MPWATMBC Chapter 55

`The nervous violinist, after making a mistake, continued to make frequent errors. The introductory part of the ancient Earth-era piece “The Blue Danube¹T/N: a waltz by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, who was inspired by Karl Isidor Beck’s poem about the ‘beautiful blue Danube” became fragmented. He was supposed to delicately play slow tremolos in A major with a broken bow, but due to his nervousness, the tremolos became tense, and the violin bow turned into a tool for plucking cotton. In the chaos, he produced one piercing and sharp sound after another.

Even in the interstellar era, there were still such ancient descriptions (the practice of plucking cotton had long disappeared), probably passed down orally among music teachers.

Determined to go back, Auston stopped in front of the small stage, frowning as he stared blankly at a point on the stage. He spoke slowly, “My mom was a music teacher, proficient in several instruments. When I was very young, she wanted to teach me a few, but…” His voice trailed off sadly. His mom had just taught him the correct way to play the violin when she fell ill. A genetic disease that modern medicine couldn’t cure even now. After three years of struggle, she passed away when he was six. He always remembered the gentle and warm bedroom with a beautiful bouquet of lilies by the bedside. His mom lay in his dad’s arms, slowly closing her eyes. Her departure took away the sparkle from his dad’s eyes.

Lost in his thoughts, Auston noticed that the nervous violinist, struggling with the tune, had been taken off the stage by the manager. The dawn’s light, breaking through the morning mist on the river, became a feeble glow under his interpretation, unable to dispel the haze on the river surface. It couldn’t wake the sleeping earth, and it was already a great blessing if it didn’t disturb people’s restful slumber. The violinist was gone, but the music continued. However, the constant booing from the audience and calls for a replacement were deafening.

“I want to hear the song they played just now.” Drunk Auston, not making a scene or going crazy, was simply unrestrained, lacking restraint and reservation. His true nature was fully exposed, expressing his grievances and stubbornness openly. It was like dealing with a child who would ask for anything when pampered. However, even so, he still maintained a sense of decorum and propriety, not truly behaving like a child throwing a tantrum.

This side of Auston made Ryan feel very sympathetic.

“I’ll have them continue the performance,” Ryan said.

Auston shook his head, freeing himself from Ryan’s hand, and walked steadily onto the small stage towards the piano. The pianist, under his intense gaze, became nervous and hesitant, fumbling with the keys.

“Excuse me.” With others, Auston continued to be sparing with his words.

The pianist didn’t hesitate at all. Ignoring the ongoing performance, he quickly vacated the seat, standing aside. Auston sat at the piano, staring attentively at the black and white keys. After a while, he placed his hands on the keys. His slender fingers hovered over the piano keys, hesitating to press down. After decades filled with studies, training, work, and continuous promotions, he had almost forgotten the feeling of his mom teaching him hand in hand.

He pursed his lips, determined not to give up. Changing to single fingers, he pressed a few keys, producing clear single notes that entered his ears. He couldn’t help but smile slightly, his eyes revealing pure joy. Soon, he wasn’t satisfied with just that. He wanted to play the complete “Blue Danube.” Unfortunately, he was powerless. With his limited ability to even recognize the keys, playing “Blue Danube” was out of the question – he couldn’t even manage “Two Tigers.”

With someone by his side, a pair of warm, dry hands settled on the piano keys. Gentle music began to play, and before Auston’s eyes, it felt like he was transported to ancient Austria on Earth. The city was quiet under the morning mist, and a streak of dawn light suddenly appeared on the horizon. The rising sun generously cast its rays upon the city, dispersing the light fog and illuminating the river. The Danube²T/N: Name of the River in Europe‘s gentle ripples danced in the sunlight. The slow rhythm gradually became lively and light-hearted. As the piece concluded, Auston leaned against Ryan’s shoulder, closing his eyes. He wasn’t asleep; he simply felt a bit of tranquility in the otherwise noisy restaurant, a small oasis that belonged to them.

“I haven’t played for a long time,” Auston remarked.

From the music, Auston heard beauty, while Ryan, somewhat reluctantly, realized that years without practice had made his fingerwork rusty. The sporadic notes, stiff phrasing—it was on par with the nervous violinist from earlier. Only Auston, through his eyes of love, could discern the beauty and uniqueness in the performance.

The other customers below vehemently protested, urging the waitstaff to intervene and put an end to Ryan and Auston’s antics. According to them, the sounds coming from the piano were simply ear-polluting! The manager had been standing nearby for quite some time, hesitant to approach due to the imposing demeanor of the two customers. When the music, which was almost as unbearable as the bouncing cotton, finally ceased, the manager gathered the courage to step forward, stammering, “Gentlemen, we have new performers coming up on the stage. Could you please… make way?”

Auston opened his eyes, glancing at the manager, who was almost scared into a heart attack. The manager quickly put on a smiling face. Though slightly annoyed by the interruption, Auston wasn’t someone to make a scene without reason. He stood up with Ryan and left the small stage.

“What kind of people are they? Playing so poorly, it’s an assault on our ears!”

“Yeah, playing so awkwardly, I almost threw up.”

“Good-looking people aren’t always good at everything.”

“If they were, there wouldn’t be room for anyone else to live.”

Below the stage, guests chatted in pairs, observing the handsome and remarkable duo of Ryan and Auston. Strangely, there was a collective sense of relief among the onlookers. Imperfections in people were normal; luckily, the handsome guys couldn’t play the piano, leaving room for others.

Auston didn’t feel very comfortable staying in the restaurant. They decided to stick to their Yuan Chu plan and leave the restaurant to return to their accommodation. As long as they could afford it, showcasing their status with money would undoubtedly grant them top-notch, considerate service. With someone helping to open the door, they walked a considerable distance, with two male waiters bowing respectfully as they departed.

After walking a hundred meters or so, they reached the elevator on the lower floor. Ryan and Auston waited at the entrance, and someone was there to help press the buttons.

“I didn’t hire you to ruin the performance. I hired you to work diligently and perform well!” A somewhat sharp voice emerged from the slightly open emergency door next to the elevator. “If you make another mistake in your next performance, I’ll sell you to pirates, and you won’t have a moment of rest from now on!”

“S-selling people is illegal!” It was the nervous violinist who had repeatedly made mistakes on stage.

The boss with the sharp voice probably did something unpleasant and vile. The violinist let out a cry.

“Human trafficking is illegal, but making a couple of people disappear in the vast universe without anyone knowing, the authorities won’t bother to investigate. Hehe, in the end, your record will just say ‘missing.'”

In the interstellar era, people going missing was difficult due to everyone’s DNA being recorded in the public security system from birth. With personal terminals connected to the network, one could easily find out a person’s location. However, as the boss mentioned, the universe was vast, and disappearing a couple of ordinary people wasn’t something the police would invest effort into finding.

“I quit!” exclaimed the violinist.

“Hehe, sure, you can quit. But resigning means you have to pay me a breach of contract fee of one million. Don’t forget you signed a five-year contract.”

“A million!?”

“It’s clearly stated in the contract. If you don’t believe me, you can check it from your personal terminal.” The boss spoke lewdly, “Even if you don’t have that much money to compensate me, that’s fine. Let me enjoy myself a bit. One time with you is worth ten thousand. With that money, you can find a nice companion in the Capital Star Beauty Tower. You’re making a profit.”

The Beauty Tower was a legal and operating branch adjacent to the Red Mill Song and Dance Studio of the Capital Star.

As Auston and Ryan entered the elevator, they could no longer hear the conversation behind them. About ten minutes later, they returned to Suite A16. The room was quiet, with Da Fu peacefully dozing in his cozy nest. The nest, made by mom from plants on the Planting Star, was exceptionally comfortable, and Da Fu loved it. When he wasn’t frolicking around, he enjoyed lounging inside, relishing the life of a young creature.

Following the old rules, Yuan Chu and Code Zero were engaged in networked learning. The lights in the eye area blinked, indicating that the learning progress was going smoothly.

Without disturbing them, Ryan gently guided Auston back to the master bedroom, letting him sit on the large bed. Ryan spoke soothingly, “I’ll go make some sobering tea. You sit and rest for a while.”

As Ryan prepared to leave, Auston grabbed his sleeve. With his head bowed since they entered the room, Auston looked up at him, his eyes revealing a hint of hurt and distress. “You’re going to leave me.”

“No,” Ryan reassured, holding Auston and gently stroking the back of his head. “I would never leave you in this lifetime.”

“My mom used to say the same thing,” Auston’s voice was melancholic.

Ryan paused for a moment, then smiled somewhat helplessly. “I’m healthy, and I’ll always strive to stay healthy, to accompany you until we’re old, always together. I cherish this new life we’ve gained.”

Auston didn’t catch the implied meaning in Ryan’s words, but he was satisfied with Ryan’s assurance. He hugged Ryan’s waist and nuzzled his head against him. Suddenly, Auston pushed Ryan away. Caught off guard, Ryan stumbled for a moment but quickly regained his balance. He looked at Auston, who now appeared cold and detached, like a stern general.

Seated on the bed, Auston crossed his right leg over his left, hands naturally resting on his right knee. He calmly looked at Ryan, his gaze composed and a slightly lifted chin adding a touch of aloofness. The alcohol hadn’t worn off completely; that tiny amount had numbed his usually restrained and rational nerves. Now, he felt the desire to act unrestrained!

“Soldier, stand at attention.”

Ryan was momentarily surprised but quickly stood upright, as rigid as a pole. He raised his arm in salute, saying, “General.”

Auston nodded faintly. “Take off your jacket.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow, a light smile playing on his lips as he complied, removing his jacket to reveal a white shirt.

“Remove the belt.”

Ryan did as instructed.

“Take off the shirt,” Auston gave another command, a hint of excitement and shyness appearing on his handsome face. He added in a self-reproaching tone, “Slowly.” It was evident that the alcohol had slightly affected his speech, and a faint blush colored his cheeks, whether from shyness or the onset of alcohol was unclear.

Ryan cast a deep gaze at Auston but lowered his eyes before staring too intensely. He raised his right hand, four fingers outside the shirt, thumb inside, slowly sliding upward from the bottom to the collar. The four fingers curled up on the outside, and the thumb, in coordination with a gentle twist, undid the top button. The same process continued for the next three buttons, leaving the collar wide open, revealing the collarbone and the well-toned chest. His movements were seamless. Lowering his right hand, he joined the left hand in pulling at the hem of the shirt. Subsequently, with almost uninterrupted fluidity, he undid the last few buttons, exposing his muscular physique.

The muscular lines were undeniably beautiful, appreciated by only one viewer, but not regrettable in the slightest.

The movement of those strong hips was quite powerful, flexible, and enduring. Moreover, the owner of those hips was adept at learning and applying knowledge creatively. Auston found himself sometimes unable to keep up with the rhythm, forced to passively absorb new techniques. Surprisingly, they discovered that their frequencies were remarkably compatible.

In moments of reason, Auston dared not scrutinize or contemplate, but now, he boldly used his gaze to “touch” Ryan’s body.

Ryan already had both hands gripping the sides of the shirt, ready to remove it completely, but Auston urgently called out, “Wait, don’t move.”

Ryan halted, looking at Auston with a hint of confusion. Auston stepped onto the bed, lowering his head to examine the buttons on Ryan’s shirt, as if figuring out how to unbutton them in a visually pleasing manner. With his head down, Auston’s face had turned red, his breath heating up, surprising even himself. He couldn’t tell if he was sober or still numbed by the effects of alcohol. All he knew was that he was determined to do this.

“I’ll take it off for you.”

Ryan’s body jerked in disbelief, looking at Auston with astonishment.

Auston noticed Ryan’s expression and, in a fit of embarrassment and frustration, said, “Is it not okay?!”

Feeling his blood surge, Ryan could sense the boiling blood about to erupt. He quickly raised his hand to cover his nose, nodding hurriedly, his voice muffled, “Yes, it’s okay.”

However, Auston changed his mind about undressing. He promptly laid down, wrapping the blanket around his flushed face. “I’m going to sleep,” he declared. Sensing Ryan gripping his waist, a low, hoarse voice came through the blanket, “How can I sleep? My little brother can’t sleep tonight.” Despite Ryan’s first attempt at more explicit moves, which lacked finesse, the recipient didn’t seem to mind at all, even appearing a bit clueless.

“Little brother?”

Ryan uncovered the blanket, leaning in close to Auston’s ear, whispering a few words. Then, both of them froze, not making a move, yet the temperature between them continued to rise steadily. Their intertwined breaths grew heavier with each passing moment.

• ··

The first stop of the Shakespearean Cruise is the docking point at Rui De Star, a planet where more than half of the global surface is covered in ice and snow. Although it does not snow on Rui De Star, water vapor in the air directly condenses into ice crystal snowflakes. The snowflakes on Rui De Star are diverse and unique, each forming its own world. There are people on the planet dedicated to photographing these snowflakes, compiling them into albums, and publishing them, gaining popularity among residents of some tropical planets. Unfortunately, these beautiful snowflakes only exist on Rui De Star and will immediately melt when taken out of this planet, regardless of the method used.

The cruise ship will dock near Rui De Star for a day. All passengers on the ship can take the ship’s small StarCraft to enter Rui De Star for sightseeing. Different tour packages offer different activities. First-class passengers can explore freely under the guidance of room service, visit the Ice and Snow Museum, ice sculpture exhibitions, glacier tours, ice lake fishing, and enjoy a top-notch Winter Lake feast, among other activities. The itinerary is not too packed, focusing on leisure, entertainment, and relaxation, allowing passengers to fully experience joy, delicious cuisine, and beautiful scenery throughout the journey.

Ryan and Auston had a rather late night, and when they heard a knock on the door, Ryan was snuggled up with Auston, deeply asleep. Auston, with his head buried in Ryan’s embrace, stirred slightly but showed no intention of waking up. Ryan patted his back gently, then carefully lifted the blanket, grabbing one side of his sleeping robe and putting it on. As he raised his arm, the personal terminal implanted under his skin, marked with golden spider-like patterns about the size of a walnut, activated. This terminal had a built-in screen that could be operated directly or projected as a light screen or holographic display, depending on personal preference. Wanting to let Auston sleep undisturbed, Ryan adjusted the airflow in the room using the faint light from the terminal, gradually refreshing the atmosphere.

Opening the door, a small white creature with long wings rolled in. Da Fu had practiced extending his claws towards the door for quite some time.

“Howl…”

As the complaining sound started, Ryan immediately covered Da Fu’s mouth, lifting his right index finger to his lips, signaling for silence.

Da Fu wagged its tail, indicating that it understood, and was then released. With the soft pads of a feline, it landed silently and swiftly made its way to the bed. Its wings, adorned with white feathers, fluttered gently, bringing it to the bed. Da Fu opened its mouth happily, wanting to make a sound, but Ryan had a strong hold on it, making it obediently close its mouth. It could only pout and run to its master, laying down contentedly and snuggling against Auston for sleep.

With half-closed amber eyes, Da Fu looked so blissful—completely satisfied with its beastly life.

Ryan shook his head, took a step out, and saw Yuan Chu and Code Zero tirelessly absorbing knowledge. He said, “Take it easy, be careful not to overheat the system and cause disruptions.”

Yuan Chu’s eyes blinked twice, and his monotonous voice sounded rigidly, “Sir, rest assured, we understand boundaries.” As growing AI, they no longer solely rely on hardware devices; the entire network has become their body. Redundant information generated from absorbing knowledge can be stored in the stellar network. He has taught Code Zero how to create a discreet space on the network.

Only Code Zero, a small companion robot about the size of a forearm, sat obediently on Yuan Chu’s lap. When speaking, its eyes shimmered with a warm orange glow, following a cute and affectionate style. “Did you hurt the General?”

Ryan: “???”

The voice of the companion robot is also set to be cute and soft, sounding nothing like Code Zero. “You made a lot of noise in the room last night, and the General even cried.”

Ryan: “…” Veins are about to pop on his forehead!

Code Zero: “Did you bully the General?”

Ryan: “Absolutely not.” How to explain this to the “child” has become a soul-searching problem for Ryan. Wait a minute… something’s not right. He squinted at Yuan Chu and Code Zero, “Did you use the sharing function with the room’s network?”

Although it sounded like a question, he was already quite certain. The soundproofing function in the rooms on the cruise ship couldn’t be that bad.

Yuan Chu replied, “Just auditory. The Shakespeare is under our control, and we’ve discovered many interesting little secrets. Humans are truly complex beings.”

Code Zero nodded in agreement.

The kids are getting out of control; it feels like they need a good scolding.

Ryan rubbed his temples in frustration. “No peeking at us is allowed.”

“I’ve already cut off the sharing with A16, sir, don’t worry,” Yuan Chu responded quickly. Although he discovered it promptly, Code Zero overheard some of it. He disapproved as he glanced at his master, thinking he might be a bad influence on the kids. Nonetheless, Yuan Chu was somewhat pleased. His master had indeed grown up, no longer the old man afraid even to touch a boy’s hand. It seemed like a new beginning! Yuan Chu felt content.

Ryan was exasperated and had no energy to comment.

Outside the door, Stark and his wife had been knocking for a while. Ryan, having checked through his personal terminal, knew it was the Stark couple. Opening the door, he found them both spirited, dressed in matching black lightweight snowsuits, wearing goggles. Clearly, they were ready for some outdoor fun.

“Let’s go!” Graydon said hurriedly.

Ryan smiled and declined, “We’re not going in the morning; we’ll come in the afternoon.”

Seeing Ryan’s expression, the young man still exuded warmth and charm, but there was a look of indulgence only known to those with experience. Graydon understood. Smirking with a hint of mischief, he said, “Alright, you guys rest well. Hehe. We’ll head down first and be back after finishing lunch.” With a babysitting robot taking care of the baby, they felt at ease. However, leaving the child away from the parents for an extended period might cause insecurity and hinder the development of a healthy personality.

Ryan nodded, “You go ahead.”

After bidding farewell to the Stark couple, Ryan turned back to the room. He noticed that his spot had been taken by Da Fu. Surprisingly, he didn’t fuss over the little griffin, leaving Da Fu somewhat puzzled. With half-opened eyes, Da Fu saw Ryan move to the other side and wrap his arms around him from behind. As Ryan adjusted, Auston even turned around and buried his head in Ryan’s chest.

Da Fu was stunned, feeling a bit indignant!

• ··

He slept until lunchtime, and Auston sat dazed on the bed. Da Fu howled, accusing Ryan of not allowing it to make a sound. However, despite Da Fu’s continuous howling, it received no response from Auston. Curiously, Da Fu looked up at its owner, only to find Auston, who had been in a daze, turning increasingly red…

Members of the Dalton family had a low resistance to alcohol, but Auston didn’t expect his resistance to be this low. He got drunk after just two cocktails with low alcohol content. After getting drunk, he did so much, so much… Auston couldn’t recall it. Whenever he tried, his brain, which had just calmed down, would start boiling again.

“Auston, get up, take a shower, and eat something to fill your stomach.” From last night until noon today, the only food they had was the two glasses of wine Auston drank.

Auston tightened and then loosened his grip on the blanket, raising his voice, “Oh. I’ll be right there.”

After taking a refreshing shower to clear his mind, Auston returned to his usual self when he came out. However, a fleeting expression of embarrassment crossed his eyes whenever he looked at Ryan.

Considering that both were hungry and had engaged in significant physical activity, the lunch menu was nutritionally rich. However, Ryan, mindful of Auston’s health, refrained from ordering overly greasy or hard foods. Instead, he focused on high-protein options like fish and beef. The main course was a soothing and easily digestible seafood congee. Auston was genuinely hungry, devouring two bowls of congee before slowing down.

“Once we finish eating, let’s go to Rui de Star,” Ryan suggested.

Auston nodded, “Sure.”

Ryan continued, “We’ll have dinner there. The fish and shrimp from the ice lakes of Rui de Star are renowned. Let’s give them a try.”

Auston had no objections, “Sure.”

Ryan asked, “Should we bring Da Fu with us? Keeping it locked in the room all the time, this little guy might get too withdrawn. It’s not conducive to the growth of a griffin beast.”

Da Fu, unable to run and play freely as it did on the cultivation star, seemed to be getting a bit withdrawn. Upon hearing its name being called, the griffin raised its head, agilely ran to the table, and looked up at Ryan and Auston.

Auston looked at Da Fu, “Bring it along.”

“Haa.” Da Fu let out a big yawn, completely unaware that it was about to become the first griffin beast to visit Rui de Star.

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