Pleasing Start-Over Chapter 37

Pleasing Start-Over Chapter 37: Arc 3 Part 8

Author: 橘子

Augea and Duke Kirsty watched the screen with a frown. The two initially noticed that the blue dolphin’s reactions were off. The dolphins seemed to be more anxious than cheerful and lively.

Down on the ocean surface, the blue dolphins that were flopping and rolling looked increasingly irritated. The disturbance caused considerably large waves to hurdle towards Ferney. His platform bobbed up and over the waves. This made it extremely difficult to even stand still, but Ferney still insisted on continuing with his already disjointed and stammering playing.

The blue dolphins initially looked very anxious. However, they eventually evolved into a frenzied state and emitted an ear shattering screech. All the people watching the contest couldn’t understand what was going on. They only saw the blue dolphins frantically slamming against the water to create huge waves that propelled towards Ferney’s performance platform.

Even though humans couldn’t easily approach a blue dolphin, the dolphins were always docile. They’ve never attacked humans before. What’s happening to them for them to act like this? This was the common question that everyone watching had.

Although Qiao Chen knew what was happening, he continued to earnestly play his music as if all of this had nothing to do with him. Unfortunately, the other musicians couldn’t do the same. Their moods were more or less disturbed by the frenzied blue dolphins, so their performance was also affected.

Ferney was sopping wet because of the barrage of waves. He pulled his wet bow over the dripping wet strings of the violin, but he no longer played any music. Every note he played had devolved into discordant violin sounds screeching out into the air.

It seemed like the blue dolphins finally couldn’t control themselves. After the platform had almost overturned, Ferney could no longer play. His music crumbled apart and the blue dolphins madly rushed into a different direction. However, their frenzied state had yet to fade.

The performers’ platforms were bobbing up and down along the waves as the delirious dolphins quickly pa.s.sed through like a swarm. They couldn’t stabilize themselves and some of them had even fallen off their platforms. The soldiers standing by immediately entered the water and rescued the waterlogged musicians.

Augea saw the large pod of blue dolphins surge towards Qiao Chen and immediately stood up, nervous. His first instincts were to order his subordinates to urgently remove Qiao Chen from the platform, so he could avoid falling into the water and avoid being hit by the frantic blue dolphins as they darted through the waters. However, if he did do that, then Qiao Chen would be automatically dropped from the compet.i.tion. Furthermore, Qiao Chen had specifically told him before the compet.i.tion started that he could not do anything before getting the signal.

Qiao Chen’s platform undulated along with the blue dolphins’ ma.s.sive waves. The platform had even extended several meters above its original height due to the waves’ height. Nonetheless, Qiao Chen stood firmly on the platform and played his music.

Strangely enough, once the blue dolphins reached Qiao Chen, they gradually calmed down. They no longer slammed against the water or flopped about, and more and more blue dolphins made their way to Qiao Chen.

The calm blue dolphins began to circle Qiao Chen’s platform. They breached the water and tumbled in sync with Qiao Chen’s music. Their movements were very neat and synchronized. It was so fluid that they looked like they had rehea.r.s.ed their movements before.

This was when the spectators finally realized why the blue dolphins were considered the most loyal animals to music. Even a simple wag of their tail followed the rhythm and the beat of the song. They were truly the beautiful sea spirits they were renowned for as they danced in the sea. Their actions and movements exuded a sense of delight. It felt like they were willing to use their lives for the music. The turbulent and dangerous atmosphere that was just seen seemed like an illusion. The people watching this scene through the interplanetary web broadcast were deeply moved by this rare scene.

Ferney got up and wiped the sea water off of his face with the back of his hand. He looked at Qiao Chen’s direction and there was an extreme look of unwillingness that filled his eyes. He had stopped playing, so he had automatically been disqualified from the contest. However, he still couldn’t let Qiao Chen win so easily.

Ferney picked up his violin once again and began to play.

Augea glanced at Ferney on the screen, who had started playing again. He asked his subordinates to immediately restrain Ferney. Several of Augea’s subordinates quickly landed on Ferney’s platform and seized his violin. Ferney panicked and tried to take it back, but was immediately suppressed by Augea’s subordinates. Dayton saw the images of Ferney being restrained by Augea’s subordinates and stood up to rush over to him at once.

“Halt.” Duke Kirsty said sternly. “Sit down.”

Dayton was worried, but he didn’t dare to leave his seat again. He could only watch Ferney on the screen worriedly.

Qiao Chen’s performance was over, but the blue dolphins were still surrounding him, unwilling to leave. Qiao Chen squatted down by the edge of the platform and petted the top of a blue dolphin’s head. The blue dolphin affectionately held Qiao Chen’s hand in his mouth. Qiao Chen looked at the cute blue dolphin and he couldn’t help but smile. He thought to himself ‘Next time, I’ll find a chance to play your favorite song for you.’

It was very clear to everyone that Qiao Chen had won the compet.i.tion. He had won the chance to play in the Royal Concert Hall.

On Ferney’s side, he was struggling to get his violin back. “Give it back to me. That is my personal property and you have no right to take it!”

Augea’s men didn’t respond to Fernery’s struggles or words. After they received another order, they took Ferney back onto the judging s.h.i.+p. Once back on the s.h.i.+p, Augea’s men handed in the violin. Augea smashed the violin against the wall beside him. Ferney’s face immediately turned ugly because of Augea’s actions.

AUgea rummaged through the broken pieces of the violin until he found a small piece of metal and handed it to a technician. A live broadcast camera followed the technician to the lab. The judges and candidates had arrived in the lab as well.

The technician put the metal device into a transparent instrument. Then he utilized the screen and ran some operations until the metal device was fully a.n.a.lyzed. The results were displayed on the screen.

The live broadcast camera faced the screen. The results showed that the metal device was a small device called a fis.h.i.+ng sonar emitter. It also showed the setting and information the device.

The people watching from the interplanetary network, including Ferney’s fans, saw the complete process and were all stunned. Ferney had actually used a fis.h.i.+ng sonar device to cheat in the compet.i.tion. Without even mentioning the fact that the compet.i.tion to celebrate the wind season and playing in the Royal Music hall, the act of cheating alone was so shameful that even Ferney’s fans felt ashamed because of him.

Furthermore, people continued to think about the issue and were shocked that Ferney was able to smuggle such a device in with his instrument. Why hadn’t anything been inspected or checked out before the compet.i.tion began?

Duke Kirsty fiercely glared a reproaching look at his son and walked out of the laboratory.

“Lock him up first. We’ll deal with him after we return to the capital.” Augea commanded his subordinates.

When most of the people had left the lab, Qiao Chen focused his attention on Ferney, who was about to be taken away, and said, “Your mind is so twisted and ugly that even if you resort to cheating, you still couldn’t play music that could attract the blue dolphins.”

A deathly pale faced Ferney looked up and replied, “You won this time, but don’t be too proud. I……”

Ferney saw Augea, as he stood by Qiao Chen, give him a dark look. Then he didn’t continue speaking. He bit his tongue and swallowed his words back down. Afterwards, he was taken away by Augea’s men.

While it was true that a fis.h.i.+ng sonar device would be able to attract large aquatic animals. However, what Ferney didn’t know was that the blue dolphin was different from other large marine creatures. The fis.h.i.+ng sonar device would only make the dolphins very uncomfortable with their sensitive hearing. To make matters worse, Ferney’s music couldn’t soothe them either. Then, at the same time all this was happening, Qiao Chen played music that was very soothing and attractive to the blue dolphins. They all wanted to leave, but because of the fis.h.i.+ng sonar device, they couldn’t. Their struggle eventually turned into a desperate and frenzied mess.

After they returned to the capital, the emperor handed down Ferney’s punishment. He barred Ferney from performing music for three years. The emperor also ruled that Ferney was not allowed to upgrade his musician level for six years. Another serious consequence and punishment for Ferney was the public’s opinion of him. His reputation collapsed and even his most loyal fans criticized him with very harsh words.

Even if Ferney wanted to play, even after three years, he was afraid that no on would invite him to play anymore. He couldn’t salvage his reputation unless he was able to break through into a level thirteen musician in six years to prove his musical abilities. If he did, then perhaps the public would slowly forgive him for cheating based on his musical talents.

However, even amongst the most famous musicians in history, there were no more than five people who had broken through to the thirteenth level. It would be very difficult for Ferney to reach such heights.

——————

Dayton pleaded with his father for Ferney’s sake. He wanted his father to use his influence to help him save Ferney’s reputation, because if not, than Ferney’s life would be virtually ruined.

Kirsty looked at his son, who was obsessed with Ferney, and loudly scolded, “Do you not even have a brain? Your own son is about the same age as him. And if it weren’t for our family’s power, do you think he would even look at you? Do you honestly think he truly loves you?”

“I believe in Ferney’s feelings for me! This time- please, I am asking you, as my father, to help him.” Dayton continued to obsessively plead.

“I still haven’t settled the matters about you helping him cheat in the compet.i.tion, and now you dare to beg me save him now? This is the last time I will warn you: If you dare to involve yourself with anything that pertains to him, then you can go ahead and hit the road. You will leave this house. You will leave the 1st Legion. You can see if he’ll still follow you or not then.” Duke Kirsty angrily threw the things on his desk onto his son. “Get out of here.”

After Dayton left, Duke Kirsty wearily leaned back onto his chair and he suddenly looked a lot older. His first and second sons died in battle, leaving only his youngest son left. His wife loved the youngest one too dearly while she was still alive, while he was always very strict with him. This caused the youngest to always cringe and cower before him and ultimately developed an unscrupulous character.

Duke Kirsty sighed. This son was hopeless. He hadn’t joined the battlefield several times now, so he also didn’t have the heart of a soldier. Fortunately, he carefully guided his two grandchildren, and they turned out good.

While Kirsty was disappointed with Dayton, Dayton was also resentful of his father controlling him at such an old age. With his father’s restraints, his hands and legs were tied. He couldn’t even help his beloved. This was a real big hit to his dignity as a man.

…………………………………………..

The day that Qiao Chen would play on the Royal Concert Hall’s stage to kick off the windy season had arrived. The entire empire was watching his live performance.

The currently the half drunk, half sober Ferney threw his wine gla.s.s on the TV screen on the wall. He wanted to break the image of Qiao Chen performing. That was supposed to be me! It was my right to stand on that stage and play in that beautiful, brilliant, and gold hall. It was supposed to be me who enjoyed all the praise and admiration.They’re supposed to love me. It was my right! Why did Qiaoxi have it all instead?

“Why did you have to come back? Why did you come back?” Ferney punched the screen. “When you were a child, you took what should have belonged to me! You robbed me of my happiness then and you’re robbing me of my honor now. I really regret not killing you before!”

“Agh!!” Ferney wanted to go crazy and destroy everything in his room. When he finally tired himself out, he stopped, and muttered to himself, “I’m never going to let you get away with this. Just like when we were children; If I can ruin you once, then I can ruin you for a second time. Qiaoxi, I will definitely destroy you this time. You just wait.”

Ferney picked up his coat and rushed out of the room. He got into his hover car and sped off in a certain direction.

———————–

“You’re now a famous musician in all of the country, and you’re not far from joining the famous musicians of all time.” Augea said while he hugged Qiao Chen just after he returned from the stage.

“I’m far from joining history’s greatest musicians. Wait until I write some famous songs, then I won’t be far from joining the music’s greats.” Qiao Chen said with a smile.

“What to do? I want to lock you up and have you perform for me alone, but if I do that, then I’ll become public enemy number one in all of the country.” Augea kissed Qiao Chen’s cheek vigorously. He was reluctant to share Qiao Chen’s performances with so many people.

“I can always give you private performances any time you want, and with songs like ‘Pa.s.sionate Love’ I’ll always play for you, alone.” Qiao Chen hugged his waist, looked up, and nipped at his chin suggestively.

Augea’s  eyes darkened. “I want you use your body to ‘play’.”

“We can, but not here.”

Augea immediately took Qiao Chen’s hand and rushed out. They used the special walkway to avoid other people on their way to the parking lot. Right after they entered the car, Augea couldn’t wait to take Qiao Chen’s pants off. He put Qiao Chen in his lap and they kissed each other and were very unwilling to separate.

Qiao Chen held onto Augea’s shoulders and grinded his hips. Augea buried his face into Qiao Chen’s neck. Because of Qiao Chen’s initiative and enthusiasm, they were lost in the pa.s.sion. The atmosphere in the car was very lascivious.

When they returned home, they were entangled with each other from the room to the bathroom and then from the bathroom back into the room. That night was a celebration of their love.