「Ten minutes earlier.」

Bewildered, Fu Yi clutched a cup of milk tea, consulting the map on her phone as she looked around in confusion.

Having just exited the subway, she found herself lost in the vast sea of people.

Jinling Music and Art Museum… It's nearby, isn't it?

But how do I get there?

Although reluctant to admit it, she realized she seemed to be lost.

"Lost?"

Someone asked softly from beside her. When Fu Yi turned around, she saw an unfamiliar woman.

She appeared to be about four or five years older than Fu Yi, with a beautiful and serene face, a loose ponytail draped over her shoulder, and a warm smile.

She seemed as casual as if she were out buying groceries, dressed in a loose, casual long skirt and a knit sweater, with a grocery basket in hand, filled with fresh meat and vegetables recently purchased from the supermarket.

What a reassuring older sister type!

Fu Yi's eyes lit up, and she moved closer, pointing at the map on her phone. "Excuse me, how do I get to this place?"

"The art museum?"

The older woman tilted her head to look, then shook it and said, "The mobile signal here isn't good; your positioning is off. You should have exited from Exit B to get to the art museum. This is Exit C; you're going in the opposite direction."

"Huh?" Fu Yi was stunned for a moment.

The older woman raised her hand, pointing to a tall building in the distance. "Just go over there, turn right, and then go straight. I'm actually headed that way to buy some fresh seasonings. Why don't we go together?"

"Ah, thank you!" Fu Yi breathed a sigh of relief and followed a step behind her.

Sensing her slight wariness, the older woman seemed to smile and turned back to ask, "Someone in your family works at the Social Security Bureau, right?"

"Hmm?" Fu Yi was puzzled and instinctively tensed up.

Then, she noticed the cell phone the older woman was holding up, which had a location-tracking phone charm just like her own.

"Don't worry, it's the same kind," the older woman said with a gentle smile, walking ahead. "Are you here alone? For a vacation?"

"No, I'm here for a competition."

Relieved by the shared item, Fu Yi explained, "It's a contest for environmental research projects. Jinling is hosting the selection, and I submitted a paper to try my luck."

"That sounds very impressive," the older woman marveled.

"It's just fluff, really, not much different from a seven- or eight-year-old kid standing in a square holding up a sign urging everyone to care for the environment. It all depends on luck. If I'm lucky, I'll get extra points for my college entrance exams."

"That's still quite impressive. When I was your age, I didn't even know what a research paper was… Are you here to see a performance?"

"No, a classmate has an exam. I came to cheer him on, but I overslept, and now I'm too late." Fu Yi sighed in resignation. "I might as well just treat him to a meal."

"You must be close. Is your classmate a boy or a girl?"

"A boy, but not in the way you might be thinking," Fu Yi shook her head. "You could say we're like good buddies, I guess?"

"Really? I envy you for having such a pure friendship."

The older woman smiled, her steps halting as she pointed to a nearby building. "This is the place."

"Ah, thank you!" Fu Yi said gratefully.

"It's nothing. I should be on my way…"

As she turned to leave, she seemed to see something and paused, her eyebrows raising slightly. "Would you mind if I wait with you?"

"Hmm?" Fu Yi blinked.

"After all, I've lived this long and still haven't seen someone play the violin," the older woman smiled, but that smile made Fu Yi slightly uneasy.

"I'd like to see it for myself."

"Uh…"

Fu Yi instinctively wanted to refuse, but under the older woman's gentle smile, she felt unable to say no. Thinking it might be nice to have someone to chat with, she slowly nodded.

"That's wonderful, thank you," the older woman said cheerfully, withdrawing her gaze from a camera in the corner. "By the way, little sister, what's your name?"

"Fu Yi. 'Fu' as in Master, and 'Yi' as in 'rely on.' And you, Big Sister?"

"Ah, my name isn't as pretty," the older woman said warmly, taking her arm as they began walking towards the examination area.

"My surname is Luo," she said. "My given name is just Xian."

「.」

"One more?"

The leader frowned. "What's going on?"

"Seems to be someone who gave her directions, just a curious onlooker," the operative on surveillance asked. "Should we get rid of her?"

"Forget it. Don't complicate things."

The leader said coldly, "Just take them all down together. Be quick about it. If there's any resistance, kill them on sight."

"Roger that."

And so, under the leader's command, the plan seemed to begin smoothly.

It proceeded like flowing clouds and water.

With their professional skills and wealth of experience, the outcome was surely bound to be clear, wasn't it?

「Meanwhile, on the other side, within the examination hall, the exam was about to begin.」

「.」

The original examination hall, though not anticipating so many spectators, was still spacious and well-lit. Even after a group of elderly men and women entered, it didn't feel crowded.

But Huai Shi felt almost suffocated.

To use a more fantastical metaphor, it was as if the auras of more than a dozen Heavenly Venerables descended, crushing eons. Forget the Great Dao; even the strings of my thoughts felt like they were about to snap!

If there was any consolation, it was probably the potted plants in the corner of the examination hall.

They were thriving, their flowers blooming vividly with a refreshing fragrance that subtly eased Huai Shi's mood.

What kind of flowers are these? I wonder if I could take a couple of pots home…

Soon, about ten burly security guards came in carrying chairs. The group of elders took their assigned seats like the heroes of Mount Liangshan, their gazes finally fixing on Huai Shi at the center of the room.

Huai Shi instinctively stood straighter, forcing an awkward, ingratiating smile.

"Don't be nervous, Mr. Huai."

Richard, having taken over the original examiner's duties, sat at the front. He flipped through the three program lists Huai Shi had submitted and said soothingly, "Rest assured, everyone here has rich performance experience and considerable achievements. They will certainly judge your performance fairly. Just treat it as a small concert."

You scared me to death! I thought with all your vast experience, nothing would make you laugh!

Huai Shi mocked inwardly, smiling stiffly as he quietly glanced at the group of people behind Vivian.

Although each one's smile had been radiant and warm just moments ago, once they got into the zone, these old men and women became as solemn as if posing for their posthumous portraits.

Being stared at so intently by those dozens of eyes sent shivers down his spine.

Old Zhao, I could really kill you for this!

Huai Shi shivered and, with tears in his eyes, glanced behind him before picking up his bow.

「.」

"He seems a bit nervous."

"To be honest, he's too young. I don't believe there could be another genius like Ai."

While Huai Shi was observing the group of elders, they too were sizing him up, quietly exchanging opinions.

Although Old Zhao had spoken highly of Huai Shi's ability, this group wouldn't go easy on him just for Old Zhao's sake. On the contrary, they were highly critical; any minor flaw would be found as if with a magnifying glass.

While this wouldn't necessarily raise the standard for the performance, pleasing them was likely beyond what a young man could achieve.

Of course, they were well aware of this. Most of them, nine times out of ten, were just looking to relax and have a bit of fun after their meeting, not harboring any great expectations.

Under the crowd's scrutiny, Huai Shi took a deep breath and lowered his eyes.

He began to play his cello.

Richard was momentarily taken aback, then his eyes lit up.

Exquisite.

「.」

The moment the melody began, Schlot, who had dedicated years to the cello, couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

The Toccata in C Major? Bach's BWV 564, the Adagio from the second movement. "Toccata BWV 564-Adagio".

This is a cello piece with minimal accompaniment. It seems the young man doesn't intend to rely on it. That's fine; in a near-solo performance like this, the player's true skill will be more directly revealed…

However, before he could further evaluate the opening phrase, a melody carrying a distant, sorrowful longing silently engulfed him.

Accompanied by the clear, cool notes of the piano, as the two compact voices of the first section spread out in the low register, a melody as heavy as mercury emerged from the fading resonance. It possessed a profound texture, clearly perceptible in every transition. The piano, which could have easily sounded disjointed with the slightest misstep, was instead subsumed by this somber foundation, enveloped by the cello's unique, profound gravity.

In an instant, the weighty melody transformed into mist, wafting gently from between the bow and strings.

The solemn sorrow carried by the melody fell like rain into each person's heart.

"HSS…"

Schlot subconsciously sat up straight, tensing, his gaze fixed intensely on the young man playing with lowered head. Even if his technique and style weren't outstanding, this terrifying emotional control and infectiousness were simply astounding!

More importantly, it was that familiar fingering and playing style…

It was exactly like watching that woman on the concert platform ten years ago!

A coincidence? Or could he truly be a second Ai?

He looked in astonishment at Li ZhuHui beside him, only to find Li ZhuHui looking back at him.

Their eyes held the same bewilderment and surprise.

No one spoke now; everyone was listening in silence. Their previously somewhat lax expressions had unknowingly become serious.

Vivian, who had been an examiner for over a decade and was thoroughly familiar with the proceedings, also lifted the pencil she had ready for scoring, gripping it tightly.

It was a pure and unadorned performance, without earth-shattering, intense melodies. It straightforwardly revealed the framework and structure of the score, allowing the composer's sorrowful thoughts and melancholy to be expressed directly through the simple sound of the cello.

But by now, this was beyond the realm of professional critique; even an ordinary person could feel the music's emotions, so intense they were poignant.

The more unadorned such a movement, the more it showcases the performer's talent and depth. But now, these full-bodied emotions, practically erupting with the melody's evolution, had become like a tidal wave, sweeping everything before it.

The unique depth and solemnity of the cello were fully revealed in the hands of this youth, not yet twenty!

Without a doubt, this was what one would call a genius!

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