Chapter 12: Reginald Lyson's Piano Piece

If it had been anyone else, hearing that would have sent them into a rage. Reginald Lyson's reaction, however, went far beyond anything Master Zorn expected. His face stayed calm, like an ancient well that had never known a ripple. He even smiled at Master Zorn and nodded. "That's right," he said. "We live in two different worlds." Dignity was something everyone craved. People lived for their face, like trees lived for their bark. But that was for ordinary men. For Reginald Lyson, who had already lived ten thousand years, dignity had long since stopped meaning anything. In his eyes, it did not matter how others mocked or sneered. Would a man care about an ant on the roadside cursing him? Besides, as far as Reginald was concerned, Master Zorn hadn't even said anything wrong. They really were from two different worlds. Master Zorn, of course, knew none of that. When he saw Reginald smiling at him, contempt flashed across his features. He could swallow even that? No wonder people called him a useless coward. A piece of trash, through and through. Perfect. That meant he could make his move on Rylie Norrell properly as soon as tomorrow. A sly smile tugged at the corner of Master Zorn's mouth. Then another thought surfaced. No rush. At the very least, he had to wait until "that person" left. Rylie Norrell was only a backup plan. If "that person" found out, it would be a disaster. Clap, clap, clap! The lights in the banquet Main Hall suddenly went out, and thunderous applause rose from every corner. Under a single beam of spotlight, a breathtaking woman appeared like a fairy stepped out of a painting. She walked from the center of the banquet Main Hall, graceful and unhurried, all the way toward the stage. The applause grew even louder. Every so often, someone shouted, "Happy birthday, Miss Monroe Quinny!" Monroe Quinny? Reginald shifted his gaze to that elegant figure. So that was what the reception had really been for. It was Monroe Quinny's birthday. Monroe Quinny was the country's reigning diva. If she chose to take any star under her wing, that person would rise overnight. Pearl Pictures must have been banking on exactly that. Since Monroe Quinny had come to River City for an event, they had thrown her an extravagant birthday reception. No wonder so many prominent figures had shown up. They were all here for her name. In a long gown, her hair flowing down her back, Monroe Quinny stepped onto the stage. A captivating smile curved her lips as she gave the crowd a small nod. "Thank you, everyone. Thank you for coming to celebrate my birthday," she said. "And thank you to Pearl Pictures for hosting this birthday reception for me today." Applause answered her at once. Then a birthday cake, nearly as tall as a person, was wheeled up. Candles, wishes, blowing them out, cutting the cake. The whole routine followed. Reginald turned his head. Master Zorn had disappeared at some point. Langston Hauk from Pearl Pictures had already made his way to Monroe Quinny's side. In the blink of an eye, Reginald had become a nobody no one spared a glance at. He wanted to leave, but Rylie Norrell still hadn't returned. With nowhere else to go, he kept his plate in hand and ate quietly off to the side. After the cake was cut- Clap, clap, clap! Another round of applause drew everyone's attention. Langston Hauk, Pearl Pictures' vice president, stood on the stage with a microphone, clapping to call the room to order. When the crowd looked over, he bowed. "Sorry to interrupt, everyone. Please allow me to share some good news," he said. "To celebrate Miss Monroe Quinny's birthday today, Master Zorn, who has come all the way from Vernal Capital, has decided to personally perform a piano piece for her. Let's welcome him!" The room erupted. Most people here knew who Master Zorn was. Those who didn't quickly got an explanation from someone nearby. "Master Zorn? He's the young master of the Zorn family, one of Fire Nation's top entertainment dynasties! His grandfather is a legendary director. His father has directed films that won international awards. His mother is a famous dancer!" "I heard he showed artistic talent when he was a teenager. Piano, violin, cello, even all kinds of modern instruments. He can play anything!" "Who would've thought someone like that would come to River City?" "Because of Monroe Quinny, obviously. I heard back in Capital City, Master Zorn was one of her pursuers. He's not from one of the absolute top billionaire clans, but the Zorn family is entertainment royalty. He and Monroe Quinny are a perfect match. Talented man, beautiful woman." Monroe Quinny's pursuer? Hearing their chatter, a faintly amused smile lifted Reginald's lips. Cheers and whistles rolled through the crowd as Master Zorn strode onto the stage. Behind him, staff from Pearl Pictures carried a piano up and set it in place. With the microphone in hand, Master Zorn swept his gaze across the audience. When he confirmed Rylie Norrell still hadn't returned, satisfaction warmed his chest. His luck was absurdly good. Earlier, he had worried that performing for Monroe Quinny might affect his plans with Rylie Norrell, make it harder to keep both lines hooked. But it turned out that girl was still outside arguing with her mother. That meant he could do whatever he wanted. Master Zorn lifted the microphone and looked at Monroe Quinny with practiced tenderness. "Monroe," he said softly, "everyone knows you're incredible on the violin. But what they don't know is that what you truly love most is the piano." "By chance, my teacher, Ryan Nesom, obtained a one-of-a-kind piano score from Europe. I want to dedicate it to you today as your birthday gift." "I hope you like it." Whistles rang out again. People clapped and shouted encouragement, thrilled by the unexpected performance. A chance to hear Master Zorn play live was rare. Rumor had it his piano skill had already reached half of Ryan Nesom's level. And Ryan Nesom was, without question, the top piano master in Fire Nation. Even Monroe Quinny, who had frowned at Master Zorn's appearance at first, could not help letting anticipation show. Master Zorn hadn't been wrong. As the reigning queen of the Entertainment Circle, Monroe Quinny was most famous for her violin. Yet the instrument she loved most was the piano. Unfortunately, she had no talent for it. Perhaps because she could never truly grasp it, she wanted it all the more. In the past, whenever a renowned pianist held a concert in the country, no matter how busy she was, she always found time to attend. Her home was stacked with recordings from piano masters. So when she heard that Ryan Nesom had found a rare, unheard-of score, curiosity stirred in her. Everyone knew Ryan Nesom's standards. If he considered a piece worth keeping, what kind of music would it be? Master Zorn walked to the piano, bowed slightly to the audience, and began to play. The hall filled with a moving melody. As Ryan Nesom's student, Master Zorn did have real skill. His rhythm was precise, his motions elegant and clean. Crisp, bright notes flowed from beneath his fingers, and the crowd sank into it, intoxicated. Minutes passed. The piece ended. A wave of shrill screams burst from the women in the room. "Wow! That was beautiful! Master Zorn, you're amazing!" "My ears are going to get pregnant. That was way too gorgeous!" "I can't believe I got to hear something like that live. What is this piece called?" These were women with status and wealth, yet after a single song, they still looked at Master Zorn with open admiration. Some actresses even sent him coy looks, despite knowing he had his eyes on Monroe Quinny. Monroe Quinny herself was genuinely moved. She really did like the piece. "Master Zorn," she asked, "what is it called?" Master Zorn smiled. "Monroe, this score was something my teacher acquired at a private auction in Europe. They say it was written around the time the piano was first born. As for its name… unfortunately, the score didn't list one. My teacher has been considering what to name it." "But I have an idea. I want to call it 'Piano Piece for Monroe.'" "Ooooh!" The crowd immediately whooped and teased. His intention could not have been more obvious. Piano Piece for Monroe. Who else could "Monroe" be? Naming a piano piece after her. What could be more romantic than that? For a moment, even Monroe Quinny looked shaken, her expression softening. Everyone's attention stayed fixed on Monroe Quinny and Master Zorn. No one noticed that someone was slowly walking toward the piano Master Zorn had just played. Piano Piece for Monroe? Ridiculous. Reginald gave a cold snort in his heart, because in this world, there was probably only one person who knew the piece's true name: Lola Shuter Memorial. And that was because Reginald had written it himself more than three hundred years ago. He moved toward the stage, step by measured step, his expression tangled and heavy. Images surfaced in his mind, one after another. A past that sat like lead in his chest. Across ten thousand years, the sheer length of his life had worn his feelings thin. Time devoured everything. No matter how fierce the love, it never survived the grinding of years. When his lovers grew old with time while his face never changed, few women could endure that kind of love to the end. Most, as the years slipped away, watched affection rot into hatred. And when Reginald saw the women he had loved, one after another, spitting venom at his unchanging youth and cursing the unfairness of heaven, he slowly sealed his heart shut. Until three hundred years ago, when one woman carved herself into his life and left a memory he could never erase. Her name was Lola Shuter. This piece had been the one he wrote with his own hands to remember her. Every note held fragments of what they had shared. He never expected it to resurface in the world, much less be performed in public. Reginald did not mind others playing it. What he could not accept was the music he wrote for Lola Shuter being defiled by crude technique. Yes. Crude. Master Zorn's skill might have inherited half of Ryan Nesom's level, but even Ryan Nesom, in Reginald's eyes, was only a mediocre pianist. Master Zorn's performance had not grasped the essence of Lola Shuter Memorial at all. It skimmed the surface, empty and shallow, and Reginald could not tolerate it. It was an insult to the piece.