Chapter 43

　A spotlight fell upon Ye Mingxuan’s head, bathing him in an overwhelming radiance. Under the sacred light, his features were exquisitely defined—long, curled lashes framing eyes as delicate as porcelain. His slender hands danced across the keys like a young prince at a commendation ceremony.

　　The entire audience fell silent in awe. Those playing with their phones, chatting, even taking photos—all quietly put down their devices, their gazes fixed on Ye Mingxuan.

Ye Mingxuan immersed himself completely in “Canon.” In a daze, he thought he saw a middle-aged man beckoning to him.

　　Though years had passed, the man’s appearance remained almost unchanged from Ye Mingxuan’s memory. The difference was that he now looked healthier and younger.

The man smiled kindly at him, the fine lines at the corners of his eyes softening slightly. Straightening his back, he patted his chest, as if to say: My son truly is my pride.

　　Ye Mingxuan smiled, his fingers gliding over the piano keys, playing a melody both joyful and sorrowful.

Only after the performance ended did Ye Mingxuan lower his hands. It took him a long while to snap back to reality. When he finally realized what he had done, every hair on his body stood on end!

　　What was he doing?! He didn’t know where he’d found the courage to sit there and play the entire “Canon” by himself. And just now on stage, his mind had gone completely blank—he hadn’t even known how well he was playing!

Cold sweat beaded on Ye Mingxuan’s nose as his eyes darted fearfully toward the sea of people below the stage.

　　Suddenly, thunderous applause erupted from the crowd. It started in one corner, then quickly swept across the entire hall.

Ye Mingxuan froze, realizing his performance had concluded perfectly.

His heart pounded so hard it felt like it would leap from his throat. He walked to the center of the stage and bowed deeply to the audience.

　　As he straightened up, he spotted Tan Sizhe in the front row, nodding appreciatively at him.

A radiant smile spread across Ye Mingxuan’s cheeks, as bright as spring sunshine.

Ye Yufan gripped the chair tightly, unable to believe it. Ye Mingxuan had actually finished the piano piece flawlessly, and the entire audience was praising him!

　　Not a single one of the humiliating moments he’d hoped to witness had materialized. Instead, the entire audience had become Ye Mingxuan’s cheerleaders!

Wang Zilu’s panic was visible on his face as she cautiously asked, “Yufan…”

Ye Yufan stormed off in anger. Fearing Wang Zilu would be excluded from their group, she immediately followed, pleading, “Yufan, don’t be angry!”

　　“How could I not be angry?!” Ye Yufan slammed his palm against a pillar. “I cut up his clothes, and he just turned around and wore something even better! I put laxatives in his cup, and he didn’t drink it—someone else did! Why does Ye Mingxuan have such incredible luck?!”

　　Wang Zilu’s heart pounded. Staring down the dark corridor, she sensed trouble brewing. “Let’s go, Yufan. I’m worried Ye Mingxuan will report this to the teacher when he gets back. We should leave now.”

Ye Yufan considered it. “Alright, let’s go.”

　　As they turned to leave, someone suddenly emerged from the corner, startling them both.

The figure wore a sequined fishtail dress, tall and slender, arms crossed. Her beautiful face was clouded with anger as she spoke coldly, “Come with me.”

　　…

Ye Mingxuan returned backstage, where everyone gathered around him.

Lin Jiale exclaimed, “Mingxuan, you’re amazing! You actually know how to play ‘Canon’! We were so worried backstage.”

Xu Liang added, “Yeah, when you started playing, my heart nearly jumped out of my throat. Thank goodness you finished it smoothly.”

　　Just then, Vice Principal Liu rushed in, wiping cold sweat from his brow. “Ye Mingxuan, what exactly happened? Why were you the only one on stage? Where’s Huang Xiaochu?”

Huang Xiaochu pushed open the dressing room door. “Vice Principal, if you want to know what happened, you should ask them.”

　　Ye Mingxuan turned to see Ye Yufan being shoved inside by Huang Xiaochu. Immediately after, Huang Xiaochu pushed Wang Zilu through the doorway: “Get in here!”

Ye Yufan clutched his arm and glared at Huang Xiaochu. He never imagined a girl could be so strong! He couldn’t even escape!

　　Huang Xiaochu slammed the door shut. “They’re the ones behind all this trouble.”

Ye Mingxuan turned to Ye Yufan, his expression darkening.

Standing against the wall, Ye Yufan faced his accusers with stubborn defiance. “Who says? Got proof? Don’t slander me without evidence!”

　　Huang Xiaochu held up a USB drive: “The evidence is right here. I realized how truly stupid you are—you didn’t even think to avoid the surveillance cameras while doing your dirty deeds. It’s all recorded.”

Wang Zilu’s expression changed instantly: “Surveillance…”

　　Huang Xiaochu had already handed the USB drive to Vice Principal Liu: “Vice Principal Liu, please have Wang Zilu come with me and Ye Mingxuan for an explanation.”

Lin Jiale stepped forward: “Vice Principal, this is incredibly serious! What if it wasn’t laxatives but poison… that would be poisoning someone?!”

　　Vice Principal Liu: !! This is an extremely serious campus crime!!

Huang Xiaochu groaned, clutching her head: “My head is spinning, my stomach hurts so much… Teacher, I can’t see… Am I going to die? Waaah.”

　　“Huang Xiaochu!” Vice Principal Liu instructed the girls to support her. “Rest assured, the school will severely punish this incident and handle it impartially!”

Wang Zilu’s face paled. Realizing she’d caused a major disaster, she immediately apologized: “I’m sorry, teacher! I know I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong! Please forgive me!”

　　Lin Jiale: “You should be apologizing to Huang Xiaochu and Ye Mingxuan.”

Wang Zilu pleaded for forgiveness: “Huang Xiaochu, Ye Mingxuan, I’m truly sorry!”

Huang Xiaochu: “I don’t forgive you.”

　　She turned to Ye Mingxuan: “Mingxuan, you’re not allowed to forgive her either, understand?”

Ye Mingxuan’s handsome eyes met Wang Zilu’s—she was on the verge of tears. For the first time, Ye Mingxuan looked away, lowering his eyelashes.

His stance was now crystal clear.

Vice Principal Liu: “In that case, I’ll take Wang Zilu back—”

　　“Wait!” Wang Zilu cried out. “If punishment is necessary, it can’t just be me!”

Ye Yufan inwardly panicked as Wang Zilu pointed a finger at him: “Ye Yufan ordered me to do this! He promised me money! To stop Ye Mingxuan from taking the stage!”

　The truth came out, and everyone stared at Ye Yufan in shock.

Ye Yufan had nowhere to hide, standing alone on the opposite side of them: “I… You’re lying!”

Wang Zilu was determined to make Ye Yufan pay: “I’m not lying. I recorded all the instructions you gave me as evidence!”

　　Ye Yufan’s eyes widened in disbelief: “You?!”

Wang Zilu had originally recorded the evidence fearing Ye Yufan wouldn’t pay her, but never imagined it would turn out this way. She declared: “I can hand it over right now, so you can’t just punish me alone!”

　　Ye Yufan panicked, suddenly meeting Ye Mingxuan’s cold gaze. Gone was the former timidity and subservience on his face. Those eyes seemed to pierce through one’s soul, looking at him as if he were trash.

　　Why? When did Ye Mingxuan change like this? He wasn’t like this when his clothes were torn!

Deputy Principal Liu: “This matter will be dealt with severely! Ye Yufan and Wang Zilu, come with me!”

　　Ye Yufan and Wang Zilu were led away under the watchful eyes of the crowd. Ye Mingxuan watched silently, yet his mood showed no sign of easing.

How would Ye Yufan complain to Zhao Dongxuan after receiving his punishment? How would Zhao Dongxuan then cause trouble for him and his mother? Ye Mingxuan had no way of knowing.

　　Lost in thought, he walked to the auditorium’s rear exit. As the evening event concluded and the crowd dispersed, Ye Mingxuan parted ways with Lin Jiale and headed toward the car arranged for him by Tan Sizhe.

He had assumed Tan Sizhe would take the Maybach and they would go home separately. Unexpectedly, the moment Ye Mingxuan got into the car, he saw Tan Sizhe.

　　Tan Sizhe was scrolling through his phone, the car interior dark except for streetlights tracing the man’s sharp profile through the windows. He looked up when Ye Mingxuan opened the door.

Ye Mingxuan’s hair was tousled by the wind, still wearing his white performance suit. He politely addressed him, “Sir,” before sliding in.

　　“Vice Principal Liu said they found the person who cut your clothes.”

Ye Mingxuan nodded. “Mhm.”

Tan Sizhe: “It was Ye Yufan.”

Ye Mingxuan hugged his backpack tighter. “Mhm.”

　　Tan Sizhe’s aura felt even more icy in the night, like ancient, unmelting frost. He pressed his finger to extinguish the screen. “The show went smoothly. Ye Yufan’s been caught. What are you worried about?”

Ye Mingxuan paused, then let out a bitter laugh. His face couldn’t hide his worries at all; Tan Sizhe saw right through him.

　　Tan Sizhe crossed his legs, pulled Ye Mingxuan’s backpack onto his lap, and leaned back leisurely. “If you’re worried Ye Xiangkai and Zhao Dongxuan will take their frustration out on you because they spoil Ye Yufan, there’s no need.”

　　Hearing this, Ye Mingxuan looked up in confusion, his expression blank yet tinged with hope. “What do you mean by that, Sir?”

　　Ye Mingxuan blinked his clear eyes and murmured, “Oh.”

Tan Sizhe’s reassurance instantly eased Ye Mingxuan’s worries. His shoulders slumped in relief as he leaned wearily against the car.

What a tiring day—so many ups and downs.

　　Ye Mingxuan touched his slightly protruding belly. Fortunately, the only discomfort had been a brief twinge when he saw his clothes being cut; it hadn’t hurt since.

The baby inside was considerate too, not wanting to cause him any more trouble, allowing him to complete the performance smoothly.

　　But the one he owed the most gratitude to was still…

Ye Mingxuan removed the brooch and handed it to Tan Sizhe along with the handkerchief. “Sir, thank you for helping me today.”

Tan Sizhe lowered his eyes, took the brooch, and returned it to Ye Mingxuan. “What’s yours is yours.”

　　Ye Mingxuan’s pupils reflected the moonlight as he traced the brooch’s outline, lips pressed together. “Mhm.”

The car started moving slowly as they headed home. Ye Mingxuan often felt dizzy in vehicles since becoming pregnant, so he rolled down the window slightly, letting the autumn breeze flow in.

　　After gazing at the night scenery for a while, Ye Mingxuan turned to see Tan Sizhe resting with his eyes closed.

“His nose bridge is so high and straight…” Lin Jiale had said men with high noses also had… well, that part was big too.

Ye Mingxuan recalled it was indeed large—No, no! What was he thinking?!

He slapped his cheeks to snap himself back to reality.

　　“What were you thinking about when you played the piano?”

Ye Mingxuan froze, looking up. Tan Sizhe had opened his eyes at some point, his eyes as dark as ink fixed on him. “You smiled on stage. What were you thinking then?”