Chapter 156 The Whole Audience in Tears
Charles looked in the direction of the voice. It belonged to a girl sitting in the second row. It was the heiress of Blaze Corporation, which was the largest gaming company in Syeattel.
Blaze Corporation had several highly popular games on the market. The company was founded in 2007 and had been through many ups and downs over the years, making it a seasoned player in the industry.
They started with single-player game development, then moved into the online gaming market, and were now primarily focused on mobile games.
It could be said that they were keeping up with the times.
Blaze Corporation also had a close partnership with Meta Platforms Inc, which was a large gaming company with a market value of $200 million.
Unlike other industries, which had been struggling recently in the economic crisis—such as hotels, tourism, import and export trade, Internet cafés, shopping centers, and restaurants—the gaming industry was completely unaffected, and people were even more willing to spend money on games because they were bored at home.
They spent on games without hesitation, especially the mobile game market, which was booming worldwide!
Blaze Corporation, being in the gaming business, was very wealthy right now.
But today, Charles was determined to get this piano, thinking this gift would be a great choice for Jessica. It might even increase her affection for him.
'Such a gift should be considered very thoughtful, right?' he thought.
Charles continued to bid. "46 million dollars!"
"47million dollars!" The heiress of Blaze Corporation, Maria Sanders, glared at Charles fiercely, still not giving up.
The bid had already reached a staggering 46 million dollars, and she was still raising it.
Charles was getting a bit annoyed as he continued to bid, "77 million dollars!"
When the price of 77 million dollars was announced, the entire room was shocked.
Such a high price had already surpassed the most expensive piano in the world! No piano in history had ever been auctioned for 77million dollars.
Today's auction would make this crystal piano the most famous piano in the world.
"Mr. Smoke in seat number five has placed a bid of 77 million dollars. Is there anyone willing to bid higher for this world-renowned piano?" the auctioneer asked from the podium.
The room fell silent.
"77 million dollars, going once!"
"77 million dollars, going twice!"
"77 million dollars, going three times!"
"I declare the Heintzman Crystal Piano sold for the highest price in piano history. Thank you, Mr. Smoke, for your generous support of charity!" the auctioneer announced passionately.
For his career, achieving a world record at an auction was also a significant accomplishment!
"I wonder if Mr. Smoke can play the piano? Or perhaps there is a piano player in the audience who could give it a try. I'm sure Mr. Smoke wouldn't mind, right?" the auctioneer said with a smile.
There was a piano performance scheduled for today's auction, mainly to liven up the atmosphere during the long auction and to test the piano.
Of course, if someone volunteered and thought they played well, it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.
Charles certainly didn't mind. He wasn't that stingy.
"Sure, I actually know a little about the piano. I've taken a few lessons. If my playing is not up to par, please forgive me!" Charles stood up with a smile.
Under everyone's gaze, he walked toward the stage.
"Can Mr. Smoke play the piano?"
"I have no idea. If he's only taken a few lessons, it would be better if he didn't play it. Among the socialites here, there are more than a few who are accomplished piano players."
"Mr. Smoke is just having fun. He makes tens of billions of dollars a month and is worth hundreds of billions. He even makes movies and hires superstars as supporting actors just to fulfill his dream of being an actor!"
The auctioneer had only meant to make a casual remark, not expecting Mr. Smoke to actually go on stage.
In fact, if Mr. Smoke had been embarrassed or declined, he had planned to invite Nancy, the only daughter of Mayor Hawkins, a known prodigy in Syeattel.
She was skilled in many areas, and her piano-playing talent was evident when she passed the Grade 8 piano exam at the age of fifteen.
She had performed solo piano pieces at many large cultural events. Her level of skill had indeed reached that of a true master. If she were willing to perform, it would certainly be the cherry on top for this charity gala.
But since Mr. Smoke was on stage, then Nancy would be invited after Mr. Smoke finished playing. If Mr. Smoke didn't play well, it was good to have someone to save the day.
The atmosphere gradually quieted down. Everyone politely stopped talking.
Charles sat on the crystal piano bench.
The moment his hands touched the keys, his demeanor changed!
He became elegant and refined, like a wanderer, roaming the world, with a touch of carefree wildness.
Still, when he got serious, everyone could almost feel a sense of melancholy from him, so charming!
When the piano music started, his rendition of 'Castle in the Sky' stunned everyone.
It was already a world-famous piece with a beautiful and moving melody that brought people to tears.
Everyone was familiar with this piece, but it was precisely because it was familiar and classic that it was hard to surpass!
The piece was not difficult and didn't have much room for showy techniques. Because it was very gentle and slow-paced, it had become a standard beginner piece in many piano classes.
It was easy to learn but very hard to master completely because the emotions contained in 'Castle in the Sky' were so profound that most pianists couldn't convey that heart-wrenching feeling!
In its gentle rhythm, it almost reached a miraculous level.
A piano piece, if elevated just a little, could give a completely different feeling!
Charles's piano skills had already reached a level equivalent to having 60 years of experience.
His performance of 'Castle in the Sky' almost instantly resonated with everyone's soul. Everyone present, without exception, feeling a collective emotional tremor.
Their emotions were guided by the flow of the notes.
Deeply buried feelings erupted like a flood, and the softest part of their hearts was touched.
Unconsciously, they recalled the vitality of youth, running at sunset, and memories of their past.
A time with no regrets. A girl, whom they thought they had long forgotten, suddenly appeared in their hearts once more. A boy, who lingered in their memories even after they were married to someone else, suddenly came to mind again.
Accompanied by the sorrowful melody, at least a third of the audience had tears streaming down their faces without realizing it!
"Is this... really 'Castle in the Sky'? Why does it sound even better than the original?"
"This is the most moving piano piece I've ever heard, bar none!"
"Mr. Smoke said he took a few piano lessons. I've been learning for over ten years and can't play at this level. I guess I'm really just useless!"
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