At The Beginning Of The Novel, The Villain Forced The Protagonist’s Step-Mom To Bear His Children

Chapter 60: 

(In Xu Family ’s study room)

The sound of a piano played softly, filling the space with a melody. 

The sweet tones of “Jingle Bell… Jingle Bell… Jingle Bell~ Jingle Bell…” resonated through the room. 

If one listened closely, they would recognize it as the popular Symphony of Destiny, a piece that has gained widespread acclaim online. 

The piano’s notes ranged from urgent to melodious, to passionate, captivating anyone who heard it. It was truly a well-played piece.

However, Xu Hongjiao, who was sitting in front of the piano, playing, had a frown on her face. 

Eventually, she stopped, and her hands left the keys. 

She then picked up her phone, playing a recording of the Symphony of Destiny performed by Xu Hao. 

Xu Hongjiao had spent the entire day practicing, listening to the recording repeatedly.

With her natural musical talent, she had learned this divine piece without any formal instruction. But no matter how much she played, her version was vastly different from Xu Hao’s. The difference was significant—they weren’t even on the same level. And this was just a recording she was comparing herself to; a live performance would likely show even greater disparities in tone and execution. 

So, Xu Hongjiao was deeply troubled at the moment.

Her countless fans were eagerly awaiting her next appearance, with many entertainment companies offering her high paying contracts. 

In the past, she would have been overjoyed by the support, as it aligned with her dream of becoming a big star. But now, she couldn’t feel happy at all. 

The reason was simple: the Symphony of Destiny that had gone viral online wasn’t played by her, and she couldn’t replicate it either. This realization had left her mentally exhausted for an entire day. Even the inspiration she felt after listening to Xu Hao’s performance yesterday had gradually faded.

Suddenly, the door to the study opened cautiously, revealing her two younger sisters returning from school.

“I knew you’d be here, Third Sister,” Xu Huayi said with a knowing expression as she and her sister entered the room. They both looked curiously at the piano in front of Xu Hongjiao.

“Let’s take a look at the piano Dad gave you,” Xu Huayi said, reaching out to touch it and pressing a few keys. She then searched for the brand online.

“This is the latest model from Steinway, worth 9.3 million yuan. It seems Dad really cares about you, Third Sister” she added. But then she couldn’t resist a smug comment, “It’s a pity, though. It’s still not as valuable as my necklace, hee hee…”

Xu Shiqing, noticing her sister’s behavior, rolled her eyes. 

Seeing Xu Hongjiao’s furrowed eyebrow, she couldn’t help but ask, “Third Sister, what’s wrong? Are you not happy with the piano Dad gave you?”

“It’s not that.” Xu Hongjiao replied, shaking her head. Ignoring her sisters, she picked up her phone and continued listening to the divine melody. 

Xu Shiqing seemed to understand something but hesitated to speak, considering the strained relationship between their father and Third Sister. In the end, she decided to remain silent.

Xu Huayi, however, had no such reservations. “What’s the matter?” she asked playfully, her eyes gleaming. “Could it be that you tried to learn Dad’s Symphony of Destiny but couldn’t master it?”

Before she could continue, Xu Shiqing quickly stepped forward and covered her sister’s mouth. “If you can’t say anything nice, just don’t say anything,” she scolded.

“But I’m telling the truth,” Xu Huayi protested, breaking free. She pouted and added, “What’s the big deal? If you don’t know how to play it, just learn. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Besides, Dad—the composer and performer—is at home. I’m sure if you ask him, you’ll learn it in no time.”

Xu Shiqing, realizing the truth in her sister’s words, began to encourage Xu Hongjiao as well. “Third Sister, Huayi is right. Instead of struggling on your own, why not ask Dad to teach you? He’s an excellent teacher. Every time he teaches us, we learn so much.”

Should she ask Xu Hao to teach her? 

The thought made Xu Hongjiao’s heart race. 

She had been frustrated all day, and suddenly, there was a potential solution. 

Xu Hao’s piano skills far surpassed those of international masters. Just hearing him play a single piece yesterday had sparked a creative idea in her mind. 

If anyone could teach her the Symphony of Destiny, it would be him.

But then she hesitated. 

Just last night, she and her two older and two younger sisters had formed a united front against their father. Would asking him for help now feel like a betrayal? 

No, this wasn’t a betrayal, she reasoned with herself. She was merely seeking his advice on piano playing, not fully forgiving him. They were two completely different things. As she convinced herself of this, a sense of clarity washed over her.

But then she frowned again, realizing another dilemma—would Xu Hao even be willing to teach her? Maybe she was just being overly hopeful.

Noticing the change in her expression, Xu Huayi encouraged her. “Third Sister, are you worried that Dad won’t teach you? You’re overthinking it. Haven’t you noticed how well Dad has treated you since you came back? Last night, he even had the piano moved for you overnight. If you ask, I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to teach you.”

“Yes, yes! Dad is very good,” Xu Huayi chimed in.

Feeling uncertain but unable to practice any longer, Xu Hongjiao decided to leave the study and head downstairs to the living room with her two sisters.

After seeing the gift that Xu Hao had given Xu Hongjiao, the two sisters went out to the courtyard to complete their homework. 

Xu Hao had assigned them daily tasks—writing a word and drawing a picture. Under his step-by-step guidance, their skills had improved significantly. Xu Shiqing, in particular, could now complete in one day what used to take her over ten days.

Meanwhile, Su Wanqiu, noticing her daughter Xu Hongjiao sitting on the sofa, lost in thought, called out from the kitchen, “Hongjiao, come here and help me.”

Startled out of her daze, Xu Hongjiao got up and walked towards the kitchen. 

The kitchen wasn’t particularly busy; Su Wanqiu had called her over mainly to speak well of Xu Hao. 

Last night, she had been bullied by Xu Hao for not being proactive, so she randomly assigned her daughter the task of picking vegetables.

Su Wanqiu asked, almost casually, “Hongjiao, how do you feel about your father now?”

Xu Hongjiao gave her a curious look, wondering why her beautiful stepmother would ask such a question. 

After a moment of thought, she replied, “Not as annoying as before.” Her words were brief but to the point.

Xu Hao used to be unpredictable and cold-hearted, not resembling a father in any way. Logically, after raising even a pet for over 20 years, one would develop some affection, right?

But Xu Hao seemed to lack that entirely. 

But now, he appeared to be a different person, shedding his former aloofness and treating them well. This sudden change frustrated her.

Su Wanqiu felt a surge of happiness. 

Her daughter’s impression of Xu Hao was shifting, and she sensed an opportunity. “Hongjiao, have you noticed the change too? Your father really is different now. Maybe he’s realized his past mistakes…” Su Wanqiu began praising Xu Hao tirelessly, extolling his virtues like never before.

At first, Xu Hongjiao listened attentively, but her expression grew increasingly peculiar. Finally, after Su Wanqiu finished her monologue, Xu Hongjiao spoke up, “Mom Su, I want to ask you something…”

“What is it?” Su Wanqiu was slightly surprised.

“I want to know, has he managed to win you over, as my little sister said?” 

Su Wanqiu’s face showed confusion before it turned a deep shade of red, the blush spreading to her neck. Panic surged within her, but she tried to maintain a calm facade. “It’s nothing, don’t listen to her nonsense.”

“Then, Mother Su, could you explain the loud noises at night?” Xu Hongjiao asked, a teasing smile in her eyes. Her stepmother had always been so composed and dignified around them, so seeing her flustered was amusing. 

Su Wanqiu stammered, “You…you must have misheard. I…I didn’t make any noise.” Her eyes darted around, betraying her discomfort. 

She realized she had been caught by another daughter. Her authority as a mother was crumbling. 

“Mother Su, you practically confessed without me saying who made the noise.” Xu Hongjiao teased. 

Su Wanqiu could no longer hold her composure. She turned away, focusing intently on cooking. Seeing her stepmother so embarrassed, Xu Hongjiao decided to stop teasing her. After all, Su Wanqiu had always been kind to them.

Su Wanqiu quickly prepared a large meal, displaying her usual virtuous nature. 

Xu Hao returned just in time for dinner.

As they ate, Xu Hongjiao hesitated to speak. She wanted to ask Xu Hao to teach her how to play the piano but feared he might refuse. Her concern made her pause.

Xu Shiqing, observant as ever, noticed her usually composed sister’s hesitance. Finding it amusing, she decided to help. “Dad, Third Sister wants to learn piano from you…”

“Oh?” Xu Hao acted surprised, though he had anticipated this request. He looked at Xu Hongjiao, feigning confusion.

Xu Hongjiao shot a glare at her sister, silently blaming her for not saying more. 

Under Xu Hao’s questioning gaze, she finally said, “If you teach me the piano, I’ll accept whatever payment you want.”

Xu Hongjiao didn’t want to rely on Xu Hao’s kindness. She preferred to treat it like hiring a teacher, with payment involved, which made her feel more comfortable.

“Any payment?” Xu Hao asked, a strange expression on his face, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. “Alright, since you want to learn, I’ll teach you.”

Xu Hongjiao sighed in relief, glad she hadn’t been rejected.

The family finished their meal quickly. 

Su Wanqiu cleared the table, while Xu Hao went to check on the twins’ homework. After some brief guidance, he headed to the study room with Xu Hongjiao.

Alone in the study room with Xu Hao, Xu Hongjiao felt a bit uneasy. Sitting at the piano, she glanced at him, unsure of how he would begin teaching her.

“Before I start teaching, I need to understand your current level. Play a piece for me,” Xu Hao instructed.

Determined not to be underestimated, Xu Hongjiao played her best piece. 

“You’re already quite skilled, but you’re missing a key element,” Xu Hao remarked, explaining the finer points with ease. His piano skills were at a master level, making it simple for him to teach her.

Gradually, Xu Hongjiao became engrossed in the lesson. When she finally snapped out of it, she realized she had almost lost track of time. 

“Enough talking. Try playing another piece using what I’ve taught you.” Xu Hao encouraged.

Xu Hongjiao’s fingers flew across the keys, and the music sounded much better than before. Yet, she was still just shy of breaking through the bottleneck she had been struggling with.

As she frowned in thought, she suddenly felt someone press against her back, and her hands were gently grabbed. Startled, she was about to pull away when Xu Hao’s voice whispered in her ear.

He guided her hands on the keys, and the piano’s sound transformed. 

The breakthrough she had been seeking finally clicked. 

Xu Hongjiao’s eyes lit up, and though she initially wanted to be angry, she suppressed it, allowing herself to follow Xu Hao’s rhythm. Her eyes sparkled as she grasped the concept.

Once she became comfortable, Xu Hao slowly let go, and she continued playing on her own. 

“I got it.” Xu Hongjiao exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face.

“Third Sister, congratulations! You’ve made such a breakthrough in less than an hour,” came a voice from the doorway.

“Yes, congratulations, Third Sister,” chimed another, this time with a teasing tone.

Startled, Xu Hongjiao realized that her younger sisters, Xu Shiqing and Xu Huayi, had been watching. Their faces wore mischievous grins. 

Embarrassment flooded Xu Hongjiao, her face turning bright red. She felt mortified. Just earlier, she had criticized Xu Hao for being too hands-on with her younger sisters, and now she had experienced the same.

The family laughed together, but in a stark contrast, elsewhere in the slums, chaos reigned.

…

The sounds of fighting, shouting, and howling filled the air as the Brotherhood clashed with their enemies. The fierce Fourth Brother was in the thick of the battle, taking down an opponent with a well-placed strike. As he looked for his next target, a shadowy figure lunged at him, aiming for his neck.

The Fourth Brother was initially surprised, but then a sneer formed on his lips. “I’ve been waiting for you,” he muttered, blocking the attack just in time.

Before he could retaliate, the shadowy figure struck again, this time aiming for his heart—a lethal move. 

Using all his strength, the Fourth Brother barely dodged the blow. 

The assassin who had injured their Sixth Brother finally revealed himself. 

One by one, the Brotherhood members surrounded the shadowy figure, among them Chen Mo, his eyes burning with a desire for revenge.

Yes, this assassin had been hired by Liu Fei. But now, facing the Brotherhood, the killer found himself in an unexpected trap. 

He realized too late that he was the one being hunted.

Sensing the danger, the assassin tried to escape, but the Brotherhood was determined to avenge their fallen brother. There was no way they would let him go. 

In the end, the assassin was overwhelmed and beaten to death. 

Even in his final moments, he couldn’t comprehend how he had ended up in such a disastrous situation. This was supposed to be his first mission after accepting the contract, but it had turned into his last. 

What a tragic end for an assassin.