Chapter 48: The Stupid Thing Is Full of Lies
Yu Xiuqing couldn’t help but think of the dying wish of the late Old Madam Yu, and her face which had been covered in tear tracks even in death.
In her youth, his grandmother had also been a world-renowned pianist with top-tier skill and temperament.
But perhaps because of his fatherās deathāunable to bear the grief of a parent burying a childāOld Madam Yu had died in sorrow. She had held her last breath but had never been able to see her youngest son one last time.
Thinking of this grandmother, who was the only one who truly loved him, a thin layer of sorrow appeared in Yu Xiuqingās eyes. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by more loathing for Yu Peishang.
Watching the old man lean on his cane to walk away from the head table, he immediately stood up to support him, only to be waved off. Instead, the old man leaned on his assistantās arm.
Yu Xiuqing stood in place, his dark eyes narrowing. With his hands in his pockets, he watched the figure of the man who was over sixty but still stood tall walk toward the stage.
In his memory, when Old Madam Yu died, the room had been full of relatives crying their hearts out. Only the old man hadn’t shed a single tear. Instead, he had leaned down to listen as his dying wife whispered her final words.
He had never seen the old manās eyes moisten. Not when his son died, not when his wife passed, and not even when he had publicly cut ties with Yu Peishang at a press conference.
This old man was forever cold and stubborn.
“Xiuqing Gege!” A cheerful call pulled him back from his messy memories.
Yu Xiuqing lightly massaged his throbbing temples. He forced a smile for the person running over:
“Xiaoyao, you played well. Impressive.”
“Did Grandpa Yu like my music?”
Su Huaiyao looked at him expectantly with a sweet smileāthe kind of smile that felt like a spring breeze.
Yu Xiuqing liked this kind of purity even more. He patted his head dotingly and said softly, “Mhm. Xiaoyao is so excellent; everyone likes it.”
“I don’t like it…”
Shen Yuan muttered gloomily. His voice was tiny but full of dissatisfaction. His fingers, red from the cold, clutched his clothes nervously. A mist began to gather in his eyes.
Su Huaiyao, who was immersed in joy, caught those words. A flash of malice and murderous intent crossed his eyes.
Then he pretended to be extremely sad and lowered his arms, his change in demeanor rivaling that of an Oscar-winning actress.
“Shen Yuan, I know you still resent me for taking your place by Xiuqing Gegeās side, which is why youāre unhappy with me. I don’t blame you. But you actually publicly slandered my music as stolen from you… that’s really too much…”
Hearing this, Shen Yuan snapped his head up. His bright eyes were filled with unbelievable tears:
“I-I didn’t! It was clearly you who…”
“But this music was indeed created by me after a week of hard work, just to make Grandpa Yu happy. I never thought about competing with you for anything.”
Su Huaiyao interrupted the youthās next words.
He leaned against the man, his large, watery eyes filling with a layer of mist. The crystal tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes, making anyone who saw him feel pained.
“Xiaoyao, ignore him. When we get back, Iāll have the butler get some medicine from the hospital to treat him. I see his head is becoming more and more muddled; heās always talking nonsense.”
Yu Xiuqing pulled the delicate person into his arms. Seeing his piteous look, he felt even more pained. He gently stroked his back and comforted him:
“And I will only ever have you by my side. What kind of thing is Shen Yuan? How could he be worthy of my exclusive favor? He will always just be my slave.”
Though the last part of the sentence was spoken with severity, Su Huaiyao still heard the intense possessiveness within it.
He didn’t like the man possessing anything besides him, so his gaze toward the youth turned even more resentful.
Shen Yuan felt his skin crawl under that glare. He hurriedly grabbed Yu Xiuqingās arm, holding back his tears as he tried his best to explain:
“Xiansheng, Iām not sick! I-Iām telling the truth! Heās been lying to you! And that day, it was Su Huaiyao who had someone push him down the stairs and then framed me…”
“Enough!”
Yu Xiuqing barked coldly. His eyes were full of loathing and disdain, and his voice carried a piercing indifference: “Wasn’t the person in the video pushing Xiaoyao down the stairs you? The stupid thing is full of lies. Don’t force me to strike you here!”
Shen Yuan was instantly speechless. His arm was heartlessly thrown off by the other, and he staggered back a step.
He blinked helplessly. The tears caught on his eyelashes fell, and he murmured in a low voice:
“I also don’t know why the person in the video looks exactly like me… I don’t know…”
Su Huaiyao, of course, knew the answer to that. A look of immense satisfaction and mockery appeared on his face.
On stage, Old Master Yu took the microphone handed respectfully to him by the host. He adjusted it a few times and cleared his throat.
The entire room fell silent. Everyone turned their gaze toward a yellowed piece of paper on the large screen.
It was half a music scoreāonly the prelude. It hadn’t been completed, and it seemed to carry a heavy, oppressive atmosphere of sadness.
Yu Xiuqing recognized at a glance that the score on the screen was what Old Madam Yu hadn’t finished before her death.
His arm holding Su Huaiyao loosened unconsciously. He frowned, his expression looking poor.
Ten full years had passed, and the old man still hadn’t given up on his wish to see the piece completed.
Was there something hidden in that half-finished song?
The suddenly neglected Su Huaiyao felt a bit displeased. He turned his gaze toward the screen. He didn’t notice the man’s dark expression at all as he continued to ask with a smile:
“Xiuqing Gege, who wrote the music on there? Why does it look so sad?”
Yu Xiuqing looked at him indifferently. He had lost the tenderness he had just a moment ago. His voice was flat as he said, “Stop smiling. That’s a piece my grandmother didn’t finish before she died.”
Hearing this, Su Huaiyao hurriedly closed his mouth. He retracted his triumphant expression and quickly apologized:
“Iām sorry! Iām sorry! Xiuqing Gege, I didn’t know that was your grandmotherās heirloom. I didn’t mean any harm!”
“It’s fine. Just pay attention in the future.”
Yu Xiuqingās demeanor turned colder. He wondered why the usually disciplined and restrained Su Huaiyao had suddenly become a bit strange, making him feel a trace of repulsion.
And Su Huaiyao clearly noticed his change. He panicked instantly. This man had never shown him even a hint of coldness; how could his attitude change so fast!
He deeply regretted that his other side had leaked out for a moment because of Old Master Yuās praise and the joy of suppressing Shen Yuan.
It’s all that fool’s fault!
I must find a chance to get rid of Shen Yuan!
Old Master Yuās voice came from the stage then, echoing slowly through the speakers to every corner of the room:
“The half-song on the screen was written by my late wife. But due to various uncontrollable factors, she ultimately left with the regret of not finishing it. I have always been troubled by this. Not only have I tried many ways to write the following part, but I have even invited many famous composers and pianists, yet the result was always the sameāthey couldn’t capture my wife’s melody.”
He let out a heavy sigh and continued: “Many of the guests invited today are accomplished in composition and piano, so I especially hope you can complete the second half of the song to fulfill my wish.”
People began to whisper and discuss. They all wanted to curry favor by fulfilling Old Master Yuās wish.
But this half-score was exceptionally tricky and difficult. The melody alone had many unique points, let alone the arrangement. The requirements were too harsh. Not many people in the room dared to guarantee success; they could only say they would try.
After all, Old Madam Yu had been a master-level figure in the music world in her time. Though she died young, her worksāwhether scores or songsāwere unsurpassed.
To write a sequel to her work was easier said than done.
Shen Yuan looked at the half-score on the screen and bit his lip. His clear pupils reflected the shifting light.
In his eyes, those rigid musical notes seemed to come alive, dancing up and down on the stage.
Seeing that the people below were hesitating and no one dared to answer, Old Master Yu frowned in dissatisfaction. He gripped the microphone and spoke loudly again:
“If anyone can complete my late wifeās wish, I will hand over a subsidiary under the Yu Group and one hundred million yuan as a reward.”
As soon as these words came out, the crowd erupted. Jiang Tianming, who had been eyeing the Yu familyās “cake” for a long time, couldn’t sit still. He stared at Old Master Yu in disbelief.
He cursed in his heart: Yu Botang, you really are an old fool! For a mere dead personās heirloom, youāre actually giving away a Yu Group subsidiary!
One must know that even a regular employee position at the Yu Group required layers of selection and had strict requirements, let alone a high-paying position like a branch manager!
All these years, he had wanted to get a share of the Yu Group’s success to help his own company rise, but that old fox had always been wary of him and never let him manage any Yu Group projects.
Now, he was actually giving it to an outsider!
The more Jiang Tianming thought about it, the angrier he got. He stood up abruptly but tried his best to control his emotions, smiling as he advised:
“Chairman, this isn’t appropriate, is it? The Yu Group is your lifeās work. To suddenly give away one of the subsidiaries… wouldn’t it cause dissatisfaction among the other high-level executives?”
“Regarding my decision, who would dare to say a word?!”
Old Master Yu barked at him coldly.
Jiang Tianming was too scared to say anything more. He could only force a smile and sit back down with a dark face.
Yu Xiuqing was also a bit surprised by the old man’s sudden decision, but he said nothing. Being able to offer such a massive reward only confirmed the suspicion in his heart.
One hundred million plus a listed subsidiaryāno one wouldn’t be moved by such a temptation.
Old Master Yu looked at the crowdās reaction with satisfaction. He struck his cane against the floor and announced solemnly:
“Alright. Iāll give everyone one night to compose. I hope everyone can perfectly perform their work tomorrow. Itās getting late now. You have all traveled far to attend my birthday banquet; you must be tired.”
Translator’s Note
This chapter really highlights the “Dog Blood” (melodrama) tropes we love to hateāthe stolen credit, the framing, and the ML who is currently blinded by his “White Moonlight.”
Terms to Know:
- White Moonlight (ē½ęå – BĆ”i YuĆØ GuÄng): A common trope referring to an idealized first love who is unattainable or has returned to reclaim their spot.
- Xiansheng (å ē – XiÄnsheng): Literally “Mister,” but used here as a formal and respectful way Shen Yuan addresses Yu Xiuqing.
- Gege (å„å„ – GÄge): “Big Brother.” Su Huaiyao uses this to sound intimate and delicate with Yu Xiuqing.
- Sanye (äøēŗ – SÄnyĆ©): “Third Master,” referring to Yu Xiuqingās rank in the family hierarchy.
- Pear blossoms in the rain (ę¢Øč±åø¶éØ – LĆhuÄ dĆ iyĒ): An idiom describing a beautiful woman (or shou) crying piteously.
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