61
Yaxin came to the Bible room.
John gazed at Yaxin’s worried expression and said, “Vivian, you don’t look happy! Can you tell me what happened?”
Yaxin said, “Daddy, I don’t want Mom to work so hard just to buy me a piano; and I also don’t want Uncle and Grandpa to make Eldest Uncle and Aunt angry at us just because they want to buy me a piano…”
John said, “Daddy is very touched by your filial piety. I should be the one to buy you the piano; this is my responsibility as a father.”
Yaxin said, “Daddy…”
John said, “Don’t worry, I will handle this matter properly. Teacher Candy has said that sooner or later you will need a piano of your own. Go and ask Teacher Candy to come over, tell her I have something to talk to her about.”
“Okay.” Yaxin stood up and left. Not long after, she appeared again together with Candy.
“Candy, I’ll have to trouble you to help. Vivian’s mommy…” John conveyed Yaxin’s thoughts.
Candy said, “Actually, since Yaxin’s mommy already plans to buy her a piano, it’s just that she is not financially convenient at the moment, I can accompany you to meet her and communicate with her face to face.”
John said, “That’s exactly what I was thinking, I’m just afraid her mommy won’t accept my goodwill.”

62
Candy and Yuling were strolling on the pedestrian bridge at the Fisherman’s Wharf.
Candy said, “Big sister, Yaxin really does need a piano, but she doesn’t want to see you worrying over buying one for her.”
Yuling said, “Teacher Tang, I am truly grateful for the love you have given to our Yaxin. Since Yaxin is interested in music, of course I support her developing in this direction. Although I temporarily don’t have the ability to buy her a piano, Yaxin is willing to understand me.”
Candy said, “Yaxin is a considerate and sensible child; I feel very happy for you. However, you might as well consider giving her father John a chance to express his feelings for Yaxin.”
Yuling said, “Sigh! Teacher Tang, it’s not that I am hard-hearted, I just don’t want to have any involvement with John anymore. Back then, when he was injured and returned to the United States, it was when my daughter and I needed him the most, yet he didn’t come back. Later, because we couldn’t pay the rent, we were driven out by the landlord. If it hadn’t been for my second husband, my daughter and I would have been wandering on the streets…”
Candy said, “I can understand your situation at that time and your feelings now. But later John came back to look for you, and you were already nowhere to be found. This shows that he didn’t intentionally abandon you. Moreover, for more than ten years, John has never given up searching for you. Just based on this effort, you should give him a chance to make up for his fatherly love.”
Yuling asked with emotion, “Teacher, you mean John has never given up searching for us?”
Candy said, “Yes! When John met Yaxin at the church, he seemed to have a premonition that Yaxin might be his lost daughter. He took the initiative to talk to her, and indeed he found her. Westerners call this telepathy.”
Yuling pondered for a while and said, “Alright! I will give John a chance.”
“Big sister, I’m sorry. Without your consent, I took the initiative to ask John to come. Don’t leave, he is right under the bridge, I’ll go call him up.” After speaking, Candy turned and left.
“Teacher, you…” Looking at Candy’s back, although Yuling was surprised, she did not feel any resistance toward such an arrangement.
Not long after, John appeared and came in front of Yuling.
John gazed at Yuling and said, “Yuling, thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
Yuling said, “The child’s father, thank you for still keeping Vivian in your heart.”

63
Yaxin participated in the selection competition at school. When she walked from the contestants’ resting area into the auditorium and stepped onto the stage toward the judges, the teachers all noticed the hearing aid on Yaxin’s ear at the same time.
Teacher A asked, “Can a child like this play the piano?”
Teacher B also asked, “Which class is this contestant from?”
Teacher B flipped through the contestant roster in his hand.
Teacher B said, “Qiu Yaxin? Have you heard of this child?”
Teacher C said, “She seems to be from the first-year gifted class, just let her try.”
Yaxin sat at the piano and played the assigned piece. At the beginning, because of nervousness, the sound of the piano was somewhat stiff, but after her emotions stabilized, she gradually improved. After finishing the performance, Yaxin nodded to the teachers and walked off the stage.
Teacher A said, “This student is really a pity. If her ears were not like this, she would definitely perform even better.”
Teacher B said, “I think we can give her a chance. Her performance is not inferior among these contestants.”

64
The phone rang. Yonglai picked up the phone: “Hello! You are Yaxin’s teacher? Hello teacher, oh I see, okay okay, thank you!”
Just then Zhikun came in from outside. Yonglai called out to him: “Zhikun, come here for a moment.”
Zhikun walked forward: “Dad, what’s the matter?”
Yonglai said with joy, “Yaxin’s teacher called and said that Yaxin has already passed the school piano competition selection.”
Zhikun said, “Really? I knew Yaxin would definitely get in.”
Yonglai instructed, “Hurry and go to the music shop in town and ask when the piano can be delivered.”
“Okay, okay, Dad, I’ll go ask right away.” Zhikun immediately left the living room, got into the small truck, and drove out.

65
Father John had just walked out of the Old Street music shop. After several consecutive days of rain, today’s sunlight felt especially warm and comfortable to him. He walked along the old street, warmly greeting the townspeople he knew.
Zhikun, wearing a one-piece fisherman’s outfit, hurried excitedly into the music shop: “Boss, has the piano I ordered arrived?”
The owner said with a smile, “Mr. Qiu, the piano you ordered is currently out of stock. However, just now someone else ordered an imported piano and paid the full amount in cash immediately. I have already instructed the staff to deliver one to you right away.”
Zhikun widened his eyes in surprise and asked, “What? An imported piano? Isn’t that very expensive?”
The owner said, “That piano is imported from Europe. The cash price is only seven hundred thousand, not considered expensive!”
Hearing this price, Zhikun was so shocked that he stammered, “Se-se-seven hundred thousand and that’s not expensive? Who, who paid the money?”
The owner said, “It was Father John from the church!”
Zhikun muttered to himself, “Father John? Why does this name sound a bit like my elder sister’s foreign ex-husband? Could it really be that John who flies airplanes? I need to find a chance to ask my sister when I get back…”
The owner said, “Go home and wait. The piano will be delivered soon.”
Full of questions, Zhikun walked out of the music shop.

66
Teacher Candy and Xiyang were wholeheartedly performing a duet in the rehearsal room of the Presbyterian Church. Yaxin ran in from outside in high spirits: “Big brother, Teacher Candy!”
Candy asked, “What’s wrong? What makes you so happy?”
Xiyang also asked, “Yeah, I’ve never seen you this excited.”
Yaxin said, “I passed the school piano selection competition!”
Xiyang clapped and said, “That’s great!”
Candy also said, “I knew you could do it!”
Yaxin said joyfully, “Thank you.”
Xiyang said, “The next competition is the key. The audience will be allowed in then, right? Don’t get stage fright at the last minute.”
Candy said with a smile, “Don’t start scaring her already. Yaxin, just treat it with a normal mindset. Xiyang and I will also go watch your competition then. Keep it up!”
Yaxin said, “Mm, I will do my best.”
Xiyang said, “Alright, to celebrate Yaxin passing the selection, let’s not have class today. I’ll treat you to a meal!”
Yaxin said, “Big brother, no need. I want to hurry home and tell Mom this good news.”
Xiyang said somewhat disappointedly, “Oh, I see…”
Candy said, “You don’t have to feel disappointed. If you can’t treat Yaxin, you can still treat me.”
Xiyang said, “I’m afraid I’ll be eaten bankrupt by you.”
Candy twisted his arm and said, “I’m Candy, not Pig!”
All three burst into laughter.
Candy said, “Yaxin, this good news should be told to Father John so he can share this joy.”
Xiyang asked in confusion, “Candy, does the priest also take care of these things?”
Candy said, “They are father and daughter. When the daughter performs well, the father should of course know!”
Xiyang asked in surprise, “What? Father and daughter? You mean…”
Candy said, “They recognized each other not long ago.”
Xiyang understood and said, “Yaxin, congratulations!”
Candy said, “Yaxin, I’ll go with you to find Father John. Xiyang, wait for us.”
Yaxin said, “Okay.”
Xiyang said, “Go ahead.”
Candy linked arms with Yaxin and went toward the priest’s residence.
John was trimming potted plants at the door. Seeing them, he put down the pruning shears and said, “Candy, you look full of joy. There must be good news to share with me.”
Candy said, “There is indeed good news, but the protagonist is your daughter Yaxin.”
John asked with a smile, “Oh? What kind of good news?”
Candy said, “Yaxin, you tell the priest yourself.”
Yaxin blushed and hesitated.
Candy said, “Your daughter is shy, I’ll say it for her. She passed the preliminary round of the school piano selection.”
John said joyfully, “That is indeed good news. My daughter, I am proud of you.”

67
Yaxin returned home and found that there was no one in the living room. Just as she felt puzzled, Zhikun ran over excitedly: “Yaxin, you’re back! Hurry, hurry, Uncle will take you to the warehouse to have a look.”
Zhikun pulled Yaxin’s hand toward the warehouse. When Yaxin reached the entrance, she first saw Yonglai, Yuling, Youji, and Meiyin all crowded inside, seemingly looking at something. Then she saw the brand-new piano placed in the middle of the warehouse.
Yonglai happily asked, “Yaxin, you’re back. Do you think this piano is beautiful?”
Youji rushed to say, “Yes! It’s beautiful!”
Meiyin rolled her eyes at her younger brother and said, “Grandpa is asking big sister, not you.”
Yuling said, “Dad, the piano is for playing, not for looking pretty. Yaxin, come, quickly try playing it.”
Yuling pulled Yaxin’s hand and led her to sit at the piano. After gently caressing it for a moment, Yaxin played a simple piece. She then turned to look at her family.
Yonglai said with tears in his eyes, “My good granddaughter is really outstanding. Not only is she good at studying, she can also play the piano.”
Zhikun said, “Yaxin, the warehouse is still messy now. I will tidy it up more. From now on, this place will be your piano room.”
Aijiao and her son Dafu came to the warehouse door, attracting everyone’s attention.
Dafu asked, “Mom, can I also play the piano in the future?”
Aijiao scolded him, “You naughty child, what piano are you trying to learn? Let’s go!”
Aijiao pulled Dafu away by his ear. Everyone laughed except Meiyin. Then Meiyin left silently with a gloomy face. Only Yaxin noticed that something was wrong with Meiyin’s expression.

68
Yaxin came to the room and saw that Meiyin was already lying on the bed with her head covered, asleep. She walked to the desk and lovingly touched the piano keys she had drawn, and found a singing competition registration form on Meiyin’s desk. She picked it up and examined it carefully, then turned to look at Meiyin, and carefully put the form back in its place.
Yaxin thought, “So my younger sister wants to participate in a singing competition.”
The next evening, after Meiyin returned home, she heard Yaxin playing the piano. At first she did not pay attention, but later she realized that Yaxin was playing the assigned piece for the competition she was entering. Meiyin stood at the doorway somewhat stunned.
Yaxin stopped playing and beckoned to Meiyin. Meiyin walked toward the piano and stood behind Yaxin.
Yaxin said, “Little sister, I’ll play, you sing.”
The piano sounded, but Meiyin did not speak for a long time and stood there in a daze.
Yaxin asked, “Aren’t you going to participate in the singing competition? Hurry and sing.”
The piano sounded again, and only then did Meiyin begin to sing.
When Yuling passed by, she saw the two getting along harmoniously and felt gratified.

69
At lunchtime, Yaxin sat at her seat putting away her utensils. Yan Ruyu appeared at the classroom door.
Yan Ruyu said, “Yaxin, come here for a moment.”
Yaxin went to the corridor.
Yan Ruyu said, “First, teacher wants to congratulate you on passing the school piano competition selection. You have really worked hard.”
Yaxin said, “Thank you.”
Yan Ruyu said, “Yaxin, have you decided what you want to do after graduating from high school?”
Yaxin shook her head.
“In that case…” Yan Ruyu handed the materials in her hand to Yaxin and said, “Would you like to consider applying to the music department?”
On the cover of the materials it read “NTNU Department of Music Independent Admission Brochure.”
Yan Ruyu said, “This is this year’s brochure. Take a look first.”
Yaxin nodded and accepted it.
Yan Ruyu said, “Then next year you might as well give it a try. The independent admission is usually earlier, usually in March. With your grades, even if you don’t get in, it will still be in time to start preparing for the joint entrance exam.”
Yaxin returned to her seat, flipping through the brochure and falling into deep thought. The “Princess group” gathered around her. Not wanting to be disturbed, Yaxin silently turned off her hearing aid.
Girl A said, “As expected of a good student, she really receives special care from the teacher.”
Girl B said, “Who knows if she’s really well-behaved, or just deaf and mute with slow reactions, so she only looks well-behaved.”
Girl C said, “Even a deaf person can pass the piano competition selection. I think our school has no talent.”
Girl A asked, “Why doesn’t she respond at all?”
Girl B also asked, “Is she really deaf or just pretending?”
Girl C said, “So boring, let’s go.”
The group left, leaving Yaxin alone, focused on reading the brochure.

70
Zhikun was tidying fishing nets in the yard. From the piano room flowed out a beautiful piece, “Wedding in a Dream.” Zhikun stopped what he was doing. After listening for a while, he went into the house and brought out a wooden armchair, placing it beside the tea table in the yard. He took out a Walkman from his pocket, placed it on the tea table, pressed the record button, and reclined comfortably in the chair, with an expression of enjoyment on his face.