MTLNOVEL Chapter 71:
Chapter 71: White Lies! A Tacit Understanding Between Teacher and Student! Personal Harassment:
“Welcome to the Blood Slaughter Society,” Old Mo said with a grin. The gang brothers forced weak smiles, their expressions heavy with tension. Suddenly, they noticed the woman who had been quietly observing them was now pointing a camera in their direction.
The second brother, always alert, frowned and asked, “What is this about?”
“Just a small record of your brotherhood. Don’t worry. As long as you behave, this video will never be made public.” She replied calmly.
The brothers’ faces darkened as their minds raced.
Not only had they been forced to betray their brother, but now they were being recorded. If this video were ever leaked, their reputations would be destroyed. They wouldn’t just be ostracized by the underworld—they would drag their families down with them.
The video was a form of control, a way to ensure they remained obedient for the rest of their lives. Defeated, the brothers realized they had no other choice but to comply.
Xu Hao had sent Old Mo to deal with the brothers, not because he needed more muscle for the Blood Slaughter Society, but because they were tools for his future plans.
Xu Hao didn’t care about their strength in battle; he knew they could become liabilities, especially since they had been forced into joining. The real reason he wanted them was to use them against their eldest brother and the protagonist, Chen Mo.
The master and apprentice were powerful, far beyond what the Blood Slaughter Society could handle. Xu Hao needed a clever strategy, and the brothers, coerced into submission, were key to his plan.
…
Meanwhile, at the Xu family villa.
Xu Hao stood in the courtyard, teaching Xiao Wanling how to brew tea. He stood close behind her, his chest nearly touching her back, creating a tension that hung in the air.
At first, Xiao Wanling felt shy, but she gradually adjusted to the situation. Xu Hao’s step-by-step guidance was effective, and her tea-making skills improved quickly. Yet, the closeness of their bodies made things awkward. Xiao Wanling had suggested standing while making tea, thinking it would be easier for Xu Hao, who had to lean over to guide her hands.
What she didn’t realize was that Xu Hao had no trouble standing for long periods, and her suggestion only intensified the uncomfortable proximity.
Her mind wandered as she suddenly remembered something her best friend Xu Hongjiao had once told her. The thought made her blush. Was this what her stepmother had hinted at? She was starting to understand, but it was too embarrassing to fully think about. Why didn’t Xu Hongjiao react the same way? She was Xu Hao’s daughter, after all.
Just as her thoughts drifted, Xu Hao’s deep voice whispered near her ear, “I’m sorry, Wanling. You’re just too beautiful. I couldn’t help myself.”
Xiao Wanling blushed even more. If there were a hole nearby, she would’ve gladly disappeared into it. She was already embarrassed, but hearing Xu Hao acknowledge the tension only made her more flustered. Yet, at the same time, she couldn’t help feeling a bit pleased. Was this a compliment on her looks?
[Ding! Xiao Wanling feels embarrassed, +683 emotional points]
[Ding! Xiao Wanling is secretly happy, +596 emotional points]
Xu Hao smiled inwardly. This was deliberate. He wasn’t really teaching her anything—he was subtly harassing her. But Xiao Wanling didn’t realize this. She thought it was just a natural reaction and endured it in silence.
Over time, Xu Hao had been carefully testing her boundaries, gauging her reactions step by step, waiting for the right moment to make his final move.
After guiding her through making a pot of tea, Xu Hao finally stepped back and said with a serious expression, “Now, Wanling, try it on your own. Follow the technique I just showed you.”
Xiao Wanling stood frozen, her thoughts in disarray. She nodded absentmindedly.
When she picked up the teapot, she hesitated.
What technique? She hadn’t heard a word he said—her mind had been elsewhere the entire time.
“I need to use the bathroom,” Xiao Wanling blurted out. She felt uneasy under Xu Hao’s gaze, as if he could see right through her. She quickly excused herself and hurried off.
[Ding! Xiao Wanling feels embarrassed, +826 emotional points]
Xu Hao watched her leave with a smile, then walked toward his study room.
He picked up three sheets of paper he had prepared earlier, each containing a song he had carefully chosen.
A little later, Xu Hao knocked on the door to his daughter’s study room.
“Come in,” Xu Hongjiao’s slightly flustered voice answered from inside.
When Xu Hao entered, he saw that she had hastily wiped away tears.
Xu Hongjiao had been struggling ever since Zhao Media blacklisted her. She had tried to resist, relying on Xu Hao’s support, but the situation had only worsened. Zhao Media blamed her for the death of their heir, and the ban became more intense.
Despite her father’s vast wealth, Xu Hao’s company wasn’t in the entertainment industry, and his influence there was limited. Without his full backing, and perhaps even with some intention to let things play out, Xu Hongjiao’s career suffered greatly. The smear campaigns against her became relentless, and her dream of stardom seemed increasingly out of reach.
Music had been her only comfort lately, thanks to Xu Hao’s guidance in improving her piano skills. But even that wasn’t enough to ease her growing despair. She had stopped eating properly, lost sleep, and often cried in secret.
Xu Hao knew it was time to intervene. He approached her with a gentle smile. “Feeling down again?” he asked, rubbing her head affectionately.
“I told you, I’ll find a way. I won’t let your dream be crushed.”
Xu Hongjiao gave him a weak smile, not really believing him. She thought he was just trying to cheer her up.
“You don’t believe me?” Xu Hao grinned and placed the three sheets of paper in front of her. “Take a look at these.”
Each sheet held the lyrics to a different song—popular tunes from Xu Hao’s past life. These songs didn’t exist in this world, making them entirely new. They could change everything for her.
Zhao Media might have blocked her earlier work, but they couldn’t stop her from releasing these fresh songs.
All she needed was a way to get them out, and Xu Hao had already come up with a plan.
Zhao Media couldn’t block her forever. This time, Xu Hao had taught her piano, and now he just needed to create a few popular songs for her to sing.
“Under the Sea,” “The Wind Rises,” and “Chi Ling”—these were all hits in previous lives.
Xu Hao perfectly recreated them from his memories, using his master-level musical skills. Each song had a unique vibe: one was healing, one was light yet intense, and another would stir up a dramatic craze. These three songs would surely propel Xu Hongjiao to fame.
As Xu Hongjiao stared at the papers, she was a little confused. Since when did Xu Hao start writing songs?
She glanced at him in surprise, her focus sharpening as she read further. By the time she finished, her face was lit with excitement. She picked up the second song, then the third, until she had finished all three. Overwhelmed with joy, she couldn’t contain herself—each song was masterfully written. Any one of them could cause a sensation, but releasing all three at once? That would be unimaginable.
After calming her excitement, she turned to Xu Hao, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“Where did these come from?”
“I stayed up all night for the past few days writing them.” Xu Hao replied without missing a beat. He added “all night” to make it sound like more of a challenge than it really was, when in truth, it had only taken him a few minutes to write the songs.
Was this lying to his daughter?
Maybe a little, but it was just a white lie.
He only wanted to help her succeed.
“Wait, you can write songs?” She asked, still stunned.
“I know a little bit,” Xu Hao answered, feigning modesty. His musical skills were at the master level, but compared to the absolute best, he was being humble.
Xu Hongjiao was taken aback. She knew Xu Hao was downplaying it—anyone who could write such amazing songs wasn’t just “understanding a little.”
“These songs… you wrote them all for me?” she asked tentatively.
“Of course. Why else would I, the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company, write songs if not for you? I couldn’t stand seeing you depressed all the time.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. Xu Hao didn’t even like the piano, yet he had patiently taught her, and now he’d gone out of his way to write three songs to help her break through Zhao Media’s blockade. His love for her as a father was deep, and she was moved beyond words.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
[Ding! Xu Hongjiao is deeply moved. +896 emotional points.]
“Don’t thank me yet. Let’s hear you sing them now. I’ll help guide you if there are any mistakes.”
Xu Hongjiao nodded and started singing the first song, “The Wind Rises.” Her voice was gentle, following the notes perfectly. The lyrics drifted through the room:
“As I step from the station with traces of youth left behind,
I pause, uncertain for a moment before moving forward…”
Her voice was beautiful, but it was her first time singing the song, so she looked to Xu Hao nervously when she finished, worried she hadn’t done it justice.
“You need to raise your voice here. Add more emotion there. Sing it like this…” Xu Hao offered corrections as he demonstrated.
With each piece of advice, Xu Hongjiao’s eyes brightened. This was no amateur giving tips—his guidance was at a master level. She silently thanked herself for not underestimating him.
“Let me play the piano while you try again.” Xu Hao suggested.
As Xu Hao played, Xu Hongjiao’s voice rose again, more confident this time. The sweet sound of her singing, accompanied by the piano, echoed from the study, creating a beautiful atmosphere.
Outside the room, Xiao Wanling had returned from freshening up. She heard the singing and paused in the hallway, her eyes lighting up.
That song… it was unfamiliar.
Was this one of Hongjiao’s new creations? Intrigued, she stepped closer, listening at the door before finally walking in.
Inside, she saw Xu Hao sitting at the piano, and her face instantly turned red. She quickly looked away, but then noticed the sheet music in Hongjiao’s hands. Her curiosity piqued, she stepped closer.
“Hongjiao, did you write this? It’s amazing! You’re going to be a huge hit with a song like this.”
Blushing, Hongjiao shook her head. “No… I didn’t write it.”
Xiao Wanling stared in confusion. “Then who did?”
Hongjiao motioned toward Xu Hao. “It was him.”
Xiao Wanling’s eyes widened in shock. “Wait… you’re telling me this hit song was written by Xu Hao?”
“Not just this one,” Hongjiao said, handing her two more sheets of music. “He wrote these too.”
Xiao Wanling’s jaw dropped as she scanned the pages. Each song was a masterpiece, the kind that could dominate the music charts. She was in awe.
“Uncle Xu, you’re amazing!” Xiao Wanling exclaimed, her admiration clear in her wide eyes.
[Ding! Xiao Wanling is filled with admiration. +864 emotional points.]
Once Hongjiao had practiced the first song to perfection, Xu Hao taught her the other two. Xiao Wanling stayed by their side, listening and learning as well.
She could already imagine how popular these songs would be once they were released. The thrill of being the first to learn them made her feel accomplished.
Soon after, a phone rang. Xu Hao glanced at the screen—it was Wang Xueying calling. Calmly, he picked up his phone and stepped outside.
“Mr. Xu, thank you so much for everything. If you hadn’t helped me find a professional doctor, I don’t know what I would’ve done.” Wang Xueying said gratefully.
“We’re friends. Of course I would help. How is your mother doing now?”
“The surgery was a success, and I’ve just arranged for her to be discharged. By the way, are you free tomorrow? My mother and I would like to treat you to dinner to thank you properly.”
Xu Hao smiled to himself. It seemed like the right time to make a move.
“No need for thanks, but a meal sounds good. Let’s skip the hotel, though. Something simple is fine.”
Wang Xueying, thinking he was worried about the cost of a fancy hotel, was touched by his thoughtfulness.
“How about this, Mr. Xu? I’ll cook at home and invite you over for dinner.”
“That sounds perfect.” Xu Hao agreed, already planning how things would unfold.
It seemed like there was a special understanding between teacher and student after all.