Chapter 60: The Metropolis of Water

When Xia Yu returned from An Siyao’s, it was already five p.m. He took a short break before going to Kong Hanyue’s place.

As soon as he got in the door, Kong Hanyue hugged him. “Yuyu, you’re amazing!”

Xia Yu guessed that news regarding Zhong Yunxin had gotten to Kong Hanyue.

Indeed, Kong Hanyue was talking about Zhong Yunxin’s situation.

“I just got a call from Zeze and heard about Xinxin. I also asked some classmates of Xinxin and realized you had fixed her problem!”

Kong Hanyue’s eyes were filled with admiration, though Xia Yu was her child. She was like this when Xia Yu was young too.

Being admired by younger people was exciting, but rather awkward when it was your elders.

“How did you do it? Zeze said Xinxin told him a classmate had gone to her.” Kong Hanyue was curious again.

Thinking of her deal with Xia Yu earlier, Kong Hanyue added, “I didn’t tell anything to Zeze!”

“You don’t have to know about it,” Xia Yu answered.

“How did that girl deal with Xinxin? You can tell me this much, right?” Kong Hanyue thought she could use the same strategy to deal with Zhong Yunxin and make her follow orders.

“There was no strategy, just yelling, hitting, and threatening.” Xia Yu knew Kong Hanyue’s intention. He smiled. “You can try it.”

Kong Hanyue was disappointed. Hitting, yelling, and threatening wasn’t her kind of thing.

She was the best at ignoring her opponents, which worked on Youxue.

It could have worked on Zhong Yunze, although he was docile too and wasn’t treated as an enemy.

Xia Yu looked at Kong Hanyue. Even people who were not related would be concerned when they heard someone was hit and threatened, but Kong Hanyue didn’t even want to ask.

She only treated Zhong Yunxin as a task and didn’t care about her at all.

Xia Yu began to admire Kong Hanyue’s deceased husband. He really had the foresight to make a rule like that.

Otherwise, Zhong Yunze aside, Kong Hanyue would definitely abandon Zhong Yunxin and not care for her.

According to law, Kong Hanyue can just receive a portion of assets acquired during the marriage. But Kong Hanyue didn’t know what kind of legal methods her deceased husband had used.

When Kong Hanyue heard Xia Yu’s doubts, she explained, “He didn’t put his shares under his own name but under some other agency, so they weren’t considered marital property. He gave himself a salary from the company, but it was only 3000 yuan a month.”

“…”

Rich people were indeed not stupid.

Putting aside this matter, Xia Yu and Kong Hanyue went into the guzheng room and continued to study.

“Right. You’ve really helped me out this time. You need a reward!” Kong Hanyue grew excited again. “What do you want? I’ve hidden 1.53 million yuan, I could give you half a million of it.”

She loved the money. This one million-plus was acquired by various means. When her deceased husband was still alive, she didn’t dare to use any of it in case he found out.

“When I get my shares, I’d buy you a big house. Zeze is not detailed enough, I’d still live with you eventually. I could help you with your son.”

After Zhong Yunxin’s matter was resolved, Kong Hanyue looked toward the future. “Don’t have daughters, they don’t listen to you and just bring problems. Sons are best!”

“… we’ll deal with things in the future later. Let’s learn guzheng,” Xia Yu said.

Out of all the things Kong Hanyue had said, Xia Yu only cared about “I’ll live with you.”

His own mom would obviously stay with him. The Zhong kids had no blood relation to her at all.

“Then I’d save the money. I’ll buy you a car when you go to Huada University.” Kong Hanyue had decided.

She said seriously to Xia Yu, “This half a million is just an addition. The real reward from me is something else.”

Xia Yu was curious, seeing her mysterious expression.

“Wait here.” Kong Hanyue left the guzheng room.

Five minutes later, she came back holding a small square-shaped box.

She gave the box to Xia Yu.

This was a metal box with some pattern and the words:

“Dong Gong Cookies”

“…”

It was typical to hide treasures inside cookie tins. It wasn’t a surprise.

Xia Yu opened the box with expectations and saw a piece of copied paper.

On the paper was a numbered music notation with the title:

“The Metropolis of Water”

Xia Yu turned the score over and over. He asked Kong Hanyue with a face filled with doubt, “What is this?”

“This is our family’s secret guzheng song. Only the chief inheritor could learn it. It was only supposed to be given to you after I passed.” Kong Hanyue looked proud.

“???”

“You were hiding guzheng songs from me!” Xia Yu threatened Kong Hanyue with a rolled-up book.

“Ooh! Teachers always had one or two secret tricks they didn’t pass on!” Kong Hanyue argued.

“Stop rationalizing. Is there anything else?”

“There is ‘Iron Will.’”

“And?”

“‘Tears of the Moon’ is saved for Zeze. You have another song.”

“Did you think you’re some old master in martial arts novels? Were you saving one trick for each student?”

Pressured by Xia Yu, Kong Hanyue handed over all the songs she had.

The songs weren’t important, they were all available online. But if Kong Hanyue held back while teaching him, Xia Yu wouldn’t be able to tell. Making her share the songs would make her more honest when she taught him.

Kong Hanyue felt wronged when she saw Xia Yu holding the rare score passed on from her teacher. She complained about defying elders and ancestors, being rebellious and criminal, etc., as she taught Xia Yu.

Xia Yu learned “The Metropolis of Water,” which was a calm song. Xia Yu listened to the directions from Kong Hanyue.

He could feel the city in his heart sinking into the water bit by bit as he played.

When the city disappeared, the hustle and bustle disappeared, the surface of the water was calm.

All troubles and worries were buried by the water, along with the city.

It was such a good song.

Thinking of how Kong Hanyue was hiding this song from him, Xia Yu pinched her face.

He studied until 10 p.m. and took the last train home.

The next morning, he woke up from a dream and groggily opened his door to wash up in the bathroom.

After washing up, he stretched and sat by the table.

When Youxue brought up bread and bacon, Xia Yu realized that it was October 8th. It was a school day, and Yan Wei wasn’t here.

For the past week, he could see Yan Wei every morning. He wasn’t used to not having her around.

Putting bacon inside the bread, Xia Yu took a bite before frowning.

The bacon was overcooked, and the bread was sliced too thick.

Yan Wei wouldn’t make this kind of mistake.

Before Youxue looked over at him, Xia Yu quickly adjusted his expression and finished breakfast. Then, he walked toward the school.