Chapter 65 Initiation

"Now that you mention it, I do remember. It really is him." Mother Cheng nodded, and with a hint of excitement, she said, "Who would have thought our daughter would end up sitting next to a megastar's son? If word gets out, doesn't that give us quite a bit of face?"

"Keep it down," Father Cheng quickly cautioned. "Didn't you notice neither the father nor the son mentioned their identities? Besides, when Xiao Siqi came, he clearly made an effort to disguise himself. It's obvious they want to keep a low profile. Don't go doing annoying things and broadcasting it to the whole world. How is the child supposed to study in peace? If they get unhappy and transfer schools, our daughter's deskmate will be gone."

Xiao Yao was not a vocal coach. Although he had undergone vocal training with Xiao Siqi, that didn't mean he could transform Cheng Yaojia into a great singer. However, helping her sing a single song well was entirely achievable. Cheng Yaojia was a seven-year-old girl with a decent vocal timbre. All Xiao Yao needed to do was help her grasp the rhythm and find the pitch. The method was simple: repeatedly correcting and practicing line by line.

The method was simple, but the time required was not short. After Xiao Yao demonstrated it once and Cheng Yaojia memorized the lyrics, it was almost noon, meaning formal teaching would have to wait until the afternoon.

With only Xiao Yao as a guest, making a total of four people including Cheng Yaojia's family of three, they didn't go out for lunch. It was cooked by Cheng Yaojia's mother, and it tasted quite good.

During the meal, Cheng Yaojia's mother finally couldn't resist confirming her suspicion and asked Xiao Yao, "Xiao Yao, you play the piano so well. Who did you learn from?"

"I learned from my dad," Xiao Yao answered casually, finding nothing unusual about it.

"As I thought," Cheng Yaojia's mother said to herself, deciding to ask directly, "Is your father Xiao Siqi?"

"Huh?" Xiao Yao only then realized the couple had already figured out his and his father's identities. But on second thought, it made sense. Given his surname, his piano skill, and the fact that his dad had disguised himself when dropping him off—though it was just glasses, a different hairstyle, and new clothes, not a mask—anyone paying close attention could figure it out.

"Yes," Xiao Yao nodded, then said to Cheng Yaojia's parents, "Uncle, Auntie, since you've asked, I won't lie to you. But please don't spread this around, especially at school."

"Understood, understood," Cheng Yaojia's mother said. "We won't go around telling people." She thought to herself that her husband really did understand the mindset of celebrities' families.

Cheng Yaojia had also studied the piano for a while. Although her current skill level was average, her basic musical sense was still there. Xiao Yao didn't find the guidance and training too difficult. By a little past three in the afternoon, Cheng Yaojia was already singing the song quite well.

Even though things were wrapped up on Xiao Yao's end, he wanted to give his dad and Jiaying as much time together as possible, so he didn't call Xiao Siqi. Since Xiao Yao didn't mention leaving, the Cheng family certainly wouldn't chase him out; both the adults and the child wanted him to stay a bit longer.

Having nothing better to do, and having witnessed Xiao Yao's piano prowess, Cheng Yaojia kept pestering him to play. Since his identity was already exposed, Xiao Yao didn't mind and simply turned the Cheng home into a mini recital, treating it as practice.

"You're so amazing at both playing and singing. If you wanted to be the class commissioner of arts and literature, I definitely wouldn't stand a chance against you," Cheng Yaojia suddenly said to him during a break in the playing.

"Don't worry, I don't want to be the arts commissioner and won't compete with you," Xiao Yao laughed. "Not just the arts commissioner—I don't want to be any class officer. I never planned to run for anything."

"Why?" Cheng Yaojia asked, opening her big eyes wide. "You got first place on the last test. At the very least, being the study commissioner would suit you."

"Being a class officer means you have to set a good example for everyone," Xiao Yao said. "Someone like me who always spaces out in class—if everyone copied me, wouldn't that lead everyone astray?"

"But even when you space out in class, you still get first place," Cheng Yaojia argued. "Right, how do you pull that off?"

"Because I already understand what the teacher is talking about. So even when I space out, as long as you tell me the question the teacher asked, I can still answer it," Xiao Yao smiled. "Now think about it, if you space out in class, could you answer the teacher's question?"

"No," Cheng Yaojia honestly shook her head.

"So," Xiao Yao continued, "if everyone followed my example, spacing out in class and not listening carefully, wouldn't the teachers be driven crazy?"

Hearing this from the side, Cheng Yaojia's parents also shook their heads. Only then did they realize such a thing was possible, thinking to themselves that this child truly was a monster.

Xiao Siqi didn't call Xiao Yao until around 4:30 in the afternoon. Learning that Xiao Yao was done and ready to go home, he rushed over immediately.

"Mr. Xiao, how about an autograph?"

When Xiao Siqi arrived at the Cheng home to pick up his son and the door opened, he was greeted by one of his own albums and a pen. Cheng Yaojia's mother had promised Xiao Yao she wouldn't spread word of their identities, but that didn't stop her from being a star-struck fan asking for an autograph.

Xiao Siqi was momentarily stunned, then glanced at Xiao Yao in the living room. Xiao Yao gave a helpless shrug from behind Cheng Yaojia's mother, gesturing that the family had already discovered who they were.

After signing the album and bidding a warm farewell to the three members of the Cheng family, Xiao Siqi left with Xiao Yao. As soon as they got into the car, Xiao Siqi started teasing Xiao Yao.

"Weren't you the one who said you wanted to keep a low profile and didn't want to be recognized? How did they figure it out? Did you see the little girl was pretty and want to show off in front of her?" Xiao Siqi teased with a smile.

"Tsk, why don't you say your disguise technique was just too terrible?" Xiao Yao naturally wouldn't admit it and immediately counterattacked, "Just wearing a pair of glasses and changing a hairstyle, while leaving your facial structure completely exposed, and sitting in someone's home for so long. They had your album at home, so all they had to do was look at the photo on the cover and they'd remember."

"Alright, alright, my fault," Xiao Siqi surrendered. When it came to verbal sparring, he could no longer best Xiao Yao. Changing the subject, he said, "Let's discuss something. Tomorrow, I'm dropping you off at the old man's place, and you'll spend the day there."

"Fine by me. Besides, I haven't seen Grandpa in a while anyway," Xiao Yao replied indifferently. Coincidentally, Xiao Chengrun had finished filming and returned home this Wednesday, and currently had no work, leaving him with plenty of free time.

"Wait," Xiao Yao suddenly realized and said, "Drop me off, not take me? You're just dumping your baggage. Sounds like your date today went well, and you've got a sequel planned for tomorrow."

"What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean," Xiao Siqi feigned ignorance.

"Stop acting!" Xiao Yao gave Xiao Siqi a disdainful look. "Did your date with my godmother go well today, so you've got another date scheduled for tomorrow? Why else would you dump me at Grandpa's place?"

"Hehe," Xiao Siqi chuckled. "Once something is seen through, you don't have to spell it out. Leave your old man a little face. Besides, how can you call it dumping? You said yourself you haven't seen the old man in a long time."

"Fine, fine," Xiao Yao waved his hand. "Your romantic grand enterprise—I am bound to give it my full support. So, what did you and my godmother do today? What are the plans for tomorrow?"

"We didn't do much. Had lunch, took a walk, and had coffee together in the afternoon. Mostly just chatted," Xiao Siqi said.

"And tomorrow? Keep chatting?" Xiao Yao asked.

"Tomorrow—" Xiao Siqi was about to answer when it suddenly dawned on him, "Hey, since when do I, your father, have to report everything I do to you as my son?"

"Still keeping secrets? If you won't say, forget it," Xiao Yao curled his lip. "You two know each other because I introduced you, and now you're already crossing the river and demolishing the bridge, killing the donkey after it's done grinding the mill."

"You've learned quite a few idioms," Xiao Siqi smiled nonchalantly. "Any more? If not, go to the old man's place tomorrow and let him teach you a few more."

Early Sunday morning, Xiao Siqi dropped Xiao Yao off at Xiao Chengrun's residence and left shortly after. Although Xiao Yao's words were sharp, he cared deeply about Xiao Siqi's lifelong happiness, so he didn't drag him down and quickly let him leave.

The grandfather and grandson spent the entire morning passing the time in Xiao Chengrun's small courtyard house. By the afternoon, Xiao Chengrun announced that Liu Zhongwen wanted to test Xiao Yao's martial arts, and took Xiao Yao over to Liu Zhongwen's place.

Xiao Yao had been practicing a routine of Shaolin Changquan (Long Fist) for nearly four years now. During this time, Liu Zhongwen had also given him bits and pieces of instruction numerous times, so Xiao Yao was already extremely familiar with the routine. Liu Zhongwen was well aware of this; this test was actually more of a check on Xiao Yao's physical condition.

Now seven years old, Xiao Yao stood over 1.3 meters tall and was solidly built. His physical attributes, including speed, strength, and explosive power, were somewhat superior to ordinary children a year or two older than him. Therefore, after a thorough examination, Liu Zhongwen decided it was time to teach Xiao Yao something new.

"Zhan Zhuang (Standing Stake)?" Xiao Yao looked at Liu Zhongwen with a blank expression and asked, "What is Zhan Zhuang?"

"You know what squatting in a horse stance is, right?" Liu Zhongwen looked at Xiao Yao with a smile.

"I know. Isn't that what teachers use to punish students?" Xiao Yao asked, referring to his past life, having not yet encountered it in this one.

"Nonsense," Liu Zhongwen chuckled. "Zhan Zhuang is the foundation of practicing martial arts. Didn't you want to learn Bajiquan? This Zhan Zhuang is the first step."

"You're willing to teach me Bajiquan?" Xiao Yao asked happily. He had practiced the same set of Shaolin Changquan repeatedly for nearly four years, and the health-building effects were very evident. Because Liu Zhongwen had never made his intentions clear, Xiao Yao's obsession with Bajiquan had begun to fade. He never expected that, completely unprompted, Liu Zhongwen would actually start teaching him Bajiquan.

Xiao Chengrun, standing nearby, was also delighted. Although he had superficially appeared to oppose Liu Zhongwen teaching Xiao Yao Bajiquan back then, it was actually because he thought Xiao Yao was too young and his body couldn't handle it. Since Liu Zhongwen had allowed Xiao Yao to practice a single boxing routine for four years—which had visibly forged Xiao Yao a physique far surpassing his peers—there was nothing to fault about Liu Zhongwen's professionalism. Now that Xiao Yao's physical condition was no issue, Xiao Chengrun was overjoyed at the prospect of Xiao Yao learning Liu Zhongwen's core martial arts.

"Alright, I'll practice! Teach me how to do Zhan Zhuang, and I'll definitely do it properly," Xiao Yao pulled on Liu Zhongwen's sleeve and said.

"It's not that simple," Liu Zhongwen said with his hands behind his back.

"Huh? What else is there?" Xiao Yao asked with a bitter face, wondering if he was being messed with.

"You silly boy, you have to kowtow and become an apprentice," Xiao Chengrun said, having already brought a cup of tea over from the table. He pressed it into Xiao Yao's hands and gave the back of his knee a kick. "The Liu family's Bajiquan is never passed down to anyone who isn't an inner-door disciple."

"Oh." Enlightenment dawned on Xiao Yao. He immediately knelt and kowtowed to Liu Zhongwen, shouting, "Master, please have some tea!"