After sitting down.
A commotion broke out around.
Everyone was surprised by Yun Shu's boldness, that she would sit down so readily, without a moment's hesitation.
Even…
She didn't seem afraid at all!
Geng Yu Yue had played so skillfully just now.
Completely overshadowing the musician from before.
Such exquisite skill was truly rare!
Even though the young ladies present also knew how to play the zither, they dared not compete with Geng Yu Yue.
That would be inviting humiliation.
Anyone present who had seen Yun Shu play the zither before was now filled with anticipation, perhaps another string would break.
Who would have thought…
Yun Shu, who had been trembling beside the zither earlier, was no longer trembling!
Instead…
She was calm and composed.
Her hands, which could set off any woman, were long and slender jade-like fingers that fell onto the zither strings.
She plucked them gently.
The strings did not break.
Strangely, the few notes she played casually sounded pleasant.
Geng Yu Yue, her face full of triumph, froze and stared intently at Yun Shu.
Yun Shu continued to pluck gently, her clear zither notes falling into their ears.
She played too casually.
It was as if she didn't know how to play at all.
"Beautiful!" Zhan Xiao Li exclaimed, his cheeks slightly flushed, his eyes not daring to blink as he watched Yun Shu.
She was just like the mother in his dreams!
Sometimes he would dream of his mother playing the zither for a small child.
That small child didn't quite look like him, yet he also looked like him.
The music was just like this, the same tone, the same melody, he often dreamt of it when he missed his mother!
She truly resembled his mother!
Yun Shu saw Zhan Xiao Li constantly watching her, and appreciating the melody. She was truly happy. When Yun Xiao Jing was young, she often played the zither to coax him to sleep.
The mischievous Yun Xiao Jing disliked sleeping and often played with all sorts of messy little animals.
At first, she just found it strange why Yun Xiao Jing was so liked by small animals. Later, when she saw snakes, tigers, and lions, and they all trembled upon seeing Yun Xiao Jing, she suddenly understood.
She had given birth to a very powerful 'freak'.
She didn't know if it was related to her transmigration, giving him this superpower.
Later, she discovered that Yun Xiao Jing could understand all animals.
She knew that twins usually had telepathy. Although they didn't look alike, Zhan Xiao Li might also feel some connection.
This melody was played for Zhan Xiao Li today.
As Zhan Xiao Li listened, his starlike eyes reddened. He was usually very strong and rarely cried, but now he desperately wanted to cry, to be held by her. Her embrace must be very warm, and the way she looked at him was also like his mother's.
But…
She wasn't.
He had memorized the appearance of his mother from the portrait.
He knew she was not his mother.
Yet, he so desperately wished she was.
Zhan Xiao Li felt wronged, extremely, extremely wronged.
Yun Shu saw Zhan Xiao Li's eyes redden and didn't understand. Could her music remind him of unpleasant things?
Thinking of this, her style suddenly changed.
She shifted to a very cheerful melody.
Everyone who heard it involuntarily felt a sudden urge to dance.
Everyone, without exception, wore joyful expressions.
Even Zhan Tian Ye, whose face had always been as cold as a mountain, softened at that moment, no longer projecting an air of aloofness.
Yun Chang Feng excitedly stood up, his face filled with pride.
If Shu'er weren't still playing the zither, he would have immediately shouted "Bravo!"
The initial notes made one feel as if they were returning to childhood, being with their most loved one, being gently stroked on the back, and softly sung a lullaby to sleep.
Such peace of mind and body.
But now, it was joy! Merriment! It ignited the blood within their bodies.
Their blood boiled, making them involuntarily want to leap.
The melody ended.
The leaping blood seemed to still be leaping.
Their hearts were stirred.
Zhan Xiao Li, unable to control himself, walked up to Yun Shu.
Yun Shu immediately hugged Zhan Xiao Li.
She gently said to Zhan Xiao Li, "Good child, don't be afraid of anything, I am by your side."
She desperately wanted to say, "Mom is by your side," but was afraid of frightening him.
Zhan Xiao Li felt immense warmth. He desperately wanted to cry.
But he held back bravely, not shedding a single tear.
Everyone else was still lost in the music, unable to snap out of it for a long time, naturally not noticing Yun Shu hugging Zhan Xiao Li.
Zhan Tian Ye was also immersed in the music; he hadn't felt such a sense of ease in years.
It was as if he were floating above the clouds.
"Excellent! My good daughter is indeed worthy!" Yun Chang Feng clapped heartily. His iron palm strikes hitting each other could withstand the applause of several people! Coupled with his booming voice, he instantly brought back those who were unwilling to wake from their reverie.
Geng Yu Yue awoke, her face suddenly changing drastically.
She stared at Yun Shu in astonishment.
Impossible, how could this be?
Unbelievable! Too unbelievable!
Her face instantly turned ashen.
She stumbled, almost fainting.
Upon returning to his senses, Zhan Tian Ye looked at Yun Shu with a complex gaze.
But as he looked, his face instantly turned dark and stern, like a gathering storm cloud.
He coldly ordered, "Let go!"
Just two words seemed capable of shattering one's spirit!
Zhan Xiao Li's small body trembled.
He, too, had snapped back to reality.
She was not his mother.
Although he desperately wanted her to be his mother.
He could not betray his mother.
With red eyes, he pushed Yun Shu away and ran back to Zhan Tian Ye's side.
Yun Shu felt an emptiness in her arms. Her gaze turned cold for a fleeting moment, but when she looked up again, she was her usual serene self.
"Why did she hug the Young Prince Ye just now?"
"Yes? I didn't see how she hugged him just now? Did the Young Prince run over?"
"Did she play so well that the Young Prince liked her and ran to hug her?"
These speculations reached Yun Shu's ears.
Suddenly, someone's inner thoughts reached Zhan Xiao Li's ears.
"He never had a mother since he was young, and now he's not lively or cute at all. He must have been lacking love just now, that's why he went to hug that fool Yun Shu!"
He stared coldly at Li Yue Xian.
Li Yue Xian didn't notice Zhan Xiao Li's gaze.
Her eyes were fixed on Yun Shu, unable to comprehend how Yun Shu could have produced such celestial music just now!
This competition.
The winner and loser were clearly distinguished.
Geng Yu Yue suddenly wanted to flee.
She was utterly humiliated!
Zhan Tian Ye was about to ask Zhan Xiao Li why he had hugged Yun Shu, when he suddenly noticed him staring at Li Yue Xian.
Could it be that he liked Li Yue Xian as a mother?
Zhan Tian Ye's dark eyes gazed coldly at Li Yue Xian.
She was of average looks.
However, if Zhan Xiao Li liked her, he could fulfill Zhan Xiao Li's wish.
"Who won this competition?" Yun Shu surveyed the surroundings, her cool gaze falling on Geng Yu Yue.
Geng Yu Yue's body trembled. She pursed her pale lips tightly, her complexion even paler than her lips. "You clearly couldn't play the zither before…"
"In the past, I preferred to hide my abilities. There's no need to be so ostentatious. Such a minor skill, only Miss Geng the second likes to publicize it to the world," Yun Shu said with a half-smile.