Chapter 34: The Pianist

Chen Yu naturally understood his meaning from what he said.

He had witnessed the aunt's suffering with his own eyes.

But he couldn't help asking, "Since that's the case, why did you do that?"

Why go to such lengths to ingratiate yourself with He Huanhuan?

Was it really necessary to go that far?

This would all be over soon, wouldn't it?

The answer that came was a long silence.

"Since I've started it, I have to do it properly."

He emphasized coldly, "I've always been serious about everything I do, haven't I?"

He couldn't afford to lose. He couldn't let his mother die so humiliatingly.

He had to take back what belonged to his mother, and being serious was only natural.

The tips of his fingers gripping the wine glass turned white from the strain as he downed the drink in one gulp.

"No more waiting. Let's begin."

Chen Yu raised an eyebrow at him. "That soon?"

He replied in a low voice, "I don't want to wait anymore."

He had waited long enough, long enough to lose all patience.

A reckless face flashed through his mind, and he wanted to be reckless too.

Let's begin. He truly couldn't wait a moment longer.

In the following days, Han Mo clocked in like he was going to work.

Every morning, he would arrive early at the Gu residence, spend an hour chatting with Old Mr. Gu on the first floor,

then take He Huanhuan out to eat, drink, and have fun, letting her do whatever she wanted.

The theme was pure indulgence.

Until half a month later, in the top-floor office of the Han Group, Meng Yu stood before the desk with a grim face. "President Han, a few of the projects you suspended before—they're coming to hold us accountable..."

Han Xuan snorted coldly. "Let them come. Don't bother with them."

Meng Yu's face grew even more pained. "We'll have to pay compensation."

Han Xuan laughed scornfully. "Do you think I'm stupid?"

Pay just like that?

These projects would drag on for at least a year or two before anything got settled.

Let them drag on. Stall for a year first.

As for a year later...

Hmph, by then, he wouldn't be the same person he was now.

Meng Yu handed over the documents, trying to explain. "But—"

"Don't you get tired of nagging?"

Han Xuan shot him a glare. "Can't you understand what I'm saying? Can't you handle such a small task?"

"But—"

Before he could explain, Han Xuan waved his hand impatiently. "Get out. Don't bother me."

With his attitude so hostile, Meng Yu had no choice but to leave, feeling utterly dejected.

Standing at the office door, Meng Yu's head throbbed with worry.

Did this spoiled brat even know what he was doing?

The projects that Senior Han had managed—back then, to secure them smoothly, the company had already prepaid the penalties!

The moment Han Xuan took over, he suspended all those projects, which meant paying out those penalty fees!

That was real money!

Didn't he care?

It added up to several hundred million!

As far as he remembered, that was about all the liquid cash the company had on hand.

If it all got drained away...

God!

Meng Yu took a deep breath. He wanted to quit.

Could someone just fire him already?

He wanted that severance package!

Han Xuan knew nothing of all this. No one had even mentioned it to him.

He sat in his office, staring anxiously into space.

He was waiting for a call. Once that call came, his life would turn around!

"Ring, ring, ring~~"

The phone rang, and his eyes lit up instantly!

He gripped the phone tightly and swiped to answer with urgency. "Hello? Hello?"

The voice on the other end, like music to his ears, delivered the news he had been waiting for.

"Really?"

He couldn't contain his excitement. "When do we sign?"

The accented Chinese voice replied coldly, "Anytime, but you'll need to fly over here. Our people can't go to you."

"Fine! I'll go tomorrow!"

Hanging up, he immediately called Gu Chacha. "Chacha, come with me to Southeast Asia tomorrow."

Gu Chacha hesitated. "Tomorrow? Is it that urgent?"

Han Xuan laughed triumphantly. "They agreed to our terms! What do you think—urgent or not?"

Gu Chacha sat up in surprise. "Really?"

"A hundred percent real!"

That evening, the two of them went back to the same hotel and booked the same presidential suite.

Clothes were strewn everywhere. The thick smell of smoke mixed with the aroma of liquor as they danced drunkenly on the carpet.

Han Xuan slurred, wrapping his arms around Gu Chacha. "Chacha! I'm going to make you a pianist! Even Lang Lang will have to call you a master!"

A pianist. A world tour.

An international reputation. Piano master Gu Chacha.

Her vision grew blurry, but her heart pounded faster and faster. She clung to Han Xuan. "I know you can do it. I believe in you."

Wait until tomorrow. Just wait until tomorrow.

After a night of indulgence, they caught the early flight to Southeast Asia the next morning.

At ten o'clock, He Huanhuan woke up on time and went downstairs.

Downstairs, Han Mo and Old Mr. Gu had already moved on to talking about Labubu...

Han Mo explained earnestly, "Labubu is very popular among young people lately. It's..."

Old Mr. Gu listened even more attentively, nodding occasionally. "Young people always like trendy things. I'm old, can't keep up with the fads anymore."

"Not at all."

Han Mo smiled. "You have experience and a steady eye. We still have a lot to learn from you."

His words pleased Old Mr. Gu so much that his eyes crinkled with laughter.

"You really know how to talk, kid. At my age, having a bit of experience is normal, hahahaha..."

He Huanhuan was speechless. Had Han Mo been a traitor in a past life or something?

He was way too good at flattering people.

When she came downstairs, Han Mo stood up with a smile. "You're up?"

She nodded and walked over to him. "What are we doing today?"

She was getting numb from all the spending.

She seriously wondered if she'd be able to adapt to a poor life again after returning to the real world.

Money really corrupted people!

She thought today would be another day of having fun spending money.

But instead, Han Mo drove her to a desolate place surrounded by dry reeds stretching as far as the eye could see.

She looked at him, puzzled. "What's this? Are you planning to kill me and dump the body?"

She had come out with him directly—the police wouldn't even need to investigate to nail him.

Han Mo smiled and handed her a sandwich. "Breakfast."

As she bit into the sandwich, a plane flew far overhead, passing rapidly across the sky.

Han Mo stood silently, watching the plane grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared.

"He Huanhuan," he called softly.

He Huanhuan looked at him, sandwich in mouth. "What's up?"

Their eyes met, and Han Mo asked seriously, "You're annoyed by me, aren't you?"

All that fake concern, all those rejected favors.

She must be utterly fed up with him, right?

He Huanhuan took a big bite of her sandwich. "Why would I be annoyed by you?"

Without him, her days would be just as boring. Maybe even more so.

Plus, she wouldn't have had the chance to spend money so freely. Without him footing the bill, she wouldn't have been reckless enough to shop like a madwoman.

After all, her poverty mindset hadn't worn off yet.

She was certain—she wasn't annoyed by him.

But Han Mo acted as if he hadn't heard her, muttering to himself, "It'll all be over soon. You won't have to be bothered by me anymore."

He Huanhuan was exasperated. Hadn't she just spoken perfectly clear Mandarin?

Hadn't she just said she wasn't annoyed?

Why was he acting like she had thoroughly despised him?

She shoved the last bite of the sandwich into her mouth, then suddenly reached out and grabbed his face between her hands. "I said I'm not annoyed by you. Don't be so insecure, okay?"