Chapter Sixty-Three: Love and Conspiracy

Liu Yunfei smiled at him in a gentlemanly manner, took the sheet music in front of him, closed it, and placed it on the corner of the piano. Then, still smiling, he bowed his head and began to play. The music rang out, powerful and steady, flowing seamlessly from beginning to end, the modulation at the finale so natural that not a single note was out of place. Compared to the teacher, his performance was easily superior, all the more remarkable since he hadn’t even glanced at the score.

The classroom fell silent. Some were enthralled by the music, while others stared in astonishment. It was only after a long moment that the teacher recovered and began to applaud, soon joined by the entire class, their applause lingering. The beautiful woman whose ample bosom Liu Yunfei had stolen a glance at earlier now sent him flirtatious glances, unconcerned with anything else.

Pleased with himself, Liu Yunfei maintained a modest expression. This gentlemanly demeanor, victorious yet unassuming, only inspired the Italian beauties who admired such manners to try their luck. Those he hadn’t glanced at earlier now straightened their backs and crossed their legs, eager to catch his eye.

After class, the women crowded around Liu Yunfei, eager to meet and befriend the “Piano Prince.” Of course, if they could converse and connect with him, that would be even better. But before Liu Yunfei could finish exchanging phone numbers, he was dragged downstairs by the jealous Yu Qing, with Lam glaring fiercely at the pack of women following behind.

Unexpectedly, when they reached the ground floor, someone was waiting—not a woman, but the teacher himself, an old man. “Young man, was today truly your first time playing the piano? I find it hard to believe. If you’re willing to follow me for a year, or even half a year, I can guarantee you’ll become the world’s greatest pianist. Your talent is perfectly suited for the piano. You are a piano prodigy, a piano prince, a piano master, a piano genius…”

“Alright, alright, enough about the piano. If I ever can’t make a living, I’ll come to you to play, deal?” Liu Yunfei hadn’t even finished speaking when he was pulled into a Ferrari.

“I really couldn’t tell you were so capable, stealing the spotlight like that! You know so many beautiful women—if we’d known you played so well, we’d have just learned from you,” Yu Qing teased him.

“Come on, I don’t really know how. I just have a good memory. If he hadn’t played it once, I wouldn’t have managed,” Liu Yunfei replied, feigning deafness and dumbness in the face of two beautiful women’s relentless questioning, focusing on driving.

The old prince had been busy all day, unlike any other time Liu Yunfei had known him. He didn’t return until dinner, and immediately called Liu Yunfei to his room.

“I’ll return to Riyadh tomorrow. You’ll need to keep an eye on things here, especially Owari,” said the old prince, swirling his wine and pretending a deep expression.

Liu Yunfei was surprised. “Why so sudden? Are you scared? I know it’s all my fault this time.”

“Not at all, it’s for other reasons. You saved me a second time; I won’t say how grateful I am. But I can’t let you get dragged into this because of me,” the old prince waved his hand.

“I haven’t been dragged in, that’s nothing. How’s the negotiation with those three companies?” Liu Yunfei assumed the old prince meant dragging him into their business.

“I’m holding the largest share, fifty-one percent, non-negotiable. The issue is the other two companies’ shares; they haven’t settled yet. I’m letting my subordinates handle the rest.”

“Oh, then be careful in Riyadh. Hadina won’t stop his actions. You and the old king should be cautious,” Liu Yunfei expressed his concern.

“Don’t worry. We’ve already reached an agreement with the Grand Mosque in Mecca. They’ll send six Guardians to protect the king, the crown prince, and me. But here in Florence, I’m less assured. I trust your capabilities, but you’re too quick to trust people,” the old prince said, seeing Liu Yunfei’s puzzled look. He turned, retrieved a document folder, and handed it to Liu Yunfei. “Besides the negotiations, this is what I worked on today.”

It was a paper folder, marked “CIA Top Secret,” with warnings that unauthorized opening could result in charges of treason, leaking secrets, endangering federal security, and more. Hesitantly, Liu Yunfei opened it, several sheets sliding out.

Father: Yu Lewen, male, 46, Deputy President of HZ University, address: 401A, Building 32, Hangyuan Community, HZ City, Zhejiang Province, China.

Mother: Ma Meixiang, female, 43, Director of Hangyuan Community Kindergarten, same address.

Only daughter: Yu Qing…

Yu Qing? Liu Yunfei immediately looked up at the old prince, who gestured for him to continue reading.

Yu Qing, female, 21, Chinese nationality, first-year student at the Rome Academy of Arts in Italy. Life experience: Hangyuan Primary School, HZ University Affiliated Middle School. Outstanding in dance, at nineteen admitted to the Rome Academy of Arts. After half a year, suspended studies for one year, reportedly to travel to Iran with her new boyfriend David (French, 22, archaeology major at the Rome Academy) in pursuit of ancient Arabian relics. Confirmed: Both entered Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Afghanistan repeatedly, suspected of close ties to the mysterious religious group Temple of the Sun. After a year’s suspension, resumed studies at the Rome Academy, no anomalies observed. Recent activity: August 5, flew alone from Rome to Florence. Met at the airport by an associate of the famous Italian Mafia Buano family. August 9, checked into Knights Castle.

“August 5th? That’s the day I met her—impossible, impossible.” Liu Yunfei was flustered, unwilling to let his logical reasoning continue. He couldn’t believe some parts of the report, yet he couldn’t convince himself otherwise.

“This is CIA’s top-secret investigation, absolutely accurate. Even if the report says ‘suspected,’ the reliability is eighty percent. Keep reading,” said the old prince, averting his gaze, perhaps feeling it cruel to reveal this to Liu Yunfei.

David Robert, male, 22, French, second-year archaeology student at the Rome Academy of Arts. Outstanding academic record since childhood. At seventeen, developed an interest in history. After entering the Rome Academy, influenced by his mentor, became obsessed with ancient Arabian culture. A year ago, during an expedition to an ancient Arabian site in Iran, met Hadina (Iranian, details unknown), leader of the mysterious Temple of the Sun, and soon joined the organization. Recent activity: August 4, suddenly disappeared, whereabouts unknown.

After reading the reports, Liu Yunfei felt as though something was churning inside him, yet his mind was blank. Numb, he stared at the smiling photo of Yu Qing on the report, then abruptly stood up and laughed.

“Why are you laughing? You still don’t believe it?” The old prince had expected disbelief or pain, but not laughter.

“She and her boyfriend split long ago. The report doesn’t confirm she joined the Temple of the Sun,” Liu Yunfei replied with a faint smile, though he himself felt the smile was forced.

“Oh, Allah, you’ve been blinded by Iblis! She arrived in Florence and immediately became involved in the tavern incident—don’t you think that’s too much of a coincidence? The key is, look, it was the Buano family who picked her up from the airport—the Buano family! Do you know who they are?” The old prince pressed, trying to convince him.

“I know, I know! That bastard Lawrence, the old fox, always playing both sides—if I ever see him, I’ll kill him!” Liu Yunfei’s expression changed abruptly, raging uncontrollably, his words reckless. He suddenly recalled Lawrence’s so-called warning, which only confirmed that Yu Qing’s arrival had been deliberately arranged to get close to him. He was frantic, unwilling to accept it, but every thread traced back to Yu Qing. A voice in his heart shouted: This was premeditated! It’s a conspiracy! From the day I met her, it was the beginning of a plot. All those painstaking arrangements—a glass of wine, a stage play—love was nothing but deception. In the end, the naive fool in the drama was me!

“I’ll say it again. All of this is just a damned coincidence!”