{Chapter: 166 Mei Yuxian troubles Xiao Yuan for help!}
"For today's banquet, I had arranged for a professional piano master to perform live and help elevate the atmosphere," Mei Yuxian explained with a faint sigh. "But unfortunately, the pianist seems to have fallen ill at the last minute and couldn't make it."
As she spoke, Lin Yuan casually glanced around the hall. His sharp eyes quickly landed on a gleaming black Steinway grand piano, placed prominently on a slightly elevated platform at the far end of the hall. It stood out as a centerpiece, though most guests likely assumed it was there purely for decorative purposes.
With a slight smile playing on his lips, Lin Yuan asked, "So, what's the plan now?"
Mei Yuxian gently waved her hand and said nonchalantly, "It's nothing to worry about. I've already instructed the housekeeper to see if there's anyone among our guests tonight who knows how to play."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Yuan saw the housekeeper already walking onto the stage with a microphone in hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the housekeeper announced politely, "I apologize for the inconvenience. Our scheduled pianist couldn't attend due to illness. However, we would like to invite any of our distinguished guests who are proficient in piano to step forward and treat us with a performance. Your talent will surely help make tonight more memorable."
Hearing the words "playing the piano," Gui Qingtong's eyes lit up with inspiration. An idea struck her—this could be the perfect opportunity to impress her mother and potentially get her to agree to her and Lin Yuan's engagement ahead of time.
Excitedly, she tugged at Mei Yuxian's sleeve and whispered eagerly, "Mom, don't you remember how I met Brother Lin Yuan? It was through the music exhibition at Jiangbei Conservatory of Music! He's an amazing pianist!"
"Oh?" Mei Yuxian's eyebrows rose in mild surprise as the memory resurfaced.
She vaguely remembered her daughter mentioning that Lin Yuan had caught her attention during a music event. At the time, she hadn't paid much attention to the details, being caught up with her own responsibilities. But now, hearing it again, her interest was piqued.
With a graceful smile, Mei Yuxian turned to Lin Yuan and said warmly, "I almost forgot, Xiao Yuan, you're skilled at playing the piano, aren't you? If no one else is stepping up, could I trouble you to play a piece for us?"
Although her tone was casual and seemingly offhand, there was a hint of expectation behind her words.
She didn't know the extent of Lin Yuan's skills, but given the setting, it wasn't about a formal concert—it was simply to liven up the banquet and entertain the guests.
Lin Yuan chuckled and replied calmly, "It's not a problem at all. A minor thing like this—I'll handle it."
Truthfully, Mei Yuxian hadn't expected much. After all, the attendees were mostly from elite families, and many among them likely had some exposure to piano. With the right push, several could probably put on a decent performance.
Sure enough, as soon as the housekeeper made the announcement, some murmurs spread among the crowd. Quite a few guests, particularly the younger ones, showed interest.
After all, this was a prime opportunity. With many influential figures gathered in the hall tonight, performing—even briefly—could draw attention and possibly open doors for networking.
However, despite their interest, many hesitated. It wasn't easy to muster the courage to perform in front of such an audience. A poor performance could become an embarrassment difficult to live down.
As many young guests debated internally whether they should step up, a sudden voice rang out from the crowd.
"I'll give it a shot," a man said confidently.
All eyes turned toward the speaker.
A tall, handsome man stepped forward with a calm and self-assured stride. As he walked toward the stage, whispers rippled across the room. His demeanor exuded confidence, and under the warm lights, he seemed to shine with charisma.
In such a formal and high-profile gathering, the first to step up was naturally going to draw attention—and admiration.
Lin Yuan, still holding a glass of red wine in hand, swirled it slowly, his eyes fixed on the man walking up to the piano.
His gaze turned warm.
The man who had stepped up was none other than Ye Feng.
Lin Yuan, however, wasn't even remotely surprised.
He already knew this would happen.
In the original plotline of the novel, this was exactly how things were supposed to play out. The pianist getting "sick" was no coincidence—it was a setup to give Ye Feng a platform to shine.
Aside from his background as a former mercenary, Ye Feng's character had also been designed with the talent of a skilled pianist. His ability was well beyond average—he had trained extensively and could perform with finesse at an advanced level.
According to the original storyline, tonight was supposed to be Ye Feng's moment to step into the spotlight.
He would impress the upper-class crowd with his elegant performance, earn the admiration of young ladies, and form useful connections with influential figures in Jiangbei.
Given his striking looks and refined aura, Ye Feng did have the potential to stand out in this kind of environment.
Lin Yuan had already disrupted Ye Feng's first opportunity to make connections earlier in the event.
But as for this second attempt—the piano performance—Lin Yuan chose not to intervene.
Lin Yuan did not bother to ruin his opportunity.
He is just waiting for Ye Feng to finish.
If it is the piano performance only, his skills are definitely superb.
Just go over it and it's done.
…
At this moment, Ye Feng—seated confidently at the grand piano under the soft spotlight—had no idea what Lin Yuan was thinking as he quietly sipped his wine from across the room.
Wearing a warm, self-assured smile on his sharp and charismatic face, Ye Feng looked completely at ease in front of the crowd. His posture was relaxed, his movements fluid, as if he belonged on that stage. His heart was filled with joy and anticipation.
Just moments earlier, Ye Feng had been chatting and sharing drinks with Gu Qingshan. When the housekeeper made the unexpected announcement inviting anyone with piano skills to perform, Ye Feng had burst out laughing. It felt like fate had handed him a golden opportunity on a silver platter—a rare moment to stand out, impress the elite, and boost his reputation among Jiangbei's upper crust.
He hadn't planned this in advance, but to him, it was exactly what he needed.
Ye Feng hadn't attended this banquet purely for leisure. His real goal was to make connections—to meet and befriend influential figures who might extend him a helping hand. At the moment, both he and Gu Qingshan were caught in an increasingly difficult position.
The Lin Family, under Lin Yuan's control, had been applying relentless pressure on the Qingshan Gang, targeting them with strategic moves that left no room for counterattack. To make matters worse, the Tang Family, another prominent force in Jiangbei, had recently joined the fray and begun targeting them as well.
Ye Feng wasn't without allies. In fact, he knew quite a few powerful individuals—some were old friends, some contacts made during his years abroad as a mercenary. Influential people from Yanjing, Demon City, Jinling, and even from overseas. Many of them owed him favors. Some he had fought beside. Others he had saved.
But right now, all of that meant very little.
Because he was in Jiangbei.
And Jiangbei had its own rules, its own power structure.
Despite his formidable background, Ye Feng's footing in Jiangbei wasn't solid. His primary support came from Gu Qingshan and the Qingshan Gang. Gu Qingshan was no ordinary figure—he was considered the underground emperor of the Xiling District, a man who commanded respect and fear in equal measure.
Before Ye Feng even arrived in Jiangbei, his master had paved a potential path for him, arranging for him to be introduced to the Yan Family—one of the most influential and powerful families in the region.
On top of that, Ye Feng had earned the favor of the Chen Family as well. He once saved the life of Chen Meng, the patriarch of the Chen Family, during a particularly dangerous mission. In return, Chen Meng had promised to support him whenever needed. And the Chen Family wasn't just another name—they were one of the pillars of Jiangbei's upper echelon.
Yet, despite all these advantages, Ye Feng found himself constantly thwarted.
And the source of his troubles was none other than Lin Yuan.
From the moment Ye Feng set foot in Jiangbei, Lin Yuan had made his presence known—not through direct confrontation, but through clever traps and schemes. When Ye Feng arrived at the airport, he had barely taken a few steps before being entangled in a fabricated incident that landed him in a detention center for three days. If it hadn't been for Chen Meng's quiet intervention behind the scenes, he might have stayed even longer.
Next came the Qingshan Gang, which suddenly found itself under pressure from all sides. Businesses were targeted, networks disrupted, and their movements constantly monitored. The attacks were surgical and strategic—clearly orchestrated by someone with considerable resources and a deep understanding of the local underworld.
Ye Feng then turned to the Yan Family, hoping to activate the connection arranged by his master. But instead of assistance, he received a cold shoulder.
The disappointment didn't end there.
The young miss of the Yan Family—whom Ye Feng wanted for her elegance and grace—. But when he approached her, she was distant and uninterested. Worse, she had openly greeted Lin Yuan and even wrapped her arms around him in public.
It was a slap in the face.
The only person Ye Feng could truly rely on now was Chen Meng. The man was honorable and had always respected Ye Feng's strength and integrity. But even that support came with limitations.
Because while Chen Meng was the patriarch, the Chen Family wasn't a dictatorship. Other senior members held power, and some didn't look favorably upon Ye Feng. They saw him as an outsider, a wildcard, someone who might bring unnecessary trouble to the family.
If Chen Meng tried to help Ye Feng too openly—especially while he was being targeted by both the Lin and Tang Families—he risked sparking internal discord. Political backlash was almost guaranteed.
All of this boiled down to one simple truth: Ye Feng lacked true personal strength—