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Challenging oneself and taking risks in unknown territory, this was exactly the kind of thing Zhou Chaosheng would do.

"Oh, I see," Jiang Yuanye said.

He thought, how could it possibly be him?

That was simply impossible.

But fortunately, it wasn’t...

With that thought, the heavy weight in Jiang Yuanye’s heart finally eased.

To be honest, he had never once considered that the person who helped pay off his debt would be Zhou Chaosheng. Before this, he had guessed it might be Cheng Yuan, who kept it from him out of concern for his pride. He had also considered that it could have been a close brother secretly helping him behind the scenes. At his most far-fetched, he even suspected Zhao Xiaohui might have had a sudden burst of kindness and decided to help.

As for why he thought of Zhao Xiaohui, that went back to eight years ago when his mother jumped off a building. The school had organized a fundraiser, raising emergency funds for her hospitalization and treatment. Later, through investigation, he found out that Zhao Xiaohui had anonymously donated around 200,000 yuan.

And today, when he heard those key words from Zhao Xiaohui, for a moment, he felt lost, relieved, and helpless all at once...

A flood of memories crashed over him, drowning him in emotions, making him feel suffocated and pained like he hadn't in a long time.

He didn’t know how to face his old rival, and for a moment, he wanted to run away.

He couldn't accept it.

Even more so, he couldn't accept that the person he had fought with endlessly for years, the one he had always been at odds with, was the very person who had selflessly helped him pay off his debts. That would make all his past hostility seem laughable.

"Want a drink?" Zhou Chaosheng held out a cup of hot milk.

Jiang Yuanye quickly suppressed his complicated emotions, murmured a thank you, and reached out to take the cup. But in the process, the pad of his index finger accidentally brushed against two of Zhou Chaosheng’s fingers.

As if electrocuted, he quickly retracted his hand and covered up his reaction with a cough.

Zhou Chaosheng looked at him for a few seconds before suddenly asking, "What's wrong with you?"

Jiang Yuanye lowered his gaze. The warmth from that brief touch seemed to flow through his nerves like an electric current, stronger than just goosebumps, leaving his whole body feeling weak.

It was such a simple, insignificant movement, yet it made him feel on edge.

"...Nothing."

Jiang Yuanye placed the hot milk Zhou Chaosheng had given him onto the long table, instead picking up the whiskey he had poured earlier. Tilting his chin up, he took a large gulp of the strong liquor, hoping to use the alcohol to douse the sudden heat inside him.

The burning sensation spread from his throat to his stomach. He had drunk too fast and started coughing several times.

Just as he bent over to recover, a warm, firm hand suddenly landed on his back, gently patting him.

The touch was gentle and steady but the words that followed were sharp.

"Are you trying to kill yourself?"

The warmth of the hand moved in slow, deliberate strokes, helping him breathe through his coughing fit.

"……"

Jiang Yuanye found himself unable to argue back.

Zhou Chaosheng glanced at him, slightly surprised. That glance was just long enough for him to notice Jiang Yuanye’s reddened eyes.

His long, dark lashes were damp, weighed down by moisture, casting shadows over his amber-colored irises.

The usually lively and defiant person suddenly quieted down, exuding a mix of stubbornness and vulnerability.

Zhou Chaosheng casually withdrew his gaze. Once he saw that Jiang Yuanye had calmed down, he finally removed his hand from his back.

"Drinking on an empty stomach, aren't you afraid your stomach problems will act up again?"

His tone was indifferent, carrying no reproach, as if merely stating a fact.

Jiang Yuanye froze for a second. "How do you know I have stomach problems?"

Just as Zhou Chaosheng was about to answer, their classmates' laughter and teasing voices rang out from behind them.

"No way no way,  after eight years have you two finally become friends?"

"Hahaha, I always said you two would eventually get along!"

"I said so too!"

Their classmates gathered around, tossing out casual, teasing remarks.

"Honestly, you two never really had much of a grudge to begin with. Just some academic rivalry, a few arguments… The worst thing was probably that one time you both liked the same girl at the same time."

Hearing this, Zhou Chaosheng suddenly interrupted, "I never liked Cheng Yuan."

Everyone was stunned for a moment. Xu Hao, who reacted the fastest, immediately followed up, confirming, "Where did you guys even hear that gossip? Back then, it was clearly Cheng Yuan who liked our Brother Zhou, okay? She even confessed to him in the hallway don't you remember?"

Now that someone had brought it up, the memories slowly resurfaced in everyone’s minds, and they nodded in agreement. "Yeah, now that you mention it, I remember. One day after class, Cheng Yuan suddenly stood by the window and said something to Brother Zhou. The whole corridor instantly erupted in cheers. I was so confused at the time. Later, I heard someone say she was confessing..."

"Enough," Jiang Yuanye interrupted with a dark expression. "Whatever happened between me and Zhou Chaosheng has nothing to do with that girl."

Hearing Jiang Yuanye suddenly call him by his full name, Zhou Chaosheng glanced at him.

So, he still hadn’t let go of Cheng Yuan...

He rubbed the pad of his finger. The warmth from patting Jiang Yuanye’s back earlier still lingered on his fingertips.

For some reason, he suddenly reached out and brushed his fingers against the cold rim of the glass on the long table. The icy sensation from the floating ice cubes quickly dispersed the residual warmth.

"By the way, does anyone here know how to play the piano?"

Zhang Youqi’s voice rang out from a distance and drew closer. He walked over with Xu Qianyun, who had her hair tied up in a bun, smiling as he asked, "I want to dance with Qianyun. Can anyone play some music for us?"

Everyone exchanged glances before collectively turning toward Zhou Chaosheng.

Zhou Chaosheng: "....."

"Brother Zhou, how about you?"

"I heard from Zhao-ge that Brother Zhou is a Grade 10 pianist?"

"Getting Brother Zhou to play for us, this is something I never even dared to dream of, hahaha..."

Jiang Yuanye, of course, knew that Zhou Chaosheng could play the piano. About two years ago, he had accidentally come across a video of Zhou Chaosheng, at eight or nine years old, performing in front of thousands at the Vienna Music Association Hall.

He wondered if Zhou Chaosheng, now with amnesia, still remembered how to play. Four months ago, Zhou Chaosheng had demonstrated his foreign language skills at home, but Jiang Yuanye suspected that was only because he had seen a language book that triggered his memory.

But now, there wasn’t a single sheet of music in sight to prompt him and with so many people egging him on...

If Zhou Chaosheng really couldn’t play anymore, wouldn’t he embarrass himself in front of everyone?

Thinking this, Jiang Yuanye subtly tugged on Zhou Chaosheng’s sleeve behind everyone's backs. When Zhou Chaosheng turned to look at him, he whispered, "Can you do it?"

Zhou Chaosheng: "......"

Was this guy mocking him?

He let out a cold snort and retorted, "Why wouldn't I be able to?"

Jiang Yuanye could hear the defiance in his tone and grew a bit anxious. "If you really can't, don’t force yourself. You're not the only one here who can play."

Zhou Chaosheng: "......"

He could tell Jiang Yuanye was definitely doubting him.

Originally, Zhou Chaosheng hadn’t planned on playing, but now he changed his mind. Seeing everyone’s expectant gazes, he nodded and said, "Alright, what do you want to hear?"

In an instant, the crowd erupted into cheers. "Awesome! Long live Brother Zhou!!"

"Whatever Brother Zhou plays, we'll listen!"

Zhou Chaosheng gave a slight nod, not sparing Jiang Yuanye another glance as he walked toward the piano.

Jiang Yuanye: "....."

He turned his head and scoffed as well.

Fine, if he messed up, he better not blame him for not warning him.

In the center of the lounge stood a black grand piano. Zhou Chaosheng sat down on the fixed leather stool, lifted the cover, and revealed the stark black-and-white keys underneath.

Jiang Yuanye and the others stood on the sidelines, leaning against the wall. He held the cup of hot milk Zhou Chaosheng had given him earlier, taking a sip now and then to warm his stomach.

The hushed murmurs of the girls gathered nearby drifted into his ears—both distant and clear—filled with unmistakable admiration and affection.

"Chaosheng is so handsome..."

"Being handsome and talented is one thing, but he's also rich!"

"If I could date someone like him in this lifetime, I could die without regrets."

The girls burst into laughter, then continued, "I heard he’s never been in a relationship. Is that true?"

"That has to be false. Someone this handsome has never dated? I don’t buy it."

Someone countered, "It’s true. I know people in that circle, and they all say Zhou Chaosheng is famously a motherborn solo. And think about it, someone like him who has everything, if he were dating, wouldn’t he be open about it?"

"That makes sense..."

Hearing this, Jiang Yuanye let out a quiet scoff, silently refuting in his heart. How could it be impossible to keep it hidden?

These people really didn’t know Zhou Chaosheng. They only saw one side of him. If you asked him, someone like Zhou Chaosheng was the type most likely to have a secret relationship.

Just as he was mulling over this thought, a smooth and graceful melody spread through the air, carried by the sound system beneath the round table.

From Jiang Yuanye’s angle, he could clearly see the way Zhou Chaosheng’s slender fingers curled as they pressed down on the piano keys, the veins and tendons faintly visible beneath his pale skin. His hands were long and delicate, with well-defined knuckles, so beautiful they seemed born to play the piano.

The elegant and moving notes flowed from his fingertips like a gentle stream.

Seated in the center of the room, he became the focal point of everyone’s gaze.

Like a prince straight out of a fairy tale, effortlessly capturing the hearts of all the women present.

Jiang Yuanye recognized the song immediately—"The Way I Still Love You."

From the very first note, it felt like two people who hadn’t seen each other in a long time suddenly crossing paths once more.

Although the song itself was about a breakup, every time Jiang Yuanye heard it, he always felt like it was a confession of love hidden deep within.

As the music played, the couple stepped to the rhythm, dancing gracefully in the center of the hall. Others, caught up in the atmosphere, pulled their partners in to join them.

It was as if two strangers had suddenly noticed each other, leading to an encounter that unfolded beautifully. As the song progressed, they experienced quarrels and separations, only to meet again years later at some unexpected street corner—every glance they exchanged carrying a love too deep for words.

The warm light from above softly outlined Zhou Chaosheng’s calm and gentle profile.

At that moment, Jiang Yuanye felt the irregular pounding in his chest.

He clutched his chest, expressionless, and thought.

Damn, this song sounds amazing.

When the song ended, no one spoke for a long time, as if still lost in its lingering resonance.

It was only when Zhou Chaosheng stood up that they finally snapped out of it, erupting into cheers.

"That was incredible! One more!! One more!!!"

"Brother Zhou, you're seriously amazing. A Level 10 pianist really is on another level!"

—

A girl, under the encouragement of her friends, walked up to Zhou Chaosheng with a flushed face.

Jiang Yuanye, who had been leaning casually, suddenly paused. He watched as the girl shyly approached Zhou Chaosheng, and saw how he patiently responded to her conversation.

The two stood very close, almost pressed against each other.

For some reason, Jiang Yuanye felt like someone had just placed a green hat on his head.

He spaced out for a moment, and the next thing he knew, the girl hadn't moved away.

Jiang Yuanye took a deep breath to calm himself, then placed his now-empty glass of warm milk on the table and casually walked toward them.

"Chaosheng, when did you start learning piano? You're amazing!" the girl asked.

Zhou Chaosheng responded warmly, "Thank you. I think I started learning around six years old."

"Wow, that's incredible! I’ve been to a few concert halls to watch performances before, and your skill is just as impressive as those top pianists!" the girl continued with admiration.

Zhou Chaosheng smiled humbly. "I wouldn’t say that. It’s just a hobby."

The girl hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixed on Zhou Chaosheng’s perfectly sculpted features. A faint blush crept up her ears as she softly asked, "Chaosheng, can I add you on WeChat?"

Just as Zhou Chaosheng was about to respond, a hand suddenly rested on his shoulder, pulling him in slightly. A teasing voice chuckled, "Are you adding contacts in front of me?"

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