Overprotected By My Tsundere CEO

Chapter 470 - 277: Nora Scott: Linfield, Teach Me Bamboo Flute [Three Pieces]

Nora Scott looked at the video on her phone with a blank expression, watching the elderly Julian Linfield searching for the camera with his head bobbing around.

"Can you sit still for a moment?"

Nora Scott pressed her fingers to her forehead.

Julian Linfield walked to the courtyard gate, raised the phone towards his face which was still full of spirit despite his age, and complained, "The signal is bad."

Sighing lightly, Nora Scott said, "I’ll have someone install the internet for you tomorrow."

"No need."

Julian Linfield refused without a second thought.

He rarely used his phone, and if Nora Scott hadn’t arranged for someone to notify him in advance to turn on his phone for a video call with her in the evening, he wouldn’t even bother to find it.

"..."

Nora Scott was at a loss for words.

Usually, Nora Scott would boast in front of others about living like an "old-fashioned person," not using a phone, and staying away from technology, yet still being able to live her life. However, compared to Julian Linfield, she was insignificant; he could completely isolate himself from the outside world and live like in a utopian paradise.

Julian Linfield sat on the threshold, holding up the phone, and asked her, "Did you just say you want me to teach you the basics of the bamboo flute?"

"Mm."

Recalling her thoughts, Nora Scott nodded.

Julian Linfield asked, "Didn’t you say you could play some sounds?"

Nora Scott curiously asked, "What’s your understanding of ’playing some sounds’?"

"Know a few pieces or something."

"..." Nora Scott paused and cruelly shattered his fantasy, "For us laymen, it means being able to make a sound."

"..."

Julian Linfield was genuinely surprised by this.

He asked, "So, you haven’t learned a damn thing?"

Nora Scott leisurely reminded him, "Watch your language."

Julian Linfield chuckled and unabashedly said, "I say what I think, manners be damned."

"..."

Since the first day she met Julian Linfield, Nora Scott had found it hard to connect him with the legendary "Master Linfield" as rumored in the outside world.

They seemed to be two completely different people.

After a moment, Julian Linfield suddenly asked, "Why should I teach you?"

Nora Scott looked into Julian Linfield’s eyes and sincerely said, "I want to learn."

Julian Linfield said, "Look into my eyes."

"I’m looking."

Nora Scott lifted her eyelids.

The two of them, through the phone screen, stared intently at each other for quite some time.

Finally, Julian Linfield raised his hand to stroke his beard and asked with a seasoned demeanor, "With acting skills like yours, you dare call yourself an actor?"

"..."

Every time this topic came up, Nora Scott’s sharp tongue had no room to play.

After mocking Nora Scott, Julian Linfield felt rejuvenated, so he deliberately remarked, "I used to just teach students casually, never officially took a disciple."

Nora Scott was startled and quickly reminded him, "Don’t get me wrong, I never intended to become your disciple."

She already had a martial arts master, who was impulsive enough for her to handle. With Julian Linfield... his unconventional nature might lead to the creation of a hundred and eight rules if he took on an apprentice, which could be infuriating.

Julian Linfield glared at her, questioning, "Then why do you want me to teach you?"

"Friendly tutoring." Nora Scott stated bluntly and honestly, "You’re the only person around me who knows about it."

"So, free tuition?"

"Yeah."

Nora Scott remained unfazed.

Julian Linfield was disgruntled, "Don’t you have your ’future mother-in-law’?"

Nora Scott laughed and asked him back, "Why do you think I’m learning the bamboo flute?"

"To win favor with your ’future mother-in-law’?"

"Something like that."

Nora Scott felt no shame.

When she first got the bamboo flute, she had thought about "learning" it.

The purpose was that in the future, when there’s a chance to show off the intricate bamboo flute, she could also keep pace, play a tune or two, and enhance the appearance of a ’master who can do anything.’

This plan had never been implemented.

Occasionally seeing the bamboo flute hanging on the wall, she figured she might never get a chance to use it in this lifetime.

But now —

Upon hearing that Flora Loughton liked that smug protégé, she was slightly bothered.

After learning it, she could at least say — she could play one or two songs as well.

Leaning back against the doorframe, Julian Linfield disdainfully commented, "Your utilitarian nature is too obvious, isn’t it?"

"That’s how we young people are nowadays."

Nora Scott shifted the blame onto the world.

Julian Linfield showed a pained expression, "Someday the world will be destroyed by you young people."

"The world is always ruined by the next generation." Nora Scott took over the conversation slowly and then raised her eyebrows, "So, are you going to teach or not?"

Julian Linfield hummed, casually picked a weed growing out of a crevice, and asked, "Do you know what kind of people my students are?"

"No idea."

Nora Scott showed zero interest.

"..."

Julian Linfield was choked by her indifferent attitude.

Humph!

Fortunately, he had a good temper now; otherwise, he would have already started a fight with her back in the day.

After a moment, Nora Scott lost her patience and bluntly said, "If you don’t know how to teach, forget it—"

Julian Linfield interrupted her, "One condition."

"What?"

"When showing off in the future, make sure not to say I taught you—"

Before he could finish speaking, Nora Scott cheerfully assured him, "Don’t worry, no way."

Julian Linfield: "..."

Answered so quickly, is it an insult to say he taught her?!

This girl is getting more and more infuriating.

*

The next day.

Just as dawn was breaking, Marcus Shaw was woken up by intermittent flute sounds.

Listening closely, it came from the master bedroom next door.

Marcus sighed.

The flute played in such a fragmented way, he almost doubted that the scene of Nora Scott playing leaves on New Year’s Eve was just a dream.

The noise in his ears made it impossible to sleep, and after a few minutes of holding on, Marcus resignedly got up. After washing up, he planned to go to the kitchen to make breakfast.

However, upon returning to the bedroom, he heard the bedside phone ringing incessantly.

Chatterbox: Are you awake?

Chatterbox: Are you awake?

Chatterbox: Are you awake?

...

He raised a hand to rub his brow.

Marcus opened the voice message, said nothing, and instead recorded the noise next door and sent it to Oliver Scott.

Chatterbox: Who’s so inconsiderate, making noise so early in the morning?

Marcus: Your sister.

Chatterbox: ...

Chatterbox: It might be like this when you first start learning.

Chatterbox: Be a little understanding.

Marcus: "..." Such a master of adaptation.

He was left speechless, and after a pause, Marcus sent a message.

Marcus: Why are you looking for me?

Chatterbox: I’m about to go to Grandpa’s, as if to meet my doom.

Chatterbox: Just letting you know.

Chatterbox: If I don’t come back, remember to come collect my body.

Marcus: ...

Oliver Scott talked to him just to ease his mind; after rambling for a bit, he disappeared on his own.

It was clear that Oliver Scott was being troubled by family matters, so Marcus didn’t ask further.

...

The morning light was faint.

Bamboo leaves swayed in the gentle breeze, rustling softly, as the first rays of sunlight fell down, casting a golden glow on the earth, dazzling and bright.

Julian Linfield moved a chair to the courtyard, holding a phone, as waves of noise erupted from it, ruining what was a perfect morning mood.

"Did you get your erhu certificate through charm?" Julian Linfield stared wide-eyed, especially shocked.

The students he taught at university all had some foundation, most even started learning from a young age.

Teaching them, he still thought they were bad, complaining here and there.

But now—

Julian Linfield realized it had been too long since he’d heard such consistently off-key playing.

Going deaf would probably be less painful than this.

"Maybe." On the video, Nora Scott put down the bamboo flute, politely saving face for herself, "I play the guitar quite well."

"..."

Julian Linfield couldn’t find the words to scold her.

Cracking a smile at him, Nora Scott asked, "Our friendship won’t end because of this, right?"

Julian Linfield wished he could throw away the phone, stroking his whiskers with emotion, "That’s quite possible."

Just then, there was a knock from Nora Scott’s side. She leaned back slightly, rested on the chair, and said a few words to the person at the door before returning her gaze.

She leaned forward and said, "I’m going to have breakfast. I’ll learn more tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Julian Linfield was bemused, "Did you eat up your daytime?"

Nora Scott casually replied, "There’s something during the day, and work at night."

"..."

Julian Linfield stared wide-eyed.

Rarely did you see this easygoing senior looking so grim. Finding amusement, Nora Scott brightly encouraged him, "Professor Linfield, stay calm."

"..."

Julian Linfield switched off the video.

As the screen went dark, the voice from the other side ceased.

Yet the prior, intermittent, off-key flute tunes still faintly echoed in his ears.

So familiar it was nostalgic.

Julian Linfield leaned back into the chair, let one hand drop, picked up the fan lying on the ground, and gently waved it, gradually closing his eyes in the warm, soft morning sunlight.

*

After breakfast, Nora Scott changed clothes and went to the study to find Marcus Shaw.

Marcus Shaw was working on a test paper.

Knock, knock, knock.

Her fingers knocked on the door, drawing Marcus’s attention, and Nora said, "Pack up, we’re going out."

Interrupted in his task, Marcus set down the pen, "Isn’t the movie in the afternoon?"

"We’re going shopping in the morning," Nora said, then glanced at him, "Have you got plans?"

Marcus looked down at the test papers on the desk.

"If it’s studying, that’s about enough," said Nora, the academic slacker, shortly passing on her command, "Ten minutes, get ready."

Marcus: "..." So studying isn’t okay either?