The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 696

But there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Even if they kept streaming Stella, there was still a chance her popularity would eventually dip.

Meanwhile, the chat was exploding with comments, messages scrolling by faster than anyone could read.

"This is nothing. Compared to Stella's performance, it's just not on the same level."

"It was energetic, sure, but I still prefer the calm and comfort of Stella's music." "Ugh, I'm not into that whole 'delicate and helpless' look. I'm out, I'm out!" "Hey, Rachel's really talented too! Don't leave, everyone-give her a chance!"

Out in the front row, Rena and the others exchanged puzzled glances after Rachel's performance.

Rena couldn't help asking, “So... this is what our junior's really capable of?"

Johnny looked genuinely stunned. "This is just... way too—"

Before he could finish, David nudged him and shot him a warning look.

Johnny caught himself, paused, and quickly changed tack. "I mean, you can tell her fundamentals are solid. She's got some real skill..."

Still, he couldn't quite swallow his disappointment, and he asked, "Professor, was Rachel just having an off day? She didn't seem to play at her usual level, did she?"

Rena both turned to Mr. Walden,

that they thought

she was quite skilled-but compared to the dazzling group of prodigies Mr. Walden had mentored,

brilliance right before

turned down Stella's request to become his student and had chosen Rachel as his final

assumed Rachel must be even better

the best-who'd settle for someone else's cast-off? Stella's performance had set their expectations sky-high

any ordinary day and they'd just heard Rachel play on ker own, maybe they would've thought she was impressive enough-at least good

since anyone truly outstanding had come

Walden saw something special in her, that would

are always

hear Rachel perform, and now... this

the others were far beyond a little

They were downright disillusioned.

their teacher had rejected someone as

to pick

to come

his students' questioning, expectant eyes, Mr. Walden was at

others, and he honestly

all.