531 Sell
“Ever since Miss Ye won the championship for the first time, I’ve been a fan of you. At that time, I felt that your music score was gentle yet tough. It just gave me a special feeling of beauty. Just like you, it’s gentle and comfortable. I’m very honored to meet you.”
“Miss Ye, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m the Vice-President of the Music Association. It’s really a pleasure to meet you today. My dispirited mood from the divorce instantly relaxed. Thank you.”
Ye Fei looked at these passionate figures and nodded with a smile. She wanted to return the courtesy, but the music suddenly started playing, causing everyone to reluctantly return to their seats and quietly look at the stage.
Seeing this, the beautiful manager didn’t dare to delay and quickly pulled Ye Fei to sit down. After all, it was such a solemn award ceremony. They couldn’t do something as impolite as standing and chatting at the beginning.
The music played for about half a minute. An emcee who had just sat in the office for a while walked onto the stage with a microphone. He looked at the guests solemnly and appropriately.
“The 135th Tianjing Music Competition Award Ceremony has officially begun.”
“Next, let’s welcome our third-place student, Li Simian, to the stage. Li Simian is from Shanghai. He’s 15 years old this year and is studying at Shanghai Normal Middle School. He has been practicing the piano since he was eight years old and insists on playing one piece a day. Now, he has seven years of piano experience. Congratulations.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a tall and thin boy went on stage shyly. He came to the person who was giving out awards and took the honorable music talisman trophy.
Then, he held the microphone and spoke nervously.
“Uh, uh, thank you to my parents for teaching me how to play the piano since I was young. Well, thank you to my music teacher and the country for nurturing me… Thank you!”
After saying that, he ran off the stage with a red face and returned to his seat to be surrounded by his classmates.
Ye Fei was happy to see this. She couldn’t help but recall how embarrassed she was when she spoke at the school meeting when she was young, let alone on such a big occasion.
The emcee also smiled and teased him through the microphone.
“Hehe, I can tell that student Li Simian is very shy. Why didn’t he thank the teacher who gave him the award before running down? Look, the teacher’s face is green with anger.”
Li Simian, who was sitting below the stage, felt even more embarrassed when he heard the emcee’s words. His ears were red, making everyone purse their lips and smile. After all, adults loved to tease children.
“Hehe, alright, I was just joking. Let’s welcome our runner-up, Zhang Yuanyuan.”
The emcee’s gaze landed on the aisle. Walking towards her was a young lady who looked to be in her twenties. She was wearing a loose strapless dress and looked handsome. She looked very elegant.
“Zhang Yuanyuan is 22 years old this year. She studied at the Jinling Academy of Arts and came into contact with the violin in her second year of high school. She has always loved it and has six years of violin experience.”
“Student Zhang Yuanyuan’s violin is gentle and spirited. She can reach this level in just six years. I have to say that student Zhang Yuanyuan is very outstanding. She’s also very hardworking and talented in music. I hope you can continue to persevere and do better in the future. You’ll win countless championships!”
Zhang Yuanyuan approached the teacher cautiously and took the honorable music talisman trophy. Then, she held the microphone and spoke in embarrassment.
“Thank— Thank you everyone. Thank you very much for everyone’s recognition. I’m very grateful to the music master, Sister Ye Fei, for being able to get to where I am today. I thought about giving up in the past, but after knowing Sister Ye Fei, there’s an invisible force in my heart that urges me to practice.”
“Every time I’m tired, I’ll think of Sister Ye Fei’s signature quote, ‘The more hardworking you are, the luckier you are.’ When I see this sentence, my blood boils. I’ve also seen the tutorial video Sister Ye Fei sent. Anyway, it’s just that… I’m very grateful. I’m really very grateful to Sister Ye Fei!!”
After saying that, Zhang Yuanyuan ran off the stage with a red face. She still lacked experience on the stage and was as nervous as Li Simian.
Newbies were all like this. Everyone had their first time, but Ye Fei was quite touched. She had indeed left this quote on her social media account. It could be seen that this was also a hardcore fan of hers.
At this moment, the emcee continued.
“How hardworking you are determines how lucky you are. I feel like I’m already on fire, but I hate working overtime. Haha!”
The audience also laughed. They were all amused by the emcee’s humor.
“I can tell that Zhang Yuanyuan is also a hardcore fan of our music fairy, Miss Ye Fei. However, you didn’t even notice that Miss Ye Fei was diagonally behind you. Hmm, I suspect that you’re a fake fan.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yuanyuan was instantly shocked.
“Where? Where?”
She hurriedly stood up and looked behind her. She saw Ye Fei waving at her in a gown. This made her immediately pinch her cheeks and scream. Then, she waved at Ye Fei excitedly and shouted.
“Sister Ye Fei!! I’m really lucky!!”
Ye Fei smiled and nodded. She looked at her and gently spoke.
“Good luck! How hardworking you are determines how lucky you are. Let’s work hard together!”
“Mm!!! Thank you!!”
Zhang Yuanyuan waved her hand, and for some reason, two drops of tears fell from her eyes. The two drops of tears flowed down her face, brushed past the corners of her smiling mouth, and fell to the ground. It was as if she was telling the cold wind from the air conditioner about all the pain she had endured in order to practice the violin for so many years.
The wind did hear it. It heard it clearly. It jumped up and landed in Ye Fei’s eyes, causing her soul to buzz and resonate with sorrow.
“What a touching scene. Cameraman, quickly take this scene and publish a news report. Remember to take a more handsome photo of me. I don’t have a wife yet.”
At this moment, the emcee came out and teased her again, instantly easing the heavy atmosphere.
“Yes, alright. Finally, let’s invite the champion of this music competition, Mr. Liu Ming! Indeed, he left a reputation for himself[1]. I have to say that your parents have good taste.”
The emcee tilted his head and teased Liu Ming, but a voice quickly replied.
“I don’t mind you going to my hometown to pay your respects to them.”
Liu Ming went on stage and joked humorously with his supporters. Then, he went forward to shake hands with the emcee and smiled.
“Hello, how do I look?”
“I have to say that you look, uh, very experienced with the organ. Am I right to say that?”
Liu Ming shrugged and reached out to stroke the not-too-long white goatee on his chin. Then, he smiled and spoke.
“You’re right. I’ve been playing it for more than thirty years. This is my thirty-second championship. On average, I get one a year. Don’t worry, I definitely didn’t sell the trophies.”
[1] in Chinese, Liu Ming’s name sounds like “leaving behind a reputation”
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