Translator: Dragon Boat Translation
Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Welcome back.” An Siyao’s voice came on in his head.
“Hm.” In front of Xia Yu was the familiar piano.
He put his hands on the keyboard, marveling at the sensation he had missed for the last two days.
He started with the Gulda piece, to get a feel.
The Gulda piece was not soothing nor invigorating. Its appeal was in how it showed a young man’s mindset as he embarked on a new journey.
Part 1 showed curiosity and joy. The young man had experienced some obstacles but after some effort, he overcame them.
Part 2 showed bewilderment and anger. The young man was suffering. He was looking for solutions but couldn’t find any.
Part 3 showed a return to ordinary life and calm. After overcoming the obstacles, the young man looked back on his journey without emotional turmoil. He was so skilled that the cliffs of the past were now like a stroll.
After finishing the song, Xia Yu put down his hands. He was amazed at how great he had gotten at piano-playing.
At first, he just wanted to play the piano at the corner coffee shop to make some money. Now, he liked playing the piano.
Maybe he improved so fast that he thought he was a genius, but he did enjoy the process.
After a few seconds of rest. He used 5x the experience in the props to practice “The Pope’s Dancer.”
Four hours later, An Siyao exclaimed, “You’re improving even faster now.”
Xia Yu smiled. He was happy about the 5x experience prop. With this kind of speed, he could master the song in just one more day and be a pianist.
“Want to eat something?” An Siyao asked.
The girl’s words surprised Xia Yu. It was the first time he had heard the girl asking him to eat something
“What is it?” Xia Yu asked.
“White jade meatballs.”
“Yes!” He closed the lid of the piano. He could hardly wait.
“The maid will bring it in two minutes.” Seeing Xia Yu’s excited expression, An Siyao became happy too.
“You had the maid make it ahead of time?” Xia Yu was surprised. He didn’t think the meek girl would ask for anything.
“I tried asking, and Auntie Dong said yes instantly.” An Siyao sounded grateful.
When she asked for snacks after a meal before, she’d be told no and was lectured. Now, however, the housekeeping chief said nothing. The woman just started to cook for her.
She could also ignore the schedule the housekeeping chief once gave her: flower-arranging on Mondays and Wednesdays, piano on Tuesdays and Thursdays, painting on Wednesdays and Fridays, and studying on Saturday evenings.
“You can make more demands. The maids are just maids. You’re the owner of this house. They should work for you.”
Xia Yu was reminded of things at her school.
He asked, “How are things at school? After the misunderstanding, did Feng Yumo make trouble for you?”
“No.” An Siyao shook her head. She hesitated but didn’t tell Xia Yu how the two sisters were now looking at her in an odd way.
Thinking of those girls, she sounded conflicted. “Do you like girls who are skinny and a little tomboyish?”
She was describing Feng Yujia.
“That’s not my type. Why?” Xia Yu didn’t understand who An Siyao was referring to. He couldn’t connect the image to a girl who he met only once, and while he was living as a girl.
He thought An Siyao was talking about herself. After looking down at her body, however, he thought the girl wasn’t too skinny.
While An Siyao didn’t have a knock-out figure, her body was very elegant. She was a classic beauty.
“Then, do you like petite girls who look like schoolgirls?” An Siyao asked again.
“So-so,” Xia Yu answered. He wasn’t against adorable girls, but he didn’t prefer them either.
“What about the two of them together?”
“???”
Together?
“I guess… maybe?” Xia Yu wasn’t sure. These things depended on the actual person. Talking about concepts was too abstract. “I don’t really like particular body types.”
“Um.” An Siyao sounded really happy now.
Xia Yu was confused. He didn’t understand her meaning. Shouldn’t she reply with something like “oh”?
During his confusion, someone knocked on the door. The maid had brought over a plate of meatballs to the piano room.
Using toothpicks to eat the white jade meatballs greatly satisfied Xia Yu’s taste buds.
“I can have the chef make it every day.” An Siyao said carefully. She had her own agenda in saying so and was afraid of Xia Yu noticing.
Xia Yu did notice her tone but didn’t overthink it.
“OK,” he replied.
After finishing the meatballs, he continued to practice playing the piano. By 2 a.m., he returned to his body.
He yawned and got up from his bed. It was dark in the room. With night vision, however, he could see everything clearly.
Sitting in front of his desk, he twirled two pens on one hand, while playing on the phone with his other hand.
He heard some commotion downstairs at 5 a.m. Xia Dongyang, drunk and stumbling, came into the hallway.
In a bit, the door opened. Xia Dongyang came into the apartment and then his bedroom.
So far, it was typical. But after Xia Dongyang came inside, a few men gathered downstairs. This made Xia Yu frown.
There were five men pointing at the floor of Xia Yu’s apartment. One of the men had a tattoo sleeve.
After staring at the Tattoo Sleeve guy, Xia Yu opened the door and went outside.
He got downstairs and confronted the men.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
Xia Yu, appearing suddenly, scared the men.
The men started to cuss. Four of the men surrounded Xia Yu, wanting to pressure him, but Tattoo Sleeve pulled them away.
Xia Yu knew Tattoo Sleeve. Otherwise, even though he might be able to beat the five men with his improved Cleverness, he wouldn’t have come down so impulsively.
It was no big deal fighting these unemployed thugs, but Xia Yu had to mind his reputation.
“He’s friends with BBQ Skewer and his people.” Tattoo Sleeve held back his friends.
“What’s going on? Why are you in front of my house?” Xia Yu asked Tattoo Sleeve.
“Nothing. Your old man is in trouble,” Tattoo Sleeve said.
“His trouble is his own. Don’t come to my place. I’ll call the cops.” Taking out his cell phone, Xia Yu threatened Tattoo Sleeve.
“Don’t!” Tattoo Sleeve panicked.
Their society was controlled by law. Any gang activity was strictly banned. If they dared to loiter in front of his place, and with their records, they’d be arrested.
“We have a legit company now. We’re regular employees. We’re just here to take a look!”
The four men with Tattoo Sleeve looked a little chastened. They just wanted to scare Xia Yu. Since Xia Yu knew Tattoo Sleeve, and the neighborhood had surveillance, they didn’t dare do anything too outrageous.
“Fine, you’ve taken a look now. You can go. If you want to bother him, go to his workplace. Don’t come here!”
Xia Yu waved his hand. “What trouble is he in now?”
“We don’t really know. Something with Mr. Gong.”
After making the five men leave, Xia Yu went back home. He kicked open the door to Xia Dongyang’s room.
Xia Dongyang already saw the altercation downstairs. He apologized, “I’ll tell them not to come here anymore.”
“What trouble are you in now?” Xia Yu asked.
“Nothing big, just a little tricky.” Xia Dongyang didn’t want to say more.
Xia Yu didn’t press the older man further. Zilang City was a second-tier city, after all. Those thugs would just make Xia Dongyang suffer, they couldn’t bother him and Youxue.
And Xia Dongyang always found a way out.
After warning Xia Dongyang some more, Xia Yu left his father’s room.
“Brother.” Youxue was watching everything from her opened doorway.
“It’s fine,” patting his sister’s head, Xia Yu replied.
After Xia Yu went downstairs, Youxue watched the confrontation.
In earlier years, before crimes got better, she’d seen some scary things.
“Can I stay with you tonight?” she asked.
“Sure.” Seeing Youxue’s frightened expression, Xia Yu looked at Xia Dongyang’s room again. It was Xia Dongyang’s fault Youxue was so scared.
Too bad he couldn’t do anything to Xia Dongyang.