The CEO’s Substitute Wife Is A Genius
Chapter 317: Think You Are Strong? That’s Just the Big Shots Flattering You

Chapter 317: Chapter 317: Think You Are Strong? That’s Just the Big Shots Flattering You

"Grandma, there’s something going on!"

At that time, at the Lu Family’s old mansion, Jiang Man was accompanying the elderly lady and Lu Xuemei as they listened to a classical opera in the main hall.

She had no interest in the opera and even found its discordant sounds annoying.

However, given Lu Xuemei’s situation these past few days, she couldn’t go to work and had to stay at home to fulfill her filial duties, right?

So, during the intermissions, she always secretly played with her phone.

"Grandma, it’s so weird, Jingya suddenly appeared in Barrett’s band... and the photo was even sent by my sister-in-law..."

Hearing the word ’Barrett,’ both the elderly lady and Lu Xuemei became nervously alert.

If it weren’t for Barrett’s concert, they wouldn’t have encountered Ye Xiangling, and naturally, they wouldn’t have these subsequent troubles.

Barrett was like a thorn in their hearts, truly uncomfortable unless removed.

"Didn’t I tell them not to go to Barrett’s concert?"

The elderly lady, irate, rose from her armchair.

Jiang Man felt slightly intimidated and stammered, "It seems not to be a concert... The banner says... North Music Academy Meet-and-Greet..."

"Let me see!" Lu Xuemei directly snatched Jiang Man’s phone.

When she saw Wen Jingya sitting in the center of the stage, her face beaming with a smile, her first reaction was anger.

It seemed that being close to Barrett was akin to betraying them and siding with Ye Xiangling.

Although Lu Xuemei was angry, she said nothing and just sulked by herself.

After all, being close to Barrett wasn’t a sin of epic proportions.

Jingya and Manman both came from the music academy, and to music students like them, a musician like Barrett was their idol.

Chasing after their idol was like pursuing light, which she could understand.

"Could it be Ye Xiangling causing trouble? Intentionally wooing the two kids, she’s quite cunning."

The elderly lady could no longer sit still.

Wen Jingya had grown up under her watch, no different from her own granddaughter.

And Jiang Man was a prized daughter-in-law their Lu Family was lucky to have, their treasure.

Both Jingya and Manman must not be swayed by Ye Xiangling!

"To the North Music Academy!" The elderly lady stood up.

"Why go to the North Music Academy?" Lu Xuemei blinked suspiciously.

"To see what kind of tricks Ye Xiangling is playing! Isn’t it enough that she stole Li Jin from the Lu Family? Does she want to steal Manman and Jingya too?"

"Alright, let’s go now!"

Seeing the two of them so serious, Jiang Man could only closely follow them.

She wondered if the two were being overly cautious.

Once bitten, twice shy, but were they too frightened by a mere shadow?

Even if Ye Xiangling could seduce Li Jin, it didn’t necessarily mean Wen Jingya and Jiang Man would be deceived too.

Wen Jingya need not be mentioned, her mind was no less sharp than Ye Xiangling.

As for Jiang Man, with her depth and reserve, who could deceive her?

...

Meanwhile, at the North Music Academy’s indoor gymnasium.

Lan Xiang, surrounded by a crowd, arrived at the gym early on.

Barrett had arranged the best seat for her.

As soon as the rehearsal ended, he excitedly walked over to her.

The two hugged warmly.

The housekeeper stood aside, long used to this scene.

Mr. Barrett and Mrs. Lan Xiang shared a pure friendship, spiritual companions.

With a smile on her face, she glanced around inadvertently.

When she spotted a familiar figure fiddling with a harp in the center of the stage.

"Mr. Barrett, that harpist looks unfamiliar; she’s not part of your band, is she?"

Barrett looked back, puzzled: "Oh, my harpist unexpectedly came down with acute appendicitis, her name is Wen Jingya, she’s here as a substitute."

The housekeeper frowned and whispered to Mrs. Lan Xiang, "At the grand theater last time, it was she who refused to vacate the restroom promptly, very defiant and rude..."

"Do you two have a history?" Barrett asked, feeling suddenly embarrassed.

Mrs. Lan Xiang smiled casually and did not mind, "A little friction, don’t worry about it."

"What friction? No matter who it is, no one can bully you!"

"Bully me? Do you think she has the capability?" Mrs. Lan Xiang hooked the corner of her mouth, her eyes sparkling, "She’s just a disrespectful young girl, no need to worry about it."

"That won’t do." Barrett felt uncomfortable."

"The performance is about to start, you say no, where can we find a replacement at the last minute?"

"We can skip the harp part if necessary."

"Didn’t you say it yourself? You take every performance seriously, every instrument in your music must take the stage, no one can be left out."

"Those were jokes of my youth."

"But I took them seriously."

Mrs. Lan Xiang’s eyes were clear, just as they were at the beginning.

Barrett was inspired.

He couldn’t forget his original intention.

His music, every concert, even if not perfect, should be given his all.

Every instrument must be included; they were all his children.

"I understand now."

"Yes," Mrs. Lan Xiang nodded with a smile.

Barrett’s eyes were filled with admiration, "Your mindset is truly remarkable, I lack such generosity in my music, otherwise, I would not have stalled."

"Take it slow," Mrs. Lan Xiang said soothingly.

The reason they were close friends was because Mrs. Lan Xiang always managed to give Barrett a kind of spiritual cleansing.

And Barrett, in turn, transformed this cleansing into music, which he gave back to Mrs. Lan Xiang.

Mrs. Lan Xiang loved music, even more than her primary profession of jewelry design.

She felt that only when immersed in pure music could she forget all her troubles.

Downstairs, the female housekeeper spotted Wen Jingya, and similarly, Wen Jingya also saw the housekeeper.

She hissed with a frown.

What bad luck was this?

The lady she offended in the restroom at the grand theater that day was actually Lan Xiang?

Damn!

Lan Xiang wouldn’t possibly speak ill of her to Barrett and have her replaced, would she?

Wen Jingya quickly lowered her head, her heart in turmoil.

But after a while, no one came to dismiss her.

Looking up, she saw Mrs. Lan Xiang had already taken her seat.

"The audience is about to enter."

The stage control announced through a megaphone.

At this moment, the stage curtain began to rise slowly.

The view grew increasingly narrow until only a sliver remained, and Wen Jingya saw Jiang Man in the back row.

Jiang Man waved her mobile phone at her, meaning unknown.

When the curtain was fully raised, a staff member came up, "Please head back to the rest room for a while, we need to check the stage lights and equipment again."

As Wen Jingya left the stage, she happened to see Barrett heading towards the rest room.

"Sir!" she called after him, scurrying up to him, "Where is my resting room?"

"Follow the other musicians, you go where they go."

"Okie dokie!" Wen Jingya replied cheerfully, appearing very docile.

Barrett frowned, looking at her suspiciously, "What is your relationship with Jiang Man?"

"Ah?" Wen Jingya was surprised, why bring up Jiang Man suddenly?

"We don’t have any relationship... not familiar..."

"Not familiar? But she specifically instructed me to place you in the most prominent position, saying that you are friends."

"!!!" Wen Jingya felt like vomiting blood, "The middle position was her idea?"

She was on the verge of fury.

She had thought it was because of her exceptional skills and Barrett’s appreciation that she was elevated.

Was it not?

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.