Chapter 374: Only Male Students

Carlos was sincere. Sylvie was diligent and a good singer, but her voice was average. He'd initially hesitated between the two, but Penelope's talent had swayed his decision. Sylvie nodded obediently.

The girl was heartbroken, witnessing the close interaction between her teacher and Penelope. Carlos remained oblivious to her feelings. Christopher and Rosalie watched sympathetically.

After giving instructions, Carlos led them to a private room to watch the performances. Preoccupied, he didn't notice their expressions until he overheard their whispers.

"It won't happen! If Carlos liked her, he'd be blind," Christopher said.

Carlos was speechless. His face reddened. "What are you talking about?"

"You and Penelope," Isabella said, eager to gossip. "It's obvious."

Isabella felt no qualms about gossiping freely with Christopher and Rosalie.

Embarrassed, Carlos said, "She's just a naive student. Don't gossip."

"She's an adult who knows what she's doing," Christopher retorted, repeating Isabella's information. "Cousin, did she confess, and you reject her?"

At a loss for words, Carlos sighed, "Maybe I should only take male students in the future."

Isabella stifled a snide remark. Considering the male students' earlier reactions to him, Carlos might be underestimating his appeal. To avoid teacher-student romances, he should probably make himself less attractive. Christopher and Rosalie suppressed their laughter.

Rosalie asked, "Carlos, if Penelope doesn't give up, what will you do? You're still her teacher."

Carlos looked down at the stage. "If she remains stubborn, I can't continue. Maybe today offers an opportunity. If her performance impresses someone, another teacher might take her on. Then I can step back."

Isabella warned, "Considering her personality, if you stop teaching her and hand her off, won't she cause a scene? Be careful." She knew Penelope's temperament could easily escalate, and Carlos' gentle nature was ill-suited to handling it.

Even without Isabella's reminder, Carlos was aware and cautious. He'd invested in Penelope and wanted her to succeed. Soon, the performance began.

Isabella and Rosalie lacked professional judgment, relying on their feelings. Carlos and Christopher, however, offered serious evaluations.

Penelope performed early. Her voice was outstanding, impressive even to Isabella and Rosalie. Her performance transformed the student recital into a professional concert. The audience reacted strongly; reporters took more photos. Thunderous applause followed. Penelope confidently accepted the accolades, searching for Carlos but finding him absent in the private room.

The subsequent performances were lackluster until Sylvie's. Sylvie, sans glasses, seemed to have made an effort with her appearance. Isabella and the others were surprised by her powerful voice. Though not as dazzling as Penelope's, it was clearly on par with the other students'. Her singing skills impressed many professionals, but her voice was ordinary, easily blending into the background.