I am a Big Player
Chapter 614 - 605. Chance Encounter (First Update)_1

Chapter 614: 605. Chance Encounter (First Update)_1

Domestic competitions have always been criticized as long as there aren’t strict standards for winning or losing.

For example, piano competitions, crosstalk competitions, vocal music competitions, and talent shows: they aren’t like table tennis matches, where there’s a clear winner and loser at the end.

To speak generously, the heights of art can’t be easily defined. One can judge from a technical standpoint or, if one is being cunning, also from the angle of emotional expression. But preferences always vary greatly, and the ultimate authority is forever in the hands of the judges.

In his past life, Ren He had read many reports about concealed manipulations, but they had nothing to do with him; he was just watching the excitement.

He didn’t know if there were any behind-the-scenes dealings in this piano competition, but he was sure that Yang Xi hadn’t bribed anyone—so, undoubtedly, she wouldn’t win any prize...

To be honest, Yang Xi’s piano skills could now certainly reach a delightful level. Not long ago, Fang and Mrs. Wang had just learned from Ren He how to play Happy Landlord on Qinghe TQ, and they were utterly fascinated. Mrs. Wang complained that Fang now spent 10 yuan each day on Happy Beans and wouldn’t stop until they were all used up.

Ren He asked Fang how long it would take to use up these recharged Happy Beans, to which Mrs. Wang said it would take about 20 minutes...

As a result, Fang was not happy, saying that he had just discovered Mrs. Wang had secretly recharged 50 yuan’s worth of Happy Beans...

This elderly couple was quite amusing. Now that their combined monthly wages from Ren He were over twenty thousand, their attitude towards spending had gradually changed. They were still saving—insistent on putting together a nice dowry for their daughter so she wouldn’t be looked down upon when visiting her parents’ home.

But apart from saving, they had indeed become less stingy with their own lives.

While the old couple was addicted to playing Landlord, Yang Xi’s piano skills progressed by leaps and bounds. Later, there came a time when they stopped playing Landlord and just sat on stools to listen to Yang Xi play the piano...

However, even so, Ren He was very aware that Yang Xi still fell short in terms of skill, certainly less adept than Liu Jiamin from the Qinghe Club back in the day. As a celebrity in the entertainment industry, Yang Xi was already above average, but a real competition might still be a bit beyond her for now.

Ren He also considered that if Yang Xi didn’t place, it might negatively impact her popularity, as the public wasn’t ready to see their idol lose a competition.

But Yang Xi didn’t care; she just wanted to experience it. After all her practice, it was time to see if she was a mule or a horse by taking her for a spin.

The competition was held inside the Central Academy of Music. It was said that in order to boost its influence and to demonstrate fairness, this event even invited several foreign judges for scoring.

Ren He clicked his tongue, finding it truly hard for them. They did put on quite an elaborate act.

For some reason, the more people grow up, the more they tend to believe in conspiracy theories. Ren He suddenly thought that this was not a good sign and that he should adjust his attitude. After all, this society had never lacked truth, goodness, and beauty. What if the committee behind this event was indeed fair?

Yang Xi always mentioned that the Central Academy of Music had many beautiful women. This was Ren He’s first time entering the academy. In the past, he had always just dropped Yang Xi off at the entrance and left.

"Beauty is plentiful around here; even in this snowy weather, you can witness a dazzling display of beauty, with slim long legs bared to the cold, quite a sight to behold. Ren He didn’t linger on the view, not because he didn’t appreciate it, but because this was his wife’s territory. Although Yang Xi should be preparing for the competition right now, there was always the chance she might suddenly pop up and catch him ogling someone else’s legs, and he’d likely be in trouble again..."

"Yet as someone affiliated with the Central Academy of Drama’s acting department, Ren He did notice something—the beauties there truly differed from those outside. Some girls might not be outstandingly beautiful at first glance, but the girls in the acting department share one feature: they all have delicate frames."

"This was something Li Shuaizhen had told Ren He before, and now, compared to the beauties at the Central Academy of Music, it was indeed the case."

"It’s not that the beauties here have large frames, it’s just that they are of a regular standard; meanwhile, the frames of those in the acting department at Central Academy of Drama are below the average."

"Speaking of the Central Academy of Music, it is the only arts institution in the country listed as a significant university under the ’Project 211’. However, it is quite different from the Juilliard School of Music, where the focus is much on technical skill, whereas here there is a more holistic approach to development."

"In his past life, Ren He had read some music papers from the Central Academy of Music—’Improving Bow Grip Posture in Violin Playing’..."

"And ’The Evolutionary Process of Yunnan’s Brown Minority Folk Songs and Their Cross-cultural Interpretation’. Ren He had always been curious about what these Yunnan Brown minority folk songs were actually like, whether they were anything like that song from his previous life, ’Oh driver, take me with you, oh laliluleloleli’... Ren He almost sang it out loud just thinking about it!"

"Fortunately, he caught himself in time. If he got saddled with a Divine Punishment Mission over such a song, where would he even begin to make his case?"

"The competition was being held on the 11th floor of the Central Music Academy’s Comprehensive Building, which is said to usually serve as the rehearsal hall for the symphony orchestra—professional and spacious."

"The Central Academy of Music hosts concerts nearly every week, so students’ daily routines include scrambling for practice rooms. Yang Xi didn’t need to compete for piano time, and Ren He was even thinking of getting her a better piano soon."

"Ren He was standing in the elevator with two beauties beside him, but he kept his gaze straight ahead. The closer he got to where Yang Xi might be, the more cautious he became..."

"Just as the elevator doors were about to close, someone pressed the button to open them, and people both inside and outside were momentarily stunned. Ren He, however, did not react much; the ones outside were Sun Yu and the lot from his dorm, and he was just surprised to see them there. Maybe they were here to join in the excitement? Or to check out the beauties? Who knows, it wasn’t really his concern. Wasn’t there a guy from their dorm who had practiced piano persistently for years?"

"Sun Yu and the other six were taken aback not because they were just coming to hang out; one of their dorm brothers was participating in the competition, so of course, they came to support him. But why was Ren He here?"

"Sun Yu was still dwelling on the fact that Ren He didn’t perform at the New Year’s show, ’Weren’t you sick?’"

"’Counting the days I’ve been on sick leave, it should have been over two days ago,’ Ren He said casually, making excuses, ’What I mean is, I’m better now...’"

"For some reason, Sun Yu just couldn’t stand Ren He’s demeanor. Even with the unfriendly rumors swirling in the class, Ren He always seemed so composed and indifferent, as if he were looking down from above, making Sun Yu feel as if he was being regarded as a clown..."

"The more composed Ren He was, the more it irked him."