"what you up to?"

The icy question, like a tangible icicle, pierced the tranquil air in the study. Lin Nuannuan was trapped by Xie Chen in the small space formed by the sofa and his body. The sharp pain in her wrist and the chilling aura emanating from him caused her mind to go blank for a moment.

What was she trying to do? Could she say she was just seeing him having nightmares and, out of sheer madness, wanted to try and soothe him? Even she herself found such a statement absurd and laughable. In Xie Chen's view, it would likely only be a clumsy scheme and an act of ulterior motive.

The instinct for survival overwhelmed all panic at that moment. In a flash, Lin Nuannuan gave up struggling, even releasing all her resistance, letting herself lean softly against his chest, as if his pull had truly drained all her strength. She raised her eyes, which were misty with fright, her long eyelashes trembling fragilely like butterfly wings, her voice trembling with sobs and grievances, so weak it was almost inaudible:

"Sir...you're hurting me..."

She didn't answer his question, but instead shifted the focus to the "harm" she had suffered. This was a show of weakness, and also a silent accusation—look, your excessive vigilance has hurt your fragile "possessions."

Xie Chen's grip on her waist and wrists faltered almost imperceptibly for a moment because of her completely defenseless, dependent posture and her tearful accusation.

He looked down at the girl in his arms. Her face was pale, her eyes were slightly red, and her gaze as she looked up at him was filled with fear, grievance, and a hint of... dependence? It was as if he were her only parents, yet he had personally rejected them.

This look was unlike any he had ever seen before. It wasn't Lin Nuannuan's original fear and hatred, nor Gu Weiwei's aloofness, nor the awe and fawning of others. It was a more complex look, one that stirred the darkest, most unsettling emotions within him.

The frost in his eyes seemed to melt a little, but his vigilance remained deeply ingrained. He didn't immediately let go of her; instead, in this extremely ambiguous and dangerous position, he sharply scrutinized every subtle expression on her face, trying to find any trace of pretense.

"Why did you come in?" he asked in a different phrasing, his voice still low, but the terrifying killing intent had faded.

Lin Nuannuan's heart pounded in her chest; she knew the most crucial moment had arrived. She couldn't say she was concerned about him—that would be too deliberate. She needed to find a reason that fit her "persona" and was also plausible.

She lowered her eyelashes slightly, avoiding his overly sharp gaze. Her voice was still choked with emotion, but now tinged with embarrassment: "I...I was thirsty, so I came out for a drink. I saw the study light was still on and the door wasn't closed...so, I just wanted to see if you were still busy..."

She paused, as if gathering a great deal of courage, before continuing in a low voice, "Then... I saw you seemed to be asleep, but... you were sleeping very restlessly." She glanced at him quickly, then looked down again. "I... when I used to have nightmares, my mother would gently pat me, and it would make me feel better... I, I just wanted to..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear. She perfectly portrayed the image of a pet who felt timid and concerned because it saw its owner "not sleeping soundly," yet was at a loss because of its sense of boundaries.

She attributed her abrupt behavior to an awkward, almost instinctive reaction based on past experience.

A brief silence fell over the study, broken only by the sound of their intertwined breaths. Lin Nuannuan could feel his gaze on her face, heavy and scrutinizing.

Suddenly, Xie Chen released his grip on her wrist.

That hand then lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze again. His fingertips, slightly cool, caressed the delicate skin of her jawline; the movement wasn't gentle, but it was no longer aggressive.

“From now on,” he began, his voice devoid of emotion, “no one is allowed to approach me when I am asleep without my permission.”

This was a warning, but in a way, it was also... a setting of rules. It meant that he tacitly approved of her previous explanation, at least on the surface.

"I'm sorry, sir, I understand." Lin Nuannuan readily apologized, her eyes gentle.

Xie Chen gave her a deep look, finally releasing his hands from her waist and withdrawing the fingers that had lifted her chin.

"Get out," he commanded, leaning back on the sofa and closing his eyes as if nothing had happened.

Lin Nuannuan felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She immediately scrambled off him, her steps unsteady as she quickly left the study, gently closing the door behind her. Only when her back was against the cold corridor wall did she dare to breathe heavily; her back was already soaked with cold sweat.

Since the incident in the study that night, a delicate stalemate has existed between the two.

Xie Chen remained the same cold and elusive controller, but Lin Nuannuan could vaguely sense that a tiny crack had appeared in that layer of ice. He no longer completely ignored her as before; occasionally, during dinner, he would casually ask a question or two about the books or movies she was reading. Although his tone was still indifferent, at least it was a form of communication.

Lin Nuannuan, on the other hand, was even more cautious, adhering strictly to her role as a "caged canary," playing the obedient and docile role to the very end, never crossing the line. At the same time, she was also observing secretly. She discovered that Xie Chen's insomnia seemed to be quite severe; the light in his study was often on until the early hours of the morning, and even when he occasionally fell asleep, he was extremely restless.

Perhaps... this is still an opportunity? An opportunity that cannot be reached through action, but can be reached through other means.

She began to subtly influence him through subtle details. For example, she would "casually" mention a certain herbal tea that could help with sleep and brew herself a cup; she would "coincidentally" play some soothing music in the living room when he came home late at night; she would even "on a whim" follow a recipe to make a few soups that were said to have calming and soothing effects, and although the taste was mediocre, she would always "incidentally" save a portion for him as well.

She never explicitly stated that these things were done for him, as if everything was for her own needs and interests, and he was merely a byproduct.

Xie Chen neither agreed nor disagreed. He would occasionally sip herbal tea, and he wouldn't frown and turn off the music when it played, but as for soup... he never touched it.

Lin Nuannuan was not discouraged. She knew that with someone as wary as Xie Chen, a subtle and pervasive approach was far more effective than direct flattery. She was merely sowing seeds; whether they would sprout depended on time and luck.

That afternoon, Lin Nuannuan was engrossed in reading a psychology book on the sofa when Xie Chen, unusually, returned to the apartment during the day. He seemed to be in a good mood, and was followed by two assistants carrying a large object covered in velvet.

"Here you go." Xie Chen gestured for his assistant to place the item in front of the living room's French windows, then waved them away.

Lin Nuannuan stood up in confusion, looking at the covered object.

Xie Chen stepped forward and reached out to tear off the velvet cloth.

A grand piano, entirely black with sleek and beautiful lines, reflects a subtle yet luxurious luster in the sunlight streaming through the window.

Lin Nuannuan was stunned. A piano? Why did they suddenly give her this?

"Can you play?" Xie Chen walked to the piano, casually pressed a key, and the rich notes echoed in the empty living room.

Lin Nuannuan honestly shook her head: "No." The original Lin Nuannuan didn't know how, and she, Su Nian... was also a complete novice in music.

Xie Chen didn't seem surprised. His fingers lightly traced the smooth piano lid, his gaze falling on the keys. For a moment, his eyes drifted away, as if recalling something, but he quickly regained his clarity.

“Then you can learn.” He turned to her, his tone leaving no room for argument, “I will find you the best teacher.”

Lin Nuannuan was completely baffled by his sudden action. Did he think she was too bored and wanted to find her a toy? Or... was there some other deeper meaning?

She looked at the expensive piano, then at Xie Chen's deep, unfathomable eyes, and could only obediently nod: "Thank you, sir."

The piano lessons were scheduled three times a week. The teacher was an elegant middle-aged woman who was very patient in her teaching. Lin Nuannuan couldn't say she was passionate about the piano, but learning something new certainly helped her pass a lot of boring time, and she studied diligently.

She noticed that Xie Chen would occasionally appear in the living room when she practiced the piano. Sometimes he would sit on the sofa working on documents, and sometimes he would just stand at a distance, listening quietly for a while. He never commented, and his face was expressionless, but that silent "accompaniment" made Lin Nuannuan feel an invisible pressure.

He seemed to be observing something through the piano.

That evening, after finishing her day's lessons, Lin Nuannuan's fingers were a little sore, so instead of going back to her room immediately, she sat on the piano bench and casually and awkwardly played the few simple notes her teacher had taught her that day. The intermittent piano music echoed in the quiet apartment at night, hardly melodious.

Xie Chen walked over at some point, leaned against the piano, and watched her clumsy fingers move across the keys.

Lin Nuannuan felt his approach and her movements became even more stiff. She pressed the wrong note, producing a jarring sound. She stopped, somewhat embarrassed.

"Excuse me, sir, I disturbed you."

Xie Chen didn't respond to her apology. His gaze fell on her fingertips, which were slightly red from practicing, and he suddenly asked a completely unrelated question: "Are you afraid of the dark?"

Lin Nuannuan was taken aback, and subconsciously replied, "...a little."

Especially on those nights when I was locked in a suburban villa, the endless darkness seemed to swallow me whole.

Xie Chen remained silent for a moment, and then he did something that left Lin Nuannuan speechless.

He walked around to her side and sat down on the piano bench. The bench wasn't spacious, and his presence brought a strong sense of oppression and his uniquely cold aura.

Then, his long, slender hands, with distinct knuckles, accustomed to signing multi-million dollar contracts and imposing restraints, gently and awkwardly placed on the black and white piano keys.

He... wants to play the piano?

Under Lin Nuannuan's astonished gaze, Xie Chen pressed down, and a smooth, mournful melody, yet carrying a certain indomitable strength, flowed slowly from his fingertips like a stream under the moonlight.

It is Chopin's Nocturne.

His playing wasn't very skillful, and there were occasional slight pauses, but the emotions contained in the music were exceptionally rich—a deep, repressed loneliness and outpouring, as if struggling alone in boundless darkness.

Lin Nuannuan was completely stunned.

She stared blankly at the man beside her. His eyes were slightly lowered, his thick eyelashes casting soft shadows beneath them, his expression focused yet…vulnerable? The hard lines of his profile seemed to soften slightly in the gentle light. At this moment, he was no longer the aloof, ruthless controller, but rather like a lonely soul trapped in the cage of the past…

She never imagined that someone like Xie Chen could play the piano, and play such emotionally charged music.

As the music ended and the last note faded into the air, the study fell into an even longer silence.

Xie Chen's fingers remained on the piano keys, not immediately withdrawing. He turned his head slightly to look at Lin Nuannuan, his deep eyes churning with complex and intense emotions that Lin Nuannuan couldn't understand at all, as if he were looking through her at another distant time and space, another... person.

His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something.

However, in the end he said nothing.

The complex emotions that flashed in his eyes for a moment receded like a tide, quickly replaced by his usual coldness and indifference. He stood up, as if the person who had been immersed in the music and revealed a fleeting moment of authenticity was merely Lin Nuannuan's illusion.

Get some rest.

He uttered his usual, emotionless words, turned and left the living room without looking at her again or offering any explanation for his earlier playing.

Lin Nuannuan sat alone on the piano bench, the chilling scent of him still lingering around her nose, and the mournful "Nocturne" still echoing in her ears.

The stark contrast deeply shocked her.

Why did he suddenly play the piano? Who was that piece for? Was it for Gu Weiwei? Or... someone else?

What was the meaning behind that complicated and unpredictable look in his eyes when he looked at her just now?

The sudden piano, the unexpected performance, was like a boulder thrown into the already foggy lake of her heart, stirring up even bigger ripples and deeper confusion.

She felt as if she had touched a hidden corner beneath Xie Chen's icy exterior, but what lay beneath was a more dangerous undercurrent, or... the only path to his heart?

The suspense deepens at this moment—what secret lies behind Xie Chen's unusual behavior? Is this piano and this "Nocturne" a new test, or an unintentional flaw? All this awaits to be revealed in the next chapter.