The earlier performances wrapped up quickly.


    The contestants all delivered about what was expected of them, with no major mistakes to speak of.


    This time, Harry didn''t offer the kind of bitingmentary he''d reserved for Antoney and Ste. He simply watched in silence, as if even he recognized there was nothing worth criticizing. After all, you have to let the average folks hold onto a little hope, don''t you?


    Soon, it was Harry and Rachel''s turn to take the stage.


    Before the contest, Harry had sworn up and down to Mr. Walden that they''d absolutely beat Ste this time. Mr. Walden, along with Rena and several others, hade to watch in person.


    Their arrival drew quite a bit of attention-spectators snapped photos, and a low buzz of conversation spread through the hall.


    "I heard Rachel''s partner today is Harry, Mr. Walden''s top violin protégé," someone whispered. "He''s basically the best under Mr. Walden himself."


    "Isn''t that a bit unfair? Harry''s basically on the level of a master-why would he bother entering a studentpetition?" another person said.


    "They say Harry''s here to back up Rachel, Mr. Walden''sst protégé," someone else chimed in.


    "Rachel might be Mr. Walden''s student, but she''s beenpletely overshadowed by Ste every single time. She''s never stood a chance."


    "I heard Rachel''s sick, though-that''s why she''s never been able to show her full potential."


    "Well, if she''s that sick, maybe she shouldn''tpete. But if she''s here, then she shouldn''t use illness as an excuse," another spectator replied.


    "Even if Rachel isn''t at her best and loses to Ste, it just shows their skills are close. Otherwise, with someone like Harry on her team, wouldn''t they just crush Ste outright?"


    "Honestly, even if Rachel were at her absolute peak, I doubt she could beat Ste. Some violin experts online have reviewed Ste''s ying—even Antoney can''t match her."


    "Mr. Walden''s really going all out to help his student take down Ste-he even brought in Harry."


    "Still, bringing in Harry feels a bit like stacking the deck, doesn''t it?"


    "I honestly don''t know what Mr. Walden is thinking. It''s a bit beneath him, if you ask me."


    The audience was abuzz, many expressing their confusion or even disapproval at Mr. Walden''s decision. Some even pointed and gestured in his direction.


    But with Harry on Rachel''s team, even if Ste lost, no one could say she''d been embarrassed-she was up against the best.


    Mr. Walden sat unmoved, ignoring the looks and whispers. To him,petition was all about skill. As long as Rachel''s team won, the criticism would fade away soon enough.


    When the stage lights came up, Harry and Rachel stepped forward to begin their performance.


    Both of them were exceptional in their own right. Though Harry had a reputation for being a bit of a lone wolf, ensemble work posed no real challenge for him.


    He truly deserved his reputation as Mr. Walden''s top student-his technique was wless.


    They had chosen an incredibly challenging piece, one considered a benchmark among the world''s most difficult ssics. Rachel could never have managed it alone, but with Harry by her side, everything changed.


    Their wless coordination delivered a performance that left the audience utterly breathless


    a feast for the senses.


    Even after the fir


    final note faded,


    people sat spellbound, still caught in the magic of their music. Then,


    somewhere in the hall, someone


    spread, swelling until it thundered through the auditorium.


    began pping. The "r"


    “My God, Harry really is something else. Watching him y is pure joy!"


    "This piece is considered one of the


    top ten most difficult in the world There are hardly any violinists who can pull it off so perfectly-Harry is definitely one of them."