TYAM Chapter 71

Happy New Year’s Eve everyone~

When Jiang Wang decided to be shameless, he was charming and smooth in business and both playful and endearing in front of his lover.  

For the first time in over twenty years, he wrote a love letter—and in English, no less. Afterward, he avoided Ji Linqiu for an entire afternoon.  

It had the feel of a hardened man suddenly becoming bashful and awkward.  

He even deliberately avoided Ji Linqiu after work, giving up his car and quietly walking home by himself.  

Half an hour later, Ji Linqiu arrived home with Peng Xingwang. While changing his shoes, Ji Linqiu immediately noticed Jiang Wang sitting with his back to them, watching a military-agriculture channel featuring a segment on raising peacocks.  

Peng Xingwang quickly changed his shoes and ran over, curiously joining Jiang Wang to watch the peacocks, as if it were an episode of Animal Planet.  

“Xingwang, go to your room and do your homework,” Ji Linqiu said with a smile. “I have some business to discuss with your Brother Wang.”  

The child obediently scampered off, leaving the living room to the two adults.  

Ji Linqiu pulled a note from his wallet, unfolded it, and handed it to Jiang Wang.  

“Hmm?”  

Jiang Wang pretended to inspect the remote control.  

“Not talking anymore?” Ji Linqiu sat beside him, his long lashes curling as he smiled softly. “I couldn’t understand it. Why don’t you read it to me?”  

Jiang Wang stayed silent for a few seconds, then leaned over to kiss him.  

They shared one kiss, then, tempted by the taste, another. Both glanced toward the stairs to make sure the child wasn’t sneaking back.  

“Keep it safe,” Jiang Wang said seriously. “Before I gave it to you, I worried I might have misspelled a word, so I checked everything in the dictionary.”  

Ji Linqiu smiled at him.  

Jiang Wang had been brimming with confidence, but Ji Linqiu’s gaze now made him slightly uncertain.  

He hesitated.  

“…Did I make a grammar mistake?”  

“Or was there ambiguity in the sentences?”  

Ji Linqiu shook his head, still smiling at him.  

“I just feel like you’re very cute.” 

The two leaned against each other in a quiet moment of affection before Ji Linqiu remembered something else.  

“By the way, I need to borrow a shop from you.”  

Jiang Wang, who owned over ten storefronts in Yuhan and was already planning to open branches in nearby districts, replied without hesitation, “Which one? Just tell me.”  

“It’s not for me to open a shop,” Ji Linqiu said with a laugh. “My mom’s been a housewife her whole life. She’s always centered her life around me and my dad. I’d like her to have something to do.”  

Jiang Wang immediately understood and pulled out the deed for the shop closest to their house. “This one’s right on the street corner, not too big. I was originally planning to open a milk tea shop there, but it’d be perfect for a little tailoring business.”  

That very day, Ji Linqiu took the news home.  

Not only that, but he also took Chen Danhong to see the location, as well as another bustling old shop three kilometers away, despite the dust flying everywhere.  

Chen Danhong rubbed her hands nervously. “I’m just a rural woman. Why would city folks wear clothes I make?”  

“Besides, young people these days prefer buying clothes off the rack. It’s not like the old days when people had to buy fabric to make their own. Am I right?”  She laughed at herself in a self-deprecating manner, and added slowly, “Mom knows that you’re very filial already. This matter… isn’t appropriate.”

Ji Linqiu blinked and pointed to his coat. “You know this coat you gave me for New Year’s? Guess how much my colleagues thought it cost?”  

Chen Danhong hesitated. “A few hundred?”  

“Little Liu said at least 4000, and he even guessed it might’ve been brought back from the UK,” Ji Linqiu laughed. “You really don’t need to worry. Back in the day, even village brides sought you out to tailor their wedding dresses. This shop has been vacant for over half a year. We can rent it for just 70% of the market price — 600 yuan a month. That’s not expensive, is it?”  

Ji Guoshen, who had been wavering, was stunned when he heard the rent. He turned to look at the bustling street outside, then back at Ji Linqiu.  

“Such a prime location, right by a subway station, and he’s only charging you that much?”  

Chen Danhong’s expression softened. “You don’t object to this?”  

“I’d raise both hands in support if I had more,” Ji Guoshen joked, even lifting a foot. “I’m practically hired now anyway. I’ll eat lunch and dinner at the company cafeteria and can even bring you takeout on the way home.”  

“There’s not much to tidy up at home. Growing vegetables after work—that’s a hobby, isn’t it?”  

And just like that, the decision was made.  

With his parents’ arrangements settled, Ji Linqiu felt a sense of relief. That evening, he followed the routine of picking up Peng Xingwang from school on Jiang Wang’s behalf.  

When Peng Xingwang came out, several classmates waved goodbye to him with bright smiles. The child looked a bit dazed.  

“Your brother just arrived at the airport and won’t be back until the day after tomorrow,” Ji Linqiu said, holding the boy’s hand as they strolled along the street at dusk. “What happened today?”  

Peng Xingwang stayed quiet for a few seconds before looking up at Ji Linqiu.  

“Brother Linqiu,” he finally said, holding his breath, “they… they called me a top student!”  

Before meeting Jiang Wang, Peng Xingwang had been at the bottom of the social ladder in his small class, the kind who was so lonely he couldn’t even find a partner for art or gym class.  

Then Jiang Wang appeared, with flashy limousines and dramatic flair, followed by a daring escape during a dangerous incident that made him a local legend. Peng Xingwang’s status soared overnight, a Cinderella-like transformation.  

At first, his classmates were just glad to see him clean and put-together. But when rumors about British nobility spread, coupled with his family’s ownership of the city’s most popular bookstore, everyone wanted to curry favor by any means possible.  

Peng Xingwang, good-natured at heart, remained grounded despite the sudden attention and maintained a steady demeanor, unlike his earlier self in Hongcheng.  

He had heard countless compliments, but being labeled a “top student” was a first.  

For a moment, his expression was almost dreamlike.  

‘I… can actually have a day where I’m called a top student?’

Ji Linqiu gave him a thoughtful glance, smiled knowingly, and continued walking home with him hand in hand.  

School education is geared toward the group, neither accommodating the slowest learners nor catering to the fastest ones—just moving forward in a measured, steady way.  

But Peng Xingwang was different. Not only did he receive one-on-one, comprehensive tutoring every day, but he also had an older brother at home who constantly drilled vocabulary. Slacking off was nearly impossible.  

When he first transferred, he couldn’t even understand the English teacher’s questions. Now, his bedtime reading material included English fairy tales.  

Watching him grow little by little, learning more and more, Ji Linqiu felt a calm warmth in his heart.  

“Brother Linqiu, during math class today, the teacher gave us twenty minutes to solve a particularly difficult problem,” Peng Xingwang said, a bit embarrassed. “But the tutoring teacher had already taught me how to solve it, so I worked it out on scratch paper and went up to write the solution.”  

“Then Teacher Shao said we could end class ten minutes early… and the whole class cheered.”  

He stopped, holding Ji Linqiu’s hand, and murmured, “My classmates… actually cheered for me.”  

“I never thought I’d be so well-liked.”  

Ji Linqiu crouched down and ruffled the boy’s hair.  

“Isn’t that great?” he said with a smile. “When Teacher first met you, I noticed your bright eyes and thought you were a clever, quick learner. You’re a smart and good kid.”  

Peng Xingwang blushed, hesitated for a moment, and then continued walking with him.  

“Brother Linqiu, do you think… if I wanted to learn violin, Brother Wang would let me?”  

“Why the violin?”  

“Uh, well…”  

The boy couldn’t think of an excuse. Seeing Ji Linqiu still looking at him, he stomped his foot and said, “I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell my brother. It’s a secret.”  

Ji Linqiu raised one hand. “I swear, if I tell him, I’m a puppy.”  

Peng Xingwang found this vow reasonable and whispered the whole story.  

In the provincial elementary school, proper music classes were held. Not only was there no interruption by math teachers taking over, but the class was taught by a professional teacher who taught the kids to sing together.  

In his class, there was a girl with a long ponytail named Zhou Yinxin. She not only sang beautifully but also played the piano exceptionally well.  

She was very popular in class and well-liked by the teachers. She often played piano accompaniments for the class, showing off her skills.  

Peng Xingwang really wanted to develop some musical talent of his own, like her.  

Ji Linqiu found it amusing. “Do you want to perform a duet with her at the New Year’s gala?”  

“Not necessarily,” the boy shook his head vigorously. “Even if I play a solo piece, I can still stand out.” 

“Think about it, if other classes hear about your class, that there’s one pianist girl and one violinist boy, wouldn’t they naturally associate the two as together?” Ji Linqiu teased.

Peng Xingwang saw Ji Linqiu still smiling at him and covered his mouth. “I don’t like her, Brother. Don’t overthink it!”  

“I didn’t ask.”  

“I really don’t! Not at all!”  

“Alright, alright. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to pick out a violin.”  

---

So arrangements were made for a violin teacher, with lessons every Tuesday and Friday, plus daily practice assignments.  

When Jiang Wang returned after a few days on a business trip, he saw a younger version of himself standing properly with a violin. It made him a bit emotional. “This kid… he’s got artistic potential—”  

Peng Xingwang raised the bow and played, producing a sound like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.  

“…and a stubborn heart,” Jiang Wang concluded. “I have high hopes for you.”  

The first day of practice, the second day, and the third followed.  

The screeching cat-like sounds gradually turned into dying howls. 

Eventually, their downstairs neighbor knocked on the door, pleading with them to show some kindness to animals—or, if that wasn’t possible, to consider adopting them instead.  

Ji Linqiu apologized profusely. “I’m so sorry to disturb you… but we don’t have a cat. It’s the child practicing violin.”  

The elderly man downstairs looked bewildered. “Really?”  

“Maybe…” The elderly woman didn’t know what to say either. “…Is it the teacher’s fault?”  

Jiang Wang didn’t sense any lofty artistic vibes in the house. As soon as practice time rolled around, he would hide in the study.  

The child felt a bit wronged.  

“The teacher said it’s normal at the beginning! I’m almost done learning ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!’”  

Ji Linqiu suppressed his laughter and maintained a serious expression. “Maybe your brother is just busy with work.”  

“He doesn’t love me anymore!” Peng Xingwang said sorrowfully. “He’s changed!”  

“Jiang Wang!” Ji Linqiu shouted toward the study. “Xingwang says you’ve had a change of heart!”  

Two minutes later, Jiang Wang sauntered over leisurely.  

He looked at the violin, then at the kid, then back at the violin.  

“If this doesn’t work out, we can try the suona horn,” he said.  

“That one’s loud.”