Chapter Three: Do Not Listen a Third Time

"Stay away." The barrel swung between Minglan and Shen Yan. Xingyao struggled to breathe in his grip, but tapped a rhythm against his chest. Three short. Three long. Three short. Not merely a plea for rescue. Shen Yan understood the second message hidden in her rhythm: *Play*. A desire could be quieted by music the secret's owner willingly acknowledged. He sat at the piano, avoided the black key, and began the lullaby Chengjun hummed after every lesson. During the first repetition, the gun remained raised. On the second, Xingyao added the high part with one hand. It was no Gu family masterpiece. It was clumsy and repetitive and belonged only to a father and daughter. Before the third, Chengjun spoke. "I am not your father."