CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: THE RULES OF THE WORKPLACE

Felicity Shaw was a bit out of sorts.

The Thorne Family was clearly in decline, and Seraphina Thorne should be drowning in debt. How could she still afford such a luxury car?

"Good morning, everyone." Seraphina’s gaze swept over Felicity and landed on a few young musicians carrying their instruments. "I’m Seraphina Thorne, the new violinist. Please take care of me."

"Welcome, welcome!"

"Hello."

...

A few young musicians smiled and greeted her.

Seraphina’s gaze came back and landed on Felicity’s face.

"Good morning, Team Leader Shaw."

"Ah..." Felicity snapped out of it, feeling both puzzled and jealous, but only managing to put on a friendly expression. "Good morning."

They all walked towards the building entrance together.

Seraphina’s appearance was stunning, her personality low-key and gentle, leaving a good first impression on the musicians.

Being around the same age, they quickly became familiar with each other.

"You’re the violinist who passed the interview yesterday, right? I heard from the music director. Full vote approval, Seraphina, you’re amazing!"

"Seraphina..." Another violinist carrying her instrument examined her intently. "I thought you looked familiar. Are you the Seraphina Thorne who won the national championship and entered the Paganini semifinals?"

Being in the circle, they naturally understood the authority of that competition.

Towards Seraphina, aside from admiration, there was also a sense of respect.

"Oh, Seraphina, you’re amazing!"

"Oh my god, Paganini. I didn’t even make it to the semifinals back then."

...

Felicity walked alongside, feeling the praises for Seraphina prick her ears.

"So..." The musician who recognized Seraphina asked proactively, "What was your ranking in the finals then?"

"Well..." Mentioning the past competition made Seraphina slightly uneasy. "There were some special circumstances. I didn’t participate in the finals."

"What a pity!"

"Yes, if you had gotten an international ranking, it would have been a direct ascent."

...

Felicity, listening to their conversation, became a bit curious herself.

Such a competition was like the Oscars of the violin world.

It was indeed unusual for Seraphina not to attend the finals.

As they talked, they soon arrived inside the orchestra.

Seraphina went to the orchestra’s personnel department to complete her entry procedures and returned to the lounge.

The musicians were either looking at scores or already practicing.

Felicity was arranging work for the violin section’s musicians. Seeing Seraphina, she beckoned to her with a friendly face.

"Seraphina, come with me to the office."

As the team leader, she had her own office.

Seraphina followed her in, and Felicity immediately changed her expression once seated behind her desk.

"If you have any sense, you better get out of here now!"

Seraphina had anticipated that the other party wouldn’t be friendly.

Standing in front of the desk, her expression remained calm.

"As far as I know, the team leader of the violin section doesn’t have the authority to dismiss a musician."

Grabbing a music score on the desk, Felicity threw it at Seraphina’s feet.

"Make fifty copies, bind them separately, and clean the rehearsal hall floor before the official rehearsal, Eldest Miss Thorne, any problem?"

In fact, cleaning was supposed to be handled by the cleaning staff.

Felicity was just making things difficult on purpose.

"No problem!"

Seraphina picked up the score from the floor and walked out of the office.

Taking out a mirror, she carefully touched up her makeup, covering the slap marks that hadn’t faded from her face.

Felicity snorted coldly and threw the makeup box back into her bag.

"Seraphina, I wonder how long you can last!"

She indeed didn’t have the qualification to fire Seraphina, but she could pressure her to leave on her own.

A pampered young lady, how could she endure such hardship?

She bet Seraphina wouldn’t last the day.

An hour later, all the orchestra’s musicians arrived, and they gathered in the rehearsal hall.

Felicity entered with the mindset of watching a joke.

Inside the rehearsal hall, the floor was polished, and Seraphina was placing the bound scores on the musicians’ stands.

Seeing Felicity enter, she proactively approached her.

"Team Leader Shaw, I’ve cleaned the floor as you asked and made copies of the scores. Now... is there any other work?"

The musicians collectively faced Felicity.

Had she actually made a musician clean the floor?

"Ah..."

Felicity didn’t expect to be outmaneuvered by Seraphina.

But she quickly recovered, smiling to cover it up.

"Seraphina, you are something. When I asked you to tidy up, it was just to organize the chairs for everyone. Why did you clean the floor too? This child, so diligent."

Seraphina didn’t argue with her over this, calmly continuing, "Then... can I join the rehearsal now?"

"Of course you can!" Felicity smiled warmly. "But... in our orchestra, it’s required to memorize the scores before rehearsing. You can find a place to memorize them!"

Want to rehearse?

It won’t be that easy.

"You don’t have to worry about this. I’m already very familiar with these pieces. I’ve memorized all the scores."

The orchestra’s performance consisted of relatively classic pieces this time.

Seraphina had practiced them countless times.

Felicity didn’t plan to let her off easily. "Seraphina, I know you’re amazing, but... when I say memorize, I mean not just the violin part, but the other musicians’ parts as well, to be fully familiar with, to cooperate with the other teachers."

Seraphina handed her own prepared score to Felicity.

"I’ve memorized the entire piece. Team Leader Shaw, if you don’t believe me, you can test me."

Since deciding to join, Seraphina had been prepared for Felicity’s torment.

If she wanted to find fault, Seraphina would ensure she couldn’t.

"Oh, Seraphina, you’re really amazing, even memorizing the other instruments’ parts."

"No wonder she got full votes yesterday!"

...

A few young musicians exclaimed in admiration.

Felicity wanted to find another excuse, but the orchestra’s concertmaster, already impatient, waved his hand.

"Alright, Team Leader Shaw. I have another performance tonight, my time is precious!"

In the orchestra, the concertmaster held a very high position.

Once he spoke, Felicity dared not say more, and reluctantly waved to Seraphina.

"Didn’t you hear? You wasted everyone’s time. Aren’t you going to apologize to the teachers?"

Seraphina endured, maintaining a calm expression.

"To all teachers, I’m sorry for taking up your time."

This opportunity was hard-earned; she had to endure.

At this point, those with a bit of sense could see Felicity was intentionally making things difficult for Seraphina.

Some watched quietly, others weren’t surprised, and a few soft-hearted ones looked at Seraphina sympathetically, but no one stood up for her.

In the workplace, it’s about interests. Only the strong are courted.

Who would offend a senior in the orchestra for a newcomer?

"Alright, everyone get ready!"

The conductor waved his hand, and rehearsal officially began.

The following rehearsal went on without incident.

Even Felicity couldn’t find fault with Seraphina’s performance.

During lunch, Seraphina was directly ostracized.

The few young musicians who had agreed to have lunch together in the morning all clung to Felicity, not daring to acknowledge Seraphina.

Who would go against their future for a newcomer?