Volume One, Chapter Six: This Damned Perfectionist Nature

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Watching the footage, Shen Qi once again lay back on the sofa, which immediately infuriated some fans of Shen Xiaokun. They began angrily accusing Shen Qi of being irresponsible. Zhuo Yiyi glanced at Li Huange.

As a rising star in the music industry, Zhuo Yiyi was quite skilled at the piano.

“Queen Huange, did you catch it?”

At this moment, Li Huange’s mind was in a muddle. At first, she thought Shen Xiaokun’s playing was flawless, but after Shen Qi pointed out the issue, she felt somewhat displeased.

“Who does Shen Qi think he is, pretending to know when he doesn’t?”

Yet, upon listening carefully, Li Huange did indeed notice the subtle flaws in Shen Xiaokun’s performance. How had Shen Qi discovered such tiny mistakes that even professionals would struggle to detect?

Li Huange looked at Zhuo Yiyi and saw the same realization reflected in her eyes, prompting her to nod.

“Xiaokun’s piano skills are far beyond those of other children his age. Initially, I didn’t notice it either, but after Shen Qi mentioned it, I listened more intently…”

“There really are some minute, almost negligible issues!”

“Just as Shen Qi said, a few notes were played too softly.”

Everyone in the studio was astonished.

Zhuo Yiyi added, “The ability to detect such fine details shows an exceptionally high level of piano expertise!”

[What? Am I the clown here? I was the one criticizing earlier, yet Shen Qi actually heard it?]

[Shen Qi is so cool! He even plays the piano. I knew he wasn’t just talk.]

[Isn’t the real issue that a father isn’t guiding his son? Instead, he chooses to lie back and do nothing?]

[I can see from Shen Qi’s attitude that he’s used to living off others.]

Bai Qinghe sighed helplessly. “Fathers often have this problem with their kids. They tend to be careless, avoiding responsibility whenever possible.”

“Yes, exactly!” Lin Xiaolu agreed. “When I notice such issues at home, I stop it immediately, so my husband isn’t like Shen Qi.”

Li Huange raised an eyebrow at Bai Qinghe and Lin Xiaolu.

“Oh? Teacher Bai and Actress Lin can detect such subtle errors?”

“Or maybe it’s your husbands who can?”

Both Bai Qinghe and Lin Xiaolu’s expressions changed at once.

“It’s worse to notice the problem and not guide your child than not noticing it at all, isn’t it?” Bai Qinghe retorted.

Lin Xiaolu hinted, “Even if you don’t know how to teach, you can always enroll your child in piano lessons.”

Zhuo Yiyi immediately smiled, “Queen Huange’s piano skills are already very advanced. No piano teacher could compare, right?”

Li Huange glanced back at the screen. The clock in the living room showed 11:30. Shen Qi was still tapping away on the computer, while Shen Xiaokun had been playing for over half an hour.

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Finally, Shen Qi stretched, closed the computer, and stood up frowning.

“Really… sigh!”

“My perfectionist nature is getting the better of me…”

Shen Qi strode up to the second floor and knocked on the doorframe of the music room.

Shen Xiaokun stopped playing, looking at Shen Qi with a puzzled expression.

“What’s up?”

Shen Qi spoke directly:

“Normally, the little finger is somewhat weaker. As a child under six, yours is even less strong. I’m sure you’ve noticed this yourself!”

Shen Xiaokun stared wide-eyed at Shen Qi, clearly not expecting such words.

Shen Qi continued:

“So when you played just now, you unconsciously lifted your little finger, using wrist strength to press the keys, even playing with your little finger lying flat…”

Shen Xiaokun was stunned—because Shen Qi was correct!

But could this unreliable father really play the piano?

Shen Qi gestured with his hand and added:

“Actually, if you try lifting your little finger and play with the fingertip standing upright like the others, you’ll find it can easily rise above the back of your hand.”

“If you want to strengthen the weaker little finger, practice more on the black keys—they’re higher than the white keys, so your little finger has to be raised to sound them properly.”

Shen Qi suddenly thought for a moment and pointed at the sheet music on the piano.

“For the piece you just played, to train the stretch from the fourth to the fifth finger, try transposing it to F major or B-flat major when practicing.”

“Give it a try!”

After saying this, Shen Qi turned to leave.

“Wait!” Shen Xiaokun called after him.

Shen Qi turned around, meeting Shen Xiaokun’s clear, shocked eyes.

“You… you can play the piano?”

Shen Qi chuckled and shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.

“You’re just a lazy, freeloading dad… so why teach me?” Shen Xiaokun asked.

“Huh?” Shen Qi was annoyed. “I’m your father. Who talks to their dad like that?”

“Pfft…” Shen Xiaokun pouted.

Shen Qi seemed not too angry and tossed out a final comment.

“I’m a perfectionist. If your playing isn’t good, it hurts my ears! Anyway, I’ve shown you the method…”

Shen Xiaokun pondered, his gaze returning to the keys.

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Li Lei became curious and immediately asked, “Queen Huange, Little Ice Star, is Shen Qi right?”

Both Li Huange and Zhuo Yiyi nodded.

“Spot on! And he even gave clear, straightforward training advice!” Zhuo Yiyi admired. “He’s at least much more professional than me!”

Li Huange’s mind was still racing.

She had suspected Shen Qi might have some musical knowledge and signed up hoping for a pleasant surprise. She never expected he really knew his stuff.

Or perhaps… he just got lucky by guessing?

[I’m stunned. Is being a stay-at-home dad really so demanding now?]

[Did you see that? Shen Qi’s lazy attitude is so bad even his son can’t stand it and talks back.]

[Not necessarily. Just because he spotted the problem doesn’t mean Shen Qi is a great pianist!]

[But someone who isn’t good definitely wouldn’t notice the problem. So our brother Qi isn’t just handsome, he’s talented too!]

After Shen Qi came out to instruct, Lin Xiaolu and Bai Qinghe didn’t find much to say.

Yet they both sensed something off about this family’s atmosphere.

The two exchanged glances, each reading the other’s thoughts.

They would soon have their own live streams about parenting. Although the producers forbade telling husbands and children about it, to avoid mishaps, they had already coordinated and prepared plans for the day of the broadcast.

What to do at what time, what effect to achieve, and what image each should project.

At that moment, the large screen in the studio showed Shen Xiaokun playing piano again.

This time, his progress was clear, prompting some piano-savvy viewers to express amazement in the comments.

Shen Qi suddenly sat up from the sofa, looking at the clock on the wall.

“Shen Xiaokun, Shen Xiaokun, it’s already midnight. Since you haven’t done the dishes yet, I’m really going to starve you!”

Li Huange felt a sudden foreboding.

Lin Xiaolu and Bai Qinghe seized the opportunity.

If they could mock the first family, wouldn’t that make their own seem better?

Their tones grew indignant.

“Starve a five-year-old child? What kind of father does that? It’s infuriating!”

“I absolutely won’t let my husband be like Shen Qi! I want to warn the lady of this house!”