No one could take their eyes off Ji Yunxiao.
The crystal chandelier overhead was already intricate and dazzling, but Ji Yunxiao in her starry dress was even more radiant.
Even as the center of attention at the banquet, Ji Yunxiao remained calm and composed.
Her every movement was graceful, and when she sat down, her poise was so impressive that even those who doubted her were now full of anticipation.
“Does Ji Yunxiao really know how to play the konghou?” Qiao Xi was shocked once again.
Lin Qianwei was about to say she wasn’t sure, but at that moment, Ji Yunxiao looked over at her and gave her a gentle smile.
Suddenly, Lin Qianwei felt at ease.
Lin Qianwei said confidently, “She does.”
Even Lin Yuan’s old friends were sighing to her, “Your daughter-in-law is really nothing like she used to be.”
But Lin Yuan had no patience for this and said with prejudice, “What does Ji Yunxiao know about the konghou? I bet she’s about to make a fool of herself again.
I can’t stand the embarrassment.”
With that, Lin Yuan was about to turn and leave.
“Wait and see.” Lin Qianwei pressed down on Lin Yuan’s shoulder.
Ji Yunxiao had come to Old Madam Liu’s birthday banquet and was performing the konghou on stage, probably just to show off in front of Lin Yuan.
Since she’d already guessed Ji Yunxiao’s intention, how could Lin Qianwei let her mother leave?
“Weiwei, you—” Lin Yuan’s words got stuck in her throat, because Ji Yunxiao’s performance had begun.
A clear, ethereal melody flowed from Ji Yunxiao’s fingertips, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.
Lin Yuan turned back in astonishment, unable to believe the person on stage was Ji Yunxiao.
How could it be Ji Yunxiao? How was that possible?
Not far away, Yan Lulu’s face had gone completely pale.
She had studied the konghou for years, and now she realized that not only could Ji Yunxiao play, but her skill was far above her own.
No matter what everyone in the audience was thinking, Ji Yunxiao was fully immersed, plucking the strings with both hands, completely focused.
On stage, the harmonics rang out, the chords flowed, and the melody built up step by step, drawing everyone in.
After her initial shock, Lin Yuan couldn’t help but listen intently.
She hadn’t heard the piece Ji Yunxiao was playing before, but it was beautiful and moving.
It started off lazy and relaxed, like sunlight in the early morning, as if strolling through misty mountains.
Then it grew brighter and more lively, the rhythm building, becoming grand and majestic.
At its climax, it was torrential and powerful, like waves surging forward, or thousands of horses charging together.
It was truly stirring, making one think of that line of poetry: “Jade shatters in Kunshan, the phoenix cries; the lotus weeps with dew, the orchid smiles.”
Everyone present was stunned, including Lin Yuan.
She had thought Ji Yunxiao would embarrass herself again, but instead, Ji Yunxiao not only didn’t lose face, she played a piece that was absolutely breathtaking.
Lin Yuan was so shocked her mouth wouldn’t close.
She was an expert in music, so she not only heard that Ji Yunxiao’s playing was heavenly, but also saw that Ji Yunxiao skillfully used all kinds of techniques—vibrato, pressing, ornamentation, slides, and more—executed to perfection.
This was definitely not something that could be learned overnight.
When Ji Yunxiao finished her performance, the applause in the banquet hall lasted a long time before it died down.
Old Madam Liu even clapped with tears in her eyes, exclaiming, “Wonderful, wonderful! The younger generation is truly impressive.”
Ji Yunxiao stepped down from the stage and politely offered a few words of birthday congratulations to Old Madam Liu.
The people nearby gradually dispersed, leaving only a few close friends around Old Madam Liu.
Even after sitting down, Old Madam Liu couldn’t stop praising Ji Yunxiao.
Then she remembered to ask, “By the way, what was the piece Miss Ji just played? I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before.”
At this moment, the short-haired middle-aged woman who had been helping Old Madam Liu smiled and said, “Mom, of course you haven’t heard it.
Xiaoxiao wrote it herself, and she brought it here today just to celebrate your birthday.”
This was Old Madam Liu’s eldest daughter, Liu Zhi.
Seeing her speak up for Ji Yunxiao, Lin Qianwei couldn’t help but look over.
Old Madam Liu was both happy and surprised when she heard this.
“Xiaoxiao can compose music too?”
Ji Yunxiao replied modestly, “Just a little.”
Old Madam Liu sighed, “That’s really something.”
She had also been composing lately, but had hit a rough patch and wanted to find someone to discuss it with.
Now that Ji Yunxiao had this talent, she naturally wanted to talk to her more.
Ji Yunxiao agreed and said, “Grandma, I need to let my wife know first.”
“Alright, alright.”
Old Madam Liu watched Ji Yunxiao walk over to Lin Qianwei, then remembered to ask her eldest daughter, “This Miss Ji’s wife, is that Qianwei from Yuan Yuan’s family?”
Liu Zhi said, “That’s right.”
Old Madam Liu looked puzzled and lowered her voice, “I remember Yuan Yuan complaining to me a lot, saying her daughter-in-law was stupid, mean, lazy, a complete good-for-nothing, totally unworthy of Qianwei.
But this Miss Ji is clearly such a talented and outstanding person.”
Liu Zhi laughed, “I have no idea what’s going on.
Why don’t you call my sister Lin Yuan over and ask her?”
As it happened, Lin Yuan was nearby.
Old Madam Liu took her cane back from her daughter, tapped it on the floor, and called out, “Yuan Yuan, come here.”
Meanwhile, Ji Yunxiao had already walked over to Lin Qianwei.
She leaned in slightly, her eyes bright, as if waiting to be praised.
She asked Lin Qianwei, “How did I do just now? I didn’t embarrass you, did I?”
Lin Qianwei replied coldly, “You really stole the show.”
Ji Yunxiao’s features, enhanced by her makeup, were even more striking up close—so captivating that Lin Qianwei was afraid she’d lose herself just looking at her, and had to turn away.
But the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curl up a little.
“Old Madam Liu wants to talk to me about music later.
Wait for me, okay?” Ji Yunxiao squeezed her palm from behind, then let go.
Lin Qianwei didn’t answer, but instinctively turned to look.
Ji Yunxiao was standing under the chandelier, waving at her with a smile.
“Wait for me.”
“Mm.”
Her voice was soft; who knew if Ji Yunxiao heard it.
Qiao Xi, standing nearby, was still in shock.
It wasn’t until Lin Qianwei watched Ji Yunxiao leave with her mother Lin Yuan and Old Lady Liu that Qiao Xi finally spoke up.
“Ji Yunxiao really surprised me today.”
She asked Lin Qianwei sincerely, “Weiwei, do you think your wife’s been possessed or something? Or maybe Ji Yunxiao has a twin sister? The one before was the sister, and now this is the older one? Or maybe it was the older one before and now it’s the younger? Or… has Ji Yunxiao just been pretending to be weak all along?”
Lin Qianwei offered another possibility.
“Have you ever heard of… dissociative identity disorder?”
Qiao Xi blinked.
“Huh?”
Lin Qianwei lowered her pretty eyelids and said softly, “I’m just guessing.”
Qiao Xi looked worried.
“If it’s dissociative identity disorder, that’s a problem.
You never know when the other personality might show up.
I really like this Ji Yunxiao right now, I don’t want the other one to come back…”
Before Qiao Xi could finish, she felt a chill in the air.
She looked up to see Lin Qianwei shooting her a cold, icy glare.
Lin Qianwei warned her frostily, “You’re not allowed to like her.”
Qiao Xi raised her hands in surrender.
“I mean appreciate, okay? Just pure admiration, you know? From one straight girl to another! And if we’re talking about liking someone, I definitely like you more, Weiwei.”
Lin Qianwei still didn’t look happy.
Qiao Xi grinned.
“I was just saying.”
Lin Qianwei replied, “Even if you’re just saying, it’s not allowed.”
Qiao Xi said, “Okay, okay.”
The truth was, Lin Qianwei knew she could only stop Qiao Xi.
Now that Ji Yunxiao was so outstanding, she was bound to attract all kinds of people, men and women alike.
Lin Qianwei couldn’t stop it, and she had no reason to.
Just thinking about it made Lin Qianwei feel really annoyed.
“I’m going to get some air at the door.”
Lin Qianwei parted ways with Qiao Xi and walked alone into the courtyard.
It wasn’t far from the banquet hall, and the lights were still bright.
While she was feeling frustrated, a voice suddenly called from behind, “Qianwei-jie!”
Lin Qianwei turned to look, but before she could see clearly, Yan Lulu came running over and clung to her arm, sobbing.
“Wuwuwu! Qianwei-jie! Your wife played me… that Ji Yunxiao… she played me! She played me!”
…
Old Lady Liu was getting on in years and didn’t have much energy.
After studying the music score with Ji Yunxiao for over half an hour, she started to feel tired.
Ji Yunxiao took the hint and said, “Grandma, you should rest early.
I’ll come visit another day.”
“Alright, alright.” Old Lady Liu looked at Ji Yunxiao with a kind smile, but when she turned to her beloved student Lin Yuan, she raised her cane and knocked it hard.
Old Lady Liu called her, “Yuan Yuan, come here.”
Lin Yuan looked like a wilted eggplant, completely deflated, but she still walked over to Old Lady Liu and asked respectfully, “Teacher, what is it?”
“What could I want?” Old Lady Liu scolded her with a stern face.
“I just want to tell you, be nicer to Xiaoxiao from now on.
This child is incredibly smart and talented, but you made up stories and slandered her, saying she was useless and dumb as a pig.”
Lin Yuan hesitated, wanting to speak.
Old Lady Liu tapped her cane again.
“What do you want to say?”
Lin Yuan lowered her head and accepted the scolding.
“I just want to say, Teacher, I was wrong.”
“That’s more like it.” Old Lady Liu patted Lin Yuan’s head and sent her away.
After leaving, Lin Yuan stood in the corridor, looking at the elegant, beautiful woman beside her, feeling complicated.
Ji Yunxiao was still calm and unhurried.
She came over and asked, “Mom, do you need me to take you home?”
Lin Yuan struggled to speak.
“I…”
Ji Yunxiao prompted, “Hmm?”
“Never mind, it’s nothing.” Lin Yuan shook her head and swallowed what she wanted to say.
Her expression was hard to describe, but she just said, “I’ll go back by myself.”
Ji Yunxiao smiled.
“Take care, then.”
After Lin Yuan left, Liu Zhi walked over to the window and handed Ji Yunxiao a lady’s cigarette.
Ji Yunxiao declined.
Liu Zhi raised an eyebrow.
“Not smoking?”
Ji Yunxiao explained, “I’m about to see my wife.
She doesn’t like the smell of smoke.”
Hearing that, Liu Zhi put away the cigarette she was about to light.
She also put away her lighter.
Just then, a waiter passed by, and Ji Yunxiao asked him to bring two drinks.
Soon, the waiter brought over two glasses of deep amber whiskey.
Ji Yunxiao clinked glasses with Liu Zhi, her eyes curving.
“Thanks for today.”
“You’re too polite,” Liu Zhi said with a smile.
Liu Zhi said, “I don’t know much about music, but judging by my mother’s reaction, you’re clearly very talented.”
“It’s alright,” Ji Yunxiao replied with a smile.
“Actually, I’m even more talented at tasting strong liquor.
We should drink together again sometime.”
Liu Zhi looked at her.
“How do you do it?” She marveled, “Konghou and programming—two completely unrelated fields, and you’re a master at both.”
Liu Zhi’s gaze was sharp as she studied her.
“Sometimes I wonder, Xiaoxiao, are you really only twenty?”
Ji Yunxiao laughed carelessly.
She was actually thirty.
She’d accomplished a lot at twenty and received plenty of praise, but not to this extent.
“You know about my adoptive parents, right?” Ji Yunxiao said calmly.
Liu Zhi replied, “I’ve heard a little.”
Ji Yunxiao said unhurriedly, “One’s a PhD in the humanities, the other’s a PhD in science.”
Liu Zhi said, “No wonder.”
They chatted a bit longer, and when Ji Yunxiao saw it was about time, she said she had to go.
After she left, Liu Zhi’s assistant came over and asked, “Director Liu, is there any problem with Miss Ji?”
Liu Zhi sighed.
“She’s just too extraordinary.”
The assistant was puzzled.
“Is that a problem?”
“Of course not,” Liu Zhi said, lighting a cigarette again.
“You have to believe there really are geniuses in this world.”
“Oh,” the assistant nodded.
“As long as she’s not a spy from our competitors, we can keep working with her.”
…
Ji Yunxiao had just walked into the brightly lit courtyard when she saw Yan Lulu clinging to Lin Qianwei’s arm, crying her eyes out.
The proud and competitive white swan from just now had turned into a quail.
She hung her head, her voice trembling with tears.
“Wuwuwu, Qianwei-jie… Ji Yunxiao set me up, Ji Yunxiao, she set me up.”
Ji Yunxiao: “…” She felt a little jealous.
She wanted to cling to her wife’s soft, fragrant arm too.
Her wife’s arms were so fair and beautiful, it must feel amazing to lean on them, right? Ji Yunxiao was getting the urge to hit someone.
She strode over and suddenly spoke up, “What’s going on here?”
Lin Qianwei looked over at her too.
The moment their eyes met, Lin Qianwei instinctively tried to pull away, but Yan Lulu was holding on so tightly that she couldn’t get her hand free.
And when Yan Lulu glanced at Ji Yunxiao, she started crying even harder.
“Wuwuwu! Qianwei-jie… you have to stand up for me! You have to help me…”
Ji Yunxiao was getting a headache from all the noise.
Just a moment ago, Yan Lulu had been so arrogant in front of her, acting all high and mighty.
She never expected that in front of Lin Qianwei, Yan Lulu would turn into this kind of person.
And her wife was cold on the outside but soft on the inside, and she couldn’t stand it when people she knew cried in front of her.
Sure enough, Lin Qianwei was already frowning a little and asked her, “What… exactly did you do?”
Yan Lulu was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe, let alone speak.
Ji Yunxiao: “I…” She didn’t know how to explain.
But before Ji Yunxiao could say anything, Ji Liuliu next to her started spilling everything that had just happened like beans from a bag.
Of course, coming from Ji Liuliu, the story was bound to be exaggerated.
Ji Yunxiao couldn’t help pinching the bridge of her nose as she listened.
This half-sister of hers was just too scheming.
But honestly, not very smart.
Ji Liuliu was still putting on a weak act.
“Just now, when Yunxiao-jie played the konghou so skillfully, it was obvious she was an expert.
But when Lulu asked her a basic question, she deliberately gave the wrong answer.”
Yan Lulu kept crying and even pointed at Ji Yunxiao.
“She did it on purpose to mess me up, so I’d have to give up my chance to perform!”
Ji Yunxiao took advantage of her distraction, quickly pulled her away, and took out a tissue to wipe the tears off that fair, jade-like arm.
“Qianwei-jie…” Yan Lulu tried to lunge over again, but this time Ji Yunxiao stepped right in front of Lin Qianwei.
She lifted her pretty eyelids, her gaze sharp.
“If you have something to say, say it.
Don’t hug my wife.”
Yan Lulu shouted at her, “I already said everything! You set me up! You stole my chance to perform!”
Lin Qianwei spoke coldly, “She had no reason to.”
Ji Liuliu thought she’d misheard.
“What?”
Yan Lulu was sobbing so hard she could barely speak, looking utterly wronged.
“Qianwei-jie, she framed me like that, how can you still take her side?”
Lin Qianwei’s expression was calm.
“I’m not taking her side, I’m just telling the truth.”
The moment Liu Zhi spoke up for Ji Yunxiao, Lin Qianwei understood that Ji Yunxiao had planned this all along.
And Liu Zhi was a businesswoman—she wouldn’t help Ji Yunxiao for no reason, there had to be something in it for her.
Ji Yunxiao had been so busy these days, barely in touch with her, probably because of this.
As Lin Qianwei spoke, Ji Yunxiao couldn’t help but smile.
She leaned a little closer to Lin Qianwei, her eyes curved, her tone sweet.
“My wife really gets me.”
Yan Lulu was about to lose it.
“Ji Yunxiao! How can you show off your relationship in front of me? Don’t you have any shame?”
Lin Qianwei’s head was buzzing from all the noise.
She reached out and poked Ji Yunxiao’s arm with a finger, whispering, “Explain it to her.”
Ji Yunxiao felt a shiver run through her bones.
She really loved it when Lin Qianwei touched her first.
But facing Yan Lulu, Ji Yunxiao was a bit helpless.
Still, since her wife asked, she said, “I never meant to steal your chance.”
Yan Lulu was unreasonable.
“You did steal my chance!”
“Yeah,” Ji Liuliu supported Yan Lulu, her voice soft, “You were the star tonight, but all that applause and praise should have been Lulu’s.”
Ji Yunxiao looked at Yan Lulu, who was crying her eyes out, and found it funny.
“You don’t really think that if you hadn’t given up your spot, I wouldn’t have been able to perform tonight, do you?”
Yan Lulu glared at her with red, swollen eyes.
“Isn’t that the case?”
Ji Yunxiao replied calmly, “I’d already contacted Ms. Liu Zhi.”
She admitted she’d played Yan Lulu and Ji Liuliu.
But that was just because she was bored and wanted to mess with these two girls.
She was always going to perform the konghou tonight.
Lin Yuan had been looking down on her lately, and she needed a chance to change Lin Yuan’s opinion.
And Lin Yuan’s most respected teacher, this old lady Liu’s seventieth birthday banquet, was the perfect opportunity.
Yan Lulu accused her of scheming, but she really hadn’t.
After all, Yan Lulu “giving her the chance” was totally out of her control and random, but what she wanted was a sure thing.
Besides, she never expected Yan Lulu to show up.
Her plan was to get Liu Zhi to arrange it for her, so even if Yan Lulu hadn’t suddenly decided to give her the spot, she still would have performed.
Because she and Liu Zhi had already worked it out.
Yan Lulu seemed to get it, but she was still unwilling, grasping at straws.
“But you said at the time, anyone with hands can play the konghou, you could do it too, and you pretended not to know it was a double-row string instrument, weren’t you just leading me on…”
“How was I leading you?” Ji Yunxiao snorted.
“If I really wanted to mess with you, I could do it a thousand different ways.
I could make you cry so hard you’d run out of tears.”
Ji Yunxiao called her out directly.
“And if you hadn’t tried to mess with me, would things have turned out this way? Miss Yan, let’s be real, you just wanted me to embarrass myself on stage, but you didn’t expect me to actually have the skills, so now you’re falling apart and coming to my wife to throw a tantrum.”
Ji Yunxiao’s face was expressionless.
“It’s honestly pretty funny.”
Yan Lulu stared blankly for a few seconds, then started bawling even louder.
Ji Yunxiao covered Lin Qianwei’s ears, completely out of patience.
“Let’s go, ignore her.”
But Lin Qianwei pulled her hand down and whispered, “Tell her to stop crying.”
Ji Yunxiao could guess why.
The book said the Yan and Lin families were old friends, and when the Lin family had trouble, Yan Lulu’s parents had helped a lot.
Maybe that’s why Yan Lulu could cry on Lin Qianwei’s arm like this.
Ji Yunxiao: “Fine.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose and went over to Yan Lulu.
“Stop crying.”
Yan Lulu didn’t listen at all.
Ji Yunxiao said again, “Honestly, it’s a good thing you didn’t get on stage to perform.”
Yan Lulu’s sobs quieted a little, and she asked, “Why?”
“Because no matter what, I was going to go up and play.
Whether you went before or after me, as long as you performed, you’d inevitably end up being compared to me, just as my backdrop.” Ji Yunxiao said offhandedly, “Wouldn’t that be even worse for you?”
Yan Lulu thought about it for a moment, and it actually made sense.
Ji Yunxiao patted her on the head.
“So isn’t this better?”
She didn’t like her love rival, but she wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it.
After all, whether it was Yan Lulu or Ji Liuliu, neither of them seemed like a threat to her.
She couldn’t be bothered to fuss with these little girls.
After Ji Yunxiao patted the back of her head, Yan Lulu’s face inexplicably turned red, but at least she stopped crying.
She just threw a bunch of nonsense threats at Ji Yunxiao, then left.
Ji Liuliu was unwilling, but there was nothing she could do, so she followed along.
The spacious courtyard was left with only Ji Yunxiao and Lin Qianwei.
The birthday banquet was being held at a country estate on the outskirts of the city.
The grounds had mountains and water, jagged rocks, and the scenery was elegant.
Ji Yunxiao was feeling a little tipsy, so she invited Lin Qianwei, “Let’s take a walk.
We can have the driver wait outside, okay?”
Lin Qianwei’s heart suddenly started racing.
She didn’t dare look at Ji Yunxiao, just tilted her head up to look at the moon overhead, her back straight, and answered demurely, “Okay.”
Ji Yunxiao laughed softly.
Lin Qianwei curled her fingers and asked, “What are you laughing at?”
“I’m happy,” Ji Yunxiao said.
“Just being able to walk with you makes me feel really lucky.”
Lin Qianwei scolded her, “You’re such a smooth talker.”
But Lin Qianwei liked it.
The night breeze brushed past their hair and clothes as they walked slowly.
Lin Qianwei asked again, “So, why did you say that to Yan Lulu?”
Ji Yunxiao replied, “Just messing with her.”
Lin Qianwei stopped and turned to look at her.
“Is teasing other girls that much fun?”
Ji Yunxiao’s heart skipped a beat, and she hurried to explain, “Let me explain.”
Lin Qianwei put on a stern face.
“I’m listening.”
Ji Yunxiao thought her wife looked adorable when she was jealous, but she didn’t dare delay and quickly said, “Here’s what I was thinking: I was going to go on stage and play anyway.
I let Yan Lulu and the others look down on me, think I’m useless, and then I surprise everyone and blow them away.
Isn’t that satisfying?”
“What’s so satisfying about that?” Lin Qianwei’s lips curved in a barely noticeable smile.
“So childish.”
Ji Yunxiao tentatively took Lin Qianwei’s hand and said softly, “Well, sometimes I can be a childish woman too.”
The path was lined with blooming roses, the distant walls covered in climbing roses, and the camphor trees with their thick leaves swayed in the wind.
Ji Yunxiao looked into Lin Qianwei’s eyes and said, “I can be childish.
I can get jealous too.”
“When I saw Yan Lulu hugging you and crying today, I was so jealous.”
Ji Yunxiao’s face was full of grievance as she said softly, “Just because I don’t cry like Yan Lulu, does that mean you won’t comfort me?”
