【No, no, I wouldn't dare.】
Li Yuheng sat in front of the piano, his slender fingers randomly pressing the keys, producing out-of-tune noises.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he sat up straight, solemnly adjusting his non-existent dress tie.
His fingers hovered above the piano keys, then fell with an exaggerated motion—
"Thump!"
[Your Highness, are you sure you can play this?]
"Shh." Li Yuheng closed his eyes, raised his index finger, and said in a deep voice, "This is an improvisation by a world-class pianist. Little system, you should feel honored."
[...]
Li Yuheng's ten fingers suddenly danced wildly on the piano keys, his elbows rose high and fell heavily, and his whole body swayed violently with a melody that did not exist at all, as if he were playing some famous piece of music.
When the music ended, he rose gracefully, turned to the non-existent audience seats, placed his left hand on his chest, and bowed deeply.
The stray hairs on her forehead fell with her movements, casting a melancholy shadow under the imagined spotlight.
"Encore! Encore!" He suddenly started clapping, then hurriedly covered his mouth in alarm. "Oh, sorry, an artist shouldn't be so rude."
After saying that, he took out a napkin from his pocket and pretended to wipe his eyes.
System 0090: […Young Master, would you like me to contact a mental hospital for you?]
Li Yuheng instantly returned to normal. He casually closed the piano lid, turned around, and sat on the piano bench with his back to the piano.
He rested his hands on the smooth piano lid, his long legs casually stretched out, and lazily tilted his head back, saying, "It's boring, the audience isn't enthusiastic at all."
"...Your Highness, if you wish to play the piano again in the future, you should perhaps take some lessons first."
Fortunately, it's a break time and no one is filming, otherwise the system would be embarrassed for Li Yuheng.
Li Yuheng said casually, "No. I'd rather take a nap than waste this time."
Just as he was about to do another "improvisation," the door to the music room was suddenly pushed open.
Shu Bai stood at the door with a cold face: "Why aren't you resting this afternoon? Are you slaughtering a pig?"
Li Yuheng's finger hovered in mid-air. He turned his head and revealed a bright smile: "Teacher Shubai, you've come to enjoy my concert too?"
Shu Bai walked in and closed the door behind him: "I've come to beg you to stop playing." He pointed to his ears, "If I keep listening, my allergy will get worse before it even gets better."
Li Yuheng exaggeratedly clutched his chest: "Teacher Shubai, your words are too hurtful." He moved closer to the piano bench, patted the empty space, and said, "Come, sit down. I'll play you a soothing piece."
Shu Bai stared at him: "Are you sure it's 'relaxation' and not 'comfort burial'?"
Li Yuheng blinked: "Why don't you try and see?"
Shu Bai sneered, but unexpectedly walked over and sat down at the other end of the piano bench, deliberately keeping a safe distance from Li Yuheng.
Li Yuheng's fingers landed on the piano keys again, and this time, unexpectedly, he played a smooth melody.
It is the theme song of the movie "Homecoming" starring Shu Bai three years ago.
Shu Bai's body stiffened visibly, and she turned to look at Li Yuheng: "You..."
Li Yuheng didn't look at him, focusing on playing the piano. The sunlight outlined the sharp contours of his profile, and his eyelashes cast a small shadow under his eyes.
The piano music was gentle and restrained, completely different from the "pig-slaughtering song" just now.
Shu Bai stared at Li Yuheng's profile, his brows furrowing slightly: "When did you learn that?"
Li Yuheng's fingers kept moving as he casually made up a story: "In a dream."
Shu Bai: "..."
0090: […Your Highness, didn't you say you couldn't do it just now?]
"Hey, don't look down on ghosts."
When the piece ended, a brief silence fell over the music room.
Shu Bai suddenly spoke up: "Why did you help me?"
Li Yuheng turned to look at him: "Help with what?"
"Trending topics." Shu Bai looked him straight in the eye. "Don't play dumb."
Li Yuheng chuckled softly, then suddenly leaned closer: "Teacher Shubai, aren't you being a bit presumptuous? Why would I help someone who criticizes me every day?"
Shu Bai narrowed his eyes: "That video—"
“A coincidence.” Li Yuheng shrugged. “Maybe one of your fans dug it up.”
Shu Bai clearly didn't believe it, but didn't press the matter further.
He stood up and looked down at Li Yuheng: "Whether it's you or not, thank you."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Li Yuheng watched Shu Bai's departing figure, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.
0090 said softly, "Your Highness, your smile is as beautiful as a chrysanthemum."
Li Yuheng's expression instantly changed: "Nonsense! This Crown Prince is overjoyed!"
You haven't fallen for Shu Bai, have you?
Li Yuheng suddenly jumped up from the piano bench, his face filled with shock: "0090! How can a system think so filthy?!"
He slammed his hand on the piano lid with righteous indignation: "This is pure brotherhood! Don't you know what it means to 'go to great lengths for a brother'?"
0090's mechanical voice was full of suspicion: "Are you sure you're not 'stabbing your brothers in the back for a pretty face'?"
"Bullshit!" Li Yuheng was so angry that he paced around the music room. "I am the Crown Prince of the Underworld, what kind of beauties haven't I seen? Would I fall for a mere cat demon? And a male cat at that?"
0090 paused for a moment: [Your Highness, do you know what you look like right now?]
"Like what?"
[Just like those stubborn, arrogant male protagonists in real life.]
Li Yuheng: "..."
With a dark expression, he strode toward the door, then suddenly turned back and viciously played a section of the Funeral March.
"This is for you!"
0090: [...]
He strode out of the music room, then suddenly stopped: "By the way, what's that kid Gong Yu doing right now?"
0090 scanned the screen and found: [She's on the phone with her agent in her room, discussing tomorrow's shooting strategy.]
Li Yuheng narrowed his eyes: "Eavesdropping."
0090 reluctantly connected to the monitoring channel, and Gong Yu's voice immediately entered Li Yuheng's mind:
"...That Li Yuheng is getting in the way; we have to find a way to get him off the show..."
Li Yuheng raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"
A middle-aged man's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Don't be impulsive. Li Yuheng's background is not simple. Even I can't find out anything about him..."
"What should we do?" Gong Yu asked anxiously. "He's clearly targeting me now, and he keeps hanging around Shu Bai..."
"Let's hold back for now. Isn't there a water game tomorrow?" The middle-aged man chuckled sinisterly. "It's normal for something 'unexpected' to happen..."
Li Yuheng sneered and cut off the listening: "Little system, save this recording."
0090: [Your Highness, what are you doing...?]
"Entrapment." Li Yuheng stretched.
…
In the evening, the production team suddenly notified the six guests to gather on the lawn outside the villa.
When Li Yuheng strolled over slowly, he found that everyone else had already arrived.
Shu Bai changed into a loose black sweatshirt; the allergic rash should have subsided, but her expression remained cold and stern.
Gong Yu stood not far from Shu Bai, glancing in that direction every now and then.
"Good evening, teachers!" the director shouted through a megaphone. "Tonight we have a special segment—'The Secret Under the Pillow'!"
Yu Keke clapped her hands excitedly: "That sounds so romantic!"
"The rules are simple," the director continued, "Each guest enters the villa alone, writes down what they want to say to someone on a card, or draws a picture, and then anonymously places it under that person's pillow. If two people choose each other, they will become partners for tomorrow's activity!"
Zhao Wen chimed in, "Exciting! Isn't this just a disguised confession?"
Jiang Wei complained, "...It's a bit old-fashioned."
Ignoring the complaints, the director began to arrange the order: "In order of age from youngest to oldest, You Keke is first, then Gong Yu, Zhao Wen, Jiang Wei, Li Yuheng, and finally Teacher Shu Bai."
Li Yuheng raised an eyebrow: "Director, are you implying that Teacher Shu Bai is old?"
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