The Master's Mask Unveiled Again-Chapter 412 - 411 Who is the One Playing That Tune

Chapter 412: Chapter 411: Who is the One Playing That Tune?

Chapter 412: Chapter 411: Who is the One Playing That Tune?

Shao Yunxuan’s hands, hidden under the wide sleeves of her traditional-style coat, maintained a composed expression, but the palms beneath the sleeves were clenched with sweat.

She was mentally prepared, knowing that Mr.

Chu Kong would definitely ask her to play the piece again.

There was no escape.

She rose from the couch with a very respectful attitude.

Chu Kong gave her a smile of encouragement and anticipation.

Next to him, Mei Qin grew even more expectant.

How skilled must Miss Shao be to receive such gentle treatment from the usually stern master?

Aside from his first disciple, the master had never been so patient with anyone else.

He couldn’t help but think of the master’s first and only disciple.

That was a disciple truly cherished at the heart’s core!

It seemed that Miss Shao might be the second.

Shao Yunxuan gracefully stood up, straightened her clothes simply, and walked slowly to the grand piano in the center.

She had only heard of this brand of piano, never seen or touched one.

Because it was too expensive, she had never been able to access this level of piano before; there might not even be one in the whole of Wucheng.

Her fingertips brushed over the smooth, high-quality lacquer, coveting the cool yet luxurious touch.

This was a real piano!

And she was just one step away from the life she desired!

She steeled her heart and sat down steadily on the stool, her hands resting on the keys.

“Ding!”

A note of superior quality emerged.

She tried a note at random, pure and clean, with a stunning effect.

She looked up at her mother sitting on the couch; her mother cheered for her, and then she looked at Chu Kong, who was also full of expectation.

Shao Yunxuan took a deep breath, banished all distractions, and placed her fingers on the pristine black and white keys to begin playing formally.

Note after note flowed out, and Chu Kong also closed his eyes slightly, listening enraptured.

His trembling fingers moved along the armrest of the sofa.

But—

After listening for just over ten seconds, Chu Kong opened his eyes, his sickly gaze swirling with a complex and strange mix of emotions.

The fingers on the back of the sofa also stopped moving, no longer mimicking the playing.

Shao Yunxuan’s playing was not good, evident even to Mei Qin, the performance bumpy and not fluid, with the handling of the glissandi particularly clumsy.

The classical girl sitting at the piano, from a distance, seemed to embody a certain classical and otherworldly beauty, but listening to her play the piano was not at all pleasurable—in fact, it made one anxious, uncertain when she would falter again.

There was a word that perfectly described it: “awkward.”

He glanced dubiously at Chu Kong—Mr.

Chu Kong seemed to have made a misjudgement this time…

But he dared not voice this thought.

Mr.

Chu Kong was protective and stubborn; he did not want to risk getting beaten.

Chu Kong, unaware of the situation, continued to listen quietly, patient even when the playing was poor, waiting through to the climax of the piece.

However, he did not hear the rhythm he was waiting for.

Shao Yunxuan sat there, playing the piece that had once left an indelible impression on him, but he no longer felt that sense of amazement as before.

The light in Chu Kong’s eyes gradually dissipated.

The piece ended, and Shao Yunxuan finally finished playing.

The lingering sound still hovered above the piano room.

Shao Yunxuan stepped away from the piano, knowing that she hadn’t played well and feeling somewhat hollow inside.

“Mr.

Chu Kong, I’m sorry, I didn’t perform well today,” she said humbly, with her head lowered.

She felt the deep and heavy gaze on her even without looking up.

Seeing the situation, Yunxuan’s mother also got up somewhat sheepishly and couldn’t help but make a few excuses for her daughter.

“Mr.

Chu Kong, I’m really sorry, Yunxuan and I just took a flight to Jinjing today.

She has been carrying luggage and didn’t get a chance to rest before rushing here.

Yunxuan didn’t find her condition and indeed didn’t perform well…”

Her mother’s explanation was reasonable; performers value their hands greatly, and getting insurance is just a minor matter.

In many cases, they wouldn’t engage in any activity risking hand injury.

Indeed, being fatigued from the day’s travel could affect performance.

Chu Kong nodded with an indiscernible expression, “I understand.

You’ve had a long day, and I still asked Yunxuan to play; it was my lack of consideration.”

He waved his hand disinterestedly, “Yunxuan, you and your mother should go rest.

We can talk more another day.”

Upon hearing this, Shao Yunxuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

She didn’t know what Mr.

Chu Kong was thinking, but his warm tone suggested that he probably hadn’t noticed anything amiss.

She silently relaxed, chiding herself for being overly sensitive.

“Mr.

Chu Kong, then my mother and I will go back to our room,” she said.

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“Go ahead,” Chu Kong replied, watching them with a gentle expression as they left the room.

Just as they were about to step out, he suddenly asked, “Yunxuan, the piece you played at your school before, did you compose it yourself?”

Yunxuan’s steps halted abruptly, and her foundation-covered face stiffened slightly.

“Actually, I just improvised that piece at the time and didn’t think too much about it.

If I accidentally offended any famous composer’s original work, I ask for Mr.

Chu Kong’s forgiveness.”

She neither admitted to creating it entirely by herself nor to playing someone else’s work; her ambiguous statement also conveniently explained why she hadn’t performed well just now.

Forgetting an impromptu composition is excusable.

Chu Kong chuckled, “You haven’t offended anyone.

I haven’t heard that piece before either.”

“Mr.

Chu Kong, Yunxuan has been studying piano for ten years, never taking a break from childhood till now.

At home, she often gets the urge to play some pieces we’ve never heard,” her mother eagerly interjected, hastily vying for her daughter’s favor.

Chu Kong, a bit weary, still affirmed, “Yunxuan’s fundamentals are quite solid.

It’s evident that she has practiced hard for many years.”

He then waved them off, not wanting to prolong the conversation, his tone still reasonably warm: “You go rest now.

Mei Qin will contact you if there’s anything.”

“Okay.”

“Goodbye, Mr.

Chu Kong,” Yunxuan respectfully bowed as she took leave.

After leaving the piano room and walking a good distance away, Yunxuan’s mother shed her dignified demeanor and became visibly excited.

“Yunxuan, I think this is in the bag!”

“Mom, Mr.

Chu Kong hasn’t agreed yet!” Yunxuan retorted somewhat resentfully, her heart still filled with anxiety.

The principal didn’t know, her art teachers didn’t know, her mother didn’t know, nobody else knew—only she herself knew.

The piece she had played at school, it wasn’t her playing at all…

“They invited us all the way to Jinjing, and they’re accommodating us so well—this is pretty much a done deal!

Don’t worry about it.

It’s okay that you didn’t perform well this time, just do better next time!”

Next time…

At the thought, Yunxuan’s heart skipped a beat.

She had gotten away today with the excuse of not being in good condition, but what about next time?

Who was that person who had been practicing in the piano room before?