Winning with Piano

Su Ruiming pulled Xu Mu aside and quickly filled him in on what had happened.

It turned out that Xu Mu had already told Su Ruiming before: the Xu Family wanted the Su Family’s new product contract this time.

So, Su Ruiming had gone straight to his father and told him the order should go to the Xu Family.

But his father refused. All of the Su Family’s supplies had always come from the Mu Family.

This time, they still wanted the Mu Family to be the supplier.

But Su Ruiming threatened him directly, saying the Su Family couldn’t afford to offend the Xu Family, and he himself couldn’t afford to cross Xu Mu.

What if they made the Xu Family unhappy and got targeted in the future?

Su Weiye came up with an idea: he used the identity of the piano master, Zhou Hening, to host a banquet.

His goal was simple. Each family would play a piece, and Zhou Hening would judge.

Whoever played best would get the Su Family’s contract.

Of course, there was a catch: only business owners from Jiangbei could participate, so no one would be offended.

After hearing Su Ruiming’s explanation, Xu Mu could only sigh at the Su Family’s painstaking efforts.

Mu Qingying from the Mu Family—the same teacher Xu Mu, as the former villain, had once pursued—was a music teacher.

Rumor had it her piano skills were already at the performance level.

So, this banquet was basically just for show. In the end, the Mu Family would still get the contract.

But now, there was a twist.

Xu Mu was an unexpected variable, and so was Lin Yang.

“Su, it’s fine. You’ve done your best,” Xu Mu patted Su Ruiming on the shoulder.

Su Ruiming looked a bit lost. What was happening?

Xu Mu was actually comforting someone?

He’d been scared out of his wits before, thinking if he didn’t finish what Xu Mu asked, he’d never be able to show his face again.

“Let’s go in together,” Xu Mu said with a smile.

“Alright.”

Su Ruiming nodded.

The two of them walked up to the manor’s front gate, and Xu Mu noticed Lin Yang being blocked by two bodyguards.

“What’s going on?” Su Ruiming walked over and asked.

“Young master, this guy doesn’t have an invitation but insists on coming in,” a middle-aged guard said, pointing at Lin Yang.

Lin Yang, meanwhile, was studying Xu Mu and Su Ruiming with a smile. He’d already figured out the general power structure in Jiangshi.

These two “big brains” in front of him—he’d seen both in the files.

Xu Mu from the Xu Family, a brainless rich second-generation.

Su Ruiming from the Su Family, pretty much the same.

But in Lin Yang’s eyes, Su Ruiming seemed more approachable—maybe someone he could recruit as a follower in the future.

After all, Su Yaya was Su Ruiming’s younger sister. That would make Su Ruiming kind of like his brother-in-law.

Thinking of this, Lin Yang started making plans.

Today, he’d make a name for himself by stepping on Xu Mu.

“Hey, you! No invitation—what are you doing at our house?” Su Ruiming frowned. “If you’re here to beg, pick somewhere else!”

Lin Yang just smiled and said, “I’m good friends with the Li Family in Jiangshi. Li Feipeng is my big brother.”

“He’s already inside, right?”

“Li Feipeng from Fengwei Foods? You, dressed like that, know him?” Su Ruiming sneered. “You guys, throw him out!”

Xu Mu just rolled his eyes on the side.

Su Ruiming was the very picture of a classic villain, and it was obvious that this so-called protagonist was about to show off.

Sure enough, Lin Yang maintained a calm expression as he pulled out his phone, getting ready to make a call.

“All right, all right!”

Xu Mu suddenly clapped his hands. “Su, since he says he knows Li Feipeng, why don’t we just bring him to Li Feipeng? If he doesn’t actually know him, it won’t be too late to throw him out then.”

“Xu, you really are soft-hearted. That makes sense. You come in with us,” Su Ruiming said, glancing at Lin Yang.

Lin Yang was a bit dumbfounded. He had just taken out his phone, all set to show off, but Xu Mu had interrupted him.

Li Feipeng wasn’t his big brother or anything, just someone he’d recently met and taken under his wing.

If he called Li Feipeng over, Li Feipeng would definitely come running, bowing and scraping, letting him show off to the max.

He hadn’t expected this guy to steal his thunder.

[Destiny Power -10]

Xu Mu smiled faintly as he watched this unfold.

“Uh... fine,” Lin Yang said, putting his phone away and walking into the manor with Xu Mu and Su Ruiming.

On the manor’s lawn, tables and chairs had already been set up.

Several uniformed waiters were pushing carts of wine and food, setting the tables.

In the distance, there was a grand piano, with a few kids banging away at the keys.

As for the adults, they were scattered in small groups, chatting.

“Mr. Lin, what brings you here? You didn’t even let me know you were coming,”

Li Feipeng, who had been chatting nearby, spotted Lin Yang and hurried over.

Lin Yang was someone he’d recently gotten to know—a man shrouded in mystery.

Lin Yang had evidence of Li Feipeng’s tax evasion, so for now, Li Feipeng had no choice but to do as he said.

“So they really do know each other,” Xu Mu commented, then left with Su Ruiming.

Lin Yang cursed inwardly—thanks to Xu Mu, he’d missed a perfect opportunity to show off.

Just then, a commotion broke out among the guests.

Everyone’s eyes turned toward the far end of the manor.

Three people walked in, each one drawing the attention of everyone present.

First was Mu Qingying. Today, she wasn’t wearing her usual uniform, but a simple long dress.

But her impressive figure made even that simple dress look extraordinary.

She still wore her hair in a ponytail, her flawless oval face on full display.

At Mu Qingying’s side was a tall, slender young woman with wavy hair.

Her eyes were bright, and her delicate, heart-shaped face seemed small enough to fit in a man’s palm.

This was Su Yaya.

Besides the two stunning beauties, they were accompanied by an elderly man, his hair already half white.

He wore a suit and had a white beard.

Many of the guests had come just to see this old gentleman.

Zhou Hening.

A national treasure and a world-class pianist.

His connections were vast, especially in the business and arts circles—not just domestically, but internationally as well.

If you could get to know him, and through him connect with certain business tycoons, your status could skyrocket overnight.

At this point, Xu Mu used his “God’s Eye” to check on Su Yaya.

Name: Su Yaya

Identity: College student, female lead of “Return of the War God”

Favorability: -20

Destiny Level: 8 (Max level 10)

Xu Mu sat at a table, quietly eating dessert and watching the drama unfold.

As expected, Lin Yang, wearing a sly grin, started walking toward Su Yaya.

"Hey beautiful, what a coincidence! We meet again."

Lin Yang greeted Su Yaya with a smile.

As he spoke, he couldn't help but size up Mu Qingying, who was standing beside her. He hadn't expected that apart from Su Yaya, there would be another stunning beauty in Jiang City.

This woman was already on his 'target list.'

But for now, his top priority was still Su Yaya—the girl who had once been his unattainable crush.

"It's you, you jerk?"

Su Yaya immediately remembered running into this guy on the plane before.

"That's right, it's me. My name's Lin Yang. Let's get along from now on."

Lin Yang flashed her a charming grin.

Su Yaya ignored him completely and pulled Mu Qingying by the hand. "Qingying, let's go over there."

By this time, Zhou Hening was already surrounded by a crowd of people.

Xu Mu hadn't joined them. From the impatient look on Zhou Hening's face, it was clear that none of these people trying to cozy up to him would get anywhere.

If you wanted to win Zhou Hening's favor, you had to use the piano.

"Xu Mu? What are you doing here?"

Mu Qingying suddenly spotted Xu Mu, who was nibbling on snacks, and her face twisted in disgust.

What a clingy pest.

He must've followed her here again.

"What, do I need your permission to attend a Su Family banquet?"

Xu Mu replied coolly.

"You—!"

Black text seemed to appear above Mu Qingying's head:

[Affection -1]

"Yaya, congratulations on becoming Mr. Zhou's student. You have a bright future ahead of you."

Xu Mu offered Su Yaya a warm smile.

On the other side, Lin Yang's face darkened instantly. Was this Xu Mu planning to go after the woman he had his eye on?

Then he was asking for trouble!

Lin Yang strode over immediately.