Chapter 269
In the private dining room of a restaurant, Mr. Walden squinted at the young couple sitting across from him.
“This young lady doesn’t seem to be the one I’m looking for.”
Mr. Walden, a man nearing sixty-five, with silver hair and piercing blue eyes, leaned on his cane. His gaze was sharp, a hint of aloofness in his demeanor.
Rachel sat beside Haynes, her excitement barely contained as her body trembled slightly with anticipation. If Nora was the idol she aspired to surpass, then Mr. Walden was the legend she had always revered. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she would meet such an illustrious figure. What musician wouldn’t want to meet this legendary character?
Haynes, with his cool and composed demeanor, replied, “Mr. Walden, this young lady beside me is no less remarkable than the person you’re seeking.”
Mr. Walden fixed his sharp gaze on him, his eyes as keen as a knife. “May I ask, what is the connection between the lady I’m looking for and Mr. O’Brien?”
Haynes didn’t hesitate. “She is my wife.”
Mr. Walden shifted his attention to Rachel. “And who is this young lady to Mr. O’Brien?”
“She’s my friend,” Haynes replied in a low voice. “She graduated from the Solmaris branch of Neo-Vespera University, School of Musical Arts.”
Upon hearing this, Mr. Walden laughed, as if he had heard an amusing joke. “Does Mr. O’Brien think a degree from Neo-Vespera University is so impressive?”
In today’s world, English was the universal language, and Mr. Walden spoke it fluently. Haynes raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t it?”
Mr. Walden chuckled, “It’s true that Neo-Vespera University ranks among the top five music schools globally, but Mr. O’Brien seems to forget that in your country, Novaris, there’s a music school ranked second worldwide-Vanderbilt Academy of Musical Arts.”
“However, Vanderbilt focuses on traditional Novarian instruments, while Neo- Vespera University specializes in other instruments.”
Mr. Walden mused, “I’ve studied your traditional instruments; they’re unique and produce beautiful sounds, but they are indeed challenging…”
After a moment of reflection, he turned his gaze back to Rachel. “I’m not denying that Neo-Vespera University has its geniuses, but in my eyes, its students may not even qualify to knock on my door.”
Mr. Walden seemed uninterested in Rachel, instead asking, “Mr. O’Brien, the person I’m looking for is your wife. Where is she?”
Haynes furrowed his brows but maintained his composure. “Mr. Walden, the violin is just a casual hobby for her. She has no intention of pursuing further studies or performing.”
“Her main focus will always be on the family.”
Mr. Walden, a man who cherished talent, was known for his tolerance of geniuses, as long as they didn’t cross his boundaries. “Balancing family life with music isn’t mutually exclusive,” he remarked, his ice-blue eyes gazing deeply into Haynes’. “Besides, with the O’Brien family’s wealth and influence, she wouldn’t need to expend much effort on family matters.”
Being a top figure in the industry, Mr. Walden often mingled with the elite circles. And as Novaris was one of the world’s strongest nations, he was familiar with its powerful figures. Naturally, he recognized Haynes.
Haynes replied, “Earlier, you mentioned that a Neo-Vespera University graduate doesn’t even qualify to knock. My wife only has a middle school education, which seems even less fitting for your standards.”