Chapter 742:

“I can’t seem to find happiness anymore. I’m worried I’ll fail in the competition.”

“Absolutely not! You have the strength to rise and find your joy again. Your happiness will shine through and inspire everyone around you!” David’s eyes gleamed with hope as he looked at Elyse.

Unsettled by his intense gaze, Elyse muttered, “I’ll try.”

David smiled reassuringly. “I’ll be there to support you on the day of the competition. Just make sure some guy doesn’t ruin your shot at a bright future.”

Elyse took in David’s words of encouragement. She drew a deep breath to calm her stormy emotions. Her future shone brightly, and no one would hinder her pursuit of a music career.

“Group B contestants, get ready.”

Backstage, Elyse carried herself confidently, holding her violin. She wore a scarlet ballet dress that flowed elegantly around her. A crimson ribbon held her hair, which draped gracefully down her back, giving her an ethereal presence.

Her eyes locked on the stage, and her heart pounded as she watched the performers before her.

When her moment came, she took a deep breath and walked onto the stage with determined steps.

Her unique attire drew whispers of curiosity from the audience, who seemed to think she might have stepped straight out of a ballet performance.

Elyse was undeterred by the murmurs; instead, they made her even more determined and confident.

“Please enjoy ‘Csardas.’”

Edward, crouched backstage watching Elyse’s performance, froze before bursting into helpless laughter. “Did my song choice inspire you?” he murmured.

Elyse, deviating from her usual performance style, danced to the rhythm of the music. Though her dress resembled ballet attire, she didn’t know how to dance ballet, and her movements were awkward and uncoordinated.

Despite this, her joyful self-amusement resonated with some in the audience. Happiness, after all, didn’t have to be tied to love; one person’s joy could be a celebration of life itself. Elyse avoided the theme of romance, expressing happiness through her current outlook on life.

Her performance was vibrant and energetic, yet it didn’t overshadow the quality of her music. The judges watched her spirited display with warm smiles. Sometimes, breaking from convention could create a lasting impression. Elyse was the contestant who truly stood out, making everyone’s eyes light up.

After the performance, Elyse took a deep breath, steadied herself, and bowed to the audience and judges. As the applause filled the room, she let out a quiet sigh of relief. With a bright smile, she waved to the crowd and gracefully walked off stage.

Backstage, completely exhausted, Elyse sank to her knees and raised a hand to her sweaty forehead.

Edward walked over, grinning, and asked, “Did my song choice help?”

Elyse nodded sincerely. “Yes, thank you. It was very helpful.”

“Screw you!” Edward pulled Elyse up, smirking. “As good as you are with the violin, your dancing was tough to watch. Be glad this is a violin competition.”

Just as Elyse was about to retort, she felt a cramp in her calf and collapsed. “Wait, I think I have a cramp.” . . .