Super Doctor - Chapter 176

When Xu Ze heard Sun Lingfei suggest a duet of “Castle in the Sky,” his eyes lit up. He had always loved this piece—not only could it be played on the violin, but he had also practiced it on the piano and was quite skilled at it. A sense of regret washed over him as he thought, “If only I could play this duet with her.”

Li Yue, standing beside him, noticed the flicker of excitement in Xu Ze’s eyes followed by disappointment. Curious, he leaned in and asked quietly, “Do you know how to play this piece?”

“Yes,” Xu Ze nodded softly.

Seeing Xu Ze’s confirmation, Li Yue broke into a grin. He looked up and called out to the delicate young woman who was about to join Sun Lingfei at the piano, “Little sister, you play every day—I’ve heard it so much I’m tired of it. How about letting someone else take a turn?”

His words caught everyone by surprise. The young woman turned toward him with a graceful smile and replied, “Brother, what kind of trouble are you stirring up now? Do you really think I play that poorly?”

“Of course not! It’s just that I hear you play so often, I’ve developed a bit of listener’s fatigue. I thought it might be nice to change things up and try a fresh interpretation,” Li Yue replied shamelessly. “Everyone knows you’re the little piano princess. Why not let someone else show their skills today?”

The guests watched the playful banter between the Li siblings with amusement. It was rare to see both of them at the same event, and though Li Yue’s antics might have seemed a bit disruptive, no one was willing to confront the famously unpredictable young master.

Sun Rui, standing nearby, also wore a smile. Having both Li siblings present was an honor, especially since Li Yue rarely attended such gatherings. Their casual demeanor only emphasized the closeness between their families, and he saw no reason to intervene.

Li Xiaorui looked at her brother with a faint smile, knowing he wouldn’t cause trouble without a reason. She replied lightly, “Alright then, brother. Why don’t you play the duet with Lingfei?”

Li Yue laughed heartily. “Xiaorui, those few years in Xing City really made you bolder, teasing your own brother like that! Do I look like I know how to play?” He then added, “How about this—let Xu Ze play instead. You can judge his skills. He’s quite talented—let’s see how he measures up to you.”

He patted Xu Ze on the shoulder encouragingly. “Xu Ze, my sister has always been a bit of a piano snob. Show her what you’ve got and make her admit you’re good.”

The crowd turned their attention to the young man named Xu Ze, many silently racking their brains trying to place him. Was there a prominent Xu family in Beijing or elsewhere? Who was this strikingly handsome young man that Li Yue held in such high regard, even going so far as to showcase his talents?

Li Xiaorui’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched her brother push the elegant young man forward. She understood his intentions but was still surprised—her brother, who usually dismissed others so easily, seemed genuinely fond of Xu Ze and was going out of his way to create an opportunity for him and Sun Lingfei.

She smiled warmly at Xu Ze. “That sounds wonderful. Xu Ze, I’ve heard so much about you. I had no idea you played the piano too. Since you’re here, why don’t you take this chance to play alongside our beautiful birthday girl? You’ll owe me one for this, okay?” She giggled and glanced meaningfully at Sun Lingfei, noting the delight in her eyes.

Xu Ze shot a grateful look toward Li Yue before stepping forward. He smiled at Li Xiaorui and said, “Thank you, Piano Princess, for this opportunity. I’m still learning, so I’d appreciate your guidance.”

He then exchanged a warm, sweet glance with Sun Lingfei, their eyes filled with unspoken understanding.

Though the audience couldn’t see the depth of their connection, many noticed Sun Lingfei’s obvious pleasure and excitement, sparking whispers of envy. Some speculated that Sun Lingfei must already have feelings for this handsome newcomer, and that he had persuaded Li Yue to help him shine.

But since Xu Ze had arrived with Li Yue, no one dared to openly criticize him. Instead, they waited to see if his piano skills could match his striking appearance. If he performed poorly, it would be a humiliating letdown.

Xu Ze, with his refined features, calm demeanor, and well-fitted off-white Givenchy suit, cut an impressive figure as he walked toward the piano. Many young women and elegant ladies in the crowd watched him with keen interest, just as Li Yue had anticipated.

Seated at the piano—a full-length grand, though a Yamaha rather than a top-tier Steinway—Xu Ze lightly ran his fingers across the keys, producing a fluid, cheerful sequence of notes to test the instrument. The sound was crisp and responsive.

His poised posture, slender fingers, and graceful movements captivated the onlookers, especially the young women nearby, who watched with barely concealed excitement.

Sun Lingfei, who had initially been worried, felt reassured seeing Xu Ze’s confident and skilled approach. It was clear he was not just stepping up on a whim.

After familiarizing himself with the piano, Xu Ze turned to Sun Lingfei and nodded slightly. Then, lifting his hands, he let his fingers dance lightly across the keys.

A series of bright, uplifting notes filled the room, instantly capturing everyone’s attention. The melody seemed to bring a refreshing clarity to the atmosphere, and the audience collectively relaxed into the music.

As Xu Ze’s notes flowed, Sun Lingfei joined in sweetly, drawing her bow across the violin strings with practiced ease. The piano and violin melodies wove together seamlessly—light, ethereal, and harmonious. The guests nodded appreciatively; the young man Li Yue had endorsed was indeed impressive.

Xu Ze played with fluid mastery, occasionally turning to share a smile with Sun Lingfei. Their performance of “Castle in the Sky” was perfectly synchronized, leaving many in the audience both envious and admiring. Even those from prestigious backgrounds had to acknowledge Xu Ze’s exceptional talent.

The sight of them together was captivating—Sun Lingfei, radiant and graceful; Xu Ze, handsome and composed. Their occasional exchanged glances and flawless musical harmony made them seem like a match made in heaven. Many older guests watched with warm smiles, glancing meaningfully at Sun Rui.

Sun Rui himself wore a pleased expression, seemingly proud of his daughter’s musical skills, though his true thoughts remained hidden behind his smile.

When the duet concluded, the entire hall erupted into enthusiastic applause.

Xu Ze rose gracefully and walked to Sun Lingfei’s side. They stood together, sharing a moment of silent understanding before bowing slightly to acknowledge the applause.

Watching them stand side by side like a pair of storybook lovers, Li Yue and Li Xiaorui exchanged knowing smiles. They truly complemented each other.

But not everyone shared their sentiment—some felt pangs of jealousy, and even Sun Rui’s eyes flickered with a complex, unreadable emotion.

An elderly guest sighed appreciatively and said, “Young Master Xu and Lingfei harmonized so perfectly. Why not treat us to another piece?”

Several others quickly echoed the suggestion. “Yes! It’s rare to see such synergy. Please, play another duet for us!”

Xu Ze and Sun Lingfei exchanged a smile. Xu Ze nodded politely and said, “Since everyone is so kind, Lingfei, shall we play another piece together?”

Blushing slightly but smiling, Sun Lingfei agreed. “Alright. What would you like to play?”

Xu Ze paused thoughtfully. It was a slight challenge—they had never played together before, and he wasn’t sure which pieces Sun Lingfei was most familiar with. While solo performances were straightforward, a duet required both players to know the piece well enough to synchronize perfectly.

Noticing his hesitation, Sun Lingfei also seemed uncertain. They were both navigating uncharted territory.

Xu Ze considered several options—pieces that could be adapted for piano and violin duet. He finally suggested a few: “Pachelbel’s ‘Canon in D,’ Mozart’s ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik,’ or ‘Scars of the Sky’… Lingfei, do any of these appeal to you?”

Sun Lingfei’s eyes brightened at the list. She nodded happily. “Let’s play Mozart’s ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik.'”

“Perfect,” Xu Ze replied, relieved. He smiled and turned to return to the piano.

But before he could take a step, someone in the crowd called out teasingly, “Lingfei, I hear you’re quite skilled at the piano too. Why not play this piece on the piano instead? Show us your talents!”

The suggestion took everyone by surprise.