Eddy looked at Shirley with a mixture of mncholy and helplessness. “You do have some talent for the harp, but it’s rather


    limited. Yet, you’re so confident in yourself. As your mentor, it’s hard for me to constantly discourage you, so | haven''t told you


    that you yed badly.”


    Shirley couldn''t believe this was the truth.


    Looking gloomy, Shirley gritted her teeth and retorted defiantly, “Mr. Moore, you speak so poorly of me. Are you implying that


    Ashley ys well? Is she even better than you?”


    Eddy’s expression immediately turned stern. He firmly held his cane to thud on the ground and dered, “Of course, she’s better


    than me! Otherwise, why else would | treat her with such respect?


    “How dare you address Ms. Ramos by her name? That''s disrespectful! Apologize to her now!”


    In an instant, Shirley''s eyes widened in disbelief. She thought, ‘Apologize to Ashley?


    Refer to her as Ms. Ramos?’


    Bryce couldn''t help but let out a snort ofughter.


    He had been worried that Ashley would be bullied, but now, with Eddy’s arrival, Shirley was utterly humiliated.


    Among them, Ashley seemed to hold the highest status in the harp circle


    there.


    Eddy urged Shirley to apologize.


    Raising her hand to stop him, Ashley said indifferently, “No need. | won''t stoop to her level.”


    Eddy frowned at Shirley, clearly displeased. “Ms. Ramos is being generous by not holding your rudeness against you. Now, you


    should thank Ms. Ramos!”


    Shirley''s eyes widened in disbelief again.


    She thought, ‘Not only do | have to apologize to her, but | also have to


    thank her?”


    The livestream audience, witnessing this unexpected turn only one thought.


    events, had


    They thought, ‘Despite Ashley''s young age and Eddy being quite old, Eddy’s respect for Ashley is remarkable!”


    Eddy red at Shirley, thinking, ‘My student is far too disrespectful to Ashley.


    “This is rude!


    ‘It''s infuriating enough to make me want to dismiss her!”


    eme


    Shirley clenched her fist and looked at Ashley, saying with reluctance, “Ms. Ramos, thank you for not taking my disrespect to


    heart. However, although Mr. Moore respects you, ording to the show’s rules, it’s your turn after | yed The Land.”


    She thought, ‘I really want to see how well Ashley can y.


    | can’t believe she will y better than me!’


    Eddy, seeing Shirley''s defiant behavior, looked at her as if she was a fool about to meet her doom and was about to reprimand


    her.


    Ashley raised her hand to stop him, smiling faintly, “Your student is amusingly foolish. But ording to the rules, | shall y The


    Land.”


    Shirley thought she must have misheard.


    She wondered, ‘Amusingly foolish?”


    Matthew, hearing Ashley was about to y The Land, was disdainful.


    He thought, “This jinx is unworthy of ying Ash’s The Land.


    A poor performance will be an insult to both Ash and The Land!”


    Under the gaze of everyone present, Ashley calmly took her seat in front. of the harp, gently pressing the strings with her left


    hand.


    The moment she sat down and slightly raised her hand, an innate ssical elegance emanated from her, as if she had been one


    with the harp for many years.


    The livestream audience was immediately captivated by her serene and steady demeanor.


    Matthew suddenly widened his eyes as Ashley began to pluck the strings.


    Ciapter 61


    ying the first note.


    By the time Ashley yed the fifth and sixth notes, Matthew’s eyes were brimming with surprise, his profound gaze fixed on


    Ashley..


    He thought to himself, ‘It’s just like...


    Just like when my mentor Ash personally yed The Land!


    “That free and easy harp sound not yed for the sake of learning orpeting, but yed to enjoy the beauty of the harp!’


    So far, Matthew had only felt this soul-resonating sensation when listening to Ash y.


    Now, hearing Ashley y, he found himself experiencing that same feeling:


    He thought, ‘What’s going on?”


    -Everyone at the venue and the online livestream audience had their eyes fixed on Ashley, who was seated before the harp.


    The lingering harp music was distant and prolonged as if it transported people from the noisy and shy modern city to a poetic


    and picturesque ce.


    At first, they thought the harp sounded tranquil and graceful as if they hade to a quiet countryne, looking at smoke curling


    up from the chimneys.


    Upon listening again, they felt the harp’s rhythm quicken, adding a sense of loneliness, like countless men parting from their


    families, about to head to the battlefield.


    Suddenly, the harp sounded even more deste and profound. The rhythm became increasingly faster, unfolding a scene of


    strife and conflict before their eyes, which made them excited.


    Matthew stared unblinkingly at Ashley’s fingers on the harp.


    This was the most difficult part of ying The Land.


    Ashley’s hands moved incredibly fast, with nimble and intricate techniques, with fluid grace and precision, without a hint of


    roughness or pause!


    The greatest characteristic of the harp was its tranquility. You needed to


    express a deep andplex emotion from the third section of The Land, which was particrly challenging.


    Yet, Ashley’s performance was wless


    Matthew sincerely felt that even as Ash’s student, he couldn''t y at such a high level.


    Towards the end. Ashley’s technique became even moreplex and varied, the harp’s celestial sound transitioning from a


    small town to a bustling city, magnificent and splendid, like a song of a golden age.


    From the seaside to the ins, from the desert to the city, this was The Land!


    After Ashley finished ying, the audience remained silent for several dozen seconds before they woke up from that dreamy and


    picturesque dream, returning to reality.


    “Ashley, that was so beautifull”


    Miranda said, still captivated, pping enthusiastically.


    Bryce, always so candid, walked up to Ashley and patted her on the shoulder. “Come on. You’re too modest. When | asked how


    good you. were at the harp, you said average. If this is average, then what are the rest of us supposed to do? | feel like you y


    just as well as Ash!” Hearing Bryce’s words, Matthew thoughtfully furrowed his brow. He thought, ‘It seems I’m not the only one


    who feels this way.”


    At this moment, the livestream viewers were going wild again..


    [Ashley’s performance was amazing! | felt like | was dreaming. It was so immersive!]


    [Now | see why Mr. Moore respects her so much. Her harp skills are even better than his!]


    [No offense, but Shirley''s skills are trashpared to Ashley’s. She doesn’t even qualify to be arrogant in front of Ashley!]


    After Ashley’s performance, the director asked Matthew''s team forments as per the show''s routine.


    Hayes immediatelyughed and said, “Beautiful! Ashley, you’re incredible. No wonder Mr. Moore speaks so highly of you!”


    Chapter 61Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    The director turned to Matthew. “Matthew, what do you think?”


    Matthew''s lips were tightly pressed, and his look towards Ashley wasplex look, but he quickly changed his expression.


    He thought, I''ve always looked down upon Ashley, but she truly surprised me today.