Chapter 147

Chapter 147:

Wade’s proposal caused quite a stir among the students.

It was Ashton’s first day teaching, and Wade was already challenging his expertise, his intent to provoke clear for all to see.

Jenna couldn’t hold back any longer. She stood up abruptly and shouted, “Wade, stop it! Mr. Baldwin has barely started his first class, and you’re already offending him. Where are your manners?”

Ashton, however, simply smiled and gestured for her to calm down, saying, “Jenna, don’t get too worked up. I actually find such challenges quite interesting. By the way, what’s your name? I was just figuring out how to introduce myself. This seems like a perfect opportunity. I accept the challenge.”

Wade was visibly excited that Ashton was willing to engage. He quickly responded, “Thank you, Mr. Baldwin. I’m Wade Becker.” With a grin, he then pulled his guitar from the guitar case, strode to the front, and began to play expertly. The song was a classic, “Wyvernview Motel.”

Soon, Wade was lost in the guitar solo, humming along. Though his singing left much to be desired, his skill with the guitar was impressive.

Students who had expected him to embarrass himself instead found themselves admiring his performance.

Even Ashton offered genuine applause, a nod to Wade’s courage.

After the performance, as he soaked up the praise from his classmates and even saw Ashton applauding, Wade was on cloud nine.

He had delivered a stellar performance, surpassing even his usual standards despite earlier nerves.

Basking in his triumph, Wade looked at Ashton with a smug smile and said, “Mr. Baldwin, I’ve finished my performance. Now, I hope you’ll grace us with your guitar skills.”

His challenge sparked a wave of reactions among the students. One student jumped to Ashton’s defense, saying, “Wade, that’s enough. Mr. Baldwin studies under Professor Stewart. Everyone knows Professor Stewart is a master of the piano. Mr. Baldwin specializes in piano, not guitar!”

ｍ𝚘𝚛ｅ ｕ𝚙ｄ𝚊ｔｅｓ 𝚒ｎ ɢ𝚊ｌ𝚗𝚘ｖ𝚎ｌ𝚜.𝚌𝚘𝚖

Yet, several others disagreed, one of them arguing, “Shouldn’t a music teacher be well-rounded? It seems a bit limited if Mr. Baldwin can only play the piano, right? As a…”

University instructor, mastering multiple instruments should be expected, shouldn’t it?” Caught in the middle of the debate, Ashton offered a resigned smile before intervening to calm the argument.

Taking the guitar from Wade, Ashton carefully tuned it before beginning to play. He chose the same song Wade had performed – “Wyvernview Motel” – but his rendition carried profound emotion, as if painting the portrait of a man who had lived an entire lifetime of stories, sharing his epic through music.

The classroom fell completely silent, the earlier noise replaced by nothing but Ashton’s guitar and voice. Some girls found tears streaming down their cheeks, deeply moved by the performance. No one could guess what experiences had given Ashton the ability to pour such emotion into his playing.

Even Wade, who had initially doubted Ashton’s skills, felt his eyes welling up. He had been confident in his superiority, certain that not even their music instructor could surpass him. Yet from the very first notes of Ashton’s prelude, Wade knew he was outmatched. The depth of Ashton’s skill reached directly into the souls of his listeners. Silently, Wade acknowledged his defeat.

When Ashton finished, the classroom remained in stunned silence, the final notes lingering in the air. No applause broke the spell. Clearing his throat, Ashton asked, “Does this performance qualify me to be your instructor?”

Before anyone else could respond, Wade nodded emphatically. “Mr. Baldwin, you’re too humble. You’re more than qualified. Teaching us might even be beneath your talents. I openly admit you’ve bested me, Mr. Baldwin.”

With Wade’s endorsement, no other student dared disagree. Relieved, Ashton took a deep breath and began his first lecture. Unbeknownst to him, his performance had already sparked another internet frenzy before the class even ended.

.

.

.