To Love You Again

Shinichi had always been gentle and polite. However, at this time, he really wanted to punch this man for threatening him on his face.

"You...! Do you think I am very powerless? I will never give in to your threats--" 

He was in the middle of his outburst when Lu Jin suddenly put on his mask and turned his body around.

Shinichi: "..." 

This man! How dare him!

"You are ignoring me?"

The masked man suddenly vanished.

!!!

"Hah..." 

Shinichi staggered a step back with wide eyes.

The heck? The person vanished in front of him!

"Are you alright, Sir?" A gentle voice sounded in his ears, startling him into a jump. 

Shinichi turned and saw a beautiful man with silver hair and blue eyes. 

He released a breath of relief. He knew him. "Mister Lu Yin Ze."

"Sir Tanaka? Are you feeling unwell?" Lu Yin Ze noticed the shocked look on Shinichi's face. 

Did he surprise Shinichi when he called out?

Lu Yin Ze immediately apologized. "I am sorry for surprising you."

"L-let's go."

"Pardon?"

"Let's go together. I don't know if I am seeing things."

"...?"

Shinichi unconsciously gripped Lu Yin Ze's arm until they were out of the cold dim hallway, forgetting how sudden the action was in his nervousness.

'...'

Lu Yin Ze glanced back.

It turned out that he was not the only one who felt that something was creepy in the hallway.

****

A lively music echoed throughout the hall. 

Tang Yin was wearing a pastel yellow gown as her fingers danced elegantly on the piano keys. The rhythmic beat of the drums accompanied the layered piano tones in spaced intervals, as if a young girl was running on an open meadow, while the lively violin spiralled happily in the air. The faint woodwinds sounded like wind rushing through the tree leaves.

It was very lively, upbeat, and made everyone in the hall smile.

Ping.

A high note ended the fourth music. 

Everyone clapped with a smile on their faces, murmuring once more how lovely the music was.

The audience area's arrangement was slightly different from before.

On the second row, Xiao Mei replaced Xiong Zhi's seat. Aside from her, there was only Jang Shin and Tang Xinyang, who was half-pushed to return to the table. 

Their table was very silent. Xiao Mei did not even dare to breathe loudly as the two people were in deep thoughts. They were clearly ignoring each other.

On the other hand, at Xiao Mei's previous table, it was a bit crowded and noisy.

"What did you say!" 

William's voice was loud and drew a few people's attention from the nearby tables. Fortunately, the fifth song' opening was very energetic and powerful, so William's exclamation did not travel far before it was swallowed by the music.

Seeing the glances from the neighboring guests, William lowered his voice. He looked at his tablemates with wide eyes. "That is absurd. No way! I don't want to become a third wheel."

Earlier, William was dragged here to sit on Xiao Mei's empty seat by Song Xuantin, when he came back from the restroom to look for another table to sit on. He had been confident that he would be welcomed in many guests' company, but unfortunately this happened.

Song Xuantin: "Uncle, this is very important. Can't you just spare us one week, please???"

William: "What do you think of me? Do I really look like I have all the time in the world?"

It was Xiong Zhi who answered. "Yes. You have lots of time to gossip about someone else's affair. You even have the time to hack their phone."

"Hey, lady, don't start on that again. I already paid for that."

"Yes, you did. So we are giving you a favor to do what you want and freely interfere in someone's affairs."

"You!" William frustratedly released a sharp breath. "Do you want me to wreak havoc in your friend's life?"

Song Xuantin nodded seriously. "Their love life is already messy as it is. Making it messier will not be a problem. You see, if this goes on, those two will grow old without getting happiness. Xinyang is very hard working and already gave a lot of effort. However, she just doesn't have a high talent in this area! You, as the self-proclaimed protector of women, do you want to see a beautiful and heroic woman who is hardworking and diligent, fail and become heartbroken for the rest of her life?" Song Xuantin pleaded dramatically.

WIlliam: "..." 

What the hell did that even got to do with me?!

Xiong Zhi secretly gave a thumbs up to Song Xuantin.

Such amazing skills to invert black and white.

Go on, girl, push him some more!

Linfeng who had been silently sitting at one side the whole time leaned closer to his mischievous girlfriend. "What am I doing here?"

Like William, he was also inexplicably dragged here by Xiong Zhi.

Xiong Zhi looked up at him. "You are my support."

Linfeng raised his brow.

Xiong Zhi: "...Actually, I really need your help to convince William in extending his stay here."

Linfeng's lips twitched. Pressuring William to stay one more week was a bit too much. The man still had his company to attend to. 

However, looking at the expectant yet hesitant look on Xiong Zhi's face, in the end, he chose his girlfriend over his friend.

"William."

William shuddered at Linfeng's call. The youngest actually called him William, not uncle! 

Was there a serious matter that happened?

A minute later, William was stunned to find out that the youngest dared to haggle conditions with him to agree with the girls. 

After a few exchanges of words and wits, the overwhelmed Willliam finally relented. 

He had to stay for four more days.

The fifth song started with William's defeated face.

***

Musical notes rose and fell in beautiful symphonies in the hall, and time passed by unnoticed by the listeners.

After the sixth song, there was another break before Tang Yin played the penultimate song.

The bright lights once again illuminated the surroundings as people laughed together and chatted.

At the front area, the two tables of the legendary families were joined together. The heads of the legendary families gathered despite their differences as they conversed vigorously.

It was just a random talk when suddenly, Old Guan asked Mistress Tang a question as if he was hoping to get the elderly woman off guard.

"Tigress Tang, I really thought you have another purpose for tonight's event. So I came here to see what it is. However, until now, everything is quiet. Have you perhaps reached your goal?"

All heads in the table turned to Old Guan. Their laughter stopped.

Old Xiong silently glanced at Mistress Tang. 

That was in his mind too, but unlike Old Guan who asked this straightforwardly to the person involved, he preferred to get the answer slowly without the person knowing.

Mistress Tang smiled mysteriously. "I am curious, where do you get the idea?"

Old Guan observed for a moment then shrugged. "Nah, don't mind what I said. I am just an old man who easily gets curious of things."

Mistress Tang drank a sip of water and said with a smile."I just wanted to throw a concert for my granddaughter, to pave way for her succeeding performances in the country. Of course, I will need to get her the best audience."

Old Guan wanted to say many things but chose not to speak any more. It was clear that Mistress Tang did not want to spill it out.

However, he was more curious now.

The table was a bit silent.

Mistress Tang subtly glanced at Old Lu, meeting the latter's eyes.

They shared an understanding.

It was at that moment when a voice of a man sounded behind them without a warning.

"I finally found the right time to greet you all."

The people on the table turned to look behind. A very tall man stood, as if appearing from nowhere, wearing mask.

The man's voice made Lu Yin Ze frown. 

Involuntarily, the hair at the back of his neck rose.

He seemed very... familiar. 

The tall man slightly bowed his head, his tone was rather lazy but oozed with a commanding presence. He showed the perfect grace of a gentleman.

"Greetings, Mistress Tang, Master Guan, and Master Xiong." 

His inky black eyes heavily lidded by dark lashes looked at the stupefied old man whose face had suddenly paled.

"Greetings... father."

The tall man slowly took off his mask, revealing a handsome face of a man filled with mature charm. 

His lips curved into a gentle and polite smile. 

"It has been a while. How are you all doing?"