Grace Gu's heart fluttered with nervousness as her voice sounded. She could feel the rhythm of her heart racing and, deep inside, she couldn't help but feel a bit disdainful of her irregular heartbeat. When she had faced the bloody scenes on the city wall and leaped from the heights, she hadn't been this nervous. Now, she felt a bit too sentimental.
Emily Gu smiled and said, "Are you nervous?"
Seeing Grace Gu shake her head, Emily also chuckled. If she couldn't even tell that Grace was nervous, then she had truly wasted nearly twenty years of her life.
"Grace, you really don't need to be so nervous. This is just another starting point in your life, and it's definitely not the only one. I believe in you, Grace. You're the best."
Feeling Emily's sincere encouragement, Grace Gu felt a bit more at ease. Although she had faced many disappointments, the girl in front of her truly wished her well. This friendship was something nothing could change. Grace stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Emily, expressing her nervousness but also her deep gratitude.
As Grace was about to step onto the stage, Qi Yu turned his gaze toward her and softly said, "I'm looking forward to your brilliant performance.
I trust the teacher's judgment."
Grace Gu nodded slightly. Just as she stepped out, Emily nudged Qi Yu's chest. "Are you praising Grace, or are you praising yourself?"
Before Qi Yu could answer, countless pairs of eyes had already focused on Grace Gu. It was as though they had never seen a girl so beautiful, as if she had stepped out of a painting.
There were beautiful girls, of course, but Grace Gu's impact was so powerful that they hadn't expected a girl in ancient attire to possess such impressive skills on the guqin.
Not everyone loved music, but Hua country valued the arts. People, like those who could recite Tang poetry even if they couldn't write their own, could still tell the difference between what sounded good or not. With their eyes, they could also see the subtle, almost enchanting expression beneath Grace Gu's seemingly pure makeup.
Many knew of Jasmine Dai, the music goddess from Hong Kong University, but the girl in front of them outshone her. The sound of the guqin, flowing like a river, reverberated throughout the hall.
But the feeling it gave was different to each listener. Shirley Chu had heard many such performances but knew that true mastery required innate talent.
Julian Bai, watching the attention directed at Grace, curled his fingers slightly. He hadn't expected that standing next to the guqin, her aura would transform so dramatically. While the white clothes gave her an aura of purity, the smile on her face added a touch of allure, making her purity seem subtly seductive.
At that moment, Julian Bai couldn't help but doubt whether it was the right decision to let her soar. The thought of her potentially flying into someone else's arms brought a complicated look into his eyes.
Grace Gu, unaware of their thoughts, focused all her attention on the guqin in front of her. Compared to the guzheng, her skills with the guqin were far superior.
In ancient times, playing the guqin was considered one of the essential skills for a noblewoman. Other arts could be learned to a lesser degree, but the guzheng was seen as an inferior instrument, compared to the guqin, which symbolized purity and refinement.
Many noblewomen played the guqin but were unfamiliar with the guzheng. Grace Gu was different because her mother loved the guzheng, and she had grown up with it.
When Grace Gu bowed after her performance, Shirley Chu stood up. "Today, I would like to do something here at Hong Kong University.
I wonder what Principal Zhang thinks?"
Shirley Chu was a board member at Hong Kong University, and the university's development had greatly benefited from his connections. The principal naturally couldn't refuse.
He looked at Grace Gu. "This girl is my third disciple."
That sentence caused a moment of stunned silence in the air. Shirley Chu's standards for accepting disciples were notoriously high. His first disciple had been trained since childhood and was now a leading figure in the music world. His second disciple, Qi Yu, had earned his position through a legendary act of perseverance, reportedly kneeling in front of Shirley Chu's door for seven days and nights before finally being accepted.
But Grace Gu? Given her status, especially as Julian Bai's lover, she didn't seem to fit Shirley Chu's usual criteria.
Yet, the shocking moment happened. He had said it publicly, and it seemed that Grace Gu had already been taken under his wing.
As the crowd absorbed the news, Shirley Chu added, "Today, I am not only notifying you, but also extending an invitation. Next month, I will hold an apprentice reception for this disciple, and I hope everyone will attend."
Many were even more astonished.
Before she had officially become his disciple, he was already creating a buzz for her. How much favor had Julian Bai done for him?
Grace Gu glanced at Shirley Chu, raising an eyebrow. She had agreed to become his disciple, but she hadn't expected such a grand announcement. She wasn't the type to thrive in large, crowded events.
No one understood Shirley Chu's intentions, but Julian Bai seemed to look at him meaningfully. Was he trying to cut off his own options, worried that today's events might cause him to change his mind? Was this a preemptive move to lock in Grace Gu as his disciple in front of everyone?
Though Julian Bai had briefly considered cutting off her wings, the dazzling image of her stopped him from following through. Her brilliance was unforgettable.
As Grace Gu stepped off the stage, a crowd quickly gathered around her. Just as she was taken aback, several reporters approached her.
"Miss Gu, we heard that Mr. Chu is taking you as his disciple…"
"Miss Gu, your Chinese zither skills are truly impressive…"