Chapter 304: Tone

The young salesman became extremely enthusiastic upon hearing they wanted to buy a piano. He eagerly began highlighting the advantages of one particular piano. While listening, Lei Yin walked over to the piano and pressed each key slowly, one by one. Then, with slightly quicker movements, he ran through all the keys before telling the salesman, “The transition from the middle range to the lower range on this piano doesn’t sound very natural. You should have your tuner check it.”

The salesman, realizing Lei Yin seemed to know what he was talking about, quickly called over the female tuner.

The ponytailed woman repeated Lei Yin’s actions, testing each key. Afterward, she turned to the salesman and said, “The pitch on this piano is indeed a bit off. I’ll need to check it.”

While cursing her bluntness in his heart, the salesman quickly smiled and reassured Lei Yin and Naoko, “Our tuner means the piano might need some minor adjustments, not that there’s any real defect. Please don’t worry.”

Lei Yin replied indifferently, “Go ahead and adjust it. We’ll look at some other pianos in the meantime. It’s not like we’re set on this one.”

“Of course, feel free to browse and try any of them,” the salesman said with an ingratiating smile.

As they walked toward the other pianos, Naoko, brimming with surprise, grabbed Lei Yin’s hand and asked, “Lei, you know how to play the piano, don’t you?”

Lei Yin shrugged. “I learned a bit a long time ago, but it’s been years. I’ve probably gone much longer without playing than you.”

Hearing this, Naoko grew even more excited. “Then can you play a piece for me?” she asked eagerly.

Lei Yin glanced at her and replied, “It’s been so long that I don’t really feel like it anymore.”

Naoko looked a bit disappointed at his response.

“But if there’s a reward involved, that’s a different story,” Lei Yin added with a sly smile.

“Really?” Naoko looked at him with renewed hope.

With a mischievous grin, Lei Yin leaned close to her ear and whispered, “If you buy a black lace lingerie set and wear it for me, I’ll play a piece for you.”

Naoko’s face instantly turned crimson. Lowering her head, she lightly punched him with her hand.

Lei Yin caught her delicate hand and smirked. “That’s the reward I want. Can you agree to it?”

“You’re so shameless,” Naoko muttered softly, her face still flushed.

“If you don’t object, I’ll take that as a yes,” Lei Yin said smugly, pulling her toward the piano that the tuner had just adjusted near the window.

Naoko looked at him, both amused and curious.

Sitting down at the piano, Lei Yin said, “To thank you for such a generous reward, I’ll play a world-famous classic for you.”

Hearing the word “reward,” Naoko’s face reddened again. “Stop talking and just play,” she said, feigning annoyance.

Lei Yin chuckled, stretched his fingers briefly, and lifted the keyboard cover.

Moments later, as Naoko watched him use just his two index fingers, like someone who didn’t know how to type, plinking out the supposed “world-famous classic” one key at a time, she couldn’t help but feel she’d been tricked.

Technically, what he was playing was a song—one that had been around for a long time. But to her disbelief, it was the “ABCD” alphabet song that children sing while learning English.

The familiar, almost comically simple melody made the other customers in the store glance over with amused smiles.

As Lei Yin looked at her with a smug expression, Naoko, her face burning with embarrassment, felt like biting him.

Just as the comical piece ended on its final note, Lei Yin suddenly placed both hands on the keys with a proper posture. Without warning, the music shifted, and the flowing melody of Für Elise began to stream effortlessly from his fingers.

As the beautiful, serene notes filled the air, Naoko stared at him in astonishment. He really could play the piano.

Although Für Elise was relatively simple and widely played, there was something uniquely different about his performance. The melody was light and fluid like a gentle stream, but the tone was so clear and profound that it felt like being under his gaze.

Toward the end, the tune unexpectedly transitioned into another piece—one Naoko had never heard before. Despite its unfamiliarity, it was remarkably beautiful.

After a few minutes, the impromptu melody concluded seamlessly. Lei Yin closed the keyboard cover and slowly stood up.

As Lei Yin stood up, a round of applause erupted from the other customers.

Hearing the clapping, Lei Yin bowed gracefully like a gentleman, then straightened and said with a smile, “I hope you won’t forget to buy a ticket before leaving.”

His words elicited hearty laughter from the customers.

Ignoring them, Lei Yin walked over to Naoko. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, “In addition to that black lace lingerie, you still owe me two more sets of sexy outfits. Don’t forget.”

Flushing with embarrassment, Naoko immediately gave him another light punch and avoided meeting his eyes altogether.

Lei Yin was utterly captivated by her shy and charming expression. If not for the many “light bulbs” around them, he would have embraced her right there and then.

At that moment, the sales manager approached, clapping and smiling. “Sir, your playing was truly exceptional. This is the first time I’ve ever heard a customer play so well. The piano from earlier has already been tuned. Would you like to try it again?”

Not wanting to endure more flattery, Lei Yin pulled Naoko toward the piano.

When they reached it, Lei Yin tested the keys again before turning to the female tuner nearby. “Which piano do you think is better, this one or the one near the window?”

Without hesitation, the tuner pointed to the piano near the window. “That one.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s more expensive.”

Hearing her response, the salesman felt utterly defeated, while Naoko couldn’t help but laugh behind her hand.

Lei Yin nodded approvingly. “Fair enough.”

Then, turning to the salesman, he said, “I’ll take the one by the window. Can you deliver it tomorrow morning?”

“Of course! We’ll make sure it’s delivered on time,” the salesman replied joyfully.

Lei Yin then looked at the tuner and asked, “If the piano needs tuning in the future, can I contact you?”

“Certainly.” Without hesitation, she pulled out a business card and handed it to him.

Lei Yin glanced at her name on the card before casually slipping it into his pocket.

After paying with a credit card, Lei Yin took Naoko’s hand and led her out of the piano store, heading toward the restaurant where they had planned to rest.

Not long after they left, a young woman wearing a baseball cap and peculiar sunglasses approached the female tuner. “Miss Xiang, with your piano skills, there’s no need to work this hard. Why not quit your current job and become our full-time accompanist?”

The tuner continued testing the sound of a piano as she replied, “My main job is as a tuner. Accompanying you is just my side gig.”

“Ugh, you’re so cold-hearted,” the girl grumbled.

“You seem to have a lot of free time to chat with me,” the tuner remarked without looking up.

The young woman yawned. “I just finished recording and am dead tired. I wanted to find a place to rest but didn’t feel like going back to my apartment, so I came here instead. Not welcome?”

“You’re welcome, but it’d be better if people didn’t see your face. If anyone recognizes you, this place will get chaotic with fans.”

“Don’t worry. Dressed like this, no one will notice me. But I didn’t expect to see someone I really dislike here.”

“Who?”

“That man who asked for your business card just now.”

“Did he offend you?”

“He once tried to kill me.” Thinking back to the nerve-wracking drive to the airport, Angel grew angrier. But what infuriated her most was the man’s complete indifference to her at the time.

Knowing this idol singer had a penchant for exaggeration, the tuner didn’t take her words seriously and continued her work.

Angel felt even more frustrated by her indifferent reaction but understood that was just her personality and didn’t press further.

After a while, Angel suddenly asked, “Miss Xiang, what was the name of the piece that guy played at the end?”

“Somewhere in Time. It’s the piano theme from an old movie.”

“What did you think of his performance?”

“Not bad.”

“I thought it was just average,” Angel said, a bit sulkily.

“At least I wouldn’t have played it better,” the tuner remarked without turning her head.

Hearing such high praise from someone with exceptional piano skills who usually avoided competitions, a strange look flashed in Angel’s eyes.