They all want to change my future.

Chapter 31 1

The moment the first note of the piano rang out, everyone's attention was captivated.

Li Zhi looked up and, through layers of white gauze, vaguely glimpsed a touch of red.

A bright, eye-catching red.

Although her face was not clearly visible, her slender figure was enough to attract attention.

The sound of the zither was bright and clear, yet it seemed to be attracting something.

At first, Li Zhi didn't understand, but suddenly whispers arose all around him.

Countless birds seemed to be summoned by the music, and they took flight, fluttering around the pavilion.

The birdsong and the sound of the zither resonated together, like celestial music, captivating and enchanting the listener.

Xie Siyi, standing beside her, was already completely captivated by the moment.

However, Li Zhi was not intoxicated. He raised his eyebrows in confusion. Why did it feel so strange?

The weather right now is still very warm; winter has just ended and spring hasn't arrived yet.

Where did all these birds come from?

However, this is really a huge gimmick!

And this scene of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix reminded him of someone.

It should be Ji Baizhi, of course. The one who should be the subject of the "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" is Ji Baizhi.

But now it is you who are facing me, and you are not that phoenix. Why are you using the music to lure it?

The song ended.

Xie Shiyi couldn't help but clap and cheer.

He wanted to turn around and talk to Li Zhi, but found the other party to be calm and somewhat puzzled.

"Bro, don't you think it sounds good?"

"It sounds nice."

"Then why aren't you excited at all?"

Li Zhi shook his head: "I was just thinking about something, lost in thought."

"Oh, I get it." Xie Shiyi slapped his thigh as if suddenly enlightened, and said with a mischievous smile:

"Are you wondering what everyone looks like? I'm even more curious now about what this beautiful woman who can play such ethereal music looks like. Don't worry, I'll describe her to you properly after I see her."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and shouted, "One thousand!"

The voice was powerful and resonant, and the scene fell silent for a moment.

No one bid, but then people started whispering among themselves about who this young master was.

Then a maid came over, carrying a plate.

Xie Shiyi casually took out his money pouch and showed the amount of one thousand red silk ribbons.

"You've already gotten the upper hand by making the first move." Li Zhi looked around and, seeing that no one was bidding higher, asked in a low voice, "You didn't find out the price beforehand, did you?"

"That's right." Xie Shiyi rubbed his hands together, somewhat smugly.

"I've already inquired. Meeting Qu Dajia usually costs around 1,000 yuan, and the most I've ever done is 5,000 yuan. I think I have more than enough money with me."

"Is that so?" Li Zhi asked.

Bidding has already begun in the private rooms upstairs:

"two thousand!"

"Three thousand!"

The argument was heated, but Li Zhi sensed something was wrong. Several gazes, filled with undisguised malice, fell on him and Xie Shiyi from upstairs.

It's like watching a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered.

It seems like they're being targeted.

Li Zhi glanced at Xie Shiyi: "Judging from this situation, I feel like you've been set up."

"Impossible." Xie Shiyi, his voice trembling slightly, forced himself to remain calm, took a deep breath, and explained:

"If the money is given out and not refunded, how could anyone set this up? It must be because the performance by the master today was too wonderful."

The performance took place once every seven days, meaning that Qu Hongxiao would meet someone once every seven days.

In other words, frequent visitors to Hongshaolou must have seen this before; even the most spectacular performances wouldn't be priced this high.

The most likely scenario now is that they'll see Xie Shiyi is a stranger and ask him to bleed them.

It's even possible that he was already arranged for this when he arrived.

Having thought things through, Li Zhigang was about to state his conclusion when Xie Shiyi announced it aloud:

"Five thousand!"

The boy's innocent voice resounded throughout the room, silencing everyone.

"Awesome." Li Zhi led the applause, followed by a round of applause.

Xie Shiyi stood up naturally, looking like a young man who had achieved great success, and clasped his hands in thanks to everyone around him: "Thank you all."

Xie Shiyi, who had sat down again, gave Li Zhi a grateful look. Without Li Zhi leading the applause, the bidding war would probably have continued.

Li Zhi nodded in response, but noticed that Xie Shiyi's hand was trembling. He guessed that the shout just now had put all his money on the line.

As Li Zhi expected, when the maid came over with the tray again, Xie Shiyi put his entire money pouch on it.

"This can't be all your wealth, can it?" Li Zhi asked in a low voice.

"Just a little pocket money."

Xie Shiyi forced a smile, clearly in pain, but still trying to appear nonchalant.

As he spoke, Xie Shiyi got up and said, "Brother, I'll go and see what Master Qu looks like first."

The matter should have ended there, but a sneer suddenly came from the upstairs private room:

"Where did this bumpkin come from? He thinks he can meet Master Qu with only five thousand? I'll offer six thousand."

"Brother, you're right." Xie Shiyi's face paled as he looked at the maid who had taken all his wealth. "It seems I really was set up."

"So what do you want?" Li Zhi smiled. "Do you want me to lend you money?"

"No need." Xie Shiyi stood up proudly and shouted, "Xie Shiyi of the Xie family of Sichuan, seven thousand."

This is a self-introduction; the Xie family of Sichuan can be described as extremely wealthy, and they've staked their family reputation on it.

If the price is raised again, that would be making an enemy.

However, using it in this kind of situation seems a bit frivolous, but it's still better than being tricked and suffering a loss in secret.

The person upstairs didn't let go, still sneering, "The Xie family? This is the capital, I'll offer eight thousand."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and a sense of impending conflict arose.

At that moment, a gentle melody drifted by; it was Qu Hongxiao making her move.

The tranquil melody flowed like a clear spring, calming the restlessness in the room.

Then came her gentle voice:

"Hongxiao thanks everyone for their kindness, but what happened today was really a bit excessive... Please stop here, as a gesture of respect to Hongxiao."

"Alright, we'll give Master Qu face." The person upstairs agreed readily.

Xie Shiyi was about to speak when the maid who had collected the money returned, placing the money pouch he had just given her back on the tray, and said softly:

"Young Master Xie, my young lady is not feeling well today and will not be receiving guests. Please forgive her."

This is a compromise between the two sides.

Xie Shiyi's expression darkened further. It seemed that even though they had compromised, he had lost face. He had gotten his money back, but he had also lost face.

Who was the person bidding against him?

The other party never revealed their identity, and it was clear that Hongxiaolou was protecting that person.

His mind was in turmoil, considering whether to turn against them, but since everyone had spoken, he wondered if he should give them face.

In the end, Xie Shiyi decided to give the beauty some face and took the money pouch back.

Seeing this, Li Zhi suddenly smiled and said, "If you're not coming, then I will. After all, I'm curious too."

He raised his hand, his voice low but clear:

"Ten thousand."

The room fell silent.

A voice, filled with furious laughter, came from upstairs: "Where did this come from? So disrespectful!"

Li Zhi looked up, took out the box containing gold and silver jewelry, opened it, and it immediately shone brightly. The people around him gasped in astonishment. So much money!

Li Zhi's tone was indifferent and cold: "If you want to raise the price, then put real gold and silver on the table. Don't just shout out the amount. Otherwise, if word gets out, everyone will know that Hongxiaolou is a place set up by young masters from the capital to rip off outsiders."

The atmosphere turned completely cold.

After a long while, a faint sigh, almost imperceptible, came from behind the curtain:

"Since you insist on seeing me, then please do."