NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: The Music Ends But People Linger
Chapter 9: The Music Ends But People Linger
In a dark alley near the bar –
It had become an unwritten rule that anything unresolved in the bar would be settled here.
A sack marked “Urea” with a person inside was being enthusiastically attended to by some “enforcers.” The most laughable part was that these enforcers were, just minutes ago, this person’s own underlings. But they hadn’t lasted two minutes before completely switching sides.
How did they switch? They were beaten into it.
“Ouch, stop, please! Boss, please let me go!”
The person on the ground twisted and begged, writhing inside the sack like a grub.
What a spineless display.
Just minutes ago, he wasn’t like this.
He had been defiant, arrogant, relying on having “someone backing him.”
Reality proved that being tough was useless – the honest body would always betray you in the end.
“Uh, Boss, isn’t this enough? If we continue, it might not be good.”
One of the “enforcers” carefully asked the person leaning against the wall, who had remained silent since they started beating the man, emanating an ice-cold aura.
Moonlight spilled over him – his black suit jacket was now draped over his arm, one hand in his pants pocket. The top two buttons of his white shirt had been undone before the earlier “exercise,” leaving his collar slightly open.
His other hand held a cigarette, the smoke rising up, making him seem even more ethereal.
Chu Hanting dropped the cigarette butt and crushed it under his shoe, speaking in a tone like granting amnesty: “That’s enough. Remember, don’t bother today’s person again.”
“Boss, Boss, I really wouldn’t dare. If I had known that kid had you backing him, I definitely wouldn’t… even with a hundred times more courage…”
Zhou Zhou’s pleading suddenly stopped as the sack was removed.
A subordinate explained: “He’s already left.”
Left?
Good, he was scared to death.
“Help me up.”
A subordinate immediately offered his arm, but the moment Zhou Zhou grabbed it, something felt wrong. He turned to look at the subordinate with a sinister expression.
The subordinate sensed it – was there going to be payback later?
But he was too late to dodge – Zhou Zhou kicked him aside, making him roll several times.
Seeing this, everyone else backed away, keeping their distance.
Zhou Zhou stood up clutching his waist, grimacing, “Damn it, bunch of ungrateful traitors. I feed you all, and you dare to hit me!”
“I’ll teach you to hit me, I’ll teach you!”
Each subordinate received several even-handed slaps.
Zhou Zhou grew angrier the more he thought about it. He’d only tried to stop someone outside the bar – something he’d done plenty of times before – but this time he ran into some meddler.
The worst part was that all of his men couldn’t even beat that one person.
When Chu Hanting returned to the bar, he found the usually rowdy hall surprisingly quiet.
Listening carefully, he could hear beautiful melodies mixing with the usual clamor.
It was as if serenity had been dropped into this materialistic world.
The typically vain and superficial atmosphere seemed purified, offering a moment of peace amidst the turbidity.
The pianist’s skill seems to have improved, Chu Hanting thought.
But when he emerged from the crowd, he paused, almost losing his composed expression.
Heh, so that’s how it is.
Playing piano at a bar? Is he short on money?
Thinking of the information he’d gathered – though the Su family tried to keep things unclear, they couldn’t hide from the Chu family’s intelligence network.
Stories of real and fake young masters weren’t uncommon in their circles.
He didn’t care whether the other was a real young master or not – if the old man hadn’t said anything, he certainly wouldn’t be concerned about social status.
Had the Su family cut him off financially?
Going from luxury to frugality was difficult – he wondered if this young man could adapt.
Chu Hanting felt a touch of pity, but only that much.
He looked again, and found himself strangely drawn in.
The person on stage wore a well-fitted tailcoat, which stripped away some of his youthfulness, making him appear elegant and noble.
Under the spotlight, a handsome young man’s fingers danced across the black and white keys, his taut back creating beautiful lines as he played.
His expressions changed with the melody’s flow, like a noble, mercurial spirit.
Though Chu Hanting didn’t understand music theory, he could tell good from bad.
It was clearly skill built from years of practice, exceptionally masterful.
He became mesmerized as he listened, unable to take his eyes off the radiant figure on stage.
Before he knew it, the piece had ended.
The performer bowed gracefully.
Then casually glanced his way.
Only then did Chu Hanting snap out of it, realizing he’d been standing there listening for so long.
Su Mu hadn’t expected to see Chu Hanting here, but he was happy. Since his rebirth, the Su family no longer gave him any warmth.
He deeply missed having that person by his side, perhaps because in his past life, during his paralyzed years, Chu Hanting had always been there. His body had formed a dependency.
The sudden loss of this dependency made Su Mu feel insecure.
These thoughts filled his eyes with mist, emotions he couldn’t control welling up.
Chu Hanting only saw this sprite-like prince walking toward him.
This was normal enough, given their marriage meeting that afternoon.
But why did he look like he was about to cry? Had someone bullied him?
Su Mu didn’t know what he was thinking. At the Su house, he’d kept his emotions hidden in that unsafe environment.
But now, he just wanted to embrace him.
From walking to jogging to running – when Su Mu rushed over, Chu Hanting’s arms opened faster than his mind could think, catching the person who flew into his embrace.
Upon actual intimate contact, Chu Hanting felt uncertain, but strangely, he didn’t mind it.
Regardless of gender, he’d always disliked intimate contact with anyone before, feeling uncomfortable at the slightest touch.
His psychiatrist called it mysophobia.
His friends had teased that he’d never marry.
But this warm presence in his arms didn’t repel him.
His hands, ready to push away, instead returned the embrace.
Su Mu had acted on impulse – after all, in this life they’d just met – and regretted it after the hug, fearing a harsh rejection.
But he couldn’t bear to let go, as if he’d waited for this embrace for so long. He owed him this, wanting to hold this person tight.
Even if stolen, even if momentary, just let him stay a little longer.
Chu Hanting had a special energy that made Su Mu feel incredibly safe.
As if in this person’s embrace, he could lower all his defenses without fear of getting hurt.