Zhang Liping took the Piano Score and glanced at it. At first, her expression was calm, but it quickly turned serious, her brow furrowing deeply.
Seeing this, Yao Jie couldn't help but sneer inwardly. 'Chen Jiao, oh Chen Jiao. And you call yourself Teacher Zhang's student. Don't you know the thing she hates most is disrespect for the art of song and dance? This kid's trash Piano Score will definitely be seen by Teacher Zhang as a blasphemy against the arts! This is perfect. Not only is this annoying brat finished, but you won't be able to escape a scolding either!'
He had been about to leave, but now he decided to stay and watch the show.
Watching someone get chewed out and make a fool of themselves was just too entertaining.
"Did you write this Piano Score?" A few minutes later, Zhang Liping looked up and asked Zhao Yuan with a solemn expression.
"I did," Zhao Yuan admitted with a nod.
Nearby, Yao Jie curled his lip, thinking, 'Still trying to act cool at a time like this. You really don't know how to spell the word 'dead'!'
Zhang Liping glanced down at the Piano Score again, then turned and instructed Chen Jiao, "Go and ask Mr. Huang Shijia to come here."
"Yes, ma'am." Chen Jiao acknowledged, turning and quickly leaving the dance studio.
Yao Jie was stunned, his face a mask of confusion.
Zhao Yuan and Lin Xue might not know who Huang Shijia was, but he knew very well!
For anyone who studied the Guqin, that name was legendary, a titan in the field.
He was one of the country's top musicians, a Guqin master who, like Zhang Liping, received a special allowance from the State Council. Mr. Huang was renowned not only in the country but throughout the entire music scene in Asia. Even many Guqin performers from Japan and South Korea were proud to have received his guidance.
Yao Jie couldn't understand why Zhang Liping would summon Huang Shijia. 'Is she planning a joint interrogation?' The level of this was way too high! The guy was just a complete newbie who had never even studied the Guqin. Was there any need for such an exaggeration?
While Yao Jie's mind was racing, Zhang Liping simply lowered her head and continued to examine the Piano Score in her hands.
Lin Xue tugged on Zhao Yuan's sleeve and whispered, "What's going on?"
Zhao Yuan smiled. "Don't worry, it's fine. She was probably just shocked by my Piano Score."
Yao Jie overheard Zhao Yuan and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh, thinking to himself: 'Still spouting nonsense with death at your doorstep! Shocked? Hmph. What kind of Piano Score haven't Teacher Zhang and Mr. Huang seen before? You think they'd be shocked by this? Teacher Zhang must be furious. That's why she called Mr. Huang over, so they can deal with you together! Just you watch, kid. You're in for it now! Let's see if you're still smiling then!'
It wasn't long before Chen Jiao returned to the dance studio, leading an elder with white hair, a youthful complexion, and a distinguished air.
As soon as Huang Shijia arrived, he asked, "Xiaozhang, what did you need me for?"
In this arts academy, he was the only one who dared to call Zhang Liping 'Xiaozhang'. Everyone else, even the principal, had to respectfully call her Teacher Zhang.
Only then did Zhang Liping look up from the Piano Score. She smiled and said, "Elder Huang, you're here. I have a Piano Score that I thought you'd definitely be interested in, so I had Jiaojiao go get you."
"Oh?" Huang Shijia raised a white eyebrow. "There aren't many Piano Scores that can catch your Dharma Eye! Is that the one in your hand? Is it really that good?"
He knew Zhang Liping well. Although she was world-famous for her dancing, she was also highly accomplished in musical instruments, especially traditional ones like the Guqin, guzheng, and pipa. Her skill was no less than that of the specialized teachers at the academy! And her standards were frighteningly high.
Zhang Liping handed the Piano Score to Huang Shijia and said, "Take a look and you'll see."
Huang Shijia nodded, took a pair of reading glasses from his pocket, put them on, and began to carefully study the Piano Score.
Nearby, Yao Jie was completely dumbfounded.
'What the hell is going on? Isn't this just some garbage Piano Score cobbled together by a newbie who's never even studied the Guqin? But from the way Teacher Zhang is talking, she's praising it to the high heavens? This is insane!'
'Teacher Zhang, have you gone blind, or has your brain gone haywire like Chen Jiao's?'
As Yao Jie's thoughts ran wild, Huang Shijia was looking at the Piano Score and commenting, "Well now, this is character-based notation. People rarely compose like this anymore. Hmm, these characters…"
Evidently, Huang Shijia had seen the strange characters in the Piano Score.
His expression instantly became serious, and his brow furrowed.
Seeing this, Yao Jie once again couldn't help but mutter to himself, 'Elder Huang is furious! He's about to blow up!'
Huang Shijia looked up and glanced at Zhang Liping.
Zhang Liping smiled. "So, what do you think, Elder Huang? I told you that you'd be interested, right?"
Huang Shijia sighed faintly. "I never would have imagined. This is a score that combines character-based notation with Luoshang simplified notation. But I've never seen this score before. Is it an ancient piece that was just recently transcribed?"
Zhang Liping laughed. "Elder Huang, you've guessed wrong this time. This isn't an ancient piece. It was composed by this young man here. Keep looking. The special notation isn't the only reason I said you'd be interested."
"You mean this Piano Score is exceptional? Then I must take a proper look." Huang Shijia lowered his head and continued to study the score in his hands.
Beside them, Yao Jie's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe what he was hearing and seeing.
'What on earth is going on? Why isn't Mr. Huang blowing up and putting that annoying kid in his place? And what is this 'Luoshang simplified notation' they're talking about?'
Chen Jiao was also very curious about that last question and asked Zhang Liping.
Zhang Liping explained, "Luoshang simplified notation is a type of simplified notation. It's quite different from the more common forms and also more complex, so it wasn't as widely circulated. Very few people know this ancient notation style today."
As she said this, her eyes were fixed on Zhao Yuan, sizing him up.
Before coming, she had heard from Chen Jiao about Zhao Yuan and knew he had choreographed an extraordinary classical dance.
Although she hadn't yet seen the full Cloud Flying Immortal Dance, Chen Jiao had performed a few moves for her when she first found her. Based on those movements alone, she could tell it was definitely a masterpiece. If the entire dance maintained that level of quality, it could even become an iconic work, a classic for the ages!
But she had never imagined that not only could Zhao Yuan choreograph dances, but his skill in musical composition was also this terrifyingly formidable.
'Could it be that geniuses like this actually exist in the world?'
Looking at Zhao Yuan, this thought suddenly surfaced in Zhang Liping's mind.