Gu Yunxiang had actually refused the offer to become a disciple.
Could that even be refused?
Surely it could not!
Everyone present sighed in disbelief. Bai Susu’s mood also sank.
Back then, in order to become Huang Jiaxiang’s disciple, she had been turned away several times.
In the end, it was Ye Feng who personally visited under the name of the Ye Family before Huang Jiaxiang reluctantly agreed to accept her.
However, ever since becoming his disciple, Huang Jiaxiang had only given her normal instruction. He had never once praised her.
As for taking her abroad for advanced study, that was even more out of the question.
How could Bai Susu not feel jealous?
Fortunately, Gu Yunxiang had chosen to give up, which made Bai Susu feel slightly better.
But Huang Jiaxiang did not want to give up. He walked toward Ye Feng and said, “Young Master Ye, back then you visited me three times, hoping I would accept Miss Bai Susu as my disciple.”
“Today, I am also asking you to allow Miss Gu Yunxiang to study music under me.”
After thinking for a moment, Huang Jiaxiang continued, “I can guarantee you that as long as Miss Gu Yunxiang studies music with me, I will promise to take Miss Bai Susu to Tianfu Conservatory of Music for advanced study.”
Tianfu Conservatory of Music was one of the top music academies in the country. However, compared to that, going to Paris for further study was still the better choice.
“My goodness, Master Huang truly cherishes talent. For the sake of accepting Gu Yunxiang as a disciple, he is really putting in great effort.”
“But speaking of which, Master Huang accepted Miss Bai Susu as a disciple to give Young Master Ye face, not because of Miss Bai’s talent?”
“You just realized that?”
“Sorry, our village only got internet access recently.”
“But Miss Bai Susu is still fortunate. Tianfu Conservatory of Music is not easy to get into. Most people can at best audit classes. But if you are Master Huang’s disciple, that is a different matter.”
The crowd sighed with mixed emotions.
Bai Susu’s expression grew increasingly unpleasant. She respected Huang Jiaxiang, and she truly wanted to study at Tianfu Conservatory of Music.
But for him to say this about her in public. Had his emotional intelligence been fed to the dogs?
It made her seem like she was merely a bonus attached to Gu Yunxiang.
Bai Jianhao also felt embarrassed. Not only had Gu Yunxiang stolen the spotlight from his daughter with her piano performance, but Huang Jiaxiang was now openly making a scene about taking disciples.
Get this straight. This was his fiftieth birthday celebration!
“I am grateful for Master Huang’s favor, but Yunxiang has her own ideas. Although she is my girlfriend, I respect her choice.”
“Besides, Yunxiang’s main focus right now is on business. She has no time to spare.”
“But if she becomes free in the future, I can promise Master Huang that I will try to persuade her.”
Ye Feng replied with a smile. In the original novel, Bai Susu had become a world-renowned musician under Huang Jiaxiang’s guidance.
That identity had also brought the male protagonist, Lin Yi, many benefits, completely allowing him to leap across social classes.
Although the Ye Family was powerful in Jinling, when looking across Jiangnan and Jiangbei, across the entire nation, or even the world, they were nothing extraordinary.
If the Ye Family wanted to rise further, they indeed needed an influential figure, such as a world-famous musician.
But that was a long road, and Ye Feng was not in a hurry. After all, a musician was not some celebrity actor.
Letting Gu Yunxiang gain more experience in the business world was not a bad thing.
“Very well.”
Hearing this answer, Huang Jiaxiang finally stopped insisting.
He had discovered a genius whose talent surpassed his own and who might one day fly even higher than him.
He did not want to miss this opportunity, but he also understood that some things could not be forced. As long as there was still a chance, that was enough.
“As for Miss Bai Susu, as the saying goes, the master leads you to the door, but cultivation depends on the individual. Master Huang can simply go with the flow.”
Ye Feng added.
“Hmm?”
The moment those words were spoken, Huang Jiaxiang froze.
The others also froze.
There was clearly something implied in those words.
Had Young Master Ye found a new love and now become so heartless toward the old one?
Bai Susu was even more frightened. Her face turned pale.
If Huang Jiaxiang no longer accepted her as a disciple, then in the thorn-filled forest of music, surrounded by competitors on all sides, how could she continue?
Her body trembled slightly.
Looking at Ye Feng, she felt confused.
Was this Brother Ye Feng’s revenge?
Just because she had refused to watch a movie with him, he now held a grudge?
“In the future, I hope Master Huang will continue to take good care of my daughter.”
Bai Jianhao quickly smoothed things over with a smile. Compared to his daughter’s music career, he cared more about the Ye Family’s attitude toward the Bai Family.
Without the Ye Family, the Bai Family’s enterprise could collapse at any time.
“Mm.”
Huang Jiaxiang was no fool. Of course he understood Ye Feng’s hidden meaning. He merely nodded perfunctorily as a response to Bai Jianhao.
The crowd sighed again. Most of them had come here to curry favor with Ye Feng.
But Ye Feng seemed no longer devoted to Bai Susu.
If that was the case, then after tonight, there would be no need to continue associating with the Bai Family.
Even when the banquet officially began and the guests toasted him, Bai Jianhao could not lift his spirits.
His mind was filled with one thought: the Bai Family had fallen out of favor. The Bai Family was finished.
“Patriarch, someone has forced his way into the villa. What should we do?”
At that moment, a security guard suddenly came to report.
“Do I need to teach you? What are you security guards even here for?”
Bai Jianhao roared in fury.
“But… we can’t beat him…”
The guard said in a trembling voice.
Bai Jianhao froze. Could it be an enemy coming for revenge? He quickly asked, “Who is it?”
“A poor student,” the guard replied.
“It must be Brother Lin Yi. I’ll go bring him in.”
Hearing this, Bai Susu hurried out. Bai Jianhao and Lin Fengjiao followed behind, too late to stop her.
Soon, Lin Yi walked in under Bai Susu’s guidance.
Lin Yi’s poor demeanor instantly drew everyone’s attention.
Especially when he stood next to Bai Susu, they looked particularly close and utterly mismatched.
“Old Bai, I’m not trying to criticize you, but this is where you went wrong. Do you know why Young Master Ye changed his affection?”
“Exactly, Old Bai. You gave up a golden son-in-law for a poor student?”
Some people whispered.
Bai Jianhao’s face turned green as he scolded his daughter, “Bai Susu, have you treated my words as nothing?”
He had forbidden Bai Susu from having any contact with Lin Yi and had warned her countless times.
Lin Yi was aware of this as well.
“Uncle Bai, I came to wish you a happy birthday. This is my gift.”
After speaking, Lin Yi took out a broken porcelain bowl he had bought at a street stall in the antique market for 270 yuan.
There was even a chip on the bowl. As he handed it over, it looked as if a beggar was asking a tycoon for alms.
“Is he here to celebrate a birthday or to beg?”
“I’m dying of laughter. Is he planning to take Boss Bai out begging together in the future?”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Bai Jianhao’s face grew even uglier. Bai Susu stood awkwardly at the side, thinking, Brother Lin Yi, I know you don’t have money, but this…
“My goodness, as expected of the male protagonist of this novel. His luck is truly invincible.”
“Didn’t get the ‘Autumn Geese and Sunset Clouds’ painting, but ended up getting a blue-and-white porcelain bowl from the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty.”
Ye Feng could not help but click his tongue in amazement.
At the same time, he noticed that Yan Wenjing, the master of traditional Chinese painting standing beside Li Family Patriarch Li Tianlei, had opened his eyes.
Earlier, when Gu Yunxiang and Bai Susu were playing the piano, he had shown little interest. But now, he was intrigued.
“Are you mocking me?”
Bai Jianhao’s expression darkened to the extreme as he shouted, “Security, throw him out!”
The security guards were about to act when suddenly a voice boomed like a great bell, “Stop. I am quite interested in this young man. Let him stay.”