Chapter 1286 — Chapter 1286 Tian Kai

"Let's begin the session." Tian Kai said as he walked up to Tan Songyun before taking a seat right in front of her.

"Play me one song. It doesn't matter which one."

Tan Songyun nodded and randomly picked one of the songs she would play to the public.

Tian Kai closed his eyes and listened in silence.

Several minutes later, she asked him, "How was it?"

Tian Kai opened his eyes and released a deep sigh, "Unbelievable. How did you manage to worsen your skills since your performance several weeks ago?"

"W-What? It's worse?" Tan Songyun was speechless.

"Play me a different song," Tian Kai requested a moment later.

"Okay..." Tan Songyun proceeded to play a second song. This time, she selected a piece she was particularly confident in.

However, Tian Kai's cristim only worsened, "It's even worse than your last song! Good heavens, your talents are backwards!"

"..."

Tan Songyun was beginning to wonder if he was merely messing with her.

She frowned and said, "What am I doing wrong? Can you at least tell me that?"

Tian Kai didn't answer her question and instead said, "Play the song again. I'll show you."

'Is he doing this so he could experience my performance for free?' she wondered inwardly as she played the same song again.

"Once again, it's gotten worse." Tian Kai shook his head at the end of the song.

Tian Kai shrugged, "It's not my fault that you're thinking about useless things when you play the zither."

"What…?" Tan Songyun's face loosened a little after hearing his words.

"You're thinking too much. Clear your mind and play from your heart. Let your feelings guide your fingers, not your mind," he offered genuine advice for the first time.

"Clear my mind? That's easier said than done! There's no way I can do that so suddenly." Tan Songyun said.

"Then allow me to ask you one question. Why do you play the zither?" he suddenly asked her.

"Why? To make a living, of course."

"Really? Even though there are plenty of other things you can do to earn money?" Tian Kai looked at her with a doubtful gaze.

Tan Songyun frowned and responded in a cold voice, "What are you implying? That I should sell my body instead? You're no different from the other men! I'm disappointed in you! Leave!"

However, Tian Kai had a bewildered look on his face and said, "How did you manage to misunderstand my few words so much? I'm impressed."

"Then what are you implying?"

"I'm trying to say that you're lying." Tian Kai sighed.

"I'm what?!"

"Whether intentionally or not, you're lying to me, and more importantly, to yourself, by claiming you play the zither merely to make a living. I can discern what you cannot from the way you play the zither," Tian Kai remarked.

"You could've chosen to be a dancer, or even a songstress, yet you chose to play the zither despite the burden it puts on your heart."

"Burden…?" Tan Songyun looked at him with a puzzled face.

Tan Songyun could no longer bear it and frowned, "Stop messing with me or I will call the guards and have you removed!"

"When you played the zither pubically that day, you were disheartened throughout because the audience wasn't truly listening to your music. With your heart so heavy, it's no wonder your performance was so terrible. And if you were truly playing for the money, you wouldn't have such a burden in the first place."

"You..." Tan Songyun was at a loss for words. She couldn't comprehend how he could see through her so clearly; it was as if he could read her mind.

"Those feelings — I want you to forget about them while you are with me because I am listening, so play the zither with that in mind."

Unbeknownst to her, Tan Songyun began to cry, as she had always longed to hear such words — to know that someone was listening to her music.

Without requiring any further instructions or another word spoken, Tan Songyun's fingers started to glide along the zither's strings.

'What's this feeling…? My shoulders… my hands… they feel so light… like feathers…'

For the first time, Tan Songyun was completely absorbed in her own performance with a clear mind.

As the song neared its conclusion, Tan Songyun experienced a sense of regret, not wanting her newfound feeling to end.

After the song concluded, Tan Songyun fell into a profound silence, her gaze fixed on her trembling hands that were reluctant to release the zither.

Tian Kai's voice broke the silence a moment later, "That was a little better than your public performance, but it's still terrible. What do you think? If you still want me to leave, I'll never show my face here ever again."

When Tan Songyun heard his words, she immediately lifted her head and exclaimed, "No!"

"Please… stay here and listen to my music a little longer…" she uttered with a rosy face.

Tian Kai smiled and said, "My ears can only handle so much, but if you improve with every song, I think I'll be able to endure it."

Tan Songyun hastily nodded her head even though the idea of improving with every song was beyond her comprehension.

Over the next hour, Tian Kai would continue to give her guidance, but he did not directly teach her how to play the zither, only allowing her to improve by herself.

When she realized this, she asked him for the reason.

"Why? It's simple. I don't have the authority to take away your style — to take away what makes you unique. I am not teaching you because I want you to play like me. I want you to play your own zither."

"What makes me unique…?" Tan Songyun did not know how to respond to his reasoning.

"Anyways, let's end the lesson here."

"Eh? But I can keep on going!" Tan Songyun quickly said.

"The more you try to force something, the less effective it will be. If you want to continue we will do it another day."

"T-Then tomorrow! Same time!"

"Sure."

"Oh! What about your payment?" Tan Songyun suddenly remembered.

"Huh? Did you think my session would be finished so quickly? Until you can properly play the zither or you fire me, it will count as one session."

"T-Thank you!" Tan Songyun said after snapping out of her daze.

Without saying anything else, Tian Kai disappeared from her sight.

And for the rest of the night, Tan Songyun would continue practicing the zither, imagining that Tian Kai was still in the room and listening to her the whole time.