Chapter 26.1

The equipment Yun Yin had purchased earlier arrived, and the store’s technicians came to install it.

Yun Yin led the technicians to another room—the recording studio she had reserved in advance.

She had previously asked Pei Yu if she could use the spare room on the second floor, and he had agreed. Knowing she wanted to set up a recording studio, he had even had the room soundproofed beforehand.

Now, all that was left was to install the equipment.

The technicians were highly professional and quickly set up all her equipment.

After seeing them off, Yun Yin returned to the recording studio and took a look around. While the completed studio couldn’t compare to the professional one she had used before transmigrating into the book, it already met her basic needs.

Seeing her familiar equipment, Yun Yin felt a surge of happiness. She turned on her computer and resumed editing the song she had been working on the other day.

The song she had sung to Pei Yu that evening was her own composition, both lyrics and melody. But after finishing it, she had always felt something was missing. Now, after performing it, she finally understood what it was:

A vibrant, upward-moving vitality.

The next morning, Yun Yin eagerly rearranged the song.

Looking back, she realized the melody suited not only the guitar but also the piano.

After finishing the arrangement, she was about to close her computer when she noticed a small icon in the sidebar. That’s when it hit her.

Forced to stay at Cloud Lake after returning from the hospital, she had uploaded videos of herself singing online out of sheer boredom.

In the videos, Yun Yin never showed her face. The camera focused on the lake, and her clear, gentle voice created a soothing atmosphere.

Later, other things came up, and she gradually forgot about it.

Thinking about it now, Yun Yin opened the app.

Upon entering the backend, a flood of notifications immediately popped up, displaying “99+”.

Yun Yin casually glanced at them. Her video had already reached a million likes, with numerous comments and private messages urging her to upload more.

Thrilled that so many people loved the song, she pondered for a moment before replying to the top comment: “A full version of the song will be released, but the timing is uncertain.”

After replying, Yun Yin cleared all unread messages with a single click and exited the backend.

Yun Yin’s good mood lasted until dinner.

“Miss Yun, dinner is ready,” Aunt Lin said as she placed the last bowl of soup on the table.

Yun Yin sat down to eat. Just as she was about to head upstairs after finishing, Aunt Lin stopped her.

“Miss Yun, you haven’t taken your medicine yet.”

Yun Yin’s smile immediately faded.

In that moment, she remembered the terror of being forced to drink traditional Chinese medicine before she transmigrated into this book. Turning around slowly, she said, “I feel perfectly fine now. I don’t need it.”

She had no idea where Pei Yu had gotten this medicine, supposedly to help her recover.

While her current body was slightly better than her previous one, her constitution remained weak. Traditional Chinese medicine could indeed help regulate her system and boost her immunity.

But she had taken it for a while before, drinking it until she vomited. Now, even the mere smell of the foul-tasting medicine made her scalp tingle.

She feared that if she drank even a sip, she might throw up the entire meal she had just managed to keep down.

“The medicine was just brewed. You need to drink it while it’s hot, or it will become even more bitter when it cools down,” Aunt Lin said, placing the steaming bowl in front of her.

“Just leave it there,” Yun Yin said, turning her head away from the bowl of Chinese medicine on the table, trying to ignore it. “I’ll drink it later.”

Pei Yu had been away on a business trip for the past few days, and Yun Yin had no idea when he would return. She figured she could put it off as long as possible.

But the next moment, Aunt Lin said, “Mr. Pei instructed me to make sure you finish it.”

Yun Yin: “……”

She wanted to say, There’s really no need. No amount of medicine can truly help this body.

It’s just treating the symptoms, not the root cause. Why waste time?

“Aunt Lin, just leave it for now,” Yun Yin said again, trying to avoid it. “I just finished eating. I might throw up if I drink it now.”

Seeing her reluctance, Aunt Lin didn’t press further. “Miss Yun, please remember to take your medicine.”

“Okay,” Yun Yin replied, then hurried upstairs to tinker with her recording studio.

But even by evening, the bowl of Chinese medicine still sat untouched on the dining table, its steam long gone.

Aunt Lin sighed as she looked at the cold medicine. She had suspected Yun Yin wouldn’t drink it. What will I tell Mr. Pei when he asks?

Just as she was fretting, the front door swung open.

“Mr. Pei, you’re back.”

Pei Yu nodded, glancing toward the second floor. “Where’s Yun Yin?”

“Miss Yun is in the recording studio on the second floor,” Aunt Lin replied.

Pei Yu surveyed the living room, his gaze finally settling on a small blanket draped over the sofa. Without looking up, he asked, “Has she taken her medicine today?”

Aunt Lin stammered, “Miss Yun hasn’t taken it yet.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Pei Yu looked up. Following his line of sight, Aunt Lin saw the bowl of cold Chinese medicine sitting untouched on the dining table.

After a moment, Aunt Lin added, “At dinner, Miss Yun said she didn’t want to drink it right after eating, afraid she’d throw up. She promised to take it later, but she must have forgotten.”

Pei Yu stared at the bowl of medicine, silent for a long moment.

Both of them knew this was just another excuse Yun Yin used to avoid taking her medicine.

Finally, Pei Yu casually said, “Go reheat the medicine.”

“Yes, Mr. Pei.”

With that, Pei Yu went upstairs.

Yun Yin was indeed in the recording studio.

The soundproofed room muffled all outside noise.

Pei Yu pushed the door open without knocking.

An unfamiliar, melodious tune filled the air, Yun Yin’s clear, pure voice ringing out without obstruction.

She sat on a high stool, cradling her guitar, head bowed as she sang, oblivious to his arrival.

Pei Yu entered the recording studio, the soundproof door closing automatically behind him.

Every room in the villa had underfloor heating, and the warmth was palpable. Yun Yin wore a silk slip dress in a smoky pink hue that accentuated her porcelain-like skin. Her slightly wavy hair cascaded loosely down her back, framing her delicate features.

The overhead lights bathed her in a soft glow, her toes tapping rhythmically to the music. She seemed to radiate an ethereal light.

This recording studio was her private stage.

And he was her sole audience.

Pei Yu didn’t interrupt her, content to watch her for a long while.

When the final note faded, Yun Yin lowered her gaze, her fingers resting on the guitar’s fretboard. Her fingertips gently pressed against the strings, and the studio fell silent once more.

When Yun Yin finally looked up, Pei Yu was standing by the door, staring intently at her. She had no idea how long he’d been there.

“How did you get back so soon?” Yun Yin asked in surprise.

Weren’t you supposed to be on a business trip to the US? How did you return so quickly?

It hadn’t even been a week.

“You don’t want to see me?” Pei Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly at her words, his tone dangerously soft.

“No,” Yun Yin immediately retorted. “I was just surprised.”

She glanced at Pei Yu. When he remained silent, she elaborated, “It’s not that I didn’t want to see you. I was just surprised you came back so quickly.”

“So, you did want to see me?” Pei Yu asked calmly after a few seconds.

Yun Yin: “……”

Is that what I meant?

Not wanting to see someone equals wanting to see them?

Is that how reading comprehension works?

Noticing Yun Yin’s bewildered expression, Pei Yu chuckled softly. “Then, A-Yin, did you miss me?”

Yun Yin wanted to say no, but when she met Pei Yu’s deep, dark eyes, her lips moved slightly. The sound was barely audible, but Pei Yu still heard it.

“Not really,” she said.

Pei Yu thought to himself, She’s still quite obedient.

Just not all the time…

“Did you take your afternoon medicine?” Pei Yu suddenly asked.

Yun Yin blinked, startled by the abrupt change in topic. She didn’t react immediately.

She lowered her head, silent, and hugged her guitar, absentmindedly plucking at the strings.

Her reaction spoke for her.

After a moment, Pei Yu asked casually, “Why didn’t you take your medicine?”

This time, Yun Yin answered, “Chinese medicine is so bitter.” Her tone couldn’t hide her complaint.

“It’s good for your health,” Pei Yu said.

Yun Yin looked sullen. “But it’s still so bitter.”

She knew it was good for her, but even the smell of the medicine told her it would be unbearably bitter.

Pei Yu glanced at her and said lightly, “What did I tell you before I left on my business trip?”

Yun Yin fell silent again.