Chapter 549 - 'Chase'

'Ting...'

The last note of the piano echoed throughout the hall.

Silence.

A few seconds later, the lights slowly brightened. The dim lighting over the audience faded as the warm golden glow strengthened until the hall was lit up. It was an indication that the first song had finished playing.

Some of the guests blinked to adjust their vision.

Was it already done? 

It seemed like they fell into some sort of spell.

The slender lady in the dazzling white dress stood up in front of the piano and bowed gracefully. It was the cue wherein the audience finally awakened themselves from the moving performance and moved their hands. Everyone applauded heartily.

The musical genius was not just an empty title, it seemed. Their hearts were still brimming with the after effects which the music had tantalizingly brought out, filling them with various kinds of emotions.

Tang Yin smiled like a meek princess as she received the praises of the guests.

"Thank you for coming to my first concert in the country, everyone. The first piece I played is my original composition titled 'Desire'. It's a music piece that hopes to bring out the slumbering passion in our hearts. Everyone here has something they wish for, something that pushes them to do everything it takes in order to attain it. I hope that this song is able to remind you of your dreams and desires that pushes you forward on your path."

The audience generously clapped once more.

While speaking, Tang Yin's eyes discreetly combed through the audience. She was searching for someone. 

Finally, Tang Yin found her target on the second row.

A dashing man in a handsome suit.

Tang Yin's eyes brightened.

She created that music piece with passion, fueled by her desire to be with Linfeng. Tang Yin was about to open her mouth and recount the story of how she made the composition, when a woman's face barged in her vision.

The woman's long phoenix eyes squinted at Tang Yin while blocking Tang Yin's view of Linfeng.

Linfeng who was suddenly pushed back by Xiong Zhi: "..."

"..." Tang Yin reluctantly moved her eyes away, but was suddenly met by a pair of blue eyes and soft silvery white hair. 

Because Lu Yin Ze was on the first row, Tang Yin could see him clearly and rather up close when she stood in front of everyone. The slight distance did not lessen the l.u.s.ter on the pair of blue eyes at all.

Lu Yin Ze was absentmindedly looking at Tang Yin's direction. He was looking at her but his attention was not entirely on her. His mind had already floated with the song he just heard. Lu Yin Ze was a person who liked music and had discerning ears, so listening to the grand play of the composition stirred his heart greatly.

Tang Yin withdrew her gaze and continued on with her speech. "I made this piece when I was still on my early teens, but I have never played it since it is incomplete. I only managed to complete it three years ago when I went to seclusion to develop my music. It is a great honor to present it finally to the world, with a great audience such as yourselves. Thank you for listening. I hope you liked it." Tang Yin bowed her head elegantly, her white neck appearing more graceful and fragile.

The audience clapped.

The old people on the tables at the foremost row threw praises at Mistress Tang.

"You have a talented granddaughter."

"What a sensible child."

Although she knew that they might just be blowing rainbow farts, Mistress Tang still happily smiled. She was proud of her granddaughter's exceptional talent, although the part of seclusion Tang Yin mentioned was in fact Tang Yin running away from home.

Mistress Tang's happiness then became slightly dampened.

As her granddaughter had said, Tang Yin had completed the composition at that time because she was at the peak of her love that conquers all for Linfeng. Mistress Tang could not help but subtly glance at the back, at the young man who was the subject of Tang Yin's affection, to be precise.

The elder then saw how the elegant woman surnamed Xiong beside the man glowered coldly at Tang Yin, while the man chuckled at the former's reaction, clearly amused.

The doting and affection in the young man's eyes were clear to see.

Mistress Tang took back her gaze, shook her head, and sighed.

Too bad, the young man was not interested in her granddaughter, and even if he was, there would be a lot of problems on the way between the pair, considering that the surname Zhou was once exclusively under the Xiong family, and Linfeng happened to be the Zhou's heir apparent. 

The present generation of the legendary families' heirs was about to face the most turbulent period, the battle for inheritance.

Linfeng and Tang Yin... They were just not meant to be.

It was not to the point of star-crossed lovers, or the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd Boy separated by the Milky Way, but Mistress Tang did not want Tang Yin to be weathered by the convulated and muddy difficulties it would bring. Tang Yin's passion for music and arts necessitated her to remain in her crystal castle. If her passion and spark became muddied by the financial and economic interests, Tang Yin might lose her inspiration and music.

It would be tantamount to killing her.

Mistress Tang stared at her beautiful and pure granddaughter. 

Meanwhile, the lights slowly dimmed again. Tang Yin sat on the stool once more after giving her speech. 

"The second piece I am about to play is a song about pursuing one's desire titled 'Chase'. I hope you will like it." 

Then.

Without warning, Tang Yin pressed on the piano keys heavily.

The start of the second song was entirely different from the first song. 

If the first song started with tranquility, like a drop of water on the vast ocean, slowly creating ripples that resulted to huge waves, the second song was a sudden downpour of heavy rain, accompanied by a thunderstorm raging the disturbed seas.

The intertwined high and low pitches of the piano accompanied by the heavy base immediately made everyone nail their eyes on the stage.

Only the turbulent and passionate sound of the piano was playing in the hall.

It was fast, very high and very low. Yet it was not chaotic, but seemed to have an underlying cadence that slowly marched in peaking urgency.

This made the guests involuntarily raise their guards. This second song was very intense.

Even Xiong Zhi who did not like Tang Yin for the reason that the latter was coveting her Linfeng, was amazed by Tang Yin's talent. 

Xiong Zhi's heart and mind was affected as well.

Without a doubt, Tang Yin was a music genius. Her music had the ability to infect and draw out the listeners' emotions. This was only the second song, but both of the songs were already selling well in the hearts of these people.

In the midst of the musical crescendo, Ming Zhi Yi closed his eyes under the mask. He truly liked this song. The intense passion made his usually unmoving heart beat with anticipation to hasten his plans.

Like the woman on the stage had said, this song was about 'pursuing'.

It really felt as if the devil by his ears was whispering again.

"Lu Jin."

Lu Jin who was also listening turned his head to his father. No one could see the expression under his mask.

"Meet Eitan at the back. Since they are here already, they might as well help."