Unconventional Center

Chapter 44: The Substandard Rich Guy

Chu Yang had originally planned to take a casual stroll and then find an excuse to leave with Chu Yu, but he didn’t expect Chu Yu to hit it off so well with Shen Qianwei—in less than an hour, they were already as close as sisters. They visited quite a few places but didn’t buy much, so in the end, they simply found a coffee shop to chat. The café was doing brisk business and was nearly full, but Xiao Luo seemed quite familiar with the place—he’d reserved a table in advance. Although the place was crowded, most people were chatting quietly, so it wasn’t noisy. On a central stage, a piano stood, and a middle-aged woman was playing an unknown piece—the tinkling notes were quite pleasant to the ear. “I never would have guessed you were Teacher Mei’s daughter. I actually saw her last year when I went back to school to visit Teacher Yang on Teachers’ Day. You really should go pay her a visit sometime.” Shen Qianwei was no ordinary person—she’d effortlessly pieced together most of Chu Yu’s background. “We’ll be heading back after the New Year. What about you, Sister Shen?” Chu Yu asked as she added sugar to her coffee. “I’ve been preparing for a concert for quite some time, and it’s set to take place after the New Year, so I won’t be staying long,” Shen Qianwei said. “Would you like to come support your big sister then?” “I’d love to,” Chu Yu said. “I mean it—I’m a huge fan of yours, especially ‘A Lifetime’ and ‘Starry Sky.’ They’re definitely among the best songs in the pop music scene in recent years.” “You shouldn’t say things like that lightly. At most, you can say they’re among your favorites. Terms like ‘best’ or ‘most classic’ are bound to spark debate, so it’s better not to use them casually,” Shen Qianwei said. “By the way, didn’t you just mention that you sang the theme song for *Magnifying Glass on the Green Field*? How did it feel? Are you thinking of pursuing a career in music?” “I do really enjoy singing, but I have no plans to become a professional singer. A hobby is a hobby, and a career is a career—mixing the two can easily spoil the fun. They’re different things.” “With that comment, you’ve just called out both me and Chu Yang—but you make a good point. I’m planning to retire after this performance, too.” “Huh? Sister Shen, you’re not even thirty yet—your voice is at its peak. Why would you quit?” Chu Yu asked in surprise. Shen Qianwei shook her head, looked down at her coffee, and remained silent. Chu Yu glanced at her, then at Xiao Luo. A realization dawned on her, and she said, “You’re not planning to retire to get married, are you?” “No way. I’m too old now—I probably won’t ever get married in this lifetime.” Those words sounded absolutely bitter, so Chu Yu stuck out her tongue, not daring to say anything more, while Chu Yang cast a pitying glance at Xiao Luo. Xiao Luo had been texting on her phone the whole time. When the conversation turned to her, she didn’t react noticeably; instead, she stood up and said, “I’m going out to make a call.” With that, she gave Chu Yang a subtle nod and walked out. Chu Yang and Chu Yu sensed something was up, while Shen Qianwei acted as if she was used to it. Chu Yang cleared his throat awkwardly and said, “I’m going to the restroom.” With that, he slipped away as well. Only then did Chu Yu ask, “Has Xiao Dong proposed to you yet?” “He’s the heir to a wealthy family—why would he need to propose? He probably doesn’t even think much of us singers.” “Well…” Chu Yu hesitated for a moment. “Xiao Dong probably isn’t that kind of person, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have taken a liking to him, would you?” “Who knows what he’s thinking? He plays dumb every time,” Shen Qianwei said with a self-deprecating smile. “He might even be laughing at me inside. Here I am, waiting like a fool, and before I know it, he might’ve already found his ‘Mrs. Xiao’ in a few days.” “Um…” Now Chu Yu was at a loss for words, too. “Look at me—why am I even telling you all this?” Shen Qianwei, who was no ordinary person after all, quickly recovered from her unusual emotional state. “What about you? Do you have a boyfriend yet? Do you want your big sister to set you up with someone?” “Not yet. I’ll just let things take their course,” Chu Yu said. “I think you’re reading too much into it, Sister Shen. Xiao Dong probably just doesn’t want to interfere with your career. Even though things aren’t what they used to be, your relationship is still special. If word got out, it might not be great for your reputation. After all, it involves emotions—he might not be as carefree as he seems.” It’s no big deal for a celebrity to marry into a wealthy family, but marrying your own boss is a different story altogether. Using your body to climb the corporate ladder—that does sound a bit… well, you know. “How did it turn into you counseling me? Looks like Valentine’s Day and stuff like that really aren’t for someone like me—I’m just too sensitive. Did I scare you?” “Not at all. You’re only doing this because you consider me a friend… Huh? That little brat is up to something again.” “What’s going on? Did something happen to Chu Yang?” Shen Qianwei asked. “Look.” Chu Yu nodded slightly. Shen Qianwei followed his gaze and saw that Chu Yang had already walked over to the piano. He was leaning in, talking to the white woman playing the piano. The woman smiled, said a few words, nodded, then stood up and stepped aside. The piano music suddenly stopped, and everyone else looked over curiously. Just as they saw Chu Yang sit down at the piano, they all fell silent. On a day like today, this kind of scenario was probably the most common—though no one knew who this young man was planning to confess his feelings to. Everyone looked up curiously. The café was filled with couples, and Chu Yu and Shen Qianwei—who, like Chu Yang, were from Asia—were quickly singled out by the crowd. Everyone broke into warm smiles, and some even pulled out their phones to start recording videos. I wonder how well this young man plays the piano. Both of those young women are quite pretty—I wonder which one he’s going to confess to. Chu Yu and Shen Qianwei exchanged a glance and, almost in unison, began searching for Xiao Luo, but they didn’t see a trace of him. Chu Yu chuckled and said, “Congratulations, Sister Shen.” Shen Qianwei’s face flushed slightly, her expression a mix of nervousness and anticipation. “Don’t get ahead of yourself—it’s not that easy to get a blockhead like him to open up,” she said. After sitting down, Chu Yang said nothing; he placed his fingers on the piano keys and began to play softly. The light, cheerful notes filled the air and quickly captured everyone’s attention. The lively melody was like the bright, joyful laughter of a young girl; the smooth, flowing tune was so cheerful and magnificent that the onlookers found themselves unwittingly swept up in it. Xiao Luo walked in to the music, holding a rose, and knelt on one knee before Shen Qianwei. “It’s a bit cliché, but this is the most romantic way I could think of,” Xiao Luo said, holding up the rose. “Will you marry me?” “It really is pretty cliché. There wasn’t even any music at first, was there?” Shen Qianwei wiped the corner of her eye and turned her head away. “Yeah, but didn’t even Heaven itself want to make this happen for me by bringing Chu Yang over here?” Although it was a bit unexpected that it wasn’t Chu Yang who proposed, the people around them were kind enough to show their support. “Marry him.” “Is that it?” Shen Qianwei wiped the corner of her eye once more and accepted the rose. “Where’s the ring?” Xiao Luo silently let out a sigh of relief, reached into his jacket, pulled out the ring, and slipped it onto Shen Qianwei’s finger. Applause broke out, bringing the event to a perfect close. Chu Yu walked around the two people embracing each other and went to the piano, saying to Chu Yangdao, “The mission is complete. Stop playing.” “Sigh,” Chu Yang sighed. “We agreed to break up as many couples as possible. Now look—not only did I fail to break them up, but I actually helped bring them together.” “Just be happy about it. Now that you’re the number one henchman of the Tenglong Prince, you’ve saved yourself decades of hard work,” Chu Yu said. “But your boss, Xiao, is a pretty lousy nouveau riche. Never mind that there weren’t a dozen helicopters to back up the proposal—he should’ve at least hired a hundred or so extras, right? Instead, he just got away with a single bouquet, and even the music was thrown together at the last minute.” “That’s called keeping it simple and winning people over with sincerity. It shows he’s moved past the shallow stage of flaunting wealth—downplaying pomp and focusing on substance… What’s with that look on your face?” “Take a guess.” “Fine, I can’t make this up anymore. It really was pretty shabby. That cheapskate Xiao Luo.”