Chapter 587: Behind the scenes, the more they get up to mischief

The side announcer's voice rang out, the performer for the next piece took the stage, and the audience erupted in exclamations again.

"Little Tan teacher! When did he arrive?"

"Master Tan's son came to show support—what face! Or is it Miss Mu and the young master who have the bigger face?"

"My goodness, that person on stage is Tan Yuzhou, whose fame among this age group is second only to Sheng Luo."

"……"

Tan Yuzhou today wore a white suit jacket, his short hair neatly groomed, and he held no sheet music.

As he passed the front of the stage, he first gave a slight nod to Mu Xi at the main table, his gaze sweeping over a direction in the back rows, then leisurely took his seat, hands resting quietly above the piano keys.

The first note sounded.

He chose a piece originally composed by his father Tan Jingyan, which after his arrangement suddenly enriched its texture and layers.

Its style differed from what Mu Xi and Lu Yuchu had just played, yet it equally caught the audience's ears.

"……"

Near the dessert table downstairs, Feng Cen happened to circle back, looked up and saw the figure on stage, his steps paused, then he let out an ambiguous soft hum.

Liu Wanwan, closest to her, turned her head and asked, "What are you humming about?"

Feng Cen set the plate of cake on the table, his tone irritated: "Nothing, I just find him unpleasant."

Liu Wanwan put down her wine glass, the white wine gently swaying in the cup, she raised an eyebrow, intrigued: "Yo, did Tan Yuzhou provoke you?"

Feng Cen snorted derisively: "It's all because of him that I broke up with Chu Ang."

She hasn't had enough talk yet, or rather it's the first time she's been dumped.

"Huh? Who's Chu Ang?" Liu Wanwan tilted her head to look at Yu Yu beside her.

Yu Yu also blinked confusedly.

The two of them are a year below Feng Cen; Feng Cen already went to A City for university last year, while they will graduate from Sheng Luo only in June, so over the past year they really haven't known the new people Feng Cen has met at school.

Feng Cen was speechless: "It's fine if Xiao Yu doesn't know; the three of us—you, me, and him—used to eat together, didn't I introduce you? He studies chemistry."

Liu Wanwan finally had an impression, tapping her forehead with her index finger: "That bespectacled handsome guy, right?"

"Yes, him. We dated less than a month." Feng Cen gave a "huff", jerking her chin toward the stage: "It's Tan Yuzhou who stirred him up to break up with me."

Liu Wanwan's eyes flashed; the gossip spark ignited instantly: "How did he stir things up?"

The more Feng Cen spoke, the angrier she got: "He told Chu Ang that their personalities didn't match, that being together was bad for both, and then I don't know what shady tactics he used."

"Anyway, when Chu Ang brought up breaking up with me, his words inside and out all had the same tone—'Little Tan teacher is right, we should listen to Little Tan teacher.'"

"You say he's just a pianist, yet he meddles widely—what business is it of ours?"

The more she spoke, the angrier she got, summing up: "We're just friends; he overstepped."

Liu Wanwan, with a hint of glee, asked: "Did he really say that?"

"Looks like he's acting like a fan."

"Chu Ang told me himself." Feng Cen put her juice cup back on the table: "Afterwards he became my ex-boyfriend."

Yu Yu, having listened nearby for a long time, finally interjected: "Senior Tan? But I find his appearance quite gentle; he doesn't seem like someone who'd do such a thing."

From a previous school, her impression of Tan Yuzhou was that of a humble, polite academic ace.

Unfortunately, in Feng Cen's mind, Tan Yuzhou is nothing but a complete pretender.

She reached out and patted Yu Yu's head: "Good girl, Xiao Yu, take that back—I don't like hearing it."

After speaking, Feng Cen pushed the plate of cake toward her: "Eat some cake, plug your little mouth."

Liu Wanwan, fearing her good friend might really explode, quickly echoed: "Yes, yes, Xiao Yu, appearances can be deceiving; you're young, you misjudge people. The gentler someone seems on the surface, the more they scheme behind the scenes."

Yu Yu dared not speak again.

Liu Wanwan laughed, smoothing things over: "All right, all right, later I'll take you to see your Mu sister."

The piano rhythm on stage layered variations in the high register, gradually approaching the coda.

Someone downstairs couldn't help but murmur in admiration: "Little Tan teacher's arranging skill is truly strong; those transitions flow as smoothly as the original—only he could play it like this."

The person beside added: "He's only inferior to Sheng Luo in this regard; Sheng Luo's improvisation works within the framework, while he outright dismantles and rebuilds the framework."

Feng Cen listened to these praises, let out a few cold snorts, thinking he's still not as good as Lu Yuchu.

When the piece ended, Tan Yuzhou rose from the piano bench and bowed to the audience below.

Feng Cen couldn't help but mutter inwardly: "Pretender."

Guests began taking turns approaching the main table to offer congratulations.

Mu Xin accepted a bouquet, casually placed it on the empty small side table, and arranged the received flowers neatly spaced.

After arranging them, he was surrounded by a crowd offering congratulations; he originally didn't want to listen, but realizing they were all there to praise his sister, he patiently replied with a few brief words.

Lu Yuchu couldn't stand it, gave Song Yusui a shove: "Go, let Xinbao get away."

The invitation was only for core members of the major families and close friends, but with big families and many friends, it's inevitable that some will use the occasion to network.

Song Yusui swayed his glass in hand as he walked toward Mu Xin: "Alright, alright, alright."

Song Yan lowered his head and slipped to the back.

Many also gathered around Mu Nian, talking about nothing but congratulations on soon having a noble child, career success, siblings making them proud, etc.

Mu Xi found a gap and slipped away.

Mu Xianqi, Mu Xianyan, Mu Yichen, Mu Yichi, who had been staying put honestly, seeing they could still slip away, told their younger siblings and then each went their own way.

Song Lujing wasn't so lucky; he was dragged by his aunt to chat with several relatives, his composure nearly breaking.

Until he saw Song LuXiao passing by nearby, he immediately pleaded with his eyes for help, but Song LuXiao pretended not to notice.

Song Lujing despondently closed his eyes, beginning to miss the days when no one supervised him.

Just as he was trying to rely on himself to break free, his dear mother's other hand reached out and snatched the passing Song LuXiao back as well.

"Ah, LuXiao also came—perfect, this person is a friend of the granddaughter of your maternal great-great-uncle..."

Song LuXiao:?

Song Huaiyu sat down in the spot Mu Xi had just vacated, turned his head to look at his brother Song Huaixian beside him, "Where did you just go hide?"

Song Huaixian held a chocolate bar he had picked up, took a bite, "Hiding from Mom."

"Why are you avoiding her?"

"Recently I've stirred up some trouble."

Song Huaixian confirmed Mother was not within sight, then lowered his voice: "Brother, can you pretend to be me? Just wear my clothes, put on a wig and hat, and I want to sneak out."

Song Huaiyu coldly refused: "No, I haven't spent enough time with my sister."

"……"

Mu Youyu's companions here are all peers, so she's quite at ease.

After a while, the crowd at the main table finally thinned out a bit, and everyone went off to play.