Chapter 129: How could Gu Ci be standing beside Elder Tan?!

The performance stage suddenly emptied as everyone flocked toward the entrance. Gu Zhiran alone remained, isolated on the platform, as if performing a monologue. The more dazzling she had been moments ago, the more humiliating her current situation felt. Hadn't she taken the stage to build a reputation and lay the groundwork for joining the Piano Association? With no one paying her any attention now, who was she playing for?

Gu Zhiran’s body stiffened at the thought, and her hand faltered, nearly striking a wrong note. She hurriedly steadied her nerves, telling herself not to panic and to maintain her composure. Taking a deep breath, she stabilized her playing, though her focus inevitably drifted. She could hear the muffled conversations of the crowd, but the center of their attention was no longer her; it was the person who had just walked through the door.

"Is that Old Master Tan? Who are the two people with him?"

"I know that one—the man in the gray suit is his grandson, Tan Yunqi. His mastery of the violin is exceptional; he just passed the assessment recently and was promoted from a C-level to a B-level!"

"Young Master Tan is truly young and promising. But who is the young lady beside Old Master Tan? I don't think I've ever seen her before."

"I... I don't know, but since she arrived with Old Master Tan..."

"Don't you know? That's Old Master Tan's apprentice!"

"What?! Old Master Tan has never taken on an apprentice..."

Hearing these exchanges, Gu Zhiran could not help but tense up further. If she had finished her piece, Master Shen would surely have introduced her to Old Master Tan. But as luck would have it, he had arrived right at the climax of her final performance. Gu Zhiran knew she couldn't stop now to greet him; doing so would leave a terrible impression on the entire Piano Association. But it was too late for regrets.

She took another deep breath, her mind racing. There might be an advantage to her position after all. Great figures valued integrity. When everyone else was there fawning over him, and she remained poised and continued to play the piano, the difference in class would be evident. If her performance was stunning enough, Old Master Tan would naturally appreciate her. With this thought, she adjusted her emotions and poured all her effort into her playing. She felt her performance reaching a peak, exceeding her usual level.

A faint smile touched her lips. Glancing toward the crowd as if by chance, she spotted Old Master Tan surrounded by the others. Although it was a small stage, it was elevated above the hall floor, giving her a clear view of the entire room. Suddenly, her gaze fell upon the woman standing next to him.

That was... Gu Ci?! How could Gu Ci be standing beside Old Master Tan?

Gu Zhiran’s mind buzzed, turning completely blank. She wanted to look again to see if she was mistaken, but her distraction caused her hand to slip, and the piano let out a shrill, jarring note. The abrupt noise drew many eyes toward her. Gu Zhiran felt a jolt of alarm and forced herself to regain her focus, but her thoughts were already in chaos.

*I must have seen it wrong,* she thought. *It must be someone who just looks a bit like Gu Ci... How could Gu Ci appear here, let alone alongside Old Master Tan?* Yet, she couldn't stop recalling what she had heard: that Old Master Tan had arrived with a man and a woman. Even as she tried to control her thoughts, she could no longer concentrate on her performance.

Meanwhile, having entered the hall with Old Master Tan, Gu Ci was immediately swarmed by members of the Piano Association. Soon, she heard a robust, booming voice. The slightly familiar tone made her brow twitch. She immediately lowered her head, stepped aside, and murmured an apology to the crowd before slipping out of the center of the commotion.

A second later, the crowd surrounding Old Master Tan parted to reveal a spirited elderly man standing before him. It was Old Master Yuan. Upon confirming his identity, Gu Ci’s eyelids flickered, and she silently headed toward the restrooms, raising her hand to cover half of her face.

Old Master Tan and Old Master Yuan belonged to entirely different circles and shouldn't have been so familiar, but their families were close, and they had known each other since childhood in the capital. They were old friends, though they often competed with each other. For instance, when Old Master Yuan heard that Old Master Tan had joined the Piano Association as an A-level member, he had followed suit. He had come to this exchange meeting in Songdu specifically because he heard Old Master Tan had found a satisfactory apprentice.

With that in mind, Old Master Yuan scanned the room. "Old Tan, where is that little apprentice of yours?"

Hearing this, Gu Ci quickened her pace. Seeing the two great figures about to chat, the crowd tactfully dispersed. When Old Master Tan looked toward where Gu Ci had been to show off his prized student, he realized she was gone. He stood stunned.

Just then, Tan Yunqi coughed. "Grandfather, the junior apprentice just left." He took the liberty of calling Gu Ci "junior apprentice," hoping his grandfather wouldn't notice. When Tan Yunqi was a child, the old man had tried to teach him conducting, but Tan Yunqi found it overwhelming and would always sneak away. Eventually, the old man gave up, though he had been cold toward his grandson ever since. Now that he finally had an apprentice to his liking, Tan Yunqi was even happier than the old man himself—it meant he was finally free from his grandfather's disdain.