A Real Heiress Quits (GL) - Chapter 5

As Qin Xuanhuang stepped out of the elevator, he was greeted by the melodious sound of a piano. The melody was light, cheerful, and familiar.

“Xuanhuang, you’re finally here!” his friend exclaimed, eyes red with indignation.

Qin Xuanhuang pressed his index finger to his lips, gesturing for him to be quiet. “Silently enjoy the music.”

Ji Fu shut his mouth, not daring to make another sound.

A young girl sat at the piano, her back slender and delicate.

Ji Fu let out a disdainful sneer. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”—stuff only kids play.”

Qin Xuanhuang shot him a glance, his presence commanding even without anger. Ji Fu let out a huff through his nose and took a couple of sips of red wine, not daring to truly cross Qin Xuanhuang. Everyone in their circle knew the eldest son of the Qin family was not a man to be trifled with. A man who could sell his own sister’s happiness like a commodity was capable of anything.

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are…”

The song was known to everyone, its melody simple and airy. The music flowed joyfully, like stars flickering in the night sky.

Ji Fu’s expression remained mocking. “A song this low-level? I could play that when I was five.”

Qin Xuanhuang replied with a thin smile, “To be compared to a child—you’re doing quite well for yourself.”

“She ruined my suit!” Ji Fu grumbled. “And I can’t even say anything because I’m supposed to be ‘generous.’ Brother Qin, whose family is that kid from? Do you know her?”

Qin Xuanhuang asked, “What does she look like?”

Ji Fu snapped, “How should I know?”

“You don’t know?”

Ji Fu grunted, “She kept her head down the whole time like some ghost. Who could see her face?”

Qin Xuanhuang’s hand, which had been tapping along to the beat, paused. “You were played like that, and you didn’t even catch her appearance?”

“Of course… Wait, played? You mean she did it on purpose?”

Qin Xuanhuang remained silent, rubbing the jade Maitreya on his wrist. The big-bellied Buddha laughed contentedly, contrasting with the man’s cold, grim expression. Similar to Qin Qing, his pitch-black pupils made those who looked into them feel a chill.

Ji Fu leaned away, feeling a trace of fear. Truly siblings, he thought. Among the three Qin children, only Qin Zhu had been bright and sunny—she almost didn’t seem like a Qin at all. Pity that the beautiful die young.

The girl at the piano turned her head slightly toward Qin Qing, a smile in her eyes. The shawl slipped lightly to the floor, revealing shoulders as white as snow—delicate and warm, a sight that made it hard to look away.

Qin Xuanhuang’s gaze darkened. Even Ji Fu set down his glass, his face full of wonder. They were surrounded by socialites and beauties daily, but a beauty of this caliber—radiant as the sun and moon—was exceedingly rare.

Yu Xinyue smiled, her jade-like skin glowing under the lights. Her cat-like eyes curved, her glass-like pupils reflecting only one person. “Sister, does it sound good?”

Qin Qing walked to her side, leaned down, and placed her right hand on the piano. After listening for a moment to adapt to Yu Xinyue’s rhythm, her fingers brushed the black and white keys, pressing down on the high notes.

Yu Xinyue smiled. Her fingers slid rapidly, and a series of magnificent, light notes splashed out from under her touch. Those two small, pale hands seemed to possess incredible magic, turning the piano keys into jumping, sparkling stars.

Ji Fu was dumbfounded. “What is this?” Was this still the “Little Star” he remembered?

Qin Xuanhuang said impatiently, “Variations.”

“What variations?” Ji Fu asked.

Qin Xuanhuang looked at him like he was an idiot. “It’s Mozart.”

“Mozart?”

“Shut up.”

“…”

Yu Xinyue played with rising spirit, her rhythm becoming more liberated. The keys moved so fast they seemed ready to fly. As she played, her body swayed slightly, her ink-black hair swaying with her.

Qin Qing pursed her lips. She closed her eyes, immersing herself in the music. After a moment, her fingers pressed down, producing notes that were steady and soft. One was dynamic, one was still; one was nimble and leaping, the other steady and powerful. It felt like a match made in heaven.

Qin Xuanhuang tapped along to the rhythm, a smile on his face, eyes closed. Ji Fu took a sip of wine, thinking sourly, Look at him, acting all sophisticated. However, he had to admit that the Qins were talented in almost every field—true polymaths.

“Eh?” Qin Xuanhuang opened his eyes, frowning.

Ji Fu, overwhelmed by the flurry of notes, couldn’t tell what was wrong. “Brother Qin, what happened?”

“A mistake,” Qin Xuanhuang said.

Ji Fu laughed. “She’s just a kid. What does a wrong note matter?”

Qin Xuanhuang, unwilling to “cast pearls before swine,” shot him a cold look, and Ji Fu wisely shut up.

The eighth variation didn’t transition into C minor; it maintained its cheerful, light rhythm. In fact, it grew increasingly bright and fiery, as if the stars were breaking free from the night sky and leaping into the human world one by one.

Qin Qing glanced at the girl. Xinyue’s eyes were closed, her long lashes trembling slightly, a smile on her lips. Her hands moved faster and faster; though they seemed to brush the keys lightly, they produced a clean, fluid sound.

From that “wrong” note onward, this piece was no longer Mozart. It was her own Little Star. The intense emotion made it feel as though the piano itself were on fire. The girl sat amidst the flames, the crystalline sweat on her forehead reflecting a dizzying light.

Yu Xinyue suddenly spoke: “Sister, keep up!”

With that, the music accelerated to an incredible speed. Qin Qing had no time for distractions, focusing all her effort on keeping up with the girl’s tempo.

“Wrong, it’s all wrong,” Qin Xuanhuang frowned deeply. He turned and walked into the lounge, sitting on the sofa and impatiently lighting a cigarette.

Ji Fu followed, bewildered. “What’s wrong?”

“The rhythm, the dynamics, the harmony—it’s a mess. It’s practically sacrilege!” Qin Xuanhuang snapped.

Ji Fu listened for a moment. The joyous music drifted in. It was the kind of music that made you feel happy just hearing it. He couldn’t help but tap his foot, but seeing Qin Xuanhuang’s dark expression, he straightened up and muttered, “Sounds pretty good to me.”

The piano music gradually faded. Qin Xuanhuang stubbed out his cigarette. “Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“To settle your grievance.”

As the piece ended, the room erupted in applause.

Yu Xinyue looked at Qin Qing with an unstoppable smile. She couldn’t help but reach out and give the woman a hug. Qin Qing was clearly caught off guard by the sudden intimacy. A touch of red crept onto her jade-white earlobes.

The Qin family rules were strict; even relatives were formal and polite to the point of being strangers. It had been too long since she had been close to anyone. She felt nervous and embarrassed, the skin touching her feeling hot and burning—just like the music they had played.

However, once the hug ended, a sense of inexplicable loss flickered in Qin Qing’s heart.

Yu Xinyue didn’t notice the subtle shift. Having played to her heart’s content, she was thrilled. Though they had only just met, they were strangely in sync musically, as if their souls were connected.

Xinyue knew her playing tended to “run wild.” Yan Ji had once said that no matter the piece, once Xinyue played it, it became a runaway horse that couldn’t be reined in. But Qin Qing was the only person who could place a bridle on that “wild horse.” Perhaps because her skill was high enough and she was gentle enough to follow Xinyue’s rhythm without trying to overshadow her.

“Sister, let’s do another one!”

Xinyue’s “addiction” to the piano was in full swing. Her fingers felt glued to the keys. She had just started the opening of the Turkish March when she was interrupted by applause. Frowning, she turned around.

A handsome young man was leaning against the bar, clapping. He was good-looking, but his aura was too cold and dark, making him difficult to approach. His features bore a resemblance to Qin Qing.

Qin Xuanhuang smiled. “Not bad. I heard you picked this little thing up on the road?”

“None of your concern,” Qin Qing replied. She took out her phone and signaled for Yu Xinyue to step aside and call her family. Her gaze was stern, brooking no refusal.

Yu Xinyue looked over and met Qin Xuanhuang’s playful gaze. Looking at the radiant girl, the smile in his eyes deepened. “Little girl, what is your name?”

Yu Xinyue rolled her eyes internally. Do these sleazy men only know one pick-up line?

“Hm?” To the man, it looked like the girl was stunned by his presence. He let out a low, husky laugh. “Why aren’t you speaking?”

Yu Xinyue asked, “What is your name?”

He introduced himself: “I am Qin Xuanhuang, Qin Qing’s elder brother.”

“Oh.”

With a perfunctory response, her gaze went straight back to Qin Qing.

Qin Qing stepped in front of the girl, shielding her and adjusting her shawl. “Go and make the call, quickly.”

Yu Xinyue obeyed, walking away with the Motorola A6188 phone in hand without giving the man another look.

Qin Xuanhuang kept his hands in his pockets, acting nonchalant. “An interesting girl. Did you really just find her on the road?”

“She is just an ordinary student,” Qin Qing said, her tone carrying a warning. “She is not the same kind of person as you.”

Qin Xuanhuang walked to the piano and pressed a few keys with one hand. This upright piano was expensive, its tone pure and clear. “Why are you here? To speak for Ji Fu?”

Ji Fu coughed and straightened his back.

Qin Xuanhuang looked at his sister’s guarded expression. “Of course not. I just want to make some adjustments to the hotel. For example…”

He pressed down with all five fingers, and the piano sound turned abruptly heavy.

“How about we burn this piano?”