CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77 PERFORMANCE

If it weren’t for experiencing those dark times, who would want to carry a dagger all day?

The young boy was very close to him, and he raised his hand slightly, able to clearly grasp the young boy’s delicate profile, smiling leisurely, "Is everything ready? Little brother, we should be leaving."

It has already been ten minutes since the music hall assessment began, and it takes at least half an hour to get from Tingshan Villa to there.

Rong Zhi nodded and left with Bai Su. Before leaving, Bai Su put a coat on her.

...

Music Hall backstage.

Shen Luoluo took a deep breath to cheer herself on.

Next to her, Rong Meng put down the violin bow, lifted her skirt and approached her, laughing softly as she asked, "Luoluo, how is your preparation for this assessment? On the weekend, I asked you to come to my house with Teacher Jing in attendance, why didn’t you come?"

She had scheduled a lesson with Jing Ran the previous Friday, originally inviting Shen Luoluo so that Jing Ran could see the difference between them, making Jing Ran feel it’s worth taking her as a student, given Shen Luoluo’s love for the cello, she surely would have come.

Unfortunately, she refused both times.

Rong Meng found it strange, as Shen Luoluo had never refused any of her requests before.

But recently, Shen Luoluo not only frequently turned down her invitations, but also changed her quirky style to become more youthful and vibrant, giving Rong Meng a sense of crisis.

Although they are the only two girls among the four prominent families, since the Rong Family began to decline, it’s clear that Shen Luoluo is superior in both appearance and background.

So Rong Meng had always stuck closely to Shen Luoluo, becoming best friends and then turning Shen Luoluo into a fool to highlight herself.

These years she walked step by step extremely carefully and prudently without any mistakes.

Rong Meng squeezed the palm of her hand. No, there was indeed one unexpected matter.

That is Rong Zhi.

Since Shen Luoluo started hanging out with Rong Zhi, her attention towards Rong Meng decreased, and now Shen Luoluo listens more to Rong Zhi.

"Luoluo," Rong Meng casually asked with a smile, "Why did you change your style? You stopped wearing makeup, and it’s quite pretty."

"Brother Zhi said I look better this way," Shen Luoluo quite liked her best friend and twirled to show off her new dress, elated, "Pretty, right? I just bought it over the weekend!"

The hem of the young girl’s skirt flew, blooming like a flower.

Rong Meng froze at the corner of her lips.

Indeed.

It was all because of that punk Rong Zhi!

Her elaborate setup over ten years was completely disrupted by that punk!

"It’s quite pretty," Rong Meng forced herself to remain calm by pinching her palm, smiling gently, "Did you just go shopping this weekend?"

She paused here, sighed, and said regrettably, "Shopping isn’t as good as learning from Teacher Jing, Luoluo, you shouldn’t waste this opportunity..."

"No, no," Shen Luoluo waved, fearing her friend would think she has become unambitious, hastily explaining, "I spent the weekend playing with Grandma Tao Ruisi, she usually teaches me the cello, and I feel I’m doing quite well lately."

"Tao Ruisi?!"

Shen Luoluo watched as Rong Meng’s eyes widened in surprise and nodded, "Yeah, but don’t misunderstand, Meng Meng, it’s not the master from the hall, Grandma Tao Ruisi is Brother Zhi’s friend, and now also my friend."

Upon hearing it’s Rong Zhi’s friend, Rong Meng was instantly relieved.

In the cello field, who hasn’t heard of Tao Ruisi’s name, hearing those three words and knowing she’s teaching Shen Luoluo the cello, she almost thought it was that master.

But since she is acquainted with Rong Zhi, it definitely couldn’t be.

Rong Meng knows Rong Zhi’s situation best in recent years, capable of associating with which master? At most, a punk.

Rong Meng cleared her emotions and laughed lightly, "Alright, but you should play less, otherwise you might fail the assessment again, why don’t you come to my house to practice this weekend?"

Shen Luoluo suddenly remembered something else, responding perfunctory, "Okay."

...

Outside the music hall, Rong Zhi and Bai Su met Tao Ruisi who came to greet them at the door.

"Zhi Zhi darling, why are you so late," Tao Ruisi habitually wrapped her arm around Rong Zhi’s.

Rong Zhi bent her arm so she could hold it more comfortably, "Got held up by something on the way."

Tao Ruisi nodded, noticing the different style of her outfit, exclaimed, "Zhi Zhi changed style? White shirt with leg rings, quite sensual."

Tao Ruisi is from M Country, open-minded, and didn’t find anything strange about this outfit, in fact, thought it matched Rong Zhi’s temperament very well.

Rong Zhi gave a light cough, "Yes."

Next to them, Bai Su, who heard the entire conversation, lowered his brows slightly, face a bit indifferent.

Jiang Gujun, playing games in Tingshan Villa, suddenly sneezed, rubbed his nose and shouted, "Who’s cursing me?!"

Arriving at the performance hall, pulling back the acoustic curtain, a melodious cello sound poured out instantly.

Rong Zhi looked up and saw Rong Meng in a champagne-colored dress performing under the spotlight, her brows lifted.

Say what you will about Rong Meng’s personality, although not great, her cello skills are indeed impressive.

At least for this piece, she couldn’t find any fault.

The assessment had already progressed to the latter half.

Since Shen Luoluo’s level is middle-of-the-road in the music hall, her performance was placed later.

While at the front, the judges were rather uninterested after listening to Rong Meng’s performance.

On the judges’ panel, the Huaguo Cello Association Chairman, Yao Zhengqiu, sat in the center, chatting with nearby cello master Jing Ran.

"Your student is impressive; Rong Meng has a high talent," Yao Zhengqiu praised.

Jing Ran also felt this student is good, proudly smiled, "Thank you, Chairman Yao, for the compliment. Chairman Yao, do you think, next spring’s association assessment, what are her chances?"

The cello association is the dream that every cellist pursues a lifetime to enter.

Jing Ran gained his current status by getting into the domestic association ten years ago, and it’s a recognition, a recognition of competence, so naturally, he hopes his student can also pass.

Yao Zhengqiu deliberated for a few seconds after hearing, "If she maintains her current level, there’s a seventy percent chance."

Jing Ran was delighted, "Then I ask Chairman Yao to take good care of her."

As their conversation ended, the next performer took the stage.

The girl wore a pure white embroidered silk dress, vibrant and bold, politely bowed to the audience below, "Hello, judges, I’m contestant number 21, Shen Luoluo."

Audience seating.

Tao Ruisi pointed to Shen Luoluo, smiling at Rong Zhi, "You don’t know, but recently I’ve been teaching Luoluo to play the cello, this child is quite smart, but lacks a good teacher to guide her and always ends up in dead ends. With some guidance and more practice, she can reach your level at that time."

Rong Zhi nodded, "No wonder you want her to play your new piece."

Tao Ruisi: "Yes, yes, once I keep her by my side and teach her more, her future achievements won’t be low."

With her protection and guidance, Shen Luoluo could walk the path of music with fewer detours and gain many opportunities.

Rong Zhi was slightly surprised, "You want to take her as a student?"

"Yes," Tao Ruisi nodded earnestly, "The villa is always so cold and empty, Kailin suggested I find someone to accompany me, so I thought why not take a student."