Chapter 79: Seventy-nine, drawing lots Chapter 79: Seventy-nine, drawing lots Yang Xin’er took a deep breath and forced out a smile, “You all must be kidding, how could I possibly not want my own daughter? It’s just that my parents in Yang City are too bored, so I sent Xiao Ning to keep them company.” It’s all that freak’s fault. If it wasn’t for her, how could I be so embarrassed?
“Mrs. Song really knows how to honor her parents.”
“Yes, Mrs. Song is both beautiful and kind-hearted. No wonder Mr. Song dotes on her so much.”
“Everyone! I’ll have to excuse myself for a moment.” Yang Xin’er smiled at the crowd, nodded, and then turned to walk towards Yang Lisheng and Li Meixiang. She wanted to talk to them, to get them to leave Beijing with Song Yan Ning as soon as possible. The reason she had sold the courtyard house was that she didn’t want them to come back, for if they did, they would surely bring Song Yan Ning with them. However, she hadn’t anticipated that Mr. Song would invite them to his birthday feast.
Yang Xin’er approached Yang Lisheng and Li Meixiang, greeted everyone seated with a nod, “Dad, Mom, I need to talk to you about something, let’s go to my room.”
“Okay.” Yang Lisheng and Li Meixiang stood up. They were also looking forward to having a talk with her.
Yang Xin’er closed the door to her room and looked at her parents, “Dad, Mom, when do you plan on going back?”
“You’re eager for us to leave?” Yang Lisheng’s expression darkened. After so many years without seeing each other, she just met them and was already looking forward to them leaving. This daughter was really raised in vain.
“Dad, don’t be angry. I’m just asking. I’ve been busy lately, so I need to know when you’re leaving so I can make time to see you off.” Yang Xin’er walked over with a smile.
“Humph!” Yang Lisheng snorted coldly. He knew exactly what she was thinking – she just wanted them to take Xiao Ning and leave Beijing as soon as possible.
“We’ll stay in Beijing for a while. We’ll go back once Xiao Ning starts school.” Li Meixiang spoke up. Xiao Ning was to help the Qin Family find the Golden Cicada Herb, and she and her husband would stay in the courtyard house until Xiao Ning was back.
“Where are you staying at the moment?” Yang Xin’er frowned. They’d be staying that long? She had to find a way to get them to leave sooner.
“We’re staying at the courtyard house,” Li Meixiang replied without hiding the fact.
“Wasn’t the courtyard house sold?” Yang Xin’er was surprised. She had asked Yufeng in the morning, and Yufeng said they were staying at a hotel, so how had it changed to the courtyard house?
“We bought it back,” Yang Lisheng said flatly. He didn’t plan to tell Xin’er that the Qin Family had helped them buy it back to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Yang Xin’er was stunned for a moment, “Where did you get so much money?” The courtyard house would cost at least twenty to thirty million dollars. Even if they saw patients for a lifetime, and with their pension, they couldn’t afford it. Could Yufeng have helped them buy it back?
“It was Xiao Ning who earned the money,” Li Meixiang replied, not wanting to reveal the whole truth to Yang Xin’er, besides, Xiao Ning indeed made quite a sum this time.
“Mom, do you think I’m a three-year-old child? You can come up with such a lie? It must have been Yufeng who bought it back for you, right?” Yang Xin’er scoffed to herself. Song Yan Ning was so young; how could she earn that much money? Did she think her a fool so easily deceived? Older people really can’t think straight.
“Believe it or not,” Yang Lisheng huffed. His daughter Xiao Ning was capable enough, and one day Xin’er would regret her disbelief.
“How could you expect me to believe that? How old is Xiao Ning? That she could earn so much money? That’s twenty to thirty million, not just two to three hundred dollars,” Yang Xin’er said, shaking her head amusedly.
“If you don’t believe it, then leave it,” said Yang Lisheng, pulling Li Meixiang along. He felt there was no point in continuing the conversation.
Yang Xin’er didn’t stop them, and once they left the room, she took out her cell phone and made a call. She would find out how the courtyard house was bought back.
Song Yanxue maintained good relations with the younger generations of major families, and hearing her suggestion, everyone thought it was very interesting, with most willing to participate.
“Xiao Xue, you organize it. I’m in.”
“I’m participating too.”
“My grandfather always says I’m good for nothing. I want to show him today what talents his grandson has.”
Song Yanxue nodded in satisfaction, “Since everyone agrees, I’ll go make the arrangements.” They, as descendants of major families, had been cultivating their talents since childhood, talents that Song Yan Ning would never have access to.
After making arrangements, Song Yanxue led the group to Mr. Song’s table.
“Grandpa, these are the lots we’ve prepared. These lots have names on them, and these are for the acts. You’re the birthday star today, so you should be the one to draw the lots. Whoever you draw, that person will perform according to the act on the lot,” Song Yanxue handed the lots to Mr. Song. Naturally, she wasn’t going to arrange for everyone to perform. Her earlier invitation to the crowd was just for show, and her motive was of course to see Song Yan Ning make a fool of herself.
There were only five acts in these lots, all related to music. Besides herself, Xiao Li, and two of her close friends, Song Yan Ning was the only other performer.
Mr. Song cheerfully accepted, “Xiao Xue is so thoughtful.”
“As long as grandpa’s happy, Xiao Xue is too,” Song Yanxue giggled.
Mr. Song happily ruffled Song Yanxue’s hair, “Should grandpa draw it now?”
“Sure!” Song Yanxue nodded with a smile.
Mr. Song first drew two lots, one of which had Song Yanxue’s name for the piano performance. Laughing heartily, “Xiao Xue, you start then.”
“Okay, Grandpa!” Song Yanxue nodded, gave a curtsey to the audience, and walked towards the piano. As she passed Song Yan Ning, she gave her a provocative glance. Just wait, it will be your turn soon. Let’s see how you handle it.
Song Yan Ning’s lips curled slightly upward with a mocking arch. This was just a child’s game after all.
Song Yanxue sat by the piano, smiled slightly at the audience, tested the piano with a couple of taps, and then began to play for real.
The beautiful music flowed like water, instantly filling the banquet hall.
The listeners nodded appreciatively, looking at Song Yanxue with admiration in their eyes. To play the piano so well was no easy feat; besides talent, effort was indispensable.
Song Yan Ning closed her eyes, listening quietly. She might not know how to play the piano, but she had a deep understanding of musical tunes. The Demon Clan had a Cultivation Technique called Sound Technique, which used tunes to control others or to attack, effectively killing without being seen. However, to use a sound attack, it was necessary to play a Spiritual Artifact.