Song Yan, Zhang Ziran and other two boys walked out of Fuyue Restaurant. Zhang and the other boys were so excited that they gazed at Song with worship in their eyes.
"Brother Song, what about we finding a club to drink?" Zhang Ziran suggested.
"Maybe another time. I have some work to finish," Song Yan answered as he shook his head.
After saying goodbyes to Zhang Ziran and other two boys, Song Yan walked towards the café. Though he could hardly gain Fame points at the café, he was a man who finished what he started. He went to work at the café every day.
The café was fully occupied as usual. To his surprise, Su Mei'er, boss of the café, was not here. According to the waitress, Su went back to Yan City, her hometown in a hurry and would coma back in a couple of days.
Yan City, capital city of the State of Yanhuang, is also the biggest city in the country.
At 10 PM, Song Yan bowed to the guests after finishing playing. He was met by warm applause.
"Song Yan, are you available now? I have something to talk to you." Zheng Yun, organizer of Xiangcheng Piano Competition, went to him.
Song Yan nodded in surprise, wondering what she came to him for.
After sitting down, he ordered an espresso while she ordered a cappuccino.
"Sister Zheng, I guess you are not coming to me just to buy me a coffee. Just tell me what happened." He picked up his mug, taking a sip of the coffee.
"Song Yan, I'm so sorry," she said with a look of embarrassment. "Here it is, last time I told you that you could directly enter the finals. Xiangcheng Piano Competition was a non-governmental competition, organized by Xiangcheng Piano Association. Several days ago, however, the Association passed the application for the governmental association. And the president of the Association will be taken by Ma Jingchu. She is also the president of Xiangcheng Music Association and attaches great importance to the competition."
She paused for a short while and then continued, "President Ma is a strict lady, so after discussion, the organizing committee of the competition decided to cancel your qualification to enter the finals."
Hearing that, he was a little uncomfortable. It was Zheng Yun who took the initiative to tell him that he could enter the finals, but now she told him that his qualification was cancelled. He suppressed his anger and asked, "Sister Zheng, what do you mean by that?"
"Uh, we hope that you can take the preliminary contest like other players." She looked at him with a hopeful expression. She was afraid he would refuse to take part in the competition.
He lowered his head, absorbed in meditation. If he directly entered the finals, he might provoke much baffled comment. If he took part in the competition from the very beginning, he could emerge as the best player and earn much more Fame points. In a word, the advantages overweighed the disadvantages if he took part in the competition from the beginning.
She was rather disturbed by his quietness and murmured, "Song Yan, it's all my fault. If you want to blame anyone, just blame me."
"Sister Zheng, don't blame yourself. I'm willing to take the preliminary contest," Song Yan said with a bland smile.
"Great!" she couldn't help but yell at his words. If he refused to take part in the competition, it would not be that good. But she had no other choice as Ma Jingchu was the wife of the vice mayor of Xiangcheng City.
His answer won the enthusiastic approval of her. This boy was indeed broad-minded. Other piano masters might have already flung out of the café with anger under such circumstances.
"Song Yan, thank you very much!" she said sincerely.
"No problem." Song Yan shook his hand indifferently.