gossip

The phone rang, and Du Pianjian hung up. He loosened his tie, cut the tape, and Yu Zou remained motionless, leaning against Du Pianjian's leg, listless, his emotions fractured, momentarily exceeding his threshold. There's a saying that life is a continuous process of solving problems, and another that nothing matters except death. But in this position, problems often involve life and death. How to solve them? How to resolve them? Three lives lost in just a few days—from initial shock, to now, a numbness at the moment he heard the news.

They are indifferent to human life.

"I don't want this," Yu Zou said.

"Take a break first, we'll deal with it tomorrow."

“One dead and three injured? How is that possible? The last time I went to the lab, they even wished me well on my upcoming marriage. It's only been a few days.”

"Don't think about it."

"And I feel no sadness at all. People I've seen, people I know, die, and I'm not sad at all." Yu Zou felt a chill run down his spine, his freed hands wrapping around Du Pianjian's calves. Death had brushed past him and then struck those not far away, and he realized that he was gradually losing his sense of life, his reverence for life. If, even once, he ever became indifferent to the lives of others, then eventually his own life would also fall into the same indifference.

"Do you have any doubts about death?" Du Pianjian touched Yu Zou's hair, the texture of which resembled soft waves.

"I have no idea."

“Finding the truth is more useful than mourning ten thousand times.” As Du Pianjian spoke, Yu Zou looked up at him. “Perhaps your lack of sadness right now is not numbness, but calmness.”

"You're right." Yu Zou finally smiled and leaned his head against Du Pianjian's leg. "You're really reliable."

"Get out of the way." Du Pianjian swung her leg, and Yu Zou immediately replied, "Okay."

As night deepened, Yu Zou received a glass of milk from Du Pianjian before going to sleep. Perhaps the comfort he received during the day had an effect, as he fell asleep without much tossing and turning.

The overall situation was not complicated. The surveillance evidence was complete. The student caused the experiment to explode due to improper operation, killing the operator instantly and injuring others in the lab. Out of humanitarian considerations, Yu Zou still provided a sum of money as compensation.

To change his mood, he invited Du Pianjian to a concert; of course, the tickets were booked by his secretary. The two-hour classical music concert included an overture, a concerto, and a complete symphony.

Yu Zou's bad mood dissipated in the musical notes, and he gradually regained his usual composure. Amidst the thunderous applause after the performance, Du Pianjian leaned closer to him and said, "Would you like to say hello to the performers?"

Yu Zou's eyes lit up: "You know him?"

"We're more than just acquaintances; we were colleagues in university." Du Pianjian got up and led her entourage backstage. Her black tuxedo trailed on the floor as the performer tidied her instrument case.

"Congratulations on your successful performance, Teacher Han."

Upon hearing the voice, Handel straightened instantly, turning his head slowly. His pale, thin face, framed by eyes with excessive white showing, always bore a look of terror. Now, he appeared even more terrified. He pulled out his leather-bound notebook, flipping through the pages, his eyes occasionally glancing at Du Pianjian. His voice was damp: "Didn't you have something very important to do today, preventing you from playing?"

“Yes, because I’m accompanying my husband to a concert. This is my husband, Yu Zou. He admires your art.” Du Pianjian introduced, and Handel’s already pale face turned even paler. He turned the pages faster, his eyes darting back and forth: “What do you mean? Admire my art? Admire? Me? In all the competitions you’ve participated in, you’re first, I’m second. In the orchestra, you’re the principal, I’m second. Admire me? No! It’s an insult! You’re cursing me! I pose no threat to you whatsoever. What do you want to do?”

Du Pianjian said to Yu Zou with a wronged expression, "Believe me, I didn't do anything to him. He's been like this ever since we first met. I thought it would be better if you were there."

Handel reacted even more violently, holding the book up to the paper as if it were a talisman against a demon, shouting, "Don't come any closer! Go away! Go away!"

"Yu Zou, go to the infirmary on the first floor and call the doctor on duty. I'll go get the other members of the orchestra to help." Du Pianjian pulled Yu Zou out of the lounge, briefly explained the location of the infirmary, and then the two went their separate ways.

Yu Zou found the place, but the infirmary was empty. He walked around the building but couldn't find any contact information, so he had to go back to the rest room. The door was ajar, and there were many figures inside, talking all at once.

Yu hesitated to push open the door, and just as he was about to leave, he heard someone cursing at him. Not daring to jump to conclusions, he eavesdropped for a few more minutes and, sure enough, was indeed cursing him. Puzzled, he went in, knocked on the door, and asked, "Why are you cursing me?"

The room fell silent. Everyone looked at each other, their burning indignation suddenly doused with cold water, leaving only a choking feeling in their hearts, their faces turning red.

Handel, on the other hand, remained pale-faced but angrily shouted, "It's a disgrace to Du Pianjian. You've ruined the rice bowl that God gave him."

Yu Zou was even more puzzled: "I don't understand."

"Du Pianjian is going to resign! He's just one award away from achieving a Grand Slam, and he'll be the youngest Grand Slam winner." Handel looked resentful, and by the end he was almost breathless with frustration.

The others were also emboldened and began to criticize him relentlessly.

"You must have tricked him into giving up his career and returning to his family. Bah! That's just an excuse to monopolize the population!"

"If you trick people into coming home to do their laundry and cook, what freedom is left? They'll be inferior to you in every way and depend on you in every aspect, and that's how you keep them firmly in your grasp."

"No way! I'm going to report this to the Omega Federation!"

Yu Zou finally understood a little. It turned out they had misunderstood that he had forced Du Pianjian to resign, which was completely untrue! He cherished and appreciated Du Pianjian's talent even more than Du Pianjian himself, so how could he allow him to interrupt his music career? Not only did he not interrupt it, but he also continued to fully support him.

You've misunderstood.

Everyone looked towards the doorway. These words were still in Yu Zou's mind, but before he could utter them, he turned to look behind him. The female Omega stood gracefully, and firmly repeated, "You've misunderstood. Yu Zou is definitely not that kind of person."

"Chief Xiang?" someone greeted him in a low voice.

Yu Zou was incredulous. Standing behind him was Xiang Shanshan, his former junior high school classmate, the school beauty of Yin Rui, and his ex-girlfriend.

“If the facts are found to be different from what you’re saying, everyone will be given a major demerit; if they are, that’s their business, and it has nothing to do with you.” Xiang Shanshan said firmly, and no one dared to argue back. They left the lounge dejectedly.

Xiang Shanshan, dressed in a pale yellow suit and a diamond necklace, had shed her youthful naiveté and matured with an air of confidence. Turning to Yu Zou, she said, "In our line of work, talent is paramount. We cherish our own talents as well as those of others. Please don't take offense."

Yu Zou smiled and said, "Although the words were harsh, they were for the good of the letter. Besides, it's fake, so I won't take it to heart."

Xiang Shanshan was slightly taken aback. She looked away and tucked her stray hair behind her ear. The diamond ring on her middle finger was particularly eye-catching. She said, "I was really shocked to find out that my colleague's husband was you."

Are you getting married too? Congratulations!

Xiang Shanshan smiled shyly: "Thank you. By the way, my fiancé also attended your engagement party, do you remember him? Zou Xinchen."

Yu Zou certainly remembered that his father-in-law had personally recommended him, and that he might be the one who would determine the future of the western suburbs: "Councilor Zou is a dragon among men."

"It's a pity I had something to do that day and couldn't attend, but it's not too late to send my blessings now."

"Of course, thank you for your blessings."

Xiang Shanshan pondered for a moment, muttered that it shouldn't be a big deal, looked at Yu Zou, and said, "Xin Chen said that your company has a very good future, and the Ministry of Construction is interested in cooperating with you. It seems to be Xiyanba, and the date will be set soon."

"You leaked this kind of information to me?"

"The standards won't be lowered. If you do a good job, it's also his achievement."

"So that's how it is. You're such a virtuous wife."

Xiang Shanshan shifted her gaze to the patterns on the wall. The two had been exchanging pleasantries all this time, yet they remained standing outside the door. She made up her mind and asked in one go, "When you suddenly broke up with me back then, did you ever regret it?"

Yu Zou was taken aback, not expecting her to ask this. Years ago, he had moved abroad from Yinrui, but the two had maintained contact. Xiang Shanshan believed Yu Zou's words that he would return soon, eagerly anticipating that day. However, she never expected that one day when she was eighteen, Yu Zou would suddenly break up with her, leaving no room for reconciliation and offering no particular excuse. Under her questioning, Yu Zou only said that he felt they wouldn't end up together.

This sentence has troubled Xiang Shanshan for many years. Even though she has matured, there is still a corner of her mind filled with choking dust.

"You know him?" Du Pianjian appeared from one side of the corridor. Yu Zou immediately straightened up from his position leaning against the door frame. He had been watching him since he first noticed him. As Du Pianjian stood beside him, Yu Zou smiled and replied, "Old classmate. I didn't expect to be your colleague."

"Where is Handel?" Du Pianjian peered into the room through the door.

"He left with a large group of people."

Where is the doctor on duty?

“I went to look for it, but no one was there. So I came back and ran into it.”

"Who asked you that?"

"That's what I wanted to say."

Yu Zou coaxed Du Pianjian forward, while he himself slowed down to say goodbye to Xiang Shanshan: "My answer is no, but I am always sorry for the harm I caused you."

Xiang Shanshan looked at Yu Zou, then at Du Pianjian who was walking slowly forward. She raised her clenched fist and punched him lightly, pretending to be relaxed. "Hit? Stop being so narcissistic. You were so young back then, what did you say? I just wanted to bluff you and see if you really cared about our orchestra's once-in-twenty-years genius, Principal Du."

Yu Zou also laughed, looking much more relaxed, and asked casually, "Twenty years? A hundred years wouldn't be an exaggeration, would it? Who else can compare to him?"

"See if you love him enough, and whether you can figure it out yourself." After saying that, Xiang Shanshan waved and walked to the other side.

Yu Zou pondered for a moment, then caught up with Du Pianjian and asked him, "Shall we continue writing today?"

"I'm not in the mood."

"Why?"

"..."

"Would you like me to sing you a song that will lift your spirits?"