Just a Touch of Mastery

Ji Chuxing was thoroughly enjoying her lunch.

All the dishes were her favorites, sweet and delicious. However, such a diet wasn't suitable for the elderly, especially since too much sugar wasn't good for the grandmother's health due to her age.

"Grandma, you should eat less sugar in the future. Your body can't handle too much of it," Ji Chuxing gently reminded her.

This was something Wen Lian had told her many times before. When the grandmother was in a good mood, she would casually agree, only to forget it moments later. When she was in a bad mood, she would even scold him for not letting her enjoy her food, making him feel like the worst grandson.

"Grandma definitely won't—"

Before Wen Lian could finish, the grandmother surprisingly agreed amiably, "Alright, I'll eat less in the future."

Then, she turned to the butler and said, "From now on, make only one sweet dish per day."

Wen Lian: !!

Wait, since when did you become so obedient, Grandma?

Then, he heard Ji Chuxing add, "And the sugar content shouldn't exceed two grams."

The butler looked at the grandmother, hesitating to agree. Surprisingly, the usually stubborn grandmother was quite amenable, "Fine, I'll remember that. From now on, we'll follow what the little doctor says!"

Wen Lian: ...

Butler: ...

Grandma, your double standards are a bit too much, aren't they?

The butler, seeing the grandmother's reaction, became even more respectful towards Ji Chuxing.

Ji Chuxing enjoyed her meal immensely. The kitchen had prepared mung bean soup, but since the grandmother had already consumed too much sugar, it ended up in Ji Chuxing's stomach instead.

There was no way Ji Chuxing was going back to school today. After the meal, the grandmother insisted she stay and rest. So, she, Wen Lian, and the housekeeper formed a makeshift mahjong group.

Actually, Ji Chuxing didn't know how to play mahjong. But, she was a quick learner!

Wasn't this just like solving a math problem?

After watching the grandmother win a round, Ji Chuxing instantly got the hang of it. She was unbeatable, winning round after round! Her eyes lit up as she collected her winnings, and her little tuft of hair bobbed up and down, almost as if she didn't want to leave.

The grandmother was both impressed and a bit envious, yet also proud. Even Wen Lian, seeing her eyes light up, felt genuinely happy. As the eldest son, he was often described as cold, and he himself felt that his emotions were usually calm. But at that moment, he felt a deep, inner joy.

It seemed as if this was how things should be, and their family felt more complete with her there.

So, his money flew straight into Ji Chuxing's little pocket.

Just as they were having a great time, a sudden cry of alarm broke the atmosphere.

The butler's voice rose in volume, "What's going on? This is the second young master's piano!"

A low, pleading sob followed, "I told you to be careful, be careful! This piano can't be moved easily. Why are you still so careless?"

Wen Lian stood up and walked over, "What happened?"

The butler's face was filled with worry, "We accidentally bumped into the second young master's piano while cleaning, and one of the keys is loose now."

This piano was one of the top ten pianos in the world, a Waldorf piano, given to the second young master by his mother on his birthday. It had been with him ever since, and he treasured it dearly. If he found out it was damaged, he would be furious. More importantly, it was a gift from his late mother, making it incredibly significant.

Wen Lian knew how important the piano was to Wen Liming and frowned, "Find a piano restorer from Europe. See if they can fix it."

The butler was deeply concerned, "The second young master needs the piano in a few days. We might not have enough time."

In a few days, they would need to move it.

Wen Lian felt a headache coming on.

Ji Chuxing, drawn by the commotion, had already noticed the old piano in the corner. But, out of respect, she hadn't touched it. Hearing their conversation, she offered, "Let me try."

The butler's eyes widened, "Little doctor, you know about pianos too?"

Ji Chuxing nodded, "A little."

The butler, with a look of knowing, said, "Little doctor, I know you mean well, but this piano is extremely valuable. It's a Waldorf piano..."

Before the butler could finish, the grandmother waved her hand dismissively, "So what if it's a Waldorf piano? Let the little doctor try."

"But, Madam..." The butler was nearly in tears. How could the grandmother let the little doctor tinker with the second young master's piano?

The butler looked at Wen Lian with pleading eyes, hoping he would intervene.

But Wen Lian turned to Ji Chuxing and said, "Thank you."

The butler: !!

Oh no!

Although they hadn't known each other for long, Wen Lian trusted Ji Chuxing. She was the type who only took action when she was confident in her abilities.

Ji Chuxing nodded and walked over, her slender fingers gliding over the black and white keys. Instantly, a clear and melodious tune filled the air, causing the butler to break out in goosebumps.

He couldn't understand why.

Ji Chuxing nodded, "It's not a big issue."

The butler was stunned.

Even though Wen Lian had some expectations, he was still surprised. This piano had a long history. When they lived in the Songlin Villa, Wen Xinyue had once damaged it, and Wen Liming had been very angry. They had even hired European technicians to repair it. Every year, they would have professionals come to check and maintain it.

He watched as Ji Chuxing fiddled with the keys, playing a few notes here and there.

Five minutes later, Ji Chuxing clapped her hands, "Done."

The butler's eyes widened, "D-Done?"

He hadn't understood anything.

Ji Chuxing nodded, "The tuning was off. It happens over time and can cause problems."

She rubbed her chin, "Ah, no wonder it's a Waldorf. The feel and sound are truly different."

Wen Lian, realizing her skills, suggested kindly, "Do you play the piano? You can try it out."

Ji Chuxing nodded, "A little."

Wen Lian smiled, "Would you like to play a piece?"

Ji Chuxing, eager to show off, accepted the invitation. She sat down, her long, slender fingers dancing over the keys.

Her face was expressionless, and the light from the window cast a gentle glow on her, giving her an almost ethereal, sacred beauty as she sat before the piano.

The butler and Wen Lian were mesmerized.

She... seemed to be one with the piano, her presence alone creating a powerful visual impact.

When the music began to flow, everyone present felt a shiver run down their spines.

The slow, flowing melody suddenly changed, becoming joyful and lively, like the melting of spring snow, with the gurgling of a mountain stream, bringing life and warmth to everything in its path.

Everyone in the villa was captivated by the music, completely forgetting what they were doing.

Ji Chuxing, satisfied, finally stopped and stood up, "Not bad."

She then noticed that everyone was frozen in place, staring at her.

Ji Chuxing: ...

Wen Lian was the first to react. Although he wasn't an artist, he had a good ear for music thanks to Wen Liming's influence. He felt that Ji Chuxing's performance was even better than Wen Liming's.

Indeed, his acknowledged sister was this amazing!

The butler, with tears in his eyes, looked at Ji Chuxing. "A little"?

More like a lot!

The grandmother, however, remained calm, nodding, "I knew it. The little doctor is just that talented!"