Music was anguage that transcended barriers, and though Ste''s piano skills didn''t quite match her mastery of the violin, she could effortlessly pass a Grade 8 exam with ease.


    On stage, a mother and daughter were performing a duet.


    The girl''s mother yed the piano with remarkable skill. Even when the girl stumbled over a few notes due to nerves, her mother remained calm and swiftly covered for her.


    Marvin, sitting beside Ste, leaned in to whisper some intel.


    "That little girl''s name is Marilyn. Her mom is the heiress of Royal Crest


    Diamantine. I heard Marilyn say that her mom is a top-tier pianist and even works as one professionally on the side."


    "She started learning the piano with her mom when she was just three."


    Ste nodded softly.


    Marilyn''s mother was impressive, and Marilyn herself was holding her own. Despite a few slips, she quickly regained herposure without letting it affect their overall performance.


    For an adult, such mistakes might cost points, but for a five or six-year-old to recover so swiftly, it was actually a bonus.


    The mother and daughter made a striking pair-the mother, graceful and refined, and the girl, radiant with youthful exuberance. When their performance ended, the crowd broke into roaring apuse.


    Abby, watching from the side, joined in the pping.


    "What a beautiful opening act! Oh, by the way, Star, while you were changing, the kindergarten teacher came by to let us know that we''re the finale."


    "The finale?" Ste''s interest was piqued. "So Rachel''s performing before me?"


    Abby nodded with a slight huff. "She decided to redo her look and get her makeup done, which is hardly enough time, but she insisted on going before you."


    "Ha, talk about shameless."


    Marvin, looking puzzled, asked, "Aunt Abby, isn''t the finale a good thing?"


    Abby exined, "Well, everyone knows that the opening and the finale are two very important spots in a performance. The opening captures attention, and the finale is supposed to be the grand finish."


    "But in today''s fast-paced world, the finale isn''t as coveted as it used to be, especially inpetitions."


    "People''s attention spans are limited. After a long series of performances, the judges'' focus and energy aren''t what they were at the start, and they often overlook many details and highlights. Instead, the ws tend to stand out more."


    "Especially after seeing impressive acts earlier, following performers can seem dull and uninteresting byparison."


    Marvin mused, "Really? I always thought the finale was the best."


    Abby replied, "If the finale were really the best, why would those parents atpetitions be so willing to give up such a prime spot to us? Think about it. In some performance settings, the audience is tired after watching for so long. By the end, they can barely sit still. At that point, if the final act isn''t outstanding, audience members might start leaving early. They figure they''ve seen most of it already, and if thest act doesn''t seem exciting, they can''t be bothered to stick around for it. If you want to close the show strong, you''d better be famous and crazy talented. Otherwise, good luck finding an audience still around."


    As Abby nced at the judges'' scores, she noted, "Look, for apetition, the opening act is really where you want to shine." The average score for Marilyn and her mom was an impressive ny-six, already setting a high bar.