He wants to adopt a younger sister, but his aloof wife disagrees.

On a clear morning after the rain, sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows into the living room of Tomson Riviera.

Tiny dust particles floated in the air, dancing in the beams of light.

Shen Qingge sat at the head of the table, holding her usual iced Americano. But today, her complexion was astonishingly good. Her skin was fair with a rosy glow, and the sharpness in her eyes and brows had disappeared, replaced by a languid allure.

The hug on the balcony last night, although it didn't go all the way (after all, there's a minor patient at home), that long-lost tenderness and mutual understanding was more nourishing than any skincare product.

"morning."

Jiang Che carried a steaming bowl of millet porridge out of the kitchen and placed it in front of Su Xiaoruan.

Su Xiaoruan's fever has subsided.

Although her face was still a little pale, she had regained much of her energy. She was wearing a pink bear-themed pajama set (which Shen Qingge had sent over last night), and had a fever-reducing patch on her head. She was sitting there obediently.

"Thank you, brother..."

Su Xiaoruan took the porridge, her eyes darting around a little, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Last night's high fever had blurred many of her memories. But that "dream" remained incredibly clear.

In her dream, she seemed to... kiss her brother?

Moreover, the touch was soft, warm, and had a faint minty scent, so real that it made her heart race.

"What are you looking at? There are flowers in the porridge?"

Jiang Che tapped on the table, interrupting her reverie.

"Ah! No...no!" Su Xiaoruan quickly buried her head in her porridge, trying to hide her guilty conscience.

"Now that the fever has subsided, let's get down to business."

Shen Qingge put down her coffee cup, regaining some of her CEO-like competence, but her tone softened considerably:

"I've had the enrollment procedures almost completed. Originally, I wanted to get you into Jianghai No.1 High School's senior year repeat class, but..."

Shen Qingge glanced at Su Xiaoruan and sighed:

"I had someone check your previous school records. You got 15 points in math, 8 points in English, and Chinese... you actually passed?"

Su Xiaoruan almost buried her head in the bowl, protesting softly, "That's because I wrote a good essay! I wrote 'My Eldest Brother'..."

Shen Qingge's lips twitched slightly: "Alright. With grades like yours, going to a regular high school would be like listening to gibberish; it would be a complete waste of time."

"So, I've changed your track."

Shen Qingge took out a recruitment brochure from her bag and pushed it in front of Su Xiaoruan:

"Jianghai Art Academy Affiliated High School. Taking the art exam route."

"Art exam?" Su Xiaoruan looked completely bewildered. "What's that? Drawing? Singing? Dancing?"

"That's right." Shen Qingge nodded. "The academic requirements are low; as long as your professional skills are strong, you can go to university. Although you're not good at studying, you're... not bad-looking. With a little makeover, you could become a star in the future."

Su Xiaoruan's eyes lit up when she heard "celebrity," but then dimmed again.

"But sister... I can't do anything. All I can do is wave my hands, is that considered a talent?"

Shen Qingge: "..."

She felt her migraine was about to flare up again.

"The hand gestures don't count," Shen Qingge said, rubbing her forehead. "Besides, art exams aren't easy. You either have to study fine arts, music, or acting. There are only a few months left until the exams, and you have zero experience..."

Shen Qingge looked at Jiang Che, her eyes questioning, "What do you think? If all else fails, we'll just have to spend money to get her into one of those diploma mills where you can just pay your way in."

Jiang Che was peeling an egg when he heard this and paused for a moment.

He remembered the [Top-Tier Musical Instrument Proficiency] reward he received from the system last night.

"Who said she had zero experience?"

Jiang Che placed the peeled eggs into Su Xiaoruan's bowl, wiped his hands, and stood up:

"Her voice is quite nice, very distinctive. As for musical instruments..."

Jiang Che's gaze fell on the corner of the living room.

There stood a black Steinway grand piano.

That was a standard decorative item in this mansion, worth over a million yuan. But since moving in, its only use has been to collect dust, or for Shen Qingge to occasionally put a bag on it.

"Can you play the piano?" Jiang Che asked Su Xiaoruan.

"No...no way." Su Xiaoruan shook her head. "I've never even touched it."

"It's okay, I'll teach you."

Jiang Che strode towards the piano.

Shen Qingge was stunned.

She watched Jiang Che's retreating figure, her eyes filled with confusion.

Married for a year, she had no idea that Jiang Che knew anything about music. In her mind, Jiang Che's hands were for chopping vegetables, typing, and at most, he knew a little about traditional Chinese massage.

Piano? That's an instrument for the nobility. Jiang Che, who came from an orphanage, where would he get the chance to learn it?

"Jiang Che, stop fooling around." Shen Qingge frowned and said, "I don't even know how to play that piano. Don't go up there and play it randomly. That's a Steinway, and tuning it is very expensive."

Jiang Che ignored her questions.

He walked to the piano, lifted the lid, and gently ran his fingers across the black and white keys.

That familiar touch made it seem as if the piano had been with him for decades. The system's skill infusion was perfect; at this moment, he was a top-notch piano master.

"Thump."

Jiang Che casually pressed a note.

Crisp and translucent.

"Xiao Ruan, come here." Jiang Che beckoned.

Although Su Xiaoruan didn't understand why, she obediently put down her spoon and ran over.

Listen carefully.

Jiang Che sat on the piano bench, his back straight. In that instant, his demeanor changed.

He is no longer the stay-at-home husband in an apron, nor is he the violent thug from last night.

Sunlight shone on his profile, giving him an elegant, melancholic, and profound artistic aura.

Shen Qingge was somewhat stunned.

This Jiang Che is so unfamiliar, yet so captivating.

next second.

Jiang Che's fingers moved.

A classic song, "Für Elise," flowed out.

But this isn't the kind of etude that beginners stumble through; it's a version arranged by Jiang Che. Light and agile, every note is handled perfectly, as if telling a tender story.

"this……"

Shen Qingge stood up in shock.

An expert's skill is immediately apparent. Although she can't play, as a socialite who grew up attending concerts, she certainly has the ability to appreciate music.

Jiang Che's skill level is definitely not just a "hobby"; it's practically master level!

The song ended.

The living room was completely silent.

Su Xiaoruan's mouth dropped open, her eyes sparkling with admiration: "Wow... Brother is so amazing! Your hand speed... is even faster than when I'm grabbing a computer at an internet cafe!"

Shen Qingge: "..."

That damn metaphor.

Shen Qingge walked over and looked at Jiang Che with a complicated expression: "When...when did you learn that?"

"When I was in the orphanage, there was an old volunteer who was a retired music professor who taught me for a few years."

Jiang Che casually made up a lie without batting an eye.

Anyway, that orphanage was demolished a long time ago, so there's no way to verify it now.

"I didn't expect you to have kept this so well hidden." Shen Qingge looked at Jiang Che's slender fingers, and the feeling of surprise and joy of "getting to know my husband again" welled up in her heart again.

How many more surprises does this man hold that she doesn't know about?

"Don't just keep praising me."

Jiang Che smiled, pulled Su Xiaoruan over, and made her sit next to him:

"Come on, try humming the melody I just played."

Su Xiaoruan was a little nervous: "I...I'll try."

She cleared her throat and, relying on her memory, softly hummed the melody she had just heard.

At first, she was a little off-key, but after a couple of sentences, her voice became more and more confident and accurate.

Most importantly, her voice.

It was a unique voice with a slightly smoky tone, yet incredibly clear. Like a broken gong kissed by an angel (just kidding), or a golden voice blessed by God.

"Perfect pitch."

Jiang Che was somewhat surprised.

He originally just wanted to show off, but he didn't expect this girl to be so exceptionally talented. The system was right; she really is a diamond in the rough.

"Did you hear that?" Jiang Che asked Shen Qingge.

Shen Qingge was also somewhat surprised: "Her...pitch is so good? She memorized it in just one take?"

"It's not just about pitch."

Jiang Che casually strummed a few complex chords on the piano keys: "What note is this?"

"Do...Mi...So?" Su Xiaoruan answered tentatively.

"All correct."

Jiang Che closed the piano lid, stood up, and struck the final note with the hammer:

"No need to choose between art and performance."

"Study vocal music."

"I'll personally teach her music theory and piano, in addition to her school's specialized courses." Jiang Che looked at Su Xiaoruan with a determined gaze. "I want her to get first place in the art exam three months from now."

Shen Qingge looked at the confident Jiang Che, and then at Su Xiaoruan, who looked bewildered but inexplicably excited.

She suddenly realized that this seemingly absurd "training program" might actually be worthwhile.

"it is good."

Shen Qingge nodded in agreement, then added:

"However, practicing the piano at home is fine, but you must not disturb the neighbors."

"besides……"

She walked to Jiang Che's side and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, with a hint of barely perceptible jealousy:

"From now on, I can only play this piano when I'm at home."

"I want to hear it too."

Jiang Che looked at his proud wife, who had begun to make demands, and smiled slightly. He leaned close to her ear and whispered:

"OK."

"I'll play for you alone when we get back to your room tonight."

"Play all night."

Shen Qingge blushed, glared at him fiercely, but did not refute him.

She knew that the "playing" Jiang Che was referring to definitely wasn't some proper piano.

……

That afternoon.

Su Xiaoruan was taken by Shen Qingge's driver to the advanced class of Jianghai Art Academy Affiliated High School for registration.

Before leaving, she clung tightly to the car door, crying like a little girl going to kindergarten.

"Brother! Remember to pick me up from school!"

"If you don't come, I'm eloping with the gatekeeper!"

Jiang Che kicked her into the car: "Get back to school. If you don't get into the top three, I'll break your legs."

Watching the car drive away.

Jiang Che stood by the roadside and took a deep breath.

Finally, we got rid of that clingy little devil.

Next, it will be time for him and Shen Qingge to enjoy their time together, and... how to use the tens of millions of dollars in cash and shares given to him by the system to give Shen Qingge an even bigger surprise in the business world.

After all, it's nice to be a kept man.