Chapter 1

I was deaf, and my husband never avoided discussing matters in front of me.

But I never imagined that he wouldn't even bother to hide when trying out new toys with someone else.

On the day my hearing was restored, I happily pushed open the front door, only to hear his female assistant asking in a soft voice:

"Ryan, is it me that excites you, or that deaf woman?"

In the heat of passion, the man called out the assistant's name deeply.

"So when are you going to divorce her? I'm the one who loves you the most."

Ryan Collins hesitated for a moment before saying:

"Give me some more time. She's been with me for over a decade and lost her hearing because of me. Although I no longer have romantic feelings for her, I still can't let her go just yet."

I sat in the cold wind for a long time before sending a message to my former mentor, who had expelled me from his tutelage.

"I'm willing to abide by the rules and cut off all emotional ties. Please let me come back."

After sending the message, I thought they would finish.

But when I returned home with my emotions in check, the two were still going at it.

The room was filled with an indescribable odor, and I quickly opened the window to let in some fresh air.

Ryan seemed to sense something was amiss.

"Did someone just come in? Could it be Aria?"

"What are you afraid of? She can't hear anyway."

"If Aria's been waiting outside for too long, she might get suspicious. We absolutely can't let her find out about this. Besides, it's so cold outside, and her health isn't good..."

Amber, dissatisfied with the man's distraction, silenced him with a kiss.

The sound of their lips smacking together could be heard.

"But Ryan, don't you find this exciting? No matter how wild we get, she can't hear us. Just thinking about that deaf woman waiting outside gets me all worked up."

Ryan stopped talking, and the noises from the room grew louder.

Until a few minutes later when they gradually subsided.

The bedroom door opened briefly before slamming shut again.

Ryan quickly emerged from the room, putting on a gentle smile as he used sign language to ask me:

"Aria, why are you here? I was so focused on painting a crucial part that I didn't hear you knock."

After I lost my hearing, many of my former friends chose to communicate with me through text messages.

Only Ryan didn't mind the trouble and immediately signed up for sign language classes.

He said:

"Texting would make Aria feel lonely. By using sign language, I can let her know my thoughts immediately. A little effort is nothing for Aria's sake."

But now, what was once proof of our happiness had become a tool to deceive and hurt me.

The man's face was flushed with satisfaction, a mixture of musk and perfume wafting from him, clearly an attempt to cover something up.

Memories suddenly flooded back.

During the time I had lost my hearing, I had smelled this scent many times, but each time Ryan had brushed it off as the smell of paint from his studio.

If I hadn't accidentally regained my hearing, how much longer would Ryan have continued to deceive me?

I maintained a calm expression, though my nails were nearly digging into my palms.

"It's nothing, I just wanted to come see you."

"Ryan, you were amazing. I'm already hungry again after that candlelit dinner. I'm craving those little dumplings from South Street."

Amber's voice came from inside the room.

Ryan's expression softened for a moment before he turned to me and signed:

"I'm hungry. Could you go to South Street and buy some dumplings? I can't continue creating without eating those."

I nodded.

As soon as I turned around, Ryan no longer held back, joking with the woman inside.

"You really should eat up. How else will you keep up with me in the future?"

Amber's tone was contemptuous.

"What's there to be afraid of? Even if I pass out in bed, isn't there someone to run errands and buy medicine? Would she dare refuse anything you ask?"

At that moment, I could no longer hold back my sorrow and began to cry.

Ryan didn't notice, only watching as I disappeared down the hallway step by step.

I bought some dumplings from a street vendor.

Just as I was wondering what to do with the rest of my time, a phone call came in.

"Aria, my girl, you've finally come to your senses?"

A familiar and kindly voice came through the phone, and I could no longer hold back the bitterness and sorrow in my heart.

"Master, I want to come home."

"Then do you understand that to study music composition under me, the rule is to cut off all romantic entanglements? Only by eliminating the distraction of love between men and women can you quiet your mind and truly comprehend the essence of music theory."

Looking at the steaming dumplings in my hand, I answered without hesitation.

"I understand. I studied with you for so long, yet I left everything behind for a man. I was out of my mind then. Now, I want to restart my dream."

"Good. I'll be waiting for you at the foot of the mountain in seven days. For three years, you are not to leave the mountain until you've completed all your studies."