Chapter 125: Fur Elise [First Update]

Lu Xiao was exceptionally warm. He pulled Fang Nian toward a table, found a chair for him to sit on, and leaned in close without a second thought. Li Long stood there, dazed and completely unaware of what had transpired during this time.

Seeing his boss treating this person with such unexpected favor, Li Long figured the man couldn't have done anything egregious. Feeling like he was out of place and looking rather awkward standing there, he quietly slipped away.

Qian Xiaoxiao had initially assumed Fang Nian was just another greasy, middle-aged man in his forties and had no intention of engaging him, thinking that even if he had talent, he wouldn't be pleasant to look at. But now, seeing that Fang Nian was a handsome man of such remarkable talent, her heart fluttered. She leaned toward him and handed him her business card.

"Are you Mr. Fang? Hello, I’m Qian Xiaoxiao. I work in the internet industry. I look forward to your guidance."

Wang Jiang, also deeply impressed by Fang Nian’s talent, set aside his usual reluctance to hand out business cards and leaned in to offer his own.

"Hello, Mr. Fang. I’m Wang Jiang, in the real estate business. If you ever wish to purchase property in District 16, feel free to reach out to me anytime. I can guarantee prices that will truly surprise you."

Fang Nian smiled at the two of them and offered a courteous reply.

Cui Yunhai and Wan Feng, though stunned by the absurdity of the day's events, held a very favorable impression of Fang Nian. Since he had even shared the recipe for the "Joyous Concoction" with them, the two were quite friendly toward him.

Seeing the group in such high spirits, Lu Xiao was delighted. After everyone took their seats, he ordered the kitchen to prepare more food.

Wei Jin, who had previously clashed with Fang Nian, felt disgruntled seeing him become the guest of honor. Lacking interest in the proceedings, he found an excuse to leave.

Xiao Xuefeng, having been humiliated all night, felt even worse. Realizing that any hope of business was essentially blown, he stood up to take his leave as well.

The remaining group, including Fang Nian, continued to eat and drink.

After several rounds of drinks and conversation, Lu Xiao could no longer suppress his curiosity. "Mr. Fang, I truly can’t hold it in anymore. Could you tell me what that piano piece you just played was? How was it so beautiful? I’ve never heard it before in my life."

Fang Nian chuckled inwardly. Of course he hadn't heard it. "Für Elise," originally titled "Bagatelle in A Minor," was a solo piano piece composed by the German composer Beethoven in 1810, written as a tribute to an "Elise."

In this world, there was no Elise, let alone the great Beethoven. How could he have possibly heard it?

Of course, Fang Nian wouldn't tell Lu Xiao that. He replied with a shameless grin.

"Ah... Mr. Lu, it is only natural that you haven't heard this 'Für Elise,' as I have never performed it on any occasion since I composed it. In fact, you are all the very first audience for this piece."

At Fang Nian’s words, the others were stunned. Who exactly was this man? He seemed capable of everything, and his grasp of the finer things in life was simply unparalleled.

Lu Xiao was even more awestruck. He had always been passionate about the piano, and hearing that Fang Nian was this gifted only piqued his interest further.

"Then, Mr. Fang, why is this piece called 'Für Elise'? Who is Elise? Is she your lover?"

Fang Nian was speechless. There was simply no reasoning with these art enthusiasts. But to please this wealthy patron, he had to weave a little fiction.

"Well, it’s like this. When I was eighteen, I taught a foreign student named Therese Malfatti and developed feelings for her. Once, while in a particularly joyful mood, I wrote this 'Bagatelle in A Minor' for her and inscribed 'For Therese' on the score."

"However, it was not meant to be. Due to unavoidable circumstances, she returned to her homeland, and we never saw each other again. Later, I learned that Therese Malfatti had a pet name: 'Elise.' So, I changed the title of the piece to 'Für Elise.' I hope you’ll forgive my sentimentality."

After finishing his tale, Fang Nian wiped the sweat from his forehead. The truth, of course, was nothing of the sort. The title wasn't changed because of a pet name; rather, in 1867, Ludwig Nohl, who was writing a biography of Beethoven, accidentally transcribed the original title "For Therese" as "For Elise" while publishing the score in Stuttgart.

From then on, the work spread worldwide under the name "Für Elise," and the original title was forgotten. It was, in truth, a rather regrettable error.

Yet, even with the story Fang Nian had fabricated, the group was deeply moved, and they all expressed their hope to hear it played once more.

Seeing how much Lu Xiao enjoyed it, Fang Nian simply wrote out the piano score for "Für Elise." After practicing it twice, Lu Xiao was able to play it quite well, and he treasured the sheet music as if it were a priceless heirloom.

...

Meanwhile, on a vacant lot about a kilometer from the villa, Fatty and Tan Hong had been waiting in the car for nearly ten hours. They had napped three times over, yet there was still no sign of Fang Nian.

Tan Hong asked worriedly, "Is Fang Nian going to be okay? He hasn't been caught and beaten to death, has he?"

Fatty’s thoughts were quite the opposite. Based on his understanding of Fang Nian, if he hadn't come out after all this time, he was either having a grand time or was already dining with the hosts. He felt sorry for themselves, stuck in the car and starving to death.

"Don't worry. That guy is definitely drinking with Lu Xiao by now. If nothing goes wrong, he’ll probably be back with a contract in a little while. Signing the deal shouldn't be a problem."

Tan Hong was taken aback; she hadn't expected Fatty to say that, but she still felt uneasy.

"Maybe we should go check? That Lu Xiao isn't someone to be trifled with. If Fang Nian really did mess up and they caught him, then..."

However, before Tan Hong could finish her sentence, she saw an armored, steel-plated RV approaching from the distance.

"Fatty, wake up, look!"

Fatty lazily sat up and looked in the direction Tan Hong pointed. Seeing the armored RV with the "District 10" license plate, he instantly perked up.

The vehicle clearly belonged to the Lu family, and there could only be two reasons for their arrival.

Either they were dropping Fang Nian off, meaning the vehicle was sent by Lu Xiao.

Or, the deal had fallen through, and the Lu family was coming for revenge.

Thinking of this, Fatty didn't hesitate; he started the car, ready to make a run for it at any moment.