An An walked slowly over and sat down, her fingers brushing against the black piano cover, which bore a thin layer of dust.
She gently opened it and rested her ten fingers on the keys.
She played "Starry Sky" again, the notes flowing from her fingertips, filling this building of extraordinary significance...
Jiang Wanyin stood behind a bookshelf, quietly observing the person seated at the piano.
The scene was beautiful. Her skill was exceptional, not merely a display of technique, but of profound artistic conception. That feeling of a vast, starry expanse poured entirely from her fingertips...
The European-style hall was spacious and magnificent, lined with rows of antique bookshelves. The only thing gently stirring was the multicolored sunlight streaming through the glass, casting a unique radiance.
All this tranquility was broken by the melodious music, awakening the ancient and solemn space.
The moving notes of the piano were the soul imbuing it all.
And then there was the person playing the piano.
Her posture as she played was exquisite; her figure from behind, elegant and straight, her dark hair spread over her shoulders, neatly arranged. Yet, Jiang Wanyin felt that in the next moment, her hair might lift and dance in the wind.
He felt an impulse to step out, but he restrained himself.
Outside the library, Qin Siyuan was about to push open the door, but his hand paused.
He had come looking for Jiang Wanyin, but he heard the sound of piano music.
It’s of an exceptionally high caliber.
Far more refined than Wanqing’s. And he had heard a short prelude of it at the Qin family home.
It was An An playing.
He didn’t know why he was just standing outside, listening quietly.
The piano music stopped abruptly.
An An’s ten fingers rested flat on the keys, her eyelids lowered. Sunlight illuminated her profile, so clearly that one could even see the fine, downy hair on her skin.
Just as Jiang Wanyin was hesitating about whether to step out, An An spoke, "The library is closed."
"And yet, you’re here?" he asked, emerging from behind the bookshelf.
This counted as Jiang Wanyin and An An’s first meeting.
An An, the school belle in white, was indeed as stunning as the rumors claimed... truly breathtaking.
A true 360-degree stunner.
Jiang Wanyin slowly walked to her side, lowering his head slightly.
But An An had already stood up. "Goodbye, Senior Jiang."
With that said, she walked towards the exit.
Jiang Wanyin turned his head to watch her go.
He was being ignored.
"You know me?" he asked.
An An didn’t say a word, simply pushing the door open.
Qin Siyuan stood in the doorway.
An An glanced up slightly.
He grabbed her wrist. "Why did you say at home that you’d forgotten the sheet music?"
An An lowered her gaze. "Let’s just say... it was my choice."
She snatched her hand back, and Qin Siyuan didn’t even see how she managed to pull it from his grasp.
While he stood there, stunned, An An had already walked away.
Jiang Wanyin came over.
Qin Siyuan’s eyes still held emotions he hadn’t had time to compose, but he didn’t care, staring intently at Jiang Wanyin.
There was obvious admiration in Jiang Wanyin’s eyes.
The way Jiang Wanyin was looking at An An was the way a man looks at a woman.
Qin Siyuan was all too familiar with this; everyone who met An An for the first time reacted this way.
At that moment, an urge rose in his heart to hide An An away from the world. Once this thought took root, it grew with an uncontrollable madness.
Jiang Wanyin patted his shoulder. "What’s wrong, Siyuan?"
Qin Siyuan stared at him.
"Is that so?" A slight smile touched Jiang Wanyin’s lips. "Well then, I think I’ll pursue her."
Qin Siyuan’s expression darkened further. He bit out each syllable, "Jiang. Wan. Yin."
Jiang Wanyin slung an arm around his shoulder. "Can’t I?"