Chapter 232:
"Mr. Cody Tucker!" Elyse was startled. What was he doing here? Cody greeted her with a smile. "I haven't seen you in a few days. Your skills have really improved. You've obviously been practicing hard." Elyse scratched her head, feeling shy. She had indeed been working hard since Cody encouraged her to dedicate more effort. "Let's go. The concert hall is about to close. If we don't leave now, we might end up spending the night here," Cody said warmly, gesturing to her. Elyse nodded enthusiastically, packed her violin into its case, and quickly followed him.
As they left the building, Cody glanced at his watch and suggested, "It's still early. Would you like to join me for coffee? We could chat for a bit." Elyse smiled, thrilled by his invitation, and nodded without hesitation. Cody smiled and led her to a nearby cafรฉ.
The cafรฉ, located next to the river and usually bustling, offered a view of the water from its windows. They chose a quiet corner and sat down. Cody handed her the menu, saying, "Order whatever you like. It's on me." Elyse chose a caramel latte and handed back the menu timidly. Noticing her choice, Cody's usual composure faltered slightly. Elyse's taste was exactly like his. He masked his emotion, ordered an Americano, and asked, "How long have you been studying music?"
Elyse replied, "I started when I was fourteen." In fact, she had been fascinated by the violin much longer. As a little girl, she would imitate violinists and even try playing a few notes herself. She had once told Lanny she wanted to learn to play properly, but he harshly dismissed her every time, completely discouraging her.
She didn't understand why, but with her parents' disapproval, she practiced secretly at school. She would attend friends' violin classes and ask for help. In this way, she learned to play and even searched online for music scores to practice different pieces. However, Mabel eventually discovered the truth and told Lanny. Enraged, he smashed the violin a friend had given her, violently abused her, and confined her to the basement. After being locked up for several days, she nearly starved to death.
After that ordeal, Elyse was too terrified to touch a violin again. But later, Mabel decided to pursue a career in music, and Lanny and Glenda reversed their decision, allowing Elyse to reclaim her violin and resume lessons.
Cody's brow furrowed slightly when he learned she started at fourteen. "That's somewhat late, but you're talented. With extra effort, you can still excel." After a pause, he asked, "How well can you play 'Erlkรถnig'?"
Hearing the name of the piece momentarily blanked Elyse's mind. She shook her head and admitted, "I haven't managed to play it smoothly yet." Cody said, "After the first leg of the tour, you need to master this piece in three days. You can pause, but you must not play incorrectly."
Elyse looked confused. "Do I have to play that particular piece?" Cody nodded. "Do you think you can't manage it?" Though momentarily flustered, Elyse chose honesty. "I'm well aware of my limitations. I doubt I can master 'Erlkรถnig' within three days."
Cody smiled. "I appreciate your honesty." Her honesty also reminded him of someone. Just then, a waiter arrived with a tray and placed two cups of coffee before them. Cody shifted the conversation. "Is your father still alive?" Elyse replied, slightly bewildered, "Yes, he is."
Cody asked, "What's his name?" Elyse nodded. Her father's surname was Lloyd. Was something amiss? Cody remained silent, crossing his arms, lost in thought. Elyse sipped her coffee, unsure what to say next. A few minutes passed before Cody asked, "Does your father have a sister?"
Elyse was even more perplexed. She thought for a moment and replied, "No, he doesn't have any siblings. He's an only child." After receiving her answer, Cody asked nothing more. He simply said, "Three days from now, come show me your progress."
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