Chapter 374:

Elyse waved a warning fist at Jayden before entering the Blue Sea Music Studio. The studio was secured with a combination lock, but she'd received the code from Cody yesterday and opened the door easily.

Inside, the spacious studio was empty, echoing softly with each step. She glanced around awkwardly, realizing she was alone. Was she too early? Checking her phone, she saw it was just past nine o'clock. She found a chair and sat down, waiting for others to arrive.

She waited until well past ten, growing drowsy. The sound of the doorbell startled her awake. Blinking groggily, she saw a well-built man in a light blue shirt approaching slowly. "Are you Mr. Tucker's new apprentice?" he asked gently. A small mole near his eye, framed by long lashes, caught her attention.

Elyse found the handsome man captivating, losing herself in his gaze. "Sorry to keep you waiting," she said. "I'm Elyse Lloyd."

Gavin Cramer smiled warmly, offering his hand. "I'm Gavin Cramer, another of Mr. Tucker's apprentices."

After a brief pause, Elyse snapped to attention, jumped up, and shook his hand respectfully. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," Gavin replied. Noticing her violin case, he asked curiously, "How did Mr. Tucker find you?"

Elyse scratched her head sheepishly. "A friend showed him a video of me playing. He thought I had potential."

Gavin nodded thoughtfully. "He discovered me at an international competition."

Curious, Elyse asked which one. Rubbing his chin, Gavin reminisced, "The Rainbow Cup. I was seventeen, competing in the youth category."

Elyse asked cautiously, "Did you win first place?" Gavin was taken aback. "How did you know? Have you seen it?"

Elyse's expression was complex. "I watched that competition, but I never expected to meet the winner today."

"Fate is incredible, isn't it?" Gavin remarked with a smile. Elyse nodded in agreement. Gavin went to the kitchen to make coffee. As he brewed, he said, "If you watch a lot of competition videos, you'll be impressed with Irving, another apprentice."

Elyse looked intrigued. "Why?"

"Because he's a star. He's won countless competitions, big and small. Nobody rivals him," Gavin explained.

Elyse was stunned. This Irving sounded like Vicky—intensely competitive. "Who's been badmouthing me?" Elyse turned to see a man in a brown leather jacket, sunglasses perched on his head, swaggering toward them.

Pointing at the man, Gavin said, "That's Irving Dunn. If you want to compete, he's your go-to. He's got tons of experience."

Elyse nodded respectfully, then turned to Irving. "Hello, I'm Elyse Lloyd. Nice to meet you." She eyed him cautiously. His fierce demeanor and air of a mafia boss made him seem intimidating.

He looked her up and down before saying, "Average." Elyse blinked, confused. Seeing her confusion, Gavin shot Irving a look. "Don't give her a hard time. She might be a little confused."

Irving laughed and mockingly blew air at Elyse. "He called you clueless. Can a simpleton like you really play the violin well?" Elyse defiantly insisted, "Of course I can." She opened her violin case and began to play.

Gavin listened intently. Her tone was clear and crisp. She played with technical skill and heartfelt emotion, the two blending beautifully. Gavin glanced at Irving, who, despite his usual sarcasm, listened silently.

As Gavin watched Elyse play, he seemed deep in thought. He began to understand why Cody had chosen her as his final apprentice.

(...continued)