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Chapter 22 - Chapter 65: The Unforgiving Virtuoso

Lin Yuan certainly doesn't need to wait for death to achieve recognition. The world around him is an inexhaustible treasure trove of art, and he firmly believes that the system will eventually conquer the disease!

I want to mention here that novels like "The Maggie's Gift" often carry deeper meanings, such as reflecting the contradictions and injustices of social classes at the time.

But Lin Yuan resides on Blue Star.

So, to him, this story is merely a tale, focusing more on the narrative itself rather than delving into deeper meanings. Any discussions about societal issues are just a touch.

At this moment, he's dining in the cafeteria, seated across from Xia Fan and Ji.

Today, Xia Fan appears a bit preoccupied, her gaze unfocused. Jian, noticing this, waves his hand in front of Xia Fan's eyes:

"What's on your mind? You seem lost in thought."

Lin Yuan also looks at his friend with concern.

Xia Fan lifts her head, embarrassment coloring her expression: "Don't laugh at me. I signed up for this year's 'Blooming' last night."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan and Jian exchange glances before chuckling.

As the most popular talent show in Qinzhou, "Blooming" is held annually. Many young girls with musical dreams aspire to participate in this show.

Xia Fan is one of them.

However, in the past two years, Xia Fan has participated in "Blooming" twice, only making it to the Top 100 each time. This was disheartening for Xia Fan. Last year, when she didn't make the final cut, she tearfully declared, "I'll never participate in this show again."

His words from last year still resonate.

Despite this, as soon as registration for "Blooming" opened this year, Xia Fan eagerly signed up again, seemingly forgetting her past statements and the disappointments she faced.

"Are you two trying to get yourselves killed!"

Xia Fan glares at her friends, who burst into laughter.

Lin Yuan quickly stifles his smile, saying, "I support you."

Ji nods seriously, "Chase your dream."

Xia Fan's expression softens.

But their amusement quickly returns.

Annoyed, Xia Fan exclaims, "What's so funny?"

Their survival instinct prompts Jian and Lin Yuan to suppress their laughter.

Xia Fan huffs, "This is the third time, I promise. This year will be my last attempt!"

Ji adds solemnly, "You said the same thing last year..."

Then he winces as Xia Fan steps on him.

Lin Yuan suggests, "When the competition comes, we'll be there cheering for you on stage, just like the past two years."

"That would be nice."

Xia Fan stands up, saying, "In that case, you two better help me. I think the reason I didn't make the top 100 in the first two years was because of my song selection. This year, I'll pick the most suitable song for me and leave the judges speechless."

"Alright."

Lin Yuan and Ji don't hesitate to agree.

In reality, Lin Yuan's the one calling the shots.

Being musically challenged, he can only roughly categorize music into two groups: "good" and "not good."

He considers, then adds, "The song you sang last year was actually quite good. The main reason you weren't selected was because you chose a niche style."

As a friend, Lin Yuan is aware of Xia Fan's strengths.

Given Xia Fan's talent, participating in "Blooming" presents an opportunity for her to shine. The problem lies in her competition strategy.

Xia Fan has a penchant for niche songs.

However, competitions require songs that resonate with the audience, and niche songs often fail to evoke a strong response.

After lunch, the trio strategizes Xia Fan's song selection for "Blooming."

Xia Fan presents her playlist: "Lin Yuan, please mark the recommended songs, and I'll practice them diligently."

"Sure."

Lin Yuan glances at Xia Fan's playlist. She still seems fixated on niche music. Amidst the niche tracks, Lin Yuan spots two familiar songs.

One is "Big Fish."

The other is "Inflammable and Explosive."

Lin Yuan glances at Xia Fan and crosses out "Big Fish" immediately.

Her voice doesn't suit this song's style.

He selects another song: "You can try 'Inflammable and Explosive.'"

"Okay."

This happens to be Xia Fan's favorite.

After some thought, Lin Yuan advises, "I didn't suggest this song for your audition. You should have no problem there. Save 'Inflammable and Explosive' for the Top 100 competition."

Xia Fan nods in agreement.

Most Top 100 contestants are highly skilled professionals. At this stage, it's anyone's game. Xia Fan was overly aggressive in the past two years, believing her talent alone would secure her a spot. But among the Top 100, there are no weak links.

Lin Yuan offers more suggestions.

He nearly wipes out most of Xia Fan's playlist, leaving only a handful of songs. Surveying the remaining tracks, he says, "These can serve as your competition pieces. Practice them well."

"Got it."

Xia Fan trusts Lin Yuan's judgment, even though many of the songs he deleted were her personal favorites.

With their discussion concluded, an hour passes.

Lin Yuan and Jian depart, leaving Xia Fan alone. With no classes this afternoon, Lin Yuan hesitates before addressing the system: "Can I improve my piano skills through practice?"

"Yes."

The system responds, "The host already possesses a professional level of piano skill. However, through dedicated practice, the host can continue to refine these skills."

"Understood."

Lin Yuan heads to the piano room.

Like everyone else, Lin Yuan enjoys basking in his achievements. Who wouldn't relish receiving something for nothing?

Yet, despite awaiting the system's upgrades, Lin Yuan doesn't shy away from self-improvement. Otherwise, why would he diligently attend every university course?

After all, won't the system provide songs anyway?

If he were to adopt this mindset, Lin Yuan could coast through his college life and beyond. But that would be too dull.

The improvements he's made compared to the system are indeed insignificant.

However, Lin Yuan rather enjoys the feeling of making progress through hard work, no matter how small. Humans need a sense of accomplishment.

Arriving at the piano room, Lin Yuan starts by playing a few familiar tunes.

Once his fingers warm up, he revisits "The Wedding in a Dream," a piece he acquired from the silver treasure chest, still stored in his inventory.

The notes flow effortlessly from his fingers.

Lin Yuan gently closes his eyes.

Gradually, he increases the tempo, attempting to add his own touch to "The Wedding in a Dream." Many pianists experiment with improvisation, which can sometimes transform a piece beyond recognition.

However, this attempt falls short.

Lin Yuan senses that his piano skills lack depth, preventing him from infusing the song with richer emotion.

It's akin to singing without feeling.

Lin Yuan's piano lacks emotional depth. The professional skill enhancement makes him seem like a cold, unfeeling machine.

"This might be an area for future improvement," Lin Yuan muses, slowing down his playing and returning the piece to its original tempo. As he continues to play, he delves deeper into his thoughts.

Unbeknownst to Lin Yuan...

In the adjacent piano room, a girl who had been dozing suddenly opens her eyes and springs to her feet.