Unlimited Cycles of DeathChapter 7

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Although they said this, at the thought of the scary killer coming back to this chapel at any time, the few of them increased their pace of search. One by one, they flipped through the church’s chairs and corners, hoping to find any clue of value.

Mu Qin walked onto the stage in the church. The stage was neither large nor small. It was typically for the clergy to speak from and use, and occasionally they would invite a choir of nuns to sing hymns on it. Therefore, an instrument was placed on this stage——it was a piano. XoyCGd

Everything of value in the abandoned orphanage had already been moved away, but this obviously expensive piano seemed to have been forgotten and was still placed here. It was black and coated with a layer of glossy lacquer. The piano was covered with a thick blanket of dust. Mu Qin approached it and lightly touched the piano cover with his fingers. It left five distinct fingerprints.

Then, he lifted the piano cover. Under the cover were the black and white keys of the piano. With the protection of the piano lid, the keys were well-preserved. Mu Qin chose one of the lowest-pitched keys and lightly pressed down. The piano briefly made a deep and low sound.

Chrysanthemum Garden.

Although the note was very low pitched, the piano sound that suddenly appeared still startled Qiu Zijia and Cheng Guoxu, who were searching nearby. Qiu Zijia inched over and warned Mu Qin, “We’re already in this kind of situation, yet you’re still in the mood to play the piano!”

Mu Qin turned a deaf ear to his words. He continued to stare at the piano in captivation because this piano evoked some of his memories. seyrhL

After his adoptive parents passed away, Mu Qin basically lived by himself. He lived in the 80 square meter house they left him. Even though this house was also eventually forcibly occupied and sold by his heartless uncle, Mu Qin still remembered, at the center of the house in his adoptive parents’ study was a similar piano.

Mu Qin did not have any musical talent. When he was younger, he was actually a mischievous little brat. Mu Qin loved playing–catching birds, climbing trees, rolling around until his whole person was muddy. He entirely did not have the mind to quietly sit down and learn, not to mention learning music, which requires a lot of patience.

So his adoptive parents did not force Mu Qin to learn anything in particular. Those few years when they were alive gave Mu Qin an extremely happy childhood. They let him grow up carefree and without any worries. Even until now, Mu Qin was really thankful to them for bringing him up.

Unlike Mu Qin, his adoptive parents were musically gifted, especially his adoptive father. Reportedly he had once performed in so-and-so world-class competition and received an award for his piano playing. The cup trophy he had won was always placed on the bookshelf in the study.

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It was just that Mu Qin back then was too young. He did not have much concept of so-called competitions and awards. He did not understand what those were and only felt his adoptive father playing the piano sounded especially good. Whenever his adoptive father placed his hands on the piano and started to play, Mu Qin would squeeze into the study and obediently lean on his adoptive father’s thigh to listen.

In respect of his adoptive father, after he grew up, Mu Qin held goodwill towards anyone who knew how to play the piano and had his adoptive father’s self-restraint and profundity… music left an unerasable impression on Mu Qin. So whenever he heard a piano sound, Mu Qin would be deeply attracted by it.

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

He also encountered his first love through music.

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But Mu Qin was only an underaged child. Other than wasting money on gambling, his uncle never treated him poorly and never hit or scolded him. Breaking free was not easy. With no alternatives, Mu Qin could only study as if his life depended on it. He wanted to test into a good university far away from here and leave this good-for-nothing uncle far behind.

The desperately studying Mu Qin started attending evening self-study in his freshman year of high school. At the time, the school did not require first-year students to attend evening self-study, and only students in their second year of high school and later were required to attend. However, Mu Qin wanted to learn faster, so he joined the second-years. He hung out with them and studied with them. Mu Qin would sit in a corner with a roll of test papers and write furiously.

The other students would sneakily chat in whispers, pass slips of paper, play on phones, and other methods of wasting time. Only Mu Qin would dutifully do the homework. 2snyH8

In those days, next to the self-study classroom for second-year students was a music room. In the room was a piano.

Every evening, the music department students would go to the music room to practice. Therefore Mu Qin would listen to the beautiful piano music coming from the music room while doing his papers and homework.

Along with the flow of time, Mu Qin gradually noticed that the skill of the pianist in the music room seemed to get better and better. He was very familiar with the piece the other person continuously practiced. The playing of the composition was increasingly smooth and refined. The always-attracted-to-music Mu Qin finally couldn’t hold it in. He wanted to go to the practice room to take a look. He wanted to see who in the world was in there playing the piano.

Mu Qin carried out his plans. He took advantage of the time their class was taking a ten-minute break to visit the music room. The practice room’s door was closed, and Mu Qin didn’t dare to push it open. He just stood at the window and took a glance inside. W5Kwc

And then Mu Qin saw his first love, a tall and thin looking boy.

That’s right, a boy.

Please visit chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

It wasn’t until after Mu Qin was an adult that he figured whether or not he was gay. Before his first love, he hadn’t felt anything towards anybody, regardless of male or female. Yet the first person he liked was indeed a guy, and the guy’s name was Zhou Yue.

Zhou Yue and Mu Qin were both first-years, but they weren’t in the same class. Mu Qin was just in the ordinary class while Zhou Yue was in the advanced class. Reportedly, Zhou Yue’s family was very wealthy, and he was an elite student cultivated through superior education. Not only were his grades excellent, but his skill in music was also amazing. He started learning to play the piano from a young age. The awards he had won from childhood until now were innumerous, and he could be considered a genius-level being. nQFELm

The school was very meticulous with admitting this kind of student, so once Zhou Yue entered the school, he immediately received all kinds of attention. The principal, the director, and the instructors of various subjects all looked after him. In addition, Zhou Yue was highly cultured, and he was good-looking. He had a gentle temperament and a handsome appearance. He was a refined gentleman. Following the description in some school slice-of-life genre light novels, Zhou Yue was basically the same as a shining school prince.

Mu Qin originally should not have been able to reach this kind of “prince-daren,” and he didn’t have any thoughts of social climbing. He was just infatuated with the appearance of this person sitting in front of and seriously playing the piano. Every night during self-study, Mu Qin would stand outside the music room’s window to secretly listen to Zhou Yue play the piano. Over time, Zhou Yue quickly noticed Mu Qin’s existence. Zhou Yue simply opened the door to the practice room and invited Mu Qin inside.

Mu Qin still remembered that after he entered the music room, the first thing Zhou Yue said to him was, “Why are you standing there and secretly looking at me?”

His question made Mu Qin blush from head to toe. He stalled for a long time before answering Zhou Yue honestly, “The piece that you keep practicing is the piano piece my father loved the most before he passed away. Seeing you play, I will… remember my father.” k4HFrR

Mu Qin always missed his adoptive parents. For him, his adoptive parents were the guides in his life. Even though they weren’t his blood-related parents, but they basically gave Mu Qin his everything.

Mu Qin’s reply caused the youth who was standing before the piano to be astonished. The other didn’t mind the matter of Mu Qin constantly rudely peeking at him until now, and he even struck up a conversation with Mu Qin. Moreover, he even told Mu Qin if he wanted to listen to him play the piano in the future, he could directly come in. He didn’t need to stand outside to look.

After that, Mu Qin and Zhou Yue inevitably became friends, secret friends. At the time, very few people in the school knew about the matters between Mu Qin and Zhou Yue. Nobody would have thought to connect the “school prince” who was watched by innumerous gazes and Mu Qin, who was just an ordinary, low-key student.

But they had a great relationship in those days. During self-study, Mu Qin would regularly go to the music room to talk to Zhou Yue. They told each other about everything. Zhou Yue would even teach Mu Qin to play the piano by hand. Till today, Mu Qin still remembered the feeling of Zhou Yue’s neat, slender fingers resting on his palms. SHiUYr

It was basically like the ugly duckling being pitied by the noble and beautiful swan.

Later, they even formed a relationship, the intimate lovers type of relationship. Mu Qin couldn’t clearly remember the turning point of how they started dating. He only remembered that one day, the two of them were sitting on the bench in front of the piano in the music room. He was watching Zhou Yue play the piano as usual. After he finished playing, Zhou Yue lowered his head and faced Mu Qin. Mu Qin also watched the other’s eyes. He looked at himself reflected in Zhou Yue’s midnight-like pupils and uncontrollably approached him, wanting to see more clearly. Yet unexpectedly, Zhou Yue directly went over and kissed Mu Qin on the lips.

Once they kissed, they were no longer friends but lovers.

That was Mu Qin’s first love. It was a first love that was doomed not to bear any results. No one ever discovered their relationship. It was never obstructed by the teachers, the parents, or the other students. They dated from their first year all the way until their third year. Then, after the national college entrance exams… there was no more news whatsoever. 0NVYKt

It was because Mu Qin didn’t have enough money to attend college, even though his outstanding scores were enough for him to attend the same famous college as Zhou Yue. If he had spoken about his situation to Zhou Yue, Zhou Yue may have found a way to support him. After all, Zhou Yue’s family was well off, and he always really liked Mu Qin. He was an expert in communication and would tell his opinions to Mu Qin without reserve. He would tell Mu Qin he really cared about him.

But in the end, Mu Qin still gave up this line of thinking and chose to serve in the army.

Other than the matter of pride, the more important reason was that Mu Qin knew he and Zhou Yue’s relationship could not have any end results.

They originally weren’t people from the same world. Zhou Yue’s background had both status and capability, and he was destined to have a meteoric rise. However, Mu Qin had nothing, and he might even hold Zhou Yue back. He would cause Zhou Yue to wear the title of a homosexual and bring him all sorts of ridicule and criticism. 7ZyvI

Therefore, he ultimately left without a word.

Thinking to here, Mu Qin softly sighed. He closed the cover of the dust-covered piano in front of him.

Chrysanthemum Garden.

At the end of the day, it was actually because Mu Qin was a coward. From the beginning, Mu Qin planned for the worst possible outcome as he dated that person. He never held any expectation for the possibility of a beautiful ending, so he chose to give up in the end.

It was already a matter from long ago. Mu Qin not only served in the army for five years, but he also worked for four or five years after leaving the military. Now, he was twenty-eight years old. He would no longer be absorbed and distracted by puppy love. He matured too much, and from head to toe, his whole body seemed to have been replaced. He had changed into a completely different person. if2jYv


BunnyGod: I’M ALIVE! Sorry for the long wait… I didn’t plan ahead and stockpile… I just recovered from the flu and then I had/have midterms, interviews, career fairs, papers and and and… I’m a procrastinator :blobsweats: please don’t kill me. On a side note, spring break is almost here so I’ll try to update more.

Leave a Comment

16 comments

  1. ML-radar is beeping like crazy hm…thank you for the chapter, don’t worry, do your best and good luck!

  2. Hey~ welcome baxk~!!!

    With this backstory… I’m gonna end up crying about ml and mc won’t I???

    Thanks for the chapter~ ( ^ ♡ ^ )/

  3. I bet that Zhou Yue never forgot him. Ahhhhhhhh. Their Puppy love was so nice. Too Bad it ended like that.

    Thanks for the chapter!

  4. Now, he was twenty-eight years old. He would no longer be absorbed and distracted by puppy love. He matured too much, and from head to toe, his whole body seemed to have been replaced. He had changed into a completely different person.

    And also he died

    I’m sorry

    I didn’t expect this flashback, right now. Indeed this is good story , I like. So sad but realistic end.

    I love such novels , with plot and love story like this.

  5. wow, what a sad story but if Zhou Yue really liked him he could contact Mu Qin at least 😒 Thanks for translating~~

  6. I have an urgent need to say something.

    ” Zhou Yue would even teach Mu Qin to play the piano by hand. Till today, Mu Qin still remembered the feeling of Zhou Yue’s neat, slender fingers resting on his palms. ”

    Why the hell did CN drama or CN novels has the fixation of teaching musical instrument hands by hands, like teaching piano, teaching violin, teaching whatever, guiding by grabbing the hands, feeling the slender finger, tasting the warmth, blah blah, LOL

    Why though?

    People who really play the instrument couldn’t comprehend this kind of “teaching”, because instead of correcting or helping, putting another hands on top of our hands when playing piano or violin or other instrument is disrupting the movement instead….

    Even the beginner level didn’t teach the student like this. The teacher will only tell the student to memorize the keys, demonstrating it once or twice, and how to press the key is up to the student experimenting it by themselves. There’s no such ambiguity as guiding by hands, LOL

    This romantizing scene really makes people wanted to facepalm from the cringe or second hand embrassment~

    • I also really dont get it. Ive been playing piano for years but have never seen someone do this. It would make it soooo difficult to play.

  7. I’m actually, very sincerely sorry if I sound ignorant, sarcastic or rude, I promise I’m just asking these questions out of curiosity!

    *** Nitpicker mode: activated.***

    Out of actual curiosity: Does China have any asset protection laws? Usually, when dependent’s (minors) inherit something but are still under guardian protection, their inherited assets will be ‘locked’ aka untouchable unless there’s an emergency by federal law here where I’m at. Is there a similar law in China? Is it a well-know law? Is there a reason, if such a law is in place, that our dear MC would never utilize it?

    Also, please do forgive me if I’m rude, but my ignorant self is wondering; In China, is 820 sq ft (80 meters square) considered big? Are such homes ‘expensive’? Or is it only in the context of this novel Another, possibly ignorant, question I’d like to ask is; Are there no scholarships in China? Are scholarships selective? I’ve read quite a few novels where the main characters get scholarships in ultra prestigious universities but I’m curious if that’s normal or it’s just a novel thing. Because if it’s normal, how come Mu Qin never just went to University with a scholarship instead of going ‘no money, no education’?P.S. In North America, or where I’m from at least, children are literally forced by their schools to gather ‘work experience’ and ‘volunteer’ hours to become independent at the age of 15. We’re expected to no longer be financially relying on our guardians and to fund our own education and expenses- except housing of course. Like, almost every kid regardless of status has a part-time job and earns at least 100 monthly- though the average amount is around $300.

    And finally; The ML sounds super cool~ I love gentle MLs so much! From the looks of it though, he isn’t in this challenge.. Perhaps, he’s not dead at all?