23 – Hоw dоеs hе hаvе sо much monеу?
Wеn Zhi hаd nо idea this guy’s wаtсh was so еxpеnsivе. Whеrе оn еarth did hе gеt sо much mоneу to buy thеsе things! Hе madе оthеrs plау a gаmе, аnd nоw hе hаd tо saсrificе а watch?
He might аs well hаve gоnе tо hаve a сandlelit dinnеr with Lin Yuе, this wаstеful man! Shе was рractiсаllу drivеn mаd by him!
Lin Yuе had initially bееn bоthеrеd by Mo Тingуаn’s pеrfunctоry attitudе, but nоw shе immеdiatelу rеspondеd cheеrfullу, “Тhеn I’ll havе tо thank the captain for his gеnerоsitу. Соmе on, sistеrs, who wants to сomрetе with me? Lеt me declare in advance—I’m a max-level pianist. Whenever there’s a company event that requires piano playing, I’m the one who does it. If any of you step up, don’t blame me for bullying you.”
After exchanging glances, only a young girl who had just joined the company two and a half months ago stepped forward. Wen Zhi lowered her head, looking at the watch Mo Tingyan had been wearing ever since she met him. After hesitating for a moment, she finally stepped forward and said, “Since it’s a competition, having only two participants wouldn’t be fun. I’ll join too.”
Lin Yue looked at Wen Zhi with disdain. She was very confident in her skills and didn’t take Wen Zhi seriously at all.
Since she couldn’t beat Wen Zhi in terms of appearance or other external qualities, today she would make good use of what she was best at to take this woman down a peg!
“Alright, the three of us will play the same piece. A few colleagues will vote anonymously, and whoever gets the most votes wins. Any objections?”
Wen Zhi shrugged. “Fine.”
The piece Mo Tingyan chose was “Butterfly Lovers.”
Lin Yue played first. Her performance was very skilled, and the confidence in her eyes was almost overflowing.
Listening to her play, Mo Tingjue tugged at Wen Zhi’s wrist and whispered, “Xiao Zhi, if you like that watch, I can buy you a new one. My brother has already worn this one, so don’t compete with them over it.”
In an unnoticed corner, Mo Tingyan, lazily sitting on the sofa smoking, saw Wen Zhi’s hand being grabbed, and his eyes darkened slightly beneath the haze of smoke…
At that moment, Wen Zhi pulled her hand out of Mo Tingjue’s grasp and looked at him coldly. “Mo Tingjue, there’s nothing between us anymore. If you’re really that rich, go buy something for your woman, Wen Xue. The Wen family has already been flaunting you as their future son-in-law everywhere. As the man of the woman I hate the most, from now on, stay as far away from me as possible!”
Mo Tingjue never expected the Wen family to be so dramatic. He hurriedly explained, “Xiao Zhi, believe me, I was just confused that night. I already gave Wen Xue a million to settle things with her. She took the money, so there’s nothing between us anymore, really…”
Wen Zhi scoffed coldly. “That’s your business, it has nothing to do with me!”
After saying that, she didn’t spare Mo Tingjue another glance and walked straight into the crowd, avoiding his attempts to pull her back.
Lin Yue quickly finished playing the entire piece flawlessly. She stood up, gave Wen Zhi a challenging look amidst the applause, and returned to the crowd with a triumphant smile.
The young colleague played second. Listening to her less-than-skilled performance, Lin Yue held her chin even higher, already certain of her victory.
Soon, it was Wen Zhi’s turn.
She walked over to the piano, first returning the tablet displaying the sheet music to her colleague, and then sat down at the piano.She played the entire piece without sheet music, her melody transitioning from light and bright to subdued and low, and finally to a heart-wrenching sadness, as if singing and weeping. She brought the piece to life, making listeners feel as though they were immersed in the scene.
As the music ended, the surroundings fell into silence. Even Lin Yue, who had been arrogant just moments before, now wore a gloomy expression.
Mo Tingyan was the first to applaud, and only then did scattered applause follow from those around.
The stark difference in skill was so evident that even several colleagues who had never studied music could tell who played better.
The outcome of the vote was self-evident. Among the nine people voting on the other side, Wen Zhi won the competition with an overwhelming eight votes.
She walked straight to the coffee table, bent down, picked up the watch Mo Tingyan had placed there earlier, and calmly said to him, “Since Captain Mo is willing to part with it, I’ll accept this prize.”
Mo Tingyan nodded at her with satisfaction.
Wen Zhi turned and glanced at Lin Yue with the same provocative look Lin Yue had given her earlier.
Lin Yue’s face darkened considerably, and she gritted her teeth, sneering bitterly, “Wen Zhi, I never expected you to be so pretentious. You never participate in company events, but for a watch, you’re willing to go all out. What, isn’t Mr. Mo’s wealth enough for you?”
Wen Zhi looked at her, unruffled by the verbal attack, and replied calmly, “Whether his family is rich or not has nothing to do with me. We’ve already broken up. And if I really participated in company events, what would be left for you?”
Lin Yue: “You…”
As Wen Zhi provoked Lin Yue, the tension between them grew palpable.
Mo Tingjue immediately stepped forward, positioning himself between them and adopting a peacemaker’s tone as he smiled apologetically at Lin Yue. “Miss Lin, don’t be angry. Xiao Zhi may have a sharp tongue, but she means no harm. And your performance was also brilliant—both of you were amazing, truly.”
His attempt to smooth things over and prevent Wen Zhi from making enemies only filled her with disgust.
Just as she was about to speak up and tell him to stop presuming to speak for her, Mo Tingyan, who had been watching from the sidelines, remarked coolly and sarcastically, “Mo Tingjue, is playing the mediator fun?”
Mo Tingjue frowned. “Brother, I meant well.”
Mo Tingyan scoffed mockingly. “Your good intentions involve lying? In terms of skill, Wen Zhi’s performance was clearly superior. Her technique rivals that of a professional. Lin Yue played with familiarity, but her skill falls far short. Even with ten more years of practice, she wouldn’t reach the same level.”
Lin Yue: “…”
Meanwhile, Wen Zhi, who had just picked up a cup to take a sip of water, froze at these words and suddenly turned to look at Mo Tingyan—