Chapter 319: Unnecessary Lessons
đđeeđ°đ˛đnđ¨đđ˛l.đđ¨mHis yell jolted Qin Man back to her senses, and she cooled down a bit. Even her eyes, which looked wild and crazy just a few seconds ago, also turned calm.
Although her heart was still hammering inside her chest, she did manage to appear composed.
Yao Yuan gave her a warning glare before addressing the room with an apologetic smile. âPlease excuse her behavior. Sheâs been under a lot of stress lately, and she finds it hard to control her emotions sometimes.â
Jiang Wan smiled faintly while her husband offered a polite bow. Still, she foundQin Manâs reaction toYao Tangbeing a concertmaster a tad too dramatic.
âDonât tell me sheâs regretting the way sheâs been treating her daughter all this time?â Jiang Wanmused. âJust becauseYao Tangturned out to be a concertmaster?â
Yao Ran was deep in thought as well.
She couldnât help the fear that gripped her the moment she heard the boysâ chatter, thinking that Qin Manmight change her attitude towardYao Tang.
Despite the direction of her thoughts, she was just as taken aback by her motherâs sudden outburst as everyone else.
Yao Ranâs mind was racing. She hung her head and considered the possibilities.
Just as the atmosphere was becoming awkward, Qin Mancleared her throat and askedYao Tangin a much calmer voice, âSo youâre a concertmaster?â
Old Madam Yao narrowed her eyes and braced herself for another heated exchange should her daughter-in-law cross the line again.
But Qin Manignored her and fixed her eyes onYao Tang.
Her gaze had an urgency to it, as if she wouldnât find relief until Yao Tangherself confirmed the matter.
......
The corner of Yao Tangâs lips lifted ever so slightly. âThatâs right.â
âAnd when did you become a musician, exactly?â Qin Mandemanded, crossing her arms over her chest.
âPerhaps you learned a bit of music theory in that sad, backwater hometown of yours and foolishly thought you could handle the big leagues, huh? I doubt anyone from the industry even knows who you areââ
âQin Man!â Old Madam Yaointerrupted her before she could finish. She shot theQin Mana menacing look, as though she would beat the younger woman in the next second.
âWatch your mouth! Didnât you say youâre taking Yao Ranto her music lessons? Youâve stalled long enough. Hurry up and leave!â
Yao Ran grabbed the chance for an escape. She walked over toQin Manand tugged at her arm.
âLetâs go, Mom. If we donât leave now, weâll be late.â
But Qin Manshook off her hand and glared at her impatiently. âWhy are you acting up? Canât you see Iâm still in the middle of something?â
Yao Ran could only stare at her mother in a daze, unable to process what the woman had just done. This was the mother who had doted on her for almost two decades.
And yet she had flung Yao Ranâs hand away and snapped at her like she was nothing more than a nuisance.
Yao Ran couldnât maintain her smile anymore. She had initially wanted to do her mother a favor and salvage some of their dignity by taking her out of there, butQin Manonly hadYao Tangin her sights.
It was almost as if she had turned into a different person entirely, a person that Yao Randidnât know.
Yao Ran felt the room grow smaller around her, and the tips of her fingers turned cold.
Everyone in attendance was related to Yao Tang, with her being the exception. She was an outsider, and she knew it. She didnât belong here.
But Yao Ranrefused to bow out. She lifted her chin and mustered a tight smile, even as her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
âYou arenât fit to be a concertmaster,â Qin mancontinued, oblivious to her favoriteâs anguish. âYouâd do well to start from the basics and learn how to master an instrument first.â
She paused and thought for a moment before adding, âWhy donât you try the violin? Ranranhad an excellent violin teacher. Iâll make arrangements so that you can start your lessons with him.â
Yao Ran spiraled into a panic after hearing that, and her breathing grew labored.
âHow can this be?â
Qin Man had always fussed over herâonly her.
Now, she was expected to share her former instructors with Yao Tang?
âI am the beloved daughter of the Yao family! I should be the only one they pay attention to!â
Yao Tang spoke then, her tone light and casual. âThereâs no need for that.â
âAnd why not?â Qin Manhuffed.
âI donât like the violin, so that wonât be necessary.â