They were still chatting for several minutes before the two adults, who might be their examiners, entered the room. They carried two thick brown envelopes.
One of the examiners explained all the rules and examination systems they would face.
The exam was divided into a written exam, recital performance, and speed reading test. All electronic tools must be turned off during the exam—no cheating in any form and no whispering.
The written exam was held for a full two hours containing over a hundred questions on musical theory.
For Kaylee, who had graduated from this university, these kinds of questions were very easy for her. She was the first to finish her written exam and gave it to the examiners. Luckily, they allowed her to leave the room to rest for a while.
Kaylee took this opportunity to reminisce. She also tried to test her disguise by meeting with one of the financial staff who had previously handled her scholarship around seven years ago.
"Hello..." Kaylee lowered her voice to make it sounded like a boy and greeted a woman who was busy doing something on her computer.
"Hello, how can I help you?"
"Have we met before?" Kaylee deliberately puts on a big smile and moves her eyebrows mischievously... imitating Nick's habit of sometimes flirting with women who are older than him.
"Are you a student here?"
Wow! This woman didn't recognize her at all. Her make-up artist was really gifted, and she should give her bonus after this.
"No. But I'll be a student here in a few months." came the overconfident answer from 'Nicholas Larson.'
Ugh! She's never acted like this before. She was always humble and not arrogant in front of others. Why could she behave like this so easily as if she was born to act proud and cheeky?
Really. Following Nick, for twenty hours each day was a terrible influence for her.
"Well, good luck. The entrance exams here are not as easy as you think."
"I'm always lucky, ma'am." Kaylee continued in a deep voice before finally turning around. She no longer wanted to play and decided to rest before the next exam came up.
Kaylee had to lower her voice, and she also had to walk with wide strides turning and whistling happily. Not to mention that she had to put on a friendly smile that was so charming yet playful of every stranger she met... making her incredibly exhausted.
Kaylee felt that she would have nightmares every night if she had to live as Nick for the next three years.
After waiting for almost an hour, finally, the recital exam began, which was immediately followed by a reading test or what is often called Sight Reading.
Instead of playing guitar, Kaylee preferred to play piano because it was her 'ultimate weapon' to get a perfect score. Therefore, in this entrance exam, she decided to play the piano instead of the guitar.
She did not need to worry about Nick's rebuttal as she had already asked the young boy's permission. Even though Nick registered into guitar class, he allowed her to play the piano on her recital performance.
In fact, Nick had no intention of going to college. He wanted to become a musician right away and go on tour with his new-founded band. However, his parents forced him to go to college and would not allow him to go if he didn't get a university degree.
That was why Wendy, who loved her brother so much, asked her help to replace Nicholas and entered the M university, which was famous for its musical arts.
Unlike the written exam, which was held in a closed room, this recital exam was arranged in the main hall with a grand piano on the stage. There was also a drum on the moveable mini stage behind the curtain. The mini-stage would move outside and inside whenever a drummer applicant flaunted his skill.
Participants who want to show off their guitar, violin, or wind instruments had to bring their own instruments from home.
Participants' names would be called one by one to play their best song with a maximum time of five minutes. There was no requirement as to what piece they have to perform as long as the song's difficulty level was in accordance with the examiners' standards.
They previously sent audio of their musical performance to take this entrance exam. Of the thousands who sent their audio via email, only one hundred entered the selection round and took this exam.
And out of these hundred, not a single one could sit still while waiting for their turn to be called out.
All of them tried to practice playing their instruments in their respective minds. Nobody did not feel nervous and anxious, even though some try to cover up their nervousness by joking with their friends.
Even Kaylee was feeling restless and nervous. Well, she didn't feel worried that she would fail her performance. Instead, Kaylee felt confident that she would get a perfect score. She was sure that the name 'Nicholas Larson' would appear at the top when the results were announced.
Kaylee was a perfectionist professional pianist, aka a PPP girl. Her ability to play the piano and deliver a song like someone telling a story was undoubtedly well.
But…
Right now, this twenty-five-year-old girl who was in disguise was feeling restless because of something else. She was worried that the skin patch on her face would be damaged and would break her mask. She was more worried about her future, where she had to study in this place and was surrounded by many boys.
Should she resign? If she failed this test, she wouldn't need to go undercover and be Nick all the time. But…
"Mister Nicholas Larson."
Suddenly, other applicants' noisy chattering went silent when they heard Larson's name.
Kaylee decided to focus on her exams, and now she has entered 'serious' mode, and nothing could stop her from delivering perfect musical pieces. Not even her concern about her future could not stop her.
Kaylee walked into the main hall and climbed the stairs to reach the top of the stage. She sat on the piano chair with the elegance and aura of a professional musician.
Then she played a song she was very good at since high school. Liebestraum number three by Liszt. A very romantic song with soft, sweeping strains.
She could present all the complicated ornaments on the piece perfectly without a hitch. The girls who watched her were mesmerized by the charisma that came out of Kaylee.
Currently, Kaylee looked like a teenage boy, so the charisma made girls fall in love with Kaylee. Even the boys were stunned by Kaylee's performance. They feel both fascinated and jealous of her superb performance.
How could a teenage boy their age be able to create a masterpiece with such passion as this?
At the same time, one of the examiners had other opinions from others.
How can a boy bring out a feminine aura to the piano he plays?
When he closed his eyes, it was like he could imagine the one who played the piano was a girl instead of a boy.
How strange.