Chapter 45: Dual Piano Performance

Chapter 45 Dual Piano Performance

Wen Zhaofu arrived at Shengken Academy in the evening. The principal personally greeted him, and they shared a banquet.

At that moment, he felt less free than Cheng Yu and Liu Erxing. They weren't bound by such formalities and social obligations. Given their personalities, they had probably already gone to the rehearsal room to see Yun Fan.

Wen Zhaofu’s guess was indeed correct—Cheng Yu and Liu Erxing met outside the rehearsal room, exchanged glances without a word, and were both denied entry.

The teacher refused to let any outsiders in, insisting on maintaining a sense of mystery, thus shutting out all the VIPs.

“Heh, it’s a draw,” Liu Erxing said flippantly. “Young Master Cheng, with your busy schedule, you still found time to visit this small academy?”

“If you can come, why can’t I?” Cheng Yu smiled. “Fair competition, each with their own tactics.”

“Is love about tactics? It’s about sincerity,” Liu Erxing said, patting his chest.

Cheng Yu opened his mouth to speak, but Liu Erxing cut him off: “I’m a scoundrel, no need to emphasize that again. But Cheng Yu, even scoundrels have sincerity.”

“That depends on whether others want it,” Cheng Yu said coldly.

He wasn’t wrong. Right now, neither of them was better off than the other because neither had won Yun Fan’s affection. But neither was worse off either, for the same reason.

After all the twists and turns, they were still on the same starting line.

Thinking this, both of them felt a little better. As for Wen Haochen inside, even though he had been with Yun Fan these past two days, they didn’t see him as a threat.

But when they thought of Wen Zhaofu, who hadn’t shown up and didn’t always appear, they both fell silent...

After all, he was the big shot among big shots.

“Do you think Wen Zhaofu has already said something to Yun Fan?” Liu Erxing asked first.

Cheng Yu paused, forcing himself to stay calm before replying, “It doesn’t seem like it so far.”

Liu Erxing breathed a sigh of relief, but Cheng Yu added, “But when he does speak, he’ll have a hundred percent certainty.”

Liu Erxing’s face fell instantly. He thought, no, he had to be even more steady, precise, and ruthless!

*

What the big shots were pondering, Yun Fan had no idea. Right now, his entire focus was on the piano in front of him.

Fifty-two white keys, thirty-six black keys—he had played them for many years. If not for his parents’ passing, and his mother’s insistence on teaching him, he might have made a career of it.

But there were no “ifs.” Walking alone, he was just managing to feed himself, with no room for extravagant hopes.

This was a dual piano performance. Mastering his part was only the first step; more importantly, he had to coordinate seamlessly with the girl on the other piano to deliver a flawless performance.

The rehearsal teacher recognized Yun Fan’s skill, but everyone was nervous about whether he could harmonize well with his partner.

Zhuo Ning was very fair, with delicate features like her brother Zhuo Yan. As the featured performer for this event, everyone thought she was suitable.

But Yun Fan’s appearance changed their original opinion.

When Yun Fan stood in the center of the rehearsal stage, everyone except Wen Haochen gasped in amazement. He wasn’t just “suitable”—he was “stunning.”

With curved eyebrows and smiling eyes, he bowed slightly and introduced himself. His eyes were bright and moist, like gleaming pearls, making people willing to trust and focus on him with just one glance.

The tailcoat accentuated his slender figure, and for a moment, he seemed like a character straight out of an ancient fairy tale.

Yet he wasn’t aloof. His smile added approachability, making him seem like a gentle older brother from the neighborhood.

Seeing his classmates’ reactions, Wen Haochen straightened up and puffed out his chest. For some reason, he felt incredibly proud. But soon, he also felt a bit uneasy. All the attention was on Yun Fan, giving him an unprecedented sense of crisis.

At that moment, Wen Haochen’s focus was still within the rehearsal hall. He had already forgotten that this performance would face hundreds of audience members, as well as his three brothers, whether by blood or bond...

“Well then, let’s start rehearsing,” Yun Fan said with a smile, breaking the stillness.

“Oh, right, of course,” the conductor snapped out of it first, his mouth shifting from a circle to a line.

Appearance aside, sitting at the piano was about skill. Yun Fan knew this well. Following the rehearsal teacher’s instructions, he carefully studied the score, keeping track of technical details in his mind.

Dual piano performance required the two players to coordinate volume and tone through listening, finding a balance. In such a short time, Yun Fan couldn’t achieve perfect rapport with his partner, but he would do his best.

“You should take the lead since you’ve rehearsed with the orchestra for a long time. I’ll follow you and do my best,” Yun Fan said to his piano partner, his gaze sincere. “Please trust me—I won’t make mistakes.”

The young girl nodded in a daze, replying, “Okay, okay.” Although Yun Fan spoke of coordination, what she felt was his commanding presence.

Unlike the easily anxious Zhuo Ning, Yun Fan, though not much older, had a clear judgment of how things would unfold.

This was incredibly reassuring.

Their performance was the grand finale. To stay alert, Yun Fan hadn’t eaten. Just before going on stage, he took out his phone for a quick look. New messages popped up one after another on the screen.

Liu Erxing had sent many pictures and voice messages. Yun Fan glanced at them and exited. Young Master Liu was using their chat as a notepad.

Cheng Yu had also sent a few messages, informing Yun Fan that he was coming to watch the performance and wishing him all the best.

Wen Zhaofu had sent one message in the afternoon when he arrived at Shengken Academy, then remained silent. Just as Yun Fan was reading it, another message popped up.

Mr. Zhao Fu: Xiao Yun, you’ve worked hard. After the performance, I’ll take you to a seafood stall /hug

Yun Fan smiled at his phone, feeling as if he were stepping on cotton candy, his heart soft and warm. He put away his phone, took a deep breath, and looked toward the stage.

This wasn’t originally his stage, but tonight, he was destined to shine brightly.

*

Before going on stage, Wen Haochen hurriedly found Yun Fan. The young master’s reflex arc was too long—it was only now that he realized Yun Fan was replacing Zhuo Ning after just one day of rehearsal!

Shengken Academy attached great importance to this performance as a showcase of the school’s image, putting in great effort. Not only were students’ relatives invited, but also many figures from political and business circles.

Wen Haochen secretly peeked at the audience in the concert hall and realized this was no joking matter.

So he suddenly grew worried, afraid that something might go wrong. If that happened, combined with the news of his fight making its way back to the Wen family, all the good things would turn bad.

“Butler Yun, are you... really sure?” Wen Haochen asked, growing more anxious seeing Yun Fan so calm and composed.

Yun Fan glanced at him and smiled, thinking this younger brother was still just a younger brother. He shook his head slightly. “I won’t let Mr. Zhao Fu down. And also, make sure you don’t miss the beat later.”

Wen Haochen became alert, his eyes widening like copper bells. Why bring up his brother out of the blue? Why was Yun Fan still thinking about his brother even when he was standing right in front of him?

So annoying! Young Master Wen was so annoyed!

But what could he do? His eldest brother paid Yun Fan’s salary; his eldest brother was the current representative of the Wen family. What could he possibly use to compare with his eldest brother?

After some thought, Wen Haochen suddenly realized—he was younger than his eldest brother!

By six years, a full six years! He could accompany Yun Fan for many more years. How wonderful.

Yun Fan didn’t bother with what Wen Haochen was lost in thought about. He needed to seize the time to chat more with his piano partner.

Thinking about the seafood stall after the performance, Yun Fan felt even happier. Returning to Wen Yanlan’s residence at this hour, Uncle Man would probably already be resting. Going hungry would be unbearable—Wen Zhaofu knew how to appeal to him.

Wen Zhaofu, seated in the audience, was just as distracted as Wen Haochen, both thinking of Yun Fan. When he learned that Yun Fan was going to perform on stage, he was somewhat surprised, yet it also felt expected.

He knew that the 'Fan' in Yun Fan's name was anything but ordinary.

Cheng Yu and Liu Erxing weren't sitting together; lost in the crowd, they sat where they couldn't see each other. Both felt this setup worked perfectly—seeing less of each other meant less annoyance.

After a long wait, the emcee finally announced the next act: the double piano performance of "Carnival of the Animals" was about to begin.

The curtains slowly drew open, the surrounding lights dimmed, and a spotlight tracked Yun Fan's movement as he moved across the stage.

He wore a tailcoat, his hair swept back and fixed in place, with light makeup enhancing his features, making them appear even more refined than usual.

Arriving at the center of the stage, Yun Fan paused, then bowed alongside his partner who approached from the other side. Smiling, he faced the vast audience without a hint of nervousness, as if in this moment, he was the master of the stage.

And indeed, he was.

The two pianos were positioned facing each other. Yun Fan lifted the hem of his tailcoat, the fabric slid smoothly as he sat on the piano bench with effortless grace.

He sat angled toward the audience, his clean jawline and well-defined facial contours captured everyone's attention. No one knew who he was, yet at this moment, all eyes were on him.

The moment Yun Fan appeared, Wen Zhaofu held his breath. He clasped his hands near his lips, stunned for a moment.

"I heard he's your house manager?" the principal leaned over and asked softly.

Wen Zhaofu snapped back to attention and replied, "His name is Yun Fan. He works at Langyuntai."

"Oh..." the principal dragged out the syllable, "Everyone under Mr. Wen's leadership is talented."

As the notes flowed out, Liu Erxing craned his neck. Already tall, sitting upright blocked the view of those behind him. Soon, he heard a "tsk" sound.

He ignored it; he pretended not to hear.

Over there, Cheng Yu was much more restrained. Before the performance began, he exchanged business cards with the audience member next to him, chatting happily. Though now, seeing Yun Fan on stage, he felt restless, he still urged himself to restrain the rising emotions.

The first movement of "Carnival of the Animals" is the Royal March of the Lion, beginning with a double piano prelude, then progressing with a march to portray the lion's majestic entrance.

Yun Fan, following the continuous heavy notes with his hands, engaged his core, his body moving with the music. Immersed in the performance, he seemed to transform into the lion king, patrolling the jungle with authority.

Yun Fan's long fingers flew across the black and white keys, his confidence unmistakable in this moment. It was clear that this, too, was his domain, and everyone would submit to him.

The addition of strings made the melody richer and deeper. The other pianist, within Yun Fan's focused performance, completely relaxed. Who was leading no longer mattered; their collaboration today was exhilarating.

Yun Fan played the Chromatic Scale in the lower register, imitating the lion's roar. He involuntarily tensed his facial muscles, his back rising and falling with the music, his entire body entering the forest world of the piece.

The lion is the king of beasts, and today, Yun Fan, showcasing his skilled piano technique, was the king of the stage. Everyone heard the authority and awe in the music.

While the audience was still immersed in the awe-inspiring impact of the Royal March of the Lion, the performers on stage had already moved on to the next segment. They next portrayed the elephant, with a piano waltz followed by a humorous piece from the string section, lightening the rhythm.

Just listening to the music, some couldn't help but laugh, as if truly seeing the elephant's slightly clumsy yet endearing steps.

Afterward, they heard the elegance and nobility of the swan, serene and captivating.

Yun Fan's body swayed gently; he maintained a graceful posture throughout, his expression shifting perfectly with the music, sometimes melancholic, sometimes joyful.

The unity of man and instrument was embodied in Yun Fan.

The finale was a carnival, with all animals gathering together in fervent joy. The grand reunion was brilliant and a perfect conclusion, much like today's performance.

*

As the final note fell, the sound cut off instantly. All performers slightly raised their chins, taking pride in their performance.

The audience was dead silent, as if no one had snapped out of it, as if the music was still ringing in their ears.

"Bravo!" someone was the first to shout, his voice ringing out clearly.

It was Liu Erxing. He jumped up from his seat, completely disregarding whether he was blocking anyone's view.

"Bravo!" Liu Erxing shouted several more times, wishing he could run up and offer Yun Fan a bouquet of flowers.

Liu Erxing thought to himself—his trip wasn’t wasted, and he really didn’t want anyone else to come. He wasn’t wrong: Yun Fan ought to be hidden away, stashed away at the edge of the world where no one but him could find him.

Yun Fan was too stunning—who could see him without being mesmerized? So he had to be hidden away, absolutely hidden away.

From the moment Yun Fan placed his hands on the keyboard, Wen Haochen couldn’t take his eyes off him. Even though he already knew Yun Fan’s skill, at this moment, he still felt Yun Fan was too brilliant.

Thankfully, he had enough muscle memory for striking the triangle, remembering to quickly dampen the lingering sound to avoid sustained resonance, so as not to ruin the entire performance.

Wen Haochen thrust the triangle into the arms of the flutist next to him and rushed down. He reached Yun Fan before anyone else, pulling him into a tight hug.

Yun Fan had just bowed to the audience and straightened up when he was suddenly hugged by this big, Husky of a guy, startling him into taking a step back.

"You were amazing, ahhh!" Wen Haochen held Yun Fan by the waist and lifted him forcefully.

The movement made Yun Fan uncomfortable. He grunted, "Hey, hey," and patted Wen Haochen’s back, urging him to let go.

Cheng Yu shot up from his seat, startling the neighbor beside him. But Cheng Yu offered no explanation—he just stared fixedly at Yun Fan on stage.

The awe from moments earlier still surged in Cheng Yu’s heart. Amid the euphoric beat, he saw clearly into his own feelings.

He loved Yun Fan’s appearance, loved how useful Yun Fan was to him—but these were only parts of love. He now understood what love itself was: it meant he no longer cared about anything else, he just wanted this person.

Lately, Cheng Yu had made many major decisions at work, but now, he made another one.

He decided to be led by his heart in love.

And he was completely clear-headed.

Wen Zhaofu, seated in the front row, saw and heard everything—whether it was Wen Haochen’s embrace or Liu Erxing’s shouts. He thought to himself, Cheng Yu probably wasn’t doing any better right now.

Wen Zhaofu remained in the same posture as before, hands pressed to his lips, appearing quite calm on the surface. Only he knew how much he wanted to kiss Yun Fan right now.

Standing at a distance watching quietly, or sneaking the occasional hug, was no longer enough for Wen Zhaofu.

He knew his desires were insatiable, but he was intoxicated by them.

This love, this heart—it was overflowing…

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Author’s note: Guys, taking a break tomorrow! See you the day after! [Hahaha]