Chapter 111 Adrian Playing the Piano
The piano melody sounded like it was playing right in Serena's ear—clear and beautiful. She instinctively turned her head, wanting to see who was playing. But when she turned, all she saw was fog, thick and white, obscuring everything.
She had to turn back, only to find her sister had disappeared. Instinctively, she walked toward the piano melody. She walked for a long time without ever seeing who was playing, but the terror and panic she'd felt earlier was soothed by the music, and gradually she grew calm.
When she woke from this sleep, it was already past six in the evening. Her fever had completely broken, her headache was gone, and her mind was clear. But a melodious tune still lingered in her ears—faint and unclear, yet very similar to the one from her dream.
Serena lay in bed with her eyes closed, listening carefully. The night was so quiet there wasn't even a whisper of wind, making the piano music increasingly clear. The more she listened, the more it resembled the melody from her dream.
This shocked her. What was going on? Was reality overlapping with her dream? Or was what she'd dreamed not actually a dream?
Serena threw off the covers and got out of bed, pulling a robe over her silk nightgown before opening the window and stepping onto the balcony. Then she was shocked to discover that the person playing piano was actually Adrian.
He sat alone in his study, soft lighting bathing him in a golden glow. He looked focused and skilled, gentle and almost dreamlike. This was so unlike him. Serena knew that as a child, Adrian had been required to learn piano alongside all his other studies, but she'd never actually seen him play. This was the first time.
When the piece ended, he slowly stilled his fingers and looked out the window. In that instant, their eyes met in the moonlight.
Serena was about to wave hello when Adrian noticed her thin nightgown. His expression darkened as he pulled out his phone and sent a message. A moment later, Serena's phone buzzed.
Adrian had sent just two words: [Get inside!]
Serena frowned. What the hell? She was just listening to him play. Was he actually getting shy about it? She didn't dare ask. With a pout, she went back inside.
She sat on the bed glumly, trying to figure out how to crack this iceberg, when her phone rang again. This time it was a call from Jessica.
Serena picked up. "Jessy, what's up?"
"What's up?" Jessica huffed indignantly. "Serena, are we even best friends anymore? You came back to New Valley and didn't tell me?"
"I've been so busy! I haven't had a chance yet. How did you find out?"
"Sarah sent out invitations to a bunch of families in New Valley today. She's throwing you a welcome-home party at the Rothwell family estate the day after tomorrow. My brother and I both got one."
Realization dawned on Serena. "Oh, I see. Where are you now? Are you back from abroad?"
"Just got home. Let's go out! Monica's putting together a get-together and invited me."
"Wouldn't it be weird for you to bring me along?"
Serena understood the whole don't-bring-uninvited-guests thing.
Jessica said, "What's weird about it? When Monica called, I told her I wanted to bring you. She said she misses you and would love for you to come."
Serena thought about it. "Okay."
She'd slept all afternoon anyway, and her nerves were buzzing. Plus, she'd been gone so long—she didn't know what the situation was like in New Valley anymore. Meeting up with Jessica would be the perfect chance to get filled in.
So they agreed on a time and place. Serena changed clothes, put on some light makeup, and headed to the meeting spot.
……
Snowflake Club.
Serena and Jessica arrived at almost the same time and met up in the parking lot. Jessica linked arms with Serena as they headed toward the main hall together.
The Rivers family had shares in this club, and the daughters of wealthy families were gathering here tonight. Two rows of security personnel stood at the entrance, checking everyone to prevent party crashers.
When Jessica appeared, they all shouted in unison, "Greetings, Ms. Rivers!"
"Yeah, yeah. Carry on." Jessica waved casually and pulled Serena inside.
Serena asked, "Who's coming to this thing?"
"Mostly people from school—sons and daughters of New Valley's elite families. You basically know all of them."
Serena shook her head. "I'm not even sure anymore if I do."
When she was young, the Rothwell Group was at its peak. Plenty of people tried to suck up to her, but Jessica was the only friend her age she'd actually been close to. Plus she'd often tagged along with her sister and Adrian, so she'd gotten to know Adrian's sister and his friends pretty well. But after leaving New Valley, that connection to Adrian had been severed. And now over ten years had passed. Everyone had grown up. Even if they ran into each other, they might not recognize one another.
"Oh don't worry, I'll give you the rundown." Jessica had stayed in New Valley all these years and knew the scene inside out. She gave Serena a basic overview of who was coming to the party and their family backgrounds.
Basically, some families had fallen on hard times and been edged out of the circle, while others had risen rapidly over the past few years and become prominent. As for Monica, who was hosting tonight, she was one of the latter. The Rothwell family was one of the former.
Serena figured Monica's invitation probably wasn't as simple as it seemed. Now she just had to grit her teeth and go through with it.
Jessica saw her expression and laughed. "Ms. Rothwell, what are you nervous about? Remember before? Monica was practically begging to be your friend and you wouldn't give her the time of day. Are you really scared of her now? Besides, I've got your back."
"I'm not scared." When she'd been building her business in Sweetwater City, she'd had no worries. She could do everything her own way. But now things were different. The Rothwell family had fallen. Before saying or doing anything, she had to consider whether it would cause trouble for her sister. With that burden on her shoulders, naturally she had to be careful with her words and actions.
Jessica pulled her into the elevator and whispered in her ear, "No matter how impressive their families are, none of them can top Adrian, right? When we were kids, Sarah, Adrian, all those other powerful families—they all spoiled you rotten. You were the undisputed princess of our circle."
Serena burst into a coughing fit and nearly choked. She looked at Jessica strangely. "Do you maybe have some kind of misunderstanding about what 'spoiled rotten' means?"