Chapter 54: SG is Sienna Everett

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: SG is Sienna Everett

Sienna Everett sat before the guqin table, her left hand pressing the strings and her right hand plucking them. With a gentle flick of her index finger, the ancient instrument produced a deep and resonant tone.

Its profundity was far greater than that of a typical guqin, evoking a sense of ancient times.

’Truly worthy of being one of the ten great guqins.’

Sienna Everett’s eyes lit up, and she immersed herself even more deeply in her playing.

Julian Forrester watched the absorbed Sienna Everett, a hint of tenderness warming his cool, misty eyes.

He knew, of course, that this piece, "Nine Provinces," was the first song Sienna Everett had ever written. She had released it online under the name SG, and it had been an instant hit with listeners, even sparking a "Nine Provinces" craze.

The piece "Nine Provinces" could be played on various instruments, but the guqin was undoubtedly the most suitable.

It built up in layers, from gentle and melodious to passionate and stirring, its emotions both unique and intense.

He had listened to it in private more times than he could count; the musical score was already etched into his memory.

Beside them, Howard Forrester remained captivated even after Sienna Everett finished the piece. He praised her repeatedly, "Sienna, you play even better than before! I’ve heard so many masters play the guqin, but none of them have the same soul as our Sienna!"

Sienna Everett smiled gracefully. "Grandpa, you flatter me."

Howard Forrester grew anxious at her modesty. "Grandpa isn’t just saying that! Our Sienna is a fantastic player! Sienna, do you like this guqin?"

"I love it. Thank you so much."

"Good, good, as long as you like it! As long as Sienna likes it, it was worth giving!"

Howard Forrester let out a hearty laugh and affectionately took Sienna Everett’s hand, as if he had endless things to say to her, completely forgetting his own grandson.

The forgotten Julian Forrester: "..."

After lunch, Howard Forrester returned to the old family residence.

Sienna Everett put the guqin away. A thousand-year-old instrument like this required careful storage. After she was done and returned to the living room, she met the gaze of Julian Forrester, who had been staring at her the whole time.

The man’s eyes were dark and deep, as if he had been watching her for a long time.

Sienna Everett’s heart skipped a beat. She glared back at him defiantly. "What are you looking at?"

Hearing this, the man let out a soft laugh. He was sitting languidly on the sofa, his long legs crossed elegantly. He beckoned to her. "Come here."

Sienna Everett, with her rebellious streak, stood her ground. "And why should I, just because you told me to?"

Julian Forrester raised an eyebrow. He rose to his feet with a languid grace, his tone casual. "Fine. If Sienna won’t come to me, then I’ll go to you."

Sienna Everett: "..."

’He’s really too much.’

As Julian Forrester walked toward her, Sienna Everett shot him a cold glance and deliberately made her way to the sofa.

’There was no way she was getting close to this jerk.’

Sienna Everett walked to the sofa and sat down.

Julian Forrester’s brow twitched, and a corner of his mouth lifted. He wasn’t angry; instead, he amiably turned back.

Seeing him return, Sienna Everett immediately stood up to distance herself from him again.

But the next second, the man’s hand pressed down on her shoulder. His deep eyes looked down at her, his voice low and clear. "What are you running for? It’s not like I’m going to eat you."

Sienna Everett’s heart tightened. She looked up at him, blustering. "What nonsense are you talking about? I just don’t want to see that lip you got from being bitten."

Julian Forrester let out a lazy "Oh?" and deliberately turned his head, presenting the corner of his bitten lip to her. "You didn’t seem to mind it when you were the one doing the biting."

Sienna Everett: "..."

He paused for two seconds, as if reminiscing. "Let me think. How many times did Sienna bite me last night?"

Sienna Everett: "???"

Sienna Everett’s eyes flew wide.

"I remember now. You bit me at least three—"

Before he could finish, Sienna Everett clapped a hand over his mouth. Like a startled cat, she was both mortified and furious. "You’re still talking!"

The man couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle. His chest vibrated slightly, the sound of his laughter sexy and full of obvious amusement.

Sienna Everett shot him an indignant glare, removed her hand from his mouth, and turned to leave.

But the man grabbed her by the wrist.

Julian Forrester held her wrist, his long, slender fingers gently caressing her delicate skin. "Want me to take you to the stables tomorrow?"

Sienna Everett was full of pride. Without turning her head, she said, "No."

He softened his tone, his magnetic voice carrying a hint of coaxing. "They have your favorite Andalusian Horses."

Sienna Everett was instantly tempted.

It was her favorite breed of horse. Not only were they elegant and magnificent in appearance, but their running form was also the epitome of beauty.

She had even tamed a very wild Andalusian Horse when she was a child.

But if she went to the stables with Julian Forrester, that jerk would definitely bring up her biting his lip again.

’The thought alone gave Sienna Everett a headache.’ She forced herself to refuse. "No."

Julian Forrester stared at the back of her head. The fingers gripping her wrist slowly moved down, and his index finger traced a light tickle across her palm. "Really not going?"

That single tickle sent a wave of itchiness across Sienna Everett’s palm.

It was as if the sensation shot straight to her heart, sending a tingle all the way down to her tailbone.

As if electrocuted, Sienna Everett uncomfortably flung his hand off, ran up the stairs without looking back, and yelled, "I’m not going!"

Julian Forrester watched her retreating back, an almost imperceptible lift to his brow. He called out in a leisurely tone, "Alright. We’ll go together whenever Sienna feels like it."

Sienna Everett huffed. ’Who would want to go with him?’

Back in her room, Sienna Everett received a call from Stella Shaw.

This was the manager Keith Sterling had assigned her after she signed with Sovereign Entertainment.

Sienna Everett swiped the screen to answer. "Hello, Ophelia."

"Are you busy?" Stella Shaw got straight to the point.

"Not busy."

"Good. I’m calling to tell you that I’ve booked you a spot on a variety show, ’Surprise Storm’." Stella Shaw was an efficient person and cut to the chase. "It’s a popular live variety show in the country. The pay is decent, and it’s just for one episode."

"Also, another artist I manage, Orion Hawthorne, is on the same show. He can look out for you."

The name Orion Hawthorne wasn’t unfamiliar to Sienna Everett. Orion Hawthorne was a top-tier star—handsome, immensely popular, and with countless fans.

Stella Shaw continued, "This show gets a huge audience every episode. As a newcomer who’s just debuted, you probably won’t get much camera time, but just getting some screen time will be a big help to you."

Sienna Everett was quite interested. "Ophelia, when is the recording?"

"In a week."

"Okay, I understand."

After a few more words, she hung up. Sienna Everett went online to do a search. She had heard of the show "Surprise Storm" but had never really watched it.

Just as she was about to look up an episode, Stella Shaw called again.

"Sienna, I just found out that Dustin Everett is also going to be on the show. The production team said he wasn’t planning on it, but when he heard you were participating, he changed his mind and agreed."

"He’s clearly doing this because of you. So... do you still want to do the show?"

Stella Shaw knew Sienna Everett had cut ties with the Everett Family, so she could naturally infer that Sienna Everett and Dustin Everett’s relationship must be poor.

To think that Dustin Everett would go out of his way to cause trouble for Sienna Everett over a simple variety show appearance.

Hearing this, Sienna Everett let out a scoff, a derisive glint forming in her beautiful eyes. "Why wouldn’t I go? Of course, I’m going."

’Why should she back down because of The Everetts?’

’Since Dustin Everett wanted to cause trouble for her, fine. She’d give him the chance.’