After Sui Dongsheng's regret, Bo Yuxu also began to regret.
He should have gone along.
The family activity had left him out entirely?
At first, Bo Yuxu's piano notes flowed like a babbling brook, relaxed and measured. Gradually, they grew restless, then slowly settled back into calm.
Bo Yuxu thought about the 'apprentice'—another child had formed such a close bond with his mother without his knowledge.
So he complained to Yanyi about it.
Yanyi's response was for him to be more generous, not to act like he did with An Ran—jealous at first, but then building a good friendship later.
To Bo Yuxu's ears, this could be summed up in four words: 'no improvement.'
'No improvement?'
'No improvement!'
Bo Yuxu took a deep breath and pressed all five fingers down at once, producing a sharp, irritated sound.
"Tired, are you?"
Hu Fangyue brought over some fruit. She thought the kid had been at it from eight in the morning until one in the afternoon without eating, which showed incredible focus.
She picked out a piece of the season's first pineapple. To her old taste buds, it was sour enough to set her teeth on edge.
But Yuxu was said to have a unique palate, so she'd bought it especially for him.
Bo Yuxu ate it from his grandmother's hand. "It's fine. Not too tired."
"Stuck on this piece?"
Bo Yuxu paused, then shook his head bluntly. "...No, I've made good progress."
Hu Fangyue hesitated. What was this? This was the first time she'd heard Bo Yuxu praise himself so unapologetically.
But it was a good thing.
Hu Fangyue fed him another bite. This time Bo Yuxu's taste buds returned, and he covered his mouth, saying, "So sour."
Hu Fangyue: "..."
So sour was normal, huh?
Guess she wouldn't be buying pineapple again anytime soon.
"Your mother will be back soon. Why don't you eat early and then get some good rest?"
Bo Yuxu's fingers curled in the air. They were long and slender, flexible enough for the piano, but now they felt sore and stiff, the joints grinding as he moved.
Maybe he really shouldn't practice anymore.
He took his grandmother's advice and ate at his own small table. Apparently, his grandfather had some woodworking skills and had made it in the living room.
There were two, placed facing each other. Compared to Yanyi's, his was much newer.
Even better suited to his body than the one at home.
No wonder Grandpa had measured his height when he first came in.
But he was still growing, which meant the table and chair would need constant replacement. Grandpa wouldn't mind, though.
So this was what grandparental love felt like?
Bo Yuxu smiled slightly. He could clearly feel the happiness in such details.
He hadn't been sitting long when the door opened and a car pulled in.
Ji Yanyi plopped down opposite him.
Bo Yuxu wiped the smile off his face and put on a stiff expression.
'Still mad?'
Ji Yanyi's eyes were round as marbles. He stole a cautious glance, then dipped his finger into some ice cream and popped it into his mouth.
Bo Yuxu: "???"
"What are you doing?"
Ji Yanyi's cheeks were flushed. He felt a little guilty, but not much. "I ate your ice cream. I'll get you a new one later."
Bo Yuxu's smiling lips twitched. "That's not the point. The point is you used your fingers."
As far as Bo Yuxu could tell, Ji Yanyi had come straight over after entering the house. He hadn't even washed his hands.
It was a disaster.
Did Mom know he did this?
Almost immediately, Bo Yuxu stood up, but Ji Yanyi slid to his knees and begged for mercy. "It's the recording of this competition that Teacher Qiaozhe gave me for individual explanation!!"
Bo Yuxu's eyes shifted, and he sat back down.
Regular lessons already cost a fortune; he didn't want to spend extra on exam prep.
But Wen Qiaozhe was being too generous. The two of them were competitors in this competition.