I Have a Request

Brian had no choice but to grit his teeth and start playing.

He was preparing to play one of the most difficult pieces in the world, "Metal Storm"!

This piece has a strong rhythm and a high level of finger technique.

If played well, it would be a delight and he would have a great chance of winning the competition!

If played poorly, well...

If it weren't for the sudden incident (the severe stomach pain), he would have been quite confident.

But now, it was hard to say!

As soon as he pressed the first key, the sound produced already made many piano masters frown.

It was like a tone-deaf fool suddenly howling loudly in an elegant hall!

Listening to this was just asking for trouble!

"Is this what you call surprising? It truly surprised me beyond my expectations!"

After forcing himself to listen for a while, Shen He couldn't help but mutter to his old friend.

Now he really wished his ears were deaf.

That way, he wouldn't have to endure such an excruciating sound! It was pure torture!

"Disciples! Truly disciples!" Schubert was so angry he was shaking, cursing under his breath, his old face turning red.

It was shameful!

Suddenly, Shen He noticed the young man Mu An beside him had a calm expression.

He looked as if he was unaffected at all. He couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.

If a young person could endure it, could he, a distinguished music master, not endure it?

So, he could only grit his teeth and continue to listen to this extremely torturous music!

But then there was that nauseating smell that occasionally wafted over.

His poor nose was suffering terribly!

It wasn't that the ventilation in this place was poor; it was just that the source was too overwhelming!

The terrifying output that was plentiful and filling had never stopped!

Torture!

Double torture!

It was really too torturous!

Was this a place to listen to a piano competition?

It was clearly a live torture session for the old man!

Shen He silently lamented in his heart.

"Thick Gift Crab! Old buddy, why does that young man have earplugs and a mask?"

"Quick, ask him if he has any extras; I'll buy them no matter the price!"

Schubert, beside him, clearly had a lower tolerance than Shen He.

He was about to go crazy from the torment inflicted by his own disciple and had sought ways to escape the suffering multiple times.

He even accidentally discovered the 'secret' of how Mu An remained unshaken in such a perilous situation!

A mask? Earplugs?

Shen He looked puzzled.

But soon, after seeing Mu An's complete gear (mask and earplugs), his expression inexplicably turned to anger.

Goodness!

He thought the other party was unaffected because of a good mindset, able to withstand such torment!

He didn't expect this kid to cheat him, using props from outside the competition!

Turns out the clown was actually him???

But it seemed a bit inappropriate to lower himself to ask a junior for their stuff...

For a moment, Shen He felt conflicted.

Meanwhile, Mu An looked at the two old men who were suddenly waving their arms in front of him, sometimes angry, sometimes shy, feeling somewhat baffled.

What were they talking about?

"What's wrong?"

Mu An's mind stirred, and he lowered the soundproofing effect of the earplugs a bit to hear the surrounding conversations clearly.

"Little friend, I wonder if you have any extra masks; we can buy them with money!"

Shen He quietly praised his own cleverness.

Buying with money was naturally more sophisticated than directly asking for it based on his seniority.

And this way, it was also more legitimate!

"Want to buy my mask?"

Mu An looked at him playfully.

"Sure! One mask for a hundred bucks! No cheating!"

Saying this, he straightforwardly reached out for the money.

It was just that down-to-earth (vulgar)!

It wasn't that he lacked money; he just wanted to 'get back' at them!

Who told these two old men to show off in front of him just now?

Shen He: "...."

"A hundred bucks for a mask? Isn't that a bit expensive?!"

Shen He awkwardly forced a smile, lowering his voice as if he wanted to negotiate.

He was old, but he wasn't foolish!

Spending a hundred bucks on a mask? That would be pure foolishness!

"Take it or leave it; if you don't want it, I won't sell it!"

"Anyway, I'm the only one who has this thing right now!"

Mu An sneered, not caring whether the mask would sell or not.

It was a seller's market now; if he really wanted to sell, he wouldn't lack customers!

Originally, Shen He thought he could just let it go, not buy it, and endure a little longer until he could get through it.

But when that unpleasant smell hit him again, and it seemed to be getting worse,

It directly became the last straw that broke Shen He's resolve!

He gritted his teeth and chose to compromise.

"Fine, a hundred bucks it is, but I have a small request..."

…..

"What? A mask for a hundred bucks! You little brat, why don't you go rob someone!"

Hearing Mu An's price, Schubert was furious.

Did this young man from Huaxia really think he was a fool?

As a piano master, he could make money quickly, but that didn't mean he was willing to be a fool and get taken advantage of!

A mask for a hundred bucks?

Even the fiercest wolves in South America wouldn't be as ruthless as him!

"You said you wanted to buy it, and now you don't want to? Just say if you want it or not?!"

Mu An's casual attitude put Schubert in a dilemma.

Indeed!

If he didn't buy it, would he have to continue suffering like this?

He had to know that this piece wasn't short!

Under the extreme dual torture of stench and noise, he seriously doubted whether he could survive until the piece ended!

He didn't want to die like this!

That would be too embarrassing!

"Fine, a hundred bucks it is! I'll buy it! But I have a request..."

Schubert looked at the many piano masters around him who were still suffering, and suddenly smiled.

"Oh my! You want three hundred bucks for a mask? Friend, that's a bit harsh, isn't it?"

"What? You say they all bought it? Then I won't be embarrassed to buy it! But I have a request..."

…..

"Five hundred bucks? God! Is your mask made of gold or silver?

"They all bought the same model? Then I'm not the only one being treated differently! But I have a request..."

…..

Before long, Mu An's fourteen masks were all sold out.

All the piano masters in their seats were wearing the same brand of mask.

Finally, they could breathe fresh air!

Haha!

I wonder how those fools will react when they find out they've been scammed?

Their expressions after learning the truth would surely be hilarious!

All the piano masters thought this in unison.

Their frustration from spending a fortune on a mask was instantly swept away!

Little did they know, each of them was a terribly unlucky victim!

And Mu An, looking at the pile of valuable checks and cash in his hands, felt a faint sense of melancholy.

Making money was this easy?

This was too boring!

"Little friend, do you really not have an extra pair of earplugs? I can add two hundred bucks to buy them!" Shen He quietly inquired.

The mask solved the problem of the bad smell, but the noise issue still existed! It was constantly tormenting this old man's sensitive nerves!

And Schubert was looking at him with great anticipation.

Mu An couldn't help but roll his eyes at the two of them. They thought they could buy his earplugs for just two hundred bucks?

He had just sold the mask for over a hundred dollars each!

"There's only one pair of earplugs, no more!"

Mu An glanced at Schubert and said flatly.

"And didn't he just say..."