Chapter 1643

Xiao Qingqing sat before the piano and said nonchalantly, "To make it easier for the judges to compare, I'll play the same piece." With that, her fingers danced across the keys like nimble spirits, weaving a melody that was both sorrowful and resilient, carried by a lively rhythm. Samuel watched her profile with a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips. The way she played the piano—unchanged from the past to the present—was always utterly captivating... Xiao Qingqing sensed the intensity of his gaze. Instinctively, she turned her head, her fingers never faltering on the keys, but her eyes met his. Seeing Samuel give her a thumbs-up, her lips curved into a radiant smile. She looked away, lowering her head to continue playing until the final note faded into silence. The room remained hushed, everyone still immersed in the music they had just heard—despite having listened to it once before. Especially Madam Song. After stopping the recording, she shot Su Jiaojiao a sidelong glance, an uneasy premonition settling in her chest. Meanwhile, Su Jiaojiao’s expression gradually darkened. Xiao Qingqing stood and strode briskly to Samuel’s side, taking a seat before casually picking up a glass of corn juice for a sip. "Haven’t played that piece in a while," she remarked lightly. "I’m a bit rusty." Samuel chuckled. When it came to humblebragging, his little one was truly a master. "In my heart, even when you're 'rusty,' what you play is still perfection." He dialed his secretary and contacted three of the most renowned piano masters in the country, sending them the recording Madam Song had made. The crowd buzzed with anticipation, eagerly awaiting the outcome. Everyone wanted to see who would triumph—the Su family's biological daughter or her stepsister. In less than ten minutes, all three piano masters had sent back their audio evaluations. Surprisingly, their critiques were unanimous. The first performer, they noted, played with decent fluency but was overly eager to showcase technical skills. This excessive focus on virtuosity disrupted the harmony of the piece, making it feel cumbersome instead of impressive. In contrast, the second performer delivered a smoother, more vibrant rendition. Her playing vividly conveyed the sorrow and resilience of war-torn Croatia after the conflict. Thus, the second piece was the clear winner. Upon hearing the verdict, Su Jiaojiao's face drained of color. How... how could she have lost to Xiao Qingqing in the very thing she prided herself on most? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Meanwhile, Mrs. Song, who had been fanning the flames earlier, now sat quietly, her earlier bravado gone. She had only meant to pity Su Jiaojiao and stir up some drama for amusement—never expecting to be dragged into the mess herself. Apologize to some lowly piano-playing nobody? Not a chance. Frowning, she snatched up her handbag and rose abruptly. "I just remembered—I have urgent matters to attend to," she announced, already edging toward the exit. "I must..." Xiao Qingqing spoke with cool detachment, "Miss Song, surely even the busiest schedule can spare a moment for an apology." Ms. Song's face stiffened, her jaw clenched. Seeing her remain unmoved, Samuel casually draped an arm around Xiao Qingqing's waist and said in a crisp tone, "Don't worry. The Song family patriarch is known for his integrity and despises dishonesty in his descendants. Having been raised under his guidance, Miss Song would never go back on her word." Not a single threat was uttered, yet every syllable dripped with implication. He knew full well about Old Master Song's notorious strictness—minor transgressions meant frozen bank accounts, while serious offenses earned a two-year exile farming in Africa. Sure enough, Ms. Song's expression shifted dramatically. Forcing a smile, she backtracked, "I was just about to apologize before leaving." Samuel instructed a waiter to summon the pianist from earlier. Under the gaze of the entire crowd, Ms. Song bowed deeply to the pianist, then fled the scene in disarray. Xiao Qingqing felt a surge of satisfaction before turning her gaze toward Su Jiaojiao, eyes glinting with mischief. "As for Miss Su—" Before she could finish, Samuel leisurely interjected, "I have a suggestion. Why not let me handle this one, Qingqing?" Xiao Qingqing shot him a puzzled look. Patting her shoulder, he continued in a measured tone, "Making excessive demands for such a trivial competition seems... inappropriate." Xiao Qingqing frowned slightly. Third Uncle didn’t seem like the type to speak up for Su Jiaojiao. Across from them, Su Jiaojiao’s eyes lit up with sudden hope as she stared at Samuel. He’d defended her. He must... still care. Could it be that he also felt... Sure enough, it was Xiao Qingqing who had snatched her spot! But then, Samuel's next words made her face pale instantly. Samuel picked up an opened but untouched bottle of red wine from the table, poured a full glass, and handed it to Su Jiaojiao. "Miss Su," he said coolly, "down this in one go, and the competition ends here." Su Jiaojiao stared at the glass in his hand, her face ashen. Beside her, President Qin shifted uncomfortably—had Third Master discovered something? When Su Jiaojiao hesitated, Samuel smirked. "What’s the matter? Is a drink poured by Samuel beneath your standards?" President Qin quickly stood up, trying to smooth things over. "Jiaojiao, you must be overwhelmed with joy that Third Master has honored you with a toast! Hurry up and take it!" Snapping back to reality, Su Jiaojiao realized she had no choice. She stepped forward, took the glass, and drained it in one gulp. "Thank you, Third Master," she said, forcing a smile. "Might I have a word with you in private—" "No." Samuel stood, pulling Xiao Qingqing up with him. His tone was icy. "My Qingqing here is the jealous type. She doesn’t allow me to chat privately with other women." Xiao Qingqing coughed lightly—wasn’t he a little too comfortable using her as a shield? Su Jiaojiao stiffened but pressed on. "Then, could Third Master consider granting our Lu Group the current project under Ye Huang Corporation’s bidding, out of respect for Qingqing?" "Qingqing belongs to me, so her respect is mine as well. You don’t get to exploit it." He scoffed. "As for cooperation? Go check your Lu Group’s financial records first. You’re not even qualified." With that, he turned to President Qin. "Since you’ve never heard the saying that scheming against me comes at a price, I’ll personally demonstrate it for you—so you can experience it firsthand." "Third Master, it's all a misunderstanding! I wasn't—" But Samuel had no patience for his excuses. Without another word, he wrapped an arm around Xiao Qingqing's shoulders and strode out of the private room. Mr. Qin's heart sank like a stone. Damn it all! For the sake of that worthless Su Jiaojiao, he'd gone and thoroughly pissed off this ruthless underworld kingpin! As the door clicked shut, Su Jiaojiao rushed forward, clutching Mr. Qin's sleeve in panic. "Mr. Qin, what do we do now? You've got to—" Before she could finish, Mr. Qin spun around and delivered a stinging slap across her face. "Shut your mouth, you jinx! You've ruined me!" But... His gaze dropped to the wine bottle. How the hell had Samuel known it was spiked?