While the Vampires abducted John Asley and Grey Loss over in Los Angeles, Yang Yi had already left the Black God Gang headquarters in Huaxia and was driving a shortcut toward the Academy of Music. It was the first day of summer vacation, so Yang Yi intended to spend some quality time with the two lovely ladies.

Even though Li Qian and Xia Shiyun were already renowned figures in the Chinese music scene, they had not yet truly left school. In their estimation, their musical achievements had still not reached the so-called ideal realm. This was why they remained at the academy, putting aside the numerous concert invitations to prioritize the importance of their studies.

Ever since the two musical prodigies emerged, crowds of people had besieged the main gate of the Academy of Music day and night. Their purpose was obvious: they were all there for Li Qian and Xia Shiyun.

“Hmm? So many people blocking the entrance, how are we supposed to get in?” Yang Yi frowned, seeing the throng of people gathered at the gate, just as his phone rang. “Hello!”

“Yi, can you drive around to the far end of the academy? We’ll wait for you there.”

“Uh. Okay.” Yang Yi hung up the phone, managing a wry smile. “It’s not easy being famous.”

Yang Yi knew exactly where Xia Shiyun meant by the far end of the academy—it was a small convenience store connected to the dining hall inside the music institution, a detail Li Qian had told him about recently.

“Shiyun Jie, let’s go,” Li Qian said to Xia Shiyun, her eyes darting around like a chicken thief before she quickly pulled Xia Shiyun toward the small store.

“Hey, is your insider tip accurate? It’s already five-thirty, and they haven’t shown up yet,” a middle-aged man asked the man beside him.

The middle-aged man shrugged dismissively. “I don’t know, but they should be coming out around this time!”

Some people are simply like that, always seeking out rumors to placate themselves, and utterly obsessed with star-chasing. Although Li Qian and Xia Shiyun’s fame hadn't yet reached a level that drove people into a frenzy, they already commanded a legion of fans in Shanghai. This was, after all, the rich reward for the hard work put in by both Li Qian and Xia Shiyun.

After Yang Yi drove the car toward the small convenience store, he spotted Li Qian and Xia Shiyun immediately, without needing to look around. As the car drew closer, he honked twice: “Beep! Beep!”

“Ah, Yi!”

“Hurry up and get in!” Yang Yi smiled faintly, finding their glances around everywhere highly amusing.

“It’s so annoying, every single day it’s like this—a huge crowd blocking the main gate. We can’t even leave through the front door,” Li Qian complained slightly.

Xia Shiyun didn't speak, merely offering a soft smile. The crowds blocking the entrance every day were indeed a bit bothersome. But, it also served as proof of their success. If they hadn't succeeded, why would those people relentlessly stake out the entrance day and night?

“Alright, stop grumbling. Are you regretting becoming celebrities a little?” Yang Yi teased him while driving.

“What? I just meant…” Li Qian looked a bit flustered.

Xia Shiyun understood why Li Qian was embarrassed; after all, when the decision to pursue fame was made, Li Qian had been the most enthusiastic supporter. So, she quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Yi, where should we go to eat?”

“Um, do you two have any suggestions?” Yang Yi asked. He didn't care where they ate. He had money in his pocket and a car, not to mention the beauties beside him.

“Hmm, let me think…” Xia Shiyun pondered.

Li Qian, however, seemed to have remembered a place and exclaimed excitedly, “Yi, I know a perfect spot! I heard there’s a very mysterious person performing recently. Since we have this rare opportunity, shouldn’t we go check it out?”

“A mysterious person?”

“Yes! I heard she only started a few days ago,” Li Qian confirmed.

Xia Shiyun shook her head and clarified, “What Qian’er is talking about is a pianist at a nearby establishment called the Music Restaurant. Rumor has it she plays the piano beautifully, which is why the restaurant is doing such brisk business. No one knows her name, nor where she comes from; even the restaurant owner finds her very enigmatic.”

“Even the owner finds her mysterious?”

Seeing Yang Yi’s puzzled expression, Li Qian jumped in, “Yes. The pianists at that Music Restaurant operate under a unique system: whoever wishes to play a piece and earns enough customer support gets paid their wages for that day. There’s no professional contract involved.”

“Oh? How interesting?” Yang Yi smiled upon hearing this. “Where is this Music Restaurant located?”

“Just ahead, take the next left, and it’s about a five-minute drive from there,” Xia Shiyun said, pointing the way when she saw Yang Yi was intrigued.

Before long, Yang Yi pulled the car up to the much-talked-about, mysterious Music Restaurant. After parking, they walked toward the entrance, but Yang Yi froze the moment he reached the doorway. A piece of music, exquisitely beautiful yet powerful, played—a piano melody tinged with a faint melancholy, possessing a quality that made one unconsciously sink into its sorrowful, beautiful rhythm.

“Wow!” Li Qian gasped. “What a beautiful and heartbreaking melody.”

“Fate—that is the feeling this piece evokes,” Xia Shiyun said softly, closing her eyes slightly to absorb the essence of the music.

Yang Yi snapped back to attention and looked toward the piano. He saw a woman dressed in slightly baggy but vibrant purple attire, radiating an energetic aura. She was also quite beautiful, yet Yang Yi felt an intense familiarity with her, as if the feeling were innate.

“Yi, let’s go inside!” Xia Shiyun tugged at Yang Yi’s arm.

“Yeah,” Yang Yi nodded, and they stepped inside.

They ordered a few dishes and a bottle of red wine. In the time it took, the piano piece concluded, immediately drawing the most fervent applause in the restaurant. The intensity of the applause reflected the number of patrons present; in fact, Yang Yi’s group had secured the very last table. Had they been a moment slower, they wouldn't have found a seat.

“Bravo, bravo.”

“One more piece! Play another one!”

The voices swelled, the patrons clearly wanting more, showering the restaurant owner with enthusiastic applause and handing over crisp banknotes, urging the woman at the piano to play again. At that moment, a rather handsome young man, dressed impeccably, walked toward the piano bench.

“Miss, would I be honored to learn your name?” the young man inquired politely, bowing slightly toward the woman on the piano stool.

“I’m sorry, we are strangers, so there is no need for me to tell you my name,” the woman replied with a slight smile, standing up as if to leave, but she was unexpectedly intercepted by the young man.

The young man maintained an even tone. “Since the lady declines to give her name, perhaps you could tell me why someone with such talent is performing in this humble restaurant? If…”

“I apologize, I dislike listening to pointless talk. If there is nothing pressing, I must depart.” As the woman spoke, intending to leave, her gaze suddenly flickered toward Yang Yi. Her eyebrows twitched slightly, but the reaction vanished instantly.

Yet, surprisingly, the young man blocked her path again. “Hey, Miss, there’s no need to rush off, is there? Could you possibly play one more song for us?”

“Why?” The woman’s lips curved upward upon hearing this.

“Uh!” The young man was momentarily stunned into silence.

“Yi, that woman is quite proud, and she looks a bit like you…”

“What, what?” Li Qian exclaimed in shock when she heard Xia Shiyun’s comment. “Oh, you’re right. I didn’t look closely before, but now that Shiyun Jie mentioned it, there is a slight resemblance.”

“Yi, could she be a relative of yours?” Xia Shiyun asked.

“Yes, yes, Yi, could she possibly be your long-lost older sister, or perhaps a younger sister?” Li Qian blurted out.

“What kind of ridiculous joke is that?”

“…………” It was the first time Li Qian and Xia Shiyun had seen Yang Yi look so angry, the first time they had heard him shout at them. They stood frozen.

Yang Yi realized their reaction and, with a hint of apology, managed a sheepish grin. “Sorry, I overreacted just now. Hehe, hehe.”

“Yi,” Xia Shiyun and Li Qian said nothing, only looking at Yang Yi with worry etched on their faces.

“Hehe, she cannot be my relative. I never had parents growing up, much less siblings. The only person who raised me was my grandfather, and even he wasn’t my blood relative—he only took me in from the orphanage,” Yang Yi said with a smile.

But no matter how he smiled, as he looked at the woman’s face, he sensed something. There was a feeling of resistance in his heart, an unwillingness to believe. Besides, the world wasn't full of such coincidences; it was common for people to resemble one another.

“Yes, people share resemblances all over the world.”