A head of an international corporation, abandoning all his busy work, just followed the petite woman like this—accompanying her to a karaoke lounge, then trailing behind her as she boarded the bus, and stealing glances at her with a touch of indulgence.
Gu Jingchen's dark, deep-set eyes were filled with a sense of ultimate tenderness and affection. Looking at the young girl's exquisitely beautiful yet modest face, his sharply-defined, sculpture-like cheekbones shone with an overwhelming doting expression, infused with the deepest sentiments.
"Shang Xixia, you can do it, hang in there!" After stepping off the bus and standing in front of the neighborhood Uncle Fu mentioned, Shang Xixia stretched out her pale, delicate hand, made an adorable fist-bump gesture to encourage herself, then glanced again at the notes she had saved on her phone to confirm Uncle Fu's apartment location, and headed toward the elevator.
The man following behind her watched as the lovely figure in front of him, with her slender legs, walked farther and farther away. Only then did Gu Jingchen withdraw his lovesick and profound gaze, pulling out his cellphone.
"Uncle Fu, Xixia is already on her way up. You know what to do." The thin curve of his lips uttered these calm words before Gu Jingchen hung up the phone.
"..." After receiving the call, Uncle Fu's lips twitched uncontrollably before he leisurely walked to the balcony and looked downward.
Standing there beneath the building was his family's eldest young master. The man wore a white shirt paired with tailored black trousers that perfectly outlined his narrow waist and tall, imposing frame. He exuded a cold yet masculine energy, cutting through the air with his aura, appearing so breathtakingly handsome it seemed otherworldly.
It was as if he noticed he was being watched. The eldest young master's piercing eyes seemed to glance faintly in Uncle Fu's direction. His tall, upright figure, combined with his powerful presence, created an imposing pressure. The slight, enigmatic smirk at the corner of his mouth exuded a devilish charm, making Uncle Fu's breathing momentarily uneven.
"The eldest young master truly cares about this Lady Shang. Normally so resolute, and yet now he's at the building downstairs, even making a call to give instructions!"
Reflecting on the gravity of the situation, Uncle Fu could not stop himself from wiping the cold sweat beading on his face!
Just then, the phone rang again.
"Hello, Elder Master." Initially expecting it to be another call from the eldest young master, Uncle Fu felt a wave of unease flooding his chest. But seeing it was the family's Elder Master Gu Yushan on the other end, the butler's emotions finally eased a little.
"Keep a good eye on Lady Shang. And secretly snap a picture from a discreet angle; make sure she doesn't notice."
Over the phone, Gu Yushan's tone was teasing yet sinister, his instructions delivered with a faint warmth.
"Understood, Elder Master."
After humbly nodding on his end of the line, the butler hung up.
"As expected, the Gu Family's scheming nature runs in the blood. Even the Elder Master has guessed that Lady Shang must be the one the eldest young master has set his heart on."
With that thought, Uncle Fu couldn't help but twitch his lips violently, and at that moment, he heard a knock at the door.
"Haha, must be Lady Shang. Please come in." Uncle Fu hurried to open the door. He didn't even notice how soft and warm his voice had become as he spoke.
"Hello, Uncle Fu." Shang Xixia gave Uncle Fu a polite nod, her stunning face blooming with a smile. Her tiny dimples were like lilies' stamens, swaying enchantingly. Her skin was as fair as snow, her long hair cascading softly over her shoulders, emanating a gentle glow. Her aura was light yet pure. She wore a simple white dress, revealing slim calves as pale as jade. She truly looked impossibly lovely!
"The eldest young master truly has excellent taste!" Uncle Fu couldn't help but think silently to himself.
"Lady Shang, here's the situation. My grandson is really unruly and needs your special guidance. Piano lessons are an hour long, and the fee is five hundred yuan per session. Does that sound acceptable to you?"
Uncle Fu's tone carried a hint of inquiry. The price was difficult to set—too low, and the eldest young master wouldn't approve; too high, and he worried it might arouse Shang Xixia's suspicions. It really was a tricky matter!
"Uncle Fu, that amount is far too high, way too high!"
Shang Xixia paused briefly, her clear eyes reflecting her thoughts. Then she smiled as she spoke.
"Not at all, not at all. You don't know—my grandson has a very valid reason for needing to learn piano. We've hired many teachers before, but none delivered satisfactory results. Lady Shang—oh, no, we should call you Teacher Shang instead. If you can teach him well, we'll even raise your hourly rate in the future."
Uncle Fu's lips twitched slightly, but he quickly came up with this response on the fly.
"Oh, thank you, Uncle Fu. I'll make sure to teach the child properly." Upon hearing Uncle Fu's words, the young woman's crescent-shaped eyes curved into bright moons as she smiled, her happiness evident.
"Good, good, good." Uncle Fu nodded, smiling as he responded.
"Uncle Fu, may I have a small request? Could we settle the lessons' fees daily?" After thinking it over, the young woman bit her cherry-like lips softly, forming a delicate curve. Although asking felt a bit awkward, she still voiced her request.
"Of course." Whatever this little girl requested, Uncle Fu was naturally willing to oblige!
"Thank you so much, Uncle Fu!" Shang Xixia's beautiful eyes sparkled with joy. Now, her mother's medical expenses would be covered, and she could even start saving up for future treatments!
"Taking care of the tasks given by both the Elder Master and eldest young master, finally done."
After seeing Shang Xixia giving piano lessons to his grandson in the music room, and snapping a photo as the door closed, Uncle Fu wiped the sweat dripping from his brow. He couldn't help but twitch his lips violently once more.
That afternoon, Shang Xixia brought her earnings from the karaoke gig and piano lesson payments to the hospital room where her mother was staying.
"Mom, how are you feeling today? Is your heart feeling any better?" The young woman's small figure entered the room, her gentle voice resonating as she asked.
"Much better, sweetie. Come here and sit by Mom."
Li Yuwan extended her pale fingers, gently patting the bedside position, and looked at Shang Xixia kindly, smiling as she spoke. Li Yuwan's demeanor was soft and elegant, her complexion fair and her expression tender. Dressed in a hospital gown, sitting on the bed, her lips curved into a light smile.
"Mom, you need to take care of your emotions. The doctor said heart conditions require good emotional management. Once you're feeling a bit better, we'll schedule the surgery."
The young woman obediently sat down, her ivory-like fingers softly massaging her mother's legs as she spoke in a gentle tone.
"Silly girl, Mom's fine. There's no need for surgery."