Genius Pianist

"Of course, Miss Hettie, how could I refuse your invitation?"

"That's wonderful, Zhou! My home has a rare vintage piano—may I watch you play?"

Hettie's eyes sparkled like stars, her admiration for Zhou Yi shining as brightly as when she first heard Albedo's piano compositions.

Back then, she had exerted unimaginable effort to become Albedo's student, a testament to her determination and obsession with the piano.

Zhou Yi found her persistence both exasperating and endearing.

"Very well, then I’ll play a piece just for you."

"Zhou, I adore you! Aside from the piano, you’ll be my greatest love—I swear it."

Hettie buzzed around Zhou Yi, firing questions at him one after another. Matthew had never seen her so enthusiastic about anyone other than Albedo.

Albedo merely chuckled. "Surprised, Matthew?"

Matthew nodded. "Senior Hettie seemed to hold a grudge against Zhou earlier, almost as if she was jealous of how much you favored him. But now... it’s like she’s a different person. I’ve never seen her like this."

"That’s just Hettie’s nature. Don’t be shocked. The day your skills surpass Zhou’s, she’ll treat you the same way."

Matthew nearly broke into a cold sweat. Surpass Zhou? What kind of absurd joke was that? He wouldn’t dare entertain such a fantasy!

While confidence was important, he knew the difference between self-assurance and delusion. Even his mentor Albedo might not surpass Zhou—what hope did he have?

"Master, please don’t tease me. I wouldn’t dream of such a thing."

"Heh, humility is a virtue. By the way, child, you recorded a video of Zhou’s performance earlier, didn’t you?"

"Yes, Master. I’ve already copied it to your computer."

Albedo smiled approvingly. "The piano world is about to witness another genius."

He turned to Matthew and added, "Go ahead and share the video. Later, we’ll take a group photo—I’ll post an OTO to introduce this rising star to everyone."

By the end of the banquet, Matthew had snapped a group photo with Zhou Yi at the center, clasping Albedo’s hand.

On Zhou Yi’s other side stood Hettie, her gaze fixed on him with such intensity that an outsider might mistake it for infatuation.

Matthew edited the photo in black and white, giving it the grainy texture of an old film photograph.

The moment the OTO was posted, it sparked widespread discussion.

Matthew’s OTO included not only the group photo but also candid shots he had captured throughout the evening.

There were images of lively conversations, Hettie and Zhou Yi deep in discussion, Zhou Yi at the piano, and Albedo embracing Zhou Yi.

The centerpiece wasn’t the group photo but the shot of Zhou Yi playing—his profile exuding an elegance so captivating it was almost intoxicating.

One might say the banquet’s true protagonist wasn’t Albedo but Zhou Yi.

Of course, this wasn’t Matthew’s doing; it was Albedo’s decision.

The piano world gaining a talent like Zhou Yi thrilled him—he adored gifted individuals.

It was like finding a rare steed and its discerning master. Albedo couldn’t wait for more people to recognize Zhou Yi, this extraordinary thoroughbred.

A true artist is open-minded and appreciative of others, not one who resorts to exclusion or suppression to deal with a talented newcomer.

Albedo had once experienced being suppressed and slandered by his seniors, and he didn’t want such a thing to happen again to Zhou Yi. He knew all too well how helpless and painful that feeling could be.

Matthew didn’t feel jealous of Albedo’s favoritism toward Zhou Yi either—in his eyes, it was only natural.

After Matthew posted the photos, all the guests attending the banquet that night reposted them on OTO.

Unsurprisingly, it sparked heated discussions on OTO. These were all outstanding figures in their respective fields, each with their own fanbase.

[Zhou Yi actually attended Albedo’s private dinner party! That’s an event filled with legends of the piano world!]

[He’s so handsome—absolutely peerless. Even among these pianists who are all charismatic and good-looking, my eyes just can’t look away from Zhou. He’s utterly captivating.]

[My favorite dancer is there too! He’s actually friends with Albedo!? That’s unbelievable.]

[Now this is what a real banquet looks like—everyone seems relaxed and comfortable, not just holding glasses and forcing smiles at each other.]

[Zhou and the lady next to him look so perfect together. She’s stunning, like a movie star from the last century.]

[That’s Hettie, Albedo’s top disciple—a renowned and aloof goddess in the piano world. Countless men have tried and failed to win her over.]

[Wasn’t Hettie famously known for disliking men? She once said she’d never marry or fall in love in her lifetime. But in these photos, she doesn’t seem that way at all.]

[Go check out the new video Albedo posted on OTO. He’s utterly mesmerizing—I’ve already fallen for Zhou.]

Under various comments, people kept mentioning the new video Albedo had shared, prompting others to go watch it.

Albedo was a celebrity who rarely posted updates, so this video drew a lot of attention.

At first, many assumed it was a performance of his own piano compositions or a clip of him playing.

But when they opened it, they were shocked to see that the performer was none other than Zhou Yi!

The video lasted over ten minutes, ending with thunderous applause—proof of how electrifying the performance had been.

In the final scene, Albedo introduced the performer with a caption:

[You’d never guess—this was an impromptu performance.]

[His name is—Zhou Yi.]

[—A pianist from China.]

With those words, the video concluded.

Whether or not they had studied piano, viewers could sense the extraordinary nature of this impromptu piece.

Just watching the speed of Zhou Yi’s fingers was enough to tell how challenging the composition was.

Fellow pianists who saw it praised Zhou Yi, calling him a "genius pianist."

[Only now do I realize how incredibly talented Zhou Yi is. Did you know he also won first place in the International Mathematical Modeling Competition!?]

[This was an impromptu performance! Absolutely, undeniably unmatched. I’ll spend the rest of my life in this man’s shadow.]

[Zhou is a phenomenal musician. Even as a pianist myself, I’m completely awestruck by him.]

[He’s actually my countryman! He’s amazing—I’m cheering for him! Shared!]

[I never knew such a beautiful piece of music existed in the world. It moved me to tears.]

"Outsiders would kneel in awe upon hearing this, while insiders are already on their knees, listening reverently."

"I offer my knees in admiration! And if possible, I'd gladly offer my whole body too."