The occupancy rate in this villa area was quite low, making it exceptionally serene as the car glided smoothly through the tree-lined streets.
Flecks of dappled light danced rapidly over the two of them. Aurora gazed at the tranquil expanse of the sea, its surface twinkling with delicate sparkles. Her mood seemed to brighten. She had always loved the vast, blue ocean, feeling it could embrace everything.
Julian occasionally glanced at her, noticing her attention was entirely on the sea, clearly seeing her deep affection for it.
“Do you like the sea?” he asked casually.
“Mm.”
“How about we watch the sunrise together tomorrow morning?” He had initially wanted to watch the sunset with her, but since she had plans in the evening, he had to let that idea go.
“Do you have the time?” Aurora turned to look at him, skepticism in her eyes.
Julian’s lips curled into a smile. “Aurora, haven’t you noticed it?”
“What?”
“I’m pursuing you. I thought I had made that quite clear.”
He was probably the only one who would be so forthright about his intentions when pursuing a woman. His suggestion yesterday was just a pretext to keep her close, albeit cloaked in a guise of business.
“I thought you were like this with every woman,” Aurora said nonchalantly.
Seeing the expression on her face, Julian realized she truly didn’t believe he genuinely liked her. Proving one’s affection was always such a challenging task.
“I’m only good to you.”
“Three years ago, before we knew each other, we just met and we made love. I thought you must be quite an expert in romance.” Aurora deduced from his identity and previous behavior. His approach to her was likely because her past actions had unsettled him, and his re-engagement was probably driven by a desire for revenge for her deceiving him back then. She suspected that once she developed feelings for him, he might heartlessly cast her aside. Thus, she wouldn’t simplify her thoughts about him.
“An expert? When it comes to romance, I’m still a novice,” Julian chuckled lightly, admitting candidly. He knew exactly what she meant.
Aurora didn’t believe him, her sarcastic smile deepening. “Really? Then shall I teach you?”
“That would be an honor.” They both spoke with underlying meanings as the car stopped in the garage and they slowly got out.
Besides a key, the door could also be unlocked via a code or fingerprint. Aurora set a new code, and the door opened promptly. The room was spotless, cleaned thoroughly, with slippers and other amenities prepared in advance, all part of the service to make guests feel more comfortable.
The architectural style of the house was Mediterranean, primarily in refreshing shades of blue, which she, a lover of the sea, was bound to appreciate. They ascended the spiral staircase to the second floor, which housed several rooms, including a study, a bedroom, a music room…
White sheer curtains embroidered with designs fluttered in the breeze. In the center of the room stood a pure white grand piano. As she slowly approached it, memories began to surface.
“Aurora, when playing the piano, you must concentrate and remain calm,” a young, clean voice echoed.
“But there are so many keys. I always forget them,” the girl complained.
“Just try to remember them a few more times, and you will. Come here. I’ll teach you.” The figure of a young man in white shone brightly in the sunlight, watching him play was always a pleasure.
When he played the piano, he was like a prince, so no matter how difficult the piano was, she had to learn it. She wanted to be his princess. Her mind was filled with chaotic notes, her fingers wandering unconsciously over the piano keys as Julian heard the piano from downstairs. Among the sadness, there was anger and other emotions mixed in.
Piano?
He snorted.
Of course, he hadn’t forgotten his nephew, who had been hailed as a “genius” pianist from a young age.
He stood outside the door, watching the woman in the black skirt sitting in front of the white piano, her fingers swiftly moving across the keys. She was playing Beethoven’s “Pathetique” third movement, which required fast fingers and was a real test of a pianist’s skills. It was evident that Aurora was very talented and conveyed the emotions of the piece with great intensity. So, even after three years, had she still not completely forgotten that man?
Aurora was lost in her playing when suddenly, Julian, unnoticed by her, joined in her piece. The complex notes he remembered so clearly could ruin the piece with a single mistake. His long fingers moved ceaselessly over the piano, harmonizing seamlessly with hers. He wanted her to know. Even amidst the sadness, he was there with her, and she would no longer be alone going forward.
As the piece concluded, the lingering notes still floated in the air, not fading away for a long time. Aurora’s emotions had not yet settled when the sound of the piano rose again. This time, she played a gentle, romantic piece “Fur Elise”. Probably everyone in the world had heard this piece, and the stories behind it varied widely, with many versions. The most classic was that Beethoven wrote it for the woman he loved, and it was often used for confessions of love.
Now, as he began playing this piece, it was clear. Aurora gently stood up, leaving the space to him. The man wore a well-fitted suit, and his hands were handsome, with long fingers perfect for playing the piano. She had thought Hayden was good enough with piano, but only today, hearing Julian’s playing, did she realize that playing the piano wasn’t just for that one man alone. In the sunlight, his figure was also outlined in a golden hue, so noble and impeccable, his demeanor stern. If Hayden was a prince when he played the piano, then Julian surely was a king. The entire world seemed to lie at his feet.
He could make her emotions change with the music, a powerful influence that must be the pinnacle of a pianist’s skill. After the piece ended, he rose gracefully and walked towards her, a refined smile on his lips. “Do you know why Hayden was so persistent with the piano?”
She shook her head. She didn’t know this, as he had been playing the piano since she met him. She thought it was his hobby and had never asked why. Could there be other reasons?
“I don’t know.”
Julian gently brushed a stray lock of her hair from her cheek to behind her ear, saying each word carefully, “Because when he was seven, he heard me play a piece.”
Aurora’s eyes widened suddenly. “Wasn’t it because he liked it?”
“What if I told you that he never liked the piano but just wanted to be better than me in everything?” Julian explained, leaving Aurora utterly astonished.