Chapter 16: Very 1

After a moment of silence.

Ning Ke spoke first, “What are you looking at?”

Her tone was quite fierce.

But her expression wasn’t natural.

She turned her head away.

Not looking at Yan Yunzhi’s face.

“I was passing by and saw the door ajar, so I came over,” Yan Yunzhi suppressed her amusement.

Her voice was gentle.

“I came to tell you, Grandpa is home.”

“Got it,” Ning Ke proactively asked before Yan Yunzhi could say more, “When should we go over?”

Yan Yunzhi replied, “Depends on your schedule.”

Ning Ke said, “Anytime works for me.”

“Whatever you decide.”

Honestly, Ning Ke didn’t want to see Yan Yunzhi’s grandfather, Yan Qi, at all.

The old gentleman was already eighty years old this year.

He was hale and hearty, with a sharp mind.

He remained the true head of the Yan family.

Yan Qi and Ning Ke’s grandfather were good friends.

Back then, her parents died in a plane crash.

Her grandfather fell ill from grief and never recovered.

Her uncle, Ning Hui, was framed and investigated.

Not only did the power within the company fall into others’ hands.

Some people even bullied them at their doorstep.

It was Yan Qi who appeared.

He rebuked those petty people.

Even Ning Ke’s parents’ funeral was handled solely by Yan Qi.

Later, after her grandfather passed away, Yan Qi didn’t interact much with the Ning family anymore.

Further down the line, for reasons unknown, the two families completely drifted apart.

Until she married Yan Yunzhi.

Ning Ke could feel that Grandpa Yan didn’t like her.

But she was still grateful to him.

And respected him.

Every time she returned to the Yan family home, it wasn’t easy for her.

Because in front of Grandpa Yan, she had to put on an act, which was tiring.

She agreed readily.

But her expression was dazed.

As if lost in thought.

Yan Yunzhi lowered her head.

Her gaze fixed intently on her.

She had just exercised.

Wearing a thin strap top.

Beads of sweat rolled down the side of her fair neck.

Across her pale collarbone and further down.

Following the rise and fall of her breath, rolling into the rounded fullness encased by the top.

A pampered young lady raised in wealth and the mortal world.

Bright and full, perfectly proportioned.

Aside from her stubborn mouth, her figure like this, every part of her body, should be soft.

Ning Ke came back to her senses first.

“Just thinking about something.”

“Good night.”

Yan Yunzhi lowered her head.

Her long eyelashes veiled her gaze.

“Mm.”

“Good night.”

These few days, Ning Ke had rare free time.

Resting at home.

Her schedule had been packed for the past two years.

The year before last and last year, she attended the Spring Festival Gala on a provincial TV station.

She didn’t go home.

Her aunt and uncle had complained quite a bit about this.

This year, she had free time.

They called her three or four times, instructing her to visit the Yan family.

Ning Ke rested for a day.

Then couldn’t stay idle anymore.

She asked Xu Jian to arrange some light work.

After the New Year, she was scheduled to join a production crew at the end of February.

She currently had two roles confirmed.

As for the movie directed by Gao Qi, Qin Pei said she would arrange an audition for her after the New Year.

It would depend solely on her performance.

On the second day at home, it snowed again.

Ning Ke got drowsy memorizing her lines.

She went downstairs to get fruit.

Sister Lu called out to her, “Miss Ning, I saw Ah Zhi composing some music these past few days.”

“She won’t listen even when I tell her to rest.”

“I’m really afraid she’ll tire herself out!”

“Why don’t you go up and persuade her?”

Ning Ke asked, “She’s still in the music room?”

Sister Lu replied, “Yes, she hasn’t rested at all.”

Ning Ke said, “I’ll go take a look.”

Ning Ke inevitably felt a bit guilty.

She knew Yan Yunzhi was preparing the music for “Perfect Partners”.

But the next episode wasn’t until after the New Year.

Why the rush?

Yan Yunzhi’s music room was on the second floor.

Before moving in, they had specifically installed soundproof doors and walls.

All this time, Ning Ke hadn’t been disturbed by her practicing at all.

Ning Ke rang the doorbell twice.

Soon, the door opened from the inside.

Yan Yunzhi was a bit surprised to see her.

“Why did you come over?”

“Sister Lu told me,” Ning Ke noticed the dark circles under her eyes.

“Composing?”

Yan Yunzhi stepped aside.

“Come in and listen.”

“It’s almost done.”

Ning Ke stepped into her music room.

She saw many instruments inside.

Besides the violin Yan Yunzhi most commonly used for performances.

There were also a piano, a drum kit, and a guitar.

Ning Ke knew she wrote songs.

But she basically never released them publicly.

Yan Yunzhi asked her to sit down.

She put headphones on her.

“If there are parts that don’t sound good, you have to tell me, okay.”

Ning Ke heard her ‘okay’.

It always felt like a tone used to coax a child.

She pressed her lips together.

She said bluntly, “Definitely.”

Yan Yunzhi opened the recorded music.

She pressed the play button.

Music flowed like water.

The prelude was rich and melodious.

After dozens of seconds, it transitioned into clear, ethereal piano notes.

Like walking on an endless snowfield.

With occasional crisp sounds of ice shattering.

Further on, there was the sound of a warm breeze, like the spring wind gently blowing and melting the ice and snow.

Amidst the increasingly brisk music, it reminded one of cotton candy on a spring street.

Warm and soft.

A wave of cozy sweetness.

The music stopped abruptly.

This piece was very comfortable to listen to.

Ning Ke took off the headphones.

“Objectively speaking, for a non-professional like me, I can’t find any faults.”

Yan Yunzhi smiled, “As long as you like it.”

Ning Ke said, “You still need to ask for Lin Yun’s opinion.”

Yan Yunzhi didn’t discuss the piece further.

“Mm.”

“I still have some finishing touches to do here.”

She always put her best effort into everything she did.

The music for the first episode needed adjustments due to insufficient preparation time initially.

It would still take quite some time.

Ning Ke remembered her original intention for coming.

“I’ll tell Lin Yun.”

“Ask her to find you an assistant.”

“And give you a few more days.”

“Stop working for now.”

Yan Yunzhi said, “It’s alright.”

Ning Ke couldn’t persuade her.

She didn’t want to leave immediately.

But staying here seemed like keeping her company.

It felt quite awkward.

Yan Yunzhi watched her thoughtful expression, lips pressed tightly together.

She couldn’t help but smile.

“There’s something I’d like to ask for your help with, is that okay?”

Ning Ke said, “Go ahead.”

Yan Yunzhi said, “At the beginning of the year, I started collecting ancient books.”

“I attend a few auctions from time to time.”

“However, my experience isn’t very rich.”

“Sometimes I inevitably get cheated.”

“I heard your uncle has collected ancient books for many years.”

“And he used to take you to auctions before.”

“Could you come with me this time?”

Ning Ke thought for a moment.

“Okay.”

Her uncle, Ning Hui, had collected ancient books for many years.

He had a rare book collection room at home.

She had gone with him to auctions.

She did indeed know a few things.

This time, Yan Yunzhi had helped her.

She disliked owing favors the most.

Helping out with this small matter this time.

Would clear the slate with Yan Yunzhi.

Yan Yunzhi said, “Then it’s settled.”

Ning Ke agreed.

Then said, “I’ll head out first then.”

Back in her room, she first called Ning Hui.

“Uncle, are you busy?”

“You heartless thing, you still know how to call your uncle,” Ning Hui scolded her first.

Then asked, “What did you call your uncle for?”

“Have you and Ah Zhi made arrangements for New Year’s?”

Ning Ke answered truthfully, “She said Grandpa Yan is back.”

“We might have to eat New Year’s Eve dinner over there.”

Ning Hui quickly said “Good” twice.

“That’s good too.”

“You two can come over on the first day of the New Year.”

Ning Ke hummed in agreement.

Paused for a moment.

“Uncle, don’t you have a book on ancient book appraisal experience?”

“I want to take a look.”

Ning Hui asked, “I do, what do you want that for?”

Ning Ke said, “Oh… for Yan Yunzhi to look at.”

Ning Hui was delighted.

“No problem.”

“I’ll have someone send it over this afternoon.”

Ning Ke said, “Okay, thank you, Uncle.”

Ning Hui laughed heartily.

“Not bad, not bad.”

“Our Ke Ke knows how to dote on her wife now!”

Ning Ke: “…”

She was just returning a favor.

So that she could be even with Yan Yunzhi.

…How did it get twisted into doting on her wife again?

The next day, Ning Ke had just woken up from her afternoon nap when the phone rang.

Lin Yun had pulled an all-nighter working.

She drank some alcohol to stay awake.

Her whole manner of speaking was overly excited.

Her voice almost pierced Ning Ke’s eardrum.

Lin Yun shouted, “Ning Ke Ke!”

“Your Yan Yunzhi is truly a treasure!”

“The music she composed is too beautiful!”

“It’s divine music!”

Ning Ke retorted, “Don’t you know what level of musician you invited?”

Lin Yun teased, “Oh, you sound very proud?”

Ning Ke said, “Get lost.”

Lin Yun whined, “You’re being fierce to me again.”

Ning Ke said, “I have something to do.”

“No time for your nonsense.”

Last night, she had done some homework on ancient book appraisal.

This morning, she also received the book on ancient book appraisal.

Coincidentally, Yan Yunzhi mentioned that a seller was coming to the house this afternoon to chat.

She planned to go over and take a look.

Ning Ke went downstairs.

She didn’t reply to Lin Yun’s messages anymore.

The seller had just arrived.

A woman around fifty years old.

High cheekbones, sharp chin.

Her face didn’t look very friendly.

“Miss Yan, hello.”

“My name is Wang Mingzhi.”

At the beginning of the year, Yan Yunzhi entered the ancient book auction circle through a friend’s introduction.

Because she was gentle and generous in her bids.

She was regarded as an “easy mark” by many sellers.

Everyone wanted to make a hefty profit from her.

Wang Mingzhi was no exception.

Before coming, she had inquired around.

Yan Yunzhi didn’t know much about ancient books.

Right from the start, she enthusiastically introduced the two books she brought.

Towards the end, she couldn’t hide her eagerness.

“Good books need to meet the right person.”

“Miss Yan, I won’t ask for a high price for these books.”

“This one is 900,000, this one is 1,300,000.”

“This is a private meeting.”

“If I put them in tomorrow’s auction, the starting price I’d set would be higher than this.”

Yan Yunzhi nodded noncommittally.

“I see.”

Her gaze was clear and seemingly scrutinizing.

The tips of her ears caught a faint, subtle noise from the staircase landing.

She couldn’t help but curl her lips slightly.

Ning Ke stood at the landing without going over.

She frowned as she listened to them talk.

Her intuition told her this seller was trying to rip them off.

Her descriptions were exaggerated.

And often contradictory.

She even interrupted Yan Yunzhi several times.

So impolite.

Yet Yan Yunzhi showed no temper at all.

Still smiling gently.

Her tone clear and unhurried.

Wang Mingzhi talked eloquently, “How about this, both books together, 2 million.”

“Let’s round it up.”

“I won’t say more.”

“How about it? If it’s okay, today we can just…”

“Wait,” Ning Ke walked over with her arms crossed.

She asked coldly, “Can I take a look?”

Wang Mingzhi asked, “And this is?”

Yan Yunzhi replied, “Family.”

Wang Mingzhi instinctively assumed it was her younger sister.

She hesitated, “Be careful when flipping through.”

Ning Ke said, “No need.”

“She can flip through it.”

“I’ll just watch from the side.”

Yan Yunzhi turned the pages of the book.

Ning Ke sat next to her.

Seemingly bored, playing with her phone.

When Wang Mingzhi wasn’t paying attention, she quickly snapped a picture.

She sent it to her uncle.

[Uncle, are these two books worth buying?]

Her uncle didn’t reply immediately.

Lin Yun’s message questioning ‘where the hell did you go’ popped up again.

Ning Ke stood up.

Walked to the window.

Sent the photo to her.

[Ask someone to help inquire.]

[How much are these two books worth?]

Lin Yun replied, “[Nice hands!]”

Ning Ke: “[?]”

Lin Yun: “[Very dominant hands, have you done it?]”

Ning Ke: “[?]”

Ning Ke couldn’t be bothered with this drunkard.

The photo showed Yan Yunzhi holding the scroll with one hand.

The faint blue veins were visible on her slender hand.

Her knuckles were clean and long.

It was indeed beautiful.

But she had clearly asked her to check the price.

What kind of dirty thoughts were occupying this friend’s mind?

Ning Ke didn’t reply to Lin Yun anymore.

She had always been proud and competitive.

She didn’t like hearing even these kinds of jokes.

Would she be the type to be bullied by the sickly Yan Yunzhi?

Just then, Uncle Ning Hui finally replied.

[The asking price is too high.]

She replied with an OK.

Looked back and saw the seller standing aside talking on the phone.

Only Yan Yunzhi was sitting on the sofa.

Ning Ke decided to go over and tell her not to buy them.

Ning Ke felt a lingering bit of anger.

She walked back quickly.

“Yan Yunzhi! I…”

Yan Yunzhi asked, “Hmm?”

“I, I…” Ning Ke inexplicably stuttered.

Her voice trailed off as she spoke.

“Don’t buy them for now.”

Yan Yunzhi raised an eyebrow slightly.

Not quite understanding why her first half sounded so angry.

But the latter half softened again.

She also didn’t know what Ning Ke had been doing.

In this weather, a layer of glistening sweat beads appeared on the tip of her snow-white nose.

Her dark eyes were moist.

She tilted her head up slightly.

Her cherry-colored lips had a faint sheen of moisture.

Looking very soft.

Yan Yunzhi’s gaze changed slightly.

She took a step forward.

Her usually clear, mellow, and gentle voice lowered.

Tinged with a hint of amusement.

“Okay.”

“We’ll listen to our Little Ning.”