In the piano classroom, Huaiyu sat on the piano bench, with Zhou Guangren sitting next to him. The elderly man’s skin had already loosened, and the wrinkles on his body could not be hidden, but his hands were exceptionally well-preserved.
They didn’t look like the hands of a seventy-year-old.
When these hands danced and leaped on the keys, they exhibited a kind of agility and flair that defied his age.
He thoroughly enjoyed playing, indulging in the music that flowed from his fingertips. Huaiyu quietly watched him... seeing this elderly man play the piano like a child, showcasing liveliness and joy.
This kind of expressiveness was not Huaiyu’s strong suit, but fortunately, Zhou Guangren never demanded it of him.
Everyone has their own style. Zhou Guangren never thought of trying to change Huaiyu’s personal traits or playing style, only guiding him to refine his own stylistic qualities.
As the final note settled, Zhou Guangren looked at Huaiyu, "Want to give it a try?"
Huaiyu nodded, took a deep breath, raised his wrist, and as his fingertips touched the keys, the jumping notes poured down like a rushing stream, smooth and refreshing.
Cheng Taotao came running over, slowed her steps when she saw Huaiyu playing, and carefully walked to a chair on the side to sit down, resting her face in her hands, staring at Huaiyu with a dreamy fascination.
Huaiyu exhaled, turned his head to ask the teacher’s opinion, only to see Cheng Taotao squinting her eyes, grinning foolishly at him, her expression... just short of drooling.
Huaiyu’s brow suddenly furrowed, a bit disdainful.
"Taotao’s here? How did your older brother play?"
Zhou Guangren quickly beckoned Cheng Taotao over to his side, asking with a smile.
Cheng Taotao immediately responded with enthusiastic applause.
"So, did Taotao practice the piece Grandpa assigned you this week properly?"
"I did!" Cheng Taotao replied, sitting beside Huaiyu, raised her hand, and started playing "Sky City."
When Taotao finished playing, Huaiyu was indeed amazed, never expecting that Cheng Taotao, who had only just been introduced to the piece last week, could play it flawlessly within a week.
"Well played, it seems Taotao is diligent even when Grandpa’s not around!"
"I love playing the piano, and I love this piece!"
Cheng Taotao quickly replied, even more delighted after receiving Zhou Guangren’s praise.
"It’s good to like it, loving it is the most important," Zhou Guangren said as he gently patted Taotao’s head... His fondness for Taotao was something Huaiyu could clearly feel.
Although it was he who called Zhou Guangren ’teacher’, watching the interaction between Zhou Guangren and Cheng Taotao... Huaiyu often thought of Yin Shaoqun.
Huaiyu, one year younger than Taotao, had started learning piano under Yin Shaoqun’s one-on-one guidance. Those two years, he lived a life utterly different from other children his age.
His grandaunt showered him with affection, but once seated on the piano bench, she transformed into the most stringent teacher, earnest and impatient...
Back then, Huaiyu truly didn’t understand, spurred on by nothing but competitiveness and a touch of perfectionism. Regardless of how challenging the practice pieces or difficult the tasks given by his grandaunt, he would finish them, even gritting his teeth along the way.
Now... he slightly understood his grandaunt’s earnestness.
Life was indeed too short, she wanted to teach him everything she knew... to learn the most in the shortest time.
If time wasn’t limited, he thought, his grandaunt would have been even more patient, gentler, and more lovingly indulgent than Zhou Guangren was with Cheng Taotao.