Chapter 58: Grand Finale

Yi Xun saw Gu Shisheng again at little Su Yu’s third birthday party. By then, she was already a signed singer with an album under her belt, enjoying modest fame as her career entered a period of upward momentum.

Xiao Mingsheng’s imprisonment had given her a renewed sense of confidence in life, so she no longer concealed her beauty, though she simply kept her hair in a neat, short crop and preferred wearing trousers in her daily life.

As her state of mind gradually stabilized, she could finally fall into a deep sleep at night without relying on medication. After finishing her recording sessions, she would go out for a workout, and on weekends, she would go shopping with good friends. Her life was no longer monotonous, but instead grew fulfilling.

Yet, in the dead of night, she would inevitably find herself thinking of a certain boy.

That impulsive boy who had once confessed his feelings and left a deep impression on her heart—four years later, he must have grown into an outstanding man, right? While browsing the news, she had occasionally caught glimpses of updates about him. He had become a young concert pianist, winning awards in international competitions with a boundless future ahead of him.

Such a man would surely have long since forgotten the older sister who once rejected him, and would have a beautiful girlfriend by his side by now, wouldn't he?

Yi Xun had imagined this countless times, genuinely happy for him, yet a strange emotion she could not quite name would always involuntarily well up in her heart.

She had continually suppressed this feeling, unwilling to confront it, and too cowardly to face it.

As for Gu Yao, whenever news of Gu Shisheng was brought up, Yi Xun would deliberately steer the conversation away. Over time, Gu Yao stopped mentioning him altogether, leaving Yi Xun completely in the dark regarding any news of Gu Shisheng, including the fact that he had returned to the country.

Little Su Yu’s birthday party was held at a hotel. Fearing she might be recognized by fans, Yi Xun specially wore a baseball cap and bought Yu Yu's favorite dinosaur toy as a gift.

When she saw Gu Shisheng walk in, she was sitting in a corner playing with Yu Yu. The little boy wore a serious, childish expression on his tiny face as he tried hard to stand on tiptoe to reach the dinosaur in her hands.

Finding him utterly adorable, Yi Xun couldn't help but pick Yu Yu up and plant a kiss on his chubby little cheek before placing the small dinosaur in his hands, guiding him on how to play with it.

A commotion broke out near the entrance. Subconsciously, she looked up and saw a young man wearing a cap striding in, pursued by a few young girls who seemed to be asking for autographs. He graciously accommodated each of them before politely blocking the group outside the door and walking inside alone.

"Couldn't you at least try to hide your face?" Gu Yao walked over and complained.

This silly younger brother of hers had gained some fame lately, and with his striking good looks, internet users had dubbed him the "little piano prince." Every time he went out, he was recognized—he was practically more famous than an actual celebrity.

"Didn't I wear a hat?" Gu Shisheng muttered, looking slightly aggrieved. No matter the occasion, he could never win an argument against his older sister, so he could only obediently take her scolding.

"You're here, buddy!" Su Xu emerged from somewhere, walking over with infectious enthusiasm. Dressed in a sharp suit, he looked every bit the successful professional—until the moment he opened his mouth and ruined the illusion.

While lively chatter filled the air over there, Yi Xun turned back, lowered her gaze instinctively, and resumed talking with little Yu Yu, even as her heart stubbornly beat faster and faster with every passing second.

A shadow suddenly fell across the table. Little Yu Yu in her arms raised his head to look at the newcomer, and Yi Xun had no choice but to follow his gaze and look up as well.

The young man was dressed entirely in black. He had already taken off his cap, revealing his handsome brows and eyes. He looked thinner than before, but his physique was much leaner and more toned, and his facial features had grown even deeper and more defined.

He had truly become a mature man.

Thinking this, Yi Xun found herself unable to utter a single word, completely frozen as she stared at him.

The two of them stood quietly gazing at each other for a moment before Gu Shisheng finally broke the silence. He bent down and scooped little Su Yu up into his arms. The child neither cried nor fussed, simply stretching out his tiny arms to obediently wrap them around his uncle's neck.

"Long time no see," the young man opposite her said softly, looking at her.

"Yeah," Yi Xun nodded. Neither of them offered any further words.

At that moment, Gu Yao turned around to look for her son, and Gu Shisheng walked over holding Yu Yu.

All in all, this reunion was exceedingly uneventful. Yi Xun lowered her head once more, suppressing the faint ripple of loss in her heart.

After returning home, her manager, Wei Yan, called her. "The variety show has been finalized. The first round of competition starts next week. Get yourself ready."

Yi Xun agreed with a nod. This singing variety show had been secured with great difficulty, featuring many popular singers. The format involved artists competing against one another until the champion, runner-up, and second runner-up were chosen.

It would be a tremendous boost to her future singing career and might even propel her to overnight stardom, so she attached great importance to it. She immediately rushed to the company, discussed song choices with her manager, and began earnestly preparing and rehearsing.

On the day of the competition, after attending the press conference, she arrived backstage for her final rehearsal. She still felt a bit nervous; among the participating singers, she was the least famous, which caused her mind to wander and worry that she might be eliminated in the very first round.

The song relied on piano accompaniment, and a pianist would be performing on stage with her. Yi Xun had been curious about the pianist's identity, but she had only seen a tall man constantly wearing a loose hoodie, complete with oversized sunglasses and a face mask that concealed every feature, maintaining a thoroughly mysterious aura.

Her manager walked over and said with a smile, "This is a specially invited guest artist, and the production team requires strict confidentiality. You shouldn't go over to say hello just yet."

Dropping the matter, she proceeded with her final rehearsal.

When the official competition began, she wore a magnificent long gown with an expansive train. With hair extensions added to lengthen her locks, styled into soft, flowing waves cascading over her shoulders, she looked as ethereal as a fairy.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped slowly onto the stage. As the stage lights illuminated her, she gripped the microphone tightly. Accompanied by the lingering, melodious strains of the piano, she began to sing. Her voice was pure and beautiful—this was a song she had composed herself and the piece she valued most, making it the most fitting choice for this moment.

Her nervousness had vanished entirely. At that moment, she felt as though she had been born for this stage, and her exquisite vocals captivated the audience below, some of whom even shed tears of emotion.

As the song came to an end, she offered a gentle smile and a deep bow to the audience, rewarded by a surging wave of applause and cheers.

Backstage, she remained immersed in the lingering excitement. Because she had stood in high heels for too long, the sudden relaxation of her muscles caused her legs to cramp up. Reaching out to steady herself against the wall, she prepared to sit down and rest.

A pair of strong, sturdy hands suddenly reached out and firmly supported her.

Yi Xun turned her head. Seeing Gu Shisheng dressed in a handsome suit, she was momentarily stunned, her red lips parting slightly. "You... why?"

"I'm your piano accompanist. How heartbreaking, Sister Yi Xun—you didn't even realize it." The young man's lips curled up in a warm smile, though his tone carried a playful hint of grievance.

Only then did Yi Xun register the truth. "That mysterious guest was you? I..."

This sudden, delightful surprise left her momentarily speechless. The man had already guided her to a chair, settling her down with attentive care. "Would you like some water? I'll get it for you."

With that, he poured her a cup of water, tending to her with utmost solicitude. Yi Xun waved her hand awkwardly, meaning to refuse, but Gu Shisheng ignored her entirely. He even knelt down to unlace her shoes and gently massage her feet to relieve the cramp.

At that moment, a staff member walked over, urging her to hurry to the second broadcasting hall to join the other performing singers for interviews. She quickly stood up, finding her legs miraculously recovered, and hurried along behind the staff.

When she couldn't help glancing back halfway down the hall, Gu Shisheng was still standing right where he was, flashing her a bright, handsome smile and giving her a gentle wave.

After the results of the first competitive round were announced, Yi Xun remained in a daze. She thought of Gu Shisheng in his sharp suit and felt a pang of regret that she hadn't looked back after going on stage, missing out on the precious moment of watching him play up close. Her thoughts drifted, and her cheeks began to flush unbidden.

As she drifted in her daydreams for a moment, the chorus of congratulatory voices around her snapped her back to reality—she had actually placed second!

Joining the others in laughter and offering modest remarks to the cameras, she finished filming in a blur. Following her manager outside, she changed into casual clothes and prepared to attend the subsequent celebratory dinner.

"Let me tell you, Xun'er, there are investors and bosses attending this dinner tonight. You must toast them properly and make a good impression. Who knows, you might even land some endorsement deals, understand?" her manager chattered incessantly.

Yi Xun frowned in quiet revulsion. She loathed these kinds of occasions the most. Why couldn't she just sing well? Why must she engage in this fawning behavior of toasting and pleasing people...

Just as she was about to voice her refusal, a staff member blocked their path. "Excuse me, some follow-up procedures haven't been completed yet. Could you come with me to take care of them?"

Her manager had no choice but to turn back with the staff member, leaving parting instructions: "Don't move, wait right here for me!"

Yi Xun nodded obediently. Watching her manager's retreating figure vanish, she hesitated over whether she should just leave, but ultimately caved and stayed behind to wait.

Someone stepped up right beside her and said with a low, smiling voice, "Want to run away?"

Startled, Yi Xun looked up to find the tall young man towering before her. As she opened her mouth to speak, a baseball cap was pressed down onto her head.

Gu Shisheng leaned in closer, retrieved her sunglasses from her bag, placed them over her eyes, and then grabbed her arm, pulling her swiftly toward the elevators.

His grip was strong and his strides were long; unable to keep up, Yi Xun was forced into a hurried jog.

Once they exited the television station, the night outside was pitch black. Gu Shisheng finally slowed down, turning to her with a smile. "How does it feel to be carried off on the run? Pretty good, right?"

Taking a deep breath, Yi Xun smiled without speaking. She felt the large hand holding her arm slide downward until his fingers firmly intertwined with her right hand. She offered no resistance, only lowering her head in shy compliance.

Not far away, Gu Yao sat in her car, watching the sweet pair ahead of her. She clicked her tongue, turned to look at little Yu Yu who sat with a deadpan expression in his child safety seat, and chuckled. "Baby, looks like there's nothing for us to do here anymore. Shall we go home?"

Su Yu had been busy today, so she had brought her son along to watch the competition. She originally planned to wait for Gu Shisheng afterward and give him a ride home, but it turned out his nightlife was far too rich for an older sister to worry about.

Starting the engine and pulling out of the parking space, Gu Yao remembered something and casually mentioned to her son, "Oh right, Auntie Cen Xi is bringing her daughter over to our house to play tomorrow. Are you excited?"

Glancing at the rearview mirror, she watched with immense satisfaction as her son's tiny face twisted into an expression of utter resentment, and she drove off toward home in high spirits.