Chapter Forty-Two: Knows a Little Piano (Please Vote for Me)

(Dedicated to Blue Northern Bread for the monthly ticket.)

“Ding…”

Holding his breath, focusing completely, Yang Qing’s long, slender fingers glided across the piano keys, and instantly a melodious and graceful tune filled the air.

It was like a mountain stream quietly flowing, or like migratory birds circling the sky, reluctant to leave.

A force that tugged at the heartstrings spread with the music.

For a moment, Wang Ying’s gaze became dreamy and entranced; her emotions were drawn into the faintly sorrowful melody.

Backstage, Lin Xiuyue’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Yang Qing.

The despair she had just felt… had truly been overturned!

Who was this man… really…

In the audience, the listeners began to gently wave their glow sticks to the rhythm, and as they did, some quietly wept.

Music has power; it moves people, stirs emotion, and when emotion is overwhelming, tears fall of their own accord.

“When shall we meet again? Only in dreams, as a breeze slips through my fingers and severs my dark hair.”

“Fix your gaze—do you know who, with a light touch, paints her brows anew each morning for the artist?”

At that moment, Wang Ying’s singing unfurled, ethereal as the scent of an orchid in the dark, moistening the heart and reaching straight to the soul.

Her lips parted gently, the song echoing; on her beautiful, painting-like face appeared a trace of sorrow, a touch of longing, a hint of loss.

Her eyes, slightly blurred, gazed at Yang Qing, at his dancing fingers, at him… as if she were looking at the one longed for and awaited in her song.

“Whom can I tell of this loneliness? Past promises, easily broken.”

“Ding…”

Singer and piano entwined, music swirling and lingering like interwoven strands of hair, like uncuttable threads of longing.

He played, she sang, they listened.

The pianist closed his eyes softly; the singer’s eyes grew red; the listeners’ tears flowed silently.

Such is the magic of music.

The greatest fear is when the singer sings of herself, and the listener realizes they, too, are the one in the song.

“Ding…”

“All that remains are memories, loneliness unending. Strings, recalling the bloom of youth.”

“Ding, ding, ding…”

As the song reached its end, the piano’s notes, as if losing their lingering life, circled in mournful descent and gradually faded away.

When the piece ended, the entire venue fell instantly silent.

“Sob…”

At last, after a moment, quiet, broken sobs began to sound, as if something most precious had been lost.

Gradually, the weeping grew, like a curtain of rain spreading across the hall.

“Whew!”

On stage, Wang Ying exhaled softly, wiped her eyes, and as she looked upon her audience, about to speak, Yang Qing’s voice suddenly whispered in her ear:

“Uh… why is everyone crying? It can’t be… did I play badly? That shouldn’t be…”

He opened his eyes and saw all those reddened faces in the audience, and immediately felt lost and nervous.

He was actually quite confident in his piano playing—after all, it was a gift from the system—but seeing the scene before him, he suddenly felt uncertain.

“You said yourself, if it wasn’t good, it’s not my fault!”

“Pfft!”

Hearing this, Wang Ying burst into laughter through her tears and looked at him with feigned anger. “If it’s not your fault, whose is it? You’ve made all my fans cry. I don’t care, you have to take responsibility.”

“No, wait, I… I…”

Yang Qing panicked. Take responsibility? How am I supposed to do that?

He looked at Wang Ying pleadingly, lamenting, “I didn’t mean to! I didn’t even know what was happening before I was dragged here. By the time I realized, it was too late, so I… I…”

“So what?” Wang Ying’s eyes glimmered with laughter.

Yang Qing hung his head. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“Ha…”

At his words and his aggrieved expression, Wang Ying couldn’t help but laugh. Then, stepping gracefully to the center of the stage, she faced the audience and bowed in gratitude:

“Thank you, everyone. Was that song beautiful?”

“Beautiful!”

The audience roared their approval.

This song, “Dark Tresses,” was their beloved Diva Ying’s signature piece. They’d heard it countless times, but in this moment, they were certain—this was its true pinnacle!

The outpouring of emotion, the flowing, exquisite piano that seeped into every heart, the ethereal voice awakening memories—all had elevated this song to another peak.

Seeing the red-eyed, exhilarated audience, Wang Ying’s lips curved into a lovely smile.

“Would you like to hear another?”

“Yes!”

“But…” Wang Ying paused, her tone turning a little wistful as she pointed at Yang Qing, “But my pianist wants to go on strike. What should I do?”

“Gah!”

The audience’s excited shouts stopped dead, and all eyes turned on Yang Qing.

“I… I don’t! She’s making it up!”

Faced with a sea of red eyes, Yang Qing jumped in fright and shot Wang Ying a wounded look, shouting.

Damn it! How could she say that at a time like this? Look at all those bloodshot eyes—terrifying!

“Ha ha…”

Yang Qing was flustered, but Wang Ying just laughed.

“All right, don’t scare him. I was only joking, to lighten the mood, because the next song is a cheerful one, and you’re all much too emotional for it right now.”

Worthy of her diva status, Wang Ying brought the atmosphere back with a single line.

Laughter rippled through the hall, restoring the mood to its earlier brightness. Smiling gently, Wang Ying glanced at Yang Qing and gave a small gesture.

Yang Qing understood. His ten fingers began to dance, and lively piano notes leapt forth like sprites.

To the quick rhythm, Wang Ying’s singing soared, like butterflies frolicking among blossoms, light and carefree, bringing a sense of effortless joy.

Glow sticks waved, lighting up smiling faces; as the song progressed, hearts lifted with happiness and clarity.

On stage, Yang Qing and Wang Ying performed beauty and joy, while outside, Fang Du and Qin Xue were nearly frantic.

“Where is he? Did you find him…”

“No… no, he’s not answering his phone either…” Fang Du looked at Qin Xue’s helpless face, nearly collapsing. “Captain, where could Brother Yang have gone? He doesn’t know this place, doesn’t know anyone…”

“Wait… that’s not right!”

A thought struck him. Not daring to look at Qin Xue, he stammered, “Do you think he might have… gone to find…”

“Find what? Out with it!” Qin Xue snapped.

Fang Du gritted his teeth. “Gone to find Diva Ying.”

“What!” Qin Xue froze, then her gaze turned icy sharp.

“What happened?”

“When I brought Brother Yang here, he heard Diva Ying singing, and then… he wanted to go take a look, so I think he…”

“Hmph!”

Qin Xue had no patience for his rambling. With a cold huff, she spun around and strode toward the auditorium.

“What a mess!” Fang Du sighed in frustration and hurried after her.

At the backstage entrance, Qin Xue saw a bespectacled girl crouched on the floor, hugging her knees and quietly sobbing.

“Stop crying.”

She pulled out a tissue and handed it over. “Get up, wipe your tears.”

“Th-thank you, Captain Qin.”

The girl, Xiao Chu, took the tissue and wiped her eyes, grateful. She knew this stunning woman, once just a fellow intern, now promoted to team leader.

Qin Xue was the role model for all interns at Yang City TV, and the goddess in every single man’s heart.

“So, what happened?” Qin Xue frowned slightly. “Why are you crying here? Did someone bully you?”

“No… no,” Xiao Chu choked out, waving her hands, “I… I made a mistake.”

“What mistake?” Fang Du, who had just arrived, asked in confusion. “You look really upset.”

Xiao Chu: “I… I mistook a stranger for Teacher Yang and… brought him inside.”

A stranger!

At that, Fang Du’s eyes widened in shock.

Qin Xue quickly pulled out her phone, opened her photo album, found a group shot from a hotpot restaurant—two adults and five children—and zoomed in, showing it to Xiao Chu.

“Look—is it this man?”

Xiao Chu stared, then nodded blankly. “Yes…”

“Whew!” Qin Xue drew a deep breath. “Why did you bring him in?”

“To… to play piano. I thought he was Director Lin’s pianist.”

Qin Xue: …

Fang Du: ╯▂╰

Seeing their expressions, Xiao Chu asked timidly, “Are you two… here to find him?”

Fang Du nodded wearily. “Yeah. Has he already been kicked out? Do you know where he went?”

“Kicked out?” Xiao Chu looked puzzled. “He hasn’t come out yet.”

“What? He hasn’t come out?” Fang Du was stunned, glancing at the equally dazed Qin Xue. “If he hasn’t been kicked out… could it be… Brother Yang… can really play piano?”

Qin Xue said nothing but headed inside. “Let’s go have a look.”