Chapter 3
Editor: Princess
Qin Huanxi looked amused as he watched the butler, whose steps were unusually light and face full of smiles. This old butler, always so composed and proper, rarely showed such excitement. He seemed almost impatient. Qin Huanxi chuckled softly, “Uncle Zhao, what’s the good news today?”
The butler paused for a moment, then awkwardly rubbed the tip of his nose with his finger, however the smile on his face didn’t fade. “Young Master, the good news isn’t for me—it’s for you. I can guarantee that at tomorrow’s birthday banquet, you’ll absolutely be the brightest star in the room.”
“Oh?” Qin Huanxi‘s tone rose slightly, his curiosity piqued.
The butler smiled but didn’t elaborate further. A surprise like this wouldn’t mean much if explained—it needed to be experienced. He led Qin Huanxi upstairs, down a long hallway, and finally stopped at the door at the very end. Knocking gently, he said respectfully, “Master, the Young Master is here.”
“Come in!” The old man’s strong, energetic voice rang out from inside the room.
The butler immediately opened the door and stepped aside, gesturing for Qin Huanxi to enter. “Young Master, please!”
Qin Huanxi stepped into the room, his eyes curiously scanning the furnishings. Dozens of exquisite violins filled the space, clearly the old man’s most prized collection room. From the memories of this body, Qin Huanxi knew how much the old man cherished this room. No one was usually allowed to enter freely—not even the original owner of this body, who had only been in here two or three times in twenty years.
“Grandpa.” Qin Huanxi withdrew his gaze and stood still, greeting the old man politely.
“You’re here…” The old man put down the violin he had been caressing and motioned for Qin Huanxi to come closer. Once Qin Huanxi approached, the old man turned and walked to the wall, sliding aside one of the cabinets to reveal a hidden door behind it. Opening the door, he stepped inside and called out, “Huanxi, come in with me.”
Qin Huanxi smiled. It turns out this collection room had a hidden secret too. But then again, the old man’s collection was really impressive. Every violin in here was worth a fortune, and some were even crafted by the world’s three most famous violin makers. They were priceless treasures.
Qin Huanxi stepped into the inner room and immediately noticed its meticulous design— this was a clear reflection of the owner’s deep reverence for his collection. He watched as the old man retrieved a locked box, entered several passcodes, and took out an ancient-looking violin. Qin Huanxi’s eyes widened in astonishment. “A Stradivarius?”
Even though he had mentally prepared himself, being brought to the collection room so suddenly—and for the first time allowed into the inner sanctum—clearly meant the old man had something significant to show him. Yet at this moment, he was still overwhelmed with excitement. From the memories he had inherited, he knew the old man owned a rare and precious violin, one he rarely ever showed to others. Even the original body had only caught a fleeting glimpse of it as a child.
In his younger days, the old man had been a world-renowned violinist, and there was one violin that had never left his side. He valued it more than his own life.
When Qin Huanxi was very young, the old man had patted his head and told him, “This violin is Grandpa’s best companion. It got me through my loneliest times and stood by me on countless dazzling stages. Without this violin, I wouldn’t be who I am today. This partner of mine has brought me unmatched glory and dignity.”
“She has a beautiful, captivating name—Black Diamond!”
“Black Diamond…”
The old man caressed the violin’s body with reverence, tenderness, and a sacred devotion, his eyes burning with uncontrollable passion. After a long while, he finally handed the violin to Qin Huanxi. “Only someone worthy of her can use her. If, in my lifetime, I can’t find someone whose dignity matches hers, then when I leave this world, I’d rather have her buried with me.”
Qin Huanxi steadied his trembling hands and took the violin carefully. Stradivarius, Amati, and Guarneri violins were the three most famous in the world, but not every Stradivarius carried such extraordinary value.
As a violin enthusiast, Qin Huanxi had grown up hearing countless legendary stories about this instrument. Black Diamond’s first owner wasn’t the old man; in fact, it had been passed down through several generations of the Qin family before finally ending up in his grandfather’s hands.
After the old man retired from the global stage, the world hadn’t seen Black Diamond in years. Qin Huanxi had always assumed that the one to inherit it would be his father. His father had once used this violin in a major competition, a performance that catapulted him to fame overnight. But his parents had tragically passed away in an accident ten years ago, and for the decade since, Black Diamond had remained unseen.
“Grandpa, can I really use her?” Qin Huanxi still couldn’t quite believe it.
The original owner of this body also had a fine violin, crafted by the Amati family, a birthday gift from the old man that had accompanied him for over a decade. But no matter how good it was, it couldn’t compare to Black Diamond. Qin Huanxi didn’t dare hope to own Black Diamond in the future, but if he could perform on stage with it even once in his lifetime, he would have no regrets.
The old man smiled warmly, his expression gentle and kind as he patted Qin Huanxi’s head lovingly. “Why else would I arrange for you two to meet?”
“Really? Is it really okay?” Qin Huanxi felt like his heart was about to leap out of his chest, his wide eyes brimming with anticipation.
The old man suddenly burst into a hearty laugh, saying teasingly, “Don’t believe me? If you don’t believe it, you can try it now.”
Qin Huanxi stared at the old man, and under his encouraging gaze, nodded firmly. Then, his expression shifted. With a serious and solemn air, he gently raised the violin. The cool touch of the strings at his fingertips made him feel as if he were dreaming. A sacred glow seemed to radiate from the violin, traveling through his fingers and spreading throughout his entire body.
In ‘Florence Nights’, there was once a description of the violin performances of the world’s most famous violinist, Paganini: “Within the music lies a sacred passion beyond words. At times, it trembles mysteriously, like soft whispers on gentle waves, so faint it’s barely audible. At other times, it’s like a horn resounding through the forest day and night, so sweet it tugs at your heartstrings. Finally, it bursts into an unrestrained cheer, as if a thousand wandering poets were plucking the strings together, singing a triumphant anthem. Such divine music cannot be heard with your ears. It can only be dreamed with your heart, on a quiet night with your lover close by.”
At this moment, Qin Huanxi suddenly understood what that experience and emotion were like. From the moment Black Diamond released its first note, he understood, he was mesmerized, he was enchanted. He was completely immersed in the violin’s melody, giving it his all, as if even the slightest distraction would be an unforgivable insult to Black Diamond.
In another villa on the Qin family estate, a gentle and melodious tune drifted through the air softly, and the servants, unable to resist, found themselves lost in the beautiful sound of the violin. But in the next moment, a sharp, jarring note pierced the air, followed by a series of loud crashes. Something had hit the ground, and then came the chaotic sounds of objects being smashed and furniture being kicked, interspersed with the shattering of glass and porcelain.
The servants were jolted out of the dreamlike trance created by the violin’s music. Startled and panicked, they scattered in all directions, hurrying back to their tasks.
Qin Siyu’s fingers gripped the edge of the table so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her once elegant and beautiful face was now twisted with rage, her bloodshot eyes glaring at the violin lying amidst the mess on the floor. She clenched her teeth to hold back a scream, but her fiery gaze, red and piercing, looked as though it might bleed.
Qin Huanxi!
It was all because of Qin Huanxi. If it weren’t for him, she would have already been the most outstanding violinist in the Qin family. She had thought she was finally free from living in his shadow. Whether it was heaven’s will or fate’s cruelty, she believed that only if Qin Huanxi disappeared could she really live her own life.
But hadn’t Qin Huanxi already become a vegetable? Didn’t the doctors say his chances of waking up were slim? Why didn’t the heavens just take him away? Why did they let him wake up again?
Ever since Qin Huanxi returned, the glory she had worked so hard to earn slipped further and further away from her grasp. Even the chance to perform at the birthday banquet was being taken from her. How could she accept that?
“Siyu, what’s going on here?” Zhu Xia walked in and immediately frowned at the sight of shattered glass and porcelain scattered across the floor. Her already stern expression turned icy, and when her eyes landed on the violin carelessly tossed on the table, her anger flared. “Is this how you treat your violin?”
“Mom, I…” Qin Siyu hesitated under her mother’s furious gaze. She glanced at the violin lying amidst the mess, surrounded by toppled items and a spilled glass of water that was now dripping off the edge of the table. Panicking, she rushed over, picked up the violin, and held it carefully in her arms.
“Mom, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I…” Qin Siyu shook her head desperately.
Zhu Xia let out a soft sigh and gently brushed back Qin Siyu’s disheveled hair, tucking the strands covering half her face behind her ear, revealing her delicate features. She sighed again. “Siyu, if you stay like this, forget about Grandpa ever noticing you—you’ll never surpass Qin Huanxi in your lifetime. Your father and I know how hard you’ve worked, but these past few days, your practice hasn’t been focused. You’ve been making constant mistakes…”
“Mom!” Qin Siyu finally couldn’t hold back and interrupted her mother’s lecture, her voice choked with emotion. “Mom, Grandpa is so biased! Ever since we were kids, he’s only ever had eyes for Qin Huanxi. Whether it was competitions or concerts, Qin Huanxi was always his first choice. When has he ever thought about us as Qin Huanxi’s siblings? When has he ever given us a chance to shine? And he always says the violin is our companion, but he has so many great violins. He knew Cousin An always wanted that Amati, but even though we’re all his grandchildren, he still gave it to Qin Huanxi as a birthday gift…”
“Enough, Siyu! How can you shout like this? Do you want your father to hear? Have you forgotten all the manners I’ve taught you? No matter what happens, you must never forget your composure.” Zhu Xia’s brows furrowed deeply.
“Composure?” Qin Siyu let out a mocking laugh. “Mom… do you even know how hard I’ve worked for tomorrow’s birthday banquet? I practiced so much with Uncle because I was afraid I wouldn’t be good enough. During the day, I begged him to practice with me a few extra times, and at night, I stayed up late practicing alone. I didn’t want to disappoint Grandpa. I kept thinking, this is my chance. Finally, I can show everyone that the Qin family doesn’t only have Qin Huanxi—we also have me, Qin Siyu. I wanted to be a granddaughter Grandpa could be proud of. But why? Why did Grandpa have to go back on his word? Why does he treat me like this…”
Zhu Xia looked at her daughter, who was crying and shouting at the top of her lungs. A flash of hatred crossed her eyes as she recalled the news she’d received earlier. But she quickly composed herself, softening her tone to comfort her distraught daughter. “If you work hard enough, that day will come…”
“Work hard? No… that day will never come…” Qin Siyu murmured through her tears, resting her head on her mother’s shoulder, her expression vacant.
Zhu Xia held her daughter tightly, gently patting her back. Her face was calm, but her eyes glimmered with an unreadable light.
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