Chapter 363: The Best Thing in the World

Standing on stage, Maggie felt uncertain about her ranking. But at least, in this lifetime, she had this experience—a stark contrast to her past. That was enough for her.

Shortly after, the names of the seventh- through tenth-place winners were announced. They received excellence awards from the organizers. Following this, the fourth, fifth, and sixth-place winners, determined by vote count, received awards for Best Newcomer, Best Performance, and Best Composition, respectively.

"Now, let's reveal the third-place winner of our college competition. Please welcome Emma Crawford from Southwest University!"

The audience erupted in applause as a petite girl accepted the trophy, her face radiant with joy. The host then asked her two questions before announcing the runner-up.

Maggie, anxiously watching the vote count on the large screen, stood on stage. Being so close to winning the top prize was nerve-wracking. Who wouldn't want that? Even though the competition had evolved, the recognition this award offered was enough.

She likely wouldn't have many opportunities to pursue music professionally, let alone compete globally. Maggie understood her skill level, while acceptable for a university-level competition, wouldn't hold up in a world-class event. Compared to true prodigies, she hadn't dedicated enough time to the piano. To excel, she needed to put in significantly more effort. Lost in thought, the host announced, "Now, let's see the votes for Maggie Adam, who is undoubtedly the champion of our college competition!" Maggie snapped back to reality, realizing all eyes were on her.

She looked at the screen with the others. The votes had been tallied; for excitement's sake, they were displayed incrementally, stopping when they reached the final count.

After a dozen seconds, the vote count froze, and the host declared, "Six million, seven hundred and eighty-three thousand, five hundred and twenty-three votes! Maggie leads by a significant margin!" Cheers erupted in the hall, and the internet buzzed with excitement. Maggie's name rocketed to the top of trending lists, attracting many unfamiliar netizens.

Comments and live chat messages flooded in:

"Wow, I'm so moved! My idol finally clinched the championship!"

"The Camerons should back off. Stop trying to emotionally blackmail us!"

"I apologize for blindly supporting Sierra before. I've made amends by voting for Maggie ten times more!"

"I'm sorry for siding with Sierra earlier. Maggie, please forgive me!"

"With a bit more practice, Maggie can easily compete in world-class events. And can we talk about how gorgeous she is?"

"Maggie, will you be my girlfriend? I promise I'll be good to you!"

"Honey, please notice me! You should venture into showbiz!"

"The Camerons are in revolt. Maggie, you owe them nothing. You should cut ties with them!"

The comments continued. The audience below was lively, and the stage above was equally bustling. The host chuckled and remarked, "Looks like even Maggie is surprised by her vote count."

Maggie paused, then nodded. "I'm really taken aback. I never thought so many people would appreciate me and the music I play."

"Alright, Maggie, do you have anything else you'd like to say?"

Looking down at the audience, Maggie spoke warmly: "Firstly, I want to express my gratitude to my teacher, who generously imparted his piano knowledge. Secondly, I want to thank all my friends for being there for me. Lastly, I want to thank my beloved for always loving me more than I love him and for helping me through tough times."

Maggie's eyes welled up. She didn't mention the Camerons; they didn't deserve recognition, and it wasn't the time to mention the Adams.

"Of course, I also want to extend my thanks to all of you who voted for me. Thank you for your love and support for music, your tolerance, and your encouragement to dreamers."

As she finished, the audience erupted in applause. Kevin sat below, looking pleased, while Master Pierce had already left.

After the awards ceremony, Maggie spoke with Danielle, and Nathael reserved a private room at The Serenity for a celebratory meal. Maggie had a few too many drinks, resulting in flushed cheeks. Nathael didn't mind.

As night fell, Maggie and Nathael decided to head home. Maggie leaned against Nathael, softly asking, "Are we going back to my place?"

"You can pack tomorrow, or would you like to spend the night at your place?" Nathael glanced down at her. She seemed sober, but her flushed cheeks and neck made her incredibly charming.

"Nathael, I want to give you the trophy," Maggie said, picking up the crystal trophy. Perhaps because their separation was imminent, Maggie unconsciously became more affectionate. Nathael chuckled. "Are you sure?"

Maggie looked up earnestly. "Yes, I want to give you the best thing in the world." But he already has everything. I don't know what else I can give him.

Her eyes glistened, exceptionally beautiful. Even slightly intoxicated, her eyes were enchanting.

Unable to resist, Nathael gently kissed her lips, saying in a deep voice, "I already have the best thing in the world."

But Maggie disregarded his words, firmly placing the trophy in his hand. "Keep it safe. I'll ask for it back in the future."

Nathael chuckled softly. "So you want to reclaim something you've given away."

Maggie nestled into his arm, weakly responding, "Yup." Because she feared that someday, in the distant future, he would forget about her. So, despite the risk of painful memories, she was trying her best to leave behind some traces, hoping to delay being forgotten.

Finally, Maggie and Nathael returned home together. She planned to pack, but felt too dizzy. After showering, she laid out two large suitcases, tossed in a few clothes, and climbed into bed, falling asleep immediately.

Nathael emerged from the shower to find Maggie lying sideways on the bed, hugging a pillow. Her nightgown revealed a glimpse of her snow-white legs, and the hem of her skirt had rolled up, revealing a small piece of white lace.