33. Showtime

Hearing the sound of running water outside the door, both men chose to remain silent. Once the person outside had departed, Zhou Hongyi opened the partition door just a crack to observe the surroundings before slipping out first. A few dozen seconds later, the Central Bureau agent also took a moment to observe the area before daring to leave.

Upon entering the dance floor, the guests had already finished the opening dance, and the atmosphere was gradually warming up. Gentlemen milled about the ballroom; those with partners engaged in lively conversation, while those without chatted and joked with the dance hall girls.

Just then, all the spotlights converged on the center of the stage. Manyu, dressed in a luxurious evening gown, stepped into the light. Clasping the microphone with both hands, she spoke in a magnetic voice:

"Gentlemen, ladies, and distinguished guests, welcome to the Paramount. I truly envy today’s guests, for you are privileged to be the witnesses of these two songs—witnesses to their future dominance over Shanghai! I believe that after tonight’s performance, we shall all be eager to add the records to our collections. Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy my new song, written and composed by Mr. Zhou Hongyi... 'I Only Care About You'!"

Before singing, Manyu specifically introduced the songwriter. The guests below whispered to one another, wondering who this Mr. Zhou Hongyi was. They had never heard of such a musician before.

Amidst the murmurs, the music began. Manyu’s lark-like voice echoed throughout the hall, silencing the crowd instantly. The charm of music knows no borders; even the foreigners on the dance floor listened intently, forgetting their drinks and their partners, their attention entirely focused on the spotlight.

At this moment, Zhou Hongyi activated his "Insight Eye." Taking advantage of the crowd's captivated state, he began digging into the secrets of those around him.

Passing by the bearded man, he poked him lightly in the waist and whispered, "There will be trouble in the ballroom tonight. Keep a low profile and observe from the perimeter."

Chen, the bearded man, had intended to strike up a conversation, but he became instantly alert upon hearing this, his hands unconsciously sliding into his pockets. In his line of work, it was better to believe such warnings than to ignore them. Besides, Zhou Hongyi had no reason to deceive him; if he had wanted him dead, he wouldn't have helped him escape the prison.

After pacifying the bearded man, Zhou Hongyi circled behind "Bodhi." With his back to the booth, he leaned down to light a cigarette and whispered, "There are Central Bureau and Military Statistics agents in the ballroom. The Central Bureau men are assassins; the Military Statistics ones want to recruit me. Today is not the time for a meeting. Regarding the true identity of 'Fireworks' and how to handle the situation, you can wait for me at this address; it’s a shop I own."

After lighting his cigarette, Zhou Hongyi nonchalantly left his metal lighter on the booth seat and turned to walk back toward the stage. "Bodhi" never once looked back. Sensing the lighter slide onto the seat, he leaned back and swiftly tucked it into his pocket.

By now, Manyu had finished her new song, earning thunderous applause. The guests cheered and clapped, a testament to the song's future popularity.

"This Zhou Hongyi is truly remarkable! This song is on par with 'Night Shanghai' and 'Rose, Rose, I Love You.' He’s attempted bold changes in musical style, and the lyrics are grounded yet capture the complex, indescribable emotions between men and women. Does anyone know this Zhou Hongyi? I’d like to hire him to write a song for our singers!"

Having heard the new song, a record industry mogul in the audience became interested and began inquiring about Zhou Hongyi’s identity.

Manyu, however, showed no signs of leaving the stage. She took a sip of water, exchanged a few words with the band, and immediately introduced her second song.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this next new song is also written and composed by Mr. Zhou Hongyi. Please listen quietly to my performance."

Manyu raised her hand to signal for silence. "The Moon Represents My Heart" was poignant and moving; every melody and every lyric tapped gently at the listeners' hearts. Even after the song ended, a long silence remained in the room until Manyu bowed to the audience, at which point they seemed to wake from a dream and began to applaud.

"Oh my! Miss Manyu, these two songs today are more beautiful and stunning than the last! I dare say, with these two tracks, you will surely surpass the many dance halls in the International Settlement and win universal acclaim! You even have a great chance of taking the crown in next month’s Miss Rose pageant!"

As soon as Manyu left the stage, she was surrounded by regular patrons, some offering praise, others currying favor, and some asking about the identity of Zhou Hongyi.

She smiled and handled them all with ease, soon making her way to Zhou Hongyi’s side.

"Young Master Zhou, thank you for these two songs. I will certainly host a banquet later to express my gratitude."

Zhou Hongyi gave a carefree smile, took the cigarette from his mouth, and blew a smoke ring. "Miss Manyu, why be so formal? It is like gifting a precious sword to a hero; a good song must be given to someone capable of performing it. If it were handed to just anyone, it would never have achieved today’s effect. Beautiful, truly beautiful!"

A rare, faint blush appeared on Manyu’s cheeks. She sat in a chair nearby, ordered a drink, and clinked her glass against Zhou Hongyi’s. "Young Master Zhou, I won't repeat my thanks, but might I invite you for a dance?"

Zhou Hongyi laughed, set aside his glass and cigarette, and rose with a gentlemanly flourish, extending his hand to Manyu.

"My beautiful lady, would you do me the honor of a dance?"

Manyu was quite satisfied with his response. She placed her hand gently in his and walked gracefully toward the center of the dance floor.

The band was playing a melodious classical piece, and guests were inviting their partners to dance. Zhou Hongyi, in his crisp suit, his hair meticulously combed, stood at one meter eighty with a handsome appearance. Standing beside Manyu, they instantly became the center of attention.

He was adept at ballroom dancing. With one hand resting lightly on Manyu’s waist and the other holding her hand, his footsteps were light and rhythmic—at times quick, at times slow—appearing both skillful and effortless.

After a while, Manyu said in slight surprise, "I didn't expect Young Master Zhou to be such an excellent dancer."

Zhou Hongyi pulled her closer, blinked his eyes, and applied slight pressure to his hand on her waist, pulling her flush against his chest.

"Hmm?"

Although dance hall girls like Manyu were seasoned veterans of the romantic scene, Zhou Hongyi’s methods were no less impressive. As the music shifted toward a lighter, faster tempo, his movements became more flamboyant.

At first, he merely increased the speed and frequency of his steps, but then he expanded the range of movement. He spun Manyu out and pulled her back like a yo-yo; under his guidance, she twirled, dipped, and was even lifted off the ground as he turned, only to be caught by his strong arms. The footwork was grand and sweeping. Gradually, other couples moved aside, leaving only Zhou Hongyi and Manyu in the center of the floor.

When the dance concluded, Manyu was not only lightly perspiring but also breathing rapidly. Whether from a racing heart or embarrassment, her face was flushed bright red.

Zhou Hongyi kept his arm around her waist and whispered, "Miss Manyu, are you alright? Are you tired?"

Manyu adjusted her breathing to calm her fluttering heart and used a slight cough to cover her embarrassment.

"I... I am fine. Young Master Zhou, you are truly amazing."

Her words carried a double meaning—praising his dancing and his way with women.

Zhou Hongyi then released her hand and waist, took a half-step back, and snapped his fingers at the band. "Please, Jazz Blue, show time!"

The band, which included several foreigners, instantly grasped his intent. The music accelerated once more, the upbeat rhythm igniting the atmosphere of the venue.