Gao Wenlan’s intention couldn’t have been clearer, she had offered to perform Shi Yaoguang’s piece as a way of shielding her.
Shi Yaoguang couldn’t quite understand her rationale. "Why would you want to help me?"
Gao Wenlan scratched her neck uncomfortably, her tone somewhat stiff, "In our special talents class, there’s only family, no enemies."
"Even if... I didn’t like you before, you’re still a member of the special talents class now. As long as you’re in the special talents class, I’ll have your back. But don’t flatter yourself, I’m not doing this for you."
Upon hearing this, the corners of Shi Yaoguang’s lips turned slightly upwards.
Gao Wenlan, seeing this expression, grew more embarrassed.
"Don’t... don’t look at me like that."
Shi Yaoguang responded with a smile, "Okay."
Though she said that, her gaze did not shift away.
In the end, Gao Wenlan’s entire neck had turned red.
As for whether her face was red, Shi Yaoguang really couldn’t tell.
After all, with Gao Wenlan’s smoky makeup in place, it wasn’t easy to discern her true expression through a layer of foundation.
Shi Yaoguang found Gao Wenlan rather adorable.
Despite their past conflicts, when it came to major issues, she was clear-headed.
However, while she appreciated the kindness, the idea of someone taking a hit for her hadn’t really crossed her mind.
Thus, she flatly rejected Gao Wenlan’s offer.
Upon hearing this, everyone showed a look of surprise.
Mu Tiantian even directly asked, "Yaoguang, you won’t agree to let Gao Wenlan perform for you, do you plan to go up yourself?"
"Is that not okay?" Shi Yaoguang countered.
Mu Tiantian replied anxiously, "Of course not!"
Shen Huan also persuaded, "I think Gao Wenlan’s suggestion is good. If she goes, the impact might be there, but it won’t be significant."
The Gao family had some influence, and ordinary people wouldn’t dare to provoke Gao Wenlan.
Even if they wanted to mock her, they could only do so secretly behind closed doors.
At least openly, no one would dare to laugh at her.
Shi Yaoguang was different, though; her status was virtually written on her face as someone pitiful, at the mercy of others.
Indeed, after the previous standoff, no one would dare to actually bully her.
Even so, Shen Huan did not want Shi Yaoguang to be laughed at because of this.
Everyone knew that Shi Yaoguang’s lack of talents wasn’t due to a lack of intelligence, but because she had been displaced in her earlier years.
What people would see, however, was only Shi Yaoguang failing at her performance.
Shi Yaoguang was of course aware of this and also understood that people like Shen Huan had her best interests at heart.
Not wanting to worry everyone, Shi Yaoguang stated directly, "The ’Eastern Fantasia’ you mentioned, I can play it."
Everyone was taken aback and asked in unison.
Shi Yaoguang repeated what she had said, "The piece you’re talking about, I can play it."
Mu Tiantian gasped sharply and then asked, "You... you’re not referring to ’Eastern Fantasia,’ are you?"
’Eastern Fantasy’ and ’Eastern Fantasia’ are not the same, even though there is only a one-word difference, the implications are worlds apart.
The former is an insert song from a certain animation.
The latter, however...
Is a masterpiece by a piano virtuoso, referred to by pianists as a ’demon’ piece.
Shi Yaoguang gave Mu Tiantian a look that was both smiling and not smiling, "What do you think?"
Mu Tiantian shrank her neck slightly, uncertainly saying, "It couldn’t be the first one, right?"
Shi Yaoguang shrugged, "It seems you don’t believe me."
Mu Tiantian’s little face crinkled into a frown, "It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just... I can’t bring myself to believe."
Shi Yaoguang looked at Shen Huan and Gao Wenlan and the others, "What about you guys, you don’t believe me either?"
Shen Huan tried to explain for himself, "I’d like to believe you, but..."
"Alright, cut the ’buts’." Shi Yaoguang interrupted him directly, "Doesn’t the school have a piano? Since you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it to you right here and now."
Mu Tiantian and the others exchanged glances and finally managed to respond with a difficult "okay".
It was just an exchange of looks, but they’d already tacitly reached an agreement.
No matter how terribly Shi Yaoguang played the piano, they couldn’t show any distaste in their expressions.
They absolutely couldn’t undermine Shi Yaoguang’s confidence.
With this in mind, the group set off for the music building in a grand procession.
Ruihe High School, being a private elite school, naturally had comprehensive facilities.
Any musical instrument, no matter how rare or exotic, could be found there.
Whether it be pianos, guitars, violins, or traditional instruments like dulcimers, suonas, and morin khuurs.
The teacher in charge of the music building heard Shi Yaoguang wanted to borrow the music room’s piano and didn’t ask too much before agreeing, leaving the key to the piano room before taking off.
Shi Yaoguang took the key and went to the piano room.
It wasn’t until Shi Yaoguang was seated in front of the piano, opening the lid, that Mu Tiantian still couldn’t help saying, "Yaoguang, it’s okay if you don’t perform well, don’t get discouraged."
Shi Yaoguang nodded, "Don’t worry, I know."
Only then did Mu Tiantian feel a bit relieved.
But she was still nervous, having thought of many ways to console Shi Yaoguang in her mind, while also praying that the playing wouldn’t be too harsh on the ears...
Shi Yaoguang didn’t take her worries to heart in the slightest, randomly hitting a few notes to test the piano’s tone.
When she was testing the sound, it was just a haphazard press of keys.
Mu Tiantian and the others all showed bitter smiles.
Shen Huan silently covered his ears, and although it couldn’t completely block out the sound, at least...
The sonic assault he endured would be lessened, right?
Just as he was trying his best to protect his ears, Shi Yaoguang closed her eyes.
Three seconds later, her fingertips began to dance rapidly across the black and white keys.
One note after another flowed out, forming a cheerful melody.
In the initial prelude, the movements of Shi Yaoguang’s fingertips were still visible.
As time went on, everyone could only see her fingers like afterimages.
The gaze of Mu Tiantian and the others went from initial bewilderment to final shock.
This was way too shocking!
They had thought Shi Yaoguang didn’t know how to play the piano, yet with a casual strike, out came a performance of Eastern Fantasia.
Even after the last note had fallen, Shen Huan and the others were still immersed in disbelief.
"Snap out of it." Shi Yaoguang reached out, waving her hand in front of Mu Tiantian’s eyes.
Mu Tiantian shook her head, her eyes wide as she looked at Shi Yaoguang, "Yaoguang, tell me the truth, you... you couldn’t possibly be the reincarnation of some pianist, could you?"
Shi Yaoguang blinked, "It’s possible."
Gao Wenlan was in a daze, "Haven’t you always been raised in the countryside? Do villages have so much talent these days?"
Shi Yaoguang curved her lips, spouting nonsense solemnly, "Have you finally discovered it? Our countryside is not as ignorant and uneducated as you imagine.
To live in the countryside, you need some real skills."
"Eastern Fantasia is just a basic skill where we’re from."