Her expression shifted so fast it was almost comical, fierce one second, deflated the next, then melting into something small and pitiful. The sight made Alain's gaze soften, just a fraction.
"Elaine," he tilted his head slightly, his voice low like a restrained Alpha's growl, "did you just call yourself… small and pretty?"
She blinked.
"Small and pretty? Isn't that word pronounced Keane?"
Elaine nodded seriously, as if genuinely trying to recall the meaning.
Alain exhaled a laugh and shook his head. As expected, her foreign language comprehension was as tragic as the reports suggested.
He gently pulled her away from the keys and placed his own hands on the piano. Notes rose instantly deep, bright, fluid like a tide rolling against stone.
"I'm kindly offering to show you how to finish this piece."
God knew why he suddenly felt compelled to help her. Even he found himself strange, an Alpha as proud as he was teaching piano to a little rascal who insulted him without restraint. And she had no idea he was her destined fiancé.
"Really???" Elaine lit up like a lantern, leaning close to his ear.
One second later, her face collapsed again.
"You're lying!"
Her mood swung faster than lightning. Alain couldn't help shaking his head, half amused, half helpless, his good intentions bent into a pretzel the moment they left his mouth.
If anyone else saw this, his dignity would sink to the bottom of the sea.
He didn't argue, just motioned for her to sit beside him. Then he pushed up his shirt sleeves and placed his long fingers on the keys.
The melody poured out Fantaisie-Impromptu blooming like a falling galaxy, fluid yet explosive. What should have been a rigid sequence of notes became shimmering, powerful light under his hands so beautiful it stunned.
Elaine froze.
Her small mouth hung open as if she could swallow an entire egg.
She had been certain he only said those words to scold her. She never imagined he could actually play and not just play, but play with such mastery that her heart seemed to leave her body and sway with every run of the keys.
The rushing torrent of sound made her soul tremble.
Elaine sat there, visibly enchanted.
Her violet eyes glowed like twin stars.
When the piece ended, Alain lowered his sleeves, turning toward her with a smile that could make any woman's heart melt.
"Little rascal, how was that?"
Elaine frowned, pretending to ponder deeply. Then she suddenly grabbed his hand and yanked hard:
"I know it! You must be… a piano teacher, right?!"
Alain looked genuinely startled.
"And why do you think that?"
"Why? Because did you HEAR yourself play?! If you're not a piano teacher, then what? Don't even try to hide it from me!"
Elaine flailed her hands emphatically, like a crazed fan meeting her idol.
Alain chuckled.
A piano teacher… this was the first time anyone had ever called him that. All his life he'd heard "Young Master," "Mr. Lancaster," "CEO."
Among the Four Great Tycoons, Nicolas was the violin prodigy practiced eight years for Moona. Alain simply played piano when bored as a child… and eventually forgot about it due to business.
Who knew that today he would play again because of a girl and actually enjoy it?
Elaine leaned toward him, whispering conspiratorially:
"It's okay, I know you must be some famous pianist. Tell me! I promise I won't tell anyone!"
Alain looked at her, amusement deepening at the corners of his mouth.
This little rascal was unlike any royal young lady he had ever met, no pretense, no stiffness, no etiquette mask. A completely wild little wolf, honest, impulsive, brimming with life.
"What? You know my identity?" Elaine blurted suddenly, suspicion flashing across her face.
Alain paused almost slipped. He replied smoothly:
"I just thought… with someone as mischievous as you, every high-ranking official must know your name."
Elaine glared.
"Hmph! You say it like I commit crimes every other day!"
Alain laughed harder.
Elaine clutched her head dramatically.
"Hey! The piano!"
She almost drowned in that smile of his. The man was lethal under warm light, every feature sculpted to perfection. Her heart nearly thumped right out of her chest.
Then Elaine's eyes flashed slyly. She tugged his sleeve, voice soft as honey:
"Honestly, I got punished today… because of YOU. If you hadn't come up with that stupid idea, I'd be done running 100 laps already! So… you have to take responsibility! You MUST teach me this piece! If not… then you're a bully!"
"I'm a bully?" Alain raised a brow.
This girl was the very definition of the villain crying foul.
Who caused the chaos in the auditorium?
Who made her classmates scream?
Who nearly gave the headmaster a heart attack?
Yet he couldn't bring himself to scold her.
When he didn't answer immediately, Elaine quickly whipped out her phone, click! and took a picture of him.
Alain's expression changed in an instant.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
Elaine raised her phone like incriminating evidence, smiling dangerously bright:
"If you don't teach me, I'll post your picture online! Then say you bullied a delicate female student! You'll instantly become a villain, an unworthy piano master!"
A cunning gleam flashed in her eyes. Alain burst out laughing.
This little wolf must have watched way too many gangster dramas…
"You think I'll be threatened by that?" he asked, voice soft as velvet.
Elaine shrugged.
"Your loss, not mine. You're the strong one. I'm the weak one. Who do you think the public will sympathize with?"
"And by the way, my name is Elaine. Or you can call me Miss Kunching. I am NOT 'little rascal.'"
Something stirred inside Alain amusement, curiosity… and something harder to define.
He didn't reply. He simply looked at the girl in front of him lively, mischievous, radiant like Wolf Moonlight.
The feeling was… strangely irresistible.
Truly, he must be out of his mind to let this little rascal threaten him. Yet instead of anger, a warm, familiar feeling rose in him as if she'd always been there.
Looking at his handsome face and those deep black eyes, Elaine suddenly froze.
What did he actually accept?!
God knew she was a kind-hearted creature; she only wanted to take advantage of today's punishment a little, not stir up even more trouble.
Just then, the piano room door burst open, Claire rushed in, streaked with tears.
"Elaine… h-hic…"
She didn't realize anyone else was inside and blinked in confusion before new tears dropped onto the floor.
"Claire? What happened? Who bullied you?" Elaine ran to her immediately, looking like a righteous little wolf ready to defend her pack.
Claire glanced at Alain, then back at Elaine and realized this man was the prestigious guest from the auditorium.
"You two…" She inhaled sharply, forgetting to cry. "No need to explain! Those papaya witches bullied me again, didn't they?!"
Elaine's eyes flashed like a lit fuse, direct hit. Claire was her best friend; Judy had always been their sworn rival. If Judy badmouthed Elaine outside after being humiliated earlier, Claire would be the first to hear it.
Elaine bristled with fury:
"That damn papaya girl! I ought to dump a whole truck of papayas on her head! What did she say this time?!"
Her hand went to her waist, eyes blazing like she was ready to burn down the school.