Chapter 44

Ye Mingxuan never imagined Tan Sizhe had seen his expression on stage. Those obsidian eyes stared at him with such depth, as if they could peer into the deepest recesses of his soul.

The car sped along the road dotted with lights. Multicolored neon spilled into the cabin, dancing across Ye Mingxuan’s face.

Ye Mingxuan fluttered his lashes. “I was thinking… if only I could meet someone who’s passed away.”

“Even just to hear them say one word.”

Ye Mingxuan lifted his head, the light in his eyes flickering. “Sir, do you believe there’s another world after death?”

Tan Sizhe remained silent as the wind outside stirred his hair and the hem of his coat.

Ye Mingxuan lowered his eyes in disappointment, about to drop the subject, when Tan Sizhe spoke: “Yes.”

“…”

Ye Mingxuan slowly snapped back to attention, looking at Tan Sizhe. “Really?”

Tan Sizhe replied, “I have a friend who can connect to that world.”

“Really?!” Ye Mingxuan was stunned. He’d thought Tan Sizhe was merely comforting him, never expecting such a response!

Tan Sizhe nodded. “It’s true.”

“Where is he?! Can I meet him?!” Ye Mingxuan leaned toward Tan Sizhe, tilting his small head imploringly. “Sir, please let me see him. I’ll pay whatever it takes!”

Tan Sizhe raised an eyebrow. “Whatever it takes?”

“…” Ye Mingxuan tugged at his pants. “Can I write an IOU?”

If it was tens or hundreds of thousands, he probably couldn’t come up with that much money right away, but he could work to pay it back slowly.

Tan Sizhe pinched his little cheek. “Just kidding. No money needed.”

Hope flared in Ye Mingxuan’s eyes, and he stammered excitedly, “Sir, then can you take me?”

Tan Sizhe nodded quietly. “But you’ll have to wait a few days.”

Ye Mingxuan nearly leapt to his feet, nearly hitting his head on the roof: “Yes!”

Tan Sizhe pulled him back with a wry smile, ruffling his hair: “Did you hit your head?”

Ye Mingxuan realized his overzealousness and smiled sheepishly: “No.”

The car pulled into the residential compound and stopped at the front gate. Ye Mingxuan hopped out lightly, his footsteps as silent as a cat’s. Spotting Aunt Fu opening the door, he grinned and ran over: “Aunt Fu!”

“The gentleman specifically asked me to make a midnight snack to celebrate Mr. Mingxuan’s perfect performance on the show.”

Ye Mingxuan glanced back, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Tan Sizhe before following Aunt Fu inside.

Tan Sizhe watched Ye Mingxuan’s retreating figure. The smile on his lips slowly faded. Half his body was bathed in moonlight, the other half hidden in the shadows of the trees.

Truthfully, there was no friend who could see “the other world.” He had made it up to deceive Ye Mingxuan.

But if Ye Mingxuan wished it, he could arrange this ritual for him. As long as Ye Mingxuan no longer grieved in his longing.

……

Aunt Fu served up tom yum seafood soup, Sichuan pepper potatoes with octopus legs, and creamy mushroom pasta. Ye Mingxuan’s mouth watered greedily. Clutching his knife and fork, he stared intently at the dishes before glancing up to see where Tan Sizhe was.

Tan Sizhe tossed his jacket onto the sofa, undid the top two buttons of his shirt, and sat down across from Ye Mingxuan.

Only after the man was seated did Ye Mingxuan begin eating, speared an octopus leg with his fork, and popped it into his mouth.

Aunt Fu remarked, “Mr. Mingxuan looks truly splendid today. His clothes even sparkle. It’s a pity I wasn’t there to hear him play the piano.”

Tan Sizhe: “I’ll send you the recording later.”

Ye Mingxuan, still chewing the octopus leg, looked up sharply: “?”

Tan Sizhe gazed at him with a faint smile, uttering three words: “I recorded it.” !!! Recorded it?!

Ye Mingxuan nearly swallowed without chewing.

“Oh my, that’s wonderful!” Aunt Fu clapped her hands. “I’ll savor it at home with my husband!”

Ye Mingxuan flushed crimson from his ears to his neck. His skin glowed pink against his fair complexion, radiating a warm, sweet scent. His makeup remained untouched, the corners of his eyes dotted with fine, pinkish-purple glitter, like mermaid tears.

Tan Sizhe swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He couldn’t even taste the seafood in his mouth.

After finishing his meal, Ye Mingxuan clutched his full belly and headed upstairs to freshen up.

Just as he reached the door, his slender wrist was tugged back. Ye Mingxuan turned, “Huh?”

Tan Sizhe asked, “When did you learn that piece you played today?”

Ye Mingxuan blinked. “I… I picked it up while practicing these past few days.”

Tan Sizhe’s lips tightened. He reached up, cupping Ye Mingxuan’s chin, his fingertips teasingly tracing the smooth skin. “Play it for me again. I want to hear it.”

…

The Ye residence. The second-floor bedroom was bathed in brilliant light, a magnificent crystal chandelier spilling radiance. Ye Yufan lay sobbing on the edge of the bed.

“Brother Yu Sen, even you think I did it?!” Ye Yufan felt intensely guilty but refused to admit it to Yu Sen, terrified of completely destroying the image he held of her. “Wang Zilu dragged me into this! Just because I didn’t invite her to dinner!”

“…” Yu Sen sounded deeply disappointed. “Yufan, Wang Zilu has your recorded confession. You still want to make excuses?”

Yefan panicked: “I…”

Yu Sen: “Go apologize properly to Mingxuan. He’ll listen.”

“I won’t apologize! Why are you all protecting him? What’s so great about him anyway!” Ye Yufan slammed the phone against the wall and hung up.

Recalling the look Ye Mingxuan had given him back then, Ye Yufan felt utterly humiliated.

How dare the son of a servant look at him like that?

He’ll tell Mom! Mom will teach Ye Mingxuan a lesson!

Why aren’t Zhao Dongxuan and Ye Xiangkai home yet? Ye Yufan ran to the wall, picked up the phone, and quickly dialed Zhao Dongxuan’s number.

After two rings with no answer, Ye Yufan felt so wronged he was close to tears. Panting, he tried again. On the third ring, someone finally picked up.

“Mom, I…”

“Yufan, come to the hospital immediately! Your father’s been hospitalized!”

Ye Yufan froze for two seconds, then jumped to his feet in shock. “What?!”

…

When Tan Sizhe received Bai Yu’s call, he was sitting calmly on the sofa, eyes closed as he listened to Ye Mingxuan play the piano.

Only a few dim yellow lights illuminated the piano room, casting a soft glow over the two figures. The fine sparkle at the corner of Ye Mingxuan’s eye shone even brighter, catching Tan Sizhe’s gaze.

“Mingxuan.”

“Hmm?”

Tan Sizhe held up his phone. “Bai Yu’s call. You take it.”

Ye Mingxuan paused his playing, momentarily dazed. “Me?”

Tan Sizhe raised an eyebrow. Ye Mingxuan hesitated briefly before walking over to take the phone. “Mr. Bai.”

“Mingxuan, I need to tell you something.” Bai Yu sounded mysterious. “Actually… it’s not good news. It’s quite unfortunate… but I should let you know.”

Ye Mingxuan: “What is it?”

Bai Yu: “Ye Xiangkai—oh, I mean your father—remember that project I recommended he invested in last time? He lost twenty million. Mr. Ye couldn’t handle it. He had a heart attack and’s in the hospital.”

Ye Mingxuan’s mind processed for an eternity: “R-really?”

Bai Yu: “Absolutely true.”

“… ” Ye Mingxuan froze.

Tan Sizhe pressed his fist to his lips and cleared his throat.

Ye Mingxuan snapped back to reality, clutching his phone. “Mr. Bai, thank you for telling me this.”

Bai Yu: “You’re welcome. If you have time, try to persuade Mr. Ye to look on the bright side.”

Ye Mingxuan: “Mhm.”

He took the phone and handed it back to Tan Sizhe. Tan Sizhe caught it, resting it on his lap and flipping through it a few times. “Mr. Ye is hospitalized?”

So that’s why the master told him not to worry—it was about this.

The Ye family had lost twenty million, and Ye Xiangkai had been hospitalized from anger. Zhao Dongxuan must be overwhelmed, leaving her no time to deal with him and his mother.

So that’s how it was. Ye Mingxuan exhaled a deep sigh of relief. Finally, he could have a few days of peace.

But to Tan Sizhe, Ye Mingxuan was the son of the Ye family. With Ye Xiangkai hospitalized, shouldn’t he at least feign some sorrow?

Ye Mingxuan turned his head in confusion. Tan Sizhe was already doubled over on the sofa, shoulders shaking with laughter, his pale skin flushed crimson.

“Sir?”

Ye Mingxuan had never seen Tan Sizhe laugh like this before, and he felt a bit uneasy.

Tan Sizhe laughed unabashedly for a moment, then reached out: “Come here.”

Ye Mingxuan obediently walked over. Tan Sizhe pulled him onto his lap: “Don’t go see Ye Xiangkai. Let him rest and recover properly.”

Ye Mingxuan nodded. “…Okay.”

Recalling Ye Mingxuan’s earlier expression of feigned tears that wouldn’t come, Tan Sizhe found him utterly adorable. His mischievous streak surfaced, and he bit down on his lips.

“Mmm!” Ye Mingxuan’s lips parted in pain, and the man’s tongue slipped inside.

His toes curled tightly as a tingling current shot from his soles to his brain. The lingering residue of their kiss was completely swallowed by the man.

Tan Sizhe’s large hand roamed his waist, circling his knees to lift him horizontally. With a few long strides, he placed Ye Mingxuan on the piano.

“Thud!” The keys clattered as Ye Mingxuan’s waist went slack.

“Sir!” Ye Mingxuan’s feet braced against the piano stool, his ears sucked until he was weak, cheeks flushed crimson. “Not here… Ha… You’ll break the piano!”

Tan Sizhe maliciously slapped his lower back. “If you’d stop leaking so much, it wouldn’t.”

Ye Mingxuan: !!! More dirty talk!

Tan Sizhe spun a tale on the spot: “The Piano Prince’s performance today was a great success. To thank his one and only audience member for their support, the Piano Prince has decided to offer his own body.”

Ye Mingxuan: “What… Mmm… I didn’t offer… Mmm…”

Still dazed, Tan Sizhe was already half-kneeling on the floor, eagerly pulling down his zipper.

Ye Mingxuan gasped: “No…”

“The number you have dialed is currently unavailable…”

Yu Sen hung up the phone, gazing at the pure moonlight outside the window as he sighed softly.

With all that happened today, Mingxuan must be asleep by now.

I’ll find him tomorrow.

A few drops of water spattered on the floor. The glistening tear at Ye Mingxuan’s eye corner had been kissed away. His eyes unfocused, he clutched his stomach as he lay sprawled across the piano.

Tan Sizhe rose, licked his lips, kissed Ye Mingxuan’s plump earlobe, and gathered him into his arms. “Little pianist, time for bed.”