He wants to adopt a younger sister, but his aloof wife disagrees.

Saturday evening, Jianghai Grand Theatre.

The annual Golden Melody Gala is being held here. This is the most prestigious awards ceremony in the domestic music scene, with stars shining brightly on the red carpet and countless cameras pointed at every star entering the venue.

"That's Su Xiaoruan! My goodness, she's so radiant in person!"

"Who's that woman with such a strong presence next to her? Shen Qingge, the boss of Qingche Entertainment? It's a shame she's not a celebrity with that kind of looks!"

"That male bodyguard is so handsome... no, that's Jiang Che! The lyricist and composer of 'Chasing the Light'!"

The trio's appearance on the red carpet instantly captured countless photographers' attention.

Su Xiaoruan wore a light blue starry sky tulle dress. Although her palms were sweating with nervousness, she still maintained the "aloof and world-weary face" that Jiang Che had taught her. Shen Qingge wore a black and gold haute couture gown, exuding a queenly aura. Jiang Che, on the other hand, wore a well-tailored dark blue suit, understated yet noble, like a knight protecting a princess and queen.

"Don't be afraid."

Jiang Che, standing in front of the autograph board, subtly helped Su Xiaoruan, who almost tripped over her skirt, and whispered:

"You're here tonight to receive an award, not to be tortured. Stand tall and hold your head high."

Su Xiaoruan took a deep breath, instantly finding her anchor, and flashed a perfect professional smile at the camera.

……

Inside the VIP box.

Lu Ziye swirled a glass of red wine in his hand, looking down at the three people on the red carpet, a sinister glint in his eyes.

"Is everything arranged?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Lu," the assistant whispered. "The keyboardist and drummer for the live band have already been bribed. When Su Xiaoruan goes on stage to sing 'Chasing the Light,' there will be no sound in her in-ear monitors, and the band will deliberately mess up the rhythm."

"snort."

Lu Ziye sneered and downed the glass of red wine in one gulp:

"I don't think this 'bird of freedom' can fly without accompaniment."

"Dare to refuse me? Tonight I'll make you the laughingstock of the entire internet."

……

The awards ceremony was in its middle stages.

The host's excited voice rang out:

"The winner of the Best Newcomer Award is—Su Xiaoruan! Congratulations!"

There was thunderous applause.

Su Xiaoruan excitedly walked onto the stage, accepted the trophy, and delivered her acceptance speech. Although she stuttered a bit, her sincerity won her countless fans.

"Next, please enjoy Su Xiaoruan's award-winning piece—'The Light Chaser'!"

The lights dimmed.

Su Xiaoruan stood in the center of the stage, gripping the microphone tightly.

She took a deep breath and waited for the prelude to begin.

however.

One second, two seconds, five seconds...

The scene was deathly silent.

The piano intro that was supposed to start didn't come. Over at the band section, the keyboardist was pretending to adjust the equipment, and the drummer was drinking water with his head down, seemingly completely unaware that the performance had already begun.

"What happened?"

"Performance accident?"

"Where's the accompaniment?"

The audience began to whisper among themselves, and some even started to make a fuss.

Su Xiaoruan panicked.

She tapped her in-ear monitor, but all she heard was a grating static. She looked helplessly toward the band, but no one paid her any attention.

Standing on the stage, the loneliness and fear of being abandoned by the whole world instantly overwhelmed her.

This is being broadcast live nationwide!

If she messes up the performance, her career could be ruined!

Inside the VIP box, Lu Ziye laughed so hard he was doubled over: "Hahaha! Look at her silly face! Cry! Cry it out!"

First row below the stage.

Shen Qingge's face instantly turned cold. She saw through the trick at a glance.

"These bastards..." Shen Qingge gritted her teeth, just about to stand up and confront the organizers.

A warm, large hand pressed down on her shoulder.

"Don't rush."

Jiang Che had unbuttoned his suit jacket at some point, his expression calm and serene.

"Since someone wants to see us make a fool of ourselves."

"Then let's show him a myth."

After saying that, Jiang Che strode forward and walked straight to the steps on the side of the stage.

……

On stage, Su Xiaoruan's eyes were already brimming with tears.

Just when she was about to break down.

A familiar figure emerged from the darkness.

He didn't take the microphone, nor did he speak.

He simply walked straight to the spare Steinway grand piano at the back of the stage.

That's Jiang Che.

He sat down at the piano, his long fingers resting on the keys. He turned his head and, across half the stage, gave the panicked girl a warm smile.

His lips were lip-syncing to: "Follow me."

That instant.

Tears welled up in Su Xiaoruan's eyes, but the fear in her heart miraculously disappeared.

The light came.

"when--"

The first note rang out.

It's no longer the simple accompaniment of the original version, but a live version enhanced by Jiang Che's [Hall of Fame Arrangement].

The music flowed out like water, clear and firm, carrying a power that could soothe all unease.

It perfectly matched Su Xiaoruan's breathing rhythm.

Su Xiaoruan raised the microphone.

No in-ear monitors needed, no band needed.

As long as there's this piano, and as long as that man is behind her, she can sing.

"If you were fireworks on the sea..."

"I am a bubble in the waves..."

The song began.

stable.

Surprisingly stable.

Because of this unexpected interlude, Su Xiaoruan's emotional investment was deeper than ever before. That sense of dependence, "You are my light, and I am your shadow," became tangible at this moment.

There was only one spotlight on the stage.

It hit Su Xiaoruan and Jiang Che, who was not far away.

One person plays the piano, and the other sings.

The scene was so beautiful, it looked like an oil painting.

The audience, who had been expecting a laugh, fell silent.

Lu Ziye, who was originally waiting to see Su Xiaoruan make a fool of herself, froze on his face with a smile, and the wine glass in his hand was crushed with a "crack".

"Damn it... this can actually be saved?!"

He never expected that Jiang Che could actually play the piano, and that his skill level was so high that he could completely overwhelm a professional band!

The sound of the zither flowed on.

The chorus reached its climax.

Jiang Che's fingers danced across the piano keys, adding a magnificent variation that escalated the emotions layer by layer.

Su Xiaoruan turned around, no longer facing the audience, but facing Jiang Che.

She sang as she walked towards him step by step.

"I can follow behind you, like a shadow chasing the light in a dream..."

At this moment.

This is not a performance.

This is her way of declaring her faith to the world.

As the last note fades.

Su Xiaoruan happened to walk up to the piano. She looked at Jiang Che, her eyes filled with undisguised love.

The entire audience stood up.

The applause was ten times louder than when they received the award!

"That's incredible! Is this what they call a god-like rescue?!"

"Who's that handsome guy playing the piano?! I want to have his babies!"

"This coordination, this gaze—I wouldn't believe they're not dating! It's so sweet!"

……

Backstage.

As soon as she stepped off the stage, Su Xiaoruan threw herself into Jiang Che's arms and burst into tears.

"Waaaaah... Brother, you scared me to death... I thought I was going to die..."

"Okay, okay, don't cry."

Jiang Che patted her back, but his eyes were frighteningly cold:

"It's alright now."

"However, some people will have to pay the price."

At this moment, Shen Qingge walked over in high heels.

She looked at the two embracing, and this time she wasn't jealous. She had been moved by what she had just witnessed.

But while we're touched, we still need to settle accounts.

"Found it."

Shen Qingge waved her phone in her hand, her eyes as cold as knives:

"It was Lu Ziye who did it. The band's keyboardist has already confessed and received 100,000 yuan."

"One hundred thousand yuan?"

Jiang Che sneered and wiped away Su Xiaoruan's tears:

"You dare to ruin my life for 100,000 yuan?"

"Since Lu Ziye likes to play dirty tricks so much..."

"Then let's play something big with him."

Jiang Che looked at Shen Qingge, a dangerous glint in his eyes:

"Honey, is Tianyu Media currently preparing a big-budget S-level movie? What's it called, 'The Song of Prosperity'?"

"Yes." Shen Qingge nodded. "That's the Lu family's key project this year. Lu Ziye is also the producer, and he invested 500 million."

"very good."

Jiang Che's lips curled into a devilish smile:

"Have Han Xiao prepare."

"We're not going to dump our shares."

"This time, we're going to intercept them."

"I'm going to turn Lu Ziye's so-called S-level mega-project into a pile of waste paper."

Looking at her husband's expression, which suggested he was about to "stir things up" again, Shen Qingge didn't find him scary at all; instead, she thought he was incredibly handsome.

She stepped forward, straightened his tie which he had wrinkled while playing the piano, and kissed him on the corner of his lips.

"Granted."

"You can use all of Shen's Group's funds as you wish, whenever you need them."

"This time, we're going to let the young masters of Beijing's elite circles know."

"How does a powerful dragon crush a local tyrant?"