Andrew let out a heavy sigh. Alexander Caine at least glanced at Mia, but he didn't even bother to look at Mia and got in the car with his legs exhausted.Shortly after, the street quieted down. The security team nabbed all the kidnappers and took them to an unknown place.After a few "whoosh" noises, the car disappeared. The entire street was left with only Mia standing there, alone.She looked left and right, feeling incredibly lonely.No one cared for her. Loneliness and loss engulfed her like a tornado...Why has it come to this?Why does everyone love and care for Maria, but no one does for her?**********Hospital.After the doctor bandaged Maria, she looked at her hand, covered like a dumpling, and pouted in dissatisfaction."What can I do with my hand all bundled up like this?"Charles sat in silence next to her. No matter how cold his expression, he couldn't mask the worry in his eyes."You don't have to do anything. Just rest.""But how is that possible?"Maria sat on the ho
After waiting for a while, Amy Luo left.Looking at the many people still in the room, Charles couldn't help saying, "You all should have your own things to do, right? Go ahead and be busy, I'm here to look after Maria."Sat on a large sofa, Andrew shook his head indifferently, "I'm fine, I'll just stay here to accompany Maria."Charles frowned, "Isn't Mia supposed to participate in the elimination round today? Aren't you going to guide her?"Andrew's eyes darkened instantly, like Charles had brought up someone he found deeply repugnant. Even though he was still polite, his expression had left a deep impression that he hated Mia as much as he cherished Maria."Last-minute efforts are useless; besides, will she even listen to what I say?"If Mia was willing to listen, she wouldn't have left the hotel out of anger yesterday, causing the kidnapping incident.Having no other choice, Charles turned his attention towards Alexander Caine.Seeing Charles glance at him, Alexander Caine immedia
In the afternoon, the door of the ward was opened, and Linda came in curiously. "What are you guys doing? I heard Maria’s laughter from outside..."Maria waved at her with a smile, "They are playing Dou Di Zhu (a popular card game)."Linda came over with a smile, confused. "If it's them playing, then why are you so happy?""Hahaha..."Maria’s face was almost wreathed in smiles, her eyes lit up. "Because my husband won, I'm the one who gets the money. How can I not be happy?""Huh?"Linda looked at the three people sitting around the table. Andrew seemed okay, his face didn't give much away. But Alexander Caine's face looked awful!Linda chuckled and nudged him, "Did you lose?""Humph!"Alexander Caine snorted and angrily threw his cards on the table, "I haven't won a single hand!""Oh..."Linda looked at him sympathetically, "You poor thing.""That's not the most annoying part!"Alexander Caine was holding back a bellyful of anger. He finally found someone to vent on, and said angrily
The next day, outside the competition venue.Even though half of the participants had already finished their competition on the first day, the venue was still bustling with people today. Maria, holding her number plate, was carefully moving forward in Charles arms.Luna was leading the way."Excuse me, please make some space," she said to the left."Sorry, it's our turn soon, please make some space," she said to the right.Amidst the crowd, Luna pioneered a path and Charles protected Maria as they finally made it to the front.Staff were already shouting, "Get in line, get in line. Hurry up! Don't make a mess. Agents, family and friends, please stand at the back. Don't block the competitors' way. Everyone, please cooperate..."Maria’s number was seventy-eight. Looking left and right, she finally spotted someone with the number seventy-nine. She immediately approached her and politely said, "Excuse me, I'm number seventy-eight."The person was a blonde woman with green eyes. Westerner
The girl who was assigned number 77, who had enjoyed the drama earlier but hadn't said a word, gave Maria a thumbs up, "You're amazing! You dared to confront a contestant from Brussels!"Maria smiled and nodded politely to her without saying a word.Number 77 instantly grinned, brought her body closer to Maria, and complimented, "Your husband is so handsome!"Maria couldn't hold back her laughter.Looking at number 77 whose eyes sparkled, she nodded seriously, "Yes, my husband always looks so handsome!"Number 77 was obviously outgoing and wasn't shy around strangers. Even when she met Maria for the first time, she was natural and began chatting.The line moved quickly. Each competitor had only a minute for their performance. After one minute, they needed to leave the stage to make room for the next competitor.So, they didn't talk for long before they were at the entrance to the stage."Number 78, you need to give it your best! You just offended Emily. If you don't even pass the prel
Upon hearing, the judge on the left immediately widened his eyes, cursing in his heart, and took out his golden ticket as well."I said I'd give her mine. How did it become your turn? Shouldn't we have an order?"These four judges are also likely to enter the training camp later. And the hundred contestants who enter the training camp will be divided into four groups. Not only will they have their teacher's guidance, but they will also learn from the judge in their own group.So, these four golden tickets can actually reserve a spot in the elimination round. Each of the four judges would earmark one of the contestants they favor most to become a member of their group. so, the judge on the right became animated, "Hey! You just troubled her and made her play a piece with her injured hand. I'm more considerate, and will give the ticket without asking her to talk or play again!""Hey, you shameless old man! Have you no shame!? I discovered her and gave her the ticket first. And now you'
William's voice came from the earpiece, both nervous and flattering."Young Master Smith, it's like this. Mrs. Smith’s performance just now was really stunning, so much so that two of the judges actually fought over giving her their Fast Pass."Charles' deep pupils bristled sharply, and he instinctively looked towards Maria.At that moment, everyone's eyes fell on Charles' face. Seeing his expression, Maria's already depressed heart felt even more upset.Could it be... the results have been decided so soon?She was eliminated, and a call even came through Charles' phone...She mewled…Then she would be really unlucky! William's voice continued over the phone."The scene was a bit chaotic just now, so the staff let Mrs. Smith leave first."Talking about this, William laughed embarrassingly, "It seems we have made a fool of ourselves in front of you and Mrs. Smith."Charles' tightly knitted brows suddenly relaxed, and he chuckled, "Then what?""Then we stopped the two judges and every
Andrew had lost more than twenty years of his memory, but these two judges were a decade or so older than him and had been famous for a long time, so he retained some impression of them."Both of them should now be considered veteran figures in the piano world, right?""Right."Patrick nodded, looking at the two attachments on the computer screen, pointing to one and saying, "Let's open Hamya's first."At his words, Charles immediately opened Hamya's profile.As Patrick read from top to bottom, he couldn't help laughing, "Indeed, this profile is very detailed. It includes everything, even when he got married, when his children were born, haha..."Linda pouted and wrapped her arm around Maria’s arm, afraid her teacher would hear her as she whispered in Maria’s ear, "Ria, never choose this Hamya."Maria looked at her curiously, "Is he the sadistic demon or the smiling tiger?""Heh..."Linda snorted coldly, "He is the sadistic demon! I'm telling you, very few of his students can stand hi
After leaving the banquet courtyard, Maria and Charles got into a sightseeing car and headed towards the Lesser family gate.Along the way, Charles remained silent, his thin lips pressed into a straight line, and his face looked terrifyingly solemn.Maria also didn't say anything. She held his hand tightly as if she wanted to give him her strength.Even when they got into their own car, Charles didn't say a word. He just gently rested his head on Maria’s shoulder, like an injured child.**********Back at the villa, Maria fetched a bottle of red wine, opened it, and took out two glasses. She tilted her head at Charles."Let's go and drink in the room."She smiled and raised the wine bottle in her hand. Charles noticed and finally relaxed the corners of his tightly pressed lips.He stood up and laughed softly, "How is one bottle enough? You are never drunk after a thousand cups."Maria looked at him speechlessly, seeing him take out two more bottles of red wine. She felt like things wer
Eva had been with Eric for more than twenty years, and she had no doubt about his feelings for her. Moreover, Eric always took good care of her and loved her deeply. If there was any rift between them, it was Charles.For the past twenty years, she had always been cautious in protecting their relationship, never inquiring about any news about Charles. That's why they had been living in harmony, until Mia came to Beijing. She had started investigating Charles' affairs under the old lady's orders.And since then, she felt that Eric had become more and more distant from her, a distance that she couldn't close no matter what she did.Now that Charles had come to Beijing, she had to make a choice between Eric and Charles. She didn't want to, but she had to…"Eric…"Her voice trembled as she pleaded, looking at him. "Can't you…?""No!"Those two resolute words instantly crushed the only hope in Eva heart.On one side was her husband, and on the other was her biological son, and she owed C
David and Hamya exchanged glances as they heard this. It was as if they had made a decision. They immediately said in unison, "We want to go too!""Huh?"Charles looked at them with confusion.David patted his stomach and smiled at Charles, "Young Master Smith, I wonder if your company is in need of pianists? What do you think of me?"Hamya chuckled and nodded, "I think I can do it too. Young Master Smith, please consider signing both of us. We don't ask for much, just a chance to perform in top music halls."David was worried that Charles would disagree, so he put on an even more sincere smile. "Ah yeah, haha... We just feel that Patrick is not enough on his own. With Hamya and I joining, after all, we have better qualifications than him. When the three great piano masters embark on anglobal tour together, and with Maria and Linda, it will be twice as successful.""Exactly!"Hamya laughed happily, "Young Master Smith, a single concert takes too long, Patrick won't be able to handle i
The two of them walked onto the stage and sat down at the piano. Maria raised her head and exchanged a glance with Linda, who placed her hands on the keys.The young pianists were curious about what music Maria and Linda would play. This was the second round of the training camp's open competition, and they usually wouldn't get to hear it.Suddenly, the piano played a melancholic melody, carrying a touch of elegance in the air, instantly striking at people's hearts!"This is..."Some couldn't remain calm instantly. "Butterfly Lovers?!""Is that possible? Butterfly Lovers arranged as a piano piece?""Yes, everyone knows that Butterfly Lovers is best played on the guqin, or the zheng would also work. It's my first time hearing it played on the piano.""Hey, no, this version of Butterfly Lovers has been adapted for piano. It suits the instrument perfectly while still preserving the essence of the original piece. It's absolutely refreshing!"After a few seconds of discussion, an unexpect
Two days later, Maria and Linda arrive at the venue of the exchange conference in their finest attire.They hand over their invitation cards and wait for the security guard to check them.Suddenly, a mocking voice comes from beside them, "Oh oh, who is this? Linda!? Am I mistaken?"The one speaking is Linda manager, and standing next to her is the pianist signed by Linda economic company."Aria, you're not mistaken, isn't that Linda herself?"Hearing their voices, Linda's face darkens. She turns her head and glares at them, "Aria, your eyesight is really not good, you can't even recognize me. You should go to the hospital to have your eyes checked."Aria originally wanted to embarrass Linda, but she didn't expect her to retort so sharply. She immediately gets furious."Linda, the company didn't give you an invitation card. Tell me, where did you steal it from?""Hehe..."Linda raises her chin triumphantly, holding Maria's arm. "Do I need the company to give me one? Just look at who's
After arriving in Beijing, the feeling of uneasiness never appeared again, and Maria felt an indescribable relief.Charles had sent someone to take Andrew back to the Lesser family, while Patrick and Linda followed Charles and Maria back to their villa.Originally, Andrew had strongly invited Patrick to come back to the Lesser family with him, but Patrick knew that the Lesser family was big and complicated, so he used the excuse of being with Linda and followed Charles.***********On the third day, when Luna returned from Brussels, she went directly to Maria’s place and looked at Linda, her expression becoming more flattering."Linda, I heard that your contract with your previous agency is about to expire, right?"Maria sat next to Linda, holding a big doll in her hands, feeling very angry."Yes, they told me before that if I could achieve good results in the training camp this time, they would sign me for another ten years and give me all the resources. But just when I announced my
At this moment, Maria had already packed up and left the hotel with Charles, Linda, Andrew, and others.On the way to the airport, Linda still couldn't understand and turned back to Maria, "Ria, as long as the misunderstanding is resolved, we can still stay in the training camp, right?"Of course, Maria knew that if she returned to the training camp now, everyone would treat her like a deity.Just kidding, being able to decide the life and death of their teacher, they would definitely flatter and serve Maria obediently.Maria shook her head, "Actually, I have already achieved my goal. Linda, if you want to go back, you can go back, no need to accompany me.""Hey!"Linda casually waved her hand, "Without you here, why should I go back? Besides, I have hugged your thigh, and you have hugged Master Smith's thigh. Am I still afraid of not being able to reach the pinnacle of the international piano world?"She said it so casually, as if she was joking. But Maria could tell that she still f
Maria, so smart, why couldn't she understand what they meant?She smiled and turned to shout inside the house, "Honey, it turns out they are looking for you." Charles was inside, and he had heard everything at the door clearly. The girls had looked down on him before and said he was weak, but now they all came to beg him with a straight face. It was really funny.He remained silent for a while before saying, "Ria, in our home, I make the major decisions and you make the minor ones. But in my eyes, besides you, nothing else is a major matter. So, you make the decisions."The girls outside, "..."Didn't that mean that Maria would be in charge of everything in the house?They felt a toothache and couldn't believe they were caught off guard by this unexpected situation.Maria shrugged and looked at them again.Originally, they came to apologize to Maria as a pretense, hoping that she would persuade Charles, but now, the initiative was completely in her hands, and they had to lower their
Maria was not foolish. Why did her reputation stink so much? Was it only because of the ambiguous relationship between her and Charles at that banquet?Just that one time was not enough to make everyone dislike and envy her.Lucy's face was extremely embarrassed, but at this moment, she had already lost all confidence in front of Maria and could only cry helplessly."Maria, I really know I was wrong. Can you forgive me? Please...""Lucy, your intentions were truly wicked. You even used Rivata as a weapon. Honestly, I admire you for that."Even while saying this, Maria's expression remained calm, her tone as if chatting with a close friend."You, alone, have bewitched the hearts of all the girls in the training camp. You treated others as pawns to sacrifice for your own gain. Wasn't your goal to drive me out of the camp? Congratulations, you achieved your goal. You should be happy, so why are you crying?"When Maria said this, the other girls immediately began pondering.After thinkin