The second round and the final round of the International Music Competition are very close to each other, and the contestants were given only two days to prepare. After the competition, Qing Yun shrugged off the reporters chasing him and got into the car where Wei Changxiu had been waiting outside.

As soon as he entered the car, the man who had been waiting for a long time hugged the teenager who entered his arms, capturing his lips and giving him a passionate kiss: “Baby, your performance was wonderful.”

Wei Changxiu looked at Qing Yun with burning eyes. He felt that no one could understand the various feelings presented in the teenager’s music better than him, because for every kind of life, there was a piece of him.

“Okay.” Qing Yun pushed away the man’s big furry head that came over again and said to the driver in front of him, “Go to the Xiang’s house and stop at the bus stop nearest to it.”

As soon as he heard Qing Yun’s words, Wei Changxiu’s face visibly slumped, hugging Qing Yun and not letting go.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.” Smiling and patting the man’s head, Qing Yun especially likes the way the man shows his foolishness without reservation.

Once inside the Xiang family, Qing Yun pretended to be in a panic and hurriedly ran upstairs without even saying hello. He entered his room and rummaged around. Then, he ran out of the room again and pulled the only remaining servant in the Xiang family and asked, “Excuse me, when you were cleaning the room, did you see any of my scattered sheet music anywhere?”

“Not really, Young Master.” Although he was called Young Master, this servant’s attitude was not respectful.

Cleaning the room? I’m afraid this adopted son of the Xiang family is thinking too much? In the past, when there were still many servants in the Xiang family, no one bothered to clean his room. Now that she was the only one left, it was impossible for her to clean the teenager’s room.

Although the maid knows that nowadays, Xiang Chenyu seems to have a bit of reputation outside, but the one who pays is the employer, this youth does not have any status in the Xiang family, right?

“Please think about it. There is something in there that I want to use for the competition.”

Standing in the corridor, Xiang Chenyu froze for a moment when he heard the sound of the violin. He listened carefully for a moment, and his face suddenly turned red, revealing an angry look. Then, this angry teenager immediately ran to the music room and opened the door violently.

When the maid saw this, she immediately went downstairs. It seemed to her like she needed to report to the sir and madam that the adopted son was looking for trouble with the young master again.

“This is my sheet music!”

Xiang Chenjin, who was practicing the violin, was suddenly interrupted and subconsciously frowned. After seeing the visitor, he finally stopped the movement in his hands and put down his violin.

Even though he did not dare to continue playing in front of the real creator of the music, no embarrassment flashed on Xiang Chenjin’s face. It was like he was back in his childhood again when he first tried to be glared at by this teenager, but inwardly he was serene.

Because Xiang Chenjin knew what he wanted, and in order to achieve his goal, he had to step on Xiang Chenyu’s body.

“There you go again, Chenyu. I can’t figure out why you keep saying such things to me.” Xiang Chenjin pretended to look helplessly at the angry youth outside the door, “What proof do you have that this is music you composed? I wrote this piece of music with my own hands with the help of Mr. Turris, and I had already posted this piece on my own personal page the night it was composed.”

Hearing his words, the young man outside the door was simply shaking with anger. A deep and majestic voice suddenly sounded in the corridor, making Xiang Chenyu stop shaking, but his whole body seemed to collapse.

“Why are you disturbing your brother’s violin practice again? Don’t you know that the finals are about to start?”

Father Xiang’s stern reprimand rang out, while Mother Xiang simply ignored Xiang Chenyu at the door and ran to her son: “Don’t listen to that little bastard’s nonsense. Dear, let’s practice well and try to win the final. Didn’t judge Turris also say that your chances of winning with this piece is very high?”

Father Xiang also went in and stood in front of his son and wife. This family of three stepped on someone else’s wounds and lived a happy life, while Xiang Chenyu standing by the door was like an innocent outsider but had to be chained under the roof of the Xiang family.

After seeing the despondent teenager, Xiang Chenjin’s heart flashed with pleasure. Even he didn’t understand why he hated Xiang Chenyu so much, but that didn’t stop him from admiring the boy’s miserable state.

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After today’s incident, he is more certain that no one knows that Xiang Chenyu composed this song, so he could safely take this song to the competition and play it.

The father of the family, who seems to be warmly surrounded by his wife and child, already has a plan in his heart. He knows exactly what his son, Xiang Chenjin, has done, but this is a good way to make the boy lose his reputation, right?

When people’s attention to Xiang Chenyu decreases because of this matter, he will be able to make Xiang Chenyu disappear and put him as a “performer” in the underground casino.

The young man by the door left in silence, which did not surprise anyone in the Xiang family, nor did it concern them.

However, Qing Yun, who entered the Wei family car, was not as despondent as his family thought. He first let the man wrap himself around him and then yawned and leaned into the man’s broad and powerful embrace, saying casually, “Two days later, I might have something going on at the finals. Don’t worry about it yet.”

Hearing Qing Yun’s words, Wei Changxiu subconsciously frowned, but he also understood Qing Yun’s intention after a second thought. After all, he had placed his own ears around the Xiang family. Even Xiang Chenjin wasn’t spared, so he naturally knew what the teenager’s so-called “incident” was about.

However, the man still wanted to take advantage of the situation: “I won’t care, but I need to be paid!”

“Payment?” Qing Yun snickered. Straddling the man’s lap, he picked the man’s chin and asked, “You need to be paid for not letting you care?”

“Of course!” Wei Changxiu replied in a firm voice, “Honey, not letting me take care of you is the biggest harm to me, you know?”

Qing Yun smiled and rolled his eyes. This man still won’t stop until he takes some advantage.

“Okay.” He raised his eyebrows and asked, “What do you want?”

Wei Changxiu smiled and whispered in Qing Yun’s ear. Qing Yun’s face reddened, and he immediately refused: “Think better. That is impossible.”

However, it was as if the man did not hear his refusal and replied, “It’s a deal!”

That night, Qing Yun finished his bath and just wanted to change his pajamas when he came out, but found that the pajamas hanging in the bathroom had somehow “disappeared” and were replaced by a white, furry cat-eared outfit.

Qing Yun expressionlessly looked at the long, soft cat tail, as well as the large golden bells.

Oh, if he really were a cat, he would definitely scratch that man’s face with a claw!

The finals of the International Music Competition began immediately with the heat of the previous round not yet subsiding. The finals was different from the previous rounds and is a test of the contestants’ creative abilities, so they had to play their own compositions on stage and be judged by the judges and the audience.

Previously, Xiang Chenyu had performed surprisingly well in both the first and second rounds, but that was, after all, playing the music of his predecessors, so they were looking forward to the teenager’s own composition.

Some people even speculated about the style of the music to be played by the teenager because Xiang Chenyu’s previous public performances ultimately boiled down to the strange beauty of life. All his fans thought that this time’s composition should continue his previous style, beautiful and cleansing to the heart.

The famous musician and judge Turris walked through the lounge. When he saw his student Xiang Chenjin, his stern face did not ease up, but he patted Xiang Chenjin’s shoulder as a sign of encouragement.

He had indeed guided Xiang Chenjin to compose a piece. He thought that with this piece, Xiang Chenjin could surpass the previous dark horse Xiang Chenyu and become the winner of the competition.

Turris appeared for just a moment before leaving. Xiang Chenjin, however, turned his head to look at the teenager in the corner, and after seeing his pale face, a smile flashed in his eyes.

This time, it was a coincidence that the number he drew was next to Xiang Chenyu, and luckily he was the one in front.

Xiang Chenyu only found out two days ago that he had lost his sheet music, so Xiang Chenjin did not believe that this teenager would be able to create another piece of music for the competition in just two days.

So……after he took the stage, I hope Xiang Chenyu will not be too scared to take the stage.

Thinking back to the music engraved in his mind, Xiang Chenjin was even incredibly sure that this piece was created for him and that the painful experience he had suffered could perfectly bring out the piece.

As for Xiang Chenyu? What qualification does he have to talk about pain and pretend to be troubled to write this piece of music? He is obviously happy. Even in the orphanage, he has kind companions and a loving director. He is obviously an orphan but has unparalleled musical talent. He was even more fortunate to be adopted by his parents and even got a share of his Xiang family’s inheritance, right?

Xiang Chenjin did not know that his eyes were now red. His appearance was even more frightening than Xiang Chenyu in the corner. Until now, Xiang Chenjin perceived how jealous he really was of this teenager.

His experience, his talent, all of these are unacceptable to Xiang Chenjin. His mind seems to be planted with the deepest obsessions, sparing no effort to attack Xiang Chenyu.

Soon, it was Xiang Chenjin’s turn to take the stage. When the contestants and staff around him saw his expression, they only thought he was brewing emotions, so they did not care but praised the contestant’s abundant emotions, worthy of being a student of Turris.

“The winner, it can only be me.” Standing on the stage, facing the overwhelming audience, it was just a music competition, but somehow Xiang Chenjin almost linked this competition with life and death.

In this performance, Xiang Chenjin played with great dissatisfaction in his heart. It was almost an emotional outburst, exploding the jealousy and resentment in his heart to the fullest.

He played a score that did not belong to him but convinced himself in the performance that it was as if he had written it in a moment of inspiration. Because he had such painful, heart-breaking emotions, didn’t he?

In this performance, it seemed that someone had ignited all the emotions in his heart and made him play beyond everyone’s imagination. Even Turris, who watched him compose the score, was surprised for a moment.

After the performance was finished, Xiang Chenjin revealed the name of the piece to the audience and the judges, “It’s called ‘Hell’, inspired by my childhood, the darkest time of my life.”

Xiang Chenjin took this piece of music to vent his heart’s emotions and felt a different kind of completion from head to toe, yet he almost forgot that this piece didn’t belong to him.

It was only when he returned to the lounge and brushed past Xiang Chenyu, who was next on the stage, that he suddenly remembered this fact. During the performance of the piece, it was as if Xiang Chenjin was controlled by someone else. If he was allowed to play again now, I’m afraid he wouldn’t be able to play like this, right?

Qing Yun turned his head to look at Xiang Chenjin, and the corners of his mouth hooked into a sarcastic smile. Just now, when he was watching Xiang Chenjin’s performance, he seemed to smell the sickening scent of the Heavenly Dao on him.

This performance of Xiang Chenjin really amazed the audience because this indignant emotion is too strong. Although this performance used the contestant’s own composition, they felt that it was much more exciting than the previous performances of Xiang Chenjin.

Xiang Chenjin’s fans cheered loudly and expressed their sympathy for Xiang Chenjin’s childhood, but Xiang Chenyu’s fans were worried about their idol who was going to be on the stage next.

[This performance of Xiang Chenjin, the emotions do not seem to clash with Little Feather’s usual expression of feelings. I hope Little Feather will not be affected……]

[I really couldn’t breathe after listening to Xiang Chenjin’s performance. I really need Little Feather’s expansive outlook on life to soothe myself.]

As the audience was still immersed in Xiang Chenjin’s performance, Qing Yun came on the stage. In this competition, the name of the music will only be said after the contestant has finished playing it, so until this point, no one expected what would happen next.

There were even people who were expecting the performance of Qing Yun, a performer whose music can soothe the soul, to save them from the anger and rage they had just felt.

However, as soon as Xiang Chenyu’s performance began, at first hearing the first two strokes, the judges frowned, especially Turris, who had an electric gaze on the teenager on the stage.

Hearing Qing Yun’s playing, Xiang Chenjin in the lounge immediately shuddered involuntarily as he looked in the direction of the stage incredulously.

How dare Xiang Chenyu! How dare he play this piece of music after him, in front of a large audience and still as if nothing was wrong?

The audience was also shocked by the two pieces that were basically identical, but soon they had no room to think because a wave of despair that almost extinguished their hearts washed away the remaining resentment and cynicism, leaving their whole world dead silent.

If Xiang Chenjin’s performance was a person’s roar, then Xiang Chenyu expressed an unimaginable dead silence of humans. This dead silence is like despair after a struggle and anger.

Everyone felt as if a veil had been placed in front of their eyes. There was darkness in front of the veil, and behind the veil was a tragedy seeping with blood.

This is a lifetime of futile resistance of a person suffering from injustice, as if the whole world stood against him. He stood in the center of the world but was alone.

If a person still has the strength to roar, then he must resist, but if there is only indifference and darkness in front of a person’s eyes, the only thing waiting for him is Death with a scythe.

This strange music, like the legendary, forbidden song that can induce death, instantly evoked the darkest memories lurking in the bottom of everyone’s heart. All hope was far away from them, and they were like hopeless people standing on the rooftop, just one last step away from the realm of death.

However, just when this step is about to be taken, a flash of light instantly exploded in their minds.

A light shrouded in dreams emerged at first. It was the most beautiful picture in life, perhaps the warm caress of their parents, or the most carefree time of their childhood.

Although old, it was beautiful as heaven.

The audience felt as if they had experienced the struggle with despair and death and like they were watching the inner journey of a suicidal person. It was as if they were hearing the kindly teachings of an elder to an orphan or the most beautiful sound of a violin in the world.

Suddenly, all the listeners broke out of this deathly situation. This desperate violin sound gradually turned beautiful, but this beauty was more heartbreaking than the previous despair.

Because this beautiful memory will only ever be a memory, and what lies before you is still endless despair. But by this time, the suffering suicidal person has decided to embrace the good memories and continue to step into that despair.

Death and survival, the lightness and the heaviness appear immediately.

The last note, too, is gradually buried in the heart’s fondest memories. This long piece of music finally ended. Both the audience at the scene or those watching in front of the computer only felt a cold touch on their faces and realized that at some point, they had long since burst into tears.

Even the judges, who judged the performance with suspicion, had already wet their clothes with tears.

The young man standing on the stage seemed to have already dried up his tears. Although there were no traces of tears to be found in his eyes and cheeks, those who saw him at this time could feel his despair and pain.

Because this is the confession of a suicidal person.

“This piece is called “Dreaming of Paradise””

After saying that, the young man did not give an explanation on why this piece of music was so similar to the first two movements of Xiang Chenjin’s piece. After he reported the name of the piece, he preciously took his violin and left the stage in silence.

In the lounge, Xiang Chenjin, who was now sitting paralyzed in his seat, had a sudden surge of energy in his heart, which prompted him to stand up and burst onto the stage, questioning Xiang Chenyu in front of the judges and the audience: “I remember that I said this was the piece I was going to play at the competition, why did you take away my song?”

Faced with his questioning, the pale young man, who was obviously still immersed in the performance, did not flinch but instead stared at him with a burning gaze and said, “I remember I also said that this is the music I prepared for the competition.”

There was an uproar in the venue. This was a pair of brothers. At this time, they played two pieces of music that were almost identical in a composition-based competition, which immediately made the judges and the audience discuss fiercely.

Xiang Chenjin said loudly, “I composed this piece in front of Mr. Turris. I prepared this piece long before the rehearsal and published it on my personal homepage that day to express my joy.”

At these words, everyone looked at the judges’ table, and even the cameras went over.

Turris nodded to the crowd in silence, confirming Xiang Chenjin’s words. But another wave of doubt emerged in Turris’ mind. It was indeed Xiang Chenjin who composed the piece in front of him in the first place, but Xiang Chenjin did not play the piece he had created smoothly. There were several difficult techniques in between, and Xiang Chenjin practiced for days before he could smoothly perform them.

But……the eccentric and indifferent judge did not say these words. His face was blank as if it didn’t matter whether his student or someone else won the battle. If someone were to probe into the eyes of this judge, they would see that the light that musicians and judges are supposed to have has been lost within these eyes, becoming disheveled and dead.

Xiang Chenjin’s words seemed to be the clearest evidence, but the many netizens and audience members did not buy it.

Their ears were able to tell whose performance really interpreted the piece. The most obvious rebuttal to Xiang Chenyu was there: If he was a despicable plagiarist, would he have had the guts to go on stage in full view of everyone and finish playing the piece that was so similar?

There were many more judges and netizens presenting the same opinion.

And when comparing the pieces of music presented by the two, it seems that the whole piece played by Xiang Chenjin is only a part of the piece played by Xiang Chenyu.

To put it in a bad way, it was like the difference between a full version and a half-finished product.

The competition had to be interrupted because of these two contestants. Although all the evidence seemed to be in Xiang Chenjin’s favor, the audience and judges who had heard Xiang Chenyu play did not accept such an easy result, so the contest had to continue and then postpone the time to reveal the results.

Just after today’s competition, Xiang Chenjin posted a message on his page, expressing his heartache to the fullest.

“Although I admit that Chenyu’s expression is very good, it doesn’t mean that this piece of music belongs to him.”

In response, almost everyone focused their attention on this matter. For Xiang Chenjin and Xiang Chenyu, each had their own supporters.

[A plagiarist is a plagiarist. This is not even copying. This is a direct use ah. Although I like Xiang Chenyu’s performance, this does not mean that I can tolerate his behavior. Turris’ words have confirmed that this piece is Xiang Chenjin’s original, right? Support Xiang Chenjin.]

[Hehe, but still, if Xiang Chenyu is the plagiarist, one, I’m sure he wouldn’t dare to play on stage or follow the “original” piece. Two, I don’t think anyone would perform the piece better than the creator of the piece itself. Xiang Chenyu’s playing is so deep in my heart that I can wait patiently for the truth, rather than jumping to conclusions.]

[Standing with Chenyu because he saved me. I was all ready to end my life when someone next door played the live coverage of the competition. The beginning of the music simply urged me to hurry up and do it, but somehow I always felt in my heart that there was something involved in this music. Yes, it was the last part of the music that pulled me back from the embrace of death and gave me the courage to face the despair of life. I am grateful to Chenyu, and I believe in him. I feel sorry for what he has gone through to write such a piece.]

[The results of the music competition have not yet been announced, so I won’t comment on it, but I will still say that if Xiang Chenyu really copied Xiang Chenjin, then his music is not credible. As a person who has been favored by the Xiang family, he is an orphan who eats and drinks from the Xiang family and also receives teachings from them, but eventually, he plagiarizes the music of his brother. Isn’t this a big white-eyed wolf?1]

There has been a lot of noise, and the International Music Competition could not give a proper explanation. However, none of this can deny the magical power of the piece of music.

As the two sons turned on each other, Father Xiang, who was soon quite active on his personal page, also made a solemn statement.

He mentioned that as a father, he was sure that the music was originally written by Xiang Chenjin and pointed out that Xiang Chenyu had recently been under a lot of pressure because of his participation in the International Music Competition and the praises he had received from various parties. He was not very talented in composing, which is why he made the mistake of taking his brother’s work and using it directly.

On the one hand, Father Xiang said that it was his own fault for not teaching him well. On the other hand, he defended his adopted son, saying that it was just one of the pieces composed by Xiang Chenjin. The poor boy probably didn’t expect it to be the piece that his brother would use in the competition.

Once Father Xiang’s statement came out, the wind of public opinion instantly turned in favor of Xiang Chenjin and also made Xiang Chenyu wear the hat of being ungrateful and a “white-eyed wolf”.

At the same time, Father Xiang also received the sympathy of the people. After all, the son adopted out of kindness had hurt his own son, causing a whole family to be unsettled.

Of course, some people also caught the loopholes in the words of Father Xiang. One is that Little Feather has shown excellent creative talent since he was a child, so why did Father Xiang say he had no talent in this area? The second is that Xiang Chenjin’s work is obviously only a part of Xiang Chenyu’s work. The latter part is definitely not inferior to the former part, so since Xiang Chenyu can write such a piece of music, why would he plagiarize Xiang Chenjin’s work? The latter part alone was enough for him to win the International Music Competition.

But at this point, Xiang Chenjin’s good popularity became apparent. Students of the Conservatory of Music in the capital have spoken out for Xiang Chenjin, accusing Xiang Chenyu, as the adopted son of the Xiang family, of bad-mouthing Xiang Chenjin in school. At the same time, there have been many times in the school where Xiang Chenyu has also inexplicably accused Xiang Chenjin of taking his work and putting his name on it.

Public opinion has been blaming Xiang Chenyu, which made even the fans who previously firmly supported Xiang Chenyu start to waver. Even the International Music Competition had to make a judgement on this competition.

At this time, in the Xiang family, Father Xiang is sitting in the living room drinking tea. He looked at the remarks on the Internet accusing Xiang Chenyu and could not help but hook the corners of his lips.

He had long waited for this day. On the eve of his company’s collapse, he really managed to make Xiang Chenyu fall into the abyss after his fame.

This way, Xiang Chenyu can disappear, and no one will care, right? He only needs to say that this child can not accept the mistakes he made, left home, and it is unknown where he went. He can completely clear himself of suspicion.

After all, in the eyes of outsiders, he was a doting father who had worried about this matter.

“Father, you clearly know that this is my song. Why did you say that?” The teenager’s unusually angry voice rang out in the mansion of the Xiang family.

As soon as Father Xiang looked up, he saw Xiang Chenyu, who was obviously panting and running over. He thought for a moment, and for the first time, he showed a kind and unmistakable smile towards this youth.

“Chenyu, come here and listen to dad. I’m not trying to slander you.” He waved towards the young man, “This is just a means to appease the outside world, and soon when the incident eases down, I will make a clarification.”

The youth’s expression really eased up a bit because of his attitude. He could not help but laugh at this weak teenager, who was expecting to have a real father-son relationship with him up to this point. It seems that the orphans in the orphanage just don’t have what it takes to do great things.

Father Xiang handed a glass of water to the boy: “Come, look how tired you are. Take a sip of water to moisten your throat. Dad prides himself on being fair. How could he be partial to your brother? I will definitely return justice to you.”

Qing Yun ended up with a glass of water handed to him by his father. A hint of ridicule flashed in his eyes, but he pretended to be thirsty, tilted his head, and drank the water in the glass in one go.

There was a burst of light in Father Xiang’s eyes. As expected, Xiang Chenyu in front of him drank his drugged water and collapsed on the sofa within a few seconds.

Seeing this, Father Xiang was excited. He looked at the young man on the sofa as if he saw tens of millions of dollars beckoning towards him.

“Saved, saved!” Father Xiang scratched his hair with excitement, “If I sell this kid, I’ll have everything. With Chenjin earning me fame, I’ll also have endless possessions!”

He laughed strangely for a moment, turned his head to look at the pale face of the teenager on the sofa, and suddenly the threat of the law occupied him again. Father Xiang turned around the sofa restlessly, and as he did so, he muttered under his breath, “Later, I’ll publish a statement on this kid’s page, so that he can admit his mistake and say that he has no face to appear in front of the public again.”

“Oh yeah, when I send him off, I’ll have to call the police again to prove that I’m innocent.”

“Also, the head of the casino has given me a promise, claiming that they have the most perfect system to prevent these players from escaping and that when the time comes to pour acid on this kid’s face and cut out his tongue, who will be able to recognize him? Who would think that I had sent him there?”

Thinking of this, Father Xiang smiled again. He remembered the most generous condition given to him by the head of the casino, surprisingly agreeing to him as the beneficiary behind this kid so that every penny earned by Xiang Chenyu in the underground casino would have his share!

He believed in the value of Xiang Chenyu, so as long as Xiang Chenyu does not die, his wealth is endless!

Father Xiang showed a fierce look. He looked at Xiang Chenyu on the sofa, took out the rope he had prepared, and tied the teenager up, while mumbling: “After raising you for so many years, it is time for you to pay your debt!”