The Unveiling of Secret Queen

Chapter 636: Who Gets Slapped Harder - Part 1

He was so sullen that he nudged Zayn Fisher with his elbow, who was standing beside him in a daze, and said irritably, "Zayn Fisher, you agree, right? What she said is nowhere near as exaggerated as she made it sound."

"..." Zayn Fisher was nudged and came a little more to his senses. His mouth tasted as bitter as if he had eaten Coptis, and he didn’t dare to look at Zeus Tanzil and Stephanie Tanzil; his gaze drifted as he clenched his fist tightly, barely able to maintain a calm demeanor, "Um, yeah."

Zeus Tanzil went off to argue with his younger maternal aunt again.

He had no interest in worrying about Zeus Tanzil wanting to pursue Nathalie Quinlan.

All he could think about was what he had just said to Nathalie Quinlan in the hotel lobby, blocking her way.

Thinking back on it now, every single word seemed to slap him in the face, leaving him red-eared and at a loss for words.

Once the piece ended, someone uploaded the video they had recorded on their phone online.

After logging out, he didn’t watch what followed.

There were a few seconds of deathly silence in the banquet hall when suddenly someone started to clap, and like being awakened, the entire banquet hall erupted into thunderous applause.

Louder and more overwhelming than the applause Caryn Zachmann had received after playing the piano.

Shawn Norton was the only person who remained composed, casually setting down his tea cup, pursing his lips, turning his head to look toward Celine Tucker and Caryn Zachmann, and began speaking with an indifferent expression, "I stand by what I said before—if you meet the right teacher, I would still introduce you. Your piano talent is quite good."

"I know one thing about the piano, even with my average skill: staying calm and centered is most crucial. If a person can’t maintain inner peace, it will be reflected within her music, the same as singing. The audience may not understand professional techniques, but they can sense your state of mind. Only a serene heart can take your piano playing further."

He had listened very clearly just now when he heard Caryn Zachmann claim that Nathalie Quinlan couldn’t play the Konghou.

How should he put it—he was unwilling to be petty with a girl, but Caryn Zachmann’s behavior was less than generous, unworthy of Ericko Zachmann’s genes.

"In addition to the piano, you should also work on cultivating your state of mind."

"..."

Caryn Zachmann couldn’t utter a word, feeling a burning sensation on her face. The voices all around seemed to fade away, and she could only see the girl who, after playing the Konghou, stood up, slapped her buttocks, and got up. The girl’s plain clothes and her delicate, beautiful face were irritating, yet Caryn couldn’t bring herself to look at Nathalie Quinlan with the same disdain as before.

Her mother had said that Nathalie Quinlan was nothing more than a stone chipped off a wall, no match for her.

But how could she feel as if Nathalie Quinlan was not some stone?

She was clearly a wolf in stone’s clothing!

The wolf’s loneliness and wildness, Nathalie Quinlan lacked none!

Even more daunting than a wolf.

She didn’t know how she managed to leave the banquet hall, where along the way the glances that fell on her seemed almost to pierce through her.

That embarrassment was definitely the first Waterloo she had encountered in her life.

*

With this little interlude, Mr. Norton’s birthday banquet could be said to have genuinely delighted all the guests, filled with highlights.

Not only had they seen amazing performances by the young generation of Beijing, like Caryn Zachmann’s.

They also learned of the significant news that Mr. Norton was taking on an apprentice and witnessed firsthand the astonishing Konghou skills of Mr. Norton’s student.

Apart from Celine Tucker and Caryn Zachmann, there probably wasn’t anyone who wasn’t satisfied with this banquet.

Once the Birthday Banquet was over.

Sadam Vinson took Govert Griffin up to the front to find Nathalie Quinlan.

Most of the guests had already left, leaving only a small group behind. Seeing Shawn Norton with people he knew, they felt it inappropriate to go up and join the excitement.