Chapter 14

"You can play the piano?"

Xia Rou stared at Song Mo in surprise.

"A little," Song Mo smiled faintly, opening the school piano room door—no one was here at this hour, perfect for filming a Kuaidou Short Video.

Xia Yu carried her equipment with her at all times.

It was she who suggested filming a set of videos or photos of Song Mo today and posting them on Kuaidou Short Video to gauge the response.

Song Mo was more than happy to oblige.

He sat on the piano bench, fingers lightly resting on the keys; this piano was far inferior to the one in his own home, but true masters never complained about their environment.

Besides, to Song Mo, pianos made little difference—he gently pressed a key, familiarizing himself with its tone.

"Ready?"

Song Mo asked Xia Yu.

Xia Yu had already taken her position and, while Song Mo tuned the piano, she couldn't resist snapping several shots.

"Ready."

Song Mo changed into a well-fitted suit, his expression cold, his long fingers dancing gracefully across the keys—Xia Rou watched from afar, entranced.

Xia Yu focused entirely on filming.

The piano's sound was recorded as well.

Xia Yu hadn't expected Song Mo's piano skills to be so exceptional; though she didn't understand piano, as a layperson, she found it beautiful.

On Kuaidou Short Video, if laypeople found it beautiful, that was enough—most people just watched for entertainment.

Moreover, Song Mo's looks played a significant role.

The piece ended.

Song Mo stood up, smiled at the camera, and bowed slightly.

Before leaving, he playfully winked.

Then he walked over to Xia Yu to see how the footage looked.

As expected, the footage was excellent.

Xia Yu truly had skill.

"Let me see too!"

Xia Rou squeezed in, eager to view the final cut.

On screen:

Sunlight streamed into the empty piano room, the simple Tyndall effect lending the light an elegant beauty.

A piano came into view; upon it rested a pair of long, beautiful hands—just those hands alone evoked refinement, making one imagine their owner must be extraordinarily handsome.

When the elegant piano music began, the scene shifted abruptly: Song Mo appeared in full formal suit, his face cold and ascetic like a mountain of ice, his dark, glossy eyes shining like stars, expression utterly focused.

The graceful melody alternated between rapid and slow, perfectly paced; the calm, unhurried playing quieted the mind.

No matter what you were doing or what troubles you faced, you could still settle your thoughts and listen to this immersive performance.

Though the video hadn't been edited yet, the framing was excellent and the camera work flawless.

Xia Rou's eyes narrowed into crescents, transformed into a fangirl.

"Song Mo, you're so hot!"

"When did my internet sisters ever get to feast on this kind of delicacy? Post it online and it'll definitely go viral!"

Xia Yu nodded slightly—after editing, the final product would be even better: add some suspense, adjust lighting and shadows, use contrast effectively.

It would surely be even more stunning.

"I'll edit this video tonight—should I send it to you, or how?"

"Just send it to Xia Rou—she's in full charge of my account."

Xia Yu handled filming and editing, Xia Rou managed Song Mo's Kuaidou Short Video account, and Song Mo provided the funding.

"By the way, Xia Rou, take this bank card."

Song Mo pulled out a bank card and handed it to Xia Rou.

"This is…" Xia Rou took the card.

"This is our team's operating fund—use it to buy traffic and Doujia. There's one million in it. If you need more, just ask me."

Xia Rou's hand trembled as she held the card.

One million!

Though she knew the Song Family of Modu had assets over ten billion, and one million was pocket change to Song Mo, her own family was merely middle-class.

She was still in college!

Only nineteen!

Suddenly holding such a "fortune," her heart pounded wildly, and she hesitated: "Maybe you should take it back, Song Mo—I'll ask you for money when I need it?"

"No need, keep it. You can also reimburse meals and lodging from it."

Song Mo waved his hand.

Xia Rou was simply too kind—her student-girl nature showed plainly; how could any woman hardened by the real world say something like that?

Money in hand? Don't be a fool—take it!

Song Mo had tens of millions in liquid assets, not even counting the real estate inherited from his parents—one million was nothing.

Song Mo reiterated his purpose to Xia Rou.

"I want to make Kuaidou Short Videos to gain greater fame, not to make money—so don't skimp on operations. If you spend wisely and need more, just ask me."

"Mm." With Song Mo saying it this plainly, Xia Rou didn't pretend to be modest.

She grinned and saluted him with the standard military salute she'd learned in training.

"Yes! Boss!"

"Your little employee Xia Rou will absolutely not let you down!"

A girl of Xia Rou's age always has a kind of lively, bouncing, fresh beauty about her... spoken of as though she were a fish.

He found a Chinese restaurant and treated the two of them to a meal.

Song Mo had originally wanted to drive the two girls home.

But Xia Rou and Xia Yu's home was not in Modu; they both lived in the school dorms.

So they parted ways there.

Song Mo walked out of the restaurant and waved goodbye to the two girls.

He drove home, yet failed to notice that in a tea house in the distance, on the second floor, a pair of eyes was watching him leave...

An Yinuo frowned, her little feet in white silk shoes and luxurious custom-made white sneakers hidden beneath the tablecloth, curled into a cute little arc.

"Strange, Song Mo clearly never used to like doing things with girls before, so why is he eating with two girls today?"

One of those girls, An Yinuo knew very well, was the class's arts committee member, Xia Rou.

The same girl who had spoken up for Song Mo before.

"Could it be that he wants to fall in love?"

An Yinuo had recently been paying a lot of attention to Song Mo, choosing to sit next to him in class, but Song Mo always sat together with Xia Rou, robbing her of the chance.

She, An Yinuo, also had her pride; she couldn't very well put on an eager face and chase after someone else's cold behind, could she?

But...

An Yinuo could never help paying attention to Song Mo.

Every day she wanted to hear his inner thoughts.

Even if it was just him cursing her.

Yet every time she saw Song Mo, it was in class.

And this guy's inner thoughts were actually all math formulas!

"Annoying pest."

An Yinuo stuck out her tongue at Song Mo's departing back.

Setting that aside, just looking at her appearance—

This girl really was quite cute.

(End of chapter)