Chapter 16: The Confrontation
User: #That foreigner looks like the conductor Hubert! Is Liu Mengwan about to perform with Hubert?#
Hubert?
A Li recalled that, during her piano practice, she had read about this man’s achievements in a magazine. He was a world-renowned conductor, as well as a master of both the violin and piano, and a resident mentor at a prestigious music academy…
Wait!
Didn’t Uncle say those masters were hard to invite?
Suddenly this question struck A Li. He had actually met with the piano master Hubert yesterday! Could it be he hadn’t mentioned her when they met? Or maybe he did, but Hubert simply didn’t have the time?
As A Li’s thoughts ran wild, a commotion suddenly rose from downstairs.
Aunt Liu’s voice rang out, “Miss Tang, what brings you here?”
Miss Tang?
Tang Ying?
A Li was momentarily stunned, then quickly left her room and rushed to the stairwell, only to see Tang Ying swaggering in the living room.
With an air of arrogance, Tang Ying looked around before speaking imperiously, “Where’s that little San Li? We have guests and she’s not here to greet them? Is she hiding under her blanket, crying again?”
What on earth is this woman up to now?
A Li was speechless. She truly had no desire to deal with Tang Ying, but she couldn’t just leave Aunt Liu, a hired help, to handle her. So she descended the stairs and asked, “Tang Ying, what are you doing here?”
Tang Ying looked up at A Li. Seeing the redness at the corners of her eyes and her weariness, Tang Ying immediately perked up.
“Little San Li, how are you feeling now? Just because Third Young Master Song praised you a little, you think you’re something special? Imagine yourself a piano prodigy, trying to follow in Sister Mengwan’s footsteps and become a pianist yourself? Hmph, do you really think you’re worthy of learning from Sister Mengwan?”
“Huh?...”
“Tsk, tsk. Didn’t I warn you not to challenge Sister Mengwan? One word from her, and you’ll be put back in your place!”
Has this madwoman finally reached a whole new level of crazy?
A Li found Tang Ying’s words utterly baffling. “Tang Ying, if you’ve lost your mind, go see a doctor. Don’t cause a scene in my house. Aunt Liu, show her out!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Aunt Liu hurried to block Tang Ying’s path. “Miss Tang, please leave.”
Tang Ying noted A Li’s odd reaction and frowned. “Little San Li, do you really not know, or are you just pretending?”
“What are you talking about?” A Li frowned, uneasy at Tang Ying’s babble.
Seeing A Li’s genuine confusion, Tang Ying wondered if her cousin hadn’t told her yet. No matter, if A Li didn’t know, she’d just tell her herself!
“Didn’t you want to imitate Sister Mengwan and learn piano? But Cousin has already promised Sister Mengwan: he’ll never let you touch a piano again. Don’t tell me you haven’t heard about this?”
As soon as these words fell, A Li’s mind felt as if it had been struck by thunder.
What did Tang Ying just say? Uncle forbade her from playing the piano? Impossible! He had just promised to find her a top teacher—how could he change his mind just because of something Liu Mengwan said?
Seeing A Li’s ashen face, Tang Ying’s eyes sparkled with delight. “So you really didn’t know? Hahaha… Haven’t I always told you not to covet what isn’t yours? Sister Mengwan is just too moral and won’t interfere since you’re married to Cousin, but whenever she wants, what you can or cannot do is all up to her! Little San Li, you should hurry up and give Mrs. Lu’s place back to Sister Mengwan. Can’t you see Cousin’s true love is her?”
Tang Ying said a great deal, but A Li heard none of it. She tried to remain calm, but her hands and feet had gone cold.
No. She didn’t believe a word of it! She would ask Uncle directly!
A Li turned and ran upstairs to fetch her phone.
“Where are you running?” Tang Ying tried to chase after her, but Aunt Liu blocked her firmly. “Miss Tang, you can’t go upstairs!”
A Li found her phone, her hands trembling as she dialed Lu Jinyan’s number.
At the same time, in the CEO’s office, Lu Jinyan was giving instructions to Secretary Zhang. “Take that trending topic down immediately, and send legal notices to those rumor-mongering accounts.”
“Yes, President Lu.”
Just as Lu Jinyan finished speaking, his phone lit up. Seeing A Li calling, he assumed the girl had seen the trending topic and was calling to question him.
Silly girl. Could she have believed it?
Lu Jinyan wasn’t the type to explain himself, but, not wanting the little fool at home to overthink, he answered the call.
“Hello.”