Overprotected By My Tsundere CEO-Chapter 542 - 334: Nora Scott: Didn’t Julian Linfield’s Title Get Hyped Up? [22nd Update]
Intermittently, Nora finished playing the entire piece.
It was obvious that halfway through listening, Flora was a bit absent-minded and wasn’t really in the moment afterward.
Luckily, Nora, having experienced Julian Linfield’s harsh criticism, contempt, and disdain, didn’t stop because of this small incident but persisted in finishing.
There was a pause for a few seconds.
Nora didn’t speak.
However, Flora came back to her senses, gently smiled, and asked, "What piece is this?"
"The ’Destructive Demoness’."
With a slight frown, Nora answered slowly.
This was the entry-level song Julian wrote in ten minutes.
When Nora asked for the name, Julian casually said - "Nameless."
She felt it was inappropriate.
Too perfunctory.
Then, after she rejected names like "Whatever," "Ten Minutes," and "Entry-level Song," Julian slapped his forehead and said, let’s call it "Destructive Demoness."
It suited her.
And this entry-level song was created specifically for her.
"’Destructive Demoness’?" Upon hearing the name, Flora was taken aback, "Who composed it?"
"Um," after hesitating a bit, Nora answered somewhat vaguely, "A friend."
Nora didn’t mind saying she knew Julian Linfield; this song was just something Julian casually wrote in ten minutes.
But—
People wouldn’t believe it.
For people outside the circle, since they didn’t know Julian Linfield’s status, they wouldn’t care, just listen and let it pass, not even recognizing Julian.
- Like those guests Julian greeted every day.
But for people inside the circle...
They seemed to worship Julian Linfield as if he were a deity.
Honestly, she couldn’t quite grasp Julian Linfield’s artistic status either, but considering the admiration and praise Miss Loughton expressed in her words about Julian, it was probably equivalent to "Zero’s status in the comic circle," so to say she knew Julian Linfield would probably not be believed.
——Who is he, what’s his relation to you, why would he write an entry-level song for you, how big is your face to think so?
Nora estimated that if she had talent in flute playing and were a prodigy who could learn instantly, her credibility would be quite high. Unfortunately, she had no talent, and her skills seemed to be in negative numbers, so...
It’s better not to mention it.
"This piece should sound quite nice." Flora smiled and didn’t probe further. After a slight pause, she suddenly asked, "Do you have the sheet music?"
"Yes."
Nora took out her phone.
Since Julian Linfield’s screenshot of the sheet music was too sloppy, Nora had Marcus Shaw copy it neatly once. After Marcus finished copying, Nora photographed the high-definition version and saved it in her phone, which was more convenient for daily viewing.
She sent the image to Flora.
After receiving the image, Flora carefully looked at it for a while and unconsciously hummed a few notes, her voice soft and gentle, accompanied by the warm evening breeze amidst the magnificent sunset. Listening to it was a unique pleasure.
Nora turned to look at Flora.
At over fifty, Flora maintained herself well; perhaps with a positive mindset, she looked no more than forty, and with the effect of makeup, she appeared even younger.
However, upon closer examination, one could still see the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes.
This was a woman of good cultivation, poise, and temperament, giving people the feeling of a refreshing spring breeze; she was attentive, methodical, and spoke gently yet firmly.
When Evelyn Easton passed away, she was a few years younger than Flora...
No one knows what kind of woman Evelyn Easton was.
Probably not as happy as Flora, so she wasn’t as warm either.
After a moment, Flora finished reading the entire sheet music and then asked, "Can I try it?"
"Sure."
Nora agreed readily.
Then, Nora found the reason for being constantly chastised by Julian Linfield every day—
When Flora played the prelude, it was like she had infused the piece with a soul.
The melodious flute sounded delightful, wrapped in the evening breeze as if it were drawing thoughts into another world.
Since the moment Julian Linfield gave her this piece, Nora felt it sounded nice, not difficult, indeed of entry-level standard, yet the rhythm was catchy, and the melody always danced at the tip of her heart, exceptionally magical.
Because of Nora’s own limited ability, even the best sheet music turned to a pitiful sound when she played it, always the same way.
She wanted to hear a normal version and kept urging Julian Linfield to try playing it.
But Julian wouldn’t do it.
He said if she wanted to listen, she should learn well herself, then she could decide how she wanted to hear it.
So, until now, Nora hadn’t heard a normal version.
Now listening to Flora play, Nora faintly grasped why people in the circle regarded Julian Linfield so highly.
He truly was amazing.
Calling him a "master" was totally warranted.
Shouldn’t she be a bit more humble in front of Julian Linfield from tomorrow?
For instance, by not bringing up her erhu certificate...
The piece concluded.
Nora sincerely said, "I didn’t expect it to be so beautiful."
Flora was stunned, "You’ve never heard it before?"
"Yeah." Nora nodded, answering casually, "Usually, all I hear is my own playing."
Flora thought about that out-of-tune melody Nora persisted in playing...
Speechless.
"Isn’t it written by your friend?"
"He gave it to me." Nora Scott didn’t hide this fact, "Told me to learn it myself."
Flora Loughton: ???
My daughter-in-law, who exactly are you?
This professionally skilled, excellent entry-level song, was gifted to you by your friend for you to learn yourself?
She glanced at Nora Scott’s expression, it didn’t seem like she was lying or bragging.
Flora Loughton was secretly taken aback.
——Oh son, you’re doomed! You have so many excellent rivals around you! Any random talent can crush you!
She broke into a cold sweat.
Flora Loughton hesitantly asked, "I wonder who your friend is—"
Someone of this caliber must be quite renowned in the circle. She could investigate, maybe see if they’re married or something...
After a pause, considering Julian Linfield’s identity issues, Nora Scott thought for a moment and answered, "A pancake seller."
Flora Loughton: "..."
Perhaps, in terms of financial strength, she could rule out one potential love rival for her son?
"By the way, your bamboo flute—"
Flora Loughton thought about another matter, her gaze couldn’t help but fall on the bamboo flute in Nora Scott’s hand. After a brief hesitation, she couldn’t resist tentatively asking, "Does it have Julian Linfield’s mark?"
"..."
Forgot about that!
One moment she said "a pancake seller," and the next she’d be confronted with the truth?!
"Ah." Nora Scott nodded slightly, glanced down at the bamboo flute, and figured she could tough it out without embarrassing herself too much, so she said, "Yes, it was given by someone else."
"..."
Hm, given?
Weren’t they said to be lifelong friends?
Her son probes for information so unreliably?
Flora Loughton felt a bit conflicted.
When she heard rumors at school, her heart was still inclined towards Nora Scott. Despite having Rosa Sullivan speak up and the fact that Julian Linfield seldom gifts bamboo flutes.
However, not to mention Nora Scott doesn’t care to fabricate lies given her status as a top-tier comic artist and Biel Hall Hall Master, just based on her interactions and understanding of Nora during this time, she felt Nora to be honest and direct, not someone who would deceive with fakes...
So, she didn’t pay attention to the gossip at school, nor did she bring it up with her family, lest Pedro Langley asks about it and make Nora feel questioned and upset.
But now—
Could it be that Nora Scott was deceived by a middleman friend?
After all, Nora Scott is a newcomer learning, obviously knowing very little about the bamboo flute itself or the knowledge surrounding it.
If Nora heard from Pedro Langley that she wished for Julian Linfield’s bamboo flute, and Nora had a kind heart and remembered, then she might have asked a friend to find out if it was possible to get Julian Linfield’s bamboo flute, only for the untrustworthy friend to fail and forge two to deceive Nora.
——After all, it’s reasonable that Nora doesn’t recognize the preciousness of Julian Linfield’s bamboo flutes and gets deceived.
"What’s wrong?"
Nora Scott’s voice interrupted Flora Loughton’s thoughts.
"Nothing."
Flora Loughton chuckled lightly, shaking her head.
After glancing at Flora Loughton a few times, Nora Scott thought and simply asked: "If you want one, I could get one for you?"
She knew Miss Loughton liked Julian Linfield and she herself has quite a good impression of Miss Loughton... Asking Julian Linfield for a bamboo flute would just require a bit of persuasion, shouldn’t be too difficult.
"..."
Flora Loughton widened her eyes in astonishment.
Uh-oh, uh-oh.
Saying it so casually, it must have been obtained so easily...
Nora Scott is absolutely oblivious to how rare Julian Linfield’s bamboo flutes are!
Nora Scott is definitely deceived by the heartless and unscrupulous middleman!
"No need, no need," secretly cursing the middleman in her heart, Flora Loughton hurriedly said, "No need to go to the trouble, I have enough bamboo flutes at home."
"...Oh."
Nora Scott didn’t push it, nodding.
——Isn’t it said that Old Linfield’s bamboo flutes are very precious, and Miss Loughton, who likes Old Linfield a lot, isn’t even slightly tempted?
——Did Old Linfield play it?
Thinking such, Nora Scott didn’t continue on this topic. Flora Loughton, fearing awkwardness, also smoothly shifted the topic and began teaching Nora Scott basic skills.
Naturally, the topics they talked about earlier were tacitly left behind.
The two chatted until dusk fell.
It wasn’t until Pedro Langley and Marsh Langley both called to urge them home for dinner that they reluctantly ended their conversation and said goodbye. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
After parting from Nora Scott, Flora Loughton walked a certain distance and suddenly noticed another incoming call.
Remark: Katherine.
"Katherine ah, what’s up?"
Flora Loughton answered the call.
"Mrs. Loughton, my documentary is nearly finished filming. As I discussed with you last time, I would like to ask you to record the theme song, when are you available?" Katherine Collins asked, paused, and sneakily complained, "Also, I’m begging for Master Pedro’s private recording studio... He’s recently saving up funds for his wife and won’t let me use it for free."
"I’ll take care of the recording studio." Flora Loughton smiled, "I’m free on weekends. When are you coming back?"
"Soon, by the end of the month." Katherine Collins said, "Then I’ll schedule it with you by then."
"Alright. Have you chosen the song yet?"
"Not yet. I was actually thinking of asking for your opinion."
Flora Loughton thought for a moment.
The first thing that came to mind was the musical score given by Nora Scott——
"Destructive Demoness."
