The truth about the music room swept over two wounded souls like the fiercest storm. Xie Chen (the main personality) fainted under extreme stimulation, while A Chen, after reaching the peak of rage and grief, fell into a chilling calm.
Su Nian and A Chen settled the unconscious Xie Chen back into the guest room. He slept soundly, his brows furrowed, as if he were still battling those cruel images in a nightmare. Su Nian covered him with the blanket, her fingertips gently stroking his cold, sweaty forehead.
Ah stood silently by the bed, gazing at the face that was exactly like his own, yet bore so much pain. His eyes held a complex and unreadable expression. The flames of hatred burned in his eyes, but there seemed to be something else, something deeper, mixed in.
“He needs time to process this,” Su Nian said softly, walking to A Chen’s side.
Ah Chen didn't turn around, his gaze still fixed on Xie Chen, his voice hoarse: "Time is running out. The celebration is the day after tomorrow."
“I know.” Su Nian grasped his tightly clenched fist, feeling the coldness and slight trembling of his palm. “But we can’t act rashly. We need a plan, a plan that can strike decisively and also protect… yourselves.”
Ah Chen finally turned his head to look at Su Nian. Her image was reflected in his dark eyes, which churned with lingering pain and a desperate resolve. "The plan?" He smirked, his smile devoid of warmth. "To throw those things in his face when he's at his most triumphant, so everyone can see what kind of beast lies beneath that human skin!"
His ideas were simple, direct, and destructive.
"And then?" Su Nian asked calmly. "To ruin his reputation? To punish him? That would certainly be satisfying. But what about afterwards? What about Xie Chen? 'Genius pianist Xie Chen' revealing his father's murder of his mother at the family celebration? This news would destroy everything he has, including his music and his future. Is that really what you want? To drag all of you down with him, including yourself?"
Su Nian's words were like a bucket of cold water, poured over A Chen's reason, which was burning with hatred. He was stunned, the madness in his eyes faded slightly, replaced by a bewildered struggle.
He only wanted revenge, only wanted that man to pay the price, but he ignored the potentially devastating impact this would have on the identity of "Xie Chen." Music is the meaning behind the protagonist's existence, and also a "gift" left to them by their mother...
Seeing the struggle in Ah Chen's eyes, Su Nian's heart softened. She took his hand and left the guest room, returning to the relatively quiet master bedroom.
He closed the door, shutting out the outside world. Ah Chen seemed to have exhausted all his strength. Leaning against the door, he slowly slid down to the ground, burying his face in his knees. His tall body curled up, revealing a rare, almost fragile posture.
Su Nian squatted down in front of him without saying a word, but simply reached out and gently stroked his slightly prickly short hair again and again. Her movements were gentle, carrying silent comfort and understanding.
Ah Chen's body trembled slightly. He didn't look up, but reached out and grabbed Su Nian's hand that was stroking his hair, holding it tightly as if it were his only support. His palm was still icy cold, and the force was so great that it almost crushed her finger bones.
"Then what should I do..." His muffled voice came from between his knees, tinged with a barely perceptible sob and confusion, "Should I... just let him go like this?"
“No,” Su Nian answered resolutely. “He must pay the price. But we can’t do it by destroying ourselves.” She grasped his hand in return, trying to convey some warmth and strength. “We need a smarter approach. We need to use what he fears to make him voluntarily relinquish control over you, or even… make him face legal judgment for what he has done.”
Ah Chen raised his head, his scarlet eyes filled with confusion: "The law? Is that evidence... enough?"
“The diagnostic report and threatening letters can serve as evidence of his domestic violence and threats. As for those vague pieces of evidence of transactions…” Su Nian’s gaze sharpened, “We can use them as bargaining chips. Someone like Xie Hongyuan cares most about his reputation, status, and wealth. We can let him know that if he continues to pressure Xie Chen or tries to harm you, this evidence will appear where it should. It will make him hesitant to act and voluntarily relinquish custody (if he still has it) and the right to interfere in your lives. This is more effective and… safer than a chaotic, lose-lose public revelation.”
Su Nian's analysis was clear and calm, pointing out a seemingly roundabout but potentially safer path for A Chen, who was blinded by hatred.
Ah Chen listened in silence, the madness in his eyes gradually replaced by a deep contemplation. He had to admit that Su Nian was right. Pure destruction only leads to mutual ruin.
“Moreover,” Su Nian’s voice softened as she looked into Ah Chen’s eyes, “have you noticed that after learning the truth, your first thought was no longer simply ‘revenge,’ but rather… what about ‘us’?”
Ah Chen was stunned.
us.
Yes, after his extreme anger, what he subconsciously thought of was the future of that good-for-nothing, and the entirety of "Xie Chen." Not, as before, when he only wanted to drag everything down with him.
He himself was unaware of this subtle change.
Night quietly descended.
In the guest room, Xie Chen (the main personality) was still fast asleep, but his breathing had become much more stable.
In the master bedroom, Ah Chen emerged from a shower, still damp. He wore only a loose black robe, the collar slightly open, revealing his beautifully sculpted collarbone and muscular chest. Unlike usual, he didn't exude an imposing aura; instead, he appeared somewhat silent and… thoughtful.
Su Nian was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at information about Xie's Enterprise and related legal provisions on her phone, when she felt the mattress next to her sink in. Ah Chen sat down beside her, not pulling her into his arms as he had done before, but turning his head to quietly look at her focused profile.
Under the lamplight, her eyelashes resembled two small fans, casting soft shadows beneath her eyelids. Her nose was straight and delicate, and her lips were slightly pursed, making her appear both earnest and adorable. As Ah Chen watched, his gaze gradually deepened.
He suddenly reached out, not to hug, but to gently grasp Su Nian's hand holding the phone.
Su Nian looked up and met his focused gaze.
“Today…” Ah Chen began, his voice low and uncertain, “in the music room… thank you.”
He was referring to Su Nian's silent hug and support when he was at his lowest point.
Su Nian smiled slightly and shook her head: "Didn't we agree? It was 'we' together."
“We…” Ah Chen repeated the word, his eyes growing even deeper. He leaned down, slowly approaching Su Nian, his gaze falling on her soft lips with a cautious, tentative air.
Su Nian did not dodge, but simply watched him approach quietly.
His kiss was no longer the brutal one before, carrying a sense of punishment, despair, or plunder. Instead, it became extremely gentle and slow, like a feather brushing against her skin, with a touch of cherished reassurance. He carefully traced the shape of her lips, their warm breaths mingling, carrying the refreshing scent of a post-bath shower.
The kiss lasted a long time, so tender it made one's heart tremble. Only when both of them were a little unsteady on their breath did Ah Chen pull away slightly, his forehead pressed against Su Nian's, their noses rubbing together, their breaths mingling.
“I won’t let him get away with this,” Ah Chen said softly, his tone firm. “But I’ll use your methods.” He paused, then gripped her hand even tighter. “You… will always be on my side, right?”
This was the second time he had asked this question, but this time, there was less obsessive coercion and more genuine anxiety about losing it.
Looking into his dark eyes, so close to hers and filled with complex emotions, Su Nian felt a surge of tenderness in her heart. She leaned forward and placed a gentle yet firm kiss on his lips.
"Mmm," she replied softly, "always."
Having received her promise, Ah Chen seemed finally at ease. He pulled Su Nian into his arms again, this time much gentler, but his embrace was tight, trapping her entirely within his own breath. He lay down, letting her rest her head on his arm, his other hand still intertwined with hers.
"Go to sleep," he whispered in her ear. "There are things to do tomorrow..."
Su Nian leaned against his warm, firm chest, able to hear his steady, powerful heartbeat. She closed her eyes, savoring this rare tranquility and intimacy in the eye of the storm.
She knew the road ahead was still fraught with thorns. The confrontation with Xie Hongyuan, the uncertainty of the family celebration, and the increasingly complex and subtle shifts in their relationship as they faced trauma together…
But at this moment, in this quiet night, two hearts that have drawn closer to each other in their pain and supported one another seem to have found a temporary balance and solace.
The hatred has not disappeared, and the pain remains profound.
But beyond the flames of revenge, something seems to be quietly growing, like a new sprout stubbornly emerging from the ruins.
That's understanding, that's trust, that's a connection that transcends personal boundaries...
Meanwhile, in the guest room, Xie Chen (the main personality), who was fast asleep, perhaps subconsciously sensed this change. His tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, almost imperceptibly, in the middle of the night.
The prelude to integration has already quietly begun in a corner unnoticed by anyone.
(End of Chapter 144)
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