Chapter 68: The Quintet of "Nocturnal Piano Pieces"

Yang Bing couldn't help feeling a bit nervous under Yu Zhile's somewhat unsettling gaze.

He asked, “Do you want me to tell the truth?”

Yu Zhile replied, “Speak!”

Yang Bing took a step back, almost too seriously, and said awkwardly, “Even though you're now rich and handsome, and even though you've been really good to me lately, I honestly just see you as a brother!”

Yu Zhile was utterly bewildered.

That's not what I was asking! What I meant was, do you think I can substitute for that Cai Lanlan in the piano performance or not! And yet, all you can think about is this nonsense! You make it sound as if I’m some kind of pervert! Even if I was, I wouldn’t be interested in you!

Yu Zhile shook his head speechlessly. “I'm a man, and I like women! Don’t get the wrong idea! What I meant to ask is, if I replace Cai Lanlan, what do you think?”

“You? Replace Cai Lanlan?”

Yang Bing was even more stunned.

This was even more shocking than the possibility of Yu Zhile falling for him.

Yu Zhile spread his hands, saying, “What? You look down on me? I did graduate from the music department, you know! My piano skills may not be world-class, but they're decent enough to show in public!”

Yang Bing gave a bitter smile. “Brother, don’t mess with me! Cai Lanlan is already a world-famous piano queen! If you replace her, anyone could immediately tell the difference! Besides, if you take her place on stage, wouldn’t your identity be exposed?”

Yu Zhile said, “No worries, I can wear one of those animal headpieces from the dance troupe. That way, no one will know who I am!”

“No!” Yang Bing protested. “I was just speaking hypothetically! It’s too risky for you to go on stage! If anything goes wrong, I’ll take the blame, but if you get exposed, you’ll be in real trouble!”

Yu Zhile sighed, “Alright, then. Forget it. It’s just a shame about that luxurious and expensive piano you mentioned, it’s making my fingers itch!”

Yang Bing hesitated. “Should I try to arrange something for you? Are you sure you’re up to it? This is a stage with eighteen thousand people watching live! I’m just worried you don’t have experience performing in front of such a crowd.”

Yu Zhile said earnestly, “Don’t worry, if anything goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility!”

Yang Bing steeled himself and asked, “So which piano piece are you planning to play? I’ll see what I can do to arrange it.”

Yu Zhile asked, “Is there any time limit?”

Yang Bing replied, “Cai Lanlan was planning to perform her famous trilogy, which is about ten minutes. A few minutes more or less won’t matter.”

Yu Zhile said, “Then I’ll play a quintet, just a bit over ten minutes. I’ll name the program ‘Nocturne for Piano—Quintet.’”

Yang Bing was curious. “Nocturne for Piano? I don’t recall us learning that piece when we were in school.”

No, we all learned it! But not the versions of ourselves from this world! In this world, “Nocturne for Piano” no longer exists.

Yu Zhile said, “Old Yang, trust me! This piece will sound even better than Cai Lanlan’s famous trilogy! Let’s take a gamble—if it fails, I’ll take the blame, but if it succeeds, you’ll be the star of the station!”

Yang Bing gave a wry smile. “You’re not even treating me like a person now! Alright, since your fingers are itching and you want to play such a magnificent piano, I’ll risk it and arrange it for you! Worst case, I lose my job—let’s bet!”

Yu Zhile patted his shoulder and said seriously, “Don’t worry, you won’t lose your job! Just get me the largest panda costume for the stage, and when reporting the program, don’t reveal my name—just list ‘Mr. Panda.’”

“Alright!”

Yang Bing really went all in, thinking to himself, Yu Zhile treats me as a brother and helped me rise to my current position, earning the trust and attention of both the leadership and the director—so what’s a little risk for him now? Not to mention, even he would love to play such a fine piano on stage!

But while he had the impulse and desire, he didn’t have Yu Zhile’s courage—to dare perform on such a grand stage in front of so many people!

That’s why, as a music department graduate, he ultimately became a behind-the-scenes worker. Though his work is still music-related, he no longer has the youthful passion and drive to shine on stage.

He had learned to face reality.

“Wait for me!”

He patted Yu Zhile’s shoulder and resolutely turned back.

Yu Zhile clenched his fists, and when he heard from Yang Bing that they had managed to rent such a luxurious and rare piano, his fingers truly itched.

Perhaps this is the reason music runs so deeply in his veins.

When he hears a good song, he plays it on repeat.

When he sees a fine instrument, he wants to make it his own.

Upon hearing about such an extravagant, rare piano, his heart could not resist the urge to witness it and play it…

So, with no chance to pull strings for a private encounter with the piano, he made the sudden decision to take the stage and substitute for Cai Lanlan in the long-planned piano performance.

Soon, his wife finished singing “A Little Luck” on stage, and the host came up to announce the next act.

Backstage, Yu Zhile found a moment to sneak away with his wife in a hidden corner, saying, “Honey, we’re sneaking off together so often backstage, people are bound to get suspicious soon. I think we need to be a bit more restrained.”

Qin Haiyu swung his finger, holding his hand, and said, “Weren’t you unafraid? Why worry about it now?”

Yu Zhile patted her hand and said, “Of course I’m not afraid! We’re legally married! Even if we’re discovered, so what? But right now, I don’t want my identity exposed. Otherwise, whenever I take the baby for vaccinations, I’ll have to wear a mask and sunglasses.”

She giggled. “Alright! I’m fine backstage, you don’t need to stick around. Go enjoy the gala! I’ll text you when I finish singing.”

With that, Qin Haiyu stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek playfully. “I’m heading back! Darling, make sure to wipe off the lipstick, or else someone might notice!”

“You! Just wait until we’re home tonight—I’ll teach you a lesson!”

Yu Zhile shook his head with a gentle laugh and quickly wiped the red lipstick mark from his cheek, lest others see it and get the wrong impression.

After all, to everyone else, he was just a behind-the-scenes worker at the station.

Half an hour later.

Yang Bing, after much difficulty, finally persuaded Director Zhang and came to find Yu Zhile. “Everything’s arranged! Your piano performance will be scheduled right before your wife’s last song.”

…

P.S.: I’ve made a special playlist for the novel on NetEase Cloud, and as the novel updates, the songs from the story will be added. If you’re interested, search for the user “Qidian Autumn Blade Chopping Fish” to find the playlist. Be sure to add “Qidian” at the front, as the author name has already been taken by someone else.