Even An Xin, standing to the side, was completely conquered by Zhou Ying's piano skills.
She puffed her cheeks at Zhou Ying, yet couldn't squeeze out a single word of criticism.
I didn't expect you to be a natural prodigy. Don't waste this gift—let's buy the piano in a minute, then we won't have to fight for practice rooms. You can polish your craft at home.
At those words Zhou Ying beamed, nodding repeatedly. "It really feels amazing to play; the school pianos can't compare at all."
When she finished, Jiang Cheng turned to the sales assistant. "If I reserve this one, can you deliver it today?"
The assistant's face lit up. "Of course, Mr. Jiang. Just leave the exact address and we'll have it brought to your door."
Only moments ago he had told Wang Sheng to go to Zhou Ying's place and fit out a new practice studio.
Going back now would be a bit early.
With that in mind, Jiang Cheng asked Zhou Ying, "Is there anything the house still needs? Want to pick it up while we're out?"
Zhou Ying shook her head gently. "No need. That apartment you gave me has everything; nothing's missing. Really, we don't have to buy anything else."
The moment those words left her lips, the assistant felt as if she'd swallowed a mouthful of dog fur.
She envied Zhou Ying, but she also knew the gulf between them.
A plain-looking girl like her didn't turn heads in China.
Luckily she worked at Steinway and met plenty of Foreigner.
Everyone knows Foreigner see us Chinese through upside-down goggles.
Put Fan Bingbing and Feng Jie in front of them and most will call Feng Jie the sexy goddess.
An Xin, who had stayed silent, frowned, a mix of doubt and shock rising inside.
She hadn't expected Jiang Cheng to buy real estate for Zhou Ying.
She knew he was flush, but this was Shanghai.
Even outside the city center, Shanghai prices were no joke.
And judging from his tone, he was about to purchase a three-million-plus piano for her.
If the piano alone cost that much, surely he wouldn't pair it with a mere few-million-yuan flat?
Besides, what decent place could a few million buy in Shanghai?
A home worthy of an instrument this expensive had to run past the ten-million mark.
So why would Jiang Cheng lavish such fortune on Zhou Ying?
The way he threw money around was exactly how he'd treated Yu Xiaoxiao.
An Xin had seen plenty of rich playboys like him.
Usually they'd hand out luxury goods—bags, watches—nothing more.
Buying property? Only if it were true love.
The thought she'd had when she last met Yu Xiaoxiao resurfaced.
Could Jiang Cheng genuinely love Zhou Ying?
Watching the two of them, the question burned brighter.
Yet if so, what did Yu Xiaoxiao mean to him?
After the auction she'd quietly looked into Yu Xiaoxiao's background.
She hadn't uncovered how Jiang Cheng and Yu Xiaoxiao had met,
but learned he'd handed his entire Xingchen Entertainment to Yu Xiaoxiao and even bought her a car.
Most of her former co-workers knew about the pink Lamborghini.
More stunning, Jiang Cheng had recently bought the mansion she'd rented on the Bund and gifted it to her.
Those Bund mansions don't come cheap—hundreds of millions, easy.
Add the auction and it was clear: Jiang Cheng's love for Yu Xiaoxiao was real.
Did that mean he loved them both?
The idea made An Xin silently scream: This is simply too outrageous.
After swiping the card, Jiang Cheng used the last mid-tier cashback card in his backpack.
He'd started the month with four Mid-Tier Consumption Cashback Cards.
A month of indulgence had left only one.
"Ding! Mid-tier card used. Spend: 3.8 million."
"Max cashback capped at 2 million; excess forfeited."
"Ding! 20× multiplier triggered. Cashback: 76 million!"
Watching the 76 million land in his account, Jiang Cheng quietly closed the prompt.
Zhou Ying went with the assistant to handle the store membership.
Jiang Cheng didn't follow; he knew An Xin was bursting with questions.
If he didn't let her vent, she might strip him bare in front of Zhou Ying.
He planned to confess, but the moment wasn't right.
Annie tugged him to teach her Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, so he sat at the bench.
Seeing the usually mischievous child so eager, he showed rare patience and gentleness.
Guiding Annie's tiny fingers over the keys, he let the notes flow like water.
With Zhou Ying gone, An Xin prepared to bombard him.
But the sight of this tender scene struck a chord inside her.
Her favorability, fallen to 30, quietly climbed back to 50.
When Annie began playing on her own, An Xin broke the silence. "I saw you the other day at Peace Hotel—with Wang Congcong and Zheng Zhigang."
Jiang Cheng met her gaze and read the unspoken question.
She must have spotted Qiao Yinyin that night.
"You seem to like dining there."
His calm reply left her speechless.
"That's not the point. Are they all your girlfriends or what?" she snapped.
From her view, the Casanova had played her for a fool.
After years, she'd finally fallen for someone.
Just as she'd gathered courage to confess, she found he already had a place in his heart for another.
Yet when she'd nearly given up, he'd given her hope—
pinning her to the table and kissing her senseless.
He'd responded passionately, as though he wanted to kiss every inch of her.
But after the fire died, he'd offered no further sign.
She'd told herself he liked her yet forced himself to hold back.