Gu Chen's piece shifted through unpredictable styles, yet flowed naturally, without the slightest trace of awkwardness!
Li Yi cried out in excitement, "Two completely different musical styles, fused together so perfectly! What a genius! And Young Master Gu is still in university, yet he's already reached such heights. It's truly breathtaking, unbelievable!"
As president of the Zhou City Music Association, Li Yi had profound mastery of both Chinese and Western music. He marveled at Gu Chen's almost supernatural technique: even that abrupt transition had fit so perfectly that he could not help crying out.
Yet no one echoed his cry. At that moment, everyone stared in shock at Gu Chen, who had smashed the guzheng, their mouths hanging open, unable to speak.
"Bitch Song!"
No one paid attention to what techniques Gu Chen had used in the final passage, or how powerful a mastery of classical music he had displayed. All they cared about was what Gu Chen had done and his provocative words.
Bitch Song, dedicated to Zhou Xue'er!
Zhou Nanfeng's face darkened instantly, and a fierce light flashed in his eyes.
"Young Master Gu, what do you mean by this piece?" Zhou Nanfeng was the first to break the silence. His voice was filled with killing intent, so cold it chilled people to the heart.
He stared fixedly at Gu Chen, as though he would fly into a rage if Gu Chen could not give him an explanation. After all, Gu Chen was no longer pointing at the mulberry tree to curse the locust tree; he had spoken his mind openly!
But faced with Zhou Nanfeng's murderous gaze, Gu Chen's expression did not so much as ripple. He smiled faintly and said, "I poured my heart and blood into this piece. It's an original composition, dedicated especially to Miss Zhou. Oh, President Li Yi just said it was good too. It should be fit for an elegant hall."
Li Yi smiled awkwardly and stood to one side without joining in. He knew full well that the situation was delicate and that he should not say too much.
Zhou Nanfeng's face remained stiff as he said coldly, "Young Master Gu, I'm not discussing the piece with you. I'm asking what exactly you mean by its name."
Gu Chen smiled and said, "If Uncle Zhou doesn't like it, we can change the name. 'Slut Song' or 'Wicked Woman Song' would both be pretty good, actually."
Hiss-
A chorus of sharp intakes of breath sounded all around. This Gu Chen was simply too arrogant!
Even now, he still dared provoke Zhou Nanfeng! Couldn't he see that Zhou Nanfeng was furious to the extreme?
"Very good!" Zhou Nanfeng said through gritted teeth. "Young Master Gu, I could have put it down to ignorance before, but now you're deliberately looking for trouble, aren't you?"
Gu Chen smiled faintly. "Uncle Zhou, you're being ridiculous. I merely offered a piece of music. If you don't like it, you can simply refuse it. I wasn't playing it for you anyway."
"How dare you!" Zhou Nanfeng finally reached the limit of his patience. He slammed the table and roared in anger.
Smack!
The table shattered into pieces. The wooden table, made of huanghuali, had been smashed apart by a single strike of Zhou Nanfeng's palm!
Gu Chen raised an eyebrow, and his gaze instantly grew a few degrees colder. He had not expected Zhou Nanfeng to be so strong. Clearly, Zhou Nanfeng was also a martial artist, but Gu Chen had not known that in his previous life.
After Zhou Nanfeng erupted, everyone fell as silent as cicadas in winter. Not one person dared speak.
At that moment, Gu Beichi finally came to his senses. He hurried forward, hoping to get Gu Chen out of trouble. "Nanfeng, that's not what Chen'er meant..."
"Then what did he mean?" Zhou Nanfeng turned his gaze to Gu Beichi, his tiger-like eyes wide and round as he shouted, "Gu Beichi, is this your fine son? My daughter hasn't even married into your Gu Family yet, and today is her twentieth birthday, yet your son has humiliated her like this!"
Gu Beichi opened his mouth to speak, but Gu Chen stepped in front of him.
The smile gradually vanished from Gu Chen's face, replaced by icy coldness. He said, "Uncle Zhou, if I, your junior, have done something wrong, come at me. What has my father done wrong?"
"To raise a child without teaching him is the father's fault!" A sharp light flashed in Zhou Nanfeng's eyes. "Are you still saying your father isn't at fault?"
"Ridiculous." Gu Chen gave a derisive laugh. "I merely offered a piece of music, and somehow that's become a fault? Or is it a fault for me to be standing here today?"
At that moment, Gu Chen's gaze flashed like lightning, sweeping fiercely toward Zhou Xue'er like a thunderbolt!
Zhou Xue'er felt as though she had been struck by lightning. Under Gu Chen's piercing, aggressive gaze, which stabbed at her like a sharp sword, she instinctively took two steps back!
The sight stunned everyone once again!
No one had expected that, before the Zhou Family had a chance to make trouble, Gu Chen and the Gu Family would be the first to strike!
"Gu Chen, how dare you!" Jiang Kun stepped forward, his eyes full of a chilling coldness, though there was also a trace of smugness. He said coldly, "Where do you think you are? This is the Zhou Family! Is this a place where you can run wild? And today is Zhou Xue'er's birthday banquet. You come out here questioning things-who the hell do you think you are?"
"And who the hell are you?" Gu Chen narrowed his eyes at Jiang Kun and said flatly, "Like father, like son. Today I've finally seen it for myself."
"You!" Hearing Gu Chen dare to bring up his son of his own accord, Jiang Kun grew even more furious.
Zhou Nanfeng interrupted their quarrel. First, he said to Jiang Kun, "Boss Jiang, thank you for stepping forward in the name of justice and letting me see what sort of person this kid really is." Then he turned to Gu Beichi and said haughtily, "Boss Gu, your son has a silver tongue and is skilled at sophistry. It seems our Xue'er really isn't worthy of him. Since your Gu Family doesn't like our Xue'er, do you think this engagement should continue?"
A bitter smile appeared on Gu Beichi's face. Although he had known something like this was bound to happen at today's banquet, he had not expected it to come so quickly. He had not even presented his gift, yet Gu Chen had already made such a mess that things were completely beyond repair.
But before he could speak, Gu Chen spoke again. "Uncle Zhou, that's quite a good excuse you've found. I imagine you've been waiting a long time too."
Zhou Nanfeng said coldly, "Gu Chen, don't test the limits of my patience, or I'll throw you out at any moment!"
"Gu Chen, you and your father are nothing but castoffs of the Gu Family!" At that moment, a man among the wealthy onlookers stepped forward and sneered, "The Zhou Family was already showing mercy by letting you stand here. Don't reject the face you've been given!"
"That's right. This engagement was a mismatch from the start. You've fallen so low-what right do you have to stand here and clamor?" Another person stepped forward and said disdainfully, "If I were you, I'd be too ashamed to stay here!"
"Gu Chen, Boss Zhou is giving you a chance to break off the engagement to save you some face. Don't fail to appreciate his kindness!"
A dog that had lost its home, a shameless wretch, someone who didn't appreciate kindness...
In that instant, as though it had all been planned beforehand, boiling water erupted and rose higher and higher!
Shouts and accusations rang out incessantly from all sides. As Gu Beichi listened to those words, humiliation and anger made him clench his fists tightly, his nails seeming to dig into his flesh!