Chapter 363 The Best Thing in the World

Standing on the stage, Maggie felt uncertain about her rank.

But at least in this lifetime, she had this experience, which was different from before. That was sufficient for her.

Shortly after, the names of the students from seventh to tenth place were announced. They were recognized with excellence awards by the organizers. Following that, the fourth, fifth, and sixth-place winners, determined by vote counts, 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 went on stage to accept the trophy, her face radiant with joy.

The host then posed two questions to her with a smile before proceeding to announce the runner-up.

Maggie stood on stage, anxiously watching the vote count on the large screen. It was nerve-wracking to be so close to winning the top prize. Who wouldn’t want that?

Even though the competition had evolved, the recognition of this award was enough for her. She likely wouldn’t have many opportunities to pursue music in the future, let alone compete on a global scale.

Maggie understood that her skill level, while acceptable, was only sufficient for a university-level competition like this. It wouldn’t hold up in a world-class event.

Compared to true prodigies, she hadn’t dedicated enough time to the piano. If she wanted to excel, she needed to put in much more effort, just like everyone else.

Lost in thought for a moment, 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 turned to look at the screen with the others. The votes had been tallied long ago, but now, for excitement’s sake, they were displayed incrementally.

The number would stop increasing when it reached the actual 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, drawing in many netizens who were unfamiliar with her.

Comments and live chat flooded in:

“Wow, I’m so moved! My idol finally clinched the championship!”

“The Camerons should back off. Stop trying to emotionally blackmail us in the future!”

“I apologize for blindly supporting Sierra before. I’ve made amends by voting for her 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 went on.

The audience below was lively, and the stage above was equally busy. The host chuckled and remarked, “Looks like even Maggie is surprised by her vote count.”

Maggie paused for a moment, 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. He generously imparted all his piano knowledge to me. Secondly, I want to thank all my friends for being there for me through thick and thin. 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 became slightly moist. She didn’t mention the Camerons because they didn’t deserve recognition, and it wasn’t the right 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 her speech, the audience erupted into applause. Kevin sat below, looking pleased, while Master Pierce had already left early.

After the awards ceremony, Maggie went to talk to Danielle, and Nathael reserved a private room at The Serenity for a celebration meal with the group.

Maggie couldn’t resist having a few drinks, and she ended up drinking a bit too much.

However, Nathael didn’t mind. Before long, Maggie’s cheeks were flushed from the alcohol.

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 up 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 look incredibly charming.

“Nathael, I want to give you the trophy.” Maggie picked up the crystal trophy and insisted.

Perhaps because their separation was imminent, Maggie unconsciously became more affectionate.

Nathael chuckled. “Are you sure?”

Maggie looked up at him 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, as if covered in a thin mist with a hint of moisture, yet they were exceptionally beautiful. Even though she appeared a bit confused from the alcohol, her eyes were still enchanting, like there were stars in them.

Unable to resist, Nathael gently kissed her lips and said in a deep voice, “I already have the best thing in the world.”

But Maggie disregarded his words and firmly placed 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 back 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 had planned to pack, but she felt too dizzy. After showering, she laid out two large suitcases in the living room, tossed in a few clothes, and then climbed into bed. Feeling too sleepy to keep her eyes open, she fell asleep immediately.

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