Xue Zi Xuan was distressed, and he did not dare to draw near him again. He repeatedly asked himself—Just what in the world did you do to him? How can you hurt his most precious hands during a time when he was just developing a passion for music? Did you know that you murdered a genius? Are you sure that you are here to make up for all the mistakes in the past and not to make bigger mistakes?
Xue Zi Xuan, goddamn you!
His heart hurt so much, to the point that it couldn't hurt any more than this. He half squatted down and hugged the teenager tightly in his arms. His ten fingers combed through Zhou Yun Sheng's soft hair. His throat choked with apologies. His eyes turned red and were filled with regret.
Xue Jing Yi stared at the two people embracing together, her expression one of bitter resentment. She originally wanted Huang Yi to play a song, so that her brother could see what kind of idiot he fell in love with, but the development of the situation completely exceeded her expectations.
Huang Yi was too cunning. He not only refused to play, he even put forth an appearance as if he had received a great psychological shock. What did he want to do? Arouse her brother's sympathy and love?
Fine, he succeeded, very successful. Prior to this, Xue Jing Yi never thought that her brother would fall in love with a person without musical talent. She knew him too well, his ears, his eyes, and even his soul only opened for music. If you couldn't play music that moved him, you could never walk into his heart.
But this perception was completely subverted in this moment. Xue Jing Yi leaned back against the wall and vaguely recalled a saying—all of your criterions are for people that you do not love, but when you meet someone that moves you, you can tolerate their everything. She lost again, but it didn't matter, she could continue next time.
Zhou Yun Sheng did not know that he had successfully delivered another psychological shock to the son of fate. Presently, he was immersed in a subtle desire. In the past, whenever he was punished, he would grit his teeth in silence and endure. He never entertained the extravagant thought of having a warm embrace to temporarily rest in. But right now, the young man held him tightly in his arms, with so much strength, seeming like he wanted to rub into his body and share everything, including sorrow and joy, happiness and anger, tears and blood.
Zhou Yun Sheng loosened his jaw, softened his body, and slowly, slowly leaned towards Xue Zi Xuan. Perhaps this embrace was not very safe, but at least for now, it was warm, very warm.
The two quietly hugged for a stretch of time, and then with a tacit understanding, they left the piano room. Xue Jing Yi stood alone for a while, and then walked over to the piano. Suddenly she pounded the keys with both hands, creating a string of manic notes. Don't know whose cat was hiding nearby, but it yowled in fright.
Zhou Yun Sheng heard the shrill piano sounds and his footsteps paused, but Xue Zi Xuan completely did not respond, and forcibly pulled him away.
The pain shredding his body continued, but the situation was very optimistic. Every time when Zhou Yun Sheng evaded the task, the system would take over his body and complete the task without his authorization, but this time, the system did not respond.
Sure enough, the more energy the system expended, the less it had left, right? Zhou Yun Sheng was very happy. After returning to the room, he turned on the computer.
"Put on medicine." Xue Zi Xuan closed the notebook computer, shaking a tub of ointment in his hand.
"It's already healed. Look. The bruises are gone." Zhou Yun Sheng spread out both of his hands, which were as white as before.
Xue Zi Xuan didn't care. He unscrewed the lid, applied a layer of ointment onto the back of Zhou Yun Sheng's hands, and then gently massaged it in. Cautiously, he said, "Xiao Yi, you should continue to play the piano. No matter what kind of song, you're able to play it after listening to it only once, this talent cannot be wasted. Believe me, you were born for the piano." Because I have once witnessed your glory, and have once been deeply enchanted by the sound of your piano. If this heavenly sound disappeared because of my cruel action, I will hate myself for a lifetime.
The Xue Zi Xuan of now was incapable of shouldering too much self-blame. He buried his face in the palms of the teenager's hands, concealing his red eyes.
"But I remember you said that my music was like a walking corpse without a soul, and it made you sick. You're wrong. I don't have any talent for music. The reason I can play a song after listening to it once is because I have a strong instantaneous recall ability."
Zhou Yun Sheng pointed to his brilliant brain and emphasized, "Everything with a keyboard and regularity, including computers and musical instruments, I can learn it in one go. I am not born for the piano. I am me. I do what I love. You have no right to decide for me."
Now that Zhou Yun Sheng knew that he could eventually get rid of the system, he didn't feel the need to be too polite to the people of the Xue family.
Xue Zi Xuan suddenly looked up, using a strange, completely new gaze to look at the teenager. That's right. Why did they have to repeat the old paths of their previous lives? He knew that this was his beloved boy, his every move, his every smile, all the little things he did when he was happy or when he was sad, he remembered them all in his heart, there could be no mistake.
He was still him, but also not him. Right now, he could be said to be a brand-new individual, without those painful and unbearable memories, only a heart full of longing for the future. At this time, when he had yet to set upon his path in life, why should he forcefully make arrangements for him? Why couldn't they create a completely new and bright future that belonged to them only?
In the last life, he fell in love with the youth because of the sound of his piano, but disregarding those foreign objects and those dazzling auras, ultimately, the one that he loved passionately was his very person. In this life, whether he played the piano or not, he loved him. This would never change.
After thinking through everything, Xue Zi Xuan hugged the boy tight and smiled with relief.
"Okay. You do whatever you like. I won't make any decisions for you. Xiao Yi, you are free." He carefully pledged this into the ear of the teenager.
Of course I am free. Zhou Yun Sheng conceded in his heart and smiled. He thought that Xue Zi Xuan, this person, was actually quite good, very decent. If he weren't the young master of the Xue family, he would probably pursue him.
"Then can you help me get some tools? I want to take the car apart and reassemble it." What was "win an inch, want a foot?" This was it.
Xue Zi Xuan didn't even think about the problem of whether the car could be put back after being disassembled. Not to mention a sports car, if it was the youth who said that he wanted to dismantle the Xue family, he would probably support the stepladder from underneath.
"I'll have the assistant buy a batch of professional tools. If you like altering cars, I'll have people expand the garage and make a workshop for you. Also, buy some books on machinery." He took out his cell phone and dialed the assistant.
The whole matter about playing the piano passed just like that. The weak system had no means against the host. Xue Jing Yi also had no choice but to follow behind her twin brother all day long, looking for opportunities. Of course, her main purpose was still to get close to her big brother. Who told her brother and Huang Yi to act like conjoined twins, sticking together no matter where they went?
Xue Rui and Xue Li Dan Ni came back together the next morning. The tension in their relationship had relaxed a lot. He heard that his son had bought a sports car, but he was not curious. He could even retire from playing the piano; there was no need to talk about wasting money.
Xue Rui's objective now was that as long as his son was willing to defend the family business, then his son could do whatever he wanted.
The Xue couple did not pause for breath. They just came back, but then packed up their luggage and hurried out. One flew to Europe to deal with business, and one flew to South Asia for a tour. The couple had just left when a truck arrived to deliver the car modifying equipment that Young Master Xue had ordered. From this day on, Zhou Yun Sheng finally found joy in his life, and stayed busy in the workshop almost day and night.
Xue Zi Xuan has already taken office with alacrity. On the very first day of work, he gave the company's senior figures a display of his power.
His swift and decisive attitude along with his capable and experienced abilities caused everyone to sit up and take notice.
When Xue Rui learned of his son's excellent performance, he was super happy. Everyone was saying that Xue Zi Xuan not only inherited his mother's music talent, but also inherited his father's business acumen; truly outstanding. Therefore, Xue Rui was not in a hurry to return to the country. Instead, he handed over several big cases for his son to handle, paving the way for him to take over the company completely.
Xue Zi Xuan did not decline compliments about his abilities. He knew where his limits were. He would not lose to anybody, unless it was an opponent like Xue Yan. In just one month, he has already contributed to two very important collaborated projects, and he has firmly established himself in the company.
The news of his retirement from the music world was also posted on the Internet, which caused an uproar. Everyone was paying attention to his transformation. The vast majority of fans hoped that he would come to realize his true self and return to music, but they were destined to be disappointed.
There was a good saying—your enemies determine your height*. He had once fought against a giant like Xue Yan in the business world and did not fall behind. The present day Xue Zi Xuan was strong enough to respond to every challenge.
[*T/N: "your enemies determine your height" – overcoming adversity makes a person stronger. So the stronger your enemies, the higher you will climb in life.]
It stood to reason that the successor who has just taken over the company should be busy, with endless work shifts, endless meetings, and endless social activities, but Young Master Xue was an exception. Once it was time to clock out, he would get up and leave. He would just directly take home any unfinished documents to deal with.
"What did Xiao Yi do today?" After getting in the car, he asked the driver this while loosening his tie.
Xiao Wang was only responsible for picking up the young master every day after work. Any other necessary travels were naturally taken care of by the company. His main task now was to look after Huang Yi and satisfy all of the teenager's requests. And also, not to let him get in touch with the young miss.
These were the young master's orders. Xiao Wang initially thought that it was for the sake of the young miss, to avoid having her become too sad due to Huang Yi's disappearance after the operation. But looking at it now, that did not seem to be the case.
Not only did the young master not let Huang Yi and the young miss get in contact with each other, but he also would not speak a single word more than necessary to her, and treated her as if she were completely transparent. This was not a sign of love.
Xiao Wang secretly felt apprehensive in his heart, but he still replied sullenly, "Today Xiao Yi removed the chassis of the sports car. He said it was to change the micro-motion system. Why don't you have a look when you get back? He has completely taken that car apart into a pile of scattered parts. And he was still boasting about how awesome it would be after he modifies it. I don't think so. From the start, that car is not something that is already in production. Even if you bring it to the 4S store, no one would be able to fix it, unless you contact the manufacturer and look for their specialists. It would cost a lot to get specialists to re-construct the car, right?"
Xiao Wang shook his head as he spoke. In his heart, he lamented that these people really were wealthy and willful.
Xue Zi Xuan didn't even frown, and reiterated, "You don't have to worry about these things. You just keep a close watch on Xue Jing Yi, and don't let her keep stalking Xiao Yi."
Look, look, what is this keep a close watch on Xue Jing Yi? Wasn't this treating the young miss as a criminal to be put under watch? Xiao Wang was dissatisfied with his boss, but he dared not confront him. Right now, who didn't know that Young Master Xue has taken over the Xue family? His performance in just one short month was enough to blind people with its brilliance. In the future, the entire Xue consortium would belong to him. He cherished whomever he wanted, and no one else had a say.
At the same time, Zhou Yun Sheng was lying beneath the bottom of the car, changing parts. Xue Jing Yi squatted next to him, wearing a thick down jacket. She pointed to the toolbox and asked questions, as if she was very curious about the modified vehicle.
"Can you really put it back? When did you learn mechanical engineering? What is this? It looks so strange."
"Move over a bit, I want to get out." Zhou Yun Sheng shifted the small pulley.
Xue Jing Yi quickly gave way. She saw the oil-covered teenager and could not help taking two steps back, covering her mouth and nose.
"If you think the smell is too strong then leave. Don't stay here and get in the way." Within a month, he expended the system's energy several times. His spiritual power continued to creep closer to the system's core. Now, Zhou Yun Sheng spoke more and more firmly. Xue Jing Yi loved to pretend. Obviously, she hated him so much that she wanted him to go die, but she still stuck to him left and right, wanting to worm her way into becoming friends with him*. He was vexed just from looking at her. He wanted so much to kick her into the horizon with one foot.
[*T/N: 套近乎 tao jin hu – to worm one's way into being friends with somebody (usually used in a derogatory manner)]
"Then I'll stand a bit farther. It won't hinder you. There's only you and me in the room. If you ignore me, who will talk to me?" Xue Jing Yi bowed her head, showing a lonely face.
However, Zhou Yun Sheng was unmoved. If Xue Jing Yi wanted to live on, then she would have to dig his heart out. He was the villain and she was the daughter of fate. They were born standing on opposite sides of the spectrum. It was impossible for them to coexist peacefully.
Once he got rid of the villain system's control over him, he wouldn't say he absolutely had to retaliate against Xue Jing Yi, but he would definitely watch her die with cold eyes. Therefore, he did not have even the slightest bit of sympathy for her.
With a curl of his lips, Zhou Yun Sheng was about to try to chase Xue Jing Yi away when a luxury car drove into the garage. Xue Zi Xuan, wearing a silver-gray high-quality suit, stepped out of the car.
He saw the teenager looking like a messy kitten and he smiled, his eyes filled with love. When his eyes landed on Xue Jing Yi, his face turned cold for a moment.
"Where are Fu Bo and Xiao Deng? How come they're not looking after her properly?"
Xiao Wang quickly jumped out of the car and said in a simpering manner, "Young Master, I will assist Young Miss back to her room."
"Brother, you're back. Was work hard today? I asked Fu Bo to make bird's nest congee for you. It should be ready to eat now." Xue Jing Yi smiled obediently, her eyes bright with anticipation.
Looking at her considerate and sensible, yet weak and pitiful appearance, Xiao Wang really felt that it was not worth it for her to be so good. He had planned to haul her out at first, but when he got in front of her he couldn't bear to do so. When he sympathized with Xue Jing Yi, he never thought about how her survival was dependant on the murder of Huang Yi. Xue Jing Yi was sick, but what did that have to do with the teenager? Why should he pay the price of his life for her to live?
"Young Master, how about you send the young miss back?" Xiao Wang had the intention of being peacemaker to improve the relationship between the brother and the sister. He remembered that they used to be very close before. He didn't know when things became like this.
Seeing Xue Jing Yi's longing and sad expression, Zhou Yun Sheng felt that her presence was extremely irksome. Zhou Yun Sheng walked over and tugged on Xue Zi Xuan's clothes with his dirty fingertips. "Brother, stay and help me out. I still have two more parts to install and then it will be done. Wait a bit and then we'll go together to eat congee."
Zhou Yun Sheng remembered that tugging on Xue Zi Xuan's clothes was Xue Jing Yi's habitual action. She wished she could be a part of Xue Zi Xuan, hanging off of him all the time, and sticking close to him wherever he went. So he purposefully copied her to gross her out.
Xue Zi Xuan smiled immediately. He liked having the teenager depend on him, and he liked it even more when the youth acted possessive towards him. He took off his coat, flung off his tie, rolled up his sleeves, and said softly, "I have no knowledge on machinery. I can only hand you the tools. Don't hate* me for being clumsy."
"No matter who I hate*, I won't hate you," Zhou Yun Sheng replied. These lovey-dovey words were said precisely to annoy Xue Jing Yi.
[*T/N: 嫌弃 xian qi – I used "hate" because it's shorter and flows better in English, while still fitting the context of both lines, but a more direct translation would be "don't avoid me out of dislike" or "don't turn your back on me" or "don't ignore me."]
The tip of Xue Jing Yi's nose turned red, looking like she was about to cry. Seeing her like this made Xiao Wang feel distressed. He hurriedly tried to persuade in a cajoling voice, but when he saw the glare in her eyes, he seemed to have been intimidated. Xiao Wang followed her line of sight, and could not help sighing in his heart: they changed; really, completely, and truly changed.
You couldn't blame them for being surprised. Xue Zi Xuan suffered from serious mysophobia and couldn't even bear to touch strangers, let along something that was dirty. But right now, the teenager was hugging Xue Zi Xuan's trimmed waist and laughing while rubbing his grease-stained face against the young man's chest. Instead of retreating three day's march*, and returning to his room at top speed to shower, he held the teen even closer, making it easier for the youth to rub against him.
[*T/N: retreating three day's march – idiom for making a strategic withdrawal]
If that were all, it was still fine, but when faced with the teenager, Xue Zi Xuan treated him like a kindred spirit. When facing outsiders, even including his parents, his mysophobia was still just as grave as before, and his attitude was harsh enough to make one's hair stand up on end.
If this singularly unique tolerance and doting love still couldn't make Xiao Wang recognize reality, then his ten years of service to the Xue family would be for naught. Like this, the heart transfer surgery would most likely be cancelled right? But he would have to see if the young master could handle the master and mistress's pressure.
Thinking this way, Xiao Wang didn't dare open his mouth anymore. Then he took Xue Jing Yi, whose countenance was exactly like that of a wandering soul, out of the garage. He had just arrived at the garage door when he saw a group of people coming out of the basement, covered in cement dust.
"Hey, what are you guys doing?" Xiao Wang stepped forward and asked.
"Mr. Xue hired us to restructure the basement," one of them answered.
"The basement cannot be touched. Inside, there is…" the operating room! Realizing that the young miss was still there he swallowed back the last three words. Then he hurried into the basement to check.
No more.
All of the surgical equipment was gone.
Only an empty room was left in the basement. The east wall was knocked down to connect to a few other rooms that, at the moment, contained miscellaneous bits and bobs. Several trenches for car repairs were dug into the ground, as if waiting to be transformed into a larger workshop.
It was evident whom this was for. It seems that the young master's feelings for the youth was for real. He really did not intend to save the young miss! Xiao Wang ran out in a trance. He saw the wan and transparent girl standing under the sunlight, and his throat choked with emotion.
At first, he wanted to ask these workers if they had informed the master, mistress, or the housekeeper before dismantling the surgery room. And then a new thought struck him, according to the young master's current temperament, how could he tolerate having other people interfere? Naturally, he made the decision alone.
He waved his hand and let the workers leave. Fortunately, the young miss knew nothing. The hope for survival was clearly right in front of her, but to have it taken away by force, it would definitely lead to a feeling of despair.
The two returned to the main house to rest. Half an hour later, Xue Zi Xuan and Zhou Yun Sheng were finished at the garage and arrived at the front door, sticking close together like conjoined twins. They sat at the entrance to change their shoes.
After getting familiar with Xue Zi Xuan, Zhou Yun Sheng was unable to resist his own childish temperament. He picked up one of his slippers and flung it far out the door. Then he squinted his peach blossom eyes with impish laughter. Xue Zi Xuan loved this haughty style of his to death. He pulled the youth into his arms, rubbed the tip of his nose, and whispered into his ear*. He kissed the teenager's cheeks repeatedly, and even brushed up against the side of his mouth several times.
[*T/N: 咬耳朵 yao er duo – colloquially it means "to whisper in somebody's ear," but if you translate it literally it means "to bite someone's ear." Not quite sure which one the author intended here.]
When Xue Zi Xuan was done fooling around, he let go of the boy, who was gasping for breath from laughing too much. Xue Zi Xuan went out to go fetch the slipper, and laughed all the way, rejoicing like a child.
Xue Jing Yi sat on the sofa and watched with cold eyes. Her fists clenched so tightly that her fingers bit into her flesh. Xiao Wang drove away Xiao Deng, who was assisting Fu Bo, and then quietly told Fu Bo about the dismantled operation room.
"What? He dismantled the operation room? Didn't he say he just wanted to rebuild the garage?" Fu Bo was greatly alarmed and ran outside while still holding the spatula. He saw that the young miss was also in the living room, so he could only hold in his anger, and turn back around.
Half an hour later, Xue Zi Xuan and Zhou Yun Sheng finished cleaning up and came to the dining room.
Fu Bo stood at the door wanting to say something but then hesitating. Seeing that the young master didn't even so much as glance at him, he finally could not hold back and said, "I heard from Xiao Wang that you had people… take down the room in the basement? Did the master and mistress agree to this?"
While helping the teenager remove the bones from the fish, Xue Zi Xuan said coldly, "This is my home, I don't need to ask anyone if I want to dismantle something. Fu Bo, I have already warned you that there will be no next time, so you can leave."
"Young Master, what do you mean?" Fu Bo was shocked.
Xue Jing Yi looked up at her brother, her expression one of disbelief. Fu Bo was like a member of their family, ah. How could her brother say something like this?
Xiao Deng, Xiao Zhou, and Xiao Wang who were eating in the kitchen all squeezed to the door to see what was going on. He even wanted to chase away Fu Bo; the young master really was more and more not like his old self.
Only Zhou Yun Sheng ate with relish. Of course he knew that there was something fishy about the underground room, or else, why would the Xue people be so nervous. But so what? He was not interested in this at all. Seeing the old thing (Fu Bo) get his due handed to him was good enough. Who told him to always look at Zhou Yun Sheng as if he was a dead person?
"Eat slowly, be careful, there might still be a bone that isn't picked out yet." Xue Zi Xuan rubbed the boy's hair, and then he looked at Fu Bo again, and reiterated, "What I mean is that you have been dismissed. Leave tonight."
"Master and Mistress…" Fu Bo was unwilling to give up.
"I will give them a call. You should know, sooner or later the master of the Xue family will be me. You don't leave now; you still have to leave in the future. I don't like other people criticizing me or giving me orders."
Fu Bo looked around and found that beneath the pressure of the young master, no one dared to open his mouth. Then he thought of Xue Rui, who was willing to capitulate to his son's every whim (as long as he took over the family business), and in the end he agreed to leave while choked with sobs.
Seeing Fu Bo's back disappearing around the corner, Xiao Wang buried his head deeply, and actually developed a fear of the boss.
It took Xue Zi Xuan just one month to complete the transition from music artist to master. He had the capability and he had the skills, and he also had the coldest heart in the world. The Xue family would definitely be his, and even more, it would become his sole dictatorship. At that time, Xiao Wang was afraid that even the master and the mistress would have no place left to speak.