Chapter One: Debt and the Nightingale

shoulders tightened. Gu Wei'an arrived twenty minutes late, collar open, and immediately inspected Shen Yan. "A bar pianist?" He laughed. "My sister's standards for tutors are becoming romantic." Minglan did not look up. "At least he earns money with his own hands." The room went taut. Cheng Manyi touched her wineglass and changed the subject. "Mr. Shen will stay in the west wing. There is only one household rule: do not use the music room after midnight." "Why?" "The old house has poor soundproofing," Han answered for her. Another answer delivered too soon. At 11:57 that night, a melody woke Shen Yan. It was not a dream. Three ascending notes, then two descending—the phrase his mother had revised again and again on the second page of *The