Jingzhi was Xie Jinchen’s courtesy name. When he was five years old, Zhuang Yining had asked Master Huigen to read his fortunes, and he was given the name Jing.
Xie Jinchen slowly rotated the beads on his wrist, leaning in to listen, his posture humble, a faint smile on his lips, proper and courteous:
“You’re too modest. What I’ve done is nothing worth mentioning. How has your health been lately? Even with work keeping you busy, don’t neglect your health, sir.”
Principal Ren suddenly smiled, glancing at his former student, knowing he was being modest.
Even if he had accomplished something earth-shattering, it would come out of his mouth as mere dabbling. He nodded in admiration, his tone gratified:
“My health is fine. I could nurture a few more generations of talent without issue. What are your plans now that you’re back?
I heard from your father that he wants to find you a partner. How’s that going? You’re so outstanding—surely the other party can’t be too bad either.”
Xie Jinchen smiled, showing nothing on his face, responding casually:
“Mm, not bad.”
He was never keen on discussing such matters, and deflected with a few words.
The two chatted briefly for a moment longer, then quietly watched the ceremony.
Backstage, Jiang Minghua took several deep breaths. It was her first time on stage in front of so many people—it was impossible not to be nervous.
She heard the host announce that Jiang Minghua, representative of Fashion Design Class A, would take the stage.
Jiang Minghua wiped the sweat from her palms, silently encouraging herself,
and after a few more deep breaths, she calmly gathered her skirt and walked onto the stage.
In an instant, all the lights went out, leaving only a hazy halo shining on Jiang Minghua.
The satin fabric gleamed brilliantly under the light,
her calves beneath the hem were straight and slender, and the gold high heels she wore made her ankles look even more delicate and graceful.
Like a pure white, noble and beautiful swan—stunning beyond compare.
Jiang Minghua could even hear the gasps rising and falling from the audience.
“Who is that? So beautiful—is she a freshman this year?”
“She’s this pretty and no one’s posted her photo on the campus wall?”
“Three minutes. I want all the information on this girl!”
“She seems to be a senior. I saw her once in the cafeteria—she’s really stunning in person, but I don’t know why no one’s discovered her…”
“Wuwuwu, such a beautiful girl can even play piano? That’s amazing! I want her to be my girlfriend!”
…
Chen Lingqian heard these endless praises and proudly raised her chin. See, she’d said her eye for beauty was good.
Jiang Minghua’s looks were no joke, hmph.
Xie Jinchen of course saw Jiang Minghua. He was sitting in the first row, seeing more clearly than anyone.
He hadn’t expected such a coincidence.
After a moment of stunned silence, the surprise in his eyes instantly turned to amazement. His fingers resting on his lap tapped twice.
His deep, profound gaze assessed the girl, landing on the slender waist wrapped in the dress.
Only he knew how thin that waist was, how soft, her skin as smooth as the finest mutton-fat jade.
No one knew the thoughts hidden deep in his heart. Remembering the name the host had just announced, he turned his head and asked Principal Ren:
“What’s that girl’s name?”
Principal Ren was currently brimming with pride over how talented and versatile the school’s students were. Hearing the question, he didn’t think much of it and answered:
“You mean that girl? Her name is Jiang Minghua. I specifically checked the program list earlier—she’s the only one playing piano, so I remember her clearly. Our school’s students really are all outstanding.”
Xie Jinchen smiled and answered, “Yes.”
Jiang Minghua…
Xie Jinchen’s eyes were deep and dark, the contours of his face hidden in the shadows, sharp and distinct.
He remembered—the marriage candidate Chairman Xie had mentioned last night was also named Jiang Minghua.
His gaze turned dark and unfathomable.
If it really was her, then this marriage was not one he couldn’t agree to.
Jiang Minghua walked unhurriedly to the piano and sat down, letting out a deep breath as she recalled the melody she knew by heart.
She lifted the piano lid, her fingers landing on the keys.
The audience below fell completely silent, all listening quietly to the tune played by the girl who looked as beautiful as a celestial being.
She had practiced this piece many times—she could play it with her eyes closed.
Her fingers moved nimbly across the black-and-white keys, light and shadow playing across her figure.
Beautifully unreal.
Xie Jinchen watched her fair, slender fingers and unavoidably thought of how those hands had gripped his shoulders that night.
Tightening and loosening with the rhythm.
His gaze gradually darkened, his eyes fixed intently on the radiant, elegant girl on stage.
The dim lighting masked the shadowed hue of his pupils—his stare as deep and obscure as spilled ink.
Like a leopard spotting its prey, lurking in the dark, poised to strike.
The century-old auditorium was vast, filled to capacity, every gaze fixed on the girl shining brilliantly on stage.
The piece was moderate in length—four or five minutes.
Jiang Minghua played without a single wrong note, completing the piece flawlessly. As the final note faded,
the audience remained silent for a moment before thunderous applause erupted, shaking the rafters.
Jiang Minghua calmly closed the piano lid, rose with elegant composure,
walked to the center of the stage, and smiled as she bowed to express her gratitude.
Just as she thought the performance had finally ended without incident, she smiled, looked up, and straightened.
Suddenly, her smile froze on her face.
Her beautiful, innocent, bewildered gaze collided with a pair of deep, familiar eyes staring directly ahead at her.
Xie Jinchen sat watching her quietly, his posture relaxed yet noble, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips.
There was a hint of teasing in his gaze, and even when she caught him looking, he didn’t flinch—he simply kept staring straight at the girl frozen on stage.
Jiang Minghua’s mind was indeed reeling from the sudden, unexpected reunion.
Him! Why was he here?
One high, one low; one in light, one in shadow—they held each other’s gaze in silent stillness within the century-old auditorium packed with thousands.
A vague, uncertain suspicion stirred in her heart, making her feel as though she were lost in a fog, just one step away from clarity.
Why was he at the centennial celebration? And seated right in the middle of the front row, with the university president and party secretary beside him.
Jiang Minghua’s gaze unconsciously drifted to the nameplate in front of the man.
The prominent characters “Xie Jinchen” were printed precisely in brown ink.
Her head buzzed—fireworks exploding in a cacophony of bursts.
Xie Jinchen!
Jiang Minghua stared unblinkingly at the man directly in her line of sight, her eyes growing sore from the strain without her registering the slightest discomfort.
It wasn’t until Xie Jinchen silently mouthed two words to her that she snapped back to reality, realizing she’d lost her composure, and immediately averted her gaze.
He said: Don’t panic.
“Miss Jiang? Are you nervous? It’s okay—you did wonderfully. Your piano performance was brilliant!”
A polite volunteer beside her spoke with a smile, guiding her as she turned and stepped off the stage.
“Thank you. It was fine.”
Jiang Minghua answered absentmindedly, following her in a daze, her mind completely blank.
Jiang Minghua walked absentmindedly toward the changing room, her thoughts tangled like a ball of yarn.
His identity was indeed extraordinary. She recalled what Chen Lingqian had said—”Xie Jinchen donated a building to the school.”
To be able to donate a building so lavishly, and to hold such an important position.
Jiang Minghua felt a quiet sense of defeat. He really was Xie Jinchen, he really was Xie Jinchen!
The man from that night was Xie Jinchen!
She had actually slept with the person she had both loathed and admired throughout her three years of high school!
The crucial thing was that he was now ten thousand times more powerful than her—strikingly handsome, with a calm and courteous demeanor, and influence that reached the highest levels.