Flute by the Lotus Pond, Is This Temptation?

When the eunuch separated her from her maids, Serena Feng already guessed that Ninth Royal Uncle wanted to see her alone. So when the carriage headed toward the Lotus Pond at Nolan’s Villa, she wasn’t surprised.

"Miss Feng, we’ve arrived."

The carriage stopped outside an arched gate, separated by a door. "Miss Feng, please."

The servant gestured for Serena Feng to walk through the gate, but did not go in himself.

Serena Feng smiled and walked in at a leisurely pace.

This was Nolan’s Suburban Villa—what could possibly happen to her here?

Even in July, the afternoon sun was scorching, but inside Nolan’s Suburban Villa, there wasn’t a trace of heat. Shade from the trees and cool breezes were everywhere.

Serena Feng understood—they must have set out ice basins, which made the breeze especially cool.

Rich people really do live well!

She could only afford ice basins inside her room, but Nolan? His entire villa was filled with them. Such extravagance!

Serena Feng already wore a lotus-leaf scented sachet, so she wasn’t sensitive to the faint fragrance in the air. Only when she passed through the corridor and saw the patchwork of red and green lotus blossoms and leaves did she realize she’d arrived at the Lotus Pond.

“So beautiful! Truly endless green leaves stretching to the sky.” Serena Feng quickened her pace. Nolan’s lotus pond was indeed stunning: blossom after blossom, with barely any gaps, the whole pond packed with lotus leaves. Compared to the fresh scent filling the air, the sachet at her waist was nothing.

Serena Feng lifted her skirts and ran toward the pond—just then, a broken flute melody drifted over on the wind.

"Huh? Someone’s playing the flute?" Serena Feng unconsciously slowed her steps.

She might be rough around the edges, but she didn’t want to disturb someone’s refined enjoyment.

Whether Serena Feng was drawing closer or the flutist was approaching her, the music grew clearer and brighter, drifting over the pond along with the lotus blossoms.

The flute was ethereal and pleasant, soaring into the blue sky—clouds seemed to pause for it. Even Serena Feng, who knew nothing of music, was drawn in, standing still and quietly listening to the beautiful sound.

The lotus leaves trembled, the flute grew louder, and Serena Feng’s eyes widened.

"Ninth Royal Uncle?"

In the middle of the pond, Nolan—dressed in black robes—stood at the bow of a small covered boat. The boat glided forward, but Nolan remained steady, calmly playing his flute at the prow, as if nothing in the world could distract him.

The person playing the flute was actually Ninth Royal Uncle. Serena Feng felt a bit thrown off.

Wasn’t Nolan supposed to be allergic to floral scents? What was he doing in the middle of the lotus pond?

Serena Feng had a ton of questions, but now wasn’t the time to ask.

She stood there, watching Nolan. At this moment, she couldn’t focus on the music at all—she just wanted to know what Nolan was up to.

Whether Serena listened or not, Nolan didn’t stop playing. The flute music continued—then suddenly shifted. The ethereal, flowing notes turned into the calls of birds: warblers, orioles, magpies… Serena was lost in thought, but even she was drawn into the world of the song.

Serena Feng closed her eyes. It was as if she could see countless small birds fluttering in the branches, chattering noisily—a lively scene.

Flap, flap…

Serena Feng seemed to hear the sound of wings beating. She opened her eyes—and was completely stunned.

At that moment, Nolan was truly breathtaking.

Birds—a whole flock—flew over, chattering as they circled Nolan. They darted around him, refusing to leave, and more and more birds kept coming…

Flocks of birds, bathed in the rosy light, flew to Nolan’s side.

"It’s like magic." Serena Feng didn’t dare speak aloud, only marveled inwardly. To summon birds with a flute—Nolan was truly extraordinary.

Nolan was already handsome, but his noble, graceful bearing made him seem almost otherworldly. Surrounded by birds, Serena felt he might ascend to the heavens and become immortal at any moment.

Nolan was simply too beautiful—almost unreal.

Just as Serena was lost in thought, the flute soared, and a phoenix cry rang out. She jolted, her dazed eyes suddenly regaining their clarity.

A phoenix cry? Was there a real phoenix? Could Nolan’s song actually summon one?

Serena looked around, only to realize the phoenix cry came from Nolan’s jade flute. As the sound faded, the flute music stopped, and the birds around Nolan gradually flew away.

“Did you like it?” Nolan didn’t come ashore, still standing at the bow, spinning the jade flute between his fingers. It made you worry he might drop it in the water at any moment.

Serena Feng was definitely worried. Her eyes stayed glued to the flute—mostly because she didn’t dare look at Nolan.

“It was beautiful.” Serena nodded. If the music could summon birds, how could she say otherwise?

"Rare for someone who doesn’t understand music to recognize what sounds good." Nolan’s words were clearly a compliment, but to Serena Feng, they felt off—almost as if he were mocking her, like the time he teased her for gulping down Pre-Rain Snow Mist Tea. No matter how she answered, it would be wrong, so she simply chose not to reply.

Nolan didn’t expect Serena to answer, either. He called out to the man rowing the boat, stepped ashore, and walked toward her with unhurried, elegant strides. Most striking of all, there was a smile on his face.

That smile was more dazzling than the sunset itself. In an instant, the entire lotus pond became nothing but a backdrop, existing only to set off this man.

How could someone possess such natural advantages? Noble birth, unmatched looks, graceful bearing, refined speech, awe-inspiring talent, and commanding presence—he had them all.

A man like this was truly heaven’s favorite. As Nolan walked toward her against the light, Serena was momentarily dazed, as if he were an immortal descending on multicolored auspicious clouds.

Serena’s heart thudded in her chest. With every step Nolan took toward her, she took one back...

This man was poison; the only way to stay safe was to keep her distance.

That was Serena’s thought—and she acted on it. But Nolan wouldn’t let her escape so easily: "What’s this? You back away every time you see me. Are you avoiding me because you owe me something?"

Nolan’s tone was as slow and languid as ever. Maybe it was the perfect atmosphere, but there was a hint of lazy warmth in his voice that made it impossible not to be drawn in.

Serena stopped immediately—in fact, she had nowhere left to retreat. Without realizing it, she’d backed up against a parasol tree; with her back pressed to the trunk, she couldn’t move another inch.

Nolan didn’t keep closing the distance. He stopped three steps away: "You hear my song and just want to leave?"

"No," Serena replied quickly, shaking her head. She knew better than to admit anything—if she nodded, Nolan might just strangle her, and she didn’t doubt it for a second.

"Good. Seeing how nervous you look, I almost thought you’d lost my sachet." Nolan tapped the jade flute rhythmically against his left palm, almost as if keeping time.

Sachet?

Serena’s eyes grew wider and wider—where was that thing?

Nolan’s eyes narrowed, a flash of danger glinting in them: "What’s this? You lost my sachet?"

His tone didn’t change, but Serena heard the chill behind his words. She snapped to attention, legs together and right hand raised, unconsciously performing the salute she used in her modern life when caught slacking by a superior—stand up, straighten, salute!

Halfway through, Serena realized something was wrong. But stopping would look even stranger, so she awkwardly switched to scratching her head instead: "No, I swear I haven’t lost it."

A bit silly and clumsy, but oddly adorable—Nolan’s smiling eyes said it all.

"Good. I’m still waiting for you to fix it." Nolan nodded, satisfied. If Serena had dared say she’d forgotten or lost it, he probably would have tapped her head with the jade flute.

Serena nodded repeatedly, but inside she was silently crying.

Where had she put the sachet Nolan gave her?

She honestly couldn’t remember. She’d have to rush home and look for it, hoping her diligent maids hadn’t thrown it away—otherwise, she was doomed.

Seeing Serena’s worried face only made Nolan’s smile deepen. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he glanced at the flute, a new idea flashing through his mind.

"Was the song I just played beautiful?" He meant the mood of the music.

If it could summon a hundred birds, of course it was beautiful—no doubt about it. Serena was glad he’d stopped asking about the sachet and eagerly changed the subject: "Beautiful, extremely beautiful."

If it had been a beautiful woman, the visual would’ve been even better, Serena imagined. After all, a grown man surrounded by birds was just a little odd.

"Do you know what the piece is called?" Nolan asked, not really expecting an answer. When Serena shook her head, he wasn’t disappointed—if she knew everything about music, art, poetry, and flowers, what use would he be?

"It’s called ‘Song of the Hundred Birds and the Phoenix.’ It’s best played by a woman." Nolan emphasized the last part, lifting the flute for Serena to see.

Serena didn’t disappoint—she latched onto that last sentence: "So it’s better for a woman to play? No wonder it felt off seeing all those birds flying around you. That’s the problem!"

Serena looked genuinely enlightened, and Nolan nearly coughed up blood.

How could there be such a clueless woman in the world? Wasn’t he being obvious enough?

It was a song best played by a woman. And there was only one woman here—Serena. He knew the piece. Wasn’t this the moment for her to ask, ‘Nolan, can you teach me?’

But things went nothing like Nolan had planned. Staring at Serena’s blank expression, then at his jade flute, he lost his temper, raised the flute, and tapped her on the head: "You idiot!"

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Serena rubbing her head and crying out in pain...

Other couples get peach blossoms drifting in the breeze, talented men and beautiful women playing music together, petals falling in a scene too lovely for words. And her?

Under a parasol tree, just Nolan and an ordinary girl—one asks, one answers, the wind brings down caterpillars, she gets the answer wrong and gets a flute to the head. How painful...