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Novel Catalog
Chapter_93
Zion, trying his best to remain composed, hesitated for a moment before asking, “Is it Mr. Brooks?”
The room went silent. The shock of hearing Bryan’s name brought a hush over the crowd, as everyone turned to watch Yvette’s phone with wide eyes, full of disbelief and confusion. Can anything more absurd happen? they wondered. An ordinary physics student, on a call with the world-renowned pianist Bryan?
Then, from the other side of the video call, Bryan responded in his distinctive awkward Clusian accent, “Yes, it’s me.” The entire room was struck dumb. It was truly Bryan, the world-famous pianist, speaking to Yvette.
Bryan, who had not been seen in public for nearly a decade, hadn’t heard from Yvette in three years. But as soon as he saw her number pop up, he quickly set aside whatever he was doing—his beloved flowers—ignoring his scissors as frustration flashed across his face.
Yvette had been Bryan’s best student, a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy. The Ross family had chased her away when she was young, and since then, Bryan had been trying to find her. Seven years ago, Yvette reached out to him after learning about his wife’s illness, even sending him some medicine that helped her recover. But after that, Yvette became unreachable. In all the years since, she had contacted him only three times, each time to send more medicine.
Though cold, Yvette had been more loyal than anyone he knew.
Without wasting words, Yvette cut to the heart of the matter, her voice as direct as ever. “For whom did you compose Dream?”
Zion, standing off to the side, was stunned by Yvette’s bluntness, her straightforwardness in speaking with someone of Bryan’s stature. He wiped the sweat from his hands, realizing that no one could have anticipated this.
The name Bryan was more than a legend—it was a phenomenon in the music world. A single public appearance by him sent ripples through the music industry, so much so that even Mysonna’s president struggled to get him to participate in events. But here he was, casually talking with Yvette, as if they were equals.
Jaiden, watching with a calculating gaze, realized just how underestimated the Chambers family’s newly found eldest daughter was. Bryan is not a simple connection, he thought. The Lewis family is nothing compared to him. But Yvette can converse with him on equal terms, with such kindness from Bryan. This is no ordinary girl.
Zachary, equally impressed, couldn’t help but marvel at Yvette’s powerful connections. First a major general, then a mayor, and now a world-class pianist? How many more powerful people does my daughter know? His heart couldn’t take much more of the surprises Yvette kept throwing at him.
Rebecca, standing in the background, felt an icy chill creep up her spine as she watched Yvette talking so casually with Bryan. A top hacker, a world-renowned pianist… there’s no way she’s just some girl from the countryside. How could someone so… ordinary have such extraordinary connections? Even her investigation into Yvette had yielded nothing. It was as though Yvette didn’t exist at all.
But the most shaken of all was Ruby. She stood frozen, unable to move as her mind unraveled. How could she know Bryan? Ruby’s world seemed to collapse. I thought I had Yvette cornered, but now, this… this is too much. I never knew she had such terrifying connections.
Bryan’s voice broke through the tension, his words clear and direct. “I told you before, the piece was composed for an old friend I used to play piano with. Some people mistakenly think it was written for my wife. But when they play it… it feels, how should I put this? In Clusian terms, it’s tangled and messy.”
By now, it didn’t matter whether Yvette had asked the question or not. The fact that she was on a personal call with Bryan was proof enough of her standing. No one could deny that she had access to a world of people most could only dream of.
Zion, unable to contain his excitement any longer, stepped forward, asking eagerly, “Mr. Brooks, may I speak with you for a moment?”
Bryan, hearing Zion’s request and assuming he was one of Yvette’s friends, readily agreed. “Sure, what do you want to say?”
Yvette paused, then handed the phone to Zion, who took it with trembling hands, his heart racing. When Bryan’s face appeared on the screen, Zion’s excitement only grew. “Mr. Brooks, hello!” he said, his voice slightly breathless. “I’m Zion, a pianist from Clusia. I had the honor of meeting you briefly at the international piano competition in Mysonna. I learned so much from our conversation, and I never expected to see you again like this.”
Bryan studied Zion for a moment, his memory jogged. He remembered their brief meeting a few years ago at the competition when Zion had asked him some thoughtful questions. Bryan had seen potential in him back then and was pleased to hear that he had done well since.
With a kind smile, Bryan replied, “I remember you, young man. How do you know this girl? Are you thinking of apprenticing under her as well?”
Zion froze. “Apprenticing under her as well?” Bryan’s words caught him off guard. Who else was trying to apprentice under Yvette? And why did Bryan assume that Zion wanted to? Zion found himself at a loss.
If it had been Dulcem, the mysterious pianist who had burst onto the international stage with an original composition three years ago, Zion might have understood. But Yvette was not Dulcem. Zion was still processing the idea that anyone would want to apprentice under a relatively unknown physics student who was somehow also a world-class pianist.
The audience, meanwhile, had reached the point where they could no longer contain themselves. Bryan had just asked if Zion was going to apprentice under Yvette. The absurdity of it all was too much for them. How is that possible? they thought. How could someone like Zion, with his reputation, want to be an apprentice to Yvette?
Bryan, noticing the commotion in the background, turned to Yvette and asked, “What’s going on? Where are you?”
Yvette took the phone back from Zion, her expression calm as ever. “It’s nothing. I’m hanging up now.”
But Bryan quickly added, “When will you come and visit me?”
Yvette’s expression softened, a rare moment of vulnerability passing through her. After a pause, she replied, “Maybe when there’s a chance.”
Bryan’s face showed a flicker of disappointment, but he understood Yvette’s reluctance to be pressed. He smiled softly and said, “Don’t put it off too long. Make sure you find time to come by.” With that, he reluctantly ended the call.
Yvette pocketed her phone and glanced at Ruby, whose face was drained of color, filled with the despair of someone who had been completely overshadowed.
“Let’s go,” Yvette said simply, turning to leave.
Bonnie stood up without hesitation and walked to Yvette’s side. Together, they left the auditorium, leaving a stunned silence in their wake.
Ruby, on the other hand, collapsed to the ground, overwhelmed by the weight of Yvette’s indifference. Yvette had not said a single word to her, yet the disregard was worse than any direct confrontation. Ruby’s pride had been shattered. From start to finish, she had been nothing more than a clown in Yvette’s eyes.
In the aftermath, Simon personally dismissed Ruby from her position as student council president, a decision that had been long overdue. From that point on, Ruby would avoid Yvette at all costs, never daring to confront her again.
As the audience began to file out of the auditorium, they could not stop talking about the events of the day. Not only had they witnessed a breathtaking piano performance, but they had also seen Bryan, the world-renowned pianist, make a surprise appearance. It would be a story they would tell for the rest of their lives.
Once again, Yvette was the talk of Argrol University. The media, especially, couldn’t contain their excitement. This wasn’t just a typical university art festival. It had become the talk of the town, featuring not only a rising genius but also a world-class pianist in a surprise appearance.
Tomorrow’s headlines were already written: [Argrol University’s Physics Genius Emerges: World-Class Pianist Bryan Makes a Special Appearance]. The trending topics were guaranteed to explode.
But as Yvette left the auditorium, her phone buzzed with a message that caught her attention. She frowned, her expression growing more serious as she read it.
[Boss, Flying Fish is in trouble. Come to the Golden Triangle immediately.]
Yvette’s mind immediately shifted focus, her next move clear.
