Chapter 228: Audition

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The Arts Club was frequently in charge of the Orientation Party, so they were very familiar with the process. Hence, they were able to quickly draft a preliminary list and placed it on the bulletin board.

“Am I seeing things? Murong Qiao is also partic.i.p.ating?”

“It’s not strange to have the school belle around, but the star student from the Economics and Management Department is also very interesting!”

“Hey, between Feng Xinyao and Murong Qiao, who do you think will win the final award? That’s the only award for the best show. I think there will be fun this time.”

Many students gathered under the noticeboard to discuss the Orientation Party.

Even though it was reasonable for Feng Xinyao’s name to appear on it, Murong Qiao’s appearance was a surprise.

“Piano solo?” Feng Xinyao frowned.

The news that Murong Qiao was also going on stage to perform soon reached Feng Xinyao’s ears.

She picked up her phone and looked at the message in the WeChat group. As expected, Murong Qiao’s name was on the list. Unlike the noticeboard, this one in the group was marked with what program everyone was on.

Seeing that Murong Qiao was playing the piano solo, Feng Xinyao immediately had an idea.

“President, are you there?” Feng Xinyao found the WeChat message of the president of the Art Society.

The president replied very quickly. “Student Feng, what’s the matter?”

“I want to change my performance to a piano solo.” Feng Xinyao said directly.

Seeing that Murong Qiao was playing the piano solo, Feng Xinyao immediately gave up her original plan.

She hated Murong Qiao to begin with. Now that she saw her name on the gala performing list, she felt that her chance had come.

“Piano?” The president was stunned for a moment. “Isn’t your original program quite good?”

As soon as she asked the question, she realized that Murong Qiao was also a piano soloist. Vaguely, the president sensed something, but she was not too clear about it.

[I suddenly don’t want to do that anymore.] Feng Xinyao was too lazy to explain.

The president had no choice but to agree.

Originally, it had been arranged well. The two great beauties were divided into two reasonable arrangements to increase the popularity of the Welcome party. However, Feng Xinyao suddenly said that she wanted to change hers. This time, it was the president’s turn to have a headache.

“How can there be two piano solos…” She frowned and rubbed her temples.

The frustration was written all over her face and the president could not help but sigh. Her good impression of Feng Xinyao had also disappeared. This was purely looking for trouble for her.

Helpless, the president informed Murong Qiao about this.

“I understand,” Murong Qiao said. “I won’t change the show.”

After hanging up, Murong Qiao smiled. She didn’t expect Feng Xinyao to lose control so quickly.

She had specially chosen the piano solo. It was obvious that she wanted to compete with her to see who would win.

The president had carefully asked her if she wanted to change the show, but Murong Qiao was waiting for Feng Xinyao to do this in the very beginning. Hence, how could she change it?

Both sides were quite determined and the president did not know what to say.

“Then let’s set a time for the two of you to audition and we’d decide who will go up.” In the end, the president could only do this.

Murong Qiao wasn’t worried that she would lose at all. There was nothing to be afraid of.

Meanwhile, Feng Xinyao was confident that she would win. She believed that Murong Qiao was incomparable to her.

“Why don’t you all go cheer for me at the gala?” she said with a smile to her friend.

There was no mention of a compet.i.tion, but it was obvious that the last piano solo would definitely be hers.

She wasn’t lying. Feng Xinyao had found Murong Qiao’s information before and learned that she had only been acknowledged by the Murong family halfway. Besides, Murong Qiao’s original family wasn’t that good to begin with. On the other hand, she had been practicing the piano since she was young. How could she lose to Murong Qiao?

To put it bluntly, Murong Qiao was just a vase in Feng Xinyao’s eyes. She was known for nothing except for her beautiful face and outstanding results.

When she went on stage, the difference would definitely be obvious.

The rehearsal for the gala was scheduled for two days later. This was the first rehearsal, and it was also to see the specific level of everyone’s show to decide the order of appearance. Murong Qiao and Feng Xinyao’s audition was also scheduled for this day.

“Feng Xinyao is the fifth performer, and you’re the sixth. This way we’d be able to come to a conclusion.” The president told Murong Qiao the temporary order.

She pursed her lips and said apologetically because of Feng Xinyao’s last-minute change.

Murong Qiao could perform during the gala initially, but now she had to audition. The president felt that she had let Murong Qiao down.

Murong Qiao nodded. “I understand.”

Her clear voice sounded, making one feel relaxed and happy. It also took away the president’s frustration.

It was a rehearsal today, so Murong Qiao had only casually put on a set of clothes and was discussing the program with the president backstage.

However, no matter how ordinary she was dressed, it could not hide her blessed appearance and temperament. Just sitting there could attract the attention of the surrounding students.

“Then 1’11 go and prepare something else first. Call me if there’s anything,” the president instructed.

Not long after the president left, Murong Qiao heard music coming from the stage in front of her. It must have started.

Murong Qiao got up and went behind the scenes and found a place where she could see the performance in front.

Singing and dancing were the norm. Popular songs were always the students’ first choice. Dancing performances were pleasing to the eye as the dancers’ beautiful forms matched their elegant movements.

There were many programs, but none of them lasted long. Now that the first four had pa.s.sed, it was finally Feng Xinyao’s turn.

“h.e.l.lo, everyone. The performance 1 brought this time is a piano solo.” Feng Xinyao’s gentle voice came from the stage.

Although there was no audience at the rehearsal today, Feng Xinyao was still wearing a snow-white long dress. The girdle accentuated her slender and graceful figure.

After the introduction, Feng Xinyao sat in front of the piano and gently placed her fair fingertips on the black and white keys.

The smooth and pleasant sound of the piano poured out. Anyone with a little common sense could tell that this was “Hungarian Rhapsody.”

The melody was grand and sublime, but right on the heels of that, it became short and quick again, with a dance-like rhythm. It also turned into the chanting of a folk bard, as if it was recounting the past. The atmosphere gradually pushed to a climax, and finally reached fanaticism.

After the song ended, Feng Xinyao stood up and bowed. “Thank you, everyone.”

Applause sounded from below the stage. Many people applauded in admiration, their eyes filled with admiration. They did not expect Feng Xinyao to choose such a difficult piano piece to perform.

Now it was Murong Qiao’s turn.

Since it was a rehearsal, Murong Qiao relaxed and sat in front of the piano.

“The Bell” was the song she had chosen this time. Murong Qiao first adjusted her state slightly and pressed the first piano key.

Frankly speaking, it was a showy piano piece. It was a piano solo piece that Liszt had used to influence Paganini. It was also his most famous and showy work. It had extremely high requirements for piano skills.

Everyone who learned the piano knew this song, and so did Feng Xinyao. She recognized what Murong Qiao had chosen at the beginning. This song was even more difficult than the one she had chosen just now. Even Feng Xinyao doubted her own ability to handle it.

This w^as the first time she had seen someone take the initiative to make a fool of themselves.

Feng Xinyao thought that with Murong Qiao’s skills, she might not be able to play it completely.

With a few octaves of speed and smoothness, Murong Qiao’s performance grabbed the ears of everyone present. The smile on Feng Xinyao’s lips also slowly stiffened and became forced.

Murong Qiao’s hands danced on the piano. The simple black and white keys were brought to their best in her hands. Even those who didn’t know the piano felt that they w^ere being flaunted by her superhuman finger techniques.

She sat there quietly and used her hands to show everyone a different world. It was so beautiful that it made one’s mind go blank.

Looking at Murong Qiao, who seemed to be shining on the stage, everyone’s thoughts coincided at this moment.

This w^as the pinnacle of art..