The car moved forward.
Driving along the highway, the scenery on both sides rapidly receded into the distance—
"Yu You, what are you thinking about?" Ye Shuang gripped the steering wheel, his peripheral gaze catching the girl fiddling with the hem of her clothes, her head lowered as if lost in thought. He couldn't help but ask,
"Are you thinking about Aunt Xian and the others?"
She shook her head lightly.
"Is that so?" Seeing Bai Yuyou didn’t answer, Ye Shuang mused that the girl was starting to have her own secrets. But then again, it wasn’t surprising—she was an adult now, after all. Everyone had things they didn’t want to share. He considered this a sign of growth.
The car’s air conditioning was set a little too low, making his skin prickle with cold. As he reached to adjust the temperature, a small, icy hand suddenly slipped over his own, resting on the back of his hand.
Ye Shuang froze for a moment before realizing Bai Yuyou had shifted slightly closer, wrapping herself around his arm.
The warmth of her body contrasted sharply with the chill of her fingers. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed her eyes beneath her bangs—fixed on the distance, unmoving, lost in some unknown thought.
He chose not to say anything, instead slowing the car down and letting her cling to his arm.
"If something’s bothering you, you can tell me," Ye Shuang said gently.
Bai Yuyou nuzzled her cheek against his arm before murmuring softly, "Don’t like… monogamy…"
Ye Shuang: "…"
A bewildered expression crossed his face.
Huh?
What the—?
Are you still thinking about what happened at the museum this morning?
He couldn’t quite follow the girl’s train of thought—it was always so unpredictable. Still, he chuckled. "Why don’t you like it?"
"Just don’t…"
"Is that so?" Keeping his eyes on the road, he added, "Well, like I said earlier… even now, wealthy people might have mistresses. It all comes down to status in the end."
"Status?"
"Yeah. A woman can’t just marry into a family without any standing. Back in ancient times, concubines didn’t have that, but things are different now. Women care about status."
Ye Shuang patiently explained, though he wasn’t sure if Bai Yuyou truly grasped the significance of status for a woman. Given how her mind worked, understanding such concepts wasn’t exactly easy.
Whether his words had resolved some confusion or not, Bai Yuyou suddenly seemed more spirited. "Ye Shuang…"
"Yeah?"
"I only need Ye Shuang… the rest… doesn’t matter…"
"What kind of nonsense is that?" He wasn’t sure how their conversation had veered from societal norms to this, but something about it felt… off.
When they returned to the apartment, Ye Shuang had barely opened the door before Yi Wan came darting over. "Meow!"
The cat rolled onto its back at their feet, belly exposed, demanding attention.
"Did you miss us after just one night away?" Ye Shuang laughed, nudging Yi Wan’s belly with his socked foot—only to earn a retaliatory nip.
"Stingy."
Exposing belly ≠ permission to touch.
After setting down his things, Ye Shuang walked straight to the floor-to-ceiling window, studying the space as he considered where to place the piano.
"Meow!" Yi Wan trotted over again, about to rub against his leg—when suddenly, Ye Shuang’s foot shot out, sending the cat’s bed skidding across the floor. The corrugated cardboard circle, flat as a pancake, spun wildly before crashing into the wall and flipping upside down with a clatter.
Yi Wan stared blankly at its displaced bed: …So?
"Ye Shuang… what are you doing?" Bai Yuyou stood nearby, clearly puzzled.
"Yu You, pass me the digital measuring tape. I need to check the dimensions here." He pointed to a nearby cabinet, and the girl obediently retrieved the tool.
She had seen him use it during their move, so she knew what it was for.
"Hmm, a grand piano should fit just fine," Ye Shuang nodded.
Then he turned to Yi Wan. "You good with that, Yi Wan?"
Yi Wan: "…Meow."
"Great. Silence means consent."
Noticing Bai Yuyou’s confusion, he explained, "With pianos, it’s best to go all-in from the start and stick with it. A grand piano has a larger soundboard, longer strings, better key action, and richer tone compared to an upright—just takes up more space. But if you’re serious about learning, a grand piano is the way to go."
He didn’t want to half-heartedly teach her. If she had an interest, he’d give it his all—then hire a proper instructor once she got the basics down.
"Oh." Bai Yuyou didn’t fully understand, but she nodded obediently anyway.
Once the measurements were done, it was time to go piano shopping. For something like this, testing it in person was a must—pianos ranged from a few hundred bucks for an electric keyboard online to millions for high-end models. Ye Shuang wanted an acoustic one; the pure sound would be better for her learning.
Driving Bai Yuyou to a nearby music store district—a hub for instrument shops, including high-end boutiques—Ye Shuang led the way.
"No rush, let’s browse first."
But Bai Yuyou immediately latched onto his arm. Though she no longer felt uncomfortable in crowds, she still preferred sticking close to him while out.
"That’s a guitar shop," Ye Shuang remarked, spotting a specialty store. "Guitars are easier to pick up than pianos, but they’re still a popular choice."
"Like Chen Qin-jie’s…"
"Chen Qin plays the violin. They might look similar, but they’re completely different instruments."
Bai Yuyou whispered, "Want to try…"
Seeing her curiosity piqued, Ye Shuang smiled and guided her inside.
"Hello, how can I help you?" A saleswoman approached them with a friendly smile.
"Could we try one of the guitars?"
"Of course."
Handed a guitar, Ye Shuang took a seat and began explaining the basics to Bai Yuyou.
She watched him hold the instrument, intrigued. "Ye Shuang… can play?"
"A little." He ran his fingers over the strings, a touch nostalgic. He’d dabbled in guitar years ago—partly to impress someone. Compared to piano, it was much easier to pick up, so even without extensive practice, he could still play a few tunes.
"Want to hear…"
"You do?" Clearing his throat, he grinned. "I’m a bit rusty, but I’ll play you something."