Anya's piano music continued.
For Jiang Lian, the shock brought by this music was far more profound.
She could clearly feel that the incomparably domineering divine phoenix blood amber within her, like a prairie fire, was miraculously calming its innate ferocity under the soothing influence of the ethereal and pure piano music.
The musical notes transformed into streams of clear spring water, gently flowing through her meridians, cleansing her... The cultivation bottleneck, as solid as a rock, that had troubled her for so long, under the wash of this music, actually... showed a faint sign of loosening!
How was this possible?!
Jiang Lian's heart was stirred by a storm a hundred times more violent than when she had just seen Lu Cheng appear!
This piano music... could actually aid cultivation?!
And it was such efficient, fundamental assistance!
She suddenly raised her head, her gaze fixed intently on the woman who was smiling like a flower in front of Lu Cheng, playing the violin.
She then glanced at the man who was closing his eyes, his face full of doting affection and enjoyment, taking all of this for granted.
At this moment, the hint of "envy" that had just sprouted in her heart instantly grew wildly, transforming into a sharp emotion that even she felt unfamiliar with.
Jealousy.
Why? Why would such a miraculous woman willingly play for him alone?
Why could he possess all of this?
And she, on the other hand, had to endure the vulgar buffoon beside her, who only knew how to pile up money, polluting her sense of smell with the nauseating scent of roses?
The contrast was so stark.
Finally, the song ended, its lingering melody echoing for days.
The entire restaurant remained immersed in that ethereal atmosphere, unable to extricate itself for a long time.
"Clap, clap, clap."
Lu Cheng gently clapped his hands, breaking the silence.
He looked at Anya, his eyes full of approval and tenderness.
Anya's pretty face flushed slightly, and she put away her violin, sitting down beside him contentedly like a little girl who had received candy.
After doing all of this, Lu Cheng's gaze slowly fell upon Jiang Lian.
"Miss Jiang, I trust you are well."
He smiled faintly, his tone calm, yet it seemed to carry a magical power that saw through everything.
Jiang Lian's heart tightened suddenly, and she instinctively straightened her back, using her usual arrogance to mask the turmoil within her.
Lu Cheng casually swept his gaze over the sea of roses on the floor, and gently shook his head.
"Romance forcefully piled up is like these roses."
"Seemingly passionate, but actually vulgar, and they wither quickly."
"Moreover, the scent is too strong and affects one's appetite."
These few light words were like invisible slaps, fiercely striking Xiao Fan's face, who had just recovered from the "landlord" blow!
His distorted face instantly turned a liver-red color!
"Ding! You have suffered crushing defeat from a love rival!"
"Warning! Your actions have been deemed'spiritual pollution' in the eyes of the target!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for acquiring a new title: 'Corny Casanova'!"
"Title Effect: Your romantic gestures, in the eyes of the target female, are transformed into a comical theatrical performance!"
A series of system prompts made Xiao Fan curse inwardly: "Damn system, you never give me anything real!"
Meanwhile, in Lu Cheng's mind, the entirely different sound of heavenly music still echoed.
"Ding! Detected that the Sub-System Host has suffered a devastating spiritual blow, triggering a hundredfold return!"
"Congratulations to the Host for acquiring a special title: 'Words Become Law (Romance Edition)'!"
"Title Effect: Your evaluations and judgments spoken to a specific female have a high probability of influencing her subconscious, making her agree with your viewpoint!"
He no longer paid attention to the Xiao Fan who was almost fuming, but instead took something out of his pocket.
This time, it was no longer a sparkling gem... but a thread-bound, ancient book that looked quite old, with a plain green cover, its corners even slightly curled.
It looked like something that would sell for at most 5 yuan at a street stall.
In the center of the cover, there were ancient brushstrokes that read, "Phoenix Nurturing Sutra."
Lu Cheng casually placed this ancient book on the table, within Jiang Lian's line of sight.
The moment she saw those three words, Jiang Lian froze in place!
Phoenix... Phoenix Nurturing Sutra?!
How... how was this possible?!
This supreme cultivation method, which only existed in the Jiang Family's ancestral records, had been lost for a full hundred years, and was specifically used to nourish and harmonize the Divine Phoenix Body!
It... it actually appeared here?!
Appeared in this man's hands?!
If the divine phoenix blood amber before had brought her a pleasant surprise...
Then this Phoenix Nurturing Sutra at this moment brought her a shock!
This man, why would he possess her family's lost supreme secret manual?
Just as her mind was greatly shaken and she was almost unable to think, Lu Cheng's calm voice sounded once again.
"The divine phoenix blood amber can lay your foundation and solve your immediate crisis."
"But your physique is overly domineering and lacks proper nourishment; if this continues, it will still leave hidden dangers."
"This item may relieve your future worries."
He did not say "give" or "present."
He merely stated a fact, as if this secret manual, in his eyes, was nothing more than an ordinary reading material.
This casualness, this disregard, displayed his unfathomable and terrifying background more than any deliberate display of wealth!
At this moment, Xiao Fan finally struggled out of the successive blows.
He didn't want electric shocks! At least Jiang Lian had to accept one of his gifts!
He saw Lu Cheng's actions and also saw the tattered-looking ancient book.
This made him feel as if he had found another breakthrough point for attack, an opportunity to regain his dignity!
"Playing tricks!"
He pointed at the ancient book and roared, trying to cover up his lack of confidence with volume.
"What's the use of a broken book? How dare you bring it out to make a fool of yourself?"
"Miss Jiang, don't be fooled by him!"
"Such a broken book, it might even have a hammer inside, just like the one Andy used in Shawshank."
"Or, it might have been used by some high school student, with space inside for a phone!"
He turned to Jiang Lian, forcing out what he believed was his most sincere and affectionate smile, pointing at the roses on the ground.
"These are nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Juliet roses air-freighted from Holland! Each one represents my true heart!"
"And, there's also..."
As he spoke, he directly knelt on one knee, pulled out a small box from his pocket, opened it, and faced Jiang Lian.
Inside the box was a large diamond.
"This is the gift I prepared for you this time!"
"It's called Cullinan VI, the sixth brother of the Star of Africa!"
"I call it, the Heart of Sincerity!"
"Jiang Lian, no matter what, since you're here, please take it. Don't let my intentions be in vain, okay?"
This diamond was his killing move!
It was also this item that cost him most of his budget, 11 carats, and bought in a hurry, costing over three hundred million... However, this time...
Jiang Lian looked at his actions, at that diamond.
She didn't even show a gesture of disgust anymore... In her world, this man named Xiao Fan, along with his noisy voice and the roses on the ground, had completely become meaningless background.
Her brain couldn't process too many things... In her eyes, in her heart, only the ancient book with the green cover, lying quietly on the table, remained.
Her breathing gradually became rapid.
Take it?
Taking it would mean that she once again accepted this man's "charity."
It would mean that she would have no pride left in front of him.
It would mean that she owed him more and more?
Moreover, why was he giving her these things, what was he scheming?
But... not take it?
That was the Phoenix Nurturing Sutra!
It was what she had yearned for, the hope that the entire Jiang Family had searched for decades without success!
It could be said that one of the reasons for the Jiang Family's emergence this time was to find the Phoenix Nurturing Sutra!
Pride?
In the face of the temptation to reach a higher realm, what did that pathetic bit of pride even count for?
Ultimately, all struggles, all hesitations, turned to dust in the face of the extreme desire for power.
Jiang Lian slowly stood up.
Under Xiao Fan's stunned gaze.
Under Anya's curious gaze.
She walked step by step to Lu Cheng's table.
She extended her hand, as fair as jade, but now trembling slightly.
Finally, in the deathly silence of the entire room, she tightly grasped the Phoenix Nurturing Sutra in her hand.