Ning Jiaqi's virtuous and motherly demeanor left everyone around her speechless. Who had ever seen her so gentle before? Who had ever imagined that Ning Jiaqi could have such a tender side?
Envy, jealousy, and resentment quickly spread through the crowd. Thankfully, looks can't kill. And those security guards who knew the "ins and outs" were already itching to act!
Lin Chen could certainly sense the changes in the emotions of those around him, but he felt warm inside, and even a little proud!
He knew that although Ning Jiaqi said she wouldn't be with him, her actions spoke louder than words! He even started to push his luck, actually wanting Ning Jiaqi to personally feed him chicken soup! As a result, Ning Jiaqi got so angry that she splashed a spoonful of chicken soup into his nose!
Just then, Wang Erbo walked over again...
"Lin Chen, you must be a freshman too, right? How about joining our club and having fun together?" Wang Erbo suddenly extended an unexpected invitation to Lin Chen, and even a fool could tell he had ulterior motives.
From the moment Ning Jiaqi joined the club, Wang Erbo began pursuing her ardently. It must be said that Wang Erbo himself is indeed exceptionally talented, excelling in both appearance and ability.
"Are you sure I'm the right person?" Lin Chen asked with a smile, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Of course I'm sure! What's there to hesitate about? Besides, you're Jiaqi's mentor, which means you must have some extraordinary abilities, right?" Wang Erbo said confidently, as if he had already seen through everything about Lin Chen.
"If that's the case, then I'll gladly accept your offer." Lin Chen looked at Wang Erbo with a smile, but secretly he was making plans.
"Alright! From this moment on, you're a member of our Arts and Literature Department. But, junior Lin Chen, our department often performs at various school events, so you need to have a specialty to join. Everyone has their own special talent, like mine, which is the piano. What about you, junior? Do you have any special talents you can show everyone?" Wang Erbo asked casually, but he already had a plan in mind.
It turned out that Wang Erbo was waiting for Lin Chen here! When he saw Yang Meixi being helped down, he knew that he could no longer count on her, so he came up with a plan on the spot, wanting to take this opportunity to embarrass Lin Chen in public.
However, how could Lin Chen's little scheme escape his notice? He feigned annoyance and said, "To be honest, I'm really not that good at anything. What should I do?"
Wang Erbo coughed deliberately and raised his voice, saying, "If that's the case, then I'm sorry, Junior Lin Chen. Only people with talent can join our Arts and Literature Department; those without talent can't get in!" He said this so loudly that almost everyone in the room could hear him.
Seeing this, Ning Jiaqi hurriedly stood up to defend Lin Chen: "Who said my master has no talent? Let me tell you, my master is the most amazing person in the world!"
"Since that's the case, why don't we let junior Lin Chen show off his skills?" Wang Erbo was determined to embarrass Lin Chen in public.
Ning Jiaqi secretly pinched Lin Chen's arm with her little hand, signaling him to think of a solution quickly. Lin Chen knew there was no way to avoid it today, so he could only sigh and say, "I'm not good at piano or anything like that. But I can give the harmonica a try."
A cold glint flashed in Wang Erbo's eyes; he clearly hadn't expected Lin Chen to make such a suggestion. However, he quickly regained his composure and sneered, "Oh? Is that so? The harmonica is quite uncommon these days; it seems like nobody in our entire arts department can play it! Why don't you give us a performance, junior, so we can appreciate your skill? It'll also dispel any opinions the other members of our department have about you, and put an end to any accusations of favoritism. What do you think?"
Wang Erbo had already figured it out: Lin Chen was just boasting. He wanted to see how Lin Chen would handle the situation.
"Master, you can also play the harmonica?" Even Ning Jiaqi was a little stunned. She didn't expect her master to have such a talent.
"I know a little bit," Lin Chen said calmly. "Since our minister wants me to go on stage and perform, I'll use the alcohol to liven things up for everyone."
Seeing that Lin Chen actually dared to perform on stage, Wang Erbo's face still wore his signature poker smile, but his heart was a completely different story. A burning jealousy had ignited within him, impossible to extinguish. He wanted to see just what Lin Chen could possibly do!
Under the intense gaze of the crowd, Lin Chen calmly strode to the center of the stage, like a magician about to unleash a secret technique, a brand-new, gleaming harmonica appearing in his hand seemingly out of nowhere. This was more than just a musical instrument; it was a mysterious treasure he was about to use to conquer the entire audience.
Playing the harmonica can be done standing up to allow for free breathing, or sitting upright to quietly enjoy the beauty of the melody. Lin Chen, however, chose to stand, as if to merge himself with the music, imbuing every note with vitality.
The receptionist thoughtfully prepared a microphone with a stand for him, adjusting it to the best position to ensure that the melody about to flow could be clearly and accurately transmitted to everyone's ears through this small medium.
Wang Erbo stood in the crowd, his smile gradually freezing, his eyes revealing disbelief. His classmates around him also largely doubted Lin Chen's choice.
After all, in this era, the harmonica seems to have become a forgotten corner. Even highly skilled players find it difficult to make its sound stand out among many instruments, let alone compare it with the elegance and mellowness of the piano.
However, after this moment of silence, a melodious piano tune quietly rose up, like a gentle breeze in spring, brushing against everyone's heart.
It was an indescribable beauty; though not as elegant as a piano, it possessed its own unique charm, striking directly at the heart. The music gradually filled the hall, instantly transforming the previously noisy space into a tranquil atmosphere.
The diners stopped what they were doing, their conversations ceased abruptly, and all eyes turned to the stage. At that moment, Lin Chen seemed to become the center of attention, an undeniable presence.
A look of surprise sparkled in Ning Jiaqi's eyes, and a rare smile appeared on her usually cool face. Her gentle and affectionate gaze was fixed on Lin Chen on the stage.
"This music is so beautiful!" Even Yang Meixi, who was originally drunk in the lounge, was attracted by the music and walked out in a daze.
She stared wide-eyed at Lin Chen on the stage, almost unable to believe her eyes, and blurted out, "Harmonica Prince! Your vibrato is amazing!"
This sudden "praise" almost made Lin Chen fall over on the spot!
Of all the people present, Wang Erbo had the most unpleasant expression. He had originally intended to use this opportunity to embarrass Lin Chen in front of everyone, but he hadn't expected Lin Chen's harmonica skills to be so outstanding, even able to play a simple harmonica piece more beautifully than a piano.
What he found even harder to accept was that the song Lin Chen was playing was Jiang Jiahan's famous hit, "The Eighth Chapter of the Night"!
At this moment, Wang Erbo had to admit that his musical talent was actually inferior to Lin Chen, whom he had always looked down upon. The reactions of the surrounding audience confirmed this; their smiles and enthusiastic applause were undoubtedly the best affirmation for Lin Chen.
As the last note faded, "The Eighth Chapter of the Night" came to a perfect close. The audience seemed to have found their own resonance in this piece, their faces beaming with satisfaction and joy.
Lin Chen stood up, nodded slightly, and greeted everyone. His humble demeanor was in stark contrast to Wang Erbo's earlier attitude.
In everyone's eyes and ears, Lin Chen had undoubtedly become a true master, a veritable "Harmonica Prince." Applause erupted like a tidal wave; almost everyone present applauded Lin Chen's performance, applauding this musical prodigy who had conquered them with his harmonica.
Such treatment is reserved for musicians who truly touch people's hearts!
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