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As night falls, the lights are on.

Outside the auditorium of Jiangzhou University, the atmosphere was so lively that it seemed to set the air on fire.

The annual welcome party is a major event for the entire campus.

Tonight, the tree-lined avenue outside the auditorium was packed with luxury cars of all kinds, turning it into a mini car show.

Mercedes-Benz and BMW are only considered entry-level here; the occasional Porsche or Maserati that drives by always elicits a murmur of surprise.

Zhao Yu leaned against the door of his Porsche 718, enjoying the envious glances from those around him, but his mood was far from pleasant.

His several wealthy friends were engaged in lively conversation.

"Brother Yu, have you heard? Apparently, a very important person is coming tonight."

"What big shots? Aren't they just the principal and a few school leaders?"

"No, what my dad said was something like the new school board member at our school, the super rich kind! Even the principal has to serve him like a grandson."

Zhao Yu snorted dismissively and flicked the ash from his cigarette between his fingers.

School board member?

No matter how rich he is, can he get more money than the land his family received in the demolition compensation?

His only pleasure today was waiting to see how that poor bastard Zhang Yan would ruin himself in front of the entire school.

Just then, a deep and distinctive engine roar came from afar.

The sound wasn't harsh, but it carried an unparalleled sense of weight, instantly overwhelming the roar of all the other vehicles present.

The conversation abruptly stopped as everyone turned to look in the direction of the sound.

A Rolls-Royce Cullinan, entirely black, glided silently in like a beast lurking in the night, finally coming to a steady stop at the main entrance of the auditorium.

The air around him seemed to freeze.

"Holy crap..."

Someone gasped, breaking the silence.

Everyone was awestruck by the powerful aura of this top-of-the-line luxury car, and even their breathing became unconsciously softer.

Amidst countless shocked, curious, and inquisitive gazes, the driver's side door opened, and Chief Secretary Linda quickly got out of the car, went around to the back seat, and respectfully opened the door.

The first thing to emerge was a slender ankle encased in black stockings, wearing a pair of Jimmy Choo stilettos that gleamed with a dangerous sheen.

Immediately afterwards, a long, straight leg stepped out.

When the woman in the car stood up completely, a chorus of gasps filled the room.

She was a woman whose mere silhouette could make everyone's heart stop.

A sharply tailored white suit hugged her breathtaking S-curve figure, her long hair was piled high, revealing her smooth, full forehead and graceful swan neck.

She wore large sunglasses that covered most of her face, revealing only her delicate jawline and a fiery red lip.

She did nothing; she just stood there quietly.

But that powerful aura, emanating from his very bones and wielding the power of life and death, was like an invisible net that instantly enveloped the entire square.

The arrogant rich kids around her instantly paled in comparison to her.

The principal and several school leaders almost ran to greet him, their faces full of humble yet nervous smiles.

"Chairman Nie! Chairman Nie! Your presence is a great honor for Jiangzhou University!"

The woman addressed as "Chairwoman Nie" simply nodded slightly and remained silent.

That inherent aloofness and nobility made everyone feel ashamed of themselves.

Zhao Yu stood frozen in place, completely unaware that the cigarette in his hand had fallen to the ground.

He felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his heart, making it difficult to breathe.

That woman...

He had seen him once from afar at the most prestigious financial summit in Jinghai City.

The helmsman of Qingcheng Group, the legendary "Bamboo Leaf Green" who single-handedly carved out a bloody path in the male-dominated business world—Nie Qingcheng!

How did she end up here?!

……

Inside the auditorium, Nie Qingcheng was surrounded and seated in the very center of the first row.

The moment she sat down, the temperature around her seemed to drop several degrees.

The boys in the back row went crazy, craning their necks and desperately trying to see the face of this mysterious female boss.

"My God! Who is this? She's prettier than all the female celebrities on TV combined!"

"That aura... I feel like my legs go weak just looking at her."

"Quick, quick, take a sneaky picture! This is enough for me to brag about for a year!"

Nie Qingcheng ignored the commotion around her.

She took off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of captivating fox-like eyes, and the beauty mark at the corner of her eye added a touch of aloofness under the light.

Linda handed over a program schedule.

Nie Qingcheng took it, her slender fingers slowly tracing the surface of the paper printed with cheap ink, skipping directly over the boring songs, dances, and crosstalk performances that followed.

Finally, her fingertip stopped on a name.

[Piano Solo: Croatian Rhapsody]

[Performer: Zhang Yan]

Her red lips curved into a very faint yet meaningful arc.

……

Backstage.

The dressing room was in a flurry of activity, filled with the smells of hairspray and cheap cosmetics.

Zhang Yan sat alone in a chair in the corner, closing his eyes to rest.

He was wearing a well-tailored black suit, which Nie Qingcheng had Linda deliver to him the day before yesterday.

The fabric is top-notch, and every detail exudes understated luxury, making his already tall and slender figure appear even more elongated.

His outfit made him stand out from the students around him, who were wearing cheap rented costumes and looked nervous.

"Hey, isn't this our great Casanova?"

A sarcastic voice rang out.

Zhao Yu, accompanied by several followers, blocked the entrance to the dressing room, his face filled with undisguised malice.

He looked Zhang Yan up and down, and when his gaze fell on the Patek Philippe cufflink on Zhang Yan's wrist, his eyes were filled with such jealousy that they seemed to be spitting fire.

"Dressed up so smartly, does she really think she's some kind of upper-class person?"

Zhao Yu walked up to Zhang Yan and looked down at him.

"Zhang Yan, I'm giving you one last chance."

He lowered his voice and spoke in a volume that only the two of them could hear.

"Kneel down and beg me now, say you were wrong, and maybe I can get the host to say you were suddenly sick, to save you some face at the last minute."

"Otherwise, if you can't even play a single note on stage later, it won't just be you who embarrasses yourself."

The air around them instantly tensed up.

Wang Hao was sweating profusely with anxiety, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, but Zhang Yan stopped him with a single look.

Zhang Yan slowly opened his eyes.

He didn't look at Zhao Yu, and didn't even show the slightest extra expression.

He simply raised his hand and casually straightened the collar of his suit.

Then, slowly and deliberately, he adjusted the valuable Patek Philippe cufflink to a more comfortable angle.

That composure, that calmness, that utter disregard, was like a silent slap across Zhao Yu's face.

Zhao Yu's face instantly turned a deep liver color.

"Fine! You've got guts!" he gritted his teeth. "I'll wait and see how you die!"

Just then, a voice from outside the door called out, "Next up, a piano solo, Zhang Yan, please get ready to go on stage!"

Zhang Yan stood up.

He didn't look at Zhao Yu again and walked straight towards the entrance on the side of the stage.

The moment he stepped behind the curtain, the spotlight in the auditorium shone precisely on him.

The lights in the entire auditorium dimmed, leaving only this one beam of light.

The host's enthusiastic voice rang out: "Next up, we have Zhang Yan, a freshman from the School of Economics, to perform a piano solo of 'Croatian Rhapsody'! Let's give him a round of applause!"

Sparse applause broke out, mixed with many confused murmurs.

"Zhang Yan? Which Zhang Yan?"

"Isn't that the orphan who received special hardship allowance? He can play the piano?"

"Are you kidding me? He probably just came up and pressed a couple of buttons randomly."

Under the gazes of the audience, some sympathetic, some mocking, and some simply watching with amusement, Zhang Yan strode forward, step by step, toward the black Steinway grand piano in the center of the stage.

He walked very steadily.

His back was straight, his steps were unhurried, as if he were not walking towards an execution ground that would ruin his reputation, but towards his own throne.

He sat down at the piano.

The black suit blended seamlessly with the black piano, leaving only his handsome, refined face glowing white under the spotlight.

He didn't start immediately.

Instead, he raised his head, his gaze piercing through the dark audience seats, landing precisely on the woman in the first row.

Eyes facing each other.

Under the gaze of thousands of people in the audience, this was a silent exchange that only the two of them could understand.

Nie Qingcheng leaned forward slightly, and in her alluring fox-like eyes, there was no encouragement, no tenderness, only an unquestionable command.

Her red lips moved silently.

Zhang Yan understood the lip reading.

—You made me proud.

Otherwise, I'll deal with you when I get home.

In that instant, Zhang Yan's heart strangely calmed down.

He looked away and took a deep breath.

Then, in the deathly silence of the entire hall, he slowly raised his hands and hovered them over the row of cold, black and white piano keys.