You Mingyue felt like a headless fly, unable to escape this forbidden zone no matter how hard she tried.

She returned the phone to the nanny, dejectedly went back to the piano room, and looked at the floor littered with discarded papers. Unable to hold back her sorrow, she hugged her knees and crouched down, hiding behind the door in agony.

After crying for a while, You Mingyue finally wiped away her tears.

She picked up the scattered sheet music from the floor, contemplating reviewing the discarded half-finished pieces she had created before.

Perhaps with some luck, she might find inspiration among these abandoned works?

You Mingyue stacked the sheet music together and sat down in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. She carefully examined the first page of sheet music. As she did so, a familiar scene flashed through her mind.

She suddenly recalled some details from last month when it was her birthday and Xu Xingguang returned home to pack some things.

Xu Xingguang had dropped a sheet music book at the Xu Family house.

Inside it were many original compositions by Xu Xingguang. While most of them were not quite up to standard, one piece stood out, astonishingly brilliant, and unforgettable to her.

You Mingyue’s eyes subtly shifted. She gazed at the bustling scene down below, her expression becoming clear and determined.

If she could gain recognition in the music industry with this piece, her future would undoubtedly be full of promise.

Once her career truly succeeds, she will have her own credentials and confidence. Even if Mrs. Chu does not acknowledge her, what difference would it make?

You Mingyue suddenly stood up, grabbed her car keys, and drove back to the Xu Family house.

When You Mingyue arrived home, You Jingqiu was in the game room playing mahjong with the neighboring ladies.

But Xu Zeqing was nowhere to be seen.

A while ago, Xu Xingguang caused a scene at Jiang Heng’s wedding in West Continent City, completely falling out with Jiang Heng. Naturally, Jiang Heng refused to offer Xu Zeqing the benefits he had promised earlier.

Xu Zeqing was back to square one.

He has been very busy lately, probably trying to find a way out. He often returns home very late, and sometimes, he is so busy that he doesn’t even have time to come home for a night’s rest.

You Jingqiu considered his ongoing struggles, so she refrained from quarreling with him.

As soon as You Jingqiu saw You Mingyue had returned home, she quickly stood up and said to the neighbor ladies, "Ladies, please enjoy some tea first. Ming Yue is home—I need to go check on her."

"Go ahead."

You Jingqiu left the game room and quickly went up to the second floor.

Upon entering You Mingyue’s room, she saw her standing on tiptoe, frantically searching for something on the bookshelf, looking anxious. You Jingqiu asked, "Ming Yue, what are you looking for?"

"Ah!" You Mingyue reacted guiltily, her face changing color out of shock.

Seeing her reaction, You Jingqiu felt puzzled too. "What happened? Why are you so startled?"

You Mingyue calmed herself, saying, "I’m looking for my old sheet music, Mom. You scared me by coming out of nowhere."

"Are you under too much pressure lately?" Knowing that You Mingyue has been preoccupied with her album, You Jingqiu didn’t dare to call her.

"You’ve lost a lot of weight." You Mingyue was already slim. These days, she hasn’t been eating or sleeping well, adding mental stress; she has lost even more weight. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The clothes that used to fit her seem slightly loose now.

Nodding, You Mingyue replied, "Haven’t been sleeping well."

"Then lie down and rest." You Jingqiu said with concern, "What would you like to eat? I’ll make it for you. Rest first, and eat after the meal before sleeping."

"No, I have to meet with Teacher Luo Muni to discuss something. I’ll come back another day for dinner." You Mingyue finally found those sheets, which she had picked up from the trash and casually tucked into her sheet music book.

She held the sheet music, feeling somewhat dazed.

That day, upon seeing this sheet music, she was amazed.

She had tossed the sheet music book left by Xu Xingguang and her own half-baked piano compositions into the trash, yet she kept this piece hidden in her sheet music book.

Why did she do that?

Perhaps she was already attached to this piece at that time.

Having once appreciated a perfect piece, she always felt something was missing when she was composing her own music.

She couldn’t help but compare her original compositions with Xu Xingguang’s piece.

You Mingyue rolled up the sheet music, put it in her handbag, and said to You Jingqiu, "I’m leaving now, Mom."

You Mingyue left just like that, swiftly and decisively, like a gust of wind.

You Jingqiu sighed with emotion, "Indeed, young women don’t linger."

You Jingqiu went downstairs, back to the game room.

The neighbor ladies noticed her quick return and asked, "Ming Yue left so soon? Why didn’t she stay for dinner before heading out?"

You Jingqiu smiled, ambiguously explaining, "Just came back to grab something, and then left. Busy, you know."