As soon as these words were uttered, everyone turned their heads towards the source of the voice.
It was Miss Tong who had spoken just now.
There was a triumphant smile on her face, and her eyes stared at Nanyu without the slightest attempt to hide her hostility.
Obviously, she came for Nanyu.
Most likely, she wanted to put Nanyu in an awkward position in such a situation and let all these young ladies laugh at her.
However, Nanyu just twitched the corner of her mouth, and her expression remained unchanged.
"Who is it?" Miss Licia was obviously very curious. She covered her lips with her gloved hand and asked with a smile, "Which young lady is so amazing?"
Miss Tong deliberately dragged out her tone, trying to draw everyone's attention to Nanyu. "Of course, it's our once elegant and noble Miss Nan. She's also a top student who graduated from a famous overseas music college."
She deliberately emphasized the word "once", obviously highlighting Nanyu's current down - and - out situation.
Then, more and more eyes fell on Nanyu.
She was wearing a soft, beige shirt, white dress pants, and a pair of camel - colored high heels today.
Nanyu had put on a light makeup when she went out. Her features were very bright and natural. Standing there quietly, she was like a jasmine in a vase.
She didn't like to fight for things, but there were still people who couldn't help but admire her.
Although she was standing in an inconspicuous position, she couldn't escape the increasing number of gazes on her.
Miss Licia also looked at her with curiosity and a prying look in her eyes and had a brief eye - contact with her.
At this moment, Nanyu was pushed to the forefront.
She could have just said generously that "it's not convenient today", but in that case, it would be easy for others to add fuel to the fire and say that she deliberately snubbed Miss Licia.
But if she really sat there and played the piano, wasn't it a humiliating performance for her? She was a guest here too.
Anyway, it wasn't the first time she had been forced to play the piano for others' entertainment. What was there to be so proud of? Nanyu mocked herself in her heart.
She immediately made a decision in her mind and was about to walk towards the white - painted piano with her head down.
"Nanyu."
Tan Linyuan suddenly spoke up and stopped her.
Nanyu halted.
Under everyone's noses, she looked up and could only see Tan Linyuan's cold and deep gaze.
There was still calmness in his eyes, and his expression was also calm. "Since Miss Tong wants to listen to a piano piece so much, why doesn't she play it herself?"
The young ladies were all surprised and immediately started whispering to each other.
It seemed that Tan Linyuan came for Qu Jiaran, but now he suddenly backed up Nanyu.
Miss Tong's originally proud expression instantly turned hesitant. She couldn't understand Tan Linyuan's intention. "Mr. Tan, do you mean me?"
"Of course." Tan Linyuan nodded slightly. "Miss Tong's piano skills are not bad. Didn't you just get a domestic piano certificate last week?"
Miss Tong froze on the spot.
She never expected that she would end up shooting herself in the foot.
"Then please. It would be a privilege for everyone here to hear Miss Tong's performance." His tone was calm.
The atmosphere instantly became a bit strange.
Miss Tong's face turned as colorful as a palette. Embarrassment, awkwardness, and grievance were all over her face.
She was extremely reluctant and said stubbornly, "I... I don't want to perform like a street - musician in front of everyone."
Piano performances were supposed to be elegant and noble. They should be held in a bright concert hall, a luxurious auditorium, or a cabaret full of the upper - class people.
Anyway, it wasn't like this, under the open sky, just for people's amusement.
"If that's the case, then I'd like to ask - "
Tan Linyuan's voice was still calm, but there was a hint of coldness and indifference in his tone.
"Miss Tong thinks it's inappropriate for her to perform here like a street - musician. But is it okay for Miss Nan?"
He said this casually, but it made people shiver and feel cold all over.
He truly backed up Nanyu!
The originally lively atmosphere in the manor instantly cooled down.
Miss Licia watched this farce with a worried look on her face. She signaled the pianist just now to play again to ease the atmosphere.
"No need." Tan Linyuan lifted his eyelids. "Miss Tong, please do us a favor and play for everyone here."
He repeated it. His voice was as calm as ever, but there was an intimidating aura.
Miss Tong subconsciously took a step back and didn't dare to raise her head, afraid of meeting Tan Linyuan's cold and silent gaze.
Even though she was intimidated by such an aura, she still pursed her lips tightly. The last bit of pride of a young lady made her not want to play the piano in public.
Especially when Nanyu, the person she hated the most, was still there.
After waiting for a few seconds, Tan Linyuan raised his eyebrows, and his tone was a bit softer than before. "I'm being unreasonable. If Miss Tong doesn't want to play, then forget it."
"I haven't had the time to look at the membership application your father just sent."
He tidied up his cuffs and said casually, "It seems there's no need to look at it either."
Miss Tong's palms were sweating.
Others might not know, but Miss Tong herself knew very well how much effort her family's business had put into getting into the chamber of commerce.
In the past decade or so, the Tong family had indeed made their fortune from the seafood business.
Although they had achieved a certain level of success and had their own production and sales chain, they were still occasionally ridiculed as "smelly fish - sellers".
Her father always said that if one day they could get into the chamber of commerce, they would never be looked down upon again.
Now the power to decide whether the Tong family could enter the chamber of commerce was entirely in Tan Linyuan's hands.
She was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes and were almost about to fall.
Tan Linyuan remained unmoved.
Helplessly, Miss Tong had to walk to the piano humiliatingly, sit down, and play a piece of "Für Elise".
But who was in the mood to appreciate the music? Those once - glamorous young ladies were all lowering their heads now and didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
That's right. Tan Linyuan could not only threaten Miss Tong but also the family businesses of every young lady here.
As long as he moved his finger slightly, it would be a matter of seconds for a family to be removed from the chamber of commerce or to fail to get a cooperation deal next quarter.
Under his great anger, everyone could only keep silent in fear.
When the piece ended, no one dared to even clap their hands.
This was not enough.
Tan Linyuan reached out his hand and gently patted Nanyu's shoulder. "You give an evaluation. How did Miss Tong play?"
It was obvious that he wouldn't give Miss Tong a way out.
Nanyu didn't let him down. She calmly gave her evaluation, "The technique is clumsy, and there are quite a few wrong notes. It's a sub - standard performance."
When such a good opportunity for revenge came, she had no reason to be a good - guy anymore.
Hearing Nanyu's evaluation of her, although Miss Tong was angry in her heart, she didn't dare to refute a single word.
"Aren't you going to thank Miss Nan for her advice?" Tan Linyuan said lazily.
Miss Tong's face was as white as a sheet, and she said weakly, " ... Thank you, Miss Nan, for your advice."