Qin Man sneered at Yao Tang as if she had just exposed all the girl’s evil deeds.
Ranran had been through rigorous training and art classes since she was young. As a result, she was proficient in piano, chess, and painting, on top of her academic prowess.
How could she lose to Yao Tang, who was a mere nobody from the countryside?
Did that bumpkin even understand what an orchestra was, or how it worked?
How could such a person enter the Music Associationwhen even the accomplishedRanrancouldn’t?
An ominous expression came over Elder LiandElder Wangas they slowly approached.
There was no doubt that Yao Tangwas a genius; they had verified this for themselves. And yet this woman had the audacity to accuse her of going through the backdoor?
Of all the miscreants in the world, it was the cheaters that Elder Xuhated the most. If whatQin Mansaid was true, then he wouldn’t have persuadedYao Tangto join them in the first place.
Vice President Liusaw the way that the elders scowled and immediately spiraled into a panic.
This was definitely bad!
If he didn’t clear matters up quickly, he would be in real trouble.
“No, no, please, you misunderstand,” he spoke up in a trembling voice. “I already refused their request. No one is going through the backdoor, I assure you.”
He turned to his superiors with a beseeching expression.
“What does it matter, anyway?” Qin Manscoffed before pointing a finger atYao Tang. “That brat did the same thing! Why aren’t you saying anything about her?”
She didn’t believe that the ignorant fool had managed to get admitted through her abilities. She must have bewitched these old men or something.
Qin Man wouldn’t have cared much about that, but it infuriated her that these geezers were persecuting her andRanranwhen they were just as guilty of the same thing.
“Tangtang is the President’s apprentice,”Tan Jiandeclared, stepping forward to glare atQin Man. “She could have entered the association without taking the assessment, but she still chose to participate for the sake of fairness. If you insist that she cheated, then, by all means, show us the evidence. Otherwise, you are only slandering her good name!”
Qin Man’s eyes widened at that, and her jaw dropped.
At the same time, Yao Tangcast a sideways glance atPresident Tan. Indeed, if she had known about this in the beginning, she wouldn’t have bothered with the assessment at all.
In any case, what had been done was done. She would chew him out at a later time, at a less public place.
Nevertheless, President Tanawkwardly rubbed his nose. The tip of his ears turned red with embarrassment.
Qin Man, on the other hand, was scrambling for her wits. She refused to believe the young man’s words. “So what if she is the President’s apprentice? Does that absolve her of her wrongdoings? What kind of instrument can she even play when she’s lived in the mountains all her life? I bet she relied on other talents to score with powerful people in the Music Association. That’s how she became an apprentice, isn’t it?
“Come now, surely this constitutes using the backdoor as well? Selling her sex appeal to get intimate with old, wily men. In comparison, Ranranonly came here to put in an inquiry. In this aspect, I do agree thatTangtangis much more capable than myRanran.”
In a matter of seconds, Qin Maninsulted not onlyYao Tang, butPresident Tanand the elders as well.
She had effectively implied that Yao Tangwas fooling around with them and seduced them into granting her a position in theMusic Association.
As soon as she finished speaking, the air around them grew heavy and oppressive. The elders’ faces turned dark and ominous.
Yao Ran saw this, and she frantically pulledQin Manback. “Mom, don’t say anything more. Sister is not that kind of person. Let’s just leave, okay?”
“What? I’m only complimenting her!” Qin ManshookYao Ran’s hand away and glared atYao Tang.
“Why don’t you tell us the truth, once and for all? Am I mistaken?”
“Zhang Shun!” President Tanbellowed before anyone else could speak. His eyes were wide with fury as he glowered atTeacher Zhang.
“You requested a transfer to Beijing, and I approved it. I didn’t expect you to let these people tag along with you and cause trouble at the association. Did you bring them all the way here to slander my apprentice and speak ill of our relationship?”
Teacher Zhang had never seenPresident Tanso furious.
He trembled under the man’s menacing gaze. He opened his mouth to explain himself, but he couldn’t find the words to say.
“And you!” Elder Wangcalled out toLiu Yao, who was hovering at the doorway. “Get over here!”
Liu Yao walked over timidly. He already hatedTeacher Zhangand the mother-daughter pair to the core.
He kept his head low and said nothing. Although he hadn’t really done anything to warrant everyone’s wrath, he couldn’t deny that the whole debacle unfolded under his watch.
“So, you think you can just receive anyone now? I don’t think you want to be the Vice President anymore! If so, you should have just left your office, and we’ll find someone else more capable and discerning to take over the position. How dare you entertain these shameless people? Don’t you know what’s good for you?”
“I deeply apologize, Elder Wang!”Liu Yaocried out as he bowed repeatedly. All he wanted at that moment was to disappear.
“Elders, I am indeed at fault for meeting with them for even a moment, but I beg you to quell your anger. This lady only speaks for herself and reflects none of my personal sentiments. I assure you, I will not be receiving any of them in the future.”
