Chapter 189

Jasper was grinding his teeth, desperate to shut down the livestream. His hands wouldn't stop shaking—whether from white-hot rage or helpless awe at Stella's brilliance, he couldn't tell. It took three steadying breaths, his fingers hovering over the keyboard as if they'd forgotten their purpose, before he finally slammed the "END STREAM" button hard enough to crack the screen.

And just when he thought he'd succeeded, his phone froze. Comments, animated gifts, and an influx of viewers eager to see the stunning performer overwhelmed the system. It wasn't just Jasper's phone; even the server was struggling. Jasper nearly lost it. "Damn it! Shut it down, shut it down!" he shouted, furiously tapping the screen until the livestream finally closed.

After Rachel finished her performance, the audience was able to gather their wits and applaud. But when Stella wrapped up her act, there was an almost eerie silence for a full minute. Then, from somewhere in the crowd, a single clap echoed, breaking the spell. Suddenly, applause erupted, louder and more enthusiastic than before, nearly deafening.

If not for the decorum expected of them, the audience might have cheered and whistled for Stella. Her performance wasn't just music—it was a sensory eruption. The notes weren't played; they were conjured, weaving a tapestry so vivid the air itself seemed to shimmer with color. And the visuals—every movement, every flick of her wrist—were hypnotic, like watching a storm given human form.

They might have sneered at Stella's background, scoffed at her education, but no one could deny her beauty. In their world, beauty wasn't something that held much value, but in that moment, she was brilliant, dazzling, and breathtakingly beautiful.

The judges, brought back to reality, were visibly moved, their faces flushed with excitement. They didn't need to deliberate or even think; unanimously, they held up their perfect scorecards.

“Oh my god, I’ve never heard such a captivating melody.”

“Even Rachel couldn’t match a tenth of her performance.”

“To say her rendition was the best I’ve ever heard is no exaggeration!”

“Now I finally understand what it means for music to linger in your mind for days.”

One of the more observant judges noted, “If I’m not mistaken, young Marvin had a solo segment, right? But I didn’t find it the least bit jarring—it was flawlessly integrated.”

“This performance was absolutely flawless!”

“Indeed, in the previous group, little Keen didn’t even have a solo.”

In fact, in the earlier performance, two-thirds of the piece was Rachel's solo, with only a third as a duet. This was understandable. Kids don't have much time to master their instruments, and playing a small part well is already impressive. A few minor mistakes are forgivable.

But Stella and Marvin's duet was impeccable. It wasn't Marvin's talent alone—it was Stella's incredible arrangement and coordination that pushed the performance to perfection. She brought out the best in Marvin, making his solo not a hindrance, but a stroke of genius that left a lasting impression. Their performance was undeniably the best.

Abby watched the enthusiastic crowd around her with a look of calm, as if she’d expected nothing less.

“This is Star’s signature piece, Moonlight Sonata—one of the top ten untouchable classics at Neo-Vespera University’s School of Music. Beating Rachel is no surprise at all.”