The Tortoise Head

The National Institute of Music's main building was actually a skyscraper in New York.

The lobby was simple yet exquisitely decorated, a perfect melding of luxury and beauty. 

Jordan Lin and Mr Chang were brought to a small but comfortable meeting room on the 57th floor, right next to what seemed like an auditorium and a bunch of recording rooms.

"Please wait here, the Vice Dean will be with you shortly." The pretty and professionally dressed aide which brought them there gave them a small bow of courtesy before leaving the room.

"Wow. The National Institute of Music is truly on a different level compared to normal high schools." Mr Chang sighed in admiration. "The building, the decor, the staff… Everything is top notch!"

"Hmmm." Jordan Lin replied in a slightly distracted manner. He was looking at the top right corner of his vision where a small timer was slowly counting down to zero.

[0:03:28]

He had slightly over three minutes left of his Mini Lucky Aura left.

There was a slight warmth on both his legs. Though it wasn't much, it simply meant one simple thing.

He might have a lucky encounter if he wandered around the building instead of just sitting there.

"Jordan, you must learn to see behind the obvious. Take that aide for example. She is polite and pleasing, right? But she does not merely represent herself, she actually represents a lot of time and money! The training, the - ah? Why are you standing up?"

"Sorry Mr Chang! I need to go to the toilet!" Jordan Lin said urgently.

"What?! You might get called for the interview anytime now! Can it wait?" Mr Chang asked with a frown.

"No! It's like a tortoise head right now!" Jordan Lin shouted.

"Tortoise head? What do you mean?" Mr Chang was confused.

"It's like tortoise head peeking out of its shell! It's almost out!!" Jordan Lin put on a very strained look on his face.

"Oh my god! Go! Go now!!" Mr Chang shouted in horror and even rushed to the door to open it for him.

Jordan Lin dashed out of the room at top speed.

"Hehehe. That tortoise head illustration is perfect. Works every time." Jordan Lin chuckled.

He wandered around the 57th floor aimlessly.

After walking past several long corridors and making a few random turns here and there, Jordan Lin was spectacularly lost.

And right as he was walking past a room, a burst of warmth appeared on his legs.

Jordan Lin smiled and opened the room door without any hesitations.

It was a large recording room of sorts, and there were 7 to 8 people there working in a well coordinated manner.

But what caught Jordan Lin's eyes was a beautiful pure white grand piano right smack in the middle of the room.

A recording mic was placed right above it, and it looked supremely ready to unleash powerful music.

Growing up in his Asian family, Jordan Lin had been forced to take part in multiple piano recitals and competitions, and he was no stranger to high end grand pianos.

He had played on Steinway and Sons' top range piano worth a mind boggling USD 300,000 at least five times, and each time he did so, he was suitably impressed by its sound and build quality.

But the white grand piano in front of him at that very moment was like a completely different beast altogether.

If Steinway and Sons' top range piano was like a regal unicorn, then the white grand piano before him was like a ferocious roaring white dragon. 

The dominating aura and the sheer presence it exuded was so palpable he could almost touch it with his hands!

"Are pianos truly rarely played in this world? How could such an awesome piano exist?" Jordan Lin was stunned.

"Hey. Are you a pianist?" A middle aged woman with startling blue eyes wearing a set of headphones suddenly noticed him and immediately asked.

"Ah? I uh…" Jordan Lin stammered.

"I am asking you, are you a pianist? Can you play the piano? What are you stammering for?" She asked impatiently.

Her eyebrows were scrunched up into a frown and her hands were placed on her waist in a lady boss kind of pose.

She was definitely the leader of whatever was going on there.

"Yes. I can play the piano. I am a pianist." Jordan Lin nodded.

"Good." Her lips broke into a smile and she pointed to the beautiful white grand piano. "Get on it. You'll be live in 1 minute."

Jordan Lin knew that whatever this was, it was his good luck and opportunity.

So he merely nodded and made his way to the piano.

"What type of song should I play? Slow or fast?" Jordan Lin asked.

"This is Heartbreak FM's live show. Heartbreak Live. Play a sad song. Can you do it?" The middle aged woman seemed to regret her decision as she frowned and studied him from the top of his head down to his feet.

"Sad song? No problems." Jordan Lin gave her a confident smile.

So it's a radio station huh? 

Well it's not a tv station, but it's good enough. I'll take it! 

"Uhhh, boss. Don't you think he is a little bit too young to play the piano? Is there a mistake?" One of the workers there who was also wearing headphones frowned and spoke up.

"He said he can play the piano." The middle aged woman answered rather awkwardly, knowing full well that her reasoning was weak beyond words.

As the Program Director of Heartbreak FM's live show, she knew she couldn't take such decisions lightly. But she had no choice.

"It's too late anyhow. We need a pianist now, and he is the only pianist here willing to play." Saying that, she glared at a sheepish looking young man sitting on a chair nearby.

He pretended not to see her glare and instead started to whisper to a middle aged woman sitting next to him.

Kamala Hellen glowered for a moment before sighing. 

She also thought Jordan Lin seemed too young to be able to play the piano, much less play it well.

But her words were true as well. 

It was a live show, and their pianist had chickened out. 

Having Jordan Lin who said he could play the piano suddenly appear out of nowhere was like a godsent answer to her prayers!

In front of Jordan Lin was a pretty young woman speaking gently into a recording microphone.

"And now, our dearest listeners, it is time to soothe your souls by listening to our beautiful selection of heartbreaking songs. Our instrument of the week is the extremely rare grand piano, brought to you only by Heartbreak FM. Please enjoy the song." As she ended her short monologue, she signaled Jordan Lin with her hands.

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