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nWhile everyone else was still in a state of confusion, Xue Xi slowly nodded. “…Mhm, yes.”

nZhou Zhou’s mouth gaped open.

nHe had a sudden epiphany. It was no wonder Sister Xi had said that she was unable to point out his problem and could only play it out for him. It turned out that she had never even learned the piano before and so she had no idea regarding the correct technical terms for piano!

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nHe gulped and said, “Th-Then, why can you play the piano?”

nXue Xi: “…I self-learned it.”

n“…”

nHe was known as a master in piano, but this was the result of him putting in his blood, sweat, and tears to practice for more than ten hours every day at least to reach his current height among pianists. This was despite his talents.

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nYet, when compared to Sister Xi… how the hell can I possibly compare to Sister Xi?!

nWhile he was doubting his own existence, the pair’s conversation attracted the attention of the rest.

nYe Li was the first to pose a question. “Xixi, you… can play the piano?”

nBefore the girl could answer, Liu Yiqiu had already caught on to another huge issue. “Xixi, do you and Mr. Zhou know each other?”

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nFrom their interaction, the two seemed to be rather close.

nXue Xi nodded at Ye Li, then turned to Liu Yiqiu and said, “Mhm.”

nThis made Liu Yiqiu panic. “How did you guys meet?”

nXue Xi usually could not be bothered with her. However, she had an exceptional interest today in seeing her panic, and hence, she slowly answered, “I did a small favor for him.”

nThe words “small favor” made Zhou Zhou speak up anxiously. “How is that only a small favor? Sister Xi, you saved my life!”

nIf the problem with that music piece had not been resolved, he would likely have ended up shackled with a real psychological problem that would have rendered him unable to perform ever again!

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nTo him, being unable to play the piano was equivalent to asking for his life!

nThe moment he thought of this, his face turned serious. “Sister Xi, I can agree to any of your requests.”

nSister Xi’s younger sister, Xue Yao, was truly very average in her playing.

nHowever, if Sister Xi were to ask for it, he would still force himself to take in this piece of shi—Ah, no, disciple.

nI can’t help it. Only because Sister Xi is my boss!

nAlas, the meaning of this sentence was distorted in others’ ears.

nXue Xi can immediately request Zhou Zhou to be her master!

nLiu Yiqiu panicked furiously. She had come to a huge revelation—before Zhou Zhou had arrived, the two of them had not known each other’s identity. In the end, after Liu Yiqiu had pulled so many strings, only Xue Xi was the one to benefit from it?

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nShe instantly shouted, “No way!”

nAt the same time, Xue Yao also shouted, “How can she?”

nThe pair’s strange reaction stunned Zhou Zhou. Why was the person-in-concern objecting to it? He turned to look at Xue Yao quizzically. “You’re not willing?”

nXue Yao balled up her fists. “As a member of the Xue family, we shall speak with our own abilities. If we have to rely on relations to be your disciple, how bad would we sound in others’ ears?”

nLiu Yiqiu also nodded beside her. “Yaoyao is right. We are not the kind of people who expect debts of gratitude to be repaid! Am I right, Elder Sister-in-law, Xixi? We shall not do these kinds of things.”

nYe Li had a feeling that things were not that simple. She turned to look at her daughter.

nThe girl was simply sitting there quietly. She was so aloof and apathetic that it was as though she was an outsider to the situation. She only replied with an “Mhm,” as though it was a dispensable matter.

nZhou Zhou finally understood the situation.

nBased on what I just saw, could Sister Xi’s relations with the Xue family be bad?

nJust as he was thinking this, Liu Yiqiu turned to look at Zhou Zhou. “Mr. Zhou, since Xixi agrees to this too, may I ask for your final decision on who to take in as a disciple?”

nXue Yao looked at Zhou Zhou firmly with a confident expression.

nMadam Xia and Xia Yiyi were also staring at Zhou Zhou. Despite knowing that their chances were slim, they still held a sliver of hope inside.

nUnder everyone’s gaze, Zhou Zhou sighed. “I had originally intended to take you in as a disciple on Sister Xi’s grace. Let’s forget it since you are unwilling. To be frank, I have not taken a fancy to any of you three.”

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nThese words stupefied everyone!

nXue Yao even shouted in disbelief, “How can that be? You praised me for being decent!”

nSince he now knew that Sister Xi’s relationship with them was bad, Zhou Zhou decided to be frank. He coughed and said, “I had been a little too humble before, so let me critique you now!”

nHe started by pointing at Xue Yao. “Have you been playing the piano for nothing the past few years? Grade 10 is only an elementary level! It merely says that you have learned the piano skills. I can’t hear a single shred of feeling in your music. With you like that, you’re not even a Professional Grade 1! Since you don’t even have any talent, just stop making things hard for yourself!”

nRight after, he pointed at Sun Ruoruo. “As for you, simply playing the piano is an insult to the instrument. Is that even a performance? That is more like pressing the piano keys!”

nAfter critiquing the two of them, he turned to look at Xia Yiyi with a look of regret. “It is a pity. Beethoven lost his sense of hearing in his later days. At ten years old, you are far too young. Your control over music is not there yet. I can teach you, but it is likely that you will be unable to reach a master’s level in your life. Therefore, I don’t want to waste my time.”

nAfter he was done critiquing, Sun Ruoruo and Xia Yiyi did not say anything. After all, not being chosen was within their expectations. Rather, it was Xue Yao who could not accept this result.

nShe bit down hard on her lips and could not resist shouting out loud, “If the three of us can’t make it, who can?! No matter what you say, don’t you just want to accept Xue Xi as your disciple?”

nRight after she said this, Zhou Zhou rebutted in shock, “What nonsense are you spouting?”

nAlas, right before she could speak another word, she heard the following sentence: “How could I dare?!”

nXue Yao, who was just about to fly into a rage: “??”

nZhou Zhou looked at them in astonishment. “Have you guys never heard Sister Xi play the piano? Her standard can only be described as higher than mine!”

nRight after that, he turned to Xue Xi ingratiatingly. “Sister Xi, I just finished composing a new piece. If you are free, could you help me to take a look and give me some pointers?”

nXue Xi still had her usual laid-back attitude. “…Alright.”

nSeeing that everyone was so stunned, as though they were unable to accept that his Sister Xi was a genius and mogul with the piano, and that they were ignoring him, he decided to make his way out. “Then, I shall leave first?”

n“Wait,” Xue Xi suddenly said, making him halt in his footsteps.

nXue Xi pointed at Xia Yiyi and opened her mouth, saying, “She is not bad.”

nWhat she meant was very clear—for Zhou Zhou to accept this disciple.

nZhou Zhou did not expect his Sister Xi to take a fancy to this little mute. Nevertheless, he insisted on obeying her orders and, hence, he answered without a second’s hesitation, “Sure. I’ll accept her as a disciple, then!”

nMadam Xia was exhilarated.

nAfter Yiyi’s voice and ears were damaged from her high fever at ten years old, she had only ever been interested in the piano. She even idolized Zhou Zhou to no end.

nStill, she knew that Zhou Zhou was not short of money and money could not buy him. She had not held any hope initially. After all, Xue Xi did not even bother helping Xue Yao—what more them…?

nBut surprises were always this unexpected!

nShe held Xia Yiyi’s shoulders tightly, so agitated that her eyes had turned red as she said, “Thank you!”

nThereafter, the main lead of today, Liu Yiqiu, was relegated to the sidelines. She could only watch as Madam Xia held Ye Li’s hands for the rest of the duration, with the former no longer acting high and mighty. Before leaving, she even said, “There is a charity ball to be held a few days from now. Let me bring you there!”

nAt the same moment, Xue Xi, who was sending the guests off with Ye Li, was currently thinking this in her head:

nThe Bartra theory has been proven. I’ll take a picture and send it to Teaches Math later.

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