Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
The sound of thunderous applause filled the air, unceasing and overwhelming.
“Wow, I’ve really seen something incredible today!”
“I never thought I’d have the privilege of witnessing such a piano performance! This is even better than an international piano competition!”
“I’m mesmerized, truly mesmerized!”
As the performance came to an end, Jiang Fei stood up from the piano bench. Together with Qiao Yiyi, he gave a slight bow to the audience below. With a smile, he thanked the excited crowd and then walked off the stage, his face beaming.
There was no need to worry about how his performance had been received. The expressions and looks in the eyes of the audience said it all.
They were completely blown away!
Originally just a supporting act, Jiang Fei, after a brief piano showcase, had completely overshadowed the star power of Qiao Yiyi, a top-tier celebrity. Almost everyone in the audience was captivated by his piano performance.
Even those who knew nothing about piano playing were deeply moved by the intense emotions conveyed through his music.
“Jiang Fei, you…” As Jiang Fei approached Bai Mangguo and Ye Yuanyuan, Bai Mangguo, who had previously looked down on him and thought he wasn’t worthy of Ye Yuanyuan’s attention, now wore a stiff expression, unsure of what to say.
Being able to play the piano wasn’t a big deal. In their social circle, there were plenty of people who could play, and many of them were quite skilled.
But to play at such a level, reaching the pinnacle of mastery, was something far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
At such a young age, achieving such a high level of skill in piano was nothing short of being a musical prodigy, a piano genius!
Moreover, as Bai Mangguo and Ye Yuanyuan knew, Jiang Fei wasn’t even a professional pianist. His main profession was as a doctor. How could he be so incredibly skilled at piano?
Could it be that there really existed geniuses in this world who far surpassed ordinary people? People whose brains were just more developed than the average person’s?
How else could one explain Jiang Fei’s performance just now?
Jiang Fei’s eyes sparkled with amusement. It was impossible not to feel a sense of triumph and satisfaction. There was no greater feeling than proving someone wrong who had initially looked down on you, and then utterly astounding them with your abilities.
“So, how was it? My performance just now—was it a decent enough gift for you?” Jiang Fei tried his best not to appear too smug, speaking in a deliberately calm tone.
Bai Mangguo’s cheeks flushed red.
Naturally, she felt embarrassed. Jiang Fei’s flawless performance had turned her so-called “test” into a joke. It was a powerful counterattack to her condescending attitude, completely shattering her pride!
Qiao Yiyi and Ye Yuanyuan stood to the side, smiling without saying a word, though they both shot Jiang Fei a knowing look. They were well aware of what he was thinking and feeling.
How could someone with such an attitude achieve such awe-inspiring accomplishments in so many different fields?
He was truly an anomaly!
Though Bai Mangguo was red with embarrassment, she couldn’t find any way to counter Jiang Fei. Could she really continue to pick on him and claim that his performance wasn’t good enough?
She wasn’t foolish enough to do that. The reactions of the audience had already made it clear that Jiang Fei’s performance was a success. If she were to criticize him now, it would just come off as petty and unreasonable.
After all, hadn’t she seen how, after Jiang Fei stepped off the stage, many people had rushed over to him and Qiao Yiyi, asking for autographs? And this time, it wasn’t Qiao Yiyi they were after—it was Jiang Fei!
It was safe to say that Jiang Fei’s piano performance had just earned him a whole new group of fans.
“Well… your piano playing was quite good,” Bai Mangguo muttered, not daring to look Jiang Fei in the eye.
“Just ‘quite good’?” Jiang Fei asked with a teasing smile.
“Fine! Your performance was incredibly moving. I’ve never seen such an amazing piano performance before! Happy now?” Bai Mangguo finally looked up, her face still red as she huffed.
She was starting to understand why Jiang Fei was the first man her best friend, Ye Yuanyuan, had ever treated differently.
This man… was actually quite impressive!
Especially when he was playing the piano earlier—his elegant demeanor, his confident smile, his fingers dancing across the keys… he had looked rather handsome, and his charm was undeniable. It was enough to make any woman’s heart flutter.
On top of that, the guy was apparently a miracle doctor, capable of bringing people back from the brink of death and healing the sick. That only added to his appeal. After all, a man with such skills was naturally attractive to women.
Of course… compared to her beloved Jing Ran, Jiang Fei still fell short. Bai Mangguo’s heart belonged to Jing Ran, and no matter how outstanding other men were, they could never sway her feelings!
With no way to counter Jiang Fei, Bai Mangguo could only admit defeat. Reluctantly, she said, “Alright, alright! Thank you, Jiang Fei and Qiao Yiyi, for your performance tonight. You’ve made my birthday party feel so much more special! Now, let’s go cut the birthday cake!”
With that, she linked arms with Ye Yuanyuan and Qiao Yiyi, leading them toward the enormous birthday cake.
As everyone sang “Happy Birthday,” Ye Yuanyuan made a wish, and then they all blew out the candles, cut the cake, and began passing out slices.
After Jiang Fei and Ye Yuanyuan each took a small symbolic piece of cake, they decided it was time to take their leave.
“Leaving so soon? Why not stay a bit longer? The party’s going to go on until midnight, and there are still more performances later,” Bai Mangguo said, holding onto Qiao Yiyi’s hand with a hint of reluctance.
Despite her efforts to keep them, Jiang Fei and Qiao Yiyi eventually left. They still had to return to Daocun, and they needed to pick up Lin Moli from Jiang’s clinic.
If they stayed until midnight, they wouldn’t be able to make it back tonight and would have to stay in a hotel, delaying their return to Daocun until the next day.
Once they got downstairs and into the car, Qiao Yiyi sat in the passenger seat, smiling as she looked at Jiang Fei. “So, how did it feel to be on stage playing the piano, with all those people watching you?”
Jiang Fei didn’t hold back. He nodded and said, “It felt great. And hearing everyone’s praise after I stepped off the stage felt even better.”
Qiao Yiyi covered her mouth, giggling. Then, her eyes sparkled like little stars in the dim light of the car as she looked at him with anticipation. “You know, during a concert, that feeling is even more intense! Just think about it—tonight’s party had maybe a hundred people, including the staff. But at a concert, there are tens of thousands of people cheering for you! It’s really something else.”
Jiang Fei chuckled, not turning his head as he replied, “You’re still trying to get me to be a guest at your concert, aren’t you?”
“So, will you do it?”
“Hmm…” Jiang Fei thought for a moment, then relented. “If nothing major comes up around the time of your concert, and I’m free, then I’ll come and support you.”
“Yes!” Hearing this, the usually composed Qiao Yiyi couldn’t help but cheer, her excitement bubbling over.
In her mind, Jiang Fei had just agreed to her request. He had finally given in.
After spending a week together, Qiao Yiyi knew exactly what Jiang Fei’s schedule was like. Aside from treating Ye Yuanyuan’s grandfather and the elderly man from the Jibuni minority, he had virtually nothing else going on. He was practically free all the time, so there was no way he’d be too busy!
And even if something did come up, she could always adjust the concert date slightly. After all, her concert had already been postponed, and the exact date hadn’t been finalized yet.
As long as Jiang Fei agreed, everything else could be worked out!
Jiang Fei glanced at Qiao Yiyi, the big star who was now grinning from ear to ear, and couldn’t help but smile and shake his head.
Her fans were fiercely devoted, but it seemed the star herself was a bit of a fan too. To go to such lengths just to invite him—he had to admit, he was a little touched…
—
Even though Jiang Fei had agreed to be a guest performer at Qiao Yiyi’s concert, it was something that would only happen in the distant future. Qiao Yiyi had just returned to work, and the backlog of commercial performances and endorsements she had accumulated would take at least half a month to complete. It would be early July by the time she was free.
So, for now, Jiang Fei wasn’t giving much thought to the concert. Aside from treating Old Man Ye Zhennan and Jibuni Po, and waiting for Dunzhu, the young man with the braid, to return from the grasslands with a hunting eagle, Jiang Fei spent most of his time brewing wine.
Not just rice wine—he had also started preparing to make grape wine. The weather had been getting hotter and hotter, and summer was now in full swing. The grapes in Daocun had long since turned a deep, almost blackish purple, hanging in clusters from the vines, looking utterly tempting.
While Jiang Fei’s own high-quality grapes wouldn’t be ready this year, almost every household in Daocun grew plenty of grapes, and the varieties were excellent. So, making grape wine wouldn’t be a problem at all.
Jiang Fei had also considered brewing white liquor, but the process was much more complicated and required specialized equipment, so he decided to put that idea on hold for now. The truth was, Jiang Fei wasn’t much of a fan of white liquor. He didn’t like it, so naturally, he found the process tedious and didn’t feel like bothering with it.
If Jiang Fei were a white liquor enthusiast, no matter how complicated the process, he would have jumped right into it without hesitation.
For now, grape wine and rice wine would do. Jiang Fei had already brewed rice wine several times and was quite skilled at it. He could start making it anytime he wanted. Grape wine, on the other hand, was something he hadn’t tried before, so he needed to pay closer attention to the details.
“Hey, we’re here to pick grapes, not to take photos, okay?”
“Just one more, one more! Please, just one last shot~~~”
Lin Moli was wearing a slightly playful hat, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, fluttering gently in the breeze. Under the cool shade of the green and purple grapevines, she struck a beautiful pose, asking Jiang Fei to take a photo for her to commemorate the moment and share it on her social media.
Lin Moli’s outfit today was completely different from her usual style. She wore a light blue denim jacket over a coffee-colored chiffon dress with a floral pattern at the hem. Paired with a pair of sunglasses, she looked nothing like the strong, business-savvy woman she usually was. Instead, she resembled a fashionable, artsy girl, exuding a relaxed and carefree vibe.
