On the giant promotional poster, Ren Yunshen sat at the piano, her black hair flowing over her shoulders, wearing a floor-length dress. Her backward glance quietly observed the city from within the image, her entire being refined and graceful, ethereal and elegant, like an immortal who had accidentally fallen into the mortal world.
Italy—Bonn—Paris—Birmingham—Austria—Singapore.
Piano Princess Ren Yunshen’s World Tour Concert, final stop: Liao City, China.
“Secret ‘Whispers,’ Let the Notes Speak to You” was the poster’s tagline, and “Whispers” was the theme of Yunshen’s concert.
She had returned.
After circling half the globe and traversing half the world, she had returned to where it all began.
“It’s Yunshen,” Ruan Yu said.
Teng Hao remained silent, his expression unchanged, but at the mention of Yunshen’s name, he lowered his eyes and withdrew his gaze.
“Let’s go,” Teng Hao’s voice was slightly hoarse.
Ruan Yu could feel his mood had changed, from the verdant spring to the bitter winter, all in that instant.
Could it be that after all this time, he still hadn’t come to terms with Yunshen’s hasty farewell from years ago?
On the way back, Teng Hao turned to look out the window, not saying a word.
The city’s lights created a mottled pattern, and Teng Hao sat upright at the intersection of light and darkness, his loneliness flickering in and out of view.
Ruan Yu kept watching the man beside her from the corner of her eye but didn’t know what to say to break the silence. The journey suddenly seemed so long.
When the car arrived at Jinting, Ruan Yu got out first.
She and the driver went around to the back seat, intending to help support Teng Hao, but he waved them off.
“I don’t need help.”
Just as he finished speaking, his hand missed its grip, and he nearly fell from the car.
“Careful!” Ruan Yu and the driver simultaneously grabbed Teng Hao’s arms.
Teng Hao regained his balance and didn’t fall, but his expression was worse than if he had fallen.
“Miss Valedictorian looks like you were right to insist on seeing me home,” he forced a smile at Ruan Yu.
“Of course, you little kid.”
“At DT, no one dares to talk to me like that.”
“Well, I’m not a DT employee, so I’m not afraid of you.”
“At least don’t call me a little kid, let me keep some dignity,” Teng Hao said, glancing at the driver, indicating to Ruan Yu that there were others present.
“Yes, yes, yes, Chairman Teng.”
The driver helped Teng Hao into his wheelchair.
Ruan Yu stepped forward to push him inside.
This time, Teng Hao didn’t refuse.
The house was brightly lit, and as soon as they entered, they caught the scent of cooking—sour and spicy aromas wafting from the kitchen.
Was it Teng Yi?
Had he learned to cook?
As Ruan Yu was wondering, a woman ran out of the kitchen.
The woman had curly hair and wore an apron, looking completely at home.
It was her.
The beautiful mixed-race woman who had been intimate with Teng Yi at the Unnamed Bar.
“Hi! Teng Hao! You’re back!” The woman waved at Teng Hao and then noticed Ruan Yu behind him. She paused slightly before breaking into a meaningful smirk, “Oh, is this your…”
“No,” Teng Hao cut in.
“Then who is…”
Before Teng Hao could introduce Ruan Yu, the woman recognized her first.
“Oh, I know you, that famous TV host! What… what Yu?”
“Ruan Yu,” Ruan Yu introduced herself.
“Oh, right, right, right. Hello. I’m Rui Shu,” Rui Shu extended her hand to Ruan Yu.
“Hello,” Ruan Yu shook her hand.
“I heard from Teng Yi that you were recording a show together today, right?”
“Yes.”
“How did it go? Smoothly?”
“Very smoothly.”
“That’s great!”
Rui Shu naturally exuded a positive, sunny disposition. If they were just friends, she would be the type of person others found very comfortable to be around. But now, in this house, Ruan Yu couldn’t peacefully enjoy her cheerfulness and enthusiasm.
“Where’s my brother?” Teng Hao asked.
“He went upstairs to change clothes! Should be down soon!” Rui Shu pointed back at the kitchen, “I’m making a stew, have you eaten? If not, join us!”
“We’ve eaten, thank you,” Ruan Yu said, then looked at Teng Hao, “You go rest. I should head back.”
“Alright.”
As Ruan Yu turned to leave, a small white creature suddenly leaped down from the sofa and rubbed against her pants leg.
It was a Persian cat.
Ruan Yu instinctively took two steps back.
“Mimi!” Rui Shu called out, “Move away! Auntie needs to go home!”
The Persian cat called Mimi didn’t budge, still pressing against Ruan Yu.
The sofa was right behind her, and Ruan Yu had nowhere else to retreat. She covered her nose and mouth, breaking out in a cold sweat from anxiety.
“Looks like Mimi likes you,” Rui Shu smiled at Ruan Yu.
“I…”
Ruan Yu’s breathing suddenly became rapid, and she felt her chest tightening, almost suffocating.
“I…” Ruan Yu held onto the sofa, slowly collapsing.
“Miss Valedictorian!” Teng Hao shouted, “What’s wrong?”
Rui Shu, seeing this, was also terrified.
“What’s wrong? What’s happening?” She wanted to help support Ruan Yu but didn’t know what was causing the symptoms and didn’t dare touch her randomly.
Ruan Yu couldn’t answer, her breathing becoming increasingly difficult, her chest tight and wheezing, as if she was being smothered.
Teng Yi had just come down from upstairs, and when he looked up to see Ruan Yu collapsed on the sofa, his expression changed instantly. He quickened his pace, reaching her side in a few swift strides.
“Ruan Yu!”
This was the first time he had called her name since their reunion.
Teng Yi knelt beside her, firmly gripping her shoulders and pulling her into his arms.
“What’s wrong?” His tone revealed uncontrollable panic.
Ruan Yu was wheezing too hard to make a sound. She leaned in Teng Yi’s arms, tightly clutching his sleeve.
“Asthma?” Teng Yi was diagnosed based on her symptoms.
Ruan Yu managed a difficult nod, then raised her hand, trembling as she pointed at the cat beside her.
“Is Miss Valedictorian allergic to cat hair?” Teng Hao pushed Rui Shu, “Quick, take the cat away!”
Rui Shu realized what was happening and hurriedly picked up the cat, rushing into the kitchen and closing the door. Though the person and cat were now far from Ruan Yu, her symptoms didn’t improve.
“Brother, what should we do?” Teng Hao was anxious but stuck in his wheelchair, he couldn’t help.
Teng Yi’s face was stern as he wordlessly picked up Ruan Yu and strode toward the door.
“Brother!”
“I’m taking her to the hospital!”
Teng Yi left these words behind without looking back.
He carried Ruan Yu to his car, which was no longer the low-profile sports car from years ago, but a spacious, rugged Mercedes-Benz G500 SUV.
Once in the car, Teng Yi leaned over to adjust Ruan Yu’s passenger seat, positioning her for the easiest breathing, but this had little effect.
“Mmph…”
Ruan Yu’s eyes were wet as she looked at Teng Yi, still struggling to breathe.
She truly feared that if something happened to her, she wouldn’t even have time to tell him her last words.
Teng Yi quickly started the car, which roared like a wild beast as it shot out of the garden.
He held the steering wheel with one hand, while his other hand reached over to firmly grasp Ruan Yu’s hand.
In the darkness, his profile was like ice crystals carved by the wind, but his voice carried a long-absent gentleness.
“Don’t be afraid, I won’t let anything happen to you.”