"Of course not. Where should I practice? Who can afford to buy a piano so casually? It's so big and so difficult to maintain. I only learnt how to play the guitar growing up. Plus, it's not a very popular instrument. Only a few of the obscure musicians use it." Feng Xia said with a slight frown on her face. "Are you alright? Did you knock your head when you fell down earlier?"
What! Only obscure musicians play the piano?!
"Yes, yes I am alright. Uh so… You're saying that not many people know how to play the piano? How many people in this school can play the piano?" Jordan Lin could feel his heartbeat quickening.
"Including you? Three, maybe? I don't really know." Feng Xia shrugged and gave him a suspicious glance. "You're talking funny. You should take the day off after this and rest."
"I'm fine. I really am. Don't worry." Jordan Lin quickly reassured her. But deep in his heart, Jordan Lin was half shocked half exhilarated half ecstatic.
Holy smokes! People don't really play the piano in this parallel world!
That means the songs for the piano aren't very developed and advanced.
If that's the case wouldn't my piano skills be too… godly?
And these three songs which I am going to play… Holy…
"You're playing the piano? It's a very rare and difficult instrument to play. You must be biting off more than you can chew." A scrawny sophomore Jordan Lin vaguely recognized sneered at him.
"Eh? When did I offend this stickman?" Jordan Lin frowned slightly at his words.
But as soon as he saw the stickman's shoes, he understood.
The stickman was wearing high ankle basketball shoes.
"He must be a member of the basketball team seeking to take revenge for his dumbass captain." Jordan Lin smiled coldly in understanding.
"Yeah. You even dared to take Captain Gordon's time slot? Hmph. You'll definitely embarrass yourself out there. Dumbass!"
"You piece of shit. Enjoy your final day of peace! After today, even if you do not screw up, which you probably will, the basketball team will make your days a living hell!"
"You'll definitely throw the face of our Baltech High School in front of the Mayor and his guests. You damn loser. Accepting you is our school's worst decision ever!"
"If our school's budget get cut and our basketball team's funding gets reduced… hmph. You can forget about having a peaceful year. We will make your life a living hell!"
A few other basketball goons walked over and tried to destroy Jordan Lin's confidence.
But too bad for them, Jordan Lin had the mentality of a 28 year old adult!
How could he be affected by the insults of a bunch of kids?
"Eh? Feng Xia, did you hear that?" Jordan Lin suddenly turned his head and asked her very seriously.
"Wha-what do you mean? He-hear what?" Feng Xia squeaked in surprise and fear. "Don't scare me!!"
"I hear flies buzzing and dogs barking. It's so noisy!"
"... …" Feng Xia was speechless.
"You! Despicable!"
"Shameless lowlife!"
The basketball goons were completely pissed off by Jordan Lin's words.
"Enough. Jordan! Hey! You're up. Go!" The stage manager hissed at him.
Ah!
Let's go!
Let this bro show you little kids what real talent looks like!
Jordan Lin walked across the stage and sat down on the piano seat.
There was only sparse clapping from the audience, probably from the teachers spread out all over the 3000 strong student body.
Most of the students were distracted and whispering among themselves.
Jordan Lin didn't care.
As an Asian boy growing up, his parents had forced him to play all sorts of instruments completely against his will.
After he graduated from medical school and officially entered the ranks of working adults, his parents had stopped forcing him to play the instruments.
And as such, he had not touched the piano for many years.
Seeing the upright piano before him at that moment brought back many, many memories.
"Garfield and Sons." Jordan Lin smiled in slight amusement when he saw the piano brand.
The top brand in his world was arguably Steinway and Sons. Who could Garfield be? Steinway's cousin?
Anyway, it was time to start.
Jordan Lin took a deep breath, and started to play the intro of the world famous Still Dre by Dr Dre.
The slow, right hand opening in the high notes area started.
The piano strings strummed softly but authoritatively, filling the large auditorium with its slow melody.
At the sound, a few students stopped their chatting and turned to look at Jordan Lin on the stage.
Reputation + 3
Reputation + 4
Reputation + 8
And then his left hand started playing on the low notes, bass area. At the same time, his right hand sped up.
The deep notes anchored the melody to the ground, holding them back and preventing them from soaring too high.
More students turned silent and turned to look at Jordan Lin.
Reputation + 10
Reputation + 15
And then came the bridge.
The powerful build up to the chorus.
Jordan Lin's left hand slammed down on the piano keys repeatedly while his right hand flew across the high notes at top speed!
There was complete silence now as every single person stared in shock at the power and the sheer emotion that was blasting out of the piano.
Their emotions roiled powerfully as they anticipated the chorus with bated breaths!
Reputation + 839
Reputation + 1024
Reputation + 973
And when the chorus finally dropped, the whole audience suddenly screamed in emotional release!!
"Aaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!"
"Holy shieeetttt!! This music!!!"
"God! This song is heavenly!!!!"
"Who the hell is playing the pianooooo!! Holy shieeeettt!"
Their screams grew louder and louder as Jordan Lin blasted through the entire song with great power!
And when the final note rang out from the piano, the crowd of over three thousand students and teachers all stood up and gave Jordan Lin a standing ovation!
Even Mr Walza the Mayor of Orlando stood up and joined in the applause as well!