Chapter 77
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When Colin called out “Leander,” everyone followed his gaze and saw Leander, who was about to leave with Madeline.
Leander had always been quiet and unassuming at Ravenridge Senior High, but many people still knew him. People like Shiloh, Hendrix, and Ginny were all quite familiar with him.
In that moment, every eye in the room was on Leander. Even the teachers and school directors were no exception.
“Wow, Leander, you know Mr. Bright p>
Liam asked, surprised and confused.
On stage, Yvette was also slightly surprised. She glanced at Colin, not expecting him to call Leander onto the stage.
After a brief moment of thought, she quickly concluded that Colin was just trying to spice up the evening with an impromptu idea.
What she did not know was that Colin was not thinking about making the night more exciting. His true goal was to humiliate Leander in front of thousands of people, especially in front of Yvette.
Earlier, Madeline’s performance of “One True Love” had captivated the audience, and Colin’s duet with Yvette had hyped the audience up even further. If Leander went up and gave an ordinary performance now, he would become a laughingstock.
Colin planned to use this public comparison to show Yvette the vast difference between him and Leander.
Leander paused for a moment, then slowly turned around.
He looked directly at Colin. Although Colin wore a smile, his eyes betrayed his true feelings of provocation and mockery.
Leander knew exactly what this was. Colin had set a trap for him.
“Hmph p>
A smirk spread across Leander’s lips.
“Madeline, since everyone is so enthusiastic, I’ll go up and have some fun. Wait for me p>
After saying this, Leander calmly made his way toward the stage.
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Seeing Leander about to go on stage, the whole school applauded. Colin also clapped, though his smile remained insincere.
Leander stepped onto the stage. Yvette gave him a worried glance and asked in a soft voice, “What are you going to perform? Do you need my help p>
She was concerned that his performance might be too plain. If he did not get much applause, it might hurt his pride.
“I just need the piano p>
Leander casually replied as he walked toward the piano, passing Colin along the way.
“Colin, I know what you are trying to do. If you like games, I will play along p>
Colin did not respond, but he was surprised by the declaration.
Leander knew his intentions, yet he still dared to go on stage. Could it be that Leander truly had some remarkable talent?
While Colin pondered this, Leander sat at the piano. He adjusted the microphone and let his long, graceful fingers hover over the keys.
The next moment, the sound of the piano filled the air. Yvette, an expert in piano, froze. Colin’s expression shifted to shock and disbelief.
The students below were all stunned, as if frozen in place.
“Leander… how is this possible p>
Madeline stood there in shock, mumbling to herself.
Leander’s piano performance was beyond exceptional. The melody transported everyone to another world. It was so captivating that they forgot who they were and where they were.
Yvette’s playing could move people and earn their admiration, but Leander’s music reached deep into their hearts and struck a chord. There was no comparison between the two.
Leander was playing a famous piece by Mozart. When he finished, there was no applause. The hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone, whether on stage or in the audience, was in a trance. Leander’s music had a magic that touched their souls, leaving them momentarily unable to return to reality, even after the performance ended.
It was only after a long silence that people began to recover. Then, the hall erupted into
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thunderous applause, louder and more intense than for any other performance that evening. Even the responses to Madeline’s solo and Colin and Yvette’s duet paled in comparison.
The teachers and school directors stood up one after another, applauding and expressing their admiration for Leander.
Yvette’s eyes were wide with astonishment. The others were simply shocked, but she, having studied piano for ten years and being skilled enough to teach, understood what Leander’s performance truly meant.
Even if the world’s greatest pianist had been present, the effect would have been no different. Leander’s piano skills were those of a true master.
Colin’s face had turned dark. He had intended to humiliate Leander and make him the butt of jokes. Instead, Leander had dominated the stage with one stunning performance. Colin had to admit that this time, he had suffered an utter defeat.
“The Mozart piece I just played was dedicated to the great figures in music who have come before us p>
Leander spoke into the microphone, addressing the crowd. “Next, I would like to sing a song. This one is for Madeline. She once told me her dream was to become a singer. I hope she will not let the past or the present discourage her from pursuing that dream.
“I want this song to remind her that if she has the will, she can make it happen p>
As Leander finished speaking, Madeline covered her mouth with both hands, tears glistening in her eyes. She had never expected that Leander would perform on stage just to encourage her.
The piano began again, but this time, it was not just an instrumental piece. Leander was playing the intro to a song known as “Innocent Dreamer p>
When the intro ended, Leander’s voice filled the hall through the microphone, and once again, the audience was stunned.
“I have never given up on my dreams.
“I keep moving forward, even in the face of cold stares and ridicule.” Fresh chapters posted on fıp>
Leander’s voice alternated between soaring and soft, sometimes deep and husky, seamlessly moving through different vocal ranges. Every note was filled with emotion, and as he played, the audience was completely captivated.
The teachers and school directors were reminded of their younger days, the ambitious dreams they once had, and how they had to compromise as life weighed them down. Some of them quietly shed tears.
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The students, too, were taken back to childhood memories, recalling their innocent crushes, the confusion and pain of unspoken feelings, and the regrets of letting those feelings go.
Countless scenes flashed before their eyes, stirring up emotions that felt more real than anything they had ever known.
Tears streamed down Madeline’s face, her passion for her dream reigniting, the fire that had been dampened by reality now burning brightly once more. Her small fists clenched with determination.
“Leander, thank you. I will never give up on my dream p>
On stage, Leander’s voice rose to a crescendo as he reached the most intense part of the song.
“Rather than barely survive, I choose to burn bright. One day, I will rise again. I will never compromise until the end of my days p>
As the final note faded, the piano music abruptly stopped. Everyone, both teachers and students, was left reflecting on their lives with regret, guilt, and nostalgia. Nearly every eye was wet with tears as if they had traveled back in time. How they yearned to correct their past mistakes.
When the audience finally snapped out of their thoughts and prepared to give the highest praise for this breathtaking performance, they realized that Leander was already gone. Only the echoes of his haunting voice remained, lingering in their hearts forever.
Yvette stood there, her beautiful eyes uncontrollably trembling.
Leander, just who are you?
She had thought she understood Leander, but in just a few minutes, she realized that she had barely scratched the surface.
Beside her, Colin was pale, his steps unsteady, his entire body ready to collapse.
He knew that tonight, he had lost. He had been utterly defeated.
Send Gifts
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