Mu Ze was just about to play when suddenly, the unexpected happened—
The butler standing behind him was knocked unconscious by a sudden chop to the neck and collapsed to the floor.
Mu Ze looked at the person who had knocked out the butler, a trace of surprise in his eyes. "Pretty Sister?"
Wen Yan patted Mu Ze's head. "Little guy, you weren't scared, were you?"
Mu Ze shook his head. "Why did you knock out the butler, Pretty Sister?"
"You'll find out in a bit." Wen Yan simply and roughly dragged the butler into the restroom.
She took Mu Ze's hand. "Come, follow me to the private room upstairs."
Remembering Madam Mu's instructions, Mu Ze hesitated. "But Mom told me to play the piano here."
"Little guy, do you want to know why you work so hard, yet still fall short of Mu Hao in everything?"
Mu Ze nodded vigorously. "I want to know."
Mu Hao rarely studied, yet he seemed to know how to do everything.
Could he really be a genius?
Meanwhile, he himself had learned so many things, but it felt as if those skills didn't belong to him at all.
Filled with curiosity and doubt, Mu Ze followed Wen Yan to the upstairs private room.
The upstairs private room was very spacious, with quite a few people sitting on the sofas.
Seeing Mu Ze arrive, Si Youyou took his hand with a sweet smile. "Don't be afraid, Xiao Ze. They are all my family and Pretty Sister's family."
Old Master Si, Si Jingyi, and Si Yubai had all come.
Mu Ze obediently and politely greeted them one by one.
After the greetings, Mu Ze noticed that the LCD screen in the room was broadcasting a live feed of Madam Mu's private room.
"Pretty Sister, is this a security camera?"
Wen Yan pressed her hands on Mu Ze's thin shoulders. "Don't worry, we aren't doing anything bad. Just watch what happens first."
In Madam Mu's private room.
Mu Hao sat at the piano, tilting his small chin up, brimming with confidence.
He had always believed himself to be a prodigy. Every time he played the piano, it came effortlessly; he never even needed to practice.
He had made a fool of himself in class today, so now he was determined to win back his pride.
Madam Sun held Sun Xiyao, looking at Mu Hao with a face full of anticipation.
"Xiyao, you must listen carefully later. Your Brother Hao Hao's accomplishments in this area are very high; he could even be your teacher."
Madam Mu felt a shared sense of pride. "Sister Sun, you flatter us too much."
The smile on Madam Sun's face deepened. "It's because you've taught Hao Hao so well. Our Xiyao needs to learn from him."
Madam Mu nodded at Mu Hao. "Begin!"
Mu Hao placed his fingers on the keys and began to play.
A few notes in, Madam Mu's expression changed.
This was not a sonata.
Hadn't she informed the butler to have Mu Ze play?
How could her Hao Hao be playing at this level?
Confusion appeared on the faces of Madam Sun and Sun Xiyao.
The piece Mu Hao played was fairly fluent, but it was not a sonata at all. Compared to his past performances, his skill level had dropped drastically.
It was worlds apart from the audio recording Madam Mu had sent her the other day.
Mu Hao had absolutely no idea what a sonata was; he just played a song however he pleased.
He had always played like this in the past, but every time he played, he managed to amaze everyone.
He thought that after finishing this time, he would also receive applause and praise from Madam Sun and Sun Xiyao, but the result was—
Madam Sun and Sun Xiyao looked at him strangely, as if they didn't know him at all.
Mu Hao looked at Madam Mu. "Mom, how did I play?"
Madam Mu naturally wouldn't let Mu Hao be exposed; she quickly came up with an excuse.
She rolled up Mu Hao's sleeve, revealing a bruise on his wrist. It was an injury from being thrown to the ground by Mu Ze at school today.
Madam Mu explained, "Sister Sun, Hao Hao's hand is injured. The sonata is very difficult, so he can't play it today. I'm truly sorry."
Seeing the bruise on Mu Hao's hand, Madam Sun dispelled the doubts in her heart.
"I was wondering why Hao Hao's level had dropped. So it turns out he's injured."
While Madam Mu and Madam Sun were talking, Sun Xiyao saw a ragdoll cat running past the door of the private room. Her eyes lit up, and taking advantage of the adults' inattention, she quietly slipped out.
That beautiful ragdoll cat ran into a private room upstairs.
As soon as Sun Xiyao entered, she heard a melodious and pleasing piano melody.
Sun Xiyao forgot about chasing the cat and looked toward the little boy sitting at the piano.
He seemed to be wearing the same school uniform as Brother Hao Hao.
The little boy did not notice her; he was playing the piano seriously and attentively.
The piano sound shifted from slow and leisurely at the beginning to intense and passionate, like galloping warhorses, stirring the soul.
Sun Xiyao didn't even blink, completely intoxicated by the beautiful and thrilling music.
It was the sonata her mother had played for her a couple of days ago.
She hadn't heard Mu Hao play it earlier, but to her surprise, she was hearing it here.
Hearing it live was truly shocking and highly infectious, making one's heart surge with emotion.
After the song was finished, Mu Ze turned his head and looked at the amazed Sun Xiyao.
"Little brother, you play so beautifully!" Sun Xiyao ran up to Mu Ze, her eyes blinking brightly. "My mom also loves listening to piano music. Can I call her up to listen together?"
Remembering Pretty Sister's instructions, Mu Ze said to Sun Xiyao, "You can bring your mom up, but you can't let Madam Mu and Mu Hao know."
Sun Xiyao obediently nodded. "Okay, I'll go bring my mom up right now."
Sun Xiyao was quirky, clever, and quick-witted. She found an excuse and called Madam Sun out of the private room.
Madam Sun was pulled by Sun Xiyao to the upstairs private room.
Madam Sun was a bit confused and was just about to ask something when she suddenly heard a stunning sonata.
Madam Sun's gaze sharply turned toward the little boy playing the piano.
This piano sound felt very familiar.
After one sonata finished, another divine piece began to play.
The smooth, flowing, and cheerful notes made one feel as if they had entered a vibrant spring.
With birds singing, flowers blooming, red blossoms, and green grass, it was full of vigorous vitality, relaxing the mind and delighting the heart.
Madam Sun looked at the little boy playing the piano. His long eyelashes were lowered, his expression focused and serious. His small body seemed to contain powerful, explosive energy.
Amazement and admiration appeared in Madam Sun's eyes.
In the past, even when Mu Hao played the piano, he could only play one piece.
But the little boy before her played three pieces in a row, and every single one was extremely outstanding and soul-stirring.
"Mom, I think this little brother plays even better than Mu Hao!"
Madam Sun nodded. "Indeed."
Madam Sun was just about to step forward to say a few words to Mu Ze when suddenly, she heard a furious roar.
"It must be Mu Ze who stole my knowledge and piano skills!"
Madam Sun turned her head and looked at the large screen on the wall.
Surprisingly, it was the security feed from Madam Mu's private room.
"That little bastard Mu Ze made me look like a fool! Mom, you have to beat him to death when we get back tonight!"
Seeing the twisted and ferocious expression on Mu Hao's face, both Madam Sun and Sun Xiyao were frightened.
They had never seen such a hidden, dark side to Mu Hao before!
