Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_91
A beam of light shone down on Yvette as she took her place at the piano. She closed her eyes, tuning out the noise around her, and gently lifted her delicate fingers over the keys. The audience held its collective breath, waiting for the magic that was about to unfold.
In the next instant, her fingers glided across the piano keys, and the sharp, high-spirited melody rang out. It was a tune full of energy and passion, perfectly fitting for the moment. But then, as if by some quiet command, the second half of the piece transformed. The music became gentle, warm, and serene, wrapping the entire auditorium in a peaceful stillness. It was a breathtaking contrast, and it stirred something deep in the crowd’s hearts.
As the last note faded into silence, Yvette remained absorbed in the music, her body fully in tune with the piano. The instrument held a special, almost sacred significance for her. She wasn’t just playing—it was an extension of herself.
The audience sat stunned. If they hadn’t witnessed it themselves, they would never have believed that it was Yvette playing.
Yvette withdrew her hands, pursing her lips thoughtfully. As she lifted her gaze, the stage light reflected in her eyes, and some of the irritation in her heart seemed to dissipate.
Zion, who had been observing intently, was completely taken aback. He had never seen anyone play like this before. Yvette hadn’t even opened her eyes while playing. No one in Clusia could do that—not to mention play with such mastery. Zion realized he had been right all along. I wasn’t mistaken. She’s a genius.
In that moment, he was certain: Yvette had the potential to secure a spot for Clusia in the international piano competition in just a year. He had spent two years searching for someone with such raw talent. Now, it seemed, he had finally found her.
The applause that followed was thunderous, and each round of clapping grew louder and louder. The crowd’s excitement was palpable, and soon, someone started chanting her name. “Yvette! Yvette!” The chant quickly spread throughout the auditorium, shaking the very foundation of the building.
Andrew, sitting in the audience, took a bite of his half-eaten chips, his worries evaporating. He glanced at Bonnie, who was as carefree as ever, and silently mocked himself. I’m the worrywart here, he thought. I should have known Yvette would pull something like this off.
He started wondering what else Yvette was capable of. Maybe it was time to reassess his views on education in the countryside. Which village produced such a genius?
Zachary couldn’t help but beam with pride as he watched Yvette on stage. His excitement was so contagious that he couldn’t resist turning to Simon and Jaiden. “I can’t believe it,” he said. “She’s incredible on the piano.”
Simon and Jaiden exchanged a knowing smile. They knew Zachary was boasting, but they didn’t hold it against him. After all, if you had a child who had grown up in the countryside for over 20 years and turned out to be this remarkable, you’d probably be even prouder than he was.
Simon, though, was genuinely struck by Yvette’s brilliance. His admiration went beyond her musical talent. While others may not know, Simon was fully aware of Yvette’s secret identity as Siren. He couldn’t help but wonder—was there anything this girl couldn’t do? He was already looking forward to the chess and calligraphy competitions the next day, eager to see what new miracles she would perform.
The contestants who had mocked Yvette earlier were now feeling a mix of regret and disbelief. How could they have underestimated her? It was clear they had been wrong from the start.
Nellie, sitting in the second row, clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. How is this possible? she thought, watching Yvette with growing frustration. Beside her, Rebecca was unusually quiet. She stared at Yvette with an unreadable expression. Maybe Grandpa was right. We shouldn’t have underestimated someone like her. She hadn’t anticipated just how formidable Yvette was.
Ruby, on the other hand, was frozen in place. Her face had gone pale, and she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Yvette. How is this possible? she thought bitterly. Yvette is a country bumpkin. How could she play such a complicated piece so effortlessly?
Ruby had painstakingly prepared for this performance, practicing late into the night until her fingers were blistered. She had put everything into perfecting this piece, only to watch Yvette perform it beautifully, seemingly without effort. It was the same piece Ruby had chosen, but Yvette had executed it flawlessly, leaving Ruby with no chance of competing. Deep down, Ruby knew she had lost—but she refused to admit defeat.
I can’t lose, she thought desperately, forcing herself to calm down. How can I lose and still be the student council president? I have to stay calm…
Zion, still processing the power of Yvette’s performance, waved his hand to quiet the students. The auditorium slowly settled down. “Ms. Zeller,” he began, his voice carrying across the room, “I’m afraid I can’t give you a score.”
This statement caught everyone off guard. Whispers rippled through the crowd as they tried to make sense of his words.
“What does Mr. Holmes mean by he can’t give a score?” one student asked. “Does he have some bias against Yvette?”
“I don’t think so,” another student countered. “Didn’t he invite Yvette to sit with him earlier? Let’s see what he says.”
The murmurs grew louder as Zion picked up the microphone. “Everyone,” he said, pausing for effect. “What I mean is not that Yvette doesn’t deserve a score. It’s that I’m not qualified to judge her at my level.”
The room went silent, and then erupted in an uproar. Zion’s words had clearly elevated Yvette in their eyes.
Sawyer, sitting quietly at the back, lowered his head, deep in thought.
Simon, too, was taken aback by Zion’s statement. He knew Zion well. For him to say that about Yvette’s piano skills meant they were something extraordinary. Simon began to wonder just how far Yvette’s abilities could go.
Jaiden and the others, aware of Zion’s reputation in upper-class society, realized that Zion’s praise of Yvette meant she was already being placed on a pedestal far above her peers. If Zion couldn’t assess her, then no one in Clusia could.
Ruby, meanwhile, was shaking with fury. Her lips trembled as she fought to keep herself together. She couldn’t fathom how she would leave the auditorium after this.
Yvette, unfazed, nodded. Her expression was as cool and composed as ever. “Oh… I’m leaving then,” she said in her usual calm tone.
Zion chuckled softly, realizing that Yvette might actually leave if he didn’t intervene. He cleared his throat, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “Ms. Zeller, just a moment, please. Since it’s a competition, there are winners and losers. I can only give you a ten—the highest score here. Do you have any problem with that?”
Nellie, hearing this, clenched her teeth in frustration. What problem could Yvette possibly have? she thought bitterly. A perfect score? She should be content with that.
She rubbed her sore back and muttered to herself, “I’ve wasted my time here just to watch Yvette steal the spotlight.”
Quietly, she slipped out of her seat, checking her phone as she made her way toward the exit.
At that moment, when the applause for Yvette had reached its peak, Ruby suddenly spoke. The auditorium fell silent, everyone turning their attention to her as they wondered what she had to say next.
