Pregnant After Healing the Alpha

Chapter 257: Chapter 249 What? Qiao Jing is a judge?
 

The next day.

Qiao Jing got up early to wash and get ready to go out.

“You’re going to work so early today?” Zhan Qipei glanced at the current time, 7:30 AM.

Usually, Qiao Jing left the house at 7:50 AM.

“I’m attending a piano competition, so I’m heading over early,” Qiao Jing said as she changed her shoes in the foyer. She was very punctual, especially for events like competitions, always arriving ahead of time.

Zhan Qipei was somewhat surprised, “You’re participating in a piano competition? I had no idea you could play the piano.”

He felt a sense of pride, but then something else came to mind, and he said with regret, “I have an important meeting today, so I regret that I can’t accompany you. But I’ll be cheering for you in my heart!”

He had heard about this significant piano competition, but hadn’t paid special attention to it since he wasn’t involved in the music world.

Qiao Jing hesitated but didn’t mention she was going to be a judge. She fastened the laces of her white shoes, “I’ll just take a cab over. It’s almost time for you to go to work.”

Zhan Qipei made a phone call, asking his driver to use his car to take Qiao Jing there, and he took another car to the office. Qiao Jing didn’t insist further and got into Zhan Qipei’s car.

When she got out of the car, she encountered a few people she hadn’t expected.

Lou Xinrou’s eyes nearly brimmed with jealousy when she saw Qiao Jing stepping out of Zhan Qipei’s car.

Brother Pei isn’t going to work at this time, but instead, he is dropping off Qiao Jing here?

Su Manhan recognized the car at a glance, “Qipei isn’t going to work, instead, he’s dropping you off here?!”

She now thought that her son had been brainwashed by Qiao Jing, neglecting his work to drive her over here during work hours!

Without explaining anything, Qiao Jing planned to enter the venue early.

She hadn’t gone far when Lou Xinrou stopped her, “Qiao Jing, what are you doing here? Are you here to participate in the piano competition? Can you play the piano?”

Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, eager to see Qiao Jing’s response.

“I’m not here to compete,” Qiao Jing replied calmly.

Su Manhan mocked, “I knew it, how could you possibly play piano? Are you here to watch? But as an outsider, you probably won’t even understand it.”

Zhan Nanqing also looked troubled, whispering a word of caution to Su Manhan, only to receive a cold stare in return.

She muttered something under her breath, but then fell silent.

Qiao Jing didn’t speak further with them; with only ten minutes until the competition started, she turned and went inside.

Lou Xinrou and the others entered the venue at the same time as her, Su Manhan leading Zhan Nanqing to the spectator seats, their gaze stuck on the direction Qiao Jing was heading, leaving them dumbfounded.

Why isn’t she sitting in the back among the spectators? Could she be taking a seat in the front row of the VIP seats?

The VIP seats, accessible only by the prestigious Zhan family through their status as the wealthiest family in the capital, were not supposed to be where Qiao Jing headed. Why was she walking towards the front row?

The VIP seats were occupied by notable people, and yet Qiao Jing was heading there?

“She must have gone the wrong way,” Su Manhan thought, a sneer spreading across her face, convinced that finding a seat was yet another thing Qiao Jing could mess up, causing embarrassment to the Zhan family.

Lou Xinrou nodded, “Probably heading to the restroom, but why isn’t she going towards the corridor? If she goes this way, everyone can see her; Aunt Su, it would look bad if other families notice this.”

Zhan Nanqing had been silent, listening to the two talk until they saw Qiao Jing pass through the first row.

What on earth was she trying to do? Su Manhan wondered.

When they saw Qiao Jing walk to the judges’ table, Su Manhan thought, surely she wasn’t there to flirt with those masters?

Only when Qiao Jing was seated between Master Wang and Master Li did the three of them stand there astonished.

Lou Xinrou was not as composed anymore, “What’s going on? She’s sitting in Master Chen’s place; where has Master Chen gone?”

Zhan Nanqing also opened her mouth in surprise, “I have no idea.”

At that moment, a staff member approached Qiao Jing, removed Master Chen’s nameplate, and replaced it with Judge Qiao’s nameplate.

The host also explained the situation on stage, “Good morning to all participants. Master Chen couldn’t attend this competition due to personal reasons, he asked Judge Qiao to take his place. Please be informed.”

The audience muttered among themselves, having never seen this substitute for Master Chen before, they even doubted whether Qiao Jing was capable of fulfilling the role.

But since the host said it was Master Chen who personally chose his substitute, they had no choice but to half-believe in Qiao Jing.

“Could Qiao Jing be a friend of Master Chen?” Zhan Nanqing suddenly blurted out.

Su Manhan immediately denied it, “How could she possibly know Master Chen? She can’t even play the piano, where would she have met Master Chen?”

“Could she be a relative of Master Chen?” Zhan Nanqing continued to speculate.

Su Manhan gave her daughter a speechless look, “Qiao Jing is from the Qiao Family, and you know those people. Where did such a relative come from?”

“I bet it’s all backstage dealings, she might have even done something unscrupulous to get this position. Otherwise, how could she possibly replace Master Chen?” Lou Xinrou coldly snorted, forcing herself to look away from Qiao Jing.

Zhan Nanqing stayed silent, her gaze fixed on Qiao Jing, holding back the words she wanted to say.

The piano competition officially began.

Lou Xinrou’s contestant number was nineteen, so there was still some time before her turn.

During this time, the three of them were sizing up Qiao Jing, watching her seriously grade the participants.

“Next up is contestant number eighteen, please have contestant number nineteen prepare.”

The host’s voice brought the three of them back to reality, and Lou Xinrou stood up to go backstage to prepare.

Backstage, Lou Xinrou was extremely nervous, listening to the song played by the previous contestant and spacing out.

Su Manhan also found some time to take Zhan Nanqing backstage, and seeing Lou Xinrou in a daze, started to encourage her.

“Don’t be nervous, I believe you can win an award.”

“Yes, Xinrou, I’ve heard you play the piano, and you’ve won so many awards before, you can definitely do it, go for it!”

Lou Xinrou smiled, “Thank you, Aunt Su, thank you, Nanqing, I will win an award for you to see!”

The two who came to encourage her then returned to the audience.

The previous contestant was bowing and exiting the stage, and Lou Xinrou gave Qiao Jing a smug look before going on stage.

She thinks she, a complete outsider, is qualified to be a judge just because she managed to get this opportunity, and now follows the previous judges in giving nearly similar scores as if she really has the capability?

Soon, Qiao Jing probably won’t even understand the piece she plays, which she specifically chose, the “Piano Concerto No. 3.” She had been practicing it for this competition for the past three years.

Lou Xinrou went on stage, while Su Manhan and Zhan Nanqing in the audience were shouting her name, cheering her on.

Qiao Jing could hear their voices, but her gaze was fixed on the piano, her expression unchanging.

Even when Lou Xinrou went on stage, she had no reaction.

Lou Xinrou hated Qiao Jing’s haughty demeanor. She bowed to the audience and sat at the piano, focusing intently on playing her prepared piece.

“It’s actually ‘Piano Concerto No. 3!’ Such a difficult piece!”

“My goodness, I didn’t expect someone to choose this piece.”

“And she seems to be playing quite well!”

Professional judges sitting at the judging table also showed excited expressions, with Master Wang and Master Li seated beside Qiao Jing.

She took the center seat, closed her eyes, and listened carefully to Lou Xinrou’s playing, frowning slightly upon hearing a fundamental mistake.

The piece ended, and Lou Xinrou bowed, waiting for the judges to grade her.@@novelbin@@

Master Wang and Master Li gave her scores in the Ab range.

Qiao Jing gave a score in the Ba range.

When Lou Xinrou saw the low score given by Qiao Jing, she questioned discontentedly, “Judge Qiao, I believe I did not make any significant mistakes during my performance, why did you give me such a low score?”