She participated with the intention of matching the restaurant’s vibe, and the piano performance was part of a prior agreement, but one song was enough.
When it was clear that Jiang Mo wasn’t in the same world as them, Wang Ying didn’t dare ask for more. In fact, after leaving the Patek Philippe Yuan Mansion, Wang Ying somewhat regretted it.
She worried that her insisting Jiang Mo perform would leave a bad impression on Zhou Wang... Who needed to waste time over a few thousand bucks?
So when Zhou Wang asked, Wang Ying hurriedly nodded, "It’s alright, it’s alright, you take Momo to eat, thank you for today, Zhou Wang!"
"But Momo, leaving like this isn’t really appropriate, is it?"
Before Zhou Wang could say anything, Yueyue frowned and said, "We’re a team, and we agreed beforehand to split the performance fee evenly. If you leave now, how does that work?"
This time Zhou Wang couldn’t hold it in and laughed.
"What are you laughing at?"
Yueyue, somewhat annoyed, looked at Zhou Wang.
"Nothing... You guys should split the performance fee yourself, you don’t have to give Jiang Mo any."
Zhou Wang tried to keep a straight face, waving his hand.
"Really?"
Yueyue asked skeptically, seemingly not quite believing it. After all, a twenty-thousand-yuan performance fee means that even divided among five people, each would get several thousand...
And they only had to sing two songs. In Yueyue’s view, this money was just too easy to make; could Jiang Mo just give it up?
She looked at Jiang Mo, but her expression remained indifferent, as if she truly let Zhou Wang make the decision.
"Really."
"Just keep pretending..."
Hearing Yueyue’s mumbling, Cindy and Wang Ying, who were beside her, turned their faces away, feeling embarrassed for Yueyue.
"Alright then, you guys do your best."
Zhou Wang didn’t say much more. He nodded with a slight smile and took Jiang Mo’s hand to leave.
This was clearly not the right place to complete the [Hidden Round]; he planned to contact Wang Ruixi after leaving the restaurant.
Just as Zhou Wang turned around, he saw Qu Jie and Wang Feiyu leading a group of people approaching.
"Brother Yu, you guys are..."
Reflexively, Yueyue went up to them.
Wang Feiyu, however, ignored her, merely glancing at Zhou Wang and Jiang Mo, his face expressionless, seemingly deep in thought.
"Everyone, your performance just now was a hit!"
Qu Jie didn’t address Yueyue either, merely sweeping his eyes over the crowd, grinning, "I came to invite you to take the stage again and continue your performance..."
"But Mr. Qu, our second song is supposed to be at the end of the banquet, right?"
The bewildered Wang Ying asked in confusion.
"Did you think you’re holding a solo concert?"
Qu Jie wore a mocking expression, saying coolly, "I invited you, so it goes how I say."
"But..."
"I don’t have time to listen to your whining; each extra song you sing, I’ll give you an extra five thousand."
Qu Jie impatiently interrupted Wang Ying.
Wang Ying opened her mouth but was lost for words. Cindy and the others exchanged interested glances.
"Consider yourselves lucky; a distinguished guest enjoyed your performance, and this money is a reward for you, keep it up."
Seeing them quiet, Qu Jie sneered, "If there’s no problem, get on stage."
Wang Ying and Cindy exchanged looks, and after a moment of silence, they picked up their instruments and prepared to return to the stage.
Observing coldly, Zhou Wang didn’t stop them; he wouldn’t interfere with Wang Ying and others’ choices. He was about to leave with his senior sister when Wang Feiyu, who had been silent, suddenly stepped out and blocked their path.
"Wait... Jiang Mo, are you not going on stage?"
He stared at Jiang Mo, his expression neutral, but his gaze made people uneasy.
"She’s not going."
Zhou Wang didn’t understand why the once civil Wang Feiyu suddenly flipped, but after frowning, he calmly answered for Jiang Mo.
"That won’t do!"
Qu Jie immediately complained, "I wanted the whole band to perform together, Jiang Mo must go on stage too!"
Zhou Wang didn’t say anything, merely glanced at Wang Ying. Wang Ying reluctantly spoke, "Uh, Mr. Qu, Brother Yu, Momo’s not feeling well, so maybe..."
"How can I not tell if she’s unwell?"
Wang Feiyu sneered and turned to Yueyue, "Is she unwell?"
Yueyue hesitated but eventually ignored Wang Ying’s look and slightly shook her head.
"Isn’t that right?"
Qu Jie snorted coldly, "You must think I’m an idiot, or that my money’s easy to earn?"
"Maybe they think I’m the fool."
Wang Feiyu said it self-deprecatingly, but Wang Ying and the others couldn’t understand what he meant.
"Mr. Qu, any longer, and if Mr. Wang decides to leave..."
At that moment, Lele reminded Qu Jie.
"Damn!"
Qu Jie cursed under his breath, turning to the group again, "Fine, I’ll be the sucker today, ten grand for every extra song you sing."
He said, "If you want, we can sing till midnight, got a problem?"
Even Brother Jie’s breathing became heavier.
At ten grand a song, you could do six or seven in an hour, ten grand every two hours...
Stunned momentarily, Yueyue no longer pretended silence and rushed over to tug Jiang Mo, "Jiang Mo, what are you still thinking about? Where do you find..."
"Screw off."
Zhou Wang coldly glanced at Yueyue, scaring her into stopping.
"You idiot."
Zhou Wang glanced at Qu Jie once more and, as the latter wondered if he’d heard wrong, Zhou Wang was already pulling Jiang Mo forward.
The serene Jiang Mo remained silent throughout, as if everything was irrelevant to her, merely allowing Zhou Wang to lead her to the side door.
"Behind closed doors, who knows what she’s like, pretending to be Little Dragon Girl..."
At that, Lele muttered.
Zhou Wang paused, turned, and looked at Lele with uncertainty, "What did you just say?"
Under Zhou Wang’s gaze, Lele was unfazed, raising her chin provocatively.
"I said Jiang Mo, why, has Sisi told all her dirty secrets to us, tsk, but does the so-called official boyfriend know any of this? You can’t honestly think you’re holding the hand of some pure maiden?"
Initially baffled, Zhou Wang soon caught on, squinting at Jiang Mo, her face subtly changed for the first time as she looked at the embarrassed Sisi.
Sisi averted her eyes, "Momo, don’t blame me, I... I just heard it from your cousin Han Yanqian. How could your relative lie to you? Listen, maybe go back to a normal life; there are many ways to make money, don’t get too caught up..."
"How much?"
Before Jiang Mo could say anything, perhaps spurred by Lele and Sisi’s words, Wang Feiyu couldn’t hold back. He stepped forward, staring hard at Jiang Mo.
"How much for a night, I’ll pay double..."
Slap!
Wang Feiyu stopped mid-sentence, incredulously grasping his now stinging face. He seemed shocked that Jiang Mo had slapped him.
Jiang Mo, who had been calm and detached, walked in front of Sisi and lifted her hand.
Slap!
Sisi’s eyes widened as she clutched her face, a sparkling tear flying from her eye.
The restaurant’s music continued to play, surrounded by guests’ laughter, yet this little corner sank into an eerie silence.
Zhou Wang froze momentarily, for the one who struck the blows was the eternally serene senior sister...
Coming around, seeing Jiang Mo standing there, seemingly neither sorrowful nor joyous, Zhou Wang’s heart was overwhelmed with pain, pity, and indescribable anger.
Pulling out the Blindfold, quickly moving to Jiang Mo’s side, Zhou Wang’s face was grim as he took the microphone from Wang Ying’s hand, seething with every word:
"Wang Ruixi!"