Gazing at the back of the figure on stage, facing away from the crowd, and listening to the second movement of the music currently playing, Lang Yuan concluded that this young man, being labeled a gigolo, was indeed the same person who played the piano at the shopping mall.
He had listened to the entire piano piece at the shopping mall during the day. After returning to his hotel, he repeatedly played and practiced the piece obsessively, using a video filmed by a passerby. However, the result was that he couldn't play the second part of the piece, only managing to somewhat reproduce the first movement.
Across the entire Dragon Country, there were only a handful of pianists whose skill could be compared to Lang Yuan's. If even he couldn't play the latter part of the music, let alone other pianists. Now that the complete piano piece was being performed, only the original composer could play its later sections.
Lang Yuan could hardly contain his excitement. As if discovering a treasure, he took out his phone and carefully recorded the second movement. The surrounding guests, who were taking photos with him, looked on with confusion. Why was Teacher Lang so ecstatic, like a fan, over a gigolo? Did this gigolo have a significant background?
The same question arose in everyone's minds. They stood there, whispering among themselves, speculating if the young man playing the piano on stage might be the son of some powerful boss. However, judging by his attire, he didn't look like the usual second-generation rich kids they encountered. It was likely that the piano piece played by the gigolo had captivated Teacher Lang.
Lang Yuan didn't offer much explanation regarding the speculative whispers around him. Instead, he listened intently, recording every note in the music.
Gao Fei, playing the second movement of "Für Elise" on stage, was gradually getting into the groove. Immersed in the world of piano music, he closed his eyes, swaying slightly. Through the notes struck on the black and white keys, he conveyed the love story within the piano piece to the outside world.
However, in the restaurant, apart from the renowned Lang Yuan, very few guests could truly appreciate the piano music. Nearly two-thirds of the guests were gathered around Lang Yuan, and few understood the music. These business elites were primarily there to get autographs and photos with Teacher Lang, which they could later flaunt in their social circles.
Yet, there were a few discerning guests who sat at their tables, sipping red wine, and quietly listening to the piano piece. These knowledgeable guests unanimously praised the unknown piano composition.
As the piece reached its conclusion, scattered applause erupted in the restaurant. Lang Yuan, who was surrounded by admirers, applauded the loudest. The elite guests who didn't understand the music patiently joined in with the applause for the sake of taking photos. The applause lasted only a few seconds before quickly dying down.
Gao Fei didn't care whether people understood the music or not. He went on stage to play not to compete with Lang Yuan in skill, but because Jin Qiqi had accidentally let slip earlier about her betting with netizens through a secondary account. After Gao Fei's persistent questioning, he learned the entire story behind the trending topic of the "Pianist's Back View."
The invitation for a meal was actually a guise to film a new video of him playing live. Now that the meal was eaten and the money spent, and unable to resist Jin Qiqi's constant pestering, Gao Fei had to fulfill her bet with the netizens.
As soon as he finished playing and stepped off the stage, Jin Qiqi immediately applauded softly and said, "Boss, if you were to wear a tuxedo and go on stage again, you'd be a perfect piano master. Although I don't know much about pianos, your skill is absolutely top-notch in the country, without a doubt! If we were to look globally..."
Listening to his agent's effusive praise, Gao Fei felt goosebumps. "Enough, Sister Jin, if you keep talking, I'll soon be unbeatable in the world! Now that your bet with the netizens is complete, can we settle the bill and leave?"
"Right away!" Having achieved her goal, Jin Qiqi didn't linger. She immediately called the waiter to settle the bill.
The guests were all surrounding Lang Yuan, taking photos. Their departure, unlike their arrival, didn't attract much attention. However, Lang Yuan, who was being mobbed, kept his eyes on Gao Fei. Seeing him walk through the dimly lit restaurant to leave, he quickly declined the guests' requests for photos and hurried after him.
Outside the door, seeing the two preparing to hail a taxi, Lang Yuan shouted, "Young man, can you teach me that piece you just played?"
Hearing this, the trailing guests were all stunned. Teach Teacher Lang to play the piano? Didn't that mean the young man they saw as a gigolo was even more skilled than Teacher Lang? This statement created an awkward silence.
Gao Fei glanced at the business elites behind him with peculiar expressions, then looked at the enthusiastic Lang Yuan. To avoid further awkwardness and to give Teacher Lang a way out, he could only nod in agreement.
After the three of them left in a taxi, discussions erupted outside the restaurant.
"Teacher Lang actually asked that young man to teach him to play the piano. Could it be that this young man is a well-known pianist who has just emerged in the country?"
"If he's a newly popular pianist, haven't we missed another opportunity to take a photo with a celebrity!"
"For Teacher Lang to ask for lessons, how extraordinary must this young man's skills be!"
"If the media finds out that Teacher Lang is publicly seeking lessons from a young man, it would likely become tonight's trending news!"
Lang Yuan's startling words caused people to re-examine the young man's identity. At the same time, their initial impression of the gigolo changed. A person who could make the renowned pianist Lang Yuan chase after him to humbly seek instruction was hardly a gigolo.
At this moment, many began to regret their own shortsightedness, not having approached for photos when he finished playing. Encountering two top pianists from the Dragon Country in one evening was enough to boast about multiple times to other business elites based on tonight's experience.
Soon, among the people discussing his identity, different voices emerged.
"Speaking of that young man earlier, if anyone can compare to him, it might be our city's Gao Fei, who has been repeatedly praised by the authorities!"
"Nonsense! Gao Fei has appeared on the news several times, and even has military backing. That young man isn't even qualified to be compared to Gao Fei!"
If they had known that the young man in question was Gao Fei himself, all the elite individuals present would likely have been mortified!
However, they couldn't be blamed for not recognizing him. The environment in the piano restaurant was dim, and one would need to be seated face-to-face to see someone clearly. Outside the restaurant, the streetlights were dim, and coupled with Gao Fei wearing a mask, it was difficult for those unfamiliar with him to recognize him. Moreover, he had never publicly displayed his piano skills; only videos of his back were available online. It was reasonable that he wasn't recognized by the restaurant patrons!
...
Yihe Tianfu.
Earlier outside the restaurant, Gao Fei had intended to step in and help. However, he didn't expect Lang Yuan's obsession with "Für Elise" to be so strong that he followed him all the way home. Gao Fei mentioned he didn't have a piano at home. Lang Yuan assured him it was just a phone call away. Seeing Teacher Lang's persistence, Gao Fei could only face it squarely.
Back home, Lang Yuan and Gao Fei sat in the living room discussing pianos. Jin Qiqi, having filmed the new video of the "Pianist's Back View," went straight to her room upon returning. She logged into her secondary account on her computer, ready to upload the video to satisfy the waiting netizens.
When she logged into her secondary account, her private messages had already reached over 99+. Besides netizens urging her for the new video of the "Pianist's Back View," she noticed several special accounts.
"The official account of the Dragon Country Poetry Research Association? Why would they contact me, what's going on?" Jin Qiqi curiously clicked on the private message window. She saw that the other party had sent no less than twenty private messages.
"Madam, are the eighteen poems all created by your boss? Please reply as soon as possible if you see this message."
"Madam, may I ask if your boss is willing to join the Poetry Research Association? Please reply if you see this."
"Miss, are you there?" Twenty-odd private messages were sent every half hour. Seeing that there was no reply, the account kept repeating the words 'Are you there?'
In addition to the Dragon Country Poetry Research Association, the Dragon Country Calligraphy and Painting Association had also sent private messages to Jin Qiqi's secondary account.
"Hello, Madam, may I ask your boss's age, origin, and if he is willing to join the official Calligraphy and Painting Association?"
"Madam, after the New Year, our association will be holding a national calligraphy and painting competition at Kyoto University. If your boss is willing to join the association, he can be a judge for the competition."
"Madam, please reply upon receipt." Compared to the Poetry Research Association's impatience, the Calligraphy Association was much more composed. However, Jin Qiqi, sitting in front of the computer, was completely stunned by the private messages on the screen.
Initially, she only thought that Gao Fei's calligraphy was vigorous and his poems were beautiful and profound. That's why she took photos, combined them, and posted them online. But she never imagined that nine combined photos would attract recruitment from two official associations for Gao Fei.
The two associations were officially certified by the Dragon Country government. Those who joined the associations were the top talents in their respective fields. Furthermore, the total number of members in both associations combined did not exceed thirty. Once admitted to an association, with this identity, one would be a honored guest in many political and business circles wherever they went. Now, the official intervention and recruitment were enough to prove how much attention Gao Fei had attracted.
Jin Qiqi took a deep breath and walked downstairs. As for the new video of the "Pianist's Back View," she had completely forgotten about it.
In the living room on the first floor, Gao Fei, who was being pestered by Lang Yuan about pianos, looked utterly defeated, regretting bringing him home. Because besides pianos, Teacher Lang had no other topics of conversation. Moreover, since they entered the house, Comrade Xiao Gao hadn't even introduced himself. Despite their animated conversation, Teacher Lang spoke the entire time. Comrade Xiao Gao, who possessed social skills, could only nod and smile in response, unable to interject a single word. Teacher Lang gave him the feeling of the Tang Monk in "A Chinese Odyssey" from his previous life. So annoying!
Seeing Jin Qiqi rushing downstairs, Gao Fei felt like he had seen a savior and quickly got up to ask, "Sister Jin, is there something you need me for?"
"How did you know?" Jin Qiqi looked at him curiously. Did her boss have a future-predicting cheat?
"Yes, there is. Let's go upstairs to discuss it!" Gao Fei looked at Lang Yuan and smiled politely. "Teacher Lang, please feel free to look around as if you were at home. I need to attend to something else first. Please notify me when the piano arrives."
"Alright!" Seeing Teacher Lang nod, Gao Fei, as if escaping, pulled Jin Qiqi and quickly left.
Lang Yuan, sitting in the living room, didn't notice Comrade Xiao Gao's unusual behavior. After they left, he began to tour the villa. Arriving in the backyard, he saw the stone and wood carvings on the ground, and his eyes lit up.
"What beautiful stone and wood carvings! The lion's head is sculpted with natural spirit and lifelike. The landscape in the wood carving is simply a perfect scroll! Did Xiao Ge carve them?" Lang Yuan murmured to himself as he looked at the sculptures, taking out his phone to take pictures.
After taking photos, Teacher Lang found a poem blown down by the wind by the wall. Reading the verses on the Xuan paper, his eyes lit up again. It was the first time he had seen such a beautiful description of a sunset in a poem. Teacher Lang's phone camera was activated again, and he took a photo of the poem.
Meanwhile, in the "Pianist's Back View" topic community, as Jin Qiqi had not yet released the new video of the "Pianist's Back View" performance, some netizens began to question the photos she had posted. They felt she was seeking attention and that the back view photos were of someone she had hired to wear the same clothes, impersonating the "Pianist's Back View." As for the beautiful poems that had never been seen before, and the exquisite stone and wood carvings, netizens felt that Jin Qiqi had also searched for pictures online to gain attention and followers. Otherwise, how could one person be skilled in piano, carving, calligraphy, and poetry?
(To be honest, after the breakup, she seamlessly moved on, and I was just a big simp, a spare tire simp!)