Gu Anran sat quietly in her seat, watching as Teacher Bai entered the banquet hall and exchanged pleasantries with Matriarch Song.
It was no secret that the old matriarch loved the piano. Not only did she adore classical music, but she was also highly skilled at playing it. That was precisely why Teacher Bai's presence tonight held special meaning.
Gu Anran's gaze shifted slightly toward Gu Yuhan.
Sure enough, her stepsister looked restless, excitement barely concealed beneath her gentle expression.
A cold glint flashed through Gu Anran's eyes.
Little sister… in this lifetime, forget about becoming Teacher Bai's disciple.
She watched as Gu Yuhan approached Matriarch Song with Gu Sheng and Li Meirong beside her. After a brief exchange, the matriarch nodded approvingly.
Gu Yuhan's smile deepened.
As expected.
Moments later, she walked onto the stage.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," Gu Yuhan said softly. "As a small gift to Matriarch Song, I would like to play a piece for everyone. I'm not very skilled, so please go easy on me."
Under the spotlight, she appeared gentle and refined.
The melody began.
It was pleasant. Safe. Decent.
Teacher Bai nodded slightly. Matriarch Song looked satisfied.
Song Yichen watched Gu Yuhan with affection in his eyes.
Gu Anran took a sip of wine and sneered inwardly.
After the final note, applause filled the hall.
Gu Yuhan basked in the praise — until her gaze landed on Gu Anran.
The humiliation from earlier resurfaced.
A vicious idea formed instantly.
She stepped off the stage and walked toward Matriarch Song.
"Matriarch Song," she said sweetly, "my elder sister also prepared a piano piece as a gift for you. She's just too shy to say it herself."
The hall fell silent.
Matriarch Song frowned slightly. Rumors about the Gu family's eldest daughter being useless had long circulated.
Still, refusing outright would seem narrow-minded.
"Very well," she said calmly. "Let her play."
All eyes turned toward Gu Anran.
Whispers erupted.
"She dares?"
"I heard she's incompetent."
"This will be embarrassing…"
Gu Anran cursed Gu Yuhan a thousand times in her heart — but her face remained calm.
She set her wine glass down and stood gracefully.
Back straight. Chin lifted.
Each step toward the stage was steady.
She sat before the piano and closed her eyes.
The hall quieted completely.
Then—
Her fingers descended onto the keys.
A single, clear note rang through the hall.
Then another.
And another.
The melody flowed like a quiet stream under moonlight—soft at first, restrained, almost fragile.
But in the next second, it deepened.
Layer upon layer of notes intertwined, rising and falling like tides. The music carried an indescribable emotion—longing, warmth, loss, and quiet strength.
The entire banquet hall fell into absolute silence.
Teacher Bai's eyes widened.
Matriarch Song, who had been seated calmly moments ago, straightened unconsciously.
This…
Teacher Bai's expression gradually turned serious.
When he had watched Gu Yuhan play earlier, he had thought she was a decent seedling. With guidance, she might become acceptable.
But now—
The difference was like heaven and earth.
The girl on stage was not merely playing notes.
She was telling a story.
A story filled with tenderness and sorrow.
Teacher Bai leaned forward slightly, his breathing slowing as he immersed himself completely in the melody.
This child… was born for the stage.
And the piece—
He had never heard it before.
It was unfamiliar, yet astonishingly mature.
Meanwhile, Gu Yuhan's fingernails dug deeply into her palms.
Her face had already turned pale.
How is this possible?
She had always believed Gu Anran was useless—ignorant, mediocre, overshadowed.
That was why she dared push her onto the stage.
It was supposed to be humiliation.
Not glory.
On stage, Gu Anran was completely immersed in her world.
Her fingers moved gracefully across the keys.
In her mind, she saw a gentle figure sitting beside her.
Her mother.
She could vaguely remember small hands overlapping larger ones, warm laughter filling a quiet room, sunlight spilling across black and white keys.
"Anran, music must come from the heart."
The memory she had buried deep in her chest resurfaced like a blooming flower.
A trace of softness flashed through her eyes.
The melody shifted.
It grew stronger.
Resolute.
As if declaring rebirth.
Even Gu Sheng, who had been speaking to someone moments ago, froze.
His gaze locked onto the stage.
That familiar elegance.
That aura.
For a split second, he felt as if time had reversed.
Back to the first day he met Zhan Ran.
The woman who had once amazed the entire Jingzhou upper circle with a single piano piece.
His throat tightened slightly.
Beside him, Li Meirong noticed his expression instantly.
Her face darkened.
That btch Zhan Ran… even after death she still refuses to disappear.*
Finally—
Gu Anran struck the last note.
The lingering echo vibrated through the grand hall before slowly fading into silence.
For one full second—
No one reacted.
Then—
Thunderous applause erupted.
It was louder than before.
Longer than before.
More sincere than before.
"Who said the Gu family's eldest miss is a waste? That person must be blind!"
"She plays far better than the second miss!"
"This level… even professionals would struggle to match it!"
Each sentence pierced Gu Yuhan like a knife.
Her nails dug so deep that faint traces of blood stained her palm—but she felt nothing.
Gu Anran stood up calmly.
She gave a slight bow—neither humble nor arrogant.
Just composed.
She stepped down from the stage under countless gazes and walked toward Matriarch Song.
Under the crystal lights, her figure seemed even more radiant.
She stopped in front of the old lady and offered a small, elegant smile.
"Happy birthday, Matriarch Song."
Her voice was neither overly sweet nor fawning.
It was steady.
Matriarch Song looked at her carefully, approval undisguised in her eyes.
"Little girl, you play extremely well."
Gu Anran lowered her gaze slightly.
"Matriarch Song flatters me. I am merely a beginner compared to you and Teacher Bai."
Her humility was natural—not the exaggerated modesty meant to curry favor.
Teacher Bai slowly stood up.
The movement alone drew attention.
He walked forward with measured steps, his sharp eyes studying Gu Anran as if examining a priceless treasure.
"Child," he said calmly, though the excitement in his eyes betrayed him, "who taught you that piece?"
The hall grew silent again.
Gu Yuhan's heart skipped violently.
Because she knew—
Teacher Bai rarely took initiative to speak to juniors.
And when he did—
It meant interest.
Across the hall, Lu Zhenyu's lips curved faintly.
As expected…
This woman—
Was far more interesting than she appeared.