“Hey, don’t…” Edmund wanted to say something, but Bradley raised a hand, telling him it was unnecessary.

“The energy of young people is always so impressive.” He maintained his gentle smile and wrote a new check. “I can give you twenty…”

“Sorry, but I’m not selling,” Ye Qingxuan interrupted.

Bradley’s smile froze. In the silence, his spirit crumbled bit by bit until all that remained was gloom. “Young man, this isn’t the place for you to joke,” he said quietly, running a thumb over the family emblem on his sleeve cuff. “Check who you are talking to. If I were you, I’d take the money before it’s too late.”

He looked down at the youth and ripped off the check from the book. Holding it between two fingers, he held it out to him. “Would you like to reconsider? Even if you are brave, you should think about the others.”

“Uncle, there’s also a little girl…” Edmund whispered to Bradley, his eyes evil.

Hearing this, Charles’ expression changed, fury in his eyes. He moved forward, but Ye Qingxuan stopped him.

Ye Qingxuan put back the watch silently and straightened his collar. Looking up at Bradley, his eyes were cold and full of disdain, as if it were snowing in his eyes, and there was a black vortex under the snow. “Important figures are so ugly. They can make everything sound like a blessing.” He lifted a finger and flicked the check away, glancing at Edmund. “If anything happens to Bai Xi, you’ll regret what you said today. I swear on it.”

At this, Edmund’s features twisted, as if angry. But being looked at by those eyes made him feel scared for some reason.

“Let’s go, senior. There’s no point in talking to these wild dogs.” Ye Qingxuan looked away and turned to leave.

—

“Who does he think he is?” Behind him, Bradley’s stared at his backside, his expression turned menacing. He pressed down on the flute in his robe and opened his mouth, chanting an activation spell.

Suddenly, the faint and graceful sound from a flute entered Ye Qingxuan and Charles’ ears. The low sound was like eerie whispering, wrapping around their brains and growing quickly like mutated seeds. It was like poisonous fungus growing under the spring sun, sucking on the tree’s nutrients.

Ye Qingxuan suddenly felt dazed. His legs weakened until he almost tripped. His body stiffened as if something had sapped his energy, and his body was no longer under his control.

This was Telemann’s Flute Concerto Op. 68—Marionette. It was the most commonly played piece by the School of Mind. By entering one’s consciousness, the rune would live like a parasite. Then it would wipe out the victim’s consciousness, turning him into a puppet of the cruel music.

Under the control of the melody, the stiff youth turned slowly. Like a broken puppet, it tried to walk back.

Bradley looked at the returning youth, satisfaction flashing through his sinister eyes. He reached out a hand. “Give me the Double Snake Time Meter.”

Ye Qingxuan’s moves were stiff, but he did not reach out.

Bradley’s eyes turned furious. He played the flute again, the music sharp and becoming higher pitched until it suddenly stopped. It was as if it had been caught in his throat and died.

“Hey, Mr. Bradley, long time no see.” Bradley’s expression froze because a hand reached out from before and rested on his shoulder.

The man who seemed to be wandering casually hung onto Bradley like he had no bones and whispered, “I know you have been out for a long time, but you haven’t forgotten about the rules, right?”

The deep voice sent a chill down Bradley’s spine and his arm trembled.

A hand was on the flute in his arms, and eether radiated from that palm. It had the ability of rust and could destroy his beloved instrument in a second! There were many rules in the Musician Union, but not many were really that important. Of the few that had punishments, the gravest was that no matter the circumstances, one may not fight in the Musician Union!

“Mr. A-administrator.” He turned stiffly and said quietly, “I believe this is a misunderstanding.”

“Perhaps. Should we speak somewhere else?” The administrator smiled and pulled him to the side. Bradley instinctively tried to struggle, but he could not get free. The hand was like iron.

The administrator turned to look at him. “I said, let’s speak somewhere else. Did you not hear me?”

—

Standing outside the door, emotions battled across Bradley’s face.

The administrator pulled a lighter from his pocket and casually lit his pipe. He smoked a bit, blowing out puffs of smoke. Sighing, he said, “I don’t care what happened between you and that kid, but you better pray that nothing happens to him in Avalon over the next few days.”

Bradley flinched, his face darkening. “Avalon is so big. It might not be me who did it.”

“Avalon is so big, but why did you choose this place to pick a fight?” the administrator asked in reply, but Bradley could not answer. “Also, fighting with two students in the Musician Union will result in a fine. Would you have any complaints if I deducted two thousand contribution points?”

Bradley gritted his teeth and remained silent. His expression kept changing, but he did not reply.

“Then that’s that. You can go now.” The administrator waved, but his expression turned confused after seeing the man not leave. “Why are you still here? Do you want a ticket?”

Bradley glared at him. After a long time, he spat out, “My family will remember your gift.” Then he turned and took Edmund away with him.

The administrator only one had one thing to say in response, “Ha.”

—

A long time later, Ye Qingxuan finally recovered from his numbness. Runes glowed on Charles’ hands, flashing with faint electricity. He massaged Ye Qingxuan’s shoulders caringly. “Junior, are you okay? Does anywhere else hurt?”

Ye Qingxuan rubbed his face contorted by the electric shock and rolled his eyes. “Senior, if you keep massaging me, I’m going to die.”

“Hehe, I’m just trying to care for you.” Charles stopped the electricity and laughed stupidly.

“Seems like you’ve recovered.” The administrator walked in and nodded, seeing the two of them. “If you’re okay, then go back. Don’t worry, this is Avalon and that guy won’t try anything.”

“Uh, thanks.” Ye Qingxuan looked at him, not sure what to say. Charles, on the other hand, tackled the man, saying, “I would’ve brought fruit if I knew you were going to be here…”

The administrator pushed the idiot away and sighed. “Call me Administrator, or Mr. Bayer. There’s no need to thank me. It’s the Union’s rule.” He patted Ye Qingxuan’s shoulder. “I have matters to attend to, but you can come visit if you have time.” He looked at Charles, “And you, remember to bring fruit next time. I’ve been a little stressed recently.”

“Of course! What do you like to eat? I’ll go see if Modifications has anything in their backyard. Or I can go to Revelations…” Charles waved, sadly saying farewell.

Ye Qingxuan groaned inside. All Charles thought about all day was stealing from people’s backyards!

—

Bayer stood before the window in his office and watched as the youth walked away. But when his eyes fell on Charles, he became doubtful. Bradley’s music was targeted at both of them—he had sensed it clearly. But why had Ye Qingxuan been hit, but that annoying idiot was okay?

“Did Bradley lose control?” he muttered to himself, holding onto his chin.

—

Ye Qingxuan remembered that this road was bustling with people at noon. It was so loud, as if the entire world’s noise was playing there. But now it was dusk, and the crowds had disappeared.

Even Charles seemed quieter. He lowered his head as he walked, kicking at pebbles.

“Are you okay?” Ye Qingxuan looked at him, feeling that something was off.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Charles scratched his head, but would not look at him.

Ye Qingxuan shook his head. “If you’re okay, then you’d say, ‘junior, you care for me so much. I’m so touched,’ and other stupid things. But it’s clear you’re not okay now. Is it because of the Union?”

“Pretty much,” Charles murmured. “Professor always told me that I’m a senior now, so I have to care for you two. But all I can do is joke around and make you laugh. I can’t do anything else.” He paused and kicked a pebble under his foot. “Because I’m useless, you know.”

Ye Qingxuan froze, thinking of Bart’s words in the cafeteria and Charles’ disheartened state. He opened his mouth to comfort him, but did not know what to say. He realized now that he did not have experience in comforting anyone.

Charles turned and saw that he was sad too. Knowing why, he wanted to laugh. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m actually fine. I just don’t know what the problem is.” He stopped Ye Qingxuan and patted his shoulder. “Sometimes, you get stuck and get used to it. My days are a bit sad, I owe money and get drunk a lot, but there are ways to solve those problems.

“I used to get sad, get drunk, and have some weird nightmares. After I woke up, I wouldn’t know where I was. Every time I opened my eyes, I always questioned what the point of staying here was. But other than here, I don’t have anywhere else to go to.”

Ye Qingxuan stayed silent, not sure what to say.

Seeing that he was even sadder, Charles laughed. “It’s good here, actually.” He hooked an arm around the youth’s neck and said softly, “There’s the Professor, you, and Bai Xi. I’m not alone anymore. I have to protect them so this city can become beautiful.”

—

Walking down the empty street, the gold-haired youth hummed an unclear tune. He gazed around the city under the setting sun. He could see the faraway ocean in the cracks between the buildings.

The sun set behind them, drawing a brotherly shadow on the road before them. It was the silhouette of two boys.

Seeing that the shadows were no longer lonely, he was no longer sad and smiled.