Chapter 12: Teaching You a Lesson

"This..." Song Qisheng paused.

From Tang Ying's description earlier, this girl clearly had a complicated background.

Although he seldom trusted others’ judgments, his usual principle was to avoid deep involvement with strangers whose circumstances were obviously complex.

But for some reason, A Li gave him an inexplicable sense of closeness.

She looked at him with such expectation—if he didn’t respond, she would seem so pitiful.

Almost as if compelled by fate, Song Qisheng handed her a business card.

He smiled at A Li. "You mean to pursue a career as a professional pianist? With your talent, it’s not impossible, but it won’t be easy. If you’re not just acting on a whim, you can call this number later and we’ll discuss it in detail."

A Li was overjoyed.

She accepted the card with both hands and thanked him, "Thank you, Mr. Song!"

"No need to thank me."

**

After her discouraging experience at the job market, A Li felt hope stirring in her life once more.

She returned home in high spirits, only to find that Lu Jinyan was already back.

"Uncle!"

A Li threw herself at him exuberantly, eager to share her excitement. "Let me tell you, I met someone important today! He said I’m gifted at piano and have a chance to become a professional pianist!"

Her enthusiasm was boundless, but thankfully, Lu Jinyan’s composure was unwavering.

His broad palm encircled her slender waist; he wasn’t nearly as delighted as she’d imagined.

"So what Xiaoying said is true—you really spent time with another man today?"

His voice was cool.

A Li sensed something was off and glanced at him cautiously.

She blinked and asked, "Uncle, surely you don’t believe those rumors and think I’m flirting with other men?"

"Would you?"

"Of course not!"

Still excited, A Li nestled her head against his warm chest and said, "You’re my favorite, Uncle. I’d never betray you!"

"Hmm..."

Lu Jinyan’s tone softened a few degrees.

Feeling his mood lighten, A Li lifted her small face and looked at him, tentatively saying, "Uncle, I want to learn piano—I want to become a professional pianist..."

"You’re not suited for it."

Lu Jinyan let her soft hair slip through his fingers, his answer slow and effortless, dismissing her hopes outright.

So certain?

A Li’s heart sank.

She pushed him away and bit her lip. "Uncle, I haven’t even tried. How can you decide I’m not suited for it?"

He said nothing.

A Li could only guess, "Is it because Miss Liu is a pianist, so you think I don’t deserve to have the same career as her?"

"What does she have to do with it?"

Lu Jinyan’s brows furrowed, his gaze growing even colder. "Don’t be unreasonable."

She didn’t know why, but a wave of grievance surged in her chest.

A Li protested, "If I’m unreasonable, aren’t you just as unreasonable? I don’t want to be your gilded canary forever. I want to work and support myself. Why do you deny me before I even have a chance?"

"Am I failing to feed or clothe you? How much money could you possibly make playing piano?"

"It’s better than relying entirely on a man!"

Lu Jinyan’s hand suddenly gripped her chin, his overwhelming presence bearing down upon her. "Have I been too indulgent? Just one word from another man and you dare defy me like this?"

Lu Jinyan was angry now.

He rarely lost his temper, but every time he did, A Li’s heart raced and she lost all her fight.

But she wanted to stand her ground. "I—I want to play piano!"

"I forbid it."

His dominance left A Li both angry and aggrieved. "What gives you the right to forbid it?"

"Because right now, I provide for you. If you want to be self-sufficient, then leave."

"Fine, I’ll leave!"

A Li stormed toward the door.

She’d feared abandonment before because she had nothing. But if she could support herself, she wouldn’t let anyone control her!

Yet she hadn’t taken more than a few steps before Lu Jinyan suddenly hoisted her onto his shoulder.

A Li cried out, struggling. "Lu Jinyan, what are you doing? Put me down!"

He said nothing.

He strode upstairs, dumped her onto the bed.

A Li shrank back, trembling all over, her voice shaking. "Lu—Lu Jinyan, what are you going to do?"

Her wings had grown strong.

She wasn’t even calling him Uncle anymore.

Lu Jinyan’s handsome face seemed shrouded in frost. He tugged at his tie, leaned in, and seized her slender ankle as she tried to escape, dragging her back.

In his dark eyes, a fierce, unsettling passion burned.

"Time for your lesson."