Xue Jing Yi was deliberately not taking her medicine so her physical condition could rapidly deteriorate, but this was only for appearance's sake, once she reached her goal, she would nurse herself back to the best condition, then she could withstand the risk of heart transplant surgery. Before that, she would have Huang Yi return all her losses.
She proposed that Huang Yi participate in the competition in her stead to Xue Li Dani. Xue Li Dani was undoubtedly the one in Xue family who loved her the most, she unexpectedly immediately agreed, then told the matter to Xue Rui. Xue Rui decided to send a few bodyguards to always follow Huang Yi, lest he expose his identity during the course of the game.
Xue Jing Yi put on a half-dead appearance and asked the steward to call Huang Yi over, she said that she wanted more people to remember her and wanted to personally stand on the stage but she was helpless. She wanted to leave traces of her stay in this world, this was her last wish, and she hoped her brother could help her complete it.
Zhou Yun Sheng sneered inwardly, but his eyes were flushed, he considered for a moment then promised.
Xue Jing Yi held his hand and weakly thanked him.
All the Xue family members coddled her, whenever she put forward a request, they tried their best to achieve it for her, but when she asked Xue Zi Xuan about this, she only received a cold rejection.
"No, that's cheating, I can't agree." He stared blankly at his book, not even giving Xue Jing Yi a corner of his eye. These past few days, he never came over to visit her, he could no longer stand her presence.
"But I heard that Yan Ye will come back in two days, if Xiao Yi participates in the competition in my place, he can escape him for a few days." Xue Jing Yi had already thought up a good excuse.
Xue Zi Xuan was visibly shaken, after a few minutes he nodded wordlessly.
In the past, her brother would've never consented to such a thing. He often said that music was the most real thing in the world, he couldn't tolerate any deception in music, so plagiarism, cheating and other dishonest acts were absolutely despicable. But now, in order to keep Huang Yi by his side, he was willing to put aside all his principles.
If today really was her last day on earth, she didn't know who he would pick between Huang Yi and herself.
Xue Jing Yi couldn't stifle her feelings, she impulsively asked, "Brother, do you want me to live?" If I live, Huang Yi must die, how will you choose?
Xue Zi Xuan regarded her with exceptionally emotionless eyes, then he walked away without a word. Of course he wanted his sister to live, but only if she didn't take the boy's life. Death was a natural process, and no one in the world could avoid it, it just came earlier or later. On that day, calm acceptance was the best response.
He didn't turn around, so he didn't see the strong resentment filling his sister's eyes.
——————-
Participating in the competition instead of Xue Jing Yi had always been Zhou Yun Sheng's plan. Xue family wanted to conceal his identity, so he would become world famous. When the truth was revealed, Xue family would be unable to cover up the story.
In order to ensure that he didn't have contact with outsiders, Xue family sent several bodyguards to monitor him. The preliminaries had already begun, and the lounge was full of young people aged 12 to 18. Among them, most were from prominent families, but very few were as extravagant as him, always surrounded by a group of sunglasses and suits.
Some of the contestants hated his seeming haughtiness, after whispering to each other, they tried to walk up to him and protest, but the bodyguards stopped them. This move provoked even more cynicism. The competition hadn't even started yet and he behaved so haughtily, they couldn't wait to see his ugly complexion when he lost.
Each participant had to record a video and submit it to the Organizing Committee, and the Organizing Committee edited them together and aired it, in order to let everyone understand each other's level.
The video was filmed by Xue Jing Yi before her heart attack, before experiencing her life and death torment, but although she was considered talented, she could only rank in the middle among all these contestants. They didn't see her as a real opponent.
Such a mediocre talent was putting on a haughty attitude, it gave a lot of players the feeling of a fox exploiting the tiger's might, even though Xue Zi Xuan's talent had nothing to do with her.
[Fox exploiting the tiger's might- to use powerful connections to intimidate people]
Thinking like this, many contestants shook their heads and sneered, collectively deciding to alienate him. Especially the most promising Austrian contestant, Hannah, she gave a small gift to each contestant, except Zhou Yun Sheng.
But this kind of behind the scenes infighting was irrelevant to Zhou Yun Sheng, he quietly sat in a corner, looking down at the score. After a while, a collective intake of breath sounded in the lounge, and he vaguely heard 'God, I'm going to faint' and other exaggerated expressions.
Zhou Yun Sheng perceived the change in atmosphere and glanced up, surprised to see Xue Zi Xuan walking towards him. Today he was wearing a gray suit, his neck tied with a monochrome, gray striped mixed silk scarf. With his white gloves, he looked like an aristocrat out of a medieval oil painting.
During his walk, someone stopped him to ask for an autograph, but he rejected them and walked straight to Zhou Yun Sheng's side. His icy expression slightly melted, and he bent forward and asked, "Nervous?"
"Nope." Zhou Yun Sheng shook his head.
"For the sake of fairness, I can't be your judge, but I'll watch you from the audience seats. Believe in yourself, the championship is definitely yours." He took off his gloves to touch the boy's cheek, his expression and tone very gentle.
Zhou Yun Sheng smiled shyly
Xue Zi Xuan also wanted to say something soothing, but found himself particularly foreign to this area. He twisted his brows and thought for a long time, but couldn't find anything suitable to say, so he just awkwardly stood beside the boy like a sculpture. Just when he decided that maybe giving the boy a hug was best, and was about to bend over, he was shocked to see Xue Lao Si pushing Xue Yan over.
He immediately stood in front of the teenager, "Here is the contestants' lounge area, miscellaneous people can't enter."
"So how did they get in?" Xue Lao Si glanced at the stone-faced bodyguards surrounding the boy. So strict, when did he become a prisoner?
"Xiao Yi has heart disease, this is to prevent any accidents. The Organizing Committee agreed to have us send people to protect him."
Xue Yan didn't speak, only sneered. Xue Zi Xuan wanted to have someone escort the two people out, but a staff member rushed in, saying that the Organizing Committee had convened an emergency meeting, and he needed to quickly join them.
"Big brother, I'm fine, you can leave. Uncle won't eat me." Zhou Yun Sheng gently patted his arm.
Xue Zi Xuan repeatedly clenched his fists, then glared fiercely at the man before walking away.
"You can withdraw now." Xue Yan waved at the bodyguards. These people all knew of Yan Ye, who would dare defy him, they bowed their heads and filed out.
"Big brother? That's a very affectionate call. What kind of big brother is he?" Xue Yan held the boy's wrist and sneered, then looked him up and down, opening in distaste, "What is this clothes? You're dressed weirdly every time we meet, can't they make you wear something normal?"
Zhou Yun Sheng tugged on his pure white dress and gave a helpless shrug, "This is the uniform issued by the Organizing Committee, all the female players have to wear it, what can I do? No matter, it's almost time to leave Xue house, then I'll no longer be subjected to this crime."
Xue Yan pulled him to his side, kneading his slender fingers, and said, "We'll hold an engagement ceremony at the end of the competition. I'll have a suit made for you, which do prefer, black or white?"
"What color will you wear?" Zhou Yun Sheng moved closer in interest, squatting down to sit on his lover's knees, his eyes sparkling.
"I'm wearing black."
"Then I'll wear white."
"Good, then it's settled." Xue Yan laughed lightly, then he pulled out a ring from his pocket and pushed it onto his ring finger, slowly opening. "This is the engagement ring, we'll pick out the wedding ring together. After the contest, I want to give you a grand proposal, do you want me to kneel?"
Zhou Yun Sheng spread his fingers to appreciate the exquisite workmanship of the diamond ring, catching sight of the same style of ring on the man's ring finger, he gave a contented smile, "Don't, I want to handle the proposal, so I'll kneel. You just have to wait for it." Unable to restrain his joy, he clung to the man's head and kissed him deeply, the loud sound attracting everyone's curious glance.
Every time Xue Lao Si overheard their dialogue he couldn't help but want to laugh, he had to sigh for the Boss' luck in picking up this treasure. Although the boy was only sixteen years old, any discerning eye could see how much he threw his energy into his feelings. His love was so deep and unquestionable, once he settled on someone, he would firmly grab that man's hand and press forward to happiness without a single glance back.
Only such a person could move a steel heart like Xue Yan's.
Xue Yan pressed the boy's head closer, giving him a lingering kiss, then squeezed his fingers in encouragement before leaving the lounge.
The players that had disliked Zhou Yun Sheng before were now even more convinced that he was an idiot that indulged in pleasures and carnal desires. They no longer paid any attention to him, secretly feeling sorry for Xue Zi Xuan for having such a sister.