The Stand-in Side Character Only Wants to Make Money – CH17

Chapter 17 – Main Plot (Part 2)

As they crossed the stone-paved courtyard, the sound of raindrops on the leaves gradually faded. Huo Qing said, “Er Bai, you’ve really helped us a lot.”

She mentioned that her mother loved listening to the piano. A few years ago, her father played on her birthday. Huo Qing felt she wasn’t cut out for it, and after her father passed away, only her brother continued to play every year.

Huo Mother had health issues and needed to rest, so they didn’t make a big deal out of her birthday; it was just a gathering of family. This year, since her brother couldn’t make it, it felt too lonely, so she thought to find someone who could play the piano, at least to make her mother happy.

Since she didn’t know any pianists and hadn’t practiced, she had planned to ask a friend’s piano teacher but happened to hear the sound from the live stream.

And then it developed into this.

Upon reaching the eaves, someone took the umbrellas from their hands. Huo Qing looked at the person standing by the door and said, “This is Uncle Wang, the butler.”

She then introduced, “This is my friend, Chen Bai.”

Chen Bai and Uncle Wang nodded at each other and handed over the flowers they were holding.

The mansion appeared large from the outside, but it was also spacious inside.

On one side of the house was the living room, with a crystal chandelier hanging down from the multi-story ceiling, brightly lit. Huo Qing quickly scanned the living room, confirming that no one was there before whispering, “The piano room is on the second floor.”

She looked as if she didn’t belong there, more like someone who came to steal something.

The butler, having grown accustomed to it, said, “Madam is in her room and won’t come down right now.”

The “thief” immediately relaxed and led him upstairs.

The piano room was on the side of the house, in a well-lit area that would be very bright on sunny days.

Chen Bai entered the room and glanced at the piano placed in the center.

Huo Qing asked, “This piano hasn’t been used in a long time. Can it be used directly?”

Chen Bai lowered his head and opened the piano lid, his fingers landing on the keys. After testing a few notes, he said, “It needs tuning, probably about an hour.”

Huo Qing didn’t understand but indicated that she understood: “My mom can’t hear the sound from here. I’ll go keep her busy, and we can come down an hour later.”

In some ways, she resembled a money-driven manager—energetic, her dress didn’t hinder her movement, and she quickly dashed away.

Only the sound of rain continuously coming from outside remained in the room.

Chen Bai lowered his head, his fingers pressing down on the black and white keys, and his light-colored pupils under his pink hair moved slightly.

This piano was identical to the one he had used for over ten years. The keys had a heavier feel and the rebound speed was just right, but it hadn’t been tuned yet, resulting in a slight difference in tone.

The tuning process was long and tedious, yet Chen Bai found it quite agreeable, quietly testing and adjusting.

The butler, Uncle Wang, came over to ask if he needed any help. After learning that he didn’t for the moment, he stood aside, watching the tuning process alongside him.

The person sitting at the piano was skilled, and after finally tuning it back to its original state, he straightened up, turned his head, and casually said, “If a piano hasn’t been used for a long time, it’s better to tune it once every year or six months.”

This wasn’t a demand, just a small suggestion from someone who often played the piano—listening or ignoring it was entirely up to them.

Uncle Wang said he would relay the message accurately.

Just as an hour had passed, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway. Huo Qing reappeared at the door, leaning against the doorframe and asking, “Is it ready?”

Chen Bai sat on the piano bench and smiled, “It’s done.”

The rain outside grew heavier, and dark clouds gathered, while the indoor lighting remained bright.

A woman in a wheelchair was pushed out of the elevator by someone.

The living room was empty, and the butler came down from one side of the staircase. She asked, “Where’s Xiao Qing?”

The butler pointed to the second floor.

A sound came from upstairs.

Not too loud, but clearly the sound of the piano.

Currently, the only person in this house who could play the piano was Huo Chuan, who was away, and since he had started late, his skills could hardly be considered good.

Looking at the butler who was walking over, the woman in the wheelchair intended to ask something. However, as the familiar piano prelude began to play, her movement stopped, and the hand she had raised fell back down.

It was a very familiar prelude.

Above the living room was the piano room, with the walls opened up; the room’s structure was special, allowing the piano sound to travel clearly without any obstruction or distortion.

The woman in the wheelchair, Zhang Ling, could no longer play the piano, but she could listen.

As the gentle sound gradually rose, she lifted her eyes slightly.

The piano’s tone was somewhat different from before; it had likely been tuned and was very precise. Both the tuner and the pianist were quite skilled.

As the sound rose again, it became more soothing, containing a hint of light happiness and infinite tenderness.

A piece ended.

“Rachmaninoff’s ‘Lilacs.’”

In the silence, Zhang Ling couldn’t help but smile, saying, “It must be something Xiao Qing did.”

She looked towards the approaching butler and then asked, “Who is the one playing?”

Rachmaninoff’s Op.21, No.5 ‘Lilacs’ was one of her favorite pieces.

The only one who knew these things at home was that girl.

No wonder she had suddenly come to her room for a chat; it turned out she was preparing for this.

She hadn’t expected the girl to actually find someone.

For the past two years, the only version she had heard of ‘Lilacs’ was her son’s off-key rendition, and she had almost forgotten it was such a light and warm piece.

Uncle Wang mentioned that this was a gift from the young lady.

“The pianist is the young lady’s friend.”

Uncle Wang bent down and handed over a bouquet, saying, “These are flowers brought by that friend for the lady.”

Zhang Ling slightly lifted her hand from the blanket on her lap to accept the bouquet.

The bouquet wasn’t the usual carnations; it was a white and purple gladiolus, perfectly in bloom. Bringing it closer, she could smell its light fragrance—not overpowering, but very pleasant.

She looked at the bouquet for a moment longer, touched the gradient petals, and turned to smile, saying, “Remember to find a vase to keep it in; it would look perfect on the coffee table in this living room.”

Uncle Wang agreed.

In the pause between pieces, a figure appeared at the edge of the second-floor corridor, dressed in a long white dress—it was Huo Qing, who hadn’t been seen before.

She waved her hand towards the living room and asked what piece they wanted to hear next.

So it was still a request system.

Standing in the corridor, Huo Qing successfully found herself a job as a messenger.

As the piano music began to resonate in the house again, outside in the courtyard, amidst the pouring rain, a car drove through the gate.

Recognizing who was in the car, the people in the courtyard paused for a moment and turned to notify those inside, but were stopped.

The driver got out to hold an umbrella for the person in the backseat, who said it wasn’t necessary.

A few figures walked through the gray rain.

The closed-door reopened, and a man in a suit stepped inside. While looking at the woman sitting in the living room, he heard the piano music coming from upstairs.

Noticing the movement by the door, Zhang Ling, who was arranging the flowers in the vase, paused, surprised, and quietly asked, “Why are you back?”

Huo Chuan handed his slightly damp suit jacket to the butler, saying, “It was pouring where I went, and the flight was delayed.”

The heavy rain would last for some time; he didn’t wait and directly canceled his trip due to the delay.

He glanced at the flowers in the vase and asked, “Did someone come by?”

Zhang Ling looked towards the piano room on the second floor and smiled, saying, “Xiao Qing brought a friend; she’s up there. If you want to see, you can go take a look.”

She had also thought about going up, but staying here to listen to the music was no different than going upstairs. It would be a hassle, so she stayed down.

—She looked to be in a very good mood.

Huo Chuan withdrew his gaze and went up to take a look.

As he climbed the stairs, before reaching the corridor, he caught sight of Huo Qing standing outside the piano room, holding her phone in a rather strange posture, taking pictures inside.

Hearing his footsteps, she turned her head and quickly made a gesture for silence before he could speak, her expression unusually serious.

Huo Chuan thus remained silent, following her gaze.

Outside, the tree shadows swayed, raindrops slid down the window, and in the center of the room, the person sat upright like a green pine, head bowed, pink hair covering his light brows and eyes. His slender fingers danced across the black and white keys, pressing down and lifting them with precision.

The music gradually shifted from soft to intense, the piano strings vibrating, each note layered heavily. Those pale hands remained steady, showing no signs of panic, exhibiting remarkable composure.

His gaze fell on the light-knitted jacket he had seen once before, and Huo Chuan finally recognized him.

Some people, when they don’t speak, seem like entirely different individuals.

Or perhaps they had changed drastically in every way.

“……”

After a long while without hearing any movement from the person beside her, Huo Qing finally allowed her gaze to drift away from her phone screen and glanced back.

Her usually emotionless brother leaned against the railing, his eyes fixed on the person in the piano room, as he loosened his tie.

It felt a bit odd, but he didn’t make any extra movements, so Huo Qing turned her head back again.

As the last note fell, the piano room fell silent.

The person in the room withdrew his hands from the piano keys, placed them at his sides, slightly leaned back, and then turned to look at the door.

He successfully made eye contact with the man standing outside.

Chen Bai understood.

He had noticed that another person seemed to be present while playing just now, and indeed it was true.

It seemed like the money god hadn’t been able to make money today.

Missing a money-making opportunity, Chen Bai genuinely felt it was a pity this time.

A pity, but he didn’t show it on his face. Chen Bai smiled and nodded politely in greeting.

Huo Chuan responded, “Long time no see.”

In an instant, Huo Qing’s ears perked up, and she felt invigorated.