Chapter280
Alice herself had a respectable reputation in the piano world, having had the honor of performing a duet with Albert.
Two women approached the lounge entrance only to find the path blocked by a stoic bodyguard.
"Mr. Albert is currently busy. You'll have to leave, ladies," he said in a cold, rehearsed tone.
"There's a long line of people waiting to see Mr. Albert," Emily quipped with a smile. "This is Ms. Alice. She's an old friend of Mr. Albert. Could you please let him know we're here?"
"Mr. Albert has stated that he's not available to see anyone."
The bodyguard stood firm, effectively a human barricade at the lounge door.
Alice's face fell in disappointment. "Albert must be tied up with something very important. We'll try next time."
Just as they were about to turn away, the door to Albert's lounge opened. An elderly man with a head of silver hair stepped out, phone in hand, briskly talking into it. "I'm going to show you halls abroad. The stage there represents heights many aspire to reach their whole lives. Master this piece, and I'll take you to the birthplace of the piano for a performance."
As Albert continued walking toward the concert hall followed by several bodyguards, Emily glanced over and caught sight of his phone, which was on a video call. On the screen was the face of a young girl.
In that quick glimpse, Emily felt a wave of recognition.
The girl in the video looked so familiar.
"It's true, then," Alice murmured. "I heard rumors that Mr. Albert had taken on a new prodigy, a young girl. It seems they were right. That girl's future is bound to be extraordinary after becoming Albert's student."
Emily blinked. "Didn't Mr. Albert stop taking students years ago?"
"He did say that," Alice mused. "But my guess is he met a child with a brilliant mind and exceptional talent for the piano, which made him break his own rule."
"We should find out more about her family," Alice pondered. "Getting to know her might give us an opportunity to get closer to Mr. Albert..."
Emily nodded, saying nothing more.
If even Alice was strategizing to meet Albert, Emily's chances were slim. To reach half of Alice's stature in her lifetime would be an achievement in itself...
...
The young girl was playing the piano, a phone on the music stand displaying a face wrinkled with age.
"Angela, your playing is captivating, but your expression is too wooden," Albert instructed from afar. "When you perform on stage, you can't have such a look. Come on, smile... Hey, don't ignore me. Curve your lips, show those pearly whites, yes, just like that..."
The girl, rarely heeding Albert's words, obliged with a smile. However, it was a forced grin that seemed awkward and out of place.
"Forget it. You might as well keep that cool mystique," Albert said with a weary sigh.
Sitting on a nearby couch with his eyes half-closed was Ivan, immersed in the soothing melodies of a piano sonata. The more he listened, the more tranquil his heart became, as if his soul was being cleansed.
After half an hour, Albert's teaching session was finally over.
Angela hopped off her stool and wandered over to Ivan, who casually pulled her into a warm embrace.
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