Chapter 163

The competitions Roschelle took part in always garnered a lot of attention, not just because people always called her a piano prodigy, but also because ever since she started competing, she had never dropped out of the top three, and even third place was pretty rare for her.

The list of contestants just came out, and the internet was already buzzing with votes guessing which contestant would be the final winner.

No doubt, Roschelle was the hottest contender, way ahead in votes.

Alarieka scrolled down and saw her name on the last row. There were less than ten votes next to her name, while the other contestants had at least dozens. Her votes were really miserable.

Alarieka looked calm as she put away her phone, placed both hands on the piano keys, and pressed down slowly.

A familiar tune spread out from the piano.

Alarieka closed her eyes.

Her familiarity with this piece was almost engraved in her bones. She didn’t even need to think much, just close her eyes, put her fingers on the piano keys, and she could play the whole thing.

The tone was generous and gentle, sorrowful and angry.

This was Lindsey’s “Aspiration.”

It wasn’t a fake of Roschelle.

A song ended, Alarieka hadn’t opened her eyes yet when she heard a voice by her ear.

“Was it Roschelle’s ‘My Love’? It felt like it.”

Alarieka suddenly opened her eyes, and there was sarcasm in them.

How could a father look like his son?

Alarieka was thinking about these things but didn’t dare to say them out loud.

She once tried to expose Roschelle for plagiarism, but it was totally useless and she just got really messed with.

Alarieka didn’t say anything, just quietly packed up her stuff.

The piano in the studio she found was a top-quality one, had great sound, and the price was pretty good too, but the only downside was that she had to share the piano with others.

Alarieka came late, plus she had classes during the day, so her shifts were always in the evening. When she left, it was already early morning.

The man walked over and stood in front of Alarieka, with open malice on his face.

“Alarieka, I heard you were also going to join the Mcintosh Piano Competition?”

Alarieka zipped up the backpack and slung it over her shoulder.

She looked up, her eyes clear: “What?”

This girl was called Ashlee Watson, and she was the niece of the manager who started this piano studio.

Since Alarieka joined this piano studio, Ashlee seemed to always have a problem with her, picking on her all the time, doing things that didn’t really bother Alarieka, and then just laughing to herself.

Physically, Alarieka was only two years older than her.

But psychologically, Alarieka was more than ten years older than her.

So, those harmless tricks, Alarieka never took them seriously and didn’t really get involved.

It’s just that, for some reason, Ashlee just had to mess things up.

Ashlee chuckled and said, “We all learned piano, and we all knew the gossip in the circle.”

“Alarieka,” Ashlee looked sarcastic, “I remember you used this song to try to prove Roschelle copied, but turns out this song was also made by Roschelle, right?”

“Got totally slapped in the face, didn’t expect you still hadn’t given up. Are you planning to embarrass yourself at the competition with this song?”

In a corner where Ashlee couldn’t see, Alarieka’s eyes narrowed, and the look in her eyes gradually turned cold.

Seeing that Alarieka hadn’t responded for a long time, Ashlee thought she had guessed what Alarieka was thinking, and her expression got even more smug.

“I was right, wasn’t I?”

Ashlee walked around from the front of the piano, crossed her arms, and held her chin up proudly.

“Alarieka, I told you, you’d better not be so full of yourself. You should just quit the competition…”

Alarieka stuck out a leg, and Ashlee definitely twisted her calf on it.

“Ah!”

Alarieka stood up right away with her backpack, stepped aside, and watched Ashlee’s hands slam down on the piano keys. The piano made a loud, messy noise, and Ashlee’s scream came at the same time.

Alarieka just stood aside like she was out of it, watching Ashlee lying on the ground, grimacing in pain and howling nonstop.

She raised her eyebrows a little and said–calmly, “Better stop talking and watch the road. That’s what matters. Don’t fall again.”

Ashlee lay on the ground, pounding the floor with her fist, glaring at Alarieka through gritted teeth: “Alarieka, just you wait!”

Alarieka gave a slight smile and said, “Okay, I’ll wait.”

After saying that, she turned and left.

Before the Mcintosh Piano Competition started, the school held another monthly exam.