188: Stunning Shanghai

Lu Fan looked around and formally stepped into the center of this high-profile stage.

He spoke directly with a tease: "It seems Mrs. Wang was quite keen on visiting salons when she was young."

"To know an unknown song so well, one would have to visit the salon every day and listen to it every day."

Julie Chen's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and she hastily defended herself: "My studies were intense; I didn't have that much time."

"I only went occasionally with the intention of broadening my horizons during breaks from my exhausting studies."

Hearing this, the smile at the corners of Lu Fan's mouth became even more apparent.

He said unhurriedly: "Since you only went occasionally, there shouldn't be many unknown songs you've heard, right?"

Julie Chen hesitated for a moment but eventually answered truthfully: "Um... indeed, no more."

"That's good~~ If I can do what you've described, what will Mrs. Wang say?"

Seeing this, Lu Fan stared intently at Julie Chen, a flash of cunning in his eyes.

She couldn't help but be stunned by that look; her intuition told her that this man seemed to have some real substance.

However, she quickly regained her composure because the threshold for music was quite high.

Then, she spoke: "If you can compose and perform another song on the spot in front of everyone..."

"As long as everyone approves and the quality of the song surpasses Zhang Yunhua's, I will donate another three hundred thousand. Together with my nephew's, that makes five hundred thousand!"

Lu Fan pulled back his smile and accepted the challenge solemnly: "Fine~~ It seems you're determined to send another sum of money to the soldiers at the front."

"In that case, I, Lu, thank Mrs. Wang for her donation on behalf of the soldiers at the front."

At this moment, his face was full of confidence, as if he were exuding an aura of dominance; who wouldn't know how to do that?

Julie Chen spoke with a sharp tone: "Since it's a bet, what will you say if you lose? Will you match Seventh Miss Sheng's contribution?"

She was truly angry; the arrogant expression and dismissive attitude of the man before her deeply provoked her.

As the wife of the head of the Executive Yuan, she hadn't seen such an ungrateful person in many years.

Lu Fan was stunned; this old witch was playing psychological warfare with him, trying to use a large bet to make him back down.

But she didn't see who her opponent was; I, this young master, have two kings and four twos in my hand.

Trying to bluff? Forget about a door; there won't even be a window.

"Fine, I'll match Seventh Miss Sheng's list," Lu Fan accepted calmly. "And both our names will be listed as donors, but... but if I win, you must apologize to me in person."

Lu Fan's demand meant he had accepted the bet.

The crowd was in an uproar again!

The supplies on that list were already worth half the fortune of many families.

Julie Chen saw determination in Lu Fan's eyes, but on second thought, she became fearless.

First, she absolutely did not believe someone could compose a song of the caliber of "ten thousand borders" on the spot.

Furthermore, if all else failed, she could just claim it was plagiarism; after all, if she could say she went to the salon once, she could say she went twice.

She glanced at Zhang Yunhua, whose face was also pale, and gritted her teeth: "It's a bet!"

"It's a deal."

The smile on Lu Fan's face was harder to suppress than the recoil of an AK.

He winked playfully at Sheng Aiyi and whispered as he leaned in: "Don't worry, who said I only know one song!"

Under everyone's unbelievable gazes, Lu Fan walked straight onto the small stage.

He whispered a few words to the musician and asked for an Erhu; it was clear he intended to play and sing himself.

As a modern businessman who had mingled in the social melting pot of foot baths, massages, and KTVs, who didn't have a few talents?

He stood before the microphone to test the sound, then scanned the room.

Finally, his gaze fixed on Julie Chen.

Without any unnecessary words, he immediately began playing the Erhu, and a desolate, stirring melody filled with the spirit of iron horses and golden spears burst forth.

Then, he began to sing, his voice deep, heroic, and generous, carrying incomparable determination and power:

"The beacon fires rise, looking north at the mountains and rivers,"

"The dragon rises and curls, horses neigh long, sword qi like frost,"

"Heart like the vast waters of the Yellow River,"

"Twenty years of traversing, who can stand against me..."

These lyrics! This melody! It seemed to instantly transport people to an ancient battlefield.

They saw the tragic and heroic scene of Yue Wumu's Northern Expedition to the Central Plains, serving the country with supreme loyalty.

A surge of majestic patriotic passion and heroic spirit washed over them.

Compared to the grand lyricism of "ten thousand borders," it added a touch of tragic solemnity and slaughter, and it was even more in the national style.

"Hatred drives one mad, where the long sword points,"

"How many brothers' loyal souls are buried in foreign lands,"

"Why hesitate to die a hundred deaths to repay the country,"

"Enduring sighs, even more speechless, eyes full of blood and tears..."

At this point, many old-school literati and soldiers present were moved to tears, their bodies trembling.

Wasn't this singing exactly the true portrayal of countless sons and daughters of China today, generously going to their deaths and staining the mountains and rivers with their blood?

"Horse hooves head south, people look north,"

"Looking north, the grass is green and yellow, dust flies high,"

"I am willing to guard the land and reclaim the borders,"

"A dignified China shall have the four directions—"

"Come to pay tribute!!"

Lu Fan almost roared the last line; the sound shook the roof tiles, carrying unquestionable determination and dominance.

After the song ended, the entire banquet hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone's soul was completely shocked by this unprecedented song, full of masculine blood and love for the country.

Not knowing who started it, applause broke out like thunder, lasting for a long time.

This time, the applause was filled with heartfelt admiration and boiling blood.

For a moment, the outcome of the bet had already been settled amidst the applause of the crowd.

Julie Chen and Zhang Yunhua were pale and stood there as if turned to stone.

Amidst the overwhelming applause and countless looks of disdain and mockery, the two of them were like two clowns.

Lu Fan stepped down from the stage, came before them, and said calmly: "Is Mrs. Wang satisfied with this song?"

"If you've heard it in a salon, I don't mind performing another one."

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears; for a moment, all eyes were focused on Julie Chen.

Killing the heart—this was truly killing the heart.

Against others, Lu Fan might hold back, but against a Traitor, he had to nail them to the pillar of shame.

Julie Chen's face turned from green to white, her chest heaving violently.

After a moment of hesitation, she eventually didn't say a word.

It wasn't that she didn't want to frame him for plagiarism, but she simply couldn't do it!

Played with the unique Erhu, it was overflowing with a strong national style.

These lyrics, combined with the current war, showed the soldiers bleeding to defend the country with an explosive sense of imagery.

If she were to talk nonsense about plagiarism again, she would truly have no shame left.

If those words came out, she would definitely become the topic of conversation for people after their meals from then on.

She steeled her heart, gritted her teeth, and forced a smile: "I admire Mr. Lu's great talent; I have never heard this song before."

Sheng Aiyi spoke coldly: "Then thank you, Mrs. Wang, for your generosity in contributing to the war of resistance."

"Host, Mrs. Wang and Mr. Zhang are donating five hundred thousand silver dollars; why haven't you accepted it yet?"

Amidst the whispers, Julie Chen gave Sheng Aiyi a fierce glare: "What a Seventh Miss Sheng; you truly live up to your reputation."

After speaking, she forced herself to maintain her dignity and fled the banquet hall with staggering steps.

Tonight, with two songs...

Lu Fan not only won a huge amount of donations for the war of resistance but also stunned the entire Shanghai.