"She''s stunning, incredibly talented, and aposer on top of all that... Honestly, she might even be better than Antoney."


    "I''m calling it—she''s got this year''s championship in the bag."


    A ripple of excitement swept through the audience.


    Rena couldn''t help ncing at Mr. Walden. "But, sir, didn''t you say Ste wasn''t anything special? The skill she just showed was insane-way beyond what I saw in her videos."


    Johnny chimed in. "I''ve been watching her closely. There''s no way she was cheating. And her handling of that tricky D major section? Her fingerwork was wless. Cheating isn''t even possible at that level."


    Easier pieces are one thing; it''s possible to fake your way through them. But what Ste just yed "Moonlight Bay"—was a true challenge, the kind you can''t fake.


    David wandered over, smirking. "You''re all singing Ste''s praises, but I don''t buy the hype."


    Rena and Johnny both turned, incredulous. "Come on, David! Out of all the students Mr. Walden''s ever had, barely anyone can evenpare to her. How can you say she''s not amazing?"


    David shrugged. "I''m not saying she''s not good. I just mean, if the teacher chose Rachel as his apprentice over Ste, doesn''t that mean Rachel''s even better?"


    Rena and Johnny''s eyes lit up at the idea.


    Of course if Ste''s this good and Mr. Walden still chose Rachel, then Rachel must be on another level entirely.


    They all thought the same thing: Maybe Rachel really is the once-in-a-century prodigy everyone says she is.


    Their awe for Ste quickly shifted into eager anticipation for Rachel''s performance.


    Backstage, Rachel stared at the monitor, watching Ste''s radiant smile and the host''s barely-contained admiration. Rachel''s expression was so dark it seemed to cast a shadow.


    Her fingernails dug into her palm until one snapped with a sharp crack.


    Ste''s performance was nearly wless-and on top of that, she had the advantage of ying an original piece.


    Rachel bit down hard on her lower lip.


    Unless she pulled off a miracle, overtaking Ste seemed next to impossible.


    What was she supposed to do now?


    Was she really about to embarrass herself in front of her teacher-and the whole world?


    Her phone buzzed.


    It was a call from Joshua Gardner.


    And he had more bad news.


    "Rachel, Ste''s performance just broke thepetition''s livestream record. More people tuned in than forst year''s grand finale. Do you know how many votes she''s acked up online?”


    Rachel clenched her phone so tightly her knuckles turned white. "How many?"


    "A million," Joshua replied.


    A million votes-already? It hadn''t even been ten minutes.


    And these weren''t just random clicks; every vote required ID verification, and each person only got three votes per day.


    To gather that many votes so quickly-Ste''s poprity and influence were nothing short of terrifying.


    Rachel seethed. "People are such shallow creatures! All they care about is a pretty face."


    She was convinced Ste''s looks were giving her an unfair advantage. Aside from the experts, who in the general public really understood music? Most were just dazzled by her beauty.


    Pathetic.


    Rachel was moments from taking the stage, caught between frustration and helplessness.


    She asked,Joshua, even if I''m


    as skilleme


    original


    might lose. What should I do?"


    St


    Joshua was silent for a moment, thinking. Then, in his usual unhurried tone, he


    said, "Actually, I might have an idea..."