Lu Jihan chuckled and glanced at her sideways, that look seemed to say ’You got yourself into this mess, handle it yourself.’

"Have a little confidence in yourself. Besides, if the President’s not afraid, what are you scared of? Go on, show them your best side!"

As he spoke, he gave Song Yinyin a gentle push.

Song Yinyin also silently cheered herself on.

When she reached the piano, President Shi Mai’er smiled gently, his face displaying a kind expression, "Mrs. Lu, do you know Schubert’s ’Winterreise’?"

Song Yinyin was astonished.

She hadn’t expected President Shi Mai’er to be able to play Schubert’s ’Winterreise’, a piece known for its complexity.

It was obvious that, as Mayor Pei had said, President Shi Mai’er had an exceptional level of skill in piano.

Suddenly, Song Yinyin felt like she had found a kindred spirit.

This sparked a desire to perform in her heart, eager to collaborate with President Shi Mai’er, every cell in her body becoming excited and active.

She nodded and said, "Yes, I would be delighted to perform ’Winterreise’ with Your Excellency the President."

President Shi Mai’er nodded slightly, gentlemanly gesturing for her to sit on the left, while he himself sat on the right of the piano bench.

Accompanying them were media journalists with exclusive authorization from the city government, quickly holding up their cameras to capture the moment.

Everyone else, including Mayor Pei, Lu Jihan, and Ji Tingfeng, along with President Shi Mai’er’s entourage, gathered around the piano, forming a circular formation.

The people naturally quieted down, looking eagerly at the two at the piano.

President Shi Mai’er smiled and nodded at Song Yinyin, both of them almost simultaneously placing their hands on the piano.

Immediately, Song Yinyin nodded in response, and they both almost simultaneously played the first note.

A melodious ’Winterreise’ began to emerge from their four hands like a gentle spirit.

This piece was something Song Yinyin learned a long time ago. Her mother loved it and they had played ’Winterreise’ together.

Back then, she didn’t understand why her mother liked this piece.

Because ’Winterreise’ tells the story of a lonely journey through winter by a heartbroken person, full of melancholy and bewilderment, yet possessing a heartrending beauty.

During her schooldays, she always preferred energetic, clear, and stirring pieces, and she didn’t particularly like such slightly sorrowful pieces.

But her mother liked it, so she played along, performing the duet with her mother, gradually developing a sense of harmony.

Yet now she was quite surprised, as though she and President Shi Mai’er were playing for the first time, they managed to achieve an inexplicable harmony.

The music sometimes twisted and turned, sometimes surged, sometimes was grand and majestic, knowing exactly when to softly play, when to sharply tap out crisp staccatos with fingertips, and when to lift both hands to perform demanding octave duets...

President Shi Mai’er was able to stay completely in sync with her rhythm.

It was truly astonishing.

Because of this, Song Yinyin played more freely and confidently, bringing out her best performance.

Their collaboration was as if it had a soul, merging the separate melodies they played into one.

A few minutes later, the gentle and lingering ’Winterreise’ concluded.

In the hall, applause thundered.

The flash lights in the reporters’ cameras sparkled continuously.

People clapped and cheered, nodding in admiration, applause unending.