“Humph, don't let me catch you like this next time!"

Seeing Atwood not daring to do anything to her, Clare's disdain for Cara deepened.

Clare stepped off the stage and settled into the best seat in the auditorium, crossing her to take a nap.

The band had been engrossed in rehearsal, but Clare had no intention of joining in. For her, coming to the theater was merely going through the motions.

Atwood shook his head in resignation.

Seeing Cara's tears, he retrieved a pack of tissues and handed it over.

“Cara, go get some rest. Rehearsal is about to commence."

“Thank you, Mr. Clarkson..." Cara, teary-eyed, exited the stage. However, she didn't dare to sprawl in the auditorium as Clare did. Instead, she sought refuge in the back rows. Yet, as soon as Cara took her seat, she noticed a girl in jeans, canvas shoes, and a black sweater seated beside her.

Cara was taken aback and instinctively turned to gaze at the girl, whose hoodie obscured most of her face.

Though Cara could only discern the girl's nose and lips, she couldn't shake the feeling that this mysterious girl was exceptionally beautiful.

“Just by looking at her nose and her profile, I can tell this girl is very gorgeous..." Cara said to herself silently.

“How could you put up with it?" Maria suddenly inquired, her voice as crisp as a winter breeze, tinged with a hint of frostiness but undeniably captivating.

Cara was startled, pondering, "This girl has a truly enchanting voice. She could make an exceptional singer. Yet her voice sounds oddly familiar. Have I met her before?"

Consumed by concert preparations, Cara ignored the fact that Maria's voice was familiar to her because she had watched “Female Military Counselor more than ten times, and Maria portrayed the film's heroine.

Naria donned sunglasses, rendering her less recognizable.

Through the lenses, Maria noticed Cara clutching a canvas bag filled with meticulously arranged sheets of printed paper.

She had a good eyesight. Judging from the notes on the corner of the paper, Maria knew that Cara was carrying some music score of the Ancient Zither.

Besides, it happened to be the melody she created for the movie she was a part of.

"These are music scores, right?" Maria asked.

Cara was stunned for a moment, after which she nodded with embarrassment.

Cara's teacher was a member of the Musicians' Association. In the hope of expanding the experience of her most cherished pupil, she had asked Atwood to take Cara as his assistant during the concert.

Cara couldn't help but make a copy of the music score that Maria had made for the Female Military Counsellor since the Ancient Zither was an instrument she loved to play. The music score never left her side as she took it with her every day and often practiced it alone.

Of course, Cara had practiced it numerous times in secret.

It became a routine that during her break time, she would rent the instrument at a nearby Ancient Zither studio and then proceed to practice the melody all by herself.