Chapter 159: The Fickle Pianist

Chapter 159: The Capricious Pianist

Chu Dong did not have to wait long. He arrived a few minutes early and sat quietly by the piano, only beginning to play once the guests entered and took their seats. Unlike the main hall, where the music was generally expected to be soft, melodious, and briskly flowing, private rooms required a different touch.

The guests arrived right on time. In a bustling metropolis choked with traffic, such punctuality was a rare sight indeed. Yet, the moment Chu Dong caught sight of the female guest, his initial swell of anticipation instantly curdled into a tight, stifling weight in his chest.

She wore a pair of small brown leather boots folded over at the cuffs to reveal pure white fleece, black silk stockings clinging tightly to her slender and beautiful legs, and a small grey woolen skirt that hit about three inches above the knee. A short blue-and-white down jacket was tightly zipped around her, and she carried a red fabric shoulder bag. The tips of her long hair were styled in soft, gentle waves, and her eyes were as clear and pure as spring water, completely devoid of any impurity. It was none other than Xiao Rou, who should have been far away in Dalian.

Although Chu Dong had only interacted with Xiao Rou a handful of times, seeing her paired up so intimately with a man he did not know felt as though someone had ruthlessly yanked at his heartstrings, leaving behind a sharp, aching pain.

He suppressed the urge to stand up and call out to her, telling himself that this person might simply be a relative of hers, or perhaps a former classmate. After all, everyone was entitled to a normal social life. Even if she had no special relationship with him—hell, even if they did—he had no right to forbid her from normal social interactions.

Even with such rationalizations, as he desperately tried to comfort and console himself, Chu Dong found it impossible to settle down. The sensation was strikingly similar to having a piece of candy stolen right out of your pocket as a child: a profound sense of grievance that you could neither voice nor alleviate. It was a suffocating, deeply frustrating feeling.

At that moment, Wang Hai bustled in, darting around the table to take the man’s order while eagerly flipping through the menu. Once the selections were made, he turned to head back out. Right before stepping through the door, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Music, let's go!"

In truth, Wang Hai had no business handling such tasks. The only reason he had poked his nose into the private room was because he noticed Young Master Qian and his companion enter without hearing any music playing, prompting him to rush in and distract Qian so he could covertly tip off Chu Dong. If Young Master Qian were to lose his temper over the silence, it would be no trivial matter.

Wang Hai's sudden shout jolted Chu Dong back to reality, reminding him that he had nearly neglected his primary duty.

However, the piece he had prepared earlier, *Kiss the Rain*, was clearly unsuited to his current frame of mind. His fingers struck a single, delicate note on the keyboard, yet amidst his distraction, not a single melody surfaced in his memory.

As he began to play improvisationally, the planned cheerfulness vanished entirely. The entire style of the song shifted into something slow and tranquil, heavy with a faint, lingering sorrow. Anyone listening closely to his performance would find themselves inevitably recalling past loves, old grievances, separation, or former regrets... bearing a bittersweet heaviness that made words feel utterly inadequate.

Upon entering the private room with Young Master Qian, Xiao Rou immediately sensed something different about the atmosphere. She glanced vaguely toward Chu Dong's direction, though the potted plants obscured her view, she could at least make out the figure of someone seated at the piano. Once Qian placed his order and the piano notes began to drift through the air, she focused her entire attention on listening.

Young Master Qian was overjoyed to see Xiao Rou’s beautiful eyes half-closed as she listened with rapt attention; all his elaborate efforts had not been in vain. Qian and Xiao Rou had indeed been classmates, though they had rarely interacted during their university days—they had merely crossed paths.

Young Master Qian was the scion of a wealthy family, while Xiao Rou was a simple village girl; their worlds had never truly intersected. Back then, even when Qian had gone so far as to entrust someone with a love letter asking Xiao Rou out, she had flatly refused. Yet, Xiao Rou had at least heard of this Young Master Qian, as they were alumni of the same cohort.

Indeed, Young Master Qian was quite a prominent figure in the capital. A single stamp of his foot might not shatter the entire Four-Nine City, but it would certainly cause a stir. Alongside him were Liu An, commonly known as Young Master Liu, and Meng Changju, known as Young Master Meng. Together, they were dubbed the Capital's Three Young Masters. Aside from indulging in lavish debauchery day and night, they engaged in various shady dealings in the shadows. Countless young women had their innocence ruined by these men, plunging them onto paths of irreversible ruin and depravity.

These three young masters were entirely spoiled by their families' immense fortunes, banding together out of shared vices to act with absolute lawlessness. Liu An’s family held considerable political clout, wielding deep-seated networks and resources while running his own exclusive club. Meng Changju’s family operated nightlife and entertainment venues of all scales across Beijing. As for Young Master Qian, he was the scion of a conglomerate with foreign heritage; his mother came from a fallen British aristocratic family, whom his father had met and won over while studying abroad. For reasons unknown, shortly after returning to China, their family rapidly rose to become prominent and wealthy merchants. While they managed to look civilized during the day, by nightfall they transformed into predatory demons hunting for prey.

Xiao Rou was a target Qian had set his sights on long ago, but he had never found the right opportunity to capture her heart. After graduation, the distance made it even more hopeless. Yet, the old adage that "the one you cannot obtain is always the best" held true; he had never given up, secretly keeping tabs on her whereabouts. Recently, an opportunity finally presented itself, and he had pulled every string imaginable to lure Xiao Rou to Beijing. Today was the very day he picked her up, marking their first meal together since her arrival.

He had gone to great lengths. Qian had long since familiarized himself with Xiao Rou’s preferences. Despite her rural background, she had developed a deep fondness for piano music during her school years. Aside from working odd jobs to scrape together tuition, she would scrimp and save just to buy CDs to enrich her inner world, and there were few classical masterpieces or famous pieces she hadn't listened to.

Therefore, upon hearing that this establishment featured a top-tier pianist, Qian immediately brought Xiao Rou here. To win a smile from the beauty, scattering a thousand pieces of gold meant nothing to him; wealth could always be re-earned, and he felt not the slightest pang of regret.

Seeing Xiao Rou captivated by Chu Dong’s piano music, Qian felt a surge of elation—his elaborate efforts had finally paid off. In his high spirits, he beckoned a nearby attendant, pulled out a thick stack of US dollars, dropped them onto the serving tray, and gestured toward Chu Dong’s direction, signaling that it was a tip.

The attendant’s eyes practically turned green with envy. That stack was easily four or five thousand dollars—enough to cover his salary and tips for nearly half a year. But no matter how envious he was, the money wasn't his, and he could only obediently deliver it to Chu Dong.

Chu Dong didn't even spare the money a glance. He simply continued playing, using the notes to articulate the profound helplessness and reluctance trapped inside his chest.

Music was unlike written words, where meanings were explicitly stated; it required empathy and comprehension. Different listeners could glean entirely different moods from the same notes. Though Chu Dong was playing his own heartache, by the time the melody reached Xiao Rou’s ears, it blended seamlessly with her own tribulations. Her younger brother’s illness was growing increasingly severe day by day. Although Chu Dong was covering the astronomical medical expenses, the agonizing struggle to find a suitable kidney donor left her brother growing more emaciated by the hour. How could an elder sister not feel her heart breaking?

Chu Dong felt like a passing traveler, a fleeting shadow that flashed across her heart, sweeping away gracefully with a flick of his sleeves, leaving no trace behind yet quietly stealing a young girl’s heart...

Overwhelmed by a whirlwind of thoughts she could no longer control, crystal-clear tears the size of peas silently spilled over her cheeks.

What did Qian Feng know about music or rhythm? As long as it wasn't grating to the ears, everything sounded the same to him. A moment ago, he had been ecstatic, tossing out a lavish tip with a grand wave of his hand, but seeing tears shimmering in Xiao Rou’s eyes instantly ignited his temper.

"Stop! Stop right there! What kind of garbage is this? Can he even play at all?" To appear cultured today, Qian Feng had deliberately worn a pair of glasses. Now, he snatched them off, slammed them onto the table, and barked at the attendant, "Go get that pianist over here! Why is he playing like a lunatic and making people cry? Is he picking a fight with me or what...?"

Chu Dong ignored him entirely and kept playing. Terrified that a scene might erupt, Xiao Rou hurriedly wiped away her tears and repeatedly insisted that nothing was wrong. "It’s not the pianist’s fault. He plays wonderfully. The music just moved me, it has nothing to do with him..."

"Oh, moved? I thought the bastard did it on purpose. Well... fine, keep playing then." Despite hanging around the fringes of high society and constantly frequenting upscale venues, Qian Feng could never truly mask his lack of refinement. At best, he was merely an upstart masquerading as a successful elite—though occasionally possessing slightly more worldly exposure than a typical nouveau riche.

Chu Dong hadn't paid the slightest attention to Qian Feng’s display of dominance. By this point, he had poured every ounce of his emotion into the music, finding himself deeply moved by his own performance.

Seeing Qian Feng calm down, Xiao Rou said nothing more, her wide eyes staring fixedly toward Chu Dong’s direction. However, the potted plants blocking her view, combined with the sunglasses Chu Dong wore, made it impossible for her to recognize him.

"Xiao Rou, don't you worry about your brother’s medical bills. I’ll cover every last cent. There's nothing to stress over." Noticing the lingering sorrow on Xiao Rou’s face, Qian Feng assumed she was still fretting over money.

"Oh, no need. A friend is helping me out, I have enough money," Xiao Rou snapped back to her senses and hastily declined.

"A friend?" Qian Feng’s radar went up instantly. Hearing that someone else was lending a hand immediately rubbed him the wrong way. "What kind of friend?"

"Just an older brother of one of my students. You wouldn't know him." Thinking of Chu Dong, a warmth bloomed inexplicably in Xiao Rou’s chest, bringing a genuine smile to her face.

*Damn it,* Qian Feng cursed inwardly. His immediate thought was that this person must be harboring romantic intentions toward Xiao Rou; otherwise, who would be generous and foolish enough to fork over that kind of cash? And a male, no less—an older brother of a student couldn't possibly be much older. This was originally supposed to be a step in *his* master plan. He had intended to not only secure a kidney donor but also play the savior by footing the bill, thereby earning Xiao Rou’s deep gratitude and smoothing the path for everything that followed. Now, clearly, someone else had already planted a seed in her heart. *No, this has to be nipped in the bud.*

With a sly glint in his eye, Qian Feng formulated a plan.

"You really shouldn't use that guy's money. Tell me how much it was, and I'll pay him back for you to clear the debt. These days, who helps people out of the goodness of their hearts? If you ask me, that fellow has ulterior motives. Look at us—we're old classmates! Take my advice, stay away from people like that in the future. You're just too naive; you'd probably help someone count the money after they sold you out."

By disparaging Chu Dong while simultaneously drawing himself closer and casting himself in a heroic light, Qian Feng proved that while he was a complete bastard, he certainly wasn't stupid.

Xiao Rou’s delicate brows furrowed slightly in displeasure at Qian Feng’s remarks. She knew precisely how selflessly Chu Dong had helped her, and hearing him slandered like this naturally upset her. But before she could formulate a rebuttal, a flash crossed her field of vision as an orange hurtled straight toward her, followed immediately by a sharp yelp from Qian Feng as he tumbled backward out of his chair.

"Stabbing me in the back while talking trash behind my back... Why is your foul mouth so damn obnoxious?"

Amidst Xiao Rou’s stunned shock, the previously melancholic pianist stood up, muttering curses under his breath...