Chapter 41

Stanton was practically buzzing with excitement as he addressed the room. “Look at that. Even this girl thinks I’ve got screws loose! What kind of shrink are you, not taking your buddy’s headcase seriously?”

Louie just stood there, silent

Knowing Cordelia’s easygoing nature, he didn’t immediately argue with Stanton. And sure enough, after a brief pause, Cordelia spoke up unhurriedly. “It’s not your head. It’s your playing that’s off.”

The room fell into a hush

As a world–renowned piano virtuoso, Stanton was not used to such criticism. It was the first time anyone had dared suggest his playing was flawless.

After a moment, Stanton asked, “What’s off?”

Cordelia shook her head. “I don’t know exactly.”

Stanton raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “Are you kidding me?” he thought inwardly.

Louie’s voice, ever calm, broke the silence. “Why would you say that?”

Standing straight as an arrow, Cordelia answered like a diligent student responding to a teacher’s question. “There was a part that just didn’t sound right”

Raised in an orphanage, Cordelia had never had formal training She had taught herself everything she knew about music

Unable to articulate Stantons mistake in technical terms, she offered. Let me play it for you.”

Stanton was about to snort dismissively at the thought of a young girl identifying an error in his performance, but Louie gently pushed him aside to clear the way to the piano “Go ahead”

Cordelia sat down, her hands finding their place on the keys. She didn’t play the entire piece from start to finish but zeroed in on the segment that Stanton had botched

As she played, the smirk on Stantons face faded, replaced by an expression of deep concentration and, eventually, amazement

Stanton had played this signature piece for years, habitually glossing over a wrong note that had become ingrained in his muscle memory. The tempo was so fast, the mistake so well–embedded. It was nearly undetected

When Cordelia finished playing. Stanton stood there, dazed, his mind racing “So, that’s how it is That’s how it

He stepped forward, eager to shake her hand. “Who are you?”

This girl who could detect such a subtle error on a single listening couldn’t be a nobody could she?

Cordelia stepped back, avoiding his grasp

interrupted. “This is Cordelia. I was thinking of introducing

Stanton stood

Louie was puzzled.

I teach her? I should ask her for lessons! From now! on, she’s

thought she could play the piano How

was already pulling out his phone “Cordelia,

want to learn some

Chapter

of learning

exchanged numbers, she saved his contact as Piano Man.

sent her a link to join

name was Pioneers

Then Piano Man added, “Cordelia, this group’s full of aces. Louie’s in there, too I’m adding you

of learning. So, she looked up inquiringly at

with

lit up, and she requested to join the

out, “Louie, you’re an admin. Approve it,

was

an admin. That’s the

the list

so many professions. She asked, “Are

lifted his chin proudly. “They’re known as I am, I guess. Just your average Joe.”

just nodded, “Oh.”

even nail every note certainly was

with a solid black picture. “Lia, listen up. You can mess with anyone else in

The profile picture looked vaguely

at the

name had a chill, like a frosty “keep out‘

dwell on it, simply

and got a short fuse. But don’t

curiosity

except for Louie. He was internationally known as a

message popped up

Sullivan asked, [Newbie?]

message came

འ འ

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255