Three hours later, Yu Nian finished his first tutoring session.

To call it a tutoring session was more like accompanying the prince in his practice. In Yu Nian’s eyes, Zhang Yunyao’s piano skills were already quite good.

It’s just that this kid always seemed a bit lazy, not caring much about anything.

His family probably hired him as a tutor mainly to give him some company, to find… a “practice partner”?

Thinking of this term, Yu Nian chuckled to himself.

He never thought that one day he would become a tutor to someone else.

When he was a child, he was surrounded by eight tutors, which annoyed him so much that he skipped class every day, hiding in the corner of the greenhouse, letting the servants search for him.

Seeing him smile, Zhang Yunyao was a bit surprised and asked, “What are you laughing at?”

Yu Nian shook his head, of course, he wouldn’t tell the truth. He chose to downplay it, saying, “You play your pieces very well. Actually, there’s nothing I can teach you. I can only accompany you in practice.”

Zhang Yunyao shrugged.

“No need for you to teach me, I’ll have other teachers later,” he said bluntly. “Practicing the piano alone is quite boring, so having someone to accompany me is nice.”

As he finished speaking, he started coughing.

His skin was very fair, and when he coughed, his cheeks turned red. He couldn’t stop coughing.

Yu Nian was startled and instinctively patted his back.

Zhang Yunyao gradually calmed down and waved his hand to Yu Nian, “I’m fine.”

He stared straight into Yu Nian’s eyes, “So, are you coming next week?”

Yu Nian looked at Zhang Yunyao, feeling somewhat like he was seeing his past self.

During the break just now, Zhang Yu had told him some information about Zhang Yunyao. Zhang Yunyao wasn’t in good health; he had anemia and asthma, so his family had pampered him since he was young. They let him do whatever he wanted, going to school when he felt like it and taking leave when he didn’t feel like it. But his parents were usually away, so the one who accompanied him the most was his uncle, Zhang Yu.

He nodded and smiled, “I’ll come.”

Zhang Yu had already discussed with him just now. As long as Zhang Yunyao didn’t object, Yu Nian would come twice a week for three hours each time for the next two months.

Satisfied with the answer he heard, Zhang Yunyao nodded.

When Yu Nian got up to leave, he also stood up, “I’ll walk you out.”

Yu Nian was a little surprised by this sudden kindness, and even Zhang Yu looked a bit surprised, watching Yu Nian as if he were seeing some rare species.

But it was quite windy outside, so he didn’t let his nephew go out.

He pressed down on Zhang Yunyao’s shoulder, “Just stay here, I’ll see Yu Nian off.”

He escorted Yu Nian to the door.

Yu Nian had just messaged Qi Wang, and he would arrive in a few minutes.

Carrying his backpack, Yu Nian obediently said, “Mr. Zhang, you should go back first. I’ll leave soon.”

Zhang Yu smiled.

He looked at Yu Nian, who was eighteen but looked a bit younger than Zhang Yunyao.

He shook his head, “I’m not busy anyway. I’ll stand with you for a few minutes. And don’t call me Mr. Zhang, it sounds strange. Just call ge.”

Yu Nian pondered for a moment and felt it made sense. Zhang Yu didn’t seem like a strict and serious person. He obediently changed his address, “Then I’ll call you Zhang ge.”

Zhang Yu raised an eyebrow but didn’t correct him.

As the two were chatting, a black motorcycle approached from afar and stopped in front of Yu Nian.

Zhang Yu noticed Yu Nian’s eyes light up instantly.

“Qi Wang.” He called out, already stepping forward, then abruptly stopping and turning back to Zhang Yu politely, “Then I’ll be off first, Zhang ge.”

“Go ahead.”

Zhang Yu waved to him and also waved to Qi Wang.

Yu Nian ran over happily and jumped onto Qi Wang’s motorcycle.

Qi Wang drove out of the neighborhood.

Yu Nian sat on the back seat, involuntarily hugging Qi Wang’s waist tightly, smiling brightly.

“You really came to pick me up?” His voice was muffled by the helmet, buzzing, but Qi Wang still heard him.

“Of course, I already said I would” Qi Wang said, slightly slowing down the speed. The evening breeze blew past the two of them, and the setting sun cast a layer of golden light on the road. Qi Wang’s short hair peeked out from under the helmet, dyed a golden color.

Yu Nian heard Qi Wang’s words.

“I promised, so I definitely would keep my promise.”

It was rush hour on the street, and it was a bit congested, with constant honking around, and students who had just finished tutoring standing at the bus stop, rare to see not wearing school uniforms but still carrying their school bags.

Yu Nian was a little stunned when he heard this.

After a while, he chuckled softly, leaned down, leaned his entire body against Qi Wang’s back, and asked loudly, “Let’s go eat hot pot later, okay?”

Qi Wang made a gesture, indicating he received the message, then turned in another direction, taking another route.

From that day on, Yu Nian began his busy part-time life.

He discussed with Song Yunchun and shortened the time he spent as a service staff member, while keeping the piano tutoring time unchanged.

He would go to tutor Zhang Yunyao on Friday and Sunday afternoons.

And on the 15th of this month, he received his first paycheck for a month and a half.

Because his workload had increased this month, his salary had also increased accordingly, totaling 5,500 yuan, and he also received an additional 500 yuan in a red envelope.

He looked at Song Yunchun in puzzlement, suspecting she had made a mistake, but Song Yunchun just smiled, “It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival bonus for you guys, everyone else got it too.”

“Yeah, the boss is so generous,” Xiao Gu said happily. Her salary this month was also good, and the joy was evident in her eyes and brows. She hooked her arm with Yu Nian’s. “Since we’ve been paid, let’s go watch a movie later. Chu Hejun is also coming.”

Yu Nian, however, seemed a bit absent-minded.

So it was the Mid-Autumn Festival already.

He hadn’t even realized it. Time had passed without him noticing.

Usually, he spent most of the Mid-Autumn Festival with his older siblings, either at home or being picked up to join them. But this year?

Who should he spend it with?

For a moment, he felt a bit bitter in his heart. His gaze shifted and fell upon Qi Wang, who was talking to Song Yunchun by the window.

Qi Wang was holding his phone, showing it to Song Yunchun. “You’ve sent too much money.”

His salary this month should have been 7k, but his account had been credited with ten thousand.

Song Yunchun shrugged. “I told you they wanted to give you a bonus. You helped take care of little Yu Nian, and you even picked him up for class last time. His siblings were very grateful for that. It’s only fair you get this.”

Qi Wang furrowed his brows. “It’s not necessary.”

He was willing to accompany Yu Nian; it was his own choice. He didn’t need anyone’s gratitude.

Although he needed the money, he hadn’t planned to earn this extra sum.

He didn’t say much more to Song Yunchun, just opened her WeChat and transferred the money back.

“Remember to accept it, or else I’ll give it to you in cash.” With that statement, he left for the counter to continue sorting out his coffee beans.

Song Yunchun was infuriated.

“Oh, come on,” she muttered to herself, looking at Qi Wang with exasperation. His attitude was simply unbelievable. She walked up to him. “You really… You’re clearly in need of money, working so diligently. What’s wrong with accepting a bonus?”

Qi Wang didn’t respond.

He wasn’t being aloof; he just genuinely didn’t want to accept it.

Glancing at Yu Nian, who was chatting with someone, with his first paycheck, smiling brightly and not minding Xiao Gu pinching his cheek, he looked soft and gentle.

Sensing his gaze, Yu Nian turned his head.

When their eyes met, Yu Nian was momentarily stunned, then quickly trotted over.

Because he was excited, his cheeks were flushed, and he happily said to Qi Wang, “We’re going to watch a movie later. Come with us, okay?”

Qi Wang furrowed his brows. “Who are you going with?”

“Me, Xiao Gu, Chu Hejun,” Yu Nian counted on his fingers, “and Xiao Gu’s two friends. Chu Hejun’s roommate is also coming.”

Qi Wang felt a headache coming on as he listened.

He wanted to refuse immediately, but Yu Nian seemed to have anticipated his response and hugged him tightly.

“Come on, please,” Yu Nian pleaded, acting cute. “I’ve already told Xiao Gu.”

Qi Wang remained unmoved. “Then just go with them.”

Yu Nian looked at him with puppy eyes, refusing to let go of his hand.

The two seemed to be testing each other’s resolve.

Song Yunchun thought Yu Nian would surely lose, considering how stubborn Qi Wang could be. However, a few minutes later, it was Qi Wang who rubbed his temples and said, “Let go, I’ll go.”

“Yay!”

Yu Nian cheered and let go, then bounced back to Xiao Gu and the others to report this good news.

“????”

Was it that easy?

Song Yunchun was dumbfounded, looking at Qi Wang in disbelief. “Since when did you become so easy to persuade? You’re not like this with me?”

She was still the boss!

Qi Wang gave her a displeased look and didn’t bother to respond.

He asked Song Yunchun, “Do you have anything else to do?”

Song Yunchun understood the implicit meaning, that she should leave if she had nothing else to do.

She felt extremely aggrieved. Who was the boss here?

But when she thought about the results Qi Wang’s face had brought in, she silently moved away from the high stool.

Before leaving, she still looked at Qi Wang in amazement. “It’s really strange. Back then, when I asked you to take care of little Yu Nian, you refused outright. But now, you’re getting along so well.”

Qi Wang’s hand, which was packing things, paused for a moment.

Finally, after enduring till the end of the workday, Yu Nian bought snacks from next door. When Xiao Gu and Chu Hejun’s friends arrived, they all went to the movies together.

They went to see a comedy, which wasn’t particularly interesting, mainly for the lively atmosphere.

Xiao Gu also brought her two girlfriends, and Chu Hejun brought one of his friends.

The seven of them sat side by side, occupying half a row directly.

The lead actor in the movie was a popular star, but Qi Wang didn’t recognize any of them.

Yu Nian did, though.

The male lead, Yuan Sheng, had attended a party thrown by his sister before, serving as a male escort for a certain CEO.

He was even more familiar with the female lead. She had been classmates with his brother in junior high and had studied under a calligrapher together. With a good family background and knowledge, she graduated from New York University. She was Tang Rong, the second young miss of the Tang family.

There was also a specially invited veteran artist who had attended his full moon party before.

Looking around, it turned out they were all acquaintances.

Yu Nian couldn’t help but smile.

He was bursting with gossip but had no one to share it with. It was truly lonely.

But once there were acquaintances in the movie, it was hard to get into it. Feeling bored, he leaned on Qi Wang’s shoulder and whispered, “Do you like any of the stars in there? Do you like Tang Rong? She’s so pretty, even prettier in person than in the movie.”

Qi Wang glanced at him.

The lights in the cinema flickered on and off, casting shadows on Yu Nian’s face. His nose was straight, his eye sockets slightly sunken, his features delicate and beautiful. Though still youthful, one could already see the future stunning beauty.

He didn’t think Tang Rong was pretty.

Halfway through the movie, he only remembered Tang Rong wearing a red dress, with black wavy hair and diamond-studded nails.

Too dazzling.

He could barely see her face.

Yu Nian, a young man, wore a white shirt with a simple gray cardigan over it, revealing his slender neck. There was no trace of makeup on his face, clean like a sheet of Xuan paper, even more attractive than the dazzling female stars on the screen.

Realizing what he was thinking, Qi Wang furrowed his brows slightly, feeling a bit absurd.

He withdrew his gaze, looked back at the screen, and said lightly, “I don’t like her.”

Yu Nian made a small sound of disagreement.

“You’re so picky,” he grinned, seeing Tang Rong slap the scumbag in the movie, he chuckled again. He lowered his voice, “Tang Rong practices karate, that slap must have hurt.”

Qi Wang inexplicably sensed familiarity in Yu Nian’s words.

It felt natural, as if he were talking about his own school club senior.

But he just thought Yu Nian liked this celebrity named Tang Rong, and didn’t think much of it.