### Chapter 337: Naylai’s Side: No One’s Left Behind Anymore
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Chapter 337: Naylai’s Side: No One’s Left Behind Anymore
“Christine, I think you ought to understand your current situation?”
Inside a luxurious hotel in Baijing City,
In a room,
On the video call screen of her phone,
A noblewoman sat on a chair, her back leaned against mahogany-paneled walls glowing with the amber hue of whiskey, reminiscent of the old English manor’s library—where Naylai used to kneel and play her violin under those carvings until her knees turned bruised and bloodied like a scene from a horror flick.
Those eyes that resembled Naylai nine-out-of-ten times were calmly staring at the poor girl.
“After this September, once the competition ends, you should be stepping down and go back to Britain. We’ll have the best music school waiting for you.”
“I understand, Mother.”
Naylai placed her hands on her knees, her face a mixture of discomfort and unease, whispering meekly,
“But the match isn’t over yet, right?”
Naylai slowly looked up, her eyes darting away rather than meeting the screen’s reflection.
“If… if I win this time,”
“Should you win, I will keep my promise.”
The noblewoman said.
As she spoke, an unmistakable hint of helplessness and sorrow flitted across her face.
Frankly, she didn’t want to strike such a bet with Naylai.
She had never once considered having her daughter abandon her path in music.
After all, she was so naturally gifted.
Too bad this gal seemed so selfish, her heart entirely occupied by herself, never realizing how her talent could benefit the family. Sometimes she really questions if Naylai’s bl**d truly runs through her veins.
But Naylai’s dad agreed to her terms with Gan Hua’s granddaughter—defeat her, and she can enroll in art school and choose her own path in life.
And so, as the proud mother Kaliana Naylai would comply.
She had seen Gan Yanyu playing; she was a perfect cello player, flawless from every angle. Her zeal for music almost made others feel inadequate.
Gan Hua had a great granddaughter there.
With Christine,
The worthless waste who never even loved music once,
Kaliana understood the struggle.
But that wasn’t her concern.
Looking at the visibly uneasy Naylai on-screen,
Kaliana’s expression turned icy, stating simply,
“I’ll come see your semi-final performance in person.”
Upon hearing this,
Naylai’s head snapped up, her face turning deathly pale.
“Mother, are you… going to come personally?”
“Yeah, Daddy can’t make it, I’ll be alone.”
Kaliana paused,
“If you can’t even make it to the semis, I won’t buy the ticket to Baijing, you’d better go back yourself.”
—
In silence,
The call ended.
Seeing the empty hotel room, Naylai clutched her head and sank to the floor.
Her pupils were trembling like they were about to pop out.
That woman was coming.
Kaliana Naylai, a terrifying woman.
As her voice echoed,
A flood of memories surged through Nayalai’s mind:
“Naylai! Are you even learning properly? How did you end up like this?!”
“You’re a disgrace to the Naylai family! I think you should let a hippo bite your head off in the zoo to clear your mind!”
“d*mn it, Christine, do you know how many people wish they had your talent? Why are you wasting your life?”
Wasting her life?
To Naylai,
Picking up bow and violins felt like a waste from the get-go.
Why did she have to live doing what her heart couldn’t bear?
Talk about talent. She was willing to give hers up, if only it meant living her one true passion.
Naylai simply didn’t understand.
Memories flooded back,
Voices of anger echoing endlessly.
Her mother never directly cursed her with vulgar words,
Yet every soothing whisper she laid on her shoulders weighed heavier than insults.
Soon enough, tears were welling up in Naylai’s eyes.
She lifted her gaze toward a framed photo on the desk.
There,
At the center stage of Shinonome Culture Center,
Was herself, Bai Xi, Yun QiuQiu with Tian, and Yanyu, a group selfie post-concert.
Yanyu was smiling brilliantly,
Like a ray of hope in a bleak world for Naylai.
If this music journey had any silver lining, it was surely Yanyu.
Naylai envied her dedication and purity, and in that envy, sprouted affection, loving her kindness, gentleness, and soothing comfort after every defeat.
“Sorry, Yanyu.”
This might just be my last chance.
Standing, she fingered the frame.
Perhaps some battles were worth fighting.
Yanyu could still try again next time, and Tian could always offer support.
But, she,
Naylai,
Was utterly alone now.
Life offered no backing out anymore.
Tossing the photo frame face-down onto the table, Naylai slung her cello case over her shoulder.
With a resolve like a bull charging ahead, she headed toward the door.
Baijing International Concert Hall
Behind the scenes, in a private resting room,
Tian and Yan Yu waited.
Yan Yu was as meticulous as ever, double-checking her piece, ensuring no flubs during her performance.
Tian on the other hand was more laid-back.
Over these few days, he barely practiced, focusing on mental preparation instead.
Training mainly consisted of eating, drinking, and partying.
After all, it was his first national contest; a clear mindset sometimes mattered more than extra practice.
But Yan Yu had a bit less fortitude and pulled Tian out of bed into the night before to squeeze in more practice.
“Oh, here we go,”
Yan Yu gasped softly.
Tian turned to the big screen.
Stage lights brightened, revealing an animated ink dragon swirling around a cello backdrop.
Tchaikovsky’s _1812 Overture_ played as the symphony orchestra began to warm up.
In the golden hall,
A female host gracefully ascended the stage,
“The vibrant dragon motifs you behold aren’t just a thousand-year-old legacy, but a representation of our nation’s soul in contemporary cello art.”
“Welcome to the 2025 Dragon Zither Cup National Cello Competition!”
-(End of Chapter)-
