Chenchen is self-conscious and sensitive because of a reddish-purple birthmark on her face. She’s often bullied by the neighborhood kids, and once was even tricked into the mountains and almost got lost.

Shi Yun looked towards the door, not noticing An Huaixu staring at him strangely, and continued,

“Chenchen is very concerned about her appearance. She’ll definitely be very self-conscious today after being called ugly. She really likes the piano and is your fan, so in a moment…”

Before he could finish, the wooden door creaked open a crack.

The dim light, carrying a strange odor, rolled out, transforming into frightening claws in the deepening moonlight, pressing on everyone’s nerves.

The camera lifted and moved, passing the backs of two adults and a child in front of the door, and shone into the room—the long-neglected lightbulb emitted a mournful hum due to poor contact, and the old man stood there, his figure short and hunched.

The furrows on his cheeks, dry and extending, spread from the corners of his eyes to his mouth, and his imposing presence made one shudder.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he gripped his cane tightly, as if he might swing it wildly at any moment.

An Shuqi hid closer to An Huaixu’s neck, his voice weak, “Uncle, I’m scared…”

An Huaixu pressed down on his head and glanced at Shi Yun.

Shi Yun quickly stepped between them, his clear “Grandpa Chen!” easing the tension.

When Grandpa Chen saw Shi Yun appear, he immediately felt reassured, tapping his cane and pointing at Wang Huzi in the yard, “Ah!”

He was a mute, and Shi Yun could only guess what he wanted to say through his actions.

He used to have Chenchen as a translator, and there were no communication barriers with Grandpa Chen.

Now that Chenchen wasn’t there, Shi Yun, who still understood immediately, wasn’t very happy.

Shi Yun pretended to be relaxed, trying to explain the situation plainly,

“Grandpa Chen, the one who said bad things about Chenchen has already been taught a lesson by this person! He’s called An Huaixu, and he’s a big star that Chenchen really likes! He’s super nice and always willing to help, completely different from those people!”

Grandpa Chen looked at An Huaixu suspiciously.

An Huaixu wasn’t in a good mood, and his face was stern, making him look more like a debt collector.

Shi Yun surreptitiously moved closer to An Huaixu, reminding him in a mosquito-like voice, “Smile!”

An Huaixu found it troublesome, clicked his tongue, and forced a smile, instantly transforming from a male lead into Sadako from a horror movie.

Grandpa Chen took a step back.

Shi Yun facepalmed.

He’d rather he hadn’t smiled at all…

Even with someone vouching for him, Grandpa Chen was unwilling to trust any strangers.

He sighed, waved his hand at Shi Yun, and turned to close the door.

Shi Yun’s eyelid twitched.

In his memory, Grandpa Chen was very gentle.

Even when naughty children bickered and fought with Chenchen, he had never shown such anger.

However, this also made Shi Yun realize that Chenchen’s current psychological state was extremely poor.

As the wooden door closed inch by inch, time seemed to slow down.

Shi Yun recalled that night during the home visit, the moon and stars were bright, but still couldn’t compare to the little girl’s excited, sparkling eyes when she learned she would be on TV.

She was looking forward to it and took it very seriously, rummaging through her drawers to find her most beautiful clothes and accessories.

Perhaps the little girl never imagined that the result of her careful preparations would be like this.

Shi Yun took a deep breath, not allowing himself much time to dwell on his guilt, because he had something more important to do now!

‘Thud!’

Grandpa Chen suddenly felt resistance against the door.

He was puzzled and looked up to see—outside the gap illuminated by the deep night, indistinct figures stood there.

The old wooden door was tinged with dark green, wedged against the edge of the red brick wall, with a fair hand resting on its back.

“Grandpa Chen!”

While Grandpa Chen was still stunned, the door was pushed open forcefully, and Shi Yun’s anxious face appeared before him.

‘Buzz,’ in that instant, as if by perfect coincidence, the old, broken lightbulb in his house suddenly blazed brightly, shining on the young man and making him appear radiant.

Shi Yun bowed and apologized sincerely,

“I’m sorry, Grandpa Chen, there’s one more thing I need to say!”

Not waiting for Grandpa Chen to answer, he said quickly,

“Grandpa, Chenchen is very talented in music. The show has invited professional teachers. If Chenchen studies hard, she’ll definitely have another opportunity!”

Grandpa Chen didn’t understand those words, but seeing Shi Yun’s resolute expression, he closed his eyes, finally releasing all his strength.

He took a deep breath, stepped aside, and allowed them to enter.

Shi Yun didn’t delay, thanked him, and immediately went into the house to find Chenchen.

An Huaixu didn’t follow him in. Instead, he put An Shuqi down and sat on the stool that Grandpa Chen pointed to.

Grandpa Chen kept looking at An Shuqi.

An Shuqi clung to An Huaixu’s leg, timid and afraid to move.

An Huaixu frowned, “An Shuqi, who taught you to be so impolite? Greet him.”

An Shuqi was pushed forward two steps by him, and he steeled himself, his voice trembling with eighteen turns, “G-Grandpa…”

He was so adorable that he instantly broke the heavy atmosphere, making Grandpa Chen laugh.

Grandpa Chen took out a piece of milk candy from his pocket, opened his palm, and offered it to him.

The milk candy was an old brand called ‘Eternal’.

Its pure white packaging, unchanged for more than ten years, lay in the old man’s hand, further emphasizing the dryness and calluses of his palm.

Seeing this, An Huaixu didn’t know what he was reminded of, and a trace of nostalgia flashed in his eyes.

He stared silently for a long while, then looked away, unconsciously touching the thin string on his wrist.

An Shuqi was already hungry.

Seeing food, he couldn’t help but glance back at An Huaixu.

Only after An Huaixu nodded did he pluck up the courage to run over.

Grandpa Chen tremblingly peeled off the wrapper, “Ah.”

An Shuqi popped the milk candy into his mouth.

Children have short memories, remembering the good and forgetting the bad.

Before long, he was happily jumping around the room because of the sweetness.

Grandpa Chen was very patient, playing with him.

After an unknown amount of time, the silent An Huaixu suddenly turned his head to look towards the door of the house.

Grandpa Chen noticed and nodded to indicate that he could go in.

An Huaixu thanked him, gestured to the cameraman, and entered the house alone.

Lifting the curtain, the first thing he saw was an entire wall of cheap posters.

The protagonist of the posters was Wei Yuchen, the character he played in “Shining Star Rain.”

He unexpectedly came face to face with himself, and without much emotion, he looked towards the small desk by the wall—even though the desk had been carefully painted white, it still couldn’t hide the wear and tear of time.

On the desk, besides the usual school supplies, there was also an object covered with pink cloth, shaped like a child’s keyboard.

An Huaixu had no habit of invading people’s privacy. His eyes turned to the small bed.

Around the small bed were a pile of fairy tale books. Shi Yun sat cross-legged among them, holding a copy of “The Princess and the Dragon,” reading slowly,

“…The princess raised her sword, rode her white horse, and charged towards the dragon’s cave…”

His enunciation was clear, and the ending tones were uplifting, pleasant, and comforting.

An Huaixu leaned against the door, involuntarily starting to scrutinize the person.

His temperament was youthful, his figure slender, and the staff’s jacket was a little too big for him.

He had to keep reaching up to adjust it.

When he brushed against the wound, he would pause noticeably, but then continue telling the story as if nothing had happened.

An Huaixu’s gaze flowed from the person’s arm to his fingers.

His fingers were slender, and the back of his hand, where it had been pinched by the door, was red and swollen.

The movement of turning the pages was somewhat stiff.

The story seemed to be nearing its end.

Shi Yun said,

“The princess defeated the dragon, and the kingdom once again resounded with the song of happiness. Chenchen, Teacher suddenly forgot, how does that song of happiness go again?”

He spread the sheet music from the storybook on the ground, trying to guide the girl who was huddled under the bed.

But as the seconds ticked by, the girl clearly had no intention of speaking.

Shi Yun was disappointed and raised his hand to close the storybook, but unexpectedly, accompanied by the sudden sound of footsteps, a figure appeared beside him.

He was startled and turned his head to find that it was An Huaixu.

An Huaixu squatted down, their eyes met, their gazes level.

This person’s eyebrows and eyes—even though he had been in close contact with An Huaixu several times, Shi Yun still couldn’t help but hold his breath.

His heart pounded, and just as he was guessing what An Huaixu was going to do, his hand suddenly felt empty.

The storybook was flipped through casually by An Huaixu and then thrown back.

Shi Yun hugged the book, looking at An Huaixu in confusion as he walked to the desk, lifted the pink cloth, and revealed the child’s keyboard underneath.

The child’s keyboard was very small.

An Huaixu casually pressed a few keys, and, unsurprisingly, the sound quality was harsh and unpleasant.

Just then, there was a rustling sound from under the bed, followed by a suppressed sob.

Shi Yun’s brow twitched, thinking that Chenchen must be feeling sad because she felt that her beloved item was being treated this way.

He wanted to stop him, but before he could move, the sound abruptly stopped, and then a melody that could be described as beautiful began to play.

Shi Yun was stunned and immediately looked down at the storybook’s sheet music.

He had taken piano lessons in school, and although he wasn’t proficient in it, he could completely hear that An Huaixu was replicating it note for note.

He even felt that this child’s keyboard was in no way inferior to a high-end piano. An Huaixu’s lazy posture and casual demeanor completely transformed this small room into a true concert hall.

After a moment, An Huaixu changed the tune.

Shi Yun found it familiar and recalled for a few minutes before remembering that it was Wei Yuchen’s famous song from “Shining Star Rain,” which Chenchen liked.

The tempo was slow, and the melody was gentle, making it the most suitable piece to soothe the heart.

Shi Yun silently looked up at An Huaixu, and an idea inexplicably floated into his mind:

He listened to what I said about Chenchen just now.

Could it be that… Teacher An doesn’t dislike children at all, but is simply a typical emotionally reserved person, not good with words, and habitually expresses his thoughts through actions.

An Huaixu was both strict with children, teaching An Shuqi to pay attention to etiquette when necessary, and indulgent, allowing An Shuqi to have fun even under the pressure of the task’s time constraints.

Judging from An Shuqi sleeping soundly in his arms and clinging to him for security when he woke up after getting out of the car, their relationship was not at all what the internet claimed.

In an instant, a lightbulb went off in Shi Yun’s mind, and he truly looked at An Huaixu with his own eyes for the first time.

An Huaixu still had a frosty expression, but the notes that danced from his fingers were melodious and gentle.

The fireworks that bloomed in his bones were flamboyant and passionate, dazzling.

A few minutes later, the gradually smooth and soothing melody faded away.

An Huaixu stopped playing, leaned against the desk, turned his eyes, raised his eyebrows, and gestured to the abnormality at his side.

Shi Yun understood what he meant, made a small gesture to reassure him, and peeked out of the corner of his eye, and sure enough, he saw a small figure.

It was Chenchen.