The seating drama finally settled down, and everyone returned to their ces. Yvette chose to sit with Andrew, while Bonnie took a seat nearby.


    “Really? Was it that serious? It’s just a matter of two or three seats Do they really have to make such a big deal? We’re all in the front rows anyway. Does it even matter where we sit? Bonnie thought, rolling her eyes.


    Simon didn’t mind. With so many people around, even if he wanted to talk to Yvette, it wouldn’t be easy. Zachary was used ? Yvette’s indifference, so her not sitting with him didn’t surprise him. The most disappointed was Zion, who felt he had missed a great chance to chat with her.


    Jaiden, meanwhile, sat next to Simon. Originally, Simon thought Lionel from the Lewis family would attend, but it turned out to be Jaiden instead. Since they hadn’t seen each other in a while, they switched seats on purpose to catch up.


    Backstage. Ruby stormed into the dressing room, tears in her eyes. She mmed the door shut and, in a fit of rage, trashed the makeup on the table. She stared at her furious reflection in the mirror. Wiping away her tears, she clenched her fists.


    I swear I’m going to take Yvette down in the pianopetition,’ she thought to herself. The piano was Ruby’s domain-her true stage. The people backstage heard the loud crashes from the dressing room and backed away cautiously, not wanting to get caught in Ruby’s fury.


    At 9:30 am., Art Festival officially kicked off. Four hosts led the opening ceremony, and Simon was the first to take the stage. His speech encouraged the participants topete with both grace and skill, ending with a wish for the festival’s sess.


    Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for-the musical performances. Ruby was set to y the piano, and despite her earlier outburst, it barely dampened the crowd’s excitement.


    Backstage, Ruby redid her makeup and changed into a flowing white dress. As she stepped under the spotlight, the audience’s attention was solely on her. This was her ce, where she felt she truly belonged.


    With a small, confident smile, she brushed off her earlier frustration. Determined to stay positive, she didn’t even nce at Yvette. Taking her seat at the piano, Ruby began to y. Her fingers danced across the keys, producing an enchanting melody that captivated everyone.


    However, while the audience admired her performance, Zion frowned slightly, thinking, ‘She’s ying it just like she did in rehearsals. There’s no emotion in it-only bitterness. Ruby might have masked her emotions outwardly, but her resentment seeped into her music, dulling the performance.


    Sitting behind Zion, Sawyer watched with a smug expression, unimpressed by Ruby’s ying. He thought, Is this the person Mr. Holmes rmended to me? Her ying’s so average. She even missed a few notes. And this is the opening performance? Give me a break.


    He nced around at the audience, many of whom seemed entranced by Ruby’s ying. It only made him feel more incredulous. But when his eyesnded on Yvette, he paused.


    Among the crowd of admiring faces, only Zion and Yvette appeared unimpressed. Yvette, in particr, sat with a neutral expression, her brows slightly furrowed. Sawyer raised his eyebrows, surprised by their shared reaction.


    “Ruby is ying so well!” Nellie said, ncing over at Yvette, who had pulled her hood down over her eyes and crossed her arms, already asleep. How tacky, falling asleep at an event like this, Nellie thought with disdain.


    Dressed in a gown and trying to hold in her stomach, she was focused on maintaining her image, even though her ribs ached. The only thing keeping her motivated was the thought of the uing pianopetition. She couldn’t wait to see Ruby crush Yvette on stage.


    The mere thought of it made her feel giddy with anticipation. Next to her, Zachary noticed the excitement radiating from Nellie but couldn’t figure out why.


    Reba, however, was focused on the performance. “Ruby’s ying is really impressive. No wonder she passed Level 8 in piano,” she said.


    Andrew, sitting nearby, seemed less interested in the music and more focused on Yvette. He nced at Bonnie, who was casually munching on snacks. “Bonnie,” he said, trying to get her attention.


    Startled, Bonnie jumped, spilling her snacks everywhere. “What?” she eximed, looking up at Andrew. “You scared me! What’s wrong with you?”


    Andrew pointed at Yvette, who was still asleep. “Aren’t you worried about her?”


    Bonnie waved him off, umbothered. “Worried? Nah, Yve knows what she’s doing. Rx. Here, have some chips,” she said, offering him the bagN?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Andrew chuckled, panting her on the head affectionately. “All you do is cat.”


    Nearby. Nellie overheard the conversation about Ruby passing her Level 8 in piano and felt a spark of satisfaction. If Ruby has passed Level S, there’s no way Yvette stands a chance, she thought. She could practically taste the victory.


    When Ruby finished her piece, she basked in the apuse, her confidence fully restored. The earlier frustration melted away as she stepped off the stage and returned to her usual smug self. Now, all she could think about was how great it would feel to defeat Yvette in front of everyone.


    Art Festival’s opening ceremony was lively, featuring performances from various departments thatsted for two and a half hours. Once it wrapped up, everyone anticipated one of the main events-the pianopetition.


    Rows of chairs lined the field, packed with students eager to see who would take the championship. Most of the audience. was rooting for Ruby, a pianist who had passed Level 8, a significant achievement in the university,


    However, Yvette had her share of supporters, too. News of her entry into four events had reignited her fanbase, who cheered her on through university forums. Every year, after Art Festival, students voted for the “Most Popr Award” on the forums, and this year thepetition was fiercer than ever,


    The winner of that award would receive a piece of Simon’s calligraphy, a rare and coveted prize. Since Simon was an honorary member of National Calligraphy Association, his works were not only treasured collector’s items but could also fetch a hefty price on the market


    Only one piece was awarded each year, andst year it had gone to Ryan, Who would walk away with it this time?


    The pianopetition’s order wasn’t determined by drawing lots; instead, it was randomly generated by aputer, and. the lineup was finalized the day before the festival. By sheer coincidence, Ruby was second tost, with Yvette going right after her.


    Ruby was thrilled with this arrangement. She was confident that her performance would intimidate Yvette so much that she would barely have the nerve to step on stage. To top it off, Ruby had chosen to perform “Dream,” the most famous piece in Bryan’s repertoire.


    This legendaryposition was written as a tribute to Bryan’s beloved wife-and Ruby had been practicing it for three years. She had perfected every note, but until today, she had never performed it in public. This would be her moment.


    In Ruby’s eyes, Yvette was nothing more than a stepping stone, and this song was her ticket to triumph. Her thoughts were consumed by her desire to secure a spot in Zion’s prestigious studio.


    The performance order was disyed on the big screen for everyone to see. The audience quickly noticed that Ruby and Yvette were performing back-to-back. Excitement filled the auditorium as whispers spread among the attendees.


    Some people thought, “This is fate! Destiny’s design. When rivals sh, who will emerge victorious?