House Dad's Literary Life

Chapter 389: Rehearsing With Xixi

In the headphones, after the music accompaniment that he had spent an afternoon making was played to the end, Yang Yi nodded with satisfaction. He took off the headphones, inserted the USB drive into the computer on the central control panel, and copied the accompaniment.

While unplugging the USB drive and shutting down the computer, Yang Yi glanced at his watch. The time was just right; he could still make it to pick up Xixi, who was already attending kindergarten.

Leaving the recording studio, Yang Yi ran into Xiao Ai. Xiao Ai, who now holds a key position in the studio, looked energetic and dressed like a white-collar elite.

“Boss, are you done with your work?” Xiao Ai, Unlike Mo Xiaojun, who could ignore Yang Yi, didn’t dare be negligent and greeted him.

Yang Yi came to the studio’s recording booth to record the accompaniment. Although it was just an accompaniment and could have been recorded at a nearby studio, Yang Yi thought that such an important task had to be done perfectly, so he chose his own studio with top-notch, luxurious equipment.

However, doing this in the studio carried the risk of exposure, so Yang Yi only informed Xiao Ai. He also reminded her with some concern, “Yes, it’s done. But remember, you must keep it a secret and not tell anyone else!”

Xiao Ai nodded quickly, but as she watched Yang Yi’s back, she thought with some confusion, “Not tell anyone else, but doesn’t Xiaojun already know? Oh, right, not tell anyone else means Xiaojun is the first to know, and no one else should be told!”

Xiao Ai suddenly understood what Yang Yi meant.

Regardless of Xiao Ai’s overthinking, Yang Yi picked up Xixi from kindergarten. After dinner and tidying up, Yang Yi called Xixi over.

“Xixi, Papa has a big plan for tomorrow and needs your help!” Yang Yi knelt on one knee, placing his hands on his daughter’s shoulders, and said seriously.

Xixi couldn’t quite understand her father’s seriousness. She blinked her big eyes curiously, gestured with her little hands, and asked, “What big chicken flower? Is it this big?”

Yang Yi was at a loss for words for a moment and then said with a wry smile, “Not chicken flower, it’s a plan. Isn’t your mother coming back tomorrow? Papa plans to propose to her!” 1

“What is proposing?” Xixi got the pronunciation right this time, but she still didn’t quite understand.

“Proposing is a step before getting married. Didn’t Papa tell you many stories about princes and princesses getting married? But before getting married and having a wedding, there’s a step called proposing. Papa will ask Mama if she wants to marry me,” Yang Yi patiently explained to Xixi.

“So, is proposing a kiss?” Xixi’s eyes lit up as she thought of many examples, such as Snow White being kissed by the prince and then getting married, and Sleeping Beauty also being kissed by the prince and then getting married.

“No, you can’t kiss before getting married!” Yang Yi said seriously. Although he found it funny to say this himself, as a “strict father,” he had to correct Xixi’s wrong ideas to prevent her from thinking that kissing someone meant a lifelong commitment…

This “strict father” not only kiss her mother before getting married, but also…

Cough, cough, back to the point, Yang Yi spent a lot of effort to explain to Xixi what he planned to do the next day. He finally said, “So, Papa’s proposal tomorrow needs your cooperation. Xixi, can you do it?”

“Yes!” The little girl exclaimed crisply, her face full of excitement, thinking it was very fun.

“But when Mama calls you tonight, you can’t tell her! This is supposed to be a surprise for Mama, and it won’t be fun if you tell her in advance.” Yang Yi reminded his daughter uneasily.

Xixi nodded, covering her mouth with her little hands, her eyes curved into crescents as she said in a muffled voice, “I won’t tell Mama!”

“Then let’s practice today first!” Yang Yi said, rubbing his hands together.

Everything had to be arranged first. Xixi followed her father curiously, waddling like a penguin, and stretched her neck to watch him arrange everything.

Finally, Yang Yi held a large basket of rose petals and began to scatter them on the stairs, living room, and hallway, eventually creating a big heart shape on the living room floor.

Yang Yi took two steps back, wanting to see the effect, and almost stepped on Xixi. He turned his head to look at the little girl with big bright eyes and, regardless of whether she understood or not, explained with a smile, “These are for practice. We’ll clean them up later and buy fresh rose petals tomorrow!”

Xixi didn’t quite understand. She blinked her eyes and said, “But, but I think it’s very pretty!”

After setting everything up, Yang Yi took out the violin that Mo Fei had given him from the study and played it while walking out.

Xixi sat on the sofa, her little legs dangling and swinging. She watched her father slowly walk towards her with a smile on his face, accompanied by the beautiful sound of the violin.

Yang Yi’s violin playing was melodious. It wasn’t like the fast-paced rhythm “He’s a Pirate.” Instead, it has a slow rhythm just like love, without needing to be grandiose, expressing emotions in a slow rhythm.

The long bowstring moved with Yang Yi’s arm, drawing on the exquisite classical violin. His left hand’s fingers pressed and rubbed on the four strings, each movement natural. At this moment, his burly figure and rugged face seemed to be softened by a gentle light, full of warmth and touching.

In front of his daughter, Yang Yi played with his eyes closed, carefully feeling the love and affection brought by the music, and couldn’t help but smile

When the piece ended, he slowly put down the violin, then put away the bow and violin together.

“How was it, Xixi? Did you like it?” Yang Yi asked his daughter with a slight smile.

Xixi, now looking more and more like a qualified music appreciator, had not made a sound during her father’s performance. It wasn’t until her father asked that she move, happily bouncing in front of him and saying, “It was super beautiful!”

“Papa is also super cool, Xixi likes it a lot!” The little girl said sincerely, clasping her hand.

Yang Yi smiled, high-fived his daughter, and said, “That’s good. If everything is set for tomorrow, we’ll use this piece of music!”

“By the way, next, Papa will do this action and then sing a song!” Yang Yi demonstrated, then took out a small box and showed it to Xixi. “Tomorrow, you will hide in Papa’s study. After Papa finishes singing, you will come out in your prettiest dress, holding flowers, and give it to Papa! Okay?”

“Okay!” Xixi nodded happily. She now had a task instead of just watching from the sidelines, so she was full of energy.

To help his daughter remember and avoid mistakes, Yang Yi rehearsed with her: “Let’s practice. Papa finishes the violin performance here, then does this and starts singing…”

“Okay, Papa has finished singing!” Yang Yi called towards the direction of the study, “You have to come out on your own! Papa won’t remind you then!”

“Hehe! I know!” The little girl tiptoed to open the door, then happily ran out with the small box.

“No, slower, like a lady…”

…

The next day at noon, while Yang Yi was still making the final arrangements, he received a text message from his “spy,” Mo Xiaojuan: “Brother-in-law, we have boarded the plane. We will be home in at most two hours. Be ready!”

Upon seeing this text message, Yang Yi’s heart couldn’t help but start pounding.