This piece of music was composed by Chen Ci and Chen Nian themselves after they returned to the White Pagoda after their first exchange.

Gui Zhiqi was its first audience.

Since that day, Chen Ci never played again. He didn't really want to play this song that symbolized freedom in the White Tower.

He sat alone on an old bench in the information storage area, looking out at the distant ocean through the thick glass curtain wall. Dust and dirt blurred his vision, but wherever he looked, it was still a deep blue.

Behind him was a busy street, with strangers walking hurriedly or chatting and laughing leisurely, passing through his world.

The bass chords are solemn, like sacred laments in a choir, while the treble melody is ethereal, climbing in a spiral, light yet not floating in the air as if without roots.

Fu Tianhe was fascinated by what he heard.

Whether it is the melody in your ears or the young man in front of you, they all interpret the ultimate beauty in the world.

He thought of his journey which had never stopped since he could remember. The people who had accompanied him left without saying goodbye, taking away some tears. He walked alone, drifting on the boundless sea, crossing oceans, looking for a new world and the possibility of life.

Maybe people are born to be lonely.

Chen Ci ended the performance with the final chord.

The lingering sound faded away, and it took Fu Tianhe a few seconds to come back to his senses. He clapped his hands and exclaimed sincerely: "Great, what's the name of this song?"

"I don't know." Chen Ci answered honestly. He only composed the music but didn't name it yet. "I wrote it myself."

"You wrote it yourself?!" Fu Tianhe was even more surprised. What level of ability does it take to compose music? And it sounds so good!

“Why not give it a name?”

"I don't know what to call it."

Fu Tianhe thought about it. He himself was a terrible at naming, and he felt that such a beautiful song should not have a too ordinary name. He couldn't think of a good name for the time being.

Fu Tianhe's brows wrinkled as he thought about it, and he looked like he was filled with deep resentment.

Chen Ci turned his gaze back to the darkness ahead.

This untitled song is a reflection of what he saw and felt during the brief five-day period of his first exchange.

And now, he had spent nearly two weeks freely in the dungeon, moving from the information processing area to the abandoned suburbs of the side room, and then to the production workshop.

He saw the remains of a jellyfish on the second floor of a ruined high-rise building, sat on a low wall and watched the collapsing moonlight in a mirage, and hid in a raincoat on the back seat of a motorcycle, feeling the warmth in the heavy rain.

Because of Fu Tianhe's volunteering, he had a companion by his side, so he was no longer alone, looking into the distance.

Chen Ci placed his hands on the keys again, thought for a moment, and pressed the first note.

A brand new melody flowed out at a gentle pace, which was different from the previous composition where he always stopped to record the score at the climax. This time, Chen Ci had no paper or pen, and he did not open the virtual screen of the bracelet.

The music continued, from the soft prelude to the tense and high-pitched yet somewhat restrained middle section, which naturally reminded Fu Tianhe of the two of them fighting the giant squirrel in the dark night and the excitement of the attack on the Lar camp.

No matter what thrilling things he does, September is always calm and self-controlled. He can accurately shoot a squirrel's eyes in the dark, and cook a bowl of hot rice in front of all the scavengers.

The song lasts several minutes, and Chen sang the lyrics in one go from the beginning to the end without a single pause.

Even if he played it again himself, he couldn't reproduce it exactly.

Because I just want to record my current mood. Time keeps moving forward and my mood changes at every different moment.

Fortunately, Fu Tianhe reacted as soon as he heard the beginning, and quickly turned on the recording function of the terminal and recorded most of the tune.

This was the first time he heard Jiu Yue play the piano, so he had to record it well and keep it as a treasure.

The melody finally returns to tranquility, lingering softly in the ears, like bright moonlight, cooling down on the performer.

However, as the person involved, Chen Ci had no way of seeing what he looked like at this moment.

The only people he could record were the people around him.

He was the only audience member at the concert.

Releasing the pedal, Chen Ci raised his head again and looked at Fu Tianhe.

"What else would you like to hear?" he asked.

Fu Tianhe could count the number of songs he could name on his hands, all of which were very famous classics. He thought for a moment and suddenly said, "By the way, do you know this song? I heard it a few times a long time ago, but I don't remember what it's called."

Fu Tianhe hummed a tune softly, and Chen Ci only listened to two bars before putting his hands on the keys and starting to play.

The sound of the piano perfectly matched the tune Fu Tianhe was humming.

Fu Tianhe said excitedly: "Yes, this is it, what is its name?"

Chen Ci: "Adeline by the water."

"In Greek mythology, Pygmalion, the lonely king of Ceberis, carved a statue of the girl in his mind. He looked at her foolishly every day and eventually fell in love with the statue. His piety moved the goddess of love, Aphrodite, who gave life to the statue. From then on, the king and the girl lived happily together."

Chen Ci paused and continued, "There is another version of the story. The protagonist is not a king, but a sculptor. After being abandoned by his mother, he vowed to never sculpt a woman again. However, one day, he could not suppress his desire and sculpted a girl."

These were all told to him by his teacher during class. Knowing the background story helps him feel the emotions in the tune.

Fu Tianhe was stunned and couldn't help asking, "Why did his mother abandon him?"

Chen Ci had never really thought about this question, and shook his head and said, "I don't know, it's not mentioned in the story."

Fu Tianhe said "oh" and didn't ask any more questions. He just couldn't help but think about the meaning behind the story.

But soon, he focused his attention because Chen Ci pressed the piano keys again.

This was a performance in the true sense of the word, and it was also the first time that Chen Ci played the piano for someone other than his teacher.

Chen started playing the lyrics from the beginning. The arpeggios in the prelude reminded people of the ripples on the water, bright and romantic, yet seemed to carry an unspeakable sadness.

The sound quality of this piano is not very good. Even if Chen Ci tried his best to replace all the out-of-tune keys with other keys, there were still slight deviations and the resonance was still very weak.

But for Fu Tianhe, this is enough.

As if he was suddenly pulled back to his childhood, he sat on the piano stool, listening to his mother playing. Fu Tianhe's feet were hanging in the air, not yet touching the ground, and he couldn't sit still and looked around.

For a lively child, it is indeed a torture to press him on the piano stool and teach him to play the piano.

He only remembered the jade bracelet on his mother's slender wrist and the romantic tune floating in his ears.

Fu Tianhe regretted why he didn't take it more seriously at that time.

He had recalled this tune countless times in his mind over the years, but had never heard it again.

And now the boy he admired brought him back to that memory.

After playing this song, Chen Ci did not stop. He had not touched the piano for a long time since he came to the dungeon.

In the past, Chen Ci practiced the piano as a way to kill time. After all, life in the White Pagoda was too boring. Even if he didn't really like music, he had no choice but to calm down and practice.

Now, he seems to have found other meanings besides killing time.

Songs flowed out from the boy's fingertips, some that Fu Tianhe was familiar with and some that he had never heard before.

He discovered that September particularly preferred music with a sense of religious fatalism, a grand and ethereal style that reminded him of the Son of God, sacrifice and devotion.

Chen Ci spoke for nearly an hour in one breath.

He was a little tired, so he finally stopped and stood up from the piano stool.

When Fu Tianhe came to his senses, he found that the recording on the terminal had been turned on all the time, recording the entire concert of Chen Ci.

"Thank you for your hard work." Fu Tianhe quickly took out the cup of water and handed it to Chen Ci.

Chen Ci took a sip and sat down on another stone next to Fu Tianhe.

Fu Tianhe sighed: "I didn't know you played the piano so well. You must have learned it for many years."

Chen Ci just hummed. Based on his understanding of the residents of the underground city, learning a musical instrument should be quite a luxury. According to Fu Tianhe's current impression of himself, it would be more appropriate for him not to know how to play the piano.

But all the bullets have been used up, there's no point in saying more.

Fu Tianhe really asked tentatively: "Where did you learn this from?"

Chen Ci remained silent, which was his usual silence, used to deal with questions he didn't want to answer.

Fu Tianhe also understood what he meant and stopped asking questions, treating the issue as a thing of the past.

But doubts weighed on his mind again, and the fog lingering around September became deeper.

A top-level Omega with extremely strong mental power and superb performance skills.

Fu Tianhe casually chatted: "When I was a child, I also learned to play the piano, but unfortunately I couldn't keep up with it at that time and found it particularly boring. Now I realize that it is good to know how to play a musical instrument."

Chen Ci: "Do you want to play? I can teach you."

"Really?"

Chen Ci nodded, put down the cup, swallowed the last sip of warm water in his mouth, and sat back on the piano stool. He only sat halfway, and his meaning was very obvious.

Fu Tianhe stood up with trepidation and landed lightly on the other side of the stool.

The broken piano stool was only this big, and when two people sat on it, they inevitably sat close to each other.

This was the first time Fu Tianhe was so close to Jiuyue.

I could even feel the warmth and faint fragrance coming from the boy.

Chen Ci taught Fu Tianhe to play the melody that he had been longing for.

Starting with the right hand, teaching one measure at a time, Chen Ci played it once, and Fu Tianhe imitated and repeated it.

After learning all four measures, play them together again.

Fu Tianhe had a good memory and some basic knowledge, so it wasn't difficult for him to learn.

Chen Ci quickly finished teaching the right hand part of this passage, and then the chords for the left hand.

After playing with both hands separately, you need to put them together.

Fu Tianhe was caught in an inevitable confusion as he looked at his right hand and ignored his left hand.

Chen Ci taught him patiently, without getting tired of it. His patience was so great that Fu Tianhe felt a little embarrassed and thought he was so stupid.

He secretly glanced at the young man. Chen Ci's profile was calm, his eyelashes drooped, and his nose was straight, but he didn't look mean. At this moment, Fu Tianhe actually glimpsed a bit of... tenderness in him?

The cold piano keys were played by September, and they still seem to retain the warmth of her fingertips.

He knew that it was just his wishful thinking.

Half an hour later, Fu Tianhe was able to play the instrument with both hands stutteringly.

It was indeed a very fulfilling thing. Fu Tianhe practiced excitedly and suddenly said to Chen Ci: "I can also play the Scottish Highland bagpipes. Although I am not very good at it, I will play it for you when I have the chance."

Chen Ci responded "OK" and continued watching Fu Tianhe practice.

Fu Tianhe played this section smoothly and looked at the time. It was almost ten o'clock. If they didn't leave, the attraction would be closed.

"Come back another time if there's a chance." Fu Tianhe stood up contentedly. He was the first to walk down the ruins and extended his hand to Chen Ci.

Although he knew September didn't need help.

Sure enough, Chen Ci just glanced at his outstretched hand, then silently climbed down from the top of the ruins.

Fu Tianhe didn't feel embarrassed and naturally withdrew his hand.

The two left the dark collapsed building and quickly returned to the cordon while no one was around.

There are almost no people on the road, and the security robot is reminding tourists to leave.

They returned to the hotel from the outer wall hanging and took a rest. They would go around the factory tomorrow. Fu Tianhe was very interested in the chimera transformed from the mechanical core.

After taking a shower, Chen Ci lay on the bed, wearing an eye mask and earplugs. He should have cleared his mind as usual before going to bed, but he couldn't help thinking about the performance tonight.

He is proficient in playing instruments such as piano, violin, clarinet, and classical drums, and can also compose music.

Bai Ta arranged all these for Chen Ci. Chen Ci started learning the piano at the age of four and wrote his first piece of music at the age of nine.

Did these things bring him anything? Chen Ci never felt that way. He had no interest in many things.

No matter how exquisite and luxurious the food is, it is only for obtaining the energy needed to maintain the body's functioning. The difference between an extremely comfortable living environment and sleeping in the wild seems to be not much. Having someone to take care of you and doing everything yourself just consumes more energy.

When he was playing, his teacher often said that his technique was impeccable, but it always lacked some emotion.

Chen Ci didn't understand how the teacher could express the emotions he was talking about. He played all the stresses and tempos to perfection, so there shouldn't be any difference between them.

Although I had only been outside for a short time, the life in the White Tower for the past ten years seemed like a lifetime ago.

Disgusting? Not really.

Bai Ta was shaping the ideal image of a prince's consort for everyone. Chen Ci would not blame them. After all, from beginning to end, he had never resisted or told Bai Ta what he wanted.

Because even Chen Ci himself doesn’t know.

And tonight, the useless skills he mastered seemed to make sense for the first time.

The terminal on my wrist vibrated at this moment.

Chen Ci took off his blindfold and took a look at the message.

It was sent by Fu Tianhe, and there was only a short sentence "Good night" in the dialogue box.

Didn’t we say this when we said goodbye in the hotel corridor?

Chen Ci didn't take it to heart. He said good night to Fu Tianhe and closed his eyes again.

The night was quiet. Chen Ci had no idea that the person who sent him the message was standing outside the door at this moment.

September's reply popped up in the dialogue box. Fu Tianhe held two mechanical cores in his hands, but ultimately did not knock on the door in front of him.

He raised his hands several times and then put them down again and again, just like his unspeakable feelings.

Let's wait until tomorrow.

Fu Tianhe took a deep breath and then let out a long exhale. Tomorrow, one tomorrow after another, when will he be able to muster up the courage to face the fear of being rejected?

As agreed, Shafulai took Chen Nian to Cinnabar's global ocean base.

Chen had bluntly rejected the previous invitation to visit, but now they were all familiar with each other, knew each other well, and went out smoothly in the early morning.

Shaflay thought about the day he and Antonio went to see Chen Ci, and he felt a little depressed.

Chen Ci went to the underground city and heard from Chen Nian that he was traveling around and had already reached the production workshop from the abandoned suburbs. He should really like traveling, but he refused him again and again.

Does Chen Ci really dislike him so much? Although they haven't developed any deeper feelings over the years, they should be considered good friends.

The thought of the old words made Shaflay feel uncomfortable.

He looked silently at the boy beside him. Chen Nian was looking out the window excitedly. They were going to take a flying vehicle to the detection platform.

Rather than trying to figure out what kind of image Chen Ci had of him, Shafley wanted to know what he was going to do.

On the night when he suddenly realized his heart was beating, the emotions that had been suppressed in his chest for a long time suddenly burst out, and all kinds of strange signs had reasons.

——He had inappropriate thoughts about his fiancée’s younger brother.

Chen Ci and Chen Nian trusted him so much that they regarded him as a teammate and entrusted him with many secrets.

If the brothers knew his thoughts, how would they react? They would definitely feel disgusted.

In fact, even Shafley himself found him disgusting.

He and Chen Ci had known each other for more than ten years and had tried hard to cultivate their feelings but to no avail. However, after knowing Chen Nian for only two months, he began to fall in love with her.

Shafley has always believed that he is not a promiscuous person. In recent years, news has spread that he and Chen Ci are insensitive to pheromones. Many Omegas from noble families have surrounded him, trying every means to replace Chen Ci, but he has not done anything to cross the line and has remained loyal to Chen Ci.

But it fell on Chen Nian.

If asked, Shafley couldn't say what it was about Chen Nian that moved him.

The real Chen Nian is willful and eccentric. When stripped of all his acting and pretense, he is sometimes not even that likable.

But it is these various characteristics that come together to make him a unique young man.

Shafla could even imagine how Chen Ci would look at him with cold and indifferent eyes when his true feelings were exposed, and how Chen Nian would look at him with disgust, as if he was looking at trash.

——I trusted you so much and even asked you to help me find a boyfriend, and you have such dirty thoughts about me?

Shafla had no doubt that he was insignificant in the friendship between the two brothers.

The first time he fell in love was with the wrong person.

Shafley took a deep breath. Before he got deeper into trouble, he had to find some flaws in Chen Nian as soon as possible so that he would not like him so much anymore.

Chen Nian had no idea that the Alpha beside him was struggling in pain and thinking so much.

The aircraft took off, and he excitedly leaned against the window, watching the ground getting farther away, the treetops at his feet, and soon reaching a height that even the palace clock tower could not reach.

The aircraft quickly drove out of the edge of Cinnabar. Chen Nian looked back and saw the familiar railings.

Then lower it downwards.

The whole process took only ten minutes, which was much faster than taking a car to the central elevator, sitting on the ground floor, and then taking a boat.

Schafflet's private aircraft arrived at the observation platform's helipad.

The observation platform outside was guarded by the military. As soon as I stepped down, several officers came to greet me.

"Your Highness the Grand Prince, Your Highness the Princess."

Shafla nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

Chen Nian also smiled at them politely, and the eyes of several officers naturally fell on Chen Nian. It was the first time for them to see the future prince's consort, and they couldn't help but be amazed at how stunning she was.

Of course, the military officers were more concerned about his identity as the orphan of Marshal Chen Wei, even though the boy did not look like the marshal.

There is not a single soldier who does not admire Marshal Chen Wei, and now the Marshal's child has come to inspect the first barrier guarding Cinnabar.

"Everyone, go ahead and do your work. I'll just take Chen Ci for a walk."

Shafulai goes to the Global Sea Base twice a month. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is not only responsible for the core maintenance of Cinnabar, but also has a seat in the military. As the most prestigious crown prince, he will need to take on many responsibilities in the future.

The garrison officer nodded trustingly and left without disturbing the two princes.

The Ring Ocean Base is made up of thousands of connected platforms. The area of ​​each platform is not large. Standing on it, the feeling of being surrounded by the sea is even stronger.

The sea breeze gently brushed across her cheeks, refreshing and comfortable. Chen Nian stood at the railing, with the endless vast ocean in front of her.

The platform they were on had several levels. Shafulai knew that Chen Nian wanted to get close to the sea, so he took him down to the lowest area.

The sea water kept hitting the outer wall, the waves rolled up white foam, and when you looked back you could see the main body of Cinnabar.

After living in it for many years, it was the first time that Chen Nian realized how large cinnabar was. It was so large that at a cursory glance, one could not discern the curve of its circular outline.

The sea water surged onto the platform, quickly flowed down, and then surged up again with the next tide, covering the soles of Chen Nian's shoes.

There were a few scattered marine life washed up.

Chen Nian leaned over and picked up a conch that had unfortunately drifted ashore. The white and yellow conch was icy in texture. It lay in his palm, its soft body curled up in the shell, not daring to come out.

"What is this?"

Shafley: "The shell of the snail is often made into handicrafts, and the meat can also be eaten."

Chen Nian put the conch shell to his ear. Many stories say that one can hear the sound of the ocean from inside it.

Chen Nian no longer took such rumors seriously after he went to school, but he still had some understanding of the principles of air resonance.

I just want to have fun.

However, he did hear the sound.

A small, faint sound echoed in his ears.

It was not the sound of the sea breeze blowing, nor the sound of some liquid flowing, but rather... a rustling sound, as if someone was whispering in his ear.

Huh?

Chen Nian touched his ear with his little finger and put the conch shell back to his ear.

...How strange! There is still a sound.

Chen Nian frowned, held the snail close to Shafulai's ear, and asked, "Can you hear any sound?"

Shafley listened attentively for a while, nodded and said, "The sound of the sea."

Chen Nian curled his lips and said, "No, there really is a voice like talking. Can you listen carefully?"

Upon hearing this, Shafley listened attentively.

After a while, he shook his head: "The snail is still inside the shell, but there is no sound of the air resonating."

“No way.” Chen Nian suspiciously put the snail to his ear again, rustling and rustling.

It felt like someone was whispering to him, but he couldn't hear the content no matter what.

It's a ghost.

Chen Nian looked at the conch and could only put it in his pocket.