Chapter 549 Next Week's Birthday Party
"But Mom, no one knows what Stringless looks like. Finding her won't be easy."
"Who says that?" Margaret smiled. "Didn't Stringless perform 'Worldly' with Clarence? She shows up every year on his birthday, which is next Saturday."
"So, if we get into Mr. Wodehouse's party, we might see Stringless?"
Elsa was excited but worried. "What if Stringless already has a final student or is as picky as Mr. Wodehouse?"
"You won't know unless you try," Margaret said, hearing footsteps outside. She whispered, "Quiet."
Elsa straightened her back, mimicking Margaret.
The door opened, and Christopher walked in, smiling. "Finally got Clarence to leave. He makes everything so tense."
Margaret and Elsa smiled politely.
"Margaret, I'm sorry. Clarence is so stubborn. Once he's set, he won't budge."
"Mr. Francis, you've been very kind. Without your help, we wouldn't have met Mr. Wodehouse. It's Elsa's lack of talent that didn't impress him. It's not your fault."
Christopher felt touched and a bit guilty. "I know a Go master even better than Ben. I'll introduce you sometime."
"Mr. Francis, Elsa has always admired your Go skills. She thinks only Mr. Wodehouse compares to you. But now that he's chosen someone, Elsa feels stuck."
"No, you're too kind. The only one who can compare to Clarence is Stringless."
"Mr. Francis, you're too modest. Even if Elsa can't be your or Mr. Wodehouse's student, she still wants to pay her respects at his birthday next week. Could you help her with this last wish?"
Elsa chimed in, "Mr. Francis, I don't need to be his final student. I just want to give him a birthday gift and leave. I won't cause any trouble."
"You've prepared a gift?" Christopher thought. "But his parties are always private."
He considered, 'He only invites close friends and family. Even big shots struggle to meet him.'
After a moment, Christopher said, "Alright, Elsa can deliver a gift on my behalf. I'll say I have something else to do and won't go."
"Mr. Francis, you're so kind!" Elsa grabbed his arm, grateful. "You're better to me than my own grandfather. Having a grandfather like you would be amazing."
"Your sweet talk is getting better," Christopher laughed.
Margaret said sternly, "Elsa, let go of his arm."
"No, I just like Mr. Francis! If I could be your granddaughter in the next life, I'd pray every day. I'd cook for you, go wherever you want, do whatever you need, and take care of you forever."
Margaret smiled helplessly at Christopher. "Elsa might be a bit unruly, but she genuinely admires you. She often envies your students for learning from you."
"I'm not worthy of such praise," Christopher said, flattered and a bit embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Clarence, having left the coffee room, texted Abella.
Clarence: [Abella, you must come to my birthday party next Saturday. No excuses. Do you hear me?]
He was planning a big celebration and was worried she wouldn't show.
Clarence: [If you don't come, I'll be really mad. No sweet words will fix it. The consequences will be serious.]
At that moment, Abella arrived at Innovation University's South Auditorium. Some girls around her commented, "Look, the South Auditorium is way better than our Medical University's hall."
"Don't praise others too quickly. A big hall doesn't mean much. Outstanding students are what matter."
"Exactly, we need to bring honor to Medical University today!"
"Abella!!"
Josie and Joanna saw Abella and rushed over, grabbing her hands.
"Finally, you're here. We're up next! So nervous!"
Seeing Abella calmed them down.
Brian also saw them and walked over, comforting the students behind Abella, "It's okay, just do your best. Winning isn't everything."
The students looked puzzled, not understanding Brian, who mistook their delay of arrival as a sign and assumed they had lost.
Brian had a good sense of Medical University's talent level. They probably lost and were upset.
"You didn't disgrace Medical University, so don't blame yourselves."
A short-haired girl spoke up, "Brian, we didn't disgrace Medical University. Abella went on stage and humiliated the other schools! Innovation University's students were shocked!"
"Let me tell it!" a ponytailed girl jumped in. "Elsa thought her violin skills were unbeatable. After getting praised by the judges, she challenged Abella. Abella went up and crushed everyone with her violin skills. The judges couldn't stop praising her and wanted her as a disciple to represent the country in international competitions!"
Brian and the students were stunned, especially Joanna and Josie, who hadn't known Abella could play the violin.
"And then, Elsa wasn't satisfied and challenged Abella to a Go match. Guess who showed up? Mr. Wodehouse! One of the top three Go players in the world came to play a game with Abella backstage at Innovation University!"
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