NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24: The "Madman" Shang Guan Fan
Chapter 24: The “Madman” Shang Guan Fan
Su Mu was willing to leave the Su family without taking a penny, yet they clung tightly to what little value they could still extract from him.
They wanted the horse to run but wouldn’t feed it hay – where in the world could you find such a sweet deal?
In the following days, Su Mu avoided the Su family as much as possible at home, focusing entirely on practicing piano.
The Su family didn’t disturb him when they saw him practicing, seeming to have reached an unspoken agreement not to create trouble unnecessarily.
They probably wanted to keep him stable for now, while secretly hiding their invitation. That’s why they didn’t dare mention anything about piano in front of him.
That was fine – he needed time to focus anyway.
After three quiet days of practice, Su Mu had nearly finished preparing for the competition.
Now, about a week remained until the competition, and based on the trajectory of his previous life, the qualification letter should arrive at the Su home in two days.
He remembered he needed to play piano at Moonlight Bar tonight to earn extra money.
He had previously arranged with the bar to play once every Thursday.
Gao Yang, on the other hand, had to go every other day, since the bar’s atmosphere leaned more towards rock bands, so his role as resident singer was essential.
For piano, that refined art, once a week was enough to set the mood.
While Su Mu was away playing at the bar, Mother and Father Su shared their future plans with Su Ning.
That evening, Father Su called Su Ning to his study.
“Ning’er, I’ve arranged your university matters.”
Hearing this, Su Ning could barely contain his joy and excitement, certain desires threatening to burst forth.
He had waited so long, and Father Su had never mentioned schooling – Su Ning hadn’t dared to ask.
Finally, he too would have the chance to attend university.
“Dad, I want to…” Before he could finish saying he wanted to study acting, Father Su solemnly stated: “You’ll join the piano department.”
“What?” Su Ning froze. “But I don’t know how to play.”
Father Su had clearly anticipated this question. He motioned for Su Ning to sit down and stay calm.
After slowly sipping his tea, he spoke mysteriously like a sage: “Who said you need to know how?”
Su Ning was even more confused – what would he do there then? Become a laughingstock?
“Doesn’t Su Mu know how?”
What connection was there between Su Mu’s ability and his inability to play?
Father Su looked at Su Ning’s confused expression and sighed, “You still have much to learn about high society. In Beijing, those with power and influence live freely. You’re my son – Su Yuanshan’s real son – and I’ll naturally give you the best.”
Father Su glanced toward the piano room downstairs, his expression cold. “As for Su Mu, after occupying your identity for so many years, it’s time he returned some things to you.”
Su Ning vaguely understood that Father Su had a way to get him into the piano department despite his inability to play, and it would somehow make Su Mu unhappy.
But the specifics remained unclear.
After Father Su explained everything, Su Ning finally understood.
This… he should be happy about taking away what Su Mu valued most.
But personally, he actually wanted to study acting and become a famous star.
Back in the village, watching those glamorous celebrities on TV, he envied them endlessly. He wanted to stand on such beautiful stages, admired by fans.
Later, he heard the village women say stars could earn billions just from a single advertisement – wouldn’t that be easy money?
He didn’t want to work hard. He thought his face was decent enough, and with the Su family’s influence, he could surely make it big in entertainment.
Although Su Ning hadn’t dared defy Father Su since arriving at the Su home, he now set aside thoughts of suppressing Su Mu to fight for himself.
Fidgeting with his fingers, he chose his words carefully, first testing: “Dad, I actually don’t like piano much. I’ve never touched it before. Even if I replace brother, what about afterward?”
Father Su smiled reassuringly, “Don’t worry, since I’ve paved this path for you, I’ll naturally arrange everything else.”
Given this response, Su Ning could only state his wishes directly: “Dad, I actually have a major I want to pursue.”
Hearing this, Father Su raised his eyebrows but wasn’t angry.
He had chosen this path because he thought his son, raised in the countryside with poor grades, couldn’t do anything else.
But if Su Ning had his own strengths, that would be even better. Father Su thought Su Ning might have some hidden talent.
However, Su Ning said: “Dad, I want to study acting and make movies later.”
Father Su’s smiling face immediately darkened, his previously relaxed brows furrowing enough to kill a fly.
“Nonsense!”
Su Ning was startled by Father Su’s shout, not expecting such anger.
Wasn’t it just changing majors?
“Acting? What nonsense is that? Do you want people at banquets laughing at me, saying Su Yuanshan’s son is a performer?”
“No, Dad, they’re stars, not mere performers. And it makes good money – the Su family’s funds…” Su Ning argued.
But he had no idea he’d completely stepped on Father Su’s landmine.
Father Su was an extremely traditional and conservative person. Piano was something everyone in high society learned – a refined art he didn’t understand, which was why he had Su Mu learn it from childhood.
But filmmaking was an unspeakable profession – in Father Su’s view, it was a field where people made money with their bodies.
The Su family was upper-class nobility, managing the massive Su corporation. Su Ning might need to take over his position someday – was he supposed to go to board meetings and list his son’s filmography in his credentials? How could that ever be respectable?
It would make him hang his head in their social circles.
This was a battle Su Ning was destined to lose. That night, Father Su stood firm – Su Ning could choose not to study piano if he showed other talents, but acting was absolutely forbidden.
Back in his room, Su Ning cried loudly enough to attract Mother Su’s attention.
Meanwhile, at the bar, Su Mu was secretly hoping to encounter Chu Hanting again.
With his past life’s knowledge, Su Mu recalled after seeing Chu Hanting at the bar that the owner was another of Chu Hanting’s close friends – Shang Guan Fan.
Compared to Liu Yu, Su Mu was far less familiar with this friend.
In fact, his first encounter with him in his previous life wasn’t through Chu Hanting, but because of Gao Yang.
It was at Gao Yang’s funeral, where this person had nearly destroyed Gao Yang’s grave.
Su Mu and others had to use all their strength to stop Shang Guan Fan’s absurd attempt to dig up the grave, leaving him with a lasting impression.
He had given him a label: “Madman.”