The Unveiling of Secret Queen

Chapter 351: Chapter 351: My Niece Also Got Second Place_1

Since Nathalie Quinlan was planning to develop her career in Beijing, and considering the Zachmann Family held some power there, she could possibly take her under their wing.

It’s just that she had a preference for bolder flavors and showed no interest in the delicate cuisine of Santhoma. Although Imperial Hotel was excellent, the food might be too bland for her taste.

Celine Tucker thought she could get him to commit in one go, but in the end, she was still rejected. Fortunately, Shawn Norton didn’t reject her outright; they still had a chance.

She had always believed in striking first. With the opportunity right before her eyes, she might lose it if she missed it.

Since they had come and had not set a dinner meeting, they at least needed to state their purpose and take the initiative.

She stopped Shawn Norton, who was about to leave, with a smiling face and said, ”Mr. Norton, the thing is, we have another matter to discuss today.”

If it were someone else faced with Shawn Norton’s notoriously eccentric character, they might have walked away without giving ”face” long ago.

But their last name was Zachmann.

He tolerated them with patience, his bright eyes already showing displeasure. ”What’s the matter? Just say it all at once, I’m in a hurry.”

He had arranged a meeting with that girl.

Time waits for no one, and if he missed her now, he would have to find another time again.

Celine Tucker gave Caryn Zachmann a meaningful look, and Caryn, holding her phone with ease, walked over and said, ”Here’s the thing, Grandpa Norton, I have a piece I would like you to listen to and give feedback on, in case there’s anything that needs adjustment.”

This was their first strategy that had been negotiated—attempting to impress Mr. Norton with talent.

If that didn’t work, they would resort to leveraging relationships.

Caryn was confident in her composition, which had won first place.

Just then, someone else butted in with the same idea, saying, ”What a coincidence, I also have a piece I would like Mr. Norton to appraise.”

Celine Tucker had waited so long for this opportunity only for someone to cut in. She frowned subconsciously. Upon seeing who it was, Ivy Wilmar, she pulled a long face, suppressing the urge to lash out, ”Caryn’s piece won first place at this year’s Piano Association competition.”

Implying, what kind of worthy piece could you have to offer?

Ivy Wilmar simply smiled as if she had not caught the barb in her words and cheerfully said to the old man in the suit, ”Hello Mr. Norton, I’m Ivy Wilmar, the president of the Piano Association. The thing is, my niece is also learning piano, and she composed a piece that won second place. The piece is quite good, but there are some flaws, and I think it could be improved. However, my talents are limited and I can’t adjust it myself. If you have time, Mr. Norton, would you do us the honor of joining us for a meal and giving that piece a listen?”

Heh, Celine Tucker really had to laugh at that.

Her gaze sharpening, she promptly said softly, ”Second place? I seem to recall Caryn telling me that the piece that won second place this year was accused of plagiarism, not actually written by the supposed composer herself?”

Ivy Wilmar, having dared to bring up this matter, was prepared for criticism. As the president of the Piano Association, smoothing over such a blemish wouldn’t be difficult for her, just a matter of a few words. She said airily, ”Oh, that. It was a misunderstanding. The piece was indeed written by my niece, but someone had helped make a few revisions at the beginning, without changing much. The final adjustments were done by my niece herself. Who would’ve thought that person would become envious seeing the piece win an award and lodge a complaint. Out of respect for music, my niece chose to relinquish the second-place prize.”