“BoArts is reportedly the best art training institution in the country. I heard their teachers are earning annual salaries starting at five hundred thousand.”
“Five hundred thousand!? Is that for real? You’re making me consider it.”
“Do you play the piano?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Well…”
Just as Leo was about to step up and perform, a burly man with a scruffy beard raised his hand and exclaimed, “I’ll give it a shot!”
The host made a welcoming gesture, “Sir, please.”
The burly man took the stage, his gaze fixed on Miss Buck. He turned to the host, “If my performance gets her approval, can I enter BoArts to teach piano?”
“Yes,” the host nodded.
“After entering BoArts, will I have the chance to see her often?” The rugged man was straightforward, voicing his genuine thoughts.
Laughter erupted from the audience below.
The host laughed awkwardly, “I think that should be possible.”
“Alright, I’m playing!” The burly man sat down at the piano, positioning his hands over the keys.
Ignoring his appearance, he seemed to be the real deal.
His fingers started moving, and music filled the air. Then, adorable children joined in, singing, “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are, up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky.”
With the man’s playing, the crowd grew quiet and, slowly, their mouths fell open.
Imagine this: a burly, rugged man sitting at an expensive piano, playing a children’s song about twinkling stars.
As the song ended, he stood up and politely bowed to the audience.
After an eerie silence, laughter rolled in like waves.
The burly man scratched the back of his head, puzzled. Why were they laughing instead of applauding? Did his performance exceed expectations, and applause couldn’t suffice?
The host suppressed a smile and turned to the burly man, “Sir, you played well, but unfortunately, Miss Buck didn’t give her approval. Sorry about that.”
“Ah, playing well doesn’t get approval either? Fine, then I’ll play ‘Two Tigers’!” The burly man was ready to start again.
The host quickly stopped him, “Sir, you can only perform once.”
“Ah, alright.” The burly man walked off somewhat sulking.
As everyone’s attention remained on the burly man, Leo stepped forward.
The host came up to Leo and asked, “Sir, would you like to try?”
Leo nodded.
The host gestured for him to proceed.
With more eyes on the stage, Leo sat at the piano, adjusted his mood, and placed his hands gently on the keys.
Though rusty, muscle memory prevailed.
Leo decided to attempt something new.
He accessed his spiritual power, channeling it into his hands.
His posture was perfect, catching Miss Buck’s eye for a brief moment.
“This man must have studied piano for a long time,” Miss Buck concluded internally.
Leo’s fingers began to move, a bit hesitantly at first, but he quickly found his rhythm.
As notes danced through the air, the previously noisy audience quieted down. Leo became lost in his playing, reaching a state of profound focus.
The beautiful melody entranced passersby, attracting an ever-growing crowd.
Some onlookers took out their phones, opened their cameras, and captured videos of Leo’s performance.
This piece, “Mariage D’amour ,” resonated even deeper than the previous “Ballade Pour Adelina” and touched the soul with its notes.
Leo put his heart into this performance, much like a reflection of his innermost desires.
He held a small wish: to host a grand, splendid wedding for Sophia once more. This time, not as an outsider but as equals in their marriage.
Emotions flowed through Leo’s music, captivating the audience like fine wine, even the aroma alone intoxicating them.
Miss Buck subtly turned her head away; no one noticed the tear that escaped her eye.
A moving story unfolded in Miss Buck’s mind.
At the border of Dreamland, a campfire glowed warmly, extending into the night, its smoke curling up.
Gazing at the towering castle in the distance, he reminisced about everything that had happened.
This return-whether right or wrong-he couldn’t resist coming back to Dreamland.
Six years had flown by; it was time to return.
Under the starlit night, meteorites streaked across the sky, leaving trails of dazzling light.
He still remembered the first time he saw a shooting star, a pang of melancholy rising within him. A shooting star was unfortunate; its love resided in the heavens. But from the moment it began its descent, it was doomed to never obtain the love it sought.
However, his teacher had told him that if a person died at their happiest moment, their soul would become a shooting star.
He couldn’t understand this concept. Could happiness exist if it meant leaving behind one’s love?
A light feather gently landed on his hand. He looked up; it was snowing!
Winter in Dreamland was as beautiful as a dream, yet as ephemeral as one.
The memories of sorrow flooded back, each scene playing out vividly in his mind.
That year, it had also snowed during winter. To this day, he felt like that year was a dream. It was a dream he’d never wake up from.
When he first met her, he was a fourteen-year-old boy at the Magic Academy. It was the first time he saw her.
In that moment, he felt his life was about to change.
And indeed, his life changed; little did he know the girl he thought was an angel left by God was actually the princess of Dreamland. He also couldn’t fathom that they would become friends.
Yet, he was acutely aware that he could never view her as just a friend. From the instant he saw her, he was fated to fall in love with her.
This destined him to a life of torment. Even though he loved her deeply, she could never love an ordinary person. He didn’t dare confess his love to her, so he buried his feelings deep within his heart.
But one day, he couldn’t suppress his surging emotions any longer. He confessed his love to her.
Sadly, he left Dreamland heartbroken, wandering elsewhere. He encountered his teacher in the winter and was taken in, learning various skills.
Six years flew by in the blink of an eye.
Throughout these six years, he’d managed to forget his past feelings.