Chapter Fifty-Nine: I Look Forward to Your Guidance

The music possessed a tragic grandeur, as if one were bravely marching to their death. When the piece ended, Liao Yuan felt as if his mind had been struck by a sudden revelation, and the stillness that had long occupied his heart was finally stirred.

Fate is unfathomable, but Liao Yuan knew that if there was even the slightest chance for things to go wrong, then, no matter how small that chance might be, it would inevitably come to pass. This is what people call Murphy’s Law.

Buddha once said that there are six paths in the world: the heavenly, the human, the asura, the hungry ghost, the animal, and the hell realms.

In other words, to be born human is the greatest blessing that fate can bestow.

If one only ever obsesses over life and death, constantly holding back, then they lose the very joy of being human.

Of course, this didn’t mean that Liao Yuan could now act as he once did in his previous life—reckless, flamboyant, squandering his privileges without care, and drawing envy.

Naturally, life cannot be only about scraping by in the present.

“I’d like to give it a try. Nine o’clock tomorrow morning, same place as before?”

In her apartment, when Fu Xiaoci saw this message from Uncle A, she danced and hopped on her bed in delight. In her excitement, her delicate little left pinky toe struck the edge of the bed. With a sharp cry, she tumbled off the bed, rolling across the carpet clutching her aching foot.

A moment later, half alive and half dead from the pain, Fu Xiaoci suddenly remembered to reply to the message. She hurriedly grabbed her phone, tears of pain streaming down her face, but she forced herself to contain her excitement as she typed: “For the rest of my days, please take care of me!”

Half an hour later, as Fu Xiaoci lay sprawled on the carpet, drifting in and out of sleep, another message arrived: “…I look forward to it.”

The next day, when Fu Xiaoci awoke and saw Uncle A’s message, she once again broke into a happy dance.

The sky outside was just beginning to lighten. Unlike her usual habit of rolling over for another nap, she leapt out of bed, washed up quickly, took a hurried bite of an apple, then sat at her vanity and opened her makeup kit.

Surrounded by jars and bottles, Fu Xiaoci began her makeup routine.

Since it was a formal meeting, she decided to go with a natural look. Natural makeup didn’t mean going bare-faced, but rather creating a look that was fresh and subtle—carefully refined yet appearing effortless.

As an internet influencer and host, Fu Xiaoci’s makeup skills were second to none.

With her artistry, she could transform a three-out-of-ten into a seven or even a nine, and could make someone nearly perfect into a mesmerizing enchantress.

Nimbly, she applied foundation, then dipped a brush into brow powder, gently sweeping it along her brows from the head to the tail. Her touch was light and soft. She merely followed the natural shape of her brows, adding no extra embellishment.

Next, she dusted a touch of white highlighter beneath her brow bone, making her features pop and giving her face a sculpted look.

She then applied coffee-toned eyeshadow to her eyelids, blending it evenly, and used a gradient effect on her lashes—darker below, lighter above—making her eyes appear bright and lively.

But her look wasn’t complete.

Fu Xiaoci swept blush onto the apples of her cheeks with a large brush—after all, the bigger the brush, the more natural the color. To enhance her skin’s texture, she patted moisturizer onto her cheeks, creating a flawless, seamless finish.

Finally, she applied lip gloss—a straightforward step.

Two hours later, radiant and charming, with a high ponytail, Fu Xiaoci slipped into her long-neglected black business suit, donned sheer nude stockings, and stepped into eight-centimeter high heels.

With everything in order, she slung her handbag over her shoulder, pushed open the door with determination, and, brimming with the confidence of a warrior going into battle, marched toward the piano market.

Along the way, she drew admiring glances wherever she went.

The “old place” Uncle A mentioned in his message was, of course, their first meeting spot: the Steinway Piano Gallery.

At this moment, Fu Xiaoci was filled with confidence for the future.

After all, just by uploading a video of Uncle A playing piano live, she had earned tens of thousands in just a few days—a much easier feat than livestreaming herself, pleading for tips with endless flattery.

She was a master of online broadcasting, adept at all sorts of promotion and hype. What she’d been lacking was truly valuable content.

Now, with Uncle A as such an outstanding core, Fu Xiaoci could easily envision a future where, one day, Uncle A would be playing piano in one of the world’s five great concert halls, with millions cheering below the stage.

How grand and magnificent that scene would be!

A legend was about to be born!

And it would be Fu Xiaoci herself who would make it happen!

Mwahahaha!

“Miss, miss?”

At the Steinway showroom, Miao Bizhu waved her hand in front of Fu Xiaoci, who was standing at the entrance grinning foolishly. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

Snapping out of her reverie, Fu Xiaoci’s cheeks flushed crimson.

She coughed, wiped away a bit of drool from the corner of her mouth, and tried to contain her excitement as she asked, “Hi, has Uncle A arrived yet?”

“Uncle A?” Miao Bizhu looked puzzled. “Who is Uncle A?”

“Uncle A is... Oh dear, what’s his real name again?” In her panic, Fu Xiaoci actually forgot Uncle A’s real name.

She patted her forehead, then pointed to the seventy-three-thousand-yuan D-33 Steinway piano. “The young gentleman who played the piano there the other day!”

Miao Bizhu’s face suddenly lit up. “Are you looking for Mr. Liao?”

“That’s right, that’s right!” Fu Xiaoci said happily. “Has he arrived?”

Miao Bizhu paused, then asked with delight, “Mr. Liao is coming today?”

As soon as she finished, all the female sales associates nearby looked up in unison, their gazes hungry like a pack of wolves—howling with anticipation.

Fu Xiaoci was startled.

After she nodded timidly, all the women’s eyes lit up, and they sprang into action.

Some glanced at the ceiling to check their reflection, others pulled out mini makeup kits from their bags, touching up their appearance with meticulous care…

Fu Xiaoci: “…”

When the store manager, Zhang Chao, heard that Liao Yuan would be returning to the Steinway gallery after half a month, he rushed over from home.

“Chronicle of the Western Regions” had given Zhang Chao a chance to shine before his uncle.

Not only that, but in his social circles, the “Chronicle of the Western Regions” had earned quite a reputation. Many people now knew Zhang Chao was acquainted with a pianist of exceptional talent.

A pianist capable of independent composition was already a highly coveted figure in the music world. To be called a great pianist was rarer still, and every such figure was a true treasure. The pieces they composed were not just for private gatherings, but could grace the grandest halls.

The “Chronicle of the Western Regions” was just such a piece—bearing all the hallmarks of a great pianist. Even though it hadn’t been officially released, thanks to Zhang Chao’s loose tongue and a few shared melodies, its fame quickly spread through the Donghai music scene, making Zhang Chao quite popular lately.

It was clear that Manager Zhang had been burning the midnight oil. The dark circles under his eyes looked like panda eyes, yet he still seemed full of energy.

No sooner had he arrived than Liao Yuan’s taxi pulled up in front of the Steinway flagship store.

“Mr. Liao, what an honor! I apologize for not welcoming you from afar!”

Zhang Chao led a parade of female sales associates, lining up in two rows, beaming with enthusiasm as Liao Yuan stepped out of the car. They applauded in perfect unison. “Welcome! Welcome! A warm welcome!”

Liao Yuan: “…”

As passersby stopped to stare and whisper, Liao Yuan turned around and began to walk quickly back out of the store, his pace accelerating.

Zhang Chao: “???”

Seeing this, Fu Xiaoci broke into a sprint after him, sighing as she ran, “Ah, as expected of Uncle A—what an entrance! All that’s missing is a marching band!”