The Million-Dollar Heart

Two servers carefully hoisted a zither onto the stage, its ebony finish gleaming like ink. Made from the finest blackwood, the
zither's head was slightly tilted, resembling a dragon with its mouth slightly open. Intricate floral patterns and inscriptions adorned
its back, hinting at untold stories.
From a distance, it looked rather ordinary, but Karen's eyes sparkled with excitement as she ran her fingers over the zither. "This
one! It's perfect!" she exclaimed.
Alyssa cast a disdainful glance, a flicker of contempt in her eyes. Yorick clearly didn't favor Karen, offering such a seemingly
ordinary instrument. With a touch of condescension, Alyssa asked, "Shall I go first, or would you like to, Karen?"
Karen raised an eyebrow nonchalantly, "After you."
Alyssa smiled slightly, "Then I'll go first and set the stage." Internally, she sneered at Karen, thinking she was just a coward,
confident only in agreeing but too scared to perform first.
Alyssa gracefully seated herself at a nearby crystal piano. She wore a hand-embroidered white gown, her long hair cascading
over her shoulders, highlighting her fair skin and elegant demeanor. As she began to play, the live stream viewers were in awe.
"Wow, she's breathtaking! Even through the screen, she outshines all the celebs."
"That crystal piano is blinding! Talk about showing off wealth."
"Alyssa's so pure and talented. How do us mere mortals even compare?"
"I hereby declare myself Alyssa's number one fan. She's stolen my heart."
"A true beauty with brains. She plays like a pro!"
Alyssa's fingers danced over the crystal keys, producing melodious tunes that soothed the soul. Her performance was flawless,
earning her a thunderous applause and admiration from both the audience and online viewers.
The internet was abuzz, with Alyssa's performance skyrocketing to the top of trending topics. Kate, the host, saw her followers
increase by millions, thrilled by the spotlight on her show.
Karen, unfazed by the commotion, ascended the stage in simple white attire. She opted to sit directly on the floor, facing the
zither she had chosen. The audience murmured, comparing the simplicity of her setup to Alyssa's grandeur.

Viewers were skeptical, but Vivienne and Percival, sensing foul play, decided to host their own livestream to showcase Karen's
performance.
As Karen lifted her gaze, revealing her natural beauty unadorned by makeup, the audience was captivated. Her serene
demeanor resembled the calm before a storm.
Percival zoomed in, capturing every detail in high definition.
"Is that Vivienne?!"
"I'm her biggest fan, but that's not her. Yet, she's stunning."
"She resembles Vivienne, but there's an ethereal beauty about her."
"Is she really makeup-free? She's a true beauty."
The room fell silent as Karen began to play. Her fingers moved with precision, evoking powerful emotions that resonated deep
within the listeners. The music built up like a tempest, commanding attention, before transitioning into a serene melody
reminiscent of a calm sea under the sunrise.
Karen's performance painted vivid images in the minds of the audience, leaving them breathless and in awe.
"This performance is heavenly. It's
as if a goddess descended to grace
us with her presence!" someone exclaimed, prompting laughter and unending applause, except from Alyssa, who stood frozen,
her
disbelief turning to envy.
How could this be possible?
How could she possibly play the zither, and play it so well at that, even better than her? Wasn't she always wandering around,
without even a proper education?
Kate was petrified, nearly dropping

her phone to the ground in shock How could this be possible? She was supposed to embarrass herself in front of the whole
nation!
But reality struck faster than a slap in the face!
The live stream exploded like a pot boiling over, with comments flying so fast they were like fireworks.
"What's that tune? I've never heard it before, and now I need it on my playlist!"
"The level of her playing can't even be described by grades!"
"This talent, I've seen seasoned musicians who might not even compare, and she's so young, wow!"
"Did anyone else catch that? Someone in the stream said she's the War God's wife!"
"The comment above, yeah I heard it too, and I'm totally shocked. What a juicy piece of gossip!"
"The War God is Veridia's pride and joy, and seeing this, I'm not even jealous. Knocked out by her beauty."
"A match made in heaven!"
"I thought Alyssa was impressive, but this lady is otherworldly. Alyssa doesn't stand a chance."
"Alyssa was on the piano, but Karen is mastering the zither!!! The zither is even more challenging than the piano, and she plays
it so effortlessly!!!"