The intertwined black and white keys produced a series of beautiful notes. The melody flowed like the gentle sunlight of 2:30 in the afternoon, lazy and relaxed, gliding along its elegant arc, filling every corner of the world.
The piano notes grew brighter, spilling over like a tide, filling the space. Ethan Wu's fingers danced effortlessly across the keys, gliding from the bass to the treble, unfolding a rosy landscape, then descending delicately, like scattered pearls shimmering lightly.
His fingers moved continuously over the piano keys, his body swaying subtly in rhythm, his eyes half-closed as if he were lost in the captivating music he was creating.
Isabella Li approached the piano silently, holding two glasses of champagne. She leaned lightly against the piano and placed a glass within Ethan's reach on the piano's lid.
She took a small sip of her own champagne, resting her cheek against her hand, watching Ethan as he played, entirely immersed in the music.
The clear, pure notes of the piano flowed, and a unique light appeared in Isabella's gaze. She had to admit, Ethan surprised her every time. In her 27 years, she had met a fair number of unique men, but Ethan was undeniably the most extraordinary.
She wasn't sure if there was anything he couldn't do.
Ethan hadn't shown a vast array of skills, but at every turn, he managed to do something astonishing at just the right time, in the right place.
The piece Ethan was playing was very famous, so famous that almost everyone would recognize it. This classic piano composition had been used as background music across countless TV programs, variety shows, news segments, and dramas in the country.
Not many people knew the name of this piece, but everyone would find it familiar as soon as they heard it.
That familiarity sometimes made it easy to grow tired of the tune, just like a favorite song set as an alarm or ringtone might feel overused within a year.
But hearing a pianist play live has a power no recording can replicate.
Ethan wasn't a professional pianist, yet Isabella, who had learned piano herself, could tell that his skill level was extremely high — far above her own.
Tilting her head, Isabella tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. With her long, straight black hair, a slight tilt of her head would send strands cascading down, partially covering her face, so she brushed them back.
Ethan didn't look at her.
His focus while playing was intense enough to block out everything around him. Even a stunning beauty with a nine-out-of-ten face like Isabella, brushing her hair flirtatiously, didn't distract him.
She took another sip of champagne, slowly exhaling as she closed her eyes, as if finally allowing herself to truly listen.
It had been a long time since she'd felt so relaxed.
No ruthless competition from the business world.
No oppressive family pressures.
No work, no worries.
Only enchanting music.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed.
The piano music stopped suddenly.
Snapping out of her reverie, Isabella looked at Ethan and said, "You're really full of surprises. Richard Clayderman's 'Ballade pour Adeline' — you played it beautifully. Why did you stop?"
Ethan hadn't completed the piece; he'd stopped abruptly, with a small section left.
Plink, plink.
Ethan tapped a few keys casually and said, "This piano needs tuning. You should be able to hear it."
"Hmm…" Isabella mused for a moment. To be honest, she hadn't noticed any notes out of tune.
Ethan had underestimated himself and overestimated Isabella's ear.
Isabella had learned piano and even taken grading exams as a teenager, but it had been many years since she'd touched the keys. Ethan's skill level was unknown even to himself, as he'd had nothing to compare it to.
Unbothered by this small embarrassment, Isabella raised her hand and gestured, "Your champagne."
Ethan stood, picked up his glass, and swirled it gently.
"A toast?"
"To us."
Clink.
Their glasses met, and both took a sip.
"Are you flirting with me?" Isabella asked, gazing at Ethan with a half-smile that was both playful and inquisitive.
Direct, straightforward.
"What makes you think that?" Ethan responded, smiling.
"You said you were an information broker, and I'm starting to believe you, given how much you know. I also think you know a lot about me, hence…you picked my favorite champagne, and you knew I'd learned piano, so you played."
"Perhaps there's a misunderstanding between us," Ethan chuckled. "Miss Li, please don't flatter yourself. Aren't we simply business partners? You paid me twenty million, which is why I'm here today. I take my clients very seriously, so if you choose to see this as flirting, that's up to you."
"So, you're treating me as a client and just trying to make the client comfortable?"
"Is that a problem? Wouldn't you rather treat business partners with a pleasant demeanor? If you're happy, I'm happy, and everyone's happy. Then, I make more money. Wouldn't you agree?"
The "money lover" persona couldn't falter.
"Fair enough," Isabella said, nodding with a laugh as if she believed him, even though she clearly didn't.
Knock, knock.
The bodyguard had arrived with the clothes Isabella had sent him to buy because of the bloodstains on Ethan's outfit. He'd bought two suits, costing at least several thousand dollars.
The bodyguard entered with a suit in each hand, and Isabella let Ethan choose. He opted for the silver-gray one.
Ethan went into the bedroom to change. When he came out, Tyler Li had already arrived, apparently having finished dealing with Grant Shen's matter.
"It's noon. Let's get lunch," Isabella said, stepping forward to adjust Ethan's collar.
The Crown Entertainment Club had a restaurant, but the three of them decided not to eat there. No matter how refined the club's food was, it couldn't match a high-end restaurant.
In the end, they went to a French bistro in the midtown area where Isabella was a member, guaranteeing them a reserved spot.
They settled in a private room on the second floor, ordering casually and waiting for their food while chatting.
"So, 'brother-in-law,' what do you think is the best way to deal with Grant Shen?" Tyler asked softly, the term "brother-in-law" rolling off his tongue naturally now.
Ethan had told him not to touch Shen at the club, so he'd let him go. But Tyler knew the matter couldn't be left unfinished.
Not acting at the club was less a concern for Ethan than it was for Tyler, as handling things there would be troublesome for him, given his current challenges. So, he'd restrained himself.
"He's lost so much money his business is already struggling. Push him until he's ruined," Ethan replied, arranging his silverware without even looking up.
Was Grant Shen innocent?
Not in the slightest. His connections with the Wei family made him a natural enemy. The third-ranking member of the Wei family had once been Grant Shen's father-in-law's superior.
The Li family and the Wei family were mortal enemies. So, since Ethan had chosen Isabella as his first contact, his allegiance was clear.
"Understood," Tyler nodded.
No need for too many details; he had ample ways to deal with a "small fry" like Grant Shen. He was just uncertain which method would be most effective during this sensitive period and feared making a wrong move.
"Brother-in-law, about closing the club…" Tyler began.
"If you're willing, set fire to the Crown Club…" Ethan suggested, glancing up.
Tyler was taken aback, and so was Isabella. The siblings both looked at Ethan.
Burn it?
The Crown Club's renovations alone had cost five hundred million. Burn it?
"Just a small fire. Make sure it hits the news. Then you can close for repairs and renovations, and no one will question it…" Ethan said.
He then explained the detailed plan to Tyler, emphasizing timing — when to gather evidence, when to take down Hunter Xie, when to set the fire. The sequence couldn't be disrupted!
"I'm going to the restroom," Ethan said after checking his watch and standing up.
"Can you find it, or should I…" Isabella asked, showing a rare bit of concern.
"Take a break; I know where it is," Ethan replied, patting her shoulder.
As soon as Ethan left the room, Tyler turned to Isabella. Listening to the fading footsteps, he confirmed that Ethan was truly headed for the restroom. Then, he turned to his sister, lowering his voice, "Sis! Who is this guy? Where did you find him?"
Despite calling him "brother-in-law," Tyler still had significant doubts about Ethan.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]