The Wager

Was Su Rui mild-tempered?

No, his temper was far from good. After experiencing the reincarnation of billions of lifetimes, his thoughts had grown much deeper, but his temper had become even more domineering and unruly.

Deng Hao's anger flared.

Given his status, he was treated as an honored guest wherever he went, yet Su Rui showed him no respect at all.

The atmosphere gradually stiffened.

After that question, so thick with the smell of gunpowder, the scene immediately froze.

"Hehe, Yan Yun and Ruobing are both here!"

Just as the air itself seemed to solidify, a white-haired elder in retro black-and-gray cloth attire strode over, his face glowing with health.

When Li Ruobing and Bai Yanyun saw him, their expressions changed, and both put away their previous emotions.

The tension was temporarily eased.

"Hello, Uncle Hua!" Li Ruobing smiled naturally and was the first to greet the elder.

"Mm!" The elder smiled and nodded, saying kindly, "I can't even remember how long it's been since I last saw you two. Time really flies—you've both grown into fine young women!"

Su Rui raised his brows and released Deng Hao's wrist.

This elder was no ordinary man.

Hu Yuhua, fifty-two years old, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Committee of Tongzhou City, the leading figure anchoring the Arts and Culture Summit, and one of the main leaders in the official circle!

He had served three consecutive terms in Tongzhou, so he was naturally well acquainted with prominent families like the Lis and Bais, and had a good relationship with them.

"Uncle Hua, my father brought you your favorite tea." Bai Yanyun's expression changed rapidly. In the blink of an eye, her face was once again full of smiles as she took a beautifully packaged box of Rock Tea from the handbag beside her.

"Tell your father that I appreciate the thought!" Uncle Hua shook his head with a chuckle. "But I can't accept it!"

Hu Yuhua understood his position very clearly. As someone in the official circle, having overly close personal ties with wealthy families was a major taboo. Thus, although he was familiar with the Li and Bai families, he had always maintained proper boundaries over the years.

"Ruobing, I heard you opened another new store in Xintang New District?" Hu Yuhua asked with a smile. "That will be one of the city's key development areas over the next few years. You have great foresight!"

Hearing Hu Yuhua praise Li Ruobing, Bai Yanyun's expression turned ugly again. The gift in her hand froze in midair, leaving her in an extremely awkward position.

"It's thanks to the city's favorable policies." Li Ruobing replied steadily, then introduced Su Rui. "Uncle Hua, this is the new president of my Qiantang New Store."

Hu Yuhua had noticed Su Rui long ago, but he had not been able to confirm his identity.

"Hello, Uncle Hua!" Su Rui extended his hand and shook Hu Yuhua's.

"You're so young, yet you're already president of a branch company under Mingzhu Company. You're quite capable!" Hu Yuhua said in a booming voice, patting Su Rui on the shoulder.

Su Rui smiled modestly.

"Oh, right, Yan Yun..." Hu Yuhua suddenly turned to Bai Yanyun, who stood nearby. "I need to trouble you with something. The pianist scheduled for the summit's opening ceremony had an accident and can't attend! Weren't you and your boyfriend graduates of Steinway Music Academy? It seems we can only trouble you two to take the stage!"

Bai Yanyun froze for a moment.

Then she was overwhelmed with delight!

To serve as a performer at such a grand summit and display her talent before so many important figures from all of Tongzhou City—this was an unexpected windfall.

More importantly, this stage would belong to her. Li Ruobing could only stand below, becoming one of the countless people looking up at her!

She and Deng Hao Looked at Each Other, delight flowing through both their eyes.

"No problem! Deng Hao and I obtained Piano Level 10 certification less than half a year after enrolling. We studied under Christian, and even he publicly praised Deng Hao and me as exceptionally talented..." Bai Yanyun rattled on, wanting to bring out every honor she had earned to prove her worth.

"Um..." Su Rui suddenly tilted his head. "I've studied a little music too. Why don't we take this opportunity to have a friendly contest?"

Bai Yanyun choked on her words, then turned her gaze to Su Rui, looking him up and down with a trace of disdain, as though she were looking at flies blocking her path.

"Mr. Su, you'd better not ask for trouble." Deng Hao wore a cold smile as he poked Su Rui in the chest with a finger. "This is a public occasion. I don't want to have some contest with an amateur like you and lower my standing, understand?"

"You don't dare?" Su Rui asked expressionlessly.

"I'm afraid you'll lose too badly!" Deng Hao looked utterly composed.

"How about this? Let's add a wager! Everyone present can judge. Whoever loses will do one thing of the other person's choosing, so long as it does not violate morality or the law." Su Rui licked his lips and made the terms perfectly clear. "If I lose, Ruobing and I will accept the punishment together. If you lose, you and Bai Yanyun will accept it together. How about it?"

"Fine!"

Before Deng Hao could speak, Bai Yanyun stepped forward first and agreed without hesitation. Then she shook Deng Hao's arm. "Deng Hao, help me win this wager!"

Deng Hao fell silent for a moment. He glanced at Su Rui, hesitated slightly, but ultimately nodded.

"Uncle Hua, please bear witness for us." Bai Yanyun was thrilled. In her eyes, Su Rui was practically offering his face up for her to slap twice. "Don't let certain people go back on their word!"

"Young people... you're just too hot-blooded. You always have to settle who's better." Uncle Hua nodded helplessly.

The hall was quiet, and Su Rui had not deliberately lowered his voice, so many people heard the wager.

The Bai and Li families were both top-tier wealthy families in Tongzhou, and the grudges between Bai Yanyun and Li Ruobing were well known to many. Once Hu Yuhua agreed, people who had been scattered throughout the hall were drawn over.

"Hehe, Bai Yanyun and Li Ruobing are finally going to settle things today!"

"When it comes to business, I favor Li Ruobing. But when it comes to music, she and her boyfriend are no match for the Bai family's granddaughter and her boyfriend. You have no idea how highly those two were rated at music academy..."

The crowd began whispering among themselves.

"Then won't Li Ruobing and her boyfriend embarrass themselves tonight?"

"What can they do? They brought this on themselves. Didn't you hear? It was Li Ruobing's boyfriend who took the initiative to challenge Deng Hao to a contest..."

Hearing the murmurs from the crowd, Deng Hao raised his brows as though victory was already in his grasp.

"Then... who will go first?" Hu Yuhua's expression remained calm as he looked at Bai Yanyun and Li Ruobing, who were locked in confrontation.

"Mr. Deng has come from afar and is our guest. Naturally, he should have the chance to go onstage first." Su Rui smiled and shrugged.

"You'll regret that decision. After I finish performing, I'm afraid you won't even have the confidence to face me." Deng Hao curled his lips into a cold smile and walked toward the piano in the center of the hall.

Bai Yanyun drew a deep breath and glanced toward Li Ruobing.

Li Ruobing's expression did not change in the slightest.

"You really think you can control everything?" Bai Yanyun snorted coldly and turned away. Inwardly, she began calculating how to humiliate Li Ruobing after Deng Hao won the wager.

She wanted to defeat Li Ruobing just once. She wanted to see a panicked expression on Li Ruobing's face.

It was the knot in her heart.

It had to be resolved!