The backstage chatter fell silent the moment Jason Carter appeared.
It was as if an invisible switch had been flipped. All whispers, envy, speculation—gone.
Jason didn't linger. After Ava finished packing, he left with her. The two walked side by side, calm and composed, as if the competition hall and the storm of rumors behind them had nothing to do with them.
Clara stood where she was.
For some reason, when Jason disappeared from her sight, a wave of unease rose in her chest.
She couldn't explain it.
Last night's scene replayed itself in her mind—her father being humiliated, her own helplessness, and how everything had changed the moment Jason appeared.
Without him, would things like that happen again?
She clenched her fingers.
But reason followed.
Who am I to him?
They were just university classmates. Why should Jason keep protecting her? Why should he intervene again and again?
Then a dangerous thought surfaced.
If I were Jason's girlfriend… wouldn't I receive the same protection as Ava?
The moment the thought formed, her ears burned. Her face flushed.
She had never considered romance before. From childhood to adulthood, her life revolved around textbooks, sheet music, and the piano. Matters of the heart had always felt distant and impractical.
And this wasn't even a normal relationship. It meant sharing a man.
That alone made her recoil.
Clara shook her head hard, forcing the thought away.
Jason probably wouldn't even like someone as cold and aloof as me anyway.
Still, she didn't want last night to repeat itself.
After struggling internally for a long time, a sudden idea struck her. Her eyes sharpened.
Without even packing her belongings, she turned and rushed out.
"Clara—?" Lily called out, confused, before following after her.
Outside the venue, Jason and Ava were about to get into the car when a hurried voice rang out.
"Jason—wait!"
Jason stopped.
Ava glanced sideways at Clara, then at Jason, her lips curling into a faint smile. There was no jealousy, no anger. From the moment she accepted Jason, she had also accepted everything that came with him.
Jason turned around. "Clara, is there something you need?"
Not far away, several female contestants slowed their steps, whispering.
"Is she trying to get close to him too?"
Clara took a deep breath. Her heartbeat was loud in her ears.
"Jason," she said, forcing herself to stay composed, "I want to discuss a collaboration with you."
Jason raised an eyebrow.
"You acquired a Piano Group," Clara continued, her voice steady but urgent. "For long-term development, you'll need pianists for promotion, public performances, branding—right?"
She paused, then added, afraid he might misunderstand.
"I know my current level isn't enough. I'm not qualified yet. But please believe me—give me time, and I will be."
Her words came faster, betraying her anxiety.
Jason lifted a hand, stopping her.
He smiled.
"Clara," he said, "with your talent and your focus on piano, I don't doubt that you'll achieve great things."
Her breath hitched.
Then he looked at her, his tone relaxed but decisive.
"Let's skip the self-justification. Tell me—how do you want to collaborate?"
Clara froze for half a second.
She hadn't expected that. No condescension. No dismissal. No vague promises.
Just trust.
Clara paused.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips—calm, resolute, and strangely gentle.
Her tone softened as she spoke, no longer rushed, no longer anxious.
"Jason," she said, looking straight at him, "I want your initial investment—and your protection."
She inhaled, then continued, her words clear and steady.
"In return, I'll give you two-thirds of all the profits I earn from my music career, starting today. A lifetime contract."
The words landed with weight.
This was not an impulsive decision.
Jason's early investment and protection represented resources, influence, and a shield against the unspoken rules of the industry. With him backing her, her future path in piano would be smoother than that of ordinary musicians.
Not everyone was even qualified to ask for such support.
And Clara's offer was heavy. A lifetime contract. Two-thirds of all future income.
If she rose to fame as a pianist, the returns would be astronomical.
To others, this would be an unbelievable deal.
But Jason didn't even blink.
Profit had never been the point. What mattered was one thing—her sincerity.
He looked at Clara for a second longer, then smiled.
"Alright," he said. "Sister Wei will handle the specific contract details with you."
That was it. No bargaining. No hesitation. No dramatic flair.
Just a simple agreement—as if he were acknowledging something that was already destined.
Clara's heart loosened.
Before she could say anything else, Jason turned, wrapped an arm around Ava's waist, and guided her into the car.
The door closed. The engine hummed. The car pulled away, disappearing into the flow of the city.
Clara stood where she was, watching until the taillights vanished.
Then she smiled—this time openly.
For the first time, she felt something she hadn't felt in a long while.
Security.
Not because the world had become fair—
But because she had found someone strong enough to stand in front of it with her.
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