Qiao Huaiyao was uncertain, “Let’s discuss it.”
Wang Zhan found this statement quite flexible, and he immediately smiled, “Sure!”
The efficiency of the butler was impressive. Upon receiving the message, he directly bought tickets for the next available flight, without delegating the task to the household staff.
Instead, he came personally to deliver the guitar. However, the responsibilities of the butler were not limited to just Qiao Huaiyao; they extended to Old Bai’s side as well.
After setting down the guitar, the butler had initially intended to stay and see the young master, but knowing that Qiao Huaiyao’s afternoon training would end late, he could only return.
Qiao Huaiyao opened the guitar case, and the dark guitar lay silently inside.
Bai Jinyan’s guitar was without lacquer. The patterns on it were said to be Bai Jinyan’s own design.
Qiao Huaiyao really liked this kind of design – steady, composed, and not at all flashy.
This guitar carried all of his memories of learning to play, and within these memories, Bai Jinyan’s presence always appeared.
Taking the guitar out, Qiao Huaiyao knew that the guitar received regular care, and the strings were of high quality. Plucking the strings with his fingertips, he carefully listened to the resulting tones, then made slight adjustments, tuning the guitar to his optimal state.
After finishing his shower, Bai Jinyan emerged and noticed that Qiao Huaiyao’s hands were empty, so he asked, “Why aren’t you using a pick?”
Qiao Huaiyao replied, “I’m testing the feel.” He would put on the pick when he officially played.
The butler had brought everything needed for playing the guitar. Notably, he brought a variety of picks of different sizes. Sitting on the sofa to play the guitar was quite uncomfortable.
Qiao Huaiyao moved a high stool from the bar counter to the balcony, sitting on it or standing, which felt much better.
The balcony was covered, and the view through the huge French windows was splendid.
Gazing at the night scenery outside, he plucked the strings now and then, piecing together a complete melody. It wasn’t that he couldn’t play it smoothly, but rather, he played it carefully.
He differentiated the notes on the sheet music as he played, going over it repeatedly before moving on.
The sound of the guitar gradually faded, and Qiao Huaiyao smiled as he looked at Bai Jinyan beside him, “Brother, how was it?”
“It’s very good.” Bai Jinyan was always generous with his praise for Qiao Huaiyao and earnestly said, “You don’t need me to teach you anything.”
In Bai Jinyan’s eyes, Qiao Huaiyao’s modesty about not being able to play well without his guidance was unnecessary.
After all, Qiao Huaiyao was his student, and Bai Jinyan knew how dedicated he was when he first started learning.
Qiao Huaiyao raised an eyebrow, feeling that his brother was just trying to soothe him, “Really?”
“Of course.” Bai Jinyan didn’t hesitate at all.
“But I feel like there’s a slight hiccup between some notes.” Qiao Huaiyao secured the sheet music, “Let me play the entire piece again, listen and give me some feedback.”
“Sure.”
Learning from the previous experience, Qiao Huaiyao’s complete performance this time was flawless. He played without any interruptions, smoothly transitioning from one note to the next. The guitar’s melody was expressive; it could speak.
As the music concluded, Qiao Huaiyao lightly pressed his fingertips against the quivering strings. Just as he was about to speak, his mouth froze at the sight of Bai Jinyan’s earnest gaze fixed on the large French window.
Bai Jinyan’s gaze was fixed on Qiao Huaiyao, and he appeared serious and focused. However, his gaze was not directed at the guitar strings but rather…
“He’s watching me.” This thought emerged clearly in Qiao Huaiyao’s mind.
In this moment, he suddenly felt somewhat overwhelmed. His hand on the guitar strings curled slightly, and he whispered, “Brother?”
“Yes.” Bai Jinyan remained composed as usual and analyzed, “No problem, you played well. It’s not an issue with the transitions; it might be the arrangement of the sheet music.”
Qiao Huaiyao nodded. He had found the sheet music online and decided to modify the original song. Bai Jinyan offered a simpler solution, “Just change the transition here. Come, I’ll show you.”
Qiao Huaiyao was about to hand the guitar over to Bai Jinyan to demonstrate, but to his surprise, Bai Jinyan didn’t take the guitar. Instead, he stepped forward and reached out from behind, using Qiao Huaiyao’s hands to steady the guitar.
Qiao Huaiyao’s body tensed abruptly, and he picked up the guitar once more and placed it back on his lap. He stared straight ahead at the large French window, his mind temporarily lost in thought.
The embrace behind him exuded warmth, possibly from Bai Jinyan’s recent shower. There was no longer a hint of the cold fragrance of cologne, just a gentle and soft shower scent.
Qiao Huaiyao’s lips twitched, and he could feel the heat rising on his face again. He even lightened his breathing slightly, as if he were afraid that Bai Jinyan would detect his uneasiness.
Listening to Bai Jinyan’s earnest analysis, Qiao Huaiyao’s heart raced. However, he remained still on the stool, not daring to move. Bai Jinyan, as he had done many times before, analyzed the piece with Qiao Huaiyao step by step.
But this time, it was different. Observing Qiao Huaiyao’s reddened ears, Bai Jinyan belatedly realized that something was off. When Qiao Huaiyao was younger and learning the guitar, he always sought perfection, demanding the best of himself. When he couldn’t master a particular part, he would seek Bai Jinyan’s guidance. Bai Jinyan often found himself in situations like this, carefully analyzing the music with Qiao Huaiyao bit by bit.
However, at this moment, Bai Jinyan noticed the change in Qiao Huaiyao. Seeing Qiao Huaiyao’s flushed ears, Bai Jinyan’s movements slowed down, and he gently withdrew his hand, aiming for a natural retreat.
Qiao Huaiyao’s attention had been fully on Bai Jinyan, and he hadn’t missed the change. If he were alone, he might have felt somewhat uneasy. But… he glanced upwards, his eyes inadvertently catching the redness around Bai Jinyan’s ear and neck. A slight smile tugged at the corners of Qiao Huaiyao’s lips, and he felt a strange mix of excitement and awkwardness. His heart raced, and he couldn’t suppress it, making him feel as though he was sinking deeper into a whirlpool.
No one said anything. As their eyes met, Bai Jinyan caught the playful glint in
Qiao Huaiyao’s eyes, and he was moved. He couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly. Under the hazy night sky, they exchanged a smile that seemed to convey countless words, and they continued to gaze at each other for a long while, as though they had spoken volumes.
Finally, Bai Jinyan raised his hand and ruffled Qiao Huaiyao’s hair. “It’s getting late. Play through it once more, and then rest. We have training tomorrow.”
Qiao Huaiyao plucked the strings with his fingertips and obediently replied, “Alright.”
Bai Jinyan remained behind Qiao Huaiyao, as patient as ever, guiding him through the piece again and again.