Chapter 95 The Temptation of Melody
The Legacy_Verify interface and the Melody_Key parameter were like a stone dropped into a deep pond, stirring up lasting ripples in Su Yan's heart. He was certain he had touched upon the core secret that Huo Shen had tried so hard to conceal, but Huo Shen's reticent attitude was like an invisible wall, preventing him from going any further.
Over the next few days, Su Yan behaved remarkably well. He no longer raised any topics related to the underlying architecture or historical issues, instead focusing entirely on the tasks assigned by Huo Shen—analyzing user feedback and optimizing interaction logic. His reports were clearly organized, his suggestions were pertinent, and he even occasionally included some eye-opening ideas.
Like a most qualified employee, he restrained all his motives and curiosity and focused on the work within the designated scope.
But this excessive "contentment" may itself be an abnormality.
Huo Shen seemed to be observing him as well. He still allowed Su Yan to participate in some discussions and review his report, but the deep scrutiny in his eyes never faded. A tacit, fragile calm remained between the two of them.
That night, Huo Shen, unusually absent from official duties, sat on the sofa in the living room, listening to classical music from a vinyl record. It was Desi's "Moonlight," the ethereal and melancholic melody echoing through the empty living room.
Su Yan came out of the study and was about to go back to the bedroom. When he passed the living room, he was attracted by the music and his pace slowed down.
Huo Shen didn't look back, as if lost in his own world. He leaned back on the sofa, eyes closed, fingers tapping gently on his knees to the rhythm of the music. The dim light outlined his profile, still cold and hard even when relaxed, but the music seemed to give him a rare, almost gentle sense of loneliness.
Su Yan stood in the shadows, watching him quietly. At this moment, Huo Shen had lost the decisiveness of a business tycoon and the domineering power of a paranoid controller. He looked more like a man licking his wounds, haunted by the past.
The music flowed slowly, it was that familiar main melody, with a hazy sadness and... a barely perceptible sense of familiarity.
Su Yan's pupils narrowed slightly. This melody... he seemed to have heard it somewhere before? Not on this record, but... before. In Ah Xiao's music box in the old house? Or was it the rhythm of the music he had simulated in his mind when he deciphered the encrypted recording?
A strong intuition struck him. Could this passage from Desi's "Moonlight," or a particular variation of it, be the "promised melody" mentioned in Xiao's recording?
The thought made his heart beat faster.
Just then, the music stopped. The record had reached its end, and the tonearm automatically lifted back into place. Silence fell over the living room.
Huo Shen slowly opened his eyes, as if waking from a long dream. His gaze was unfocused for a moment, then turned accurately in the direction of Su Yan.
"What are you standing there for?" His voice was a little hoarse as he came back to his senses.
Su Yan walked out from the shadows, trying to make his expression look natural: "I heard the music and I thought it was beautiful."
Huo Shen's gaze lingered on his face for a few seconds, as if trying to determine the truthfulness of his words. "Like classical music?"
"I don't know much, but I feel... it can make people calm." Su Yan chose his words carefully.
Huo Shen pulled the corners of his mouth, his smile lacking any warmth: "Calm? Sometimes, music just makes the turbulent undercurrent sound less harsh."
He looked at Su Yan with a deep gaze, implying something: "Just like some people, who appear to be well-behaved on the surface, but may not be truly at peace in their hearts."
Su Yan's heart tightened slightly, knowing that Huo Shen was pointing at him. He lowered his eyelashes and did not respond.
Huo Shen, however, didn't seem to be planning to let him go. He stood up and walked in front of Su Yan, so close that he could smell the faint, fresh scent of shower gel on Su Yan's body, which formed a sharp contrast with the melancholy in the music he had just played.
"You seem to be very sensitive to melody." Huo Shen looked down at him, his voice low and dangerously inquiring, "Last time it was the sheet music, this time it's Desi..."
Su Yan forced himself to look up and meet his gaze: "It's just a coincidence. That music score is a code, and this song... is indeed very famous."
"Really?" Huo Shen remained noncommittal. He raised his hand and gently pinched Su Yan's chin. The force was not strong, but it carried an unquestionable sense of control. "What if I tell you now that Ah Xiao's favorite song is a certain adapted version of "Moonlight"? "
Su Yan's breathing hitched. Huo Shen's fingers were icy cold, yet their touch was scorching. He could feel his cheeks burning.
"I... I don't know." He tried to turn his head, but was held in place by Huo Shen's fingers.
"You know now." Huo Shen's thumb stroked the sensitive skin of Su Yan's jaw, his eyes dark as a deep pool, "Also, you also know the existence of the 'Melody Key'."
He finally revealed the secret that they both knew.
Su Yan's heart began to beat wildly. He looked at Huo Shen's face so close to him. Complex and indistinguishable emotions were surging in his eyes - there was warning, temptation, and perhaps... there was also a hint of excitement that he himself had not even noticed, attracted by the scent of a kindred spirit.
"Mr. Huo..." Su Yan's voice trembled a little, "I just happened to see..."
"Accidentally?" Huo Shen interrupted him, leaning in close, his hot breath almost spraying on Su Yan's lips. "Su Yan, there aren't so many coincidences in this world. Just like you appeared on the yacht by chance, you caught my interest by chance, and then by chance... you discovered the key that even I had overlooked for a while. Your appearance itself, your many unknowns, and your rapid learning of things are the greatest anomaly in themselves."
His words were like the sharpest blade, cutting through all disguises. Su Yan seemed to have nowhere to hide in front of him.
"I'm very curious," Huo Shen's lips were almost touching his, his voice low and full of temptation, like the whisper of a devil, "How many 'coincidences' can you see from me with your eyes?"
The next second, before Su Yan could react, Huo Shen's kiss had already landed.
Unlike the last kiss in the living room on a rainy night, which had been filled with punishment and warning, this kiss was full of predatory and almost violent desire. He forcefully pried open Su Yan's teeth, entangled his tongue, with the aftertaste of whiskey and a force that wanted to completely devour Su Yan.
Su Yan's mind went blank as he passively endured the kiss. Huo Shen's hand moved away from his chin and instead tightly wrapped around his waist, locking him firmly in his arms. Their bodies pressed tightly together, and through the thin fabric, they could feel each other's pounding heartbeats and rising body temperatures.
It is a sign, a declaration, and a dangerous conspiracy.
It took a long time before Huo Shen let him go. Su Yan's legs were so weak that he could barely stand, relying entirely on Huo Shen's arm for support. He was panting slightly, his lips were red and swollen, and the corners of his eyes were a physiological red. His eyes were filled with lingering panic and a hint of confusion.
Huo Shen lowered his head to look at his messed-up appearance, and the storm in his eyes subsided a little, replaced by a deep and satisfied possessiveness.
He wiped away the ambiguous silver hair on Su Yan's lips with his fingers, and said in a hoarse voice:
"Remember this feeling, Su Yan. This is the price of prying into secrets, and it is also..." He paused, his eyes sharp, "your qualification to stay in the game."
He let go of her hand, took a step back, distanced himself again, and resumed his indifferent attitude of being in control of everything, as if the person who had just kissed her passionately was not him.
"It's late, go to bed."
Su Yan watched his back as he turned and walked towards the bedroom, then raised his hand and gently touched his lips which were still hot and stinging.
The temptation of melody, the kiss of price.
He knew that he had unknowingly stepped into a deeper and more dangerous realm.
And Huo Shen was standing in the center of the field, waiting for his next "accident".
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