Ye Ruxue’s suggestion created an awkward situation.
Although Ye Ming and Ye Rui strongly disliked Ye Shaohua, they couldn’t very well let her be publicly humiliated in front of everyone like this.
“Ruxue, Uncle Li has been wanting to hear your performance-level piano playing. Play another piece for him,” Ye Ming said, feeling quite displeased internally but smiling amiably at Ye Ruxue. “Ruxue just won the gold medal at the National Bijie Competition last week. I heard the piece was called ‘D Major Something’ and is supposedly very difficult.”
Uncle Li was a nationally recognized pianist, his skills having reached a national level.
He had even been invited to perform at the world-renowned concert hall in M Country.
“It would be nice to hear Ruxue play the D Major piece,” Uncle Li said, sounding a bit regretful. “But I thought I might get to hear your eldest daughter play as well.”
Others murmured in agreement.
For these guests, listening to such piano music was a genuine pleasure.
Ye Ming was currently introducing his circle of friends to Old Master Ye.
Hearing this, Mr. Yun also spoke up, “Yes, it’s a pity we can’t hear Shaohua play, it’s a bit—”
Madam Yun pinched him.
“—a bit possible! Sure, I don’t understand piano much myself,” Mr. Yun finished, his mouth twisting into a strained smile.
Ye Rui, Ye Ming, and others knew that Ye Shaohua had started learning piano at five but stopped practicing after she gained weight at eight, according to her teacher.
She probably couldn’t even press the correct scales now.
These few people awkwardly tried to deflect: “Look, Ruxue’s performance is about to start. Since you’re all here to focus on Ruxue’s playing, insisting on hearing someone else might make Ruxue feel a bit uncomfortable.”
Ye Ming had never felt so embarrassed.
Fortunately, the guests didn’t press further, and Ye Ruxue shot a deep, meaningful glance in Ye Shaohua’s direction.
Everyone is covering for her.
She proficiently played through the difficult D Major piece.
After finishing, she stood up, looked towards Ye Shaohua who was surrounded by many people, and lowered her eyes with a cold laugh.
Laugh now. See how pleased you are with yourself? Do you even know what hell awaits you?
Think you’re so great, don’t you? The esteemed Miss Ye? Everyone protects you. But do you know that no amount of glamour can change the disgusting reality of what you are inside!
“Doesn’t sister really want to play?” Ye Ruxue spoke up again.
This time, Xu Peipei, who had been waiting on the sidelines, chimed in to support her daughter. “Yes, everyone is in for a treat. When Shaohua was little, even her teacher praised her piano playing profusely.”
Old Master Ye was truly furious now.
It was the first time he had looked at Ye Ruxue with such a stern expression.
Under normal circumstances, Ye Ruxue might have been afraid, but not tonight.
Since I can’t win the old man over anyway, there’s no need to try. In any case, I won’t let Ye Shaohua replace me.
Ye Ruxue avoided meeting Old Master Ye’s gaze.
She just stood by the piano, smiling amiably at Ye Shaohua, like a lofty swan looking down at an ugly duckling, watching a clown perform.
All activity in the room gradually ceased.
Initially, their attempt to hear Ye Shaohua play had been interrupted by the Ye family, which had already struck some guests as odd.
Now, with Ye Ruxue’s repeated remarks, they finally began to understand…
They cast thoughtful, suggestive glances at Ye Shaohua.
So that’s how it is, they thought. No wonder a ‘Miss Ye’ suddenly appeared. Except for the Old Master, even the sole male heir, Ye Rui, wants nothing to do with her.
This time, Ye Ming didn’t speak up. Although he was annoyed, his irritation wasn’t directed at Ye Ruxue now.
Instead, he blamed Ye Shaohua for coming back and embarrassing him.
I never should have called her back in the first place!
If I’d known the Old Master planned to use this event to build up Ye Shaohua’s reputation, I, Ye Ming, would have used every means possible to keep her out!
Old Master Ye was the most protective of Ye Shaohua.
He was just about to speak when Ye Shaohua raised her hand slightly, stopping him.
Old Master Ye was taken aback.
Without a word, Ye Shaohua casually took off the cumbersome bracelet from her wrist and dropped it onto a tray held by a nearby servant.
Then, she walked step by step towards the piano.
“Sister, are you… going to play?” Seeing Ye Shaohua actually approach, Ye Ruxue almost sneered aloud. She let out a deliberate, light laugh.
She knew perfectly well that while Ye Shaohua might have played as a child, that was eleven years ago. Over those eleven years, Ye Ming and the others had basically given her no allowance. She had become so overweight that walking was difficult—where would she have had the chance to practice piano?
Even if she had been a world-class performer eleven years ago, she wouldn’t be able to play anything decent now.
Let alone Ye Shaohua.
Unless Ye Shaohua was some unassuming master hiding her true skills.
But Ye Ruxue simply didn’t believe that.
Yet, the truth was almost unbelievable. The person before her wasn’t just a master; she was a terrifyingly skilled individual with inhuman finger speed! Having experienced numerous worlds, her mind contained the memories of countless task-takers, including tens of thousands of musical scores.
Not to mention… her finger speed could likely outpace even the world’s fastest computer!
This was a unique talent she had honed across more than ten different worlds.
Ye Shaohua calmly sat on the stool and pressed a few keys randomly, familiarizing herself with the feel.
Hearing the discordant notes Ye Shaohua produced, Master Li frowned. The sound was rather jarring.
The audience members looked surprised.
“Sister, if you can’t do it…” Ye Ruxue began to scoff.
But before her mocking words could fully leave her mouth—
Ye Shaohua’s entire aura shifted. She slightly narrowed her eyes, and her fair fingers began to dance across the keys.
It started with intense, high-speed passages right away. Lively, playful notes quickly built the music to a crescendo.
“Flight of the Bumblebee” was a piece designed to captivate from the very first note.
Even the servants, who knew nothing about piano, seemed to visualize the tense scene of bumblebees swarming around a solitary island, desperately seeking an escape. They couldn’t articulate it, but they felt it—every cell in their bodies trembling.
Her four fingers struck the final, resounding concluding note with a flourish!
Everyone in the hall stared, dumbfounded, at the girl who sat slightly turned, a layer of cool indifference veiling her features…
Ye Shaohua flexed her slightly sore fingers. Seeing Ye Ruxue still standing beside her, frozen and stunned, she spoke, word by deliberate word:
“Are. You. Satisfied?”
