“Yes, yes, Mr. Stevens plays the bamboo flute so beautifully,” Nick chimed in eagerly.
Diomidis Stevens waved a hand modestly and said, “Just a little pastime, nothing serious.”
Greg Versoonder took a deep breath and remarked, “I’ve heard that this time, the music conference is being hosted by those old folks who support modern instruments. Their goal is to completely replace our Seclela traditional instruments.”
“Haha!” Diomidis Stevens let out a loud laugh, his tone filled with disdain. “They said the same thing decades ago, and yet here we are. Have they succeeded? Seclela’s traditional instruments have their own soul-there’s no need to pit them against those pretentious contraptions.”
—
Three days later.
Kayden hadn’t left Hiphia, nor had he gone to bother Georgia. Persistence wasn’t his style. Even though he longed to know what had happened, he wasn’t the type to pester her relentlessly.
He would figure it out, slowly but surely, until the truth came to light.
During his stay at Diomidis Stevens’ home, Kayden taught Nick some medical skills and even gave Greg Versoonder a lesson. Greg was deeply grateful for Kayden’s teachings and expressed his thanks repeatedly.
Through these interactions, Kayden realized that Greg was merely a proud man at heart. Overall, he wasn’t a bad person.
Today was the day of the Hiphia Music Exchange Conference. With nothing better to do, and unable to refuse the invitations of the two elderly men, Kayden agreed to join them. Together, the five of them arrived at the event venue.
The conference was held at the Music Hall of the Hiphia Sports Center-a grand and bustling venue filled with people. The atmosphere was lively and formal. Due to the sheer number of attendees, Kayden had no idea that Georgia was also present.
Despite her reluctance, Georgia had been persuaded by Scarlett to attend. She came with Luther, and, of course, their ever-present tagalong, Cyan, joined them as well, chattering non-stop.
“Mr. Falcon, you look so dashing! You’re definitely going to be the brightest star tonight,” Cyan praised, giving a thumbs-up.
Luther adjusted his white suit with a smug smile. “Naturally. In a setting like this, how could I not shine?”
His words dripped with confidence, clearly showing his disdain for the event. After all, having performed at world-class music events, this small-town conference was nothing more than a stage for him to dominate.
Cyan grinned slyly at Luther’s self-assured demeanor. “Of course, of course. Everyone knows that Mr. Falcon has graced the grandest stages in the world. Why would you ever care about the small fish in a little pond?”
Luther didn’t bother hiding his arrogance. “Exactly! This is just a minor event, not even a proper venue. If it weren’t for the president’s repeated invitations and the fact that it’s being held in Hiphia, I wouldn’t have bothered coming.”
“Oh, by the way, do you know why it’s being held here in Hiphia?” Luther asked, steering the conversation in another direction.
Cyan shook his head, looking clueless.
Georgia, completely uninterested in Luther’s words, didn’t respond at all.
Luther adjusted his white suit once more and declared, “Because I’m in Hiphia. Normally, an event like this would be held in the capital. But since I’m here, they moved it to Hiphia. Understand?”
Cyan gave another exaggerated thumbs-up. “Wow, Mr. Falcon, your influence is incredible. Does this mean you’re the central figure of Seclela’s music scene?”
Feigning humility, Luther replied, “Oh, not quite, not quite.”
Cyan gazed at Luther in admiration, then turned to Georgia, who remained silent. “Georgia, you’ve truly made the smartest decision of your life. Mr. Falcon is perfect-probably the most perfect man I’ve ever seen. Divorcing that idiot of a husband to be with him is undoubtedly the wisest choice you’ve ever made.”
Cyan sighed dramatically. “If I could find a man half as good as Mr. Falcon, I’d be so happy I’d laugh in my sleep! I’m so envious of you.”
Hearing this, Luther gave a confident smile. He was convinced that he had won Georgia over. In his mind, her divorce and choice to be with him were proof of his charm.
He assumed her quiet demeanor was merely a transitional phase. After tonight, once she saw him steal the spotlight, he was certain Georgia would willingly throw herself into his arms.
What Luther didn’t know was that Georgia felt nothing for him. In fact, the only reason she had agreed to be with him that night was to drive Kayden away in frustration.
Now, Georgia thought of Kayden constantly, unable to imagine loving anyone else. No matter how excellent or perfect Luther seemed, in Georgia’s heart, Kayden was the only one who truly mattered-the only man who had ever reached the deepest corners of her soul.
Once someone has known the majesty of an eagle, how could they ever lower their gaze to admire colorful sparrows?
Even if Luther excelled in every way, even if he was undeniably talented, he could never compare to Kayden in Georgia’s eyes. Not even her former fiance had managed to touch her heart the way Kayden did.
Noticing Georgia’s increasingly somber expression, Cyan asked, “Georgia, what’s wrong? Why do you look so down?”
Georgia snapped out of her thoughts. “Oh, it’s nothing. I’m fine,” she replied softly.
By this time, the audience had all taken their seats. This wasn’t a concert but an exchange conference, although many spectators had shown up-some of them familiar faces who were quick to flatter Luther.
On stage, an elderly man in a black suit held a microphone and addressed the audience. “Good evening, everyone. I’m the president of the Seclela Music Association and an ambassador for the International Music Exchange. Thank you all for attending this event. It’s a great honor to hold this activity in beautiful Hiphia. This event aims to promote the development of musical instruments and to revive Seclela’s traditional instruments.
“To my left are representatives of Seclela’s thousand-year-old traditional instruments. To my right are modern instruments that have developed and gained significant influence over time,” he explained.
“We’ll be showcasing a series of performances, alternating between modern and traditional instruments. The format is simple: one round at a time.”
Gabriel Bright, holding the microphone, continued his speech passionately.
In the audience, Greg Versoonder chuckled quietly. “That Gabriel’s intentions are obvious. By bringing in such a large audience, it’s clear he wants to embarrass Seclela’s traditional instruments. Everyone knows our instruments are steeped in meaning and tradition. Many, like the Nathan Reed, are meant for solemn rituals like sending off the deceased. How could they be casually performed on stage?”
“This is absurd. It’s not an exchange; it’s a blatant attempt to humiliate us.”