He turned around to see a panting Xue Jinxu. She was clutching her chest, her upper body hunched forward, panting hard.

"Jinxu, are you okay?" Horizontal lines formed on Chen Linyun's forehead.

Xue Jinxu spanked his arm. "I nearly tripped, Chen Linyun!"

"S-sorry. I-I panicked. I was so afraid of you that I just ran away from her. Are you mad?"

She sighed. "Huh, Chen Linyun… What am I going to do with you? Honey, I'm a bit fl.u.s.tered because you dragged me like that. But…" She cupped his cheek with her hand. "I'm not mad. Rather, I'm quite satisfied with how you handled it." She smiled at him lovingly, appreciatively.

"However…" She added. "From here on, let the ladies take care of these matters. I'll handle her myself. Stay out of it."

Chen Linyun's brows furrowed. He extended his hand. "Jinxu, what are you thinking? Don't make a scene alright?"

"I'll handle it, Chen Linyun. Just trust me. I'm the real and legitimate daughter-in-law after all." She went back to the main house. Chen Linyun helplessly followed behind.

Inside the house, Xue Jinxu marched towards Hw.a.n.g Meilin, and said, "Miss Hw.a.n.g, I'd like to call your attention on what had transpired earlier. Please observe proper restraint in your behavior. It's unbecoming of your status. Don't ever forget, the guy you are flirting with is married already, and to me. Don't ever forget that I'm Chen Linyun's wife, Misis Chen."

Hw.a.n.g Meilin gritted her teeth in annoyance. She retorted, "Yeah, I can see that. How can people not know? You're sticking like glue beside your husband. Why, afraid of other ladies' threats? You aren't secured enough? He can divorce you anytime, you know. You don't have the history or the background suitable for him."

Xue Jinxu clenched her fists but smiled. "I'm secured enough. That's my husband's expertise. He's my security blanket, just so you know. I'm just reminding you of the facts. You might be forgetting it while being dreamy. Nothing will change even if you flirt with him. I doubt if he'll even consider you for a mistress." She smiled wider taunting her, then she left.

Xue Jinxu planted herself beside Aunty Mo. "Is there anything I can help you with Aunty?" She asked kindly.

"Oh Jinxu, how thoughtful of you. Help me entertain the guests. Wait, we have to introduce you officially first."

Sha called Minsiter Chen. "Brother, Lingfang-ge, let's take this opportunity to officially introduce Jinxu as our Family Chen's daughter-in-law. Hurry, make the announcement!" She ordered her brother excitedly.

"Okay, okay, Lhingyu. Jinxu come here." He extended his right arm in gesture for Xue Jinxu to come stand by his side. He hit a gla.s.s with a clean fork. "Everyone, everyone! May I have your attention please!" *Ehem* *Ehem* *Ehem* He cleared his throat "I have a very important announcement to make!"

All the guests temporarily stopped what they were doing and turned their full attention to Minsiter Chen.

"As you all know, tonight is the celebration of my dearest sister, Chen Lhingyu's birthday. Happy birthday, Lhingyu!" The audience also greeted on their own. "Well, the birthday girl had made a very special wish tonight!" He enigmatically kept the suspense for everyone.

"We would like to take this opportunity to introduce an additional member to our Chen Family. As you all know, the children of our family had been staying in Country D for a long time. Well, they have returned! Chen Linyun, Mo Wenbin, where are you rascals? Hahaha! Welcome back! Although they had been back for quite a while now! Show your faces more often, you rascals!" The audience laughed at the minister's words.

"Well, that's not my announcement yet. The real announcement is this." He wrapped his right arm around Xue Jinxu as if she's his real daughter. "I'm very pleased to announce that our Chen Family, who doesn't have a daughter for a long time had finally finally…. gained a daughter. Without further ado, I would like to officially introduce to you my very beautiful and lovely daughter-in-law, Chen Linyun's wife, Xue Jinxu!!!"

Xue Jinxu made a ninty degrees bow and greeted everyone.

The audience applauded and welcomed her openly. Some guests had confirmed their previous rumors, "See, they really are husband and wife. They look good together!! I can't wait to see their little ones! They should look as good!"

"What about Hw.a.n.g Meilin? I thought she's supposed to marry Chen Linyun once he returned from Country D? Well, real life doesn't follow the plan."

"As they said, life is what happens when you're busy making other plans!" They were laughing at Hw.a.n.g Meilin. She had built up the expectations of the people in their circle.

Hw.a.n.g Meilin gritted her teeth in annoyance. Somebody stole her place in the family. It should have been her that was introduced tonight. It should have been her!

"I heard that Jinxu-jie is very talented. Would you mind showcasing your talent tonight? Why don't you play something with the piano?" Hw.a.n.g Meilin attacked. In truth, she did not have any idea if Xue Jinxu could play or not. She's only after her humiliation. There was a lot of opportunity for mistakes with a live performance.

Xue Jinxu hesitatingly smiled. She tried to find Chen Linyun among the sea of people around her. She was standing up front beside Father Chen, while Chen Linyun was in the audience.

Their eyes met.

Suddenly, Xue Jinxu's courage was boosted. It's enough to know that her husband was there supporting her. "Alright. I might be a bit rusty. Please bear with me… Hehehe." She laughed awkwardly. "I'm going to play for all of you, but first and foremost, for my husband dear, Chen Linyun. And of course, for Aunty Mo. Happy birthday, Aunty!" She grinned then proceeded towards the grand piano.

She exhaled first. Then came a series of chords from a complicated piece.

"!!!"

Some of the guests who knew how to play the piano exclaimed in surprise and amazement. "That's... that's... one of the hardest pieces by Schumann! It's the Toccata in C Major Op. 7! [1]"

Xue Jinxu's hands flew over the piano fluidly. The very enthusiastic and lively sound of the piano rang across the house's ballroom, and even reached the gazebos on the left and the pond on the right. The pleasant evening was drowned in Xue Jinxu's music.

It took a whole seven minutes of this wonderful musical performance. She pa.s.sionately pressed the keys accurately and effortlessly and full of emotions. Her ponytail danced in the wind as she moved her limbs on the piano.

Chen Linyun was busy taking the video of his wife's performance like a stage mom. With eyes opened wide and mouth gaping open, he indulged himself in this extremely rare concerto. For him, this surpa.s.sed all the other live performances in history.

Once she finished playing, there was dead silence at first. She nervously stood up and bowed among the crowd. Then, as if woken up in a dream, cheers after cheers came through! They were applauding nonstop!

Some old friends were praising Father Chen for having a talented daughter-in-law. Some became envious of him.

Other people even requested for an encore performance.

She laughed a little and said, "I shouldn't be monopolizing the piano. I'm sure other more talented pianists are with us tonight! Miss Hw.a.n.g! How about you play for us tonight?" She invited Hw.a.n.g Meilin to the piano, returning the favor.

Hw.a.n.g Meilin was unmoving. She was clenching her fists too hard that her nails were burying itself on her palms.

One of the guests interjected. "Hw.a.n.g Meilin does not play the piano!" Other guests nodded their heads in agreement, knowing this little piece of information. After all, they've known each other for years.

"Oh, is that so?" Xue Jinxu was honestly perplexed by this new feedback. "Well, then, how about I play another piece?" She suggested wholeheartedly.

"Yes! Yes! Play another one!!"

"She's so good she can be a professional pianist!!"

"She said she was rusty earlier?! Is that how 'rusty' means to her? Oh my!"

In truth, she considered herself rusty. She had not played the piano for years. Most probably, her muscle memory was still as strong, saving her from humiliation that night. After all, as the Xue Family's only princess, she's in charge of entertaining the family and guests during parties. She was taught how to play the piano, the violin and the zither well enough since young specifically to showcase it in gatherings. It's a measure of how adroit a woman is.

She played another difficult piece by Chopin, the Etude in G# minor, Op.25; No. 6 [1]. Just like the first one, her limbs and her ponytail danced enthusiastically in the air, while her hands fluidly conquered the piano. Once in a while her foot added to the mix while pressing the pedal. The audience was silently watching in awe. Not another sound was heard other than the piano. It was like they were in a dream.

[1] the author suggests for readers to play it online to have a better grasp of Xue Jinxu's performance