Most people here had more or less learned how to play the piano. In response to the second half of Ye Qing’s level of performance, they furrowed their brows. As Ye Qing was playing that portion, whispers rippled through the crowd.

  A musician that was truly immersed in playing music would turn a deaf ear to all the sounds coming from below the stage. However, Ye Qing wasn’t wholeheartedly focused on playing. Hearing their whispers, she became even more uneasy. Without noticing it, she played the wrong note several times. By the time she noticed, it was too late. She had already pressed down on the wrong piano key again.

  She had actually played the wrong note!

  After learning how to play the piano for over ten years, she had actually played the wrong note!

  Ye Qing was increasingly flustered and anxious. How could this be possible? How could this happen to her? Only amateurs would make this sort of mistake.

  As she looked at the black and white piano keys, Ye Qing’s vision grew blurry. Those mocking voices were like a tidal wave. Seeing those disdainful and despising looks, she felt as if everyone was booing her off the stage and that she wasn’t worthy of playing the piano!

  Once again, she had become an existence that everyone ignored. No matter where she was, her place was the corner where the shadows of the walls meet. She was only worthy of standing there and watching others elegantly and glamorously receiving cheer and applause.

  No! I’m more talented than anyone else! Why? This wasn’t fair!

  Why was it that other people got praise instead of me? On what basis did Lu Beichuan like someone other than me? Why was Ye Zhen more famous than me? To the point that others address me as Ye Zhen’s sister?

  Everything should be mine!

  On the verge of a nervous breakdown, Ye Qing suddenly raised her hands and smashed it down on the keys.

  A sharp and harsh sound came from the piano, causing everyone to look over with unhappy expressions.

  “What’s going on? Does she really know how to play the piano?”


  “This is the worst performance I’ve ever heard. This is an insult to Master Pianist Charlie’s Serenade!”


  On the stage, Ye Qing placed her trembling hands down on the piano keys. Her mind was blank, and she couldn’t hear anyone’s voice. Like a broken record, her mind replayed the incomparably ear-piercing sound when she had slammed her hands down on the piano keys.

  “No… I…” Ye Qing looked at everyone in bewilderment and started to explain, “I didn’t mean it. I just…”


  No matter how she explained, she only saw impatient looks. Panicking and shaking all over, Ye Qing stood up from the piano bench. At a loss, she helplessly looked around the crowd.

  How did it turn out like this…


  Madam Zhou’s expression was calm. She was extremely displeased, but as the host of the function, she had to stabilize the situation.

  She quietly ordered a server to bring Ye Qing off the stage, and then she smiled at the crowd and said, “Sorry everyone for that little episode. The hotel’s piano seems to be joking with us. I’m very happy that everyone can attend my birthday party. Here’s my toast to everyone.”


  Madam Zhou’s smile eased up the mood. Everyone tactically forgot what just happened. Smiling, the guests drank wine along with Madam Zhou.

  Standing in front of the champagne tower, Ye Zhen was dumbstruck after witnessing Ye Qing’s performance. It took her a long time to recover from her surprise.

  What was that? What happened to the famous scene in the novel? What a joke!

  Moreover, hadn’t Ye Qing majored in piano? How could she play the score wrong and end her performance that way?

  Ye Zhen couldn’t believe that this had happened.

  Ye Zhen raised her head to look at Lu Beichuan, but he was gone. As she looked around the crowd in the hall for him, she heard a musical note from the piano.

  While Ye Zhen had been questioning how Ye Qing could play so poorly, Lu Beichuan had gone up the stage, sat down in front of the piano, raised his hands, and played the first note of Serenade.