Anyone else, in someone else’s home, would never dare such a presumptuous act.
But Bai Jinghong didn’t care in the slightest.
He simply asked the Fan family members, “May I use the piano?”
“Young… Young Master Bai, you wish to play a piece?”
“Yes, may I?”
“Of course, of course!” Before anyone else in the Fan family could speak, Fan Xiangming rushed over and said, “Young Master Bai, treat this as your own home, please, go ahead.”
To have Bai Jinghong play a piece at his birthday banquet—if word got out, it might even be spread that Bai Jinghong had specifically played to celebrate his birthday.
That would be nothing but beneficial!
Bai Jinghong’s actions drew the attention of the entire room.
It was as if it had become a personal showcase for the Young Master of the Bai family.
As everyone watched Bai Jinghong walk slowly toward the piano,
Fan Ning’er also looked his way.
And it was at that very moment that an “uninvited guest” arrived!
Chen Lin, who had not been invited, appeared at the scene.
In his hands, he held an extremely expensive-looking Buddha statue!
The entire statue was of green jade, clearly worth a fortune at a single glance.
This Buddha statue was something Chen Lin had gone to great lengths to acquire, spending over 1.3 million on it.
He had it all planned out before he came. At the banquet, he would present the Buddha statue to celebrate the birthday, and it would surely move Fan Ning’er.
After all, it showed how much he valued her father’s birthday.
Then, announcing his relationship with Fan Ning’er right there on the spot wasn’t entirely out of the question!
The timing was perfect, with so many people present. Chen Lin directly carried the Jade Buddha Statue over to Fan Xiangming.
“Uncle Fan, I wish you a happy birthday. May every year be like today, and every day like this moment!”
“A small token of my regard, please accept it!”
A smile played on Chen Lin’s lips. He could already predict the gasps of astonishment from the crowd.
After all, for a mere birthday banquet, who would give a gift worth over a million? His gesture would absolutely be a first!
“Oh, thanks. Laifu, take it away, take it away!”
But Fan Xiangming never even glanced at it from start to finish. He simply waved his hand dismissively, ordering a servant to take it away.
The smile on Chen Lin’s face instantly froze, and the corner of his mouth couldn’t help but twitch.
And it wasn’t just Fan Xiangming; it seemed like no one at the scene was paying him any attention!
A gift worth over a million, treated like this?
When he saw everyone’s gaze focused on one direction, he looked over as well.
With that single glance, he saw the man he dreamed of killing every single day.
Over there, Bai Jinghong was already at the piano, his hand sweeping across the keys!
“Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti.”
A cascade of notes rang out.
“Everyone, please excuse my poor performance. This piece, I wish to dedicate to someone!”
After Bai Jinghong finished speaking, he slowly sat down, placing both hands on the piano keys.
Bai Jinghong’s words left everyone puzzled.
Dedicated to someone?
Who?
“Who is Young Master Bai dedicating this piece to?” Murmurs arose from the crowd.
“That’s obvious, it has to be Fan Ning’er. This is the Fan family home. Don’t you know what relationship Young Master Bai had with Fan Ning’er before?”
Hearing those discussions, Fan Ning’er couldn’t help but curl the corner of her mouth upwards. “That guy, acting all cold and indifferent on the surface, so this is what he was planning!”
“Well, if he satisfies me, I’ll go find him later!”
But just after Fan Ning’er finished muttering to herself, other discussions arose.
“Nonsense, don’t you know Young Master Bai brought a female companion? It’s definitely for that female companion!”
“Huh? That actually makes some sense?”
Over on his side, Fan Xiangming was unconcerned. Whether it was a piece celebrating his birthday or one for his daughter, either was fine!
As for some female companion? That was surely just someone Bai Jinghong brought to annoy his daughter, harmless enough.
But the War God Chen Lin was furious.
Damn it, he had brought a gift worth over a million precisely to be the center of attention.
And this bastard Bai Jinghong, just by playing a tune, had the entire room’s eyes glued to him?
What was so great about playing the piano? He could do it too!
Bai Jinghong slowly pressed the keys.
To warm up, he gently played: “Two tigers, two tigers, running fast, running fast…”
“Pfft~ Th-this… this is piano? You’re trying to make me die laughing.”
Chen Lin heard it and genuinely felt like bursting into laughter. “That’s your level? And you dare go up there and embarrass yourself?”
These words drew displeasure from the surrounding people, who all glared at Chen Lin.
“If you don’t want to listen, get the hell out. Don’t come here seeking validation!”
“You bumpkin, don’t you know what warming up is?”
Chen Lin gritted his teeth in anger, but ultimately didn’t erupt!
These people already had a death wish.
And then, Bai Jinghong’s fingers began to move skillfully and adeptly.
A melodious and moving piano piece filled the air.
A beautiful piano sound, clear as a spring, flowed smoothly like drifting clouds and running water from his fingertips. The alternating black and white keys gave birth to a variety of wonderful music.
It instantly drew everyone into the sound of the piano.
Gentle and lingering, with rising and falling crescendos!
Coupled with Bai Jinghong’s handsome face and skilled piano fingering, the atmosphere was pushed to a small climax.
Many of the on-site service staff even risked having their pay docked, running to the sidelines to watch Bai Jinghong play.
Even Shen Yaoyao over there was captivated.
Bai Jinghong’s piano sound, for some unknown reason, moved her deeply.
And then, after a stretch of gentle and melodious piano music, Bai Jinghong suddenly switched styles.
A “Rhapsody” seamlessly transitioned in, following right on its heels.
This shift was breathtaking.
Yuan Daoqi’s eyes lit up with brilliance, internally marveling.
Bai Jinghong had said he was dedicating the piece to someone!
That gentle and melodious opening was like someone’s beginning.
And the subsequent Rhapsody was like narrating the tragic episodes that followed for that once joyful and happy person.
He was familiar with this piece.
This Rhapsody described remnants of broken walls in ashes after profound trauma, the setting sun reflecting in blood, tears, and dust—a lively rhythm contrasting with a tragic image.
Yuan Daoqi asked himself; he could play the piece, but he absolutely could not integrate this kind of emotion into it.
Bai Jinghong was truly at the level of a Master.
When Bai Jinghong’s fingers touched the keys for the final time, the performance ended.
Applause filled the entire hall.
“Young Master Bai, amazing!”
“Too moving. I never imagined Young Master Bai’s musical accomplishments were so profound!”
“To hear Young Master Bai’s performance today makes this trip entirely worthwhile!”
“Young Master Bai, could you please tell us for whom you played this piece?”
“Let us see who is so fortunate!”
This question was on everyone’s mind.
Every face was filled with anticipation.
Especially over by Fan Ning’er and Zhang Xiaoya.
Fan Ning’er was waiting for Bai Jinghong to look at her.
But to everyone’s surprise, Bai Jinghong said nothing, merely shaking his head.
This piece was, of course, played for Shen Yaoyao.
Everyone else just heard the sound. The only person present who could truly understand the emotion was, apart from the Music Master Yuan Daoqi, Shen Yaoyao, who had personally experienced the meaning behind the piece.
Bai Jinghong absolutely would not say it aloud. If he did, Shen Yaoyao would know.
That kind of secret experience, she had never told anyone!
Only he, with his God’s-eye view, understood.
“Tch, what’s the big deal!” Chen Lin curled his lip in disdain.
And naturally, Chen Lin’s words were heard by others, immediately causing displeasure.
“If you’re so great, you go up there! Stop pretending!”
Chen Lin just curled his lip again. He guessed Bai Jinghong was definitely trying to curry favor with Fan Ning’er and was just saying it wasn’t that great on purpose.
So he blurted out, “Just an ordinary piece. What’s there to be surprised about? Practice makes perfect, that’s all!”
“Yeah, right, you’re so capable. Just like how you’ve been wiping your ass for so many years, never once seeing your own hide, yet you hit the mark every time, isn’t that right?”
Chen Lin’s gaze turned cold. He was being humiliated again?
By some random passerby?
