Chapter 7: Wit of a Piano Level 0 Player

Chapter 7: The Piano Novice's Quick Thinking

A child was appealing to Zhao Yu for help. Without sponsorship, he couldn't keep taking piano lessons, so despite his voice shaking with nerves, he asked to play alongside someone far more skilled than him.

Gu Hansheng, meanwhile, waited unhurriedly for the show. In his view, this was Chen Xitong's specialty—there was no reason to keep turning it down. Besides, Chen Xitong was so kind-hearted that he surely wouldn't leave this child in the lurch.

Zhao Yu was cornered with no escape. He hesitated briefly, then slowly got up and made his way forward, his mind racing during those few steps up to the stage.

"Xitong..." Chen Li stood up, her face turning pale.

"Director Chen, with a son who brings you such pride, why keep him hidden away?" Boss Li said with a grin.

Chen Li shot him a glare, wishing she could zip his mouth shut. She watched nervously as Zhao Yu walked up to the stage, where he paused for a moment, then leaned down to whisper something to the child.

"Are you nervous?"

The child nodded, then shook his head, but his hands wouldn't stop shaking.

Zhao Yu squeezed his hand and said, "Don't be nervous. Play along with me."

That "don't be nervous" was for the child, but also for himself. He took a quiet deep breath, and as he pressed the first key, a slow "Minuet in G Major" filled the room. The child understood right away and joined him in the duet.

The music flowed as Zhao Yu's fingers danced over the keys. Chen Li stared blankly at Zhao Yu at the piano, then slowly sank back into her chair.

"Minuet in G Major" was a staple for beginners—very simple—and the child gradually regained his confidence through it, playing more and more fluidly.

Their duet was solid. Hearing the familiar tune, Chen Li's mind was suddenly yanked back over a decade.

She'd forgotten—Zhao Yu had taken piano lessons too.

Back then, the two kids started piano together. Chen Xitong practiced dutifully, while Zhao Yu was always sneaking off to play. Chen Li, of course, didn't let Zhao Yu off the hook—she made him finish his practice before he could go to bed. Under her pressure, Zhao Yu learned a few pieces, including this "Minuet in G Major," and could even play it as a duet with Chen Xitong.

When the two brothers sat side by side at the piano, Chen Li felt a swell of pride.

At some point, she'd forgotten that the child her ex-husband took was her child too. She'd poured all her energy into Chen Xitong, as if forgetting the half that split off with the family would keep her life untroubled.

The last note faded, the duet ended, and Gu Hansheng clapped first, with everyone else following.

Zhao Yu's heart dropped back into place, but his back was already drenched in cold sweat. He slung an arm around the kid's shoulder and said, "He's way better than me. He's definitely going to outdo me someday."

The bosses below all laughed, brushing it off as a joke, assuming he'd played such a simple piece to spare the kid's feelings. Someone even said to Chen Li, "You raised him well—great emotional intelligence."

Chen Li smiled, but her emotions were a mess.

Zhao Yu was glad he'd snuck in a few practice sessions on Chen Xitong's piano a few days ago while Zhou Lan was out, getting his touch back. That was the only reason he hadn't missed a single note today.

The event finally wrapped up. As people filed out, Gu Hansheng went up to talk to the director, saying he'd personally sponsor the child. Whether or not the kid had what it took to become a pianist, he was willing to fund him—all because he'd played piano with "Chen Xitong."

Chen Li pulled Zhao Yu aside and said, "Let's have dinner tonight."

Zhao Yu said, "I'll go ask Gu Hansheng."

"No need. It's just me buying you dinner."

Zhao Yu found it odd and turned her down flat: "Then never mind. I don't have time."

Chen Li pressed on: "What are you doing tonight?"

"Of course—striking while the iron's hot, sealing the deal with Gu Hansheng."

"Tonight?"

"Aren't you in a bind? Don't tell me it's not urgent anymore."

A strange unease rose in Chen Li's chest. She didn't ask how Zhao Yu planned to "handle" Gu Hansheng, but after a long pause, she said, "Get home early tonight."

Zhao Yu said, "I am going home. Just tell Zhou Lan to stay away from my place tonight."

Over by the director, Gu Hansheng finished talking, and Zhao Yu immediately went over with a smile, sidling up to Gu Hansheng naturally, acting all chummy.

Chen Li just smiled and nodded at Gu Hansheng, then turned and left. Once in the car, she asked Zhou Lan, "What is Zhao Yu doing tonight?"

Zhou Lan replied, "He didn't tell me."

Chen Li sat in the car for a long while, watching Zhao Yu get into Gu Hansheng's car with him, then staring at the taillights until they disappeared through the gates of the welfare home. She could almost guess what Zhao Yu was going to do, but she only rubbed her temples with a sense of loss and exhaustion, and said in a low voice, "Back to the office."

The black Maybach drove down the small road in front of the welfare home, dappled shadows of trees falling across the car. Gu Hansheng said, "You went easy on that kid today, didn't you?"

Zhao Yu knew his skill level couldn't fool him, and said, "At a time like that, how could I just show off my own skills? He was about to cry—poor kid. So, are you sure you're going to sponsor him?"

"Mm, until he turns eighteen."

"That's wonderful. He won't have to worry about money anymore." Zhao Yu added, "Brother, want to come by my place? We never got to try that cooking last time—I've practiced more since."

Gu Hansheng took his hand and examined the faint scar from the last knife injury: "Looks like you've forgotten the pain once the wound healed. Don't want your hand anymore?"

"That was a one-time mistake. I definitely won't get hurt this time."

He was so insistent that Gu Hansheng agreed.

When they arrived at the apartment building, Zhao Yu instinctively glanced at the stairwell. Climbing ten floors with Gu Hansheng wasn't realistic, so they'd have to take the elevator. He couldn't help tugging at his collar, his expression slightly unnatural.

The elevator doors opened with a ding, and Gu Hansheng stepped in. Zhao Yu gritted his teeth and followed.

Fortunately, no one else got on or off, and they reached the tenth floor in seconds, letting Zhao Yu breathe a sigh of relief.

The apartment looked the same as when Gu Hansheng had last seen it, except the painting Chen Xitong had made was hanging back on the wall.

Zhao Yu said, "I had my painting reframed. See how much brighter it looks? But I might be moving soon, so I've stored some things at my mom's place. The place is a bit emptier—have a seat. I still have tea."

He explained away the suspicious detail from last time, and Gu Hansheng asked, "Why the sudden move? Where to?"

"Looking for a place with a better view. Still browsing."

Zhao Yu made him tea, then started picking out ingredients from the fridge.

Gu Hansheng didn't press further. He didn't need a perfect explanation—as long as it was plausible, he was willing to believe it and not dig deeper.

Zhao Yu picked out some simple dishes and had just entered the kitchen when Gu Hansheng followed, leaning against the doorframe watching him prep the vegetables. Zhao Yu pretended to be clumsy with the knife, and just as he sliced a piece of carrot, Gu Hansheng said, "You really practiced? You'd still cut yourself like that."

With that, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Zhao Yu from behind, taking hold of his knife hand: "Blade facing outward."

He guided Zhao Yu's hand, showing him how to use the knife with meticulous care. His presence enveloped Zhao Yu like an intimate embrace from behind, his breath brushing faintly against the side of Zhao Yu's neck.

Zhao Yu's hand went stiff, and his heart beat faster and faster. For a moment, he couldn't tell if it was just nervousness or something else mixed in.

To ease the tension, Zhao Yu said, "You know how to cook?"

"Learned while studying abroad."

"Where'd you study abroad?"

"The US and the UK."

"British food's no good."

"I studied Chinese cooking."

"Then you should teach me."

"Okay."

Zhao Yu felt lost in the intimate closeness of their mingled breath—anything he said just felt charged with innuendo. He snuck a glance up at Gu Hansheng and met his eyes head-on. At some point, his hands had stilled, and when Gu Hansheng leaned in, Zhao Yu shut his eyes on instinct.

Zhao Yu had imagined that one day he would kiss him, and he'd always pictured it with resistance and disgust. But when Gu Hansheng's lips drew close, all he felt was softness and warmth—nowhere near as bad as he'd expected.

Gu Hansheng was a smooth operator who'd been around the block, could read him like a book and indulge his every whim whenever he wanted. But he did none of that. Instead, he patiently walked Zhao Yu through the kiss, easing his nerves and awkwardness.

Gu Hansheng had never been so gentle with anyone—only with him.

As Zhao Yu gradually relaxed under this tender guidance, he nearly forgot his purpose. Gu Hansheng's kiss was too easy to get lost in; his tenderness was like a spider's web, wrapping its prey up tighter and tighter. By the time Zhao Yu realized he was caught, it was too late. The harder he tried to stay lucid, the deeper he fell, dragged down by lust into the dark.

It wasn't until the carrot rolled off the cutting board with a soft thunk that Zhao Yu suddenly snapped back to reality. His face burning red, he ducked his head in embarrassment, his eyelashes trembling slightly, and his lips were slick and flushed a vivid red.

Gu Hansheng looked down at him, the stillness in his eyes cracked, a barely-there but dangerous current stirring beneath.

Back then, he'd offered Chen Xitong admiration and respect—never crossing the line, never forcing, even thinking that if Chen Xitong couldn't accept his feelings, that would be fine.

But now he had voluntarily crossed that line and grown increasingly greedy. He no longer wanted to just be friends—he wanted to possess him. This desire had intensified because of that kiss.

Zhao Yu gradually calmed down, breaking into a cold sweat over his own lapse. He deeply realized that if Gu Hansheng wanted to play games, he could never win. Chen Li had definitely handed him a shitty plan, leaving him to walk on eggshells as the one carrying it out.

The plan had stumbled its way to this point, and the kiss almost meant their relationship was confirmed. Zhao Yu felt he was only one step away from success—just hook Gu Hansheng's heart a little more, satisfy his desires a bit further, and he could exchange that for the investment Chen Li needed.

He began to feel urgency.

As he leaned against Gu Hansheng's chest, unbuttoning his shirt one button at a time, his fingers trembled slightly, feigning inexperience. He was mentally prepared to sleep with Gu Hansheng and knew what to do. But with each button undone, he felt himself sliding deeper into an abyss.

Suddenly, Gu Hansheng grasped his hand, interlacing their fingers to stop his movements.

Then, in his ear came Gu Hansheng's rational voice, the desire receding: "Doing this isn't like you."

Zhao Yu froze, a barely concealed panic flashing across his face.

"Author's Note"

Please, little starfish |(￣3￣)|