The Pitiful Guy I Saved Is a Possessive Big Shot - Chapter 9

Sun Ming always felt that these words sounded a bit strange.

Most importantly, after hearing Bai Yexi say that, the young master of the Shi family actually followed with a nod.

His expression was incredibly serious.

Sun Ming: “…”

He was more speechless than ever.

It wasn’t just Sun Ming; the whole hall went silent for a moment because of those words.

Clearly, no one expected this cold young man to say something like that.

The curly-haired owner was also stunned, but he quickly snapped out of it.

Did these two know each other?

Then they had walked right into his trap; he could easily frame them for working together to scam his piano shop.

The owner sneered to himself.

He was a businessman, an expert at being two-faced and saying whatever served him. Did these two kids really think they could outplay him?

“What do you mean ‘slander’? You saying I intentionally made it silent is the real slander!”

The owner spread his hands, acting innocent.

“I never even touched the piano. You two…”

Before he could finish, a warm and elegant voice interrupted him.

“You didn’t touch it because the piano isn’t broken at all.”

The speaker was the young man who had entered with Shi Qingning. He looked to be in his early twenties, gentle and handsome, with a natural smile that made people feel comfortable.

Even his rebuttal was calm and steady, naturally drawing everyone’s attention.

“The keys can still make sound.”

As he spoke, the young man walked to the piano and pressed the same key the owner had tried.

“Do—”

Like magic, the piano’s sound actually returned.

The owner froze. He hadn’t expected someone to show up and ruin his plan so effectively.

And he did it with a total knockout blow.

The crowd exploded.

“What? How did that happen?”

“Was it because the owner didn’t step on the pedal when he tested it, so there was no sound?”

“That’s not right. All three of them stepped on the pedals when they played!”

“Then why did it have sound sometimes and not others? Is this a magic trick?”

The young man patiently waited for the noise to die down before explaining.

“It’s not magic.”

He gently placed his hand on the piano body, stroking it as if it were a lover.

“The reason there was no sound just now is that the hammer failed to return to its position; it got stuck against the muffler felt after being pressed.”

“As for making it sound again, you just need to step on the left pedal.”

The young man gestured, and everyone looked down to see him pressing the pedal on the left.

“That is the soft pedal, which moves the muffler curtain. Once the hammer falls back into place, it can make sound again.”

“If you don’t touch the soft pedal, the hammer will get stuck against the muffler curtain again after a few hits, and the sound will vanish.”

The young man released his foot and stepped on the right pedal instead.

He tapped a few keys, and sure enough, after a few notes, a key went silent.

“Wow…”

“So that’s why!”

The crowd was amazed.

This demonstration fascinated everyone; it felt better than a magic show.

The most difficult part of a performance is the performer’s charisma, and clearly, this young man’s ability to engage the audience was top-tier.

The young man gestured toward Bai Yexi.

“So, this young man’s keys sounded normal because he used the pedals correctly.”

“But this owner intentionally avoided the left pedal while testing and purposely adjusted how hard he hit the keys.”

The young man stopped smiling and said slowly.

“Because he already knew the hammers on this piano were faulty.”

The owner’s face had already turned sour from the whispers, but now that he was being accused directly, his face turned pale with rage. “Nonsense! Pure lies!”

Many parents nearby frowned and covered their children’s ears.

“What’s wrong with this man? Swearing in front of kids—where are his manners?”

The owner was too panicked to care. He pointed at the young man.

“You just walked into my shop and knew the piano was broken? You’re framing me! You didn’t even touch the piano before this!”

The owner glared. “I bet you’re all together, trying to scam me!”

“Your piano is faulty, and I can tell without touching it.”

By comparison, the young man was very calm, making him look much more dignified.

He pointed to his ear.

“Because I heard it.”

“Heard it?” The owner laughed angrily. “I spit on that! You think you have magic ears? You think you can f*cking hear…”

As the owner kept cursing, the shop manager, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly widened his eyes.

He worked in sales and dealt with many people in advertisements. He finally recognized the man’s identity.

“Wen…”

The manager’s voice trembled. He pointed at the young man, looking shocked.

“Wen Ming!!!”

“What?” The owner snapped. “What are you mumbling about?”

But the manager didn’t need to answer. A parent in the crowd gasped.

“Wen Ming! Are you that Mr. Wen?!”

“Who is he? What’s his deal?”

Everyone was curious.

The parent slapped their leg.

“It’s Wen Ming! Mr. Wen! The youngest Level 1 Piano Tuner in the country!”

“A tuner?”

“No wonder he’s so professional…”

The crowd was full of praise.

A piano tuner is responsible for the quality and pitch of the instrument; they live by their ears.

Everyone understood now.

So, this young man was a tuner; no wonder he said he heard it.

But what shocked them most wasn’t just that he was a tuner, but that he was—

The youngest “Level 1.”

The parent continued explaining.

“Last month, the Steinway piano at my boss’s house went out of tune. He hired several tuners, but none of them could fix it. They said it was too expensive to risk touching. Finally, one tuner called Mr. Wen for help.”

The parent got excited, pointing at Wen Ming.

“It was him! It was amazing! Just by listening over the phone, he identified the pitch and gave instructions to the tuner on-site to fix it!”

“My boss tells everyone that Level 1 tuners are truly geniuses!”

After he finished, everyone looked at the young man with even more respect.

Pros know that piano tuning has no fixed rules; it’s not like a screw in a factory that is perfect at a certain turn.

It relies entirely on the tuner’s ear to find the perfect sound.

“This isn’t just a good ear,” someone whispered. “This is a golden ear.”

Wen Ming smiled slightly. “You flatter me.”

He was humble, but the parents were there for piano lessons. They knew exactly what a Level 1 tuner meant to a student.

Immediately, people started handing him business cards.

“Mr. Wen, can we exchange contacts?”

“Could you look at our piano when you’re free? Name your price!”

Wen Ming was surrounded. He waved his hand and apologized with a smile.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been hired by this young gentleman recently.”

Wen Ming pointed at Shi Qingning and winked.

“I don’t have time right now. Let’s talk about schedules after I finish my work here.”

The crowd was disappointed but still asked for his contact info.

Being surrounded by such warmth should have felt great.

But Wen Ming suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

If he wasn’t mistaken, the chill started right when he said, “I’ve been hired by this young gentleman.”

Wen Ming looked up and caught the gaze of the long-haired boy nearby.

Wen Ming: “…”

He silently and inconspicuously took half a step back.

The children didn’t understand the adults’ talk; they just stared at the handsome people.

Amidst the noise, a child whispered, “That long-haired brother looks so grumpy.”

“I still think the short-haired brother is more handsome.”

Of course he looks grumpy, Wen Ming thought.

To be honest, he had been impressed by the boy’s looks at first sight.

But now he just felt the cold shoulder.

Wen Ming sighed to himself. He shouldn’t have teased them by imitating the boy’s words.

That kid seemed so cold and didn’t seem to care about anything.

Why did he care so much about such a small comment?

Standing by the piano, Shi Qingning looked at it for a moment and asked, “The hammers are sticking because of the humidity, right?”

“Yes,” Wen Ming nodded approvingly. “Pianos are easily affected by humidity, especially in open spaces. It ruins the pitch.”

His words quieted the crowd again.

“Haicheng is a peninsula, so the humidity is high,” Wen Ming said.

“If you have pianos at home, watch out for dampness.”

The parents nodded.

“However,” Wen Ming’s tone shifted, “a piano usually stays in tune for six months to a year after a regular tuning. Even if there’s a problem, it’s easy to spot.”

“A piano in a shop like this should be maintained regularly.”

He looked at the owner.

“So, can you explain why you put a clearly faulty piano in the lobby and framed someone for breaking it?”

The owner’s face was gray. He was speechless.

From the moment he learned Wen Ming’s identity, he regretted everything.

To run a piano shop and offend a top-tier tuner—the consequences would be disastrous.

He felt only deep regret.

The parents also snapped out of it and started accusing the owner.

“Seriously, framing a kid like that.”

“That’s so low.”

“What kind of person does this?”

“Piano is an art and a hobby,” Wen Ming said. “A piano shop should teach kids and nurture their character.”

“But instead, you did this in front of so many children.”

Beside him, Shi Qingning said coldly.

“Shameless framing, swearing, and lying.”

Shi Qingning was young and looked tender.

Since he was a kid himself, his words were even more impactful.

“Can people like you really teach children well?”

Parents are sensitive about their kids. Once Shi Qingning pointed it out, they reacted immediately.

“Exactly! This is such a bad influence!”

“You’re in education? You don’t even know how to be a good person!”

“Seeing how you bully people, this definitely isn’t the first time!”

“Who knows if they’ve done this before? What if they frame us later?”

“I’m done! Give me back my form! Refund!”

“I’m quitting too! I’m going to tell the parent group chat so everyone avoids this shop!”

The discussion turned into one voice:

Refund! No more lessons here!

Originally, because of Bai Yexi’s playing, the shop should have made a lot of money today. But now that the truth was out, the business deals failed and existing students were quitting.

Plus, with so many witnesses, the shop’s reputation was ruined.

As the hall grew noisy, Shi Qingning knew Bai Yexi didn’t like crowds, so he pulled him away and left the shop.

The air outside was much fresher. Shi Qingning took a breath and turned to ask.

“Are you okay?”

Bai Yexi was calm; the incident didn’t seem to affect him at all.

“I’m fine.”

Shi Qingning was relieved. He was about to leave when he saw people from other piano shops coming over to watch the drama.

They saw Bai Yexi talking and whispered in surprise.

“Oh my god, he’s not mute…!”

Shi Qingning: “…”

Shi Qingning frowned and was about to speak, but the person beside him asked.

“What is it?”

Shi Qingning looked back and saw Bai Yexi’s cold green eyes. He clearly hadn’t heard the whispers.

“Nothing,” Shi Qingning said. “Just saw some rude people.”

He didn’t want Bai Yexi to hear those words.

The boy had already been hurt enough.

Shi Qingning didn’t notice that he was actually younger than the boy he was trying to protect.

Shi Qingning said, “Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Shi Qingning and Bai Yexi, along with Wen Ming and the bodyguards, went to a nearby mall to try out some pianos.

Shi Qingning had his own piano, and his new villa even had a special sunroom for it.

This trip was mainly to help Bai Yexi choose one.

The reason Wen Ming came along was also to help select the piano.

Shi Qingning wanted a professional opinion.

He didn’t expect Wen Ming to help him out earlier.

The process went smoothly. Unlike the previous shop, this was a high-end piano store specializing in custom orders. The quality was much higher.

Choosing a piano isn’t just about quality; it’s about the connection between the player and the instrument. That’s why Shi Qingning invited Bai Yexi to choose in person.

But Shi Qingning didn’t tell Bai Yexi the piano was for him.

He just said he needed help testing them.

After choosing the piano, they looked at benches. The staff said, “The pattern on the bench can be customized. Any preferences?”

Shi Qingning said without thinking, “Mint.”

Feeling Bai Yexi’s gaze, he paused and added, “And a lemon branch.”

Shi Qingning thought this way it wouldn’t look like it was only for Bai Yexi.

It wouldn’t be a burden for “Mint.”

Once everything was settled, Shi Qingning and Bai Yexi left to go back to the Shi house.

The piano would be delivered later. Wen Ming stayed behind to handle details.

Shi Qingning and Bai Yexi sat in the back of the car. Before getting in, Shi Qingning asked.

“Mint, do you get car sick?”

The novel didn’t mention this, but looking at him, Shi Qingning felt he was too thin and couldn’t help but worry about his health.

“If you do, sit in the front,” Shi Qingning said. “The back is worse.”

Before he finished, Bai Yexi followed him into the back seat.

They sat side-by-side. Bai Yexi said.

“I don’t get sick.”

Shi Qingning smiled, relieved.

“That’s good.”

When the boy smiled, a small dimple appeared on one side. It was very sweet.

It was a sight worth lingering on.

In the afternoon, the bright sunlight shone through the car window.

The warm gold light fell on the boy’s clear face.

It was the most beautiful sight imaginable.

Bai Yexi looked at him. Under the sunlight, his cold green eyes were no longer dark but showed a bright, intoxicating emerald color.

The boy was still thinking about what happened.

“That piano shop owner was so annoying.”

Shi Qingning frowned. He was only fifteen or sixteen, and his face still looked a bit childish. When he was angry, his cheeks puffed out slightly.

Even though he looked young, he was seriously giving advice.

“If you meet people like that again, expose them on the spot so they can’t lie. If that’s too much trouble, just stay away from people who look suspicious.”

Bai Yexi kept watching him.

Shi Qingning was used to his silence and continued.

“If you want to practice piano in the future, just come to my place.”

He remembered saying he couldn’t practice long because of his health, so he changed his wording.

“You know, my health isn’t great, so I can’t practice for long. The piano is usually free, so feel free to use it.”

Before he could finish, Bai Yexi interrupted him.

“Don’t say that.”

Shi Qingning was stunned.

He saw Bai Yexi frown. It was the most emotion he had seen on the cold boy’s face. Even when framed by the owner or provoked by Jian Ren, Bai Yexi had stayed indifferent.

But now, Bai Yexi was taking Shi Qingning’s casual words seriously.

“About your health, words like that are bad luck.”

Bai Yexi said.

“Don’t say that again.”

He wouldn’t even repeat the phrase “poor health.”

He was like an extreme superstitious believer.

He refused to utter a single bad omen.

Shi Qingning was surprised and nodded after a while.

“Okay.”

He didn’t expect Bai Yexi to care so much. He thought Bai Yexi didn’t care about anything.

Because of his past and his personality, Shi Qingning always felt Bai Yexi lacked a bit of “life.” That’s why he kept nagging him, fearing he’d be bullied.

Shi Qingning blinked, his eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings in the sun.

“I thought… I thought you didn’t care what people said.”

He said.

“That owner framed you, and you didn’t even argue.”

Bai Yexi was silent for a moment, then whispered.

“It was meaningless.”

Arguing with the owner was meaningless?

Shi Qingning followed up casually.

“Then is it meaningful to talk to me like this?”

Bai Yexi went silent again.

After asking, Shi Qingning realized the question could be misunderstood. He was about to take it back when he heard the boy’s low, raspy answer.

“Yes.”

The car was playing soft music. Shi Qingning wasn’t sure, but he thought he heard two more words after the answer—

“Everything is.”

Everything is meaningful? Shi Qingning thought.

That made sense. “Mint” was serious even when he just said “Okay.”

Shi Qingning turned to look at the boy. The sun fell on Bai Yexi’s long hair, making it shine like silk. He also saw a silver chain around Bai Yexi’s neck. It was a long chain wrapped twice; one loop sat like a collar, and the other hung loosely over his thin collarbone.

It looked very good.

Bai Yexi himself was very good-looking.

Shi Qingning thought.

In his heart, “Mint” was a very, very good kid.

When they returned to the Shi house, the piano teacher had already arrived. There was no time for a tour; Shi Qingning took Bai Yexi straight to the piano room.

The room was on the second floor with great lighting. The sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows without obstruction, living up to the name “Sunroom.”

There were two pianos inside. The teacher was sitting by one, smiling as the two boys sat down.

She was a kind old lady with elegant white curly hair.

She had been a famous beauty in her youth and was still graceful. She wore a silk shawl and gave gentle instructions.

“Keep your wrists flat. Yes, relax.”

Both boys had played before, so they didn’t need to start from zero.

However, Shi Qingning’s posture received special attention. Not because it was wrong, but because it was too perfect.

“Don’t be so tense, dear,” the old lady said gently. “If you keep your back that straight, you’ll get tired quickly.”

Shi Qingning tried to relax, but he didn’t know how.

He had never experienced a relaxed body. The shadow of his heart condition meant he was always fighting fate. Even now that he was healthy, it was hard to change his habits.

While Shi Qingning was struggling, he felt a light touch on his back.

Bai Yexi, sitting at the other piano, reached out and placed a hand on Shi Qingning’s back.

He applied a little pressure, guiding the boy to lean slightly and find a better, more relaxed posture.

“Yes,” the teacher said with a smile. “That’s it. Very good.”

Shi Qingning turned his head and gave a soft smile.

The smile was sweet and obedient.

His voice was soft too.

“Thank you.”

The person being thanked seemed to freeze for a second, and his cold green eyes looked away.

“Oh dear,” the teacher shook her head.

“Now you’re the one who’s gone stiff!”