As soon as he uttered those words, Grace Gu's expression subtly changed. From the moment she went up to the stage and down again, with a few exchanges in between, only half an hour had passed. She didn't expect that the person before her would actually know her identity.
Seeing the shock in her eyes, Shirley Chu smiled faintly, "You don't need to be surprised. That kid didn't hide your existence from me. I only made a few inquiries, and naturally, I found out who you are."
Hearing him call Julian Bai "that kid," Grace Gu couldn't help but glance at him again. Emily had said a lot during the trip, so Grace was aware of this man's identity. She hadn't expected that this seemingly ordinary person would actually have such an extraordinary life and name—Shirley Chu.
"Your guzheng playing is excellent." He was never stingy with compliments for those who were outstanding, and Grace Gu deserved such praise. She played very well.
"Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Chu." Her voice was calm, neither humble nor deliberately flattering, and such poise seemed to align well with Shirley Chu's preferences.
Shirley Chu paid a bit more attention to her. How could a woman like her end up as Julian Bai's lover?
Her subtle classical aura, combined with an intellectual air, was not something that a small family could nurture.
"Would you like to have a job of your own?" he asked. This offer was not small, but it was somewhat abrupt. Yet, Grace Gu didn't seem to think much of it. After all, Julian Bai would never allow her to step into the public eye.
"I see you're quite skilled in classical instruments. How about giving it a try?" he changed the topic, pointing to the classical instruments in his room and speaking to Grace Gu in a calm tone.
"My hands are a bit rusty. Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Chu." Her words were clear and direct. By the time Emily realized what was happening, it was already too late.
Seeing the young girl beside them looking flustered, Shirley Chu couldn't help but chuckle. "Do you know what you just turned down?"
"If you can play three of the classical instruments here, I'll have you stay at Hong Kong University as a teacher. And how about I take you on as my disciple?" He clarified again. After all, someone like her, a rough gem, deserved to be polished.
Emily wanted to promise for her but worried that Grace might have other thoughts. She could only stand by, anxious.
After all, if Grace became a disciple of Shirley Chu, leaving Julian Bai wouldn't be as difficult. It would serve as a protection for her.
"Mr. Chu, are you aware of my current situation? He won't allow me to step outside." Grace Gu wasn't without thoughts of standing up for herself. When Emily had urged her to go on stage, she had thought of doing it for herself, but sometimes, she was too rational. After quiet reflection, she knew that, after all, she was nothing but a pet kept by Julian Bai.
"A woman's life can only be controlled by a man if she constantly improves herself. If you stagnate, when you leave him, have you thought about your way out?" He looked at her stunned expression before continuing. "I have met that kid a few times. If you're willing to be my disciple at Hong Kong University and teach them about classical arts, I could ask him for a favor."
Grace Gu didn't fully understand why Shirley Chu was so persistent. There were others who knew classical arts, so why was he particularly interested in her? And offering such favorable terms.
It must be said that when he agreed to speak to Julian Bai on her behalf, she felt a small sense of hope. Rejecting it seemed impossible, for now there was a chance to change things.
"You don't need to doubt my intentions. You have a classical aura about you. Through an artistic lens, I can tell you would teach them the purest, untainted things."
"I am a musician. My greatest dream is for music to never die. No matter the instrument, each one has its soul, and those who can truly grasp that soul are few."
Grace Gu understood that feeling. It might be because she came from an ancient background, and the things she learned were pure and unmodified, so to him, it sounded like the real thing.
"I understand," Grace Gu finally replied, acknowledging the offer. She was open to staying in that place if the person before her had the ability to persuade Julian Bai. After all, those vibrant lives around her seemed to embody the youth she had never had a chance to experience.
"I hope I'm not wrong. You're exactly the person I've been searching for," Shirley Chu said sincerely. All these years, he had been running around, trying to find someone who could perfectly match with those classical instruments, and yet such a person had almost cost him his entire life's effort.
This time, he had stumbled upon her without much effort. While Julian Bai was a tough nut to crack, every person had their weaknesses, and no fortress was invincible.
As Emily took her outside, sitting in the car, it all felt somewhat unreal. Over the years, so many had sought Shirley Chu's tutelage in vain, and even meeting him was difficult. Who would have thought he would take the initiative to approach Grace to be her teacher? Wasn't that a bit unfair?
Thinking about how Qi Yu had knelt outside his house for seven days and nights, Emily felt a slight pang of pain. The competition among people could be so intense. But luckily, Grace was her friend; otherwise, she might have been filled with envy and resentment.
"Grace, whatever you do, don't mention to Qi Yu that Mr. Chu offered to take you on as his disciple, and that you rejected him," she cautioned as she drove.
"Why?" Grace Gu, deep in thought about the day's events, was interrupted by Emily's words.
Emily gritted her teeth and shot her a strange look. "I'm worried he won't be able to resist going to the Ziyuan villa with a knife. When he joined Shirley Chu, he was quite ruthless. If he wasn't so harsh on himself, Mr. Chu might not have accepted him."
"He's really good at the piano! Is Mr. Chu that picky?" Grace Gu now had a better understanding of Qi Yu's abilities, realizing he was probably just as obsessed with music as Shirley Chu, which was why Emily's parents had been so opposed to him.
"He's picky? No one in Huaguo has caught his eye, except you, of course," Emily said, slightly pouting.
What she didn't say was that her father had also tried to use connections to ask Shirley Chu for help with her, but in the end, his request had been mercilessly rejected.