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Chapter 1
Editor: Princess
Proofreader: Paranoid Kitten
On a peaceful summer afternoon, the elegant melody drifting through the villa’s lush, flower-filled garden seemed to chase away the oppressive heat, soothing the restlessness that came with it.
After a while, the enchanting violin music came to an abrupt stop. Steady footsteps approached from a distance, carrying an air of composed precision and confidence.
Qin Huanxi calmly set down his violin, picked up a teacup, and took a small sip to moisten his slightly dry throat. His gaze shifted toward the elderly man walking steadily toward him. The man’s hair was white, but his demeanor was full of energy. Qin Huanxi’s lips curved into a gentle smile as he greeted warmly, “Uncle Zhao!”
Hearing this, the butler quickened his pace slightly and stopped five steps away from Qin Huanxi. Bowing respectfully, he said, “Young Master, the Old Master requests your presence in the front hall.”
Qin Huanxi put down his teacup, called over a maid to put away his violin, and then turned to the butler, saying, “Let’s go.”
The butler immediately stepped aside to make way. Once Qin Huanxi passed by, he followed at a measured pace, maintaining a respectful distance while discreetly observing the young man ahead of him.
The young man had a tall, slender figure but looked slightly frail. In the scorching summer heat, his exposed skin appeared strikingly pale, carrying the faint trace of someone who had just recovered from a serious illness.
The butler, who considered himself to have lived nearly a lifetime with one foot already in the grave, had served this internationally renowned musical family for decades. He had seen all kinds of people—he wouldn’t claim to read them perfectly, but his judgment was sharp. Yet, he found himself unable to see through the young man before him.
The Qin family’s young master, Qin Huanxi, had been burdened with high expectations since birth. He was labeled a “violin prodigy” from a young age, winning numerous world-class violin competition gold medals while still a child.
As such an exceptional violinist, he carried the weight of his family’s future on his shoulders, leaving little else in his life besides the violin.
However, three months ago, on his way to a concert, Qin Huanxi was involved in a severe car accident. After being rushed to the hospital, he underwent hours of emergency surgery. While his life was saved, whether he would regain consciousness was entirely up to his willpower.
For the next two months, Old Master Qin spared no expense or effort, but the celebrated prodigy remained in a coma.
Just when everyone had lost hope, Qin Huanxi, who had been unconscious for nearly three months, suddenly opened his eyes. Old Master Qin was so overwhelmed with joy that he nearly fainted. After a whirlwind of tests and treatments, Qin Huanxi recovered at an astonishing pace and was discharged from the hospital a week ago.
The old Qin Huanxi had a gentle, quiet, and obedient personality, with a touch of introversion.
Born into such a prestigious musical family, Qin Huanxi’s life path had been meticulously planned and paved for him from the moment he was born. All he had to do was follow it to the end.
For the past decade or so, Qin Huanxi had spent nearly all his time either traveling to international music competitions and concerts or practicing and studying the violin.
The butler still vividly remembered the only time Qin Huanxi was harshly reprimanded. He was just five years old at the time—a naturally playful age—even for someone who had started learning the violin at three.
One day, he had secretly played with a toy and accidentally scraped his finger. Though it was a minor scratch without even a drop of blood, it caused a flaw in his subsequent practice.
The butler clearly remembered how the late Madam’s expression had darkened immediately. The young Qin Huanxi had turned pale with fear, and from that day forward, he never forgot her words: “An artist’s hands are their life.”
From that day on, he lost all his toys. Until he grew up, the violin was his only companion.
But those memories belonged to the butler’s impression of the prodigy from the past. The Qin Huanxi who had woken up was someone he couldn’t quite figure out—almost unsettling. His once-clear eyes now carried a sharpness that replaced their former innocence. His frail frame seemed imbued with an aura of strength, shedding its previous fragility.
Whenever the butler tried to discern the boy’s thoughts through his eyes, he would be frozen in place by Qin Huanxi’s faint, enigmatic smile. It unsettled him, sending waves of panic through his heart and forcing him to avert his gaze. He had no choice but to admit that the old Qin Huanxi had ended with that car accident.
Qin Huanxi walked into the hall with calm composure and called out to the elderly man reading on the sofa, “Grandpa!”
The old man lifted his head, revealing an aged yet still energetic face. And seeing Qin Huanxi, his eyes softened immediately. He took Qin Huanxi’s hand, gently patting it as he said, “Huanxi, how’s your body today? If you feel unwell, you must tell Grandpa, alright?”
Qin Huanxi smiled and sat down beside the old man obediently. Facing his kind and gentle grandfather, his tone softened naturally. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. The doctor already checked me this morning. My body has recovered well, and there’s nothing to worry about anymore. The aftereffects you were concerned about didn’t happen at all. Plus, I’ve been exercising every day. You really don’t need to worry.”
“This puts my mind at ease,” The old man said with a sigh of relief. “Your parents passed away so early. If anything were to happen to you, how would I face them when I’m gone? Thankfully, the heavens had mercy on this old man and didn’t take you away from me.”
“Grandpa, please don’t say that. Look, I’m perfectly fine now, and you’ll live a long and healthy life too.” Qin Huanxi couldn’t bear to see the old man lament like this, so he quickly offered a few comforting words before changing the subject. “Grandpa, you called me over in such a hurry—was there something you wanted to discuss?”
Old Master Qin nodded. “I’ve noticed you’ve been practicing your violin diligently these past few days. Since your health has recovered and practice isn’t an issue, I want you to perform at the opening of my birthday banquet this year. Starting tomorrow, you’ll practice with your uncle.”
Qin Huanxi’s brows furrowed ever so slightly. “Wasn’t the violin performance assigned to cousin Siyu?”
The old man sighed. “Siyu did perform well before, but ever since you woke up, well…”
The old man trailed off, his tone carrying an unmistakable trace of disappointment. Qin Huanxi lowered his head thoughtfully, though the crease in his brow didn’t relax. He understood his grandfather’s feelings, but given the current situation, he preferred not to attract too much attention. Besides, his cousin Qin Siyu was a troublesome figure in her own right.
“In past years, you were always the one performing. If it weren’t for your health before, and if Siyu hadn’t been so eager to step up, along with your second uncle wanting to give her a chance, I wouldn’t have even considered her,” Old Master Qin sighed. He wasn’t a harsh or rigid man and was willing to let the younger generation shine, but only if they had Qin Huanxi’s talent and composure to earn the admiration and respect of others.
If it were an ordinary banquet, he wouldn’t mind giving the younger generation more opportunities to showcase their skills. But his birthday banquet symbolized the Qin family’s dignity and prestige. The guests attending were influential figures across various fields. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his granddaughter, but there was no room for even the slightest mistake. The Qin family couldn’t afford to lose face.
“Yes, Grandpa, I understand.” Qin Huanxi didn’t need to think too much to grasp his grandfather’s concerns.
Old Master Qin nodded in satisfaction, his smile tinged with affection. Among his descendants, there were many exceptional musicians who had performed on world stages and garnered global acclaim, but only Qin Huanxi truly deserved the title of “genius.”
Qin Huanxi would be the brightest star among the Qin family’s musicians.
After a brief pause, Qin Huanxi said, “By the way, Grandpa, now that my health has recovered, I’d like to return to school after your birthday banquet.”
Old Master Qin’s eyes softened even more with relief. He patted Qin Huanxi’s head and said, “Alright, I’ll make the arrangements for you.”
“Thank you, Grandpa.” Qin Huanxi stood up with a smile. “If there’s nothing else, I won’t disturb your rest. I haven’t touched the violin in three months, and I’m still not satisfied with my practice these past few days. I’d like to head back and keep at it.”
Hearing this, Old Master Qin’s smile grew so wide that his eyes crinkled. “Good, very good. Practice is important, but don’t forget to rest.”
“Yes, Grandpa!” Qin Huanxi replied as he walked out of the hall. Noticing the butler following him, he turned back with a smile and said, “Uncle Zhao, no need to see me off. Stay here and keep Grandpa company.”
The butler subconsciously turned to look at the old master. Seeing him nod, he respectfully replied, “Yes, young master.”
Qin Huanxi returned to the small building where he lived alone. After instructing the staff not to disturb him, he quickly went upstairs. Entering the study, he locked the door behind him, then slumped onto the sofa, grabbing a cushion to prop up his back as he massaged his throbbing temples.
Playing the role of a musical prodigy from a prestigious family was far harder than he had imagined. In truth, he had been acting this part all along. The real genius violinist, “Qin Huanxi,” had died three months ago in that car accident. What remained was only Qin Huanxi’s body, now inhabited by a completely different soul.
Ning Xue—that was the name etched deep into his soul. But sadly, he could no longer live under that name. The person known as “Ning Xue” no longer existed in this world. His body, along with the life he should have lived, had been reduced to ashes buried beneath the earth, leaving behind only a gravestone as proof he had ever existed.
Qin Huanxi, still leaning against the sofa, slowly lay down completely. He raised his hands before his eyes—these were the hands of a carefully nurtured artist. The fingers were long and slender, the joints distinct, undeniably beautiful. Yet to him, no matter how many times he looked at them, they remained unfamiliar.
Qin Huanxi took a deep breath and placed the back of his hand over his forehead, closing his eyes gently. Memories belonging to both his soul and this body interwove and churned in his mind, stirring up his thoughts and causing a sudden headache. His recently recovered body couldn’t withstand the fatigue any longer, and he eventually drifted into a deep sleep.
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