Chapter 1

Milk Salt

"Bang——"

A gunshot sounded suddenly.

Su Zhiyaos heart suddenly jumped, and the ice cream that had not been opened slipped from her fingers. When she was trying to escape in a panic, she accidentally tripped over the piano and fell to the ground.

I sprained my ankle and couldnt stand up.

No lights were turned on in the living room. It was dark, with only a few dispensable colored balls hanging on the Christmas tree next to the fireplace. Fortunately, the light-controlled sensor lights in the villa garden were on, and the orange light refracted through the thick snow on the lawn and scattered into the floor-to-ceiling windows. The glass was sparsely illuminated, so the room was not so dark.

But I could only see some outlines and shadows with difficulty.

And the reflection of a bloody Swiss Army knife thrown on the ground.

Across a brown leather sofa, the man pushed away the motionless person lying on him, supported himself and slowly stood up, grabbed the collar of his shirt with one hand, and pulled it straight with two casual pulls.

White flakes were falling outside the large floor-to-ceiling windows, and everything was frozen into jade sculptures by ice and snow.

It started snowing again.

The mans right hand hanging by his side was hooked with a gun.

Under the orange light, large falling snowflakes became his background. He stood in the silent night, tall and slender, with a cold aura, like the god of death, leaving behind a black shadow with broad shoulders and long legs.

A minute ago, he used this gun to pierce the heart of the man on the ground.

The villa was terribly quiet. Su Zhiyao held his breath and could clearly hear the mans deep and heavy breathing after the fierce fight.

He turned his head and noticed her kneeling beside the piano.

The sound of mens leather shoes stepping on the floor sounded slowly one after another.

He came over...

The black shadow was getting closer and closer. Su Zhiyao didnt dare to breathe, and her heart was about to tremble.

The piano piece to be tested at the end of the term was difficult. She just took the opportunity to ask the professor to guide her playing skills when the teachers wife invited her to her home for the holiday. As a result, a strange man appeared in the villa, and the professor and the teachers wife were not at home.

Even on Christmas, on the night of her 18th birthday, she witnessed the shooting scene with her own eyes.

The unknown is the most horrifying.

This is New York, a city where guns are legally allowed. She has no doubt that the man will pull the trigger again.

Su Zhiyao timidly moved back, with her back pressed tightly against the piano.

"I, I can give you money..." Because of fear, her voice was weak, and she wanted to try to use chips to exchange room for negotiation with him, if he was just trying to make money instead of killing.

But the man did not stop.

She spoke in English, and there was no reason for the other party not to understand.

At the moment when the mans figure was about to press in front of her, Su Zhiyao closed her eyes in fear, and said in a trembling voice without thinking: "You can do whatever you want!"

As long as you dont kill her to silence her.

There was a long silence, and the expected gunshot did not come.

Su Zhiyao trembled and opened his eyes little by little.

The mans leather shoes stopped half a step in front of her eyes, and above him were narrow waisted long legs, and the metal belt was tightening the ironed suit pants.

She didnt have the courage to look up.

"Let me go... please..." Su Zhiyao clenched her hands tightly in front of her, her heart beating violently.

The 18-year-old girls voice was soft, and it was obvious that she was very scared, but she still had a strong desire to survive and tried not to cry. With her weak composure, she only choked slightly.

The man looked at her and didnt take the next step.

That day she was wearing a school uniform, a smoky pink jacket with a plaid skirt, a pair of British-style shoes, and the curve of her calves wrapped in stockings was slender and soft. The beige scarf was half-opened, revealing the school emblem of the New York Conservatory of Music on the left chest of the jacket.

She faced the window, and light and shadow fell on her cheek. In the semi-darkness, she could vaguely see her oval face, her chin sunken in the thick scarf, and her long straight hair was messy and scattered, with a few strands touching her lips.

Her breathing rose and fell, and she was frightened by him.

The man suddenly sneered softly.

Su Zhiyaos heart tightened. She saw him raise his hand and throw it casually. The gun fell from her head to the counter next to the piano behind her. With a "click", she shuddered.

The leather shoes stepped on the floor, and there was no sound after a while.

He seemed to have left.

Su Zhiyaos whole body softened instantly, her eyelashes blinked, and a teardrop fell that had been shaky for a long time.

After a moment of calm, the remaining rationality did not let her forget that there was a person whose life or death was unknown in the house. She hurriedly took out the mobile phone from her coat pocket.

9, 1, 1…

Su Zhiyao’s fingertips trembled as she pressed the dial button and dialed the general emergency number in the United States.

She stared at the screen nervously, and every second she waited for the police station to answer the call was particularly painful.

Suddenly, a hand silently reached out from behind her neck, and carelessly, but steadily pressed the hang-up button.

Su Zhiyao was frightened for the second time, exclaimed briefly, turned around suddenly, and her forehead almost hit his chest, and the phone fell on her skirt.

The man came back without knowing when.

He leaned his right arm against the piano, still leaning down, and his suit jacket hung down, seemingly rubbing against her face.

Su Zhiyao’s body suddenly froze, and she dared not move.

The man went against the dim light outside the French window. Fortunately, the screen of the phone on her skirt was still lit between them, but Su Zhiyao did not look at his face.

She did not dare to look up.

As far as the eye can see, his shirt is soaked on the right side of his abdomen. It is blood. Unlike the man on the ground, it seems that he is injured...

"Keep it quiet, got it?"

The man spoke slowly as if nothing had happened. His voice was grainy and the bass was deep. Above her head, he spoke fluent and authentic English.

He did not have a foreign accent. It was not sure if it was because his pronunciation was too standard. In short, Su Zhiyao could not tell whether he was a local for a while, but she clearly heard the warning in his tone.

Dont say what you shouldnt say.

He had been out, and his body was stained with the coldness of the windy and snowy night. The biting cold air forced into her disordered breathing, as if forcing her to surrender.

Su Zhiyao held her breath and nodded stiffly.

After looking down at her for a moment, the man squatted down and picked up the ice cream she dropped on the ground with his clean left hand.

It tasted like sea salt and coconut milk.

He wiped the dusty ice mist on the plastic packaging with his fingertips and handed it to her.

Su Zhiyao saw his hand in front of her.

His five fingers were slender, with distinct joints, and the back of his hand showed obvious blue veins that belonged to an adult man.

There was a tattoo on his wrist, and he could piece together the word when he was close.

Tartarus.

She had never seen it before, she didnt understand the meaning of the word, and she didnt know which language it was, but she felt a sense of weirdness.

Su Zhiyaos heart skipped a beat, and she silently stretched out her hands to take her ice cream.

The mans breath revealed a faint smile.

"Good lass."

On Christmas Eve, the flying snow outside the glass window was like glowing bubbles, as if you were in a world in a crystal ball. Unfortunately, the scene at that time was more like a dark fairy tale.

Later, he seemed to say "happy birthday" in a lazy and intriguing tone, but Su Zhiyao was a little dazed at the time, and her consciousness was being torn apart by fear.

The mans cold voice was warm and hoarse, and that low voice repeated in her mind without warning...

Good lass...

Good lass...

...

Good girl.

"Yaoyao?"

A well-proportioned broadcasting voice suddenly interrupted.

On the top floor of the TV stations headquarters building, in the studio of hundreds of square meters, in addition to the necessary recording and directing equipment, there was only a set of Nordic-style light luxury sofas and coffee tables in the center.

The full-view floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out, can see the gorgeous night view of Beijing, with cars and people rushing around, neon lights like stars falling in the city, and various lights and shadows in the distance like mist dots.

Snow is falling in the night sky.

Su Zhiyaos scattered eyes slowly focused back from the window, and met the eyes of the young female host in a professional suit sitting on the sofa opposite.

She realized that she was being interviewed by a TV station.

She was distracted just now. When the host asked her about her ideal type, she couldnt help but think of the man she met in the professors villa that night two years ago. This memory was distant and thrilling, and she was deeply impressed.

Especially today happened to be Christmas, her 20th birthday.

Su Zhiyao completely came back to her senses, and couldnt think of how to explain her absent-mindedness, so she naturally curved her lips, her lips were light red, her teeth were like Qibei, and her smile spread to her eyebrows.

An international standard smile, brilliant, friendly, and very contagious.

"Its snowing."

The female host was slightly startled, and suddenly realized the true meaning of the word "a smile that can conquer the city". She subconsciously condensed her sweet smile for a long time before looking sideways at the glass window.

It really is.

No one can resist such a smile. The female host who always sits upright during work cant help but soften her heart. The script is pressed under her palm, and her tone is more doting: "If you dont want to answer this question, we will skip it. It doesnt matter."

This is Su Zhiyaos little trick.

When she doesnt know what to do, she always does this, smiling innocently, and the other party usually wont embarrass her again.

It seems a bit rogue, but it has been foolproof so far.

"Of course I like sunny and warm big brothers." Su Zhiyao didnt avoid it. She leaned against the armrest of the sofa and tilted her head slightly: "Its best to be as gentle and considerate as you, sister."

Its best to be completely opposite to that bad man, she thought.

The hosts heart melted instantly with this sweet sister.

Before today, she never understood why the young daughter of the Su family, who became famous at a young age, could make most of the rich young masters in Beijing willing to lower their posture and pursue her.

Now she suddenly understood.

The girl in front of me was wearing a high-end satin dress, champagne pink, long sleeves with flower buds, her slightly curly long hair was half tied and half loose, and she was wearing a pair of ivory white mid-heeled lambskin short boots, which cost hundreds of thousands. Her calves were thin and long, and they were slanted and close together in her sitting posture. At first glance, she looked very gentle.

BornHer white skin was as smooth as cream, and she sat there like an elegant porcelain doll.

She was so beautiful that as long as she smiled, you would think she was innocent even if she committed a crime.

So in the following interviews, the female host automatically omitted all the sharp questions, not wanting to make things difficult for her.

"Yaoyao has just graduated and returned to China. Do you have any plans for a personal concert? Can you tell us about it?" Finally, the host asked a closing question with a smile.

Su Zhiyao tapped her chin with her white fingertips, and after a brief pause, she seemed to answer: "I still need to learn a lot from my predecessors."

At the end of the interview, Su Zhiyao stood up, and her assistant ran up with a long pearl white mink and wrapped it tightly around her slender shoulders. Before three or five security guards escorted her out of the studio, she smiled at the host and said "Thank you for your hard work, sister" with a voice as warm as if it had been soaked in sweet wine.

A humble, beautiful and well-educated little princess.

The female host liked her more and more.

"Fang Xu, its time to finish work. Are you still watching?" After the female host collected her thoughts, she rolled up the script and knocked on the head of the photographer in the front.

Fang Xu was still immersed in the picture of the girls back disappearing at the door, and the inspiration for the title kept coming out.

"Little Diao Chan Su Zhiyao: The well-deserved piano princess in the Beijing circle--" He pointed a finger and read it word by word, clapping his hands first: "Sister An, how can I say this title? You are definitely going to be a hit this time! The first place in the assessment next month must be you!"

"What are you thinking about? Forgot who Old Jian is interviewing next door?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu immediately remembered, and after realizing it, he exclaimed: "...Brother Jian is capable enough, he can invite the big boss in Hong Kong. This is a tough guy who sent his father to prison... Tsk, I say, the programs are broadcast on the same day, it seems that you two will have to compete again."

An Lan didnt say anything, and this time she was really convinced.

Fang Xu rubbed his hands in anticipation, joining in the fun without thinking too much: "Little Diao Chan from Beijing vs. Boss He from Hong Kong, its really worth watching!"

"Sister An, who do you bet on has a higher ratings?" Fang Xu asked again.

An Lan rolled her eyes at him in silence and left.

Dont let her beautiful little angel be destroyed by the devil, okay?

Downstairs of the TV station headquarters.

The wind blew the light snowflakes, which kept drifting into the eaves of the building and were blocked by the transparent umbrella.

Under the umbrella, Su Zhiyao was holding a blue sea salt coconut milk ice cream, and the assistant was holding up the phone to show her.

The assistant had a very cute name, Cai Xiaorong.

Xiaorong was only two or three years older than Su Zhiyao. She wore a pair of round myopic glasses and was a careful and simple girl. While waiting for the bus, she confirmed the itinerary for the next few months with Su Zhiyao.

The few activities on the schedule were interviews and dinners. The cold ice cream slowly melted in her mouth, and Su Zhiyaos voice also had a bit of coldness: "The charity auction has been arranged, where is the Hong Kong International Piano Art Festival?"

"The companys idea is that we dont need to participate in such activities with a competitive nature." Xiao Rong answered truthfully.

"Whats the reason?" Su Zhiyao wanted to laugh: "Are you afraid that I am not as good as others, and the personality I force to collapse and the companys image will be damaged?"

There is indeed this meaning on the other side. Xiao Rong carefully chose her words and said tactfully: "No, no... The company has considered it. The festival is full of old predecessors. You are still young, and your chances of winning should not be great. Besides, Yaoyao, you are not short of popularity and resources."

Su Zhiyao looked at her as if she was looking at some strange creature, and didnt understand the logic: "Am I an idol?"

Xiao Rong shook her head as a matter of course.

"Oh." Su Zhiyao smiled lightly, with a hint of cunning: "I thought the company wanted me to enter the entertainment industry."

She has always had her own opinions on playing the piano. Xiao Rong had a bad feeling: "Then these interviews and dinner invitations..."

Su Zhiyaos eyebrows curved, smiling without saying a word.

Sure enough... its this familiar smile that people cant refuse again...

Pretending to be good and killing with beauty.

What she is best at.

Xiao Rong scratched her forehead, worrying about how to explain to the company that if she didnt cooperate with the notice, she would have to pay a penalty.

She wanted to persuade her again, but she didnt care. Xiao Rongs mind suddenly emerged with the words "If you cant play the piano well, you have to go home and inherit the family business."

Okay.

This is not something she, a working class, should consider.

"I can afford to lose, and Im not afraid of embarrassment." Su Zhiyaos warm voice suppressed a layer of helplessness, took a bite of ice cream, and looked at the distant sky.

Xiao Rong looked at her profile and suddenly lost herself.

At that moment, Xiao Rong felt that the bird in front of her was trapped in a golden cage, looking up at the vast snow, with sadness flowing under her beautiful eyes, asking for something, but with nothing to wait for and nothing to rely on.

Xiao Rong was sensitive and understood that she was being trained by the company in reverse. She felt distressed and said after thinking for a moment: "Yao Yao, why dont you talk to Mr. Cheng and relax the restriction in the contract that private cooperation is not allowed. In this way, if there are piano activities or music competitions you like in the future, we can talk to them ourselves."

Su Zhiyao looked back and smiled: "No need."

Her full contract with Chengyu Media was signed by her father when she was a minor.

There are so many high-quality multinational music agencies, but Su Zhiyao chose to sign with Chengyu Media, which tends to train idol artists. She really doesnt understand what her father was thinking at the time.

But it doesnt matter.

Now she is an adult and graduated, and the termination process with Chengyu is already underway.

Xiao Rong was puzzled, and seeing that she didnt want to say more, she didnt ask, just muttered, and stepped forward to pull the collar of Su Zhiyaos white mink coat closer: "Its snowing heavily, why hasnt Uncle Yang arrived yet?"

The car broke down unexpectedly, and the driver drove a new car over temporarily. Probably everyone was celebrating the festival tonight, and they were stuck on the road. Su Zhiyao felt bored and didnt want to wait in the lounge.

Xiao Rong thought of something and adjusted her glasses: "By the way, Yaoyao, when you were in the studio, your phone received many calls."

"Who?"

"It was those young masters, and Mr. Cheng. They said they had a birthday party for you at Guomao. Do you want to go?" Xiao Rong gradually showed a look that was almost loving and gratified: "Yaoyao, you are so popular. So many handsome guys like you."

Su Zhiyao frowned, thinking of those cynical faces, and was too lazy to pretend. She muttered with a little disdain: "You are ugly, who cares if they like you."

Xiao Rong laughed softly: "Then go home?"

Su Zhiyaos eyes rippled slightly and he calmed down.

"No." She lowered her eyelashes, kicked the falling snow with her boots, and whispered to herself: "No one is waiting for me at home."

Without waiting for Xiaorong to speak, Su Zhiyao spoke indifferently the next second: "Send an email to my professor."

Xiaorong nodded, opened her phone, and asked her what it was.

"I want two tickets to the art festival. I heard that this opening ceremony invited a heavyweight mystery guest, and the tickets must be sold out. The professor has a wide network of contacts in the industry. Ask him if he has any connections in Hong Kong." Su Zhiyao said.

If you cant go on stage, you must strive for the opportunity to be an audience member.

Xiaorong lowered her head to edit the email, and Su Zhiyao gently leaned the umbrella handle against her shoulder. From time to time, snow blew in from outside and fell on the edge of the tiles.

As he looked, Su Zhiyao gradually lost his mind. He didnt know what he was thinking about, and he forgot to eat the ice cream he had taken two bites of.

"Bang——" There was a sudden bang.

Su Zhiyao shuddered suddenly, almost as a reflex, she squatted down, threw away her umbrella and ice cream together, and was so frightened that her soul was scattered.

Xiaorong looked down at her in confusion: "Whats wrong, Yaoyao?"

Nothing happened.

Su Zhiyao panted lightly, looking up at the sky in shock, and saw another firework rising, blooming with a bang, illuminating the night sky.

"..."

That night two years ago left a shadow on her.

Su Zhiyao closed her eyes and stroked her heart: "Its okay, Im tired of standing."

She picked up the umbrella and threw the sacrificed ice cream into the trash can.

Before Su Zhiyao could completely calm down, a warm car light suddenly hit her transparent umbrella, making the umbrella surface shiny.

She squinted her eyes and looked against the scorching orange light.

A Bugatti Obsidian extended version of the commercial vehicle stopped at the door of the building.

The black license plate has five arrogant zeros.

The glass sensor door of the building opened automatically to both sides. The waiter wearing white gloves walked out quickly, opened the door of the back seat, and waited.

It looked like a big shot had arrived. A group of bodyguards in suits and leather shoes surrounded the man and walked out of the TV station. The calm atmosphere was disturbed, and the air seemed to be hurried.

Curious about who could have such a scene, Su Zhiyao looked around subconsciously. Although the man was taller than the people around him, he was blocked by the strong bodyguards and she couldnt see anything.

At this time, a relatively thin man caught up with him holding a mobile phone. He looked like an assistant: "Sir, Professor Zane called. He hopes you can help."

"Ill call back later."

The mans voice was like a retro phonograph playing slowly in the deep snowy night, cold and noble.

But it was also blended with a slight tenderness by the tone of Hong Kong accent and Cantonese.

They were talking in Cantonese, Su Zhiyao didnt understand, nor did she hear clearly. She just felt that the mans voice was familiar to her, which made her feel like she was about to wake up, but she didnt wake up yet.

Winter is suitable for heavy snow, with the sound of breaking jade.

Su Zhiyao was caught off guard and fell into a state of panic.