family of the capital?

Wen Xuyu lowered her gaze, nodding politely, "Good evening."

Qiao Wanyun, dressed in a red gown, radiated bold elegance as she approached, her smile sincere.

"Miss, thank you so much for today!"

It was a splendid rescue.

"You are too kind, it was nothing," Wen Xuyu replied modestly, taking the little girl's hand and praising her, "She’s the true star of tonight!"

Qiao Wanyun laughed, "You're right."

She then summoned someone to escort the girl away to rest.

"I wonder whose daughter you are?" Madam Qiao's eyes shone with admiration.

She was a keen judge of character; this young lady was upright and composed. If she weren’t already married, Madam Qiao happened to have a son...

"I..." Wen Xuyu hesitated, unsure what to say.

The name of Second Miss Wen was notorious in the circles of the wealthy; she really couldn’t bring herself to speak it.

Just as she struggled, a low voice cut into the conversation. Bian Xunzhou strode forward, his tailored suit exuding a lazy sharpness.

"Aunt Hua, she’s mine."

Both Madam Qiao and Qiao Wanyun were startled.

"Xunzhou, what brings you here to support us tonight?" Madam Qiao teased, only then recalling his earlier words, "But what do you mean, ‘yours’?"

Wen Xuyu touched the mask on her face, equally shocked—how was this man here, and how did he recognize her?

"Let me introduce you," Bian Xunzhou turned, those dark eyes behind his mask piercing straight to Wen Xuyu’s heart. "This is my wife, Wen Xuyu."

"What?" Qiao Wanyun gasped, "When did this happen? I never heard a word!"

"We registered just yesterday," Bian Xunzhou suddenly wrapped his arm around Wen Xuyu’s waist, the gesture intimate.

Wen Xuyu smiled awkwardly, though the suit Bian Xunzhou wore tonight... seemed oddly familiar.

"So it seems fate isn’t on our side," Madam Qiao looked at the pair before her, perfectly matched, and shook her head with regret. Then she spoke again.

"I never expected Miss Wen to be Xunzhou’s wife—what a coincidence. You play the piano so beautifully; you must have endured much hardship."

Wen Xuyu’s heart tightened.

There was a time when, not wanting to disgrace the Wen family, she practiced piano until her fingertips bled, the black-and-white keys stained with red prints—yet in the end, it all came to naught.

Bian Xunzhou sensed her sorrow and tightened his grip around her waist ever so slightly, "My wife’s talents are by no means limited to this."