Chapter 164
As soon as the host finished speaking, Liam walked towards the judges‘ seat with two elegant and beautiful women in tow.
Their seats were partially blocked by a booth, making it hard for many people stretching their necks to catch a glimpse of
them.
Instead of stepping onto the stage or speaking, the three judges were shown to the audience through the large screen behind
the stage.
Contestants and audience members alike were glued to the screen, eager to see these masters of piano, considered some of the finest in Clusia.
The camera first focused on Liam, a renowned pianist both in Clusia and globally, and president of the Clusia Pianists‘ Association.
He was not only famous for his exceptional piano skills but also admired for his handsome, elegant appearance and his untouchable noble status, leaving many women in the audience impressed.
“With that look and background, plus being able to play the piano–what a lucky woman he must be with!”
“Liam is from a noble lineage. Any woman with him must also have a noble background.”
“Don’t say that; even as a married woman, I find myself swooning.”
Someone in the audience snapped a photo of him from the big screen and posted it online, sparking quite a reaction from internet users.
At home, Dora saw Liam’s photo accidentally and felt a familiar sense of longing rising again within her.
The camera then shifted to Tina.
As the only daughter of the Simpson family, one of Betrico’s prominent families, and daughter–in–law to scholar Marlon, Tina herself was accomplished.
She was also the Vice President of the Pianists‘ Association and celebrated as a genuine talent in Betrico and all of Clusia. The focus on her drew significant attention as well.
Mandy and Jemma couldn’t help but feel a bit bitter inside. When the camera focused on Tina, their jealousy started to creep in.
Back in their day, Tina and Claire‘ were the two outstanding beauty–and–brains icons at Betrico’s leading universities, the dream girls for many high society bachelors.
In contrast, Mandy and Jemma were just average college students with no standout looks or exceptional talents.
But Henry and Jacob were different. As soon as Tina appeared on the big screen, they couldn’t take their eyes off her.
Online, when her photo surfaced, netizens were quick with their reactions.
[Now this is a true lady–way above any internet celebrity.]
[Come on, don’t disrespect her like that. She’s a legit heiress, the kind who could’ve been a queen or empress.]
[Can you believe Tina has a daughter in her twenties? She looks like she’s only 30! Total envy.]
The audience eagerly waited for the next guest judge to be revealed on screen–the legendary Arlina,
11:03 Sun, Dec ʊ
Chapter 101
Some spectators hail their phones ready to capture this mysterious piano master,
In the next moment, the camera shifted to focus on Cherise, seated between Tina and Liam.
The entire audience froze for a second. Then the realization hit and a buzz of excitement filled the hall.
“So Arlina is a woman–and such an incredibly stunning one.”
“She looks so familiar, like that special professor from Betrico University’s Traditional Medicine Department,”
“Not like–it is her! I have a screenshot from last time. Such breathtaking beauty–it’s definitely her
“Oh my gosh, she’s Arlina? What an extraordinary woman–she’s a special professor at Betrico University, honorary president of Clusia’s Traditional Medicine Association, and now she’s Arlina? Compared to her, I’m just filling space on Earth.”
In the third row, the students from the Traditional Medicine Department sat almost motionless, eyes glued to the big screen. The world felt surreal to them.
93%
They thought, ‘Ms. Leach, how many more surprises do you have hidden from us? Just lay it all out at once and hit us hard so we can take it.’
Meanwhile, in the contestants‘ area, Madeline touched the sheet music in her pocket, swallowing hard with an inexplicable excitement bubbling inside her.
The 20 contestants were seated according to their draw. Beside Madeline, Shirley clenched her teeth and gripped her dress so tightly that the once–smooth satin was now a mess of wrinkles.
For a moment, her mind was screaming. She thought, ‘Why is it always her? How can she be everywhere?‘ Each of Cherise’s appearances seemed destined to overshadow everyone else–including Shirley herself.
Her grip only got tighter, thinking, ‘No! This can’t be real. I have to win first place. I must. That is the only way she’d ever surpass Cherise one day!‘
宙
