Yao Tang threw a meaningful glance at Fang Hui.
It spurned him to action, and he nodded a few times, though his eyes were filled with hesitation.
“Right, right. I think the Captain has a point. If something happened to all of us, then Liu Tianwon’t think he’s the only one at fault.”
“Okay, I’m in! Let’s do this!”
“All right, who wants to give me a punch? Come on and lay it on me, then I’ll go straight to the hospital!”
If they wanted to back out from the competition and absolve Liu Tianfrom guilt, then they simply needed a plausible excuse.
Seeing that the situation was spiraling out of reason, Yan Yustepped forward.
“Everyone, please calm down and listen to what I have to say. Perhaps I can take his place.”
All heads turned to him in surprise.
“Oh. Then… Wait, what is Liu Tian’s position in the orchestra?”Fang Huiasked, telltale signs of hope rekindling in his eyes.
Yan Yu looked around and answered before anyone from theGlory Orchestradid.
“If I’m not mistaken, you need a violinist, right? I’ve been playing it for a while before, so I should be able to pull it off.”
After saying this, he looked at Yao Tang.
He had waited this long before saying anything because he wanted to see what her solution was. He didn’t want to ruin her plans.
Of course, the ideal solution was to find another substitute, but if she couldn’t dispatch someone on such short notice, then Yan Yumight as well volunteer himself.
Yao Tang was the reason that he had returned to his normal self, so it was only natural that he repaid the favor.
If this had been a few months ago, he wouldn’t have dared to offer his skills, but he was now confident in his former proficiency.
Fang Hui frowned as he consideredYan Yu. “I’m not sure that this is a good idea.”
Yan Yu was about to protest when the young man added, “I think it’s better that we all end up in the hospital together.”
It was then that Yan YurealizedFang Huiwas incredibly obedient towardYao Tang.
So obedient, in fact, that it clouded his reason.
He was just willing to go along with whatever she said.
Yan Yu sneaked a sideways glance atYao Tang, wondering what kind of drug she had fedFang Huito make him this loyal.
Yao Tang blinked and looked back and forth between the two for a moment.
“Since we have a substitute, we should go ahead and participate in the competition.”
As expected, Fang Huibobbed his head eagerly. “The Captain is right. Let’s do as the Captain says.”
This time, Yan Yuwasn’t alone in his derisive thoughts. Even the members of theGlory Orchestrashook their heads and averted their eyes.
It was painfully embarrassing.
Realizing his faux pas, Fang Hui chuckled awkwardly and cleared his throat.
Luckily, one of them chose that moment to ask Yan Yu, “Do you know the piece that we’ll be playing? Wait, have you played in an orchestra before?”
Even a seasoned musician struggled to memorize a music score during the first rehearsal.
In their case, they barely had time to practice at all, and they were saddled with a newcomer, to boot.
Considering that Yan YuandYao Tangwere classmates, they assumed that he was a top student as well.
And if he was a top student, chances were that he didn’t bother with extracurricular activities or hobbies like music.
No, only a genius like Yao Tangwould be able to juggle those things.
Yan Yu shook his head in response, indicating that he had never played in an orchestra before, much less in a public competition.
Just like that, everyone became deflated.
At the same time, they couldn’t really feel disappointed in Yan Yu.
It stood to reason that he was inexperienced. It was actually to be expected.
But what he said next baffled them.
“It’s okay. I can just listen to it now.”
Fang Hui narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to the side. “Junior, I know that you want to help, and we appreciate it, but you can’t possibly learn to play the piece after listening to it once.”
“It’s all right,” someone else chimed in. “If we fail today’s assessment, we can still compete next year.”
“That’s right. Don’t beat yourself up over this. The piece can be difficult even for us sometimes, no matter how often we practice.”
The orchestra members echoed Fang Hui’s sentiments.
Xiao Jing, on the other hand, was of a different mind. This young volunteer clearly knew Yao Tang, and since she was willing to let him try his hand, then he must be talented.
The only catch was that he had never played the piece before. Even Xiao Jinghad reservations when he heard this.
Maybe Yao Tangwas only indulging a classmate?
Everyone was about to give up the assessment yet again when Yao Tangtook out a bunch of music sheets from her backpack and handed them toYan Yu.
“You can start learning the piece with this,” she said calmly. She didn’t seem fazed at all.
Her teammates, Xiao JingandFang Huiincluded, thought she had lost her mind.
