Chapter 253 On the Eve of the Competition
Shen Mingsu stayed in Y country for a week. During this time, his phone rang non-stop, with calls coming in from the Shen family.
Jiang Xingyao had overheard a few times that Madam Shen was urging him to go home.
Shen Mingsu kept making excuses, and Jiang Xingyao also advised, "Ah Su, you didn't go home for the New Year this year, you should go back soon so that your aunt won't worry."
Jiang Xingyao was well aware of Shen Mingsu's excessive enthusiasm for her and what he was thinking. Precisely because she knew this, she was even more unwilling to delay him.
Shen Mingsu kept postponing it. He had come this time just in time for Jin Qingyu and the Qin family to be away, so he naturally wanted to spend more time with Jiang Xingyao.
Jiang Xingyao's attitude towards Jin Qingyu seemed to have softened during this period, which made Shen Mingsu feel a sense of crisis.
Once Jiang Xingyao's competition ends, regardless of the outcome, she will return to the capital. At that time, Jin Qingyu, with his deep and calculating mind, will surely start to pester her again.
He liked Yao Yao, but Yao Yao had always only treated him as a friend. He was patient in pursuing Jiang Xingyao, but Jin Qingyu's sudden change of heart made him feel uneasy. He wanted to solidify their relationship before Jiang Xingyao went back.
Jiang Xingyao said, "You didn't go home for the Spring Festival last year, and you haven't been back for even longer this year. It's understandable that Madam Shen is worried. You should go back and take a look."
Although we are completely innocent, you didn't go home for the New Year because of me, so I imagine your family already has some complaints about me.
Jiang Xingyao's words, "pure and innocent," made Shen Mingsu's pupils flicker slightly, but Jiang Xingyao's second half of the sentence quickly dispelled the strange feeling in his heart.
It was his oversight; he wanted to marry Jiang Xingyao and bring her home, so naturally he couldn't let his family have any objections to her.
Shen Mingsu finally gave in and said, "Then I'll go home first. Yaoyao, don't worry, I'll take care of things at home. I'll give you a surprise after your competition."
Jiang Xingyao felt that Shen Mingsu had misunderstood her meaning. She wanted to explain, but Shen Mingsu interrupted her and solemnly promised, "Yaoyao, when I come back, I will definitely give you a surprise."
Perhaps it was a telepathic connection with Mrs. Shen across the ocean, but Shen Mingsu's phone rang again. He hurriedly said goodbye to Jiang Xingyao and left in a hurry.
Jiang Xingyao felt nothing about the so-called surprise Shen Mingsu promised. Since Shen Mingsu left in a hurry, she went back and immediately sent him a message, explaining her thoughts and rejecting his offer.
However, after sending the message, she never received a reply from Shen Mingsu.
Having done everything she needed to do, Jiang Xingyao felt relieved. In the days that followed, she spent all her time practicing the piano, except for eating and sleeping. Before she knew it, the day of the Golden Music Cup competition had arrived.
A week in advance, Jiang Xingyao went to F country, where the competition was being held, with Madam Rongyue. Fila can now be considered half a disciple of Madam Rongyue, so even if she didn't qualify to participate, she could still come along to broaden her horizons.
When the group arrived at the hotel, they met Nelia and Tyre before even seeing the organizers.
Even though Eled was also Nelia's student, Nelia didn't bring him along for this opportunity.
The two groups bumped into each other. Nelia glanced at Fila with a strange look in her eyes and said sarcastically, "So that's why someone left so decisively. They've climbed up the social ladder."
"Master Rongyue, I kindly invited you to come and exchange ideas, and you turn around and poach my student? Isn't that going too far?"
Fila quickly explained, "It has nothing to do with Teacher Rongyue, I..."
"No need for explanation, the innocent are innocent." Lady Rongyue merely lifted her eyelids, glanced at Nilia, and then called out to Fila.
Nilia added sarcastically, "Master Rongyue is still so arrogant. Let's see if you can still be so confident when your student loses to my student."
Fila, your teacher will wait until you regret this.
She quickly left with Tyre, her gaze lingering on Jiang Xingyao's face for a final, ambiguous moment.
Back in the room arranged by the organizers, Fila said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Teacher Rongyue, I've caused you trouble. I should have known better than to come."
“It’s alright,” said Madam Rongyue.
Her relationship with Neria was nothing more than a facade; she didn't really care whether Neria resented her or not.
She said, "I'm going out to meet some friends. You guys stay in the room and tidy up first. There's a cocktail party to attend tonight. Yao Yao should stay in the room and practice the piano for the next few days. We'll make plans after the competition schedule is released."
The evening party was very lively. Not only did contestants from various countries gather together, but representatives from major conglomerates in country F and the competition's sponsors also came.
This is the most authoritative competition in the piano world. Even a pre-competition networking reception attracted the attention of various media outlets, with reporters conducting live broadcasts and random interviews throughout.
It is said that many people who care about the children of wealthy families have even started a betting game in private, placing bets on which contestant will win the championship at this party.
Jiang Xingyao wasn't particularly interested in such a bet, and she only attended the party out of necessity.
Fila, however, always liked to inquire about these kinds of news. She leaned close to Jiang Xingyao and whispered, "I really don't understand what those people are thinking. They bet more on Tyre than on you. I think they'll regret it sooner or later. In my opinion, you're the only one who's much better than Tyre."
Their betting scheme was quite interesting. Each person would choose a player to bet on, and if their chosen player made it into the top ten, they could share the betting money. The higher the ranking, the more they could share. As for those who bet on players ranked below ten, they had to accept the loss.
I just saw that the disciples of several masters like Rieslia have already placed bets exceeding ten thousand.
"Speaking of which, Madam Rongyue is on par with those other people, yet fewer than a hundred people have bet against you. This is far too disrespectful!"
Most of those sent to participate in this competition were already well-known figures in the piano world. Jiang Xingyao was among them, no different from a newcomer, so it was understandable that no one believed in her.
Jiang Xingyao said, "I don't care about these things. Okay, don't be angry. It's not worth it for such a small thing."
Fila was dissatisfied: "Even so, my sister's data can't be too meager. I'm going to bet all my savings on you winning."
"You'd better make me successful so I don't go bankrupt!"
"Fira, there's really no need to gamble with this." Jiang Xingyao quickly advised her when she saw Fila rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
Fila wouldn't listen to a word. He had already gotten the betting link from someone, and when he scrolled to Jiang Xingyao's name, he suddenly said excitedly, "Weiyi, am I seeing things? Which tycoon has such good taste that he bets 500 million on you to be the champion? My god, although there aren't many people betting on you, the total amount exceeds that of those masters' disciples."
If you won the championship, wouldn't your winnings be ten times higher?
Jiang Xingyao frowned, feeling that the number 500 million was all too familiar. When she married Jin Qingyu, the dowry was that much.
Could it be...?
Just as Jiang Xingyao began to have some doubts, Fila screamed again, "Ten billion! The only one, another tycoon has bet ten billion on you!"
My goodness, who are these people supporting you? They're all incredibly wealthy!
Jiang Xingyao initially suspected that Jin Qingyu was the one who bet 500 million, but who could be the one who bet 1 billion?
The person who could afford to throw such a large sum of money at her to participate in this kind of gambling must be someone close to her. Apart from Jin Qingyu, Jiang Xingyao couldn't think of anyone else who could come up with so much money at once.
Whether it's Shen Mingsu or Qin Jiangnan, they are both constrained by their families to some extent, and it's impossible for them to come up with so much money all at once.
Of these two huge bets, one is most likely Jin Qingyu, but she really has no clue about the other one.
Seemingly noticing Jiang Xingyao's confusion, Fila comforted her, "Alright, Weiyi, don't overthink it. Whoever it is, they must have their eyes on your potential and know it's a sure-fire deal."
Before Jiang Xingyao could speak, a discordant voice suddenly came from the side: "Junior Sister Fila, you're speaking too soon. The competition hasn't even started yet, how can there be any sure thing? What do you say, Qu Weiyi?"
It was Tyre, surrounded by several young men, smiling as he looked at Jiang Xingyao.
Jiang Xingyao had seen Tai'er earlier. From the moment he came in, he greeted everyone around him. The people next to him were all people she had just become friends with.
"Yes, you're right." Jiang Xingyao replied casually.
Tyler chuckled: "It seems like my only junior sister doesn't like me much. We were classmates after all, shouldn't we exchange a few pleasantries when we meet?"
Jiang Xingyao bluntly stated, "Once you get here, everyone is a competitor, so there's no need for that."
"Alright then, it was just my wishful thinking. My only junior sister, see you on the field. After the match, we'll have a good chat." Tyr winked at Jiang Xingyao, as if he were confident of victory.
Watching him leave, Fila said, "Where does he get such confidence? And what about Teacher Nelia? Could she have really done something?"
Jiang Xingyao said, "Alright. Don't think about it too much. Let's just compete fairly and squarely."
The competition schedule was released on the second day. As in previous years, it was the usual process of advancing from 100 to 50, then from 50 to 25, and so on, until the champion was determined.
After each round of advancement, the opponent for the next round is chosen by drawing lots, which is fairly fair.
During the competition, they didn't call out names, only numbers. Jiang Xingyao's number was relatively late, number seventy-five.
The night before the competition, Jiang Xingyao received a call from Jin Qingyu, who said, "Regardless of the outcome, doing what you can is the best way to give yourself an explanation."
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