They don't actually think I like them, do they?

In the empty lounge, Lin Han stared wide-eyed at Su Ruxue.

He probably couldn't imagine how much courage his presence gave Su Ruxue.

Lin Han was momentarily at a loss. The "you" I mentioned here probably refers to "your music"... right?

Just then, an announcement came over the loudspeaker: contestant number seven is coming on stage, and contestant number eight, Su Ruxue, is going backstage to prepare.

Su Ruxue got up from her seat, took Lin Han's hand, and walked out of the lounge.

The two walked through the scattered crowd in the corridor and headed towards the stage along the long corridor.

Ning Lei, who had just been performing on stage, happened to walk towards the two of them.

The two sides met in the corridor.

Upon seeing Su Ruxue, Ning Lei was clearly taken aback for a moment, then he raised his hand and smiled.

"senior!"

"Hello," Su Ruxue replied politely.

"I've been listening to your music for many years, and I look forward to your guidance!"

Ning Lei spoke excitedly, his gaze sweeping back and forth over Su Ruxue.

Then, when his gaze lingered on Lin Han, a hint of disgust flashed in Ning Lei's eyes.

Lin Han keenly noticed this emotion.

What the heck? I'm being disliked for no reason?

However, the man's fake smile did make Lin Han feel physically uncomfortable.

“Of course, I will let you know why I am a senior.” Su Ruxue smiled.

These words caused Ning Lei's expression to twitch instantly.

The two did not speak again and passed each other.

Meanwhile, on the judges' panel.

"Wow, Mr. Liu, it's been a year! I didn't expect your beloved student to have made such great progress," Zhang Zhiping said, patting Liu Chuan on the shoulder.

"Her performance was fluid and her grasp of popular music was also excellent. Teacher Liu is a great teacher," another judge commented.

"Not at all, the teacher is just a guide. Xiao Ning's achievements are all the result of her hard work," Liu Chuan quickly said modestly.

Everyone chatted happily and congratulated Liu Chuan for training such a good soldier for the association.

Guan Han dismissed it dismissively: "I can only say that the performance was flawless and reached the level expected of a second-level cellist!"

“Hey, Mr. Guan Han, that’s not right. Su Ruxue, a first-class cellist back then, was only so-so at the Parrot Cup, right? But she still got the recognition of the entire association, didn’t she?” Liu Chuan immediately retorted.

"You said Su Ruxue is a first-class cellist, how can you compare?"

Seeing the tense atmosphere between the two old men reigniting, Zhang Zhiyuan once again stepped in to smooth things over.

"Alright, alright, Su Ruxue is about to go on stage. We'll find out the result after we watch it."

PS:

Because of the pandemic, Coffee is on holiday early and can go home tomorrow, so I can update more often when I get home.

I hope everyone won't leave the book unfinished; I'll try my best to update!

Book Recommendation: *Raising a Young Dragon Princess? All I Know Is Torture!*

Cut this lousy book; don't bother reading it anymore.

I've been following Pineapple Bun for three years, and I've recommended books to this brat Xiao Mo at least five times, and he's only finished one!

009. What are some popular internet songs?

Hearing this, the two finally calmed down.

However, once the words were spoken, the powder keg was lit and wouldn't be easily stopped. At this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on Su Ruxue, the former pride of the association.

In fact, Ning Lei is not just Liu Chuan's Ning Lei. Although some people like Guan Han, who have had conflicts with Liu Chuan, dislike him, from the moment Ning Lei won the "Star Cup" championship last year, coupled with his status as an academic pianist, he has long been a rising star that most people in the association have high hopes for.

After Su Ruxue, the association's ace player, left, no player who could "crush the championship" like her appeared at the "Yingqin Cup" the following year.

The champion, chosen from among the shortest among the shortest, was surprisingly eliminated in the group stage of the "Longqin Cup," breaking the association's lowest performance record.

This is something that Jinchuan Province, which has always prided itself on producing cellists, simply cannot accept.

Therefore, the association wants to create another "god" no matter what, and right now, the one with the most potential is Ning Lei.

At this moment, Liu Chuan, who had just finished arguing with Guan Han, was calm and composed, leisurely sipping his tea and enjoying the performance of contestant number seven. He had an expression that suggested he had everything under control.

In fact, the "Star Cup" is a cello competition for the younger generation, and Su Ruxue should not have participated given her qualifications.

Behind the scenes, it was Liu Chuan who strongly pushed for inviting Su Ruxue to participate in the Star Cup.

Because he wanted to see Ning Lei defeat Su Ruxue and win the championship with his own eyes!

If Ning Lei defeats Su Ruxue head-on, he can truly gain the recognition of the entire association and become the next new god that the entire association will dedicate all its resources to nurturing!

Liu Chuan's confidence that Ning Lei would definitely be able to rise to the top by stepping over Su Ruxue stems from the fact that Ning Lei is a true academic pianist, and his learning and practice are most in line with the aesthetics and recognition of the competition.

On the other hand, as a member of the Standing Committee of the Cello Association, Liu Chuan had a very good relationship with most of the judges. He had previously treated everyone to dinner and then called Ning Lei out to get to know the other judges.

In other words, the judges are all my people, so what can you do to compete with me?!

Therefore, everything else is just a formality. The champion has already been decided. The new god will defeat the old god. This match will become Liu Chuan's customized battle for Ning Lei to become a god!

As applause erupted from the audience, contestant number seven bowed in thanks and completed her performance.

"The next contestant, contestant number eight, Su Ruxue," the announcement came over the loudspeaker.

Upon hearing the broadcast, Su Ruxue turned to look at Lin Han.

"Keep it up," Lin Han said with a smile.

"I'll treat you to dinner after this is over," Su Ruxue said with a smile.

"Is it going to be another case of blood being mixed into graves?"

"What is that thing???" Su Ruxue asked in confusion.

"Go quickly."

Immediately, Su Ruxue released Lin Han's hand, which she had been holding tightly. That warm hand had kept her heart racing for the past hour; now, she was going to go on stage on her own.

Su Ruxue turned around, the hem of her cheongsam fluttering slightly, and the young girl walked towards the stage.

"Oh! Su Ruxue!"

"I've finally waited for her!"

"She's still so beautiful after all this time!"

In the audience, people applauded enthusiastically and discussed among themselves.

From the moment she stepped onto the stage, Su Ruxue put away her smile, her expression calm and her eyes resolute.

Wearing a white cheongsam, she was incredibly elegant with every step, yet she exuded a powerful aura that even the judges' seats, which were several meters away from the stage, could not help but feel.

This aura is something none of the seven contestants in the previous competition possessed!

This is the powerful aura of a seasoned competitor, possessing absolute confidence, and belonging to a true musician!

Su Ruxue sat down, and the moment she took out her cello, it was like a sharp sword being drawn from its sheath.

Lin Han, who saw this scene on the screen in the lounge, really wondered if this Su Ruxue was the same Su Ruxue from before.

With such an aura, she doesn't look like someone who would be nervous at all!

"Hello~"

Just then, a voice came from beside Lin Han.

Lin Han turned his head and saw Ning Lei sitting next to him, with that same smile on his face that made him feel physically uncomfortable.

"Hello," Lin Han replied casually.

"If I may ask, what is your relationship with Senior Su Ruxue?" Ning Lei asked.

Lin Han pondered for a moment, then remembered that Su Ruxue always called him "Teacher Lin Han".

"Ah, let's just call him half a teacher for now."

"You? Teacher?"

"Hahahahaha..."

　Ning Lei couldn't help but burst into laughter. Looking at the rather handsome young man in front of him, his resentment deepened, but he still maintained his composure and patted Lin Han on the shoulder.

"Dude, don't make me laugh. What do you know about music?"

Lin Han removed Ning Lei's hand from his shoulder, only revealing a faint smile.

“I don’t understand music, but did you see those old men on the judging panel? I understand music creation better than they do.”

Upon hearing this, everyone else in the lounge couldn't help but laugh.

This kid is really funny. He actually compared himself to the professors in the association. There's a limit to how much he can talk nonsense!

Upon hearing this, Ning Lei immediately felt like he was being treated like a fool; the other party had no intention of speaking to him properly at all.

His lips twitched slightly, as if he wanted to say something more.

"The piece I will be playing is 'Ode to Love'."

Just then, Su Ruxue spoke on the screen.

All eyes were once again focused on the stage.

Although they had already seen it on the program list, many people still found it hard to believe when Su Ruxue said it herself.

It's actually a work by the queen of love songs, Orange Jam!

And it's a classical piece of music!

Has this guy gone mad? He's actually playing classical music in front of the association again! The association's aversion to classical music is even worse now than it was three years ago!

Su Ruxue clearly gave up classical music at her solo concert when she made her comeback some time ago, so why is she back now?!

Ning Lei scoffed, muttering, "A viral hit? What is this guy thinking? This is a truly unfair victory for me!"

"I can't pretend I didn't hear what you just said," Lin Han said.

Ning Lei looked at Lin Han with a puzzled expression.

"A viral song? Have you heard this song?" Lin Han asked.

“Classical music, written by internet celebrities, what’s so great about it! Although it was very popular a while ago, it was only for ordinary people who don’t understand music. In the eyes of the association, this kind of music has no appreciation value at all!” Ning Lei said.

"So, even the professors at your cello association haven't heard of it?" Lin Han asked, puzzled.

"Of course!"

Lin Han took a deep breath.

He got it.

The group of well-dressed, seemingly glamorous old men on the judging panel, who consider themselves music masters and pioneers of art, are in essence an extremely arrogant bunch, living in their own world and full of prejudice against music they don't understand!

They're unwilling to even try things that are widely accepted by the public, and instead they slander things without even having heard them. How can someone like that represent the music industry?

Now is the time for them to pay the price for their arrogance.

010. An Untouchable Idol

There was silence.

Su Ruxue placed the cello between her legs, rested her head on the neck, and picked up the bow.

The moment the bow struck the strings, a deep and gentle melody began to resonate in the auditorium.

The silky smooth music flowed down, its gentle and moving yet powerful melody captivating the entire audience almost from the moment it began.

So strong!

Whether it's the fluency of the performance or the sudden burst of energy, it makes you feel that this pianist is on a completely different level from the previous pianists!

It's like the art of drawing a sword.

One second ago, Su Ruxue's knife was still in its sheath, as calm as a hunter eyeing its prey.