Chapter 41
Stanton was practically buzzing with excitement as he addressed the room. “Look at that. Even this girl thinks I’ve got screws loose! What kind of shrink are you, not taking your buddy’s headcase seriously?”
Louie just stood there, silent
Knowing Cordelia’s easygoing nature, he didn’t immediately argue with Stanton. And sure enough, after a brief pause, Cordelia spoke up unhurriedly. “It’s not your head. It’s your playing that’s off.”
The room fell into a hush
As a world–renowned piano virtuoso, Stanton was not used to such criticism. It was the first time anyone had dared suggest his playing was flawless.
After a moment, Stanton asked, “What’s off?”
Cordelia shook her head. “I don’t know exactly.”
Stanton raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “Are you kidding me?” he thought inwardly.
Louie’s voice, ever calm, broke the silence. “Why would you say that?”
Standing straight as an arrow, Cordelia answered like a diligent student responding to a teacher’s question. “There was a part that just didn’t sound right”
Raised in an orphanage, Cordelia had never had formal training She had taught herself everything she knew about music
Unable to articulate Stantons mistake in technical terms, she offered. Let me play it for you.”
Stanton was about to snort dismissively at the thought of a young girl identifying an error in his performance, but Louie gently pushed him aside to clear the way to the piano “Go ahead”
Cordelia sat down, her hands finding their place on the keys. She didn’t play the entire piece from start to finish but zeroed in on the segment that Stanton had botched
As she played, the smirk on Stantons face faded, replaced by an expression of deep concentration and, eventually, amazement
Stanton had played this signature piece for years, habitually glossing over a wrong note that had become ingrained in his muscle memory. The tempo was so fast, the mistake so well–embedded. It was nearly undetected
When Cordelia finished playing. Stanton stood there, dazed, his mind racing “So, that’s how it is That’s how it
He stepped forward, eager to shake her hand. “Who are you?”
This girl who could detect such a subtle error on a single listening couldn’t be a nobody could she?
Cordelia stepped back, avoiding his grasp
Louie interrupted. “This is Cordelia. I was thinking of introducing her to you as a potential student, you see
Before Louie could finish his thought, Stanton stood up and declared emphatically, “No way
Louie was puzzled.
The next moment, Stanton practically shouted, “How can I teach her? I should ask her for lessons! From now! on, she’s my teacher?
Cordelia was baffled. She just thought she could play the piano How was the supposed to teach anyone?
But then, Stanton was already pulling out his phone “Cordelia, what’s your number? Let’s swap digits? We can
we can give each other pointers. Do you want to learn some music scores and piano techniques I can show you
Chapter
The promise of learning had attracted ber
Cordelia took out her phone and, after they exchanged numbers, she saved his contact as Piano Man.
Immediately, Piano Man‘ sent her a link to join a group chat.
The group’s name was Pioneers Club
Cordelia was momentarily stunned. Then Piano Man added, “Cordelia, this group’s full of aces. Louie’s in there, too I’m adding you so we can all share knowledge, okay?”
Credelia couldn’t resist the allure of learning. So, she looked up inquiringly at Louie
Sensing Cordelia’s wish, Loule took down her baseball cap, ruffled her hair, and said with a smile. “Join it. You’ve been too isolated. It’s good to make friends.”
Cordelia’s eyes lit up, and she requested to join the group.
Stanton called out, “Louie, you’re an admin. Approve it, will you?”
Louie tapped ‘accept,’ and Cordelia was in the “Pioneers Club.”
Stanton eagerly scrolled through the member list, introducing each one. “Lia, you know Louie, the doc. He’s also an admin. That’s the math whiz, the gamer, the actor, the fashionista, the dancer, the chef, the artist, and this one…
He ran through the list of twenty members.
Cordelia marveled at how one group chat could span so many professions. She asked, “Are they all as skilled as they seem?”
Stanton lifted his chin proudly. “They’re known as I am, I guess. Just your average Joe.”
Cordelia just nodded, “Oh.”
A man who couldn’t even nail every note certainly was ‘average.‘
Unaware of her thoughts, Stanton pointed to a profile with a solid black picture. “Lia, listen up. You can mess with anyone else in here. Louie’s got your back. But don’t ever cross this group admin!”
Cordelia was puzzled. The profile picture looked vaguely familiar.
She glanced at the name – Nointerruptions.
Even the name had a chill, like a frosty “keep out‘ sign.
She didn’t dwell on it, simply asking, “Why?”
Stanton seemed scared when mentioning the person. “He’s the real deal and got a short fuse. But don’t worry. He never chats. Don’t badmouth him in here, and you’ll be fine.”
“Okay…” Her curiosity was piqued.
But his words implied the rest were indeed pseudo–big shots? No, except for Louie. He was internationally known as a stellar psychologist.
As they chatted, a message popped up in the group.
Bland Sullivan asked, [Newbie?]
And another message came through.
་ འ འ པ
Piano Man announced, [Guys, let me introduce you to Louie’s good friend, my teacher! @LearnLover]
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