Chapter 244: Let Catherine Go Up to Perform
Lyra's expression kept changing!
"My family didn't come to see me off because I'm independent and self-reliant. I'm a modern woman with my own independent thinking and personality, not some family parasite!"
Alkaid covered her mouth and laughed.
"It's just going to school, and you're bringing up personality? You're wasted studying design - you should go to the philosophy department instead. You'd be perfect for teaching sophistry."
"The Windsor family making such a big deal about sending their kid to school shows they have a close family and care about their daughter. Many students come to school on their own because they're independent and free - how does that make them family parasites?"
Lyra was convinced that the Windsor family's behavior was embarrassing. Being mocked by Alkaid like this made her face darken.
She snorted coldly and said sarcastically, "You can defend the Windsor family all you want, but Catherine won't thank you for it."
In Lyra's view, Alkaid and those other students speaking up for Catherine were just snobs who only cared about the Windsor family's status and wanted to curry favor with them.
Richard was different from the Windsor family!
Otherwise, why didn't Richard come today?
He must feel the same way she does - that this kind of behavior is too embarrassing!
At the front of the auditorium, Franklin smiled and shook Marcus's hand.
"Marcus, long time no see! So many years have passed in a flash, and we're both old men now! Come, come sit over here."
Marcus smiled calmly. "No need, I'm just here to see my kid off to school. Sitting anywhere is fine."
Franklin looked at Catherine standing beside Marcus.
Catherine stood gracefully in a white dress that still had a student vibe, holding a long coat in her arms. Her hair was elegantly pinned up, with slightly curled strands falling by her temples, looking both adorably charming and strikingly beautiful.
Her outfit was youthful, fresh, and low-key, but that face and her cool, ethereal temperament made it impossible to look away!
That face overlapped with one deep in Franklin's memory!
"Catherine Windsor, welcome to Imperial University's design department. I look forward to seeing your work."
"Thank you."
Franklin smiled and withdrew his gaze, then took the stage as the host introduced him.
All the lights in the venue focused on Franklin, and the opening ceremony had attracted quite a few notable alumni. The entire auditorium gradually heated up during Franklin's passionate speech.
Catherine gave an honest assessment: "He'd be perfect for running a pyramid scheme."
His speaking style made Franklin's personality quite clear.
With that eloquence, he had quite a few alumni and students in the audience moved to tears.
Even Juniper was listening with great enthusiasm, nodding in agreement!
Only Emilia, who couldn't listen at all, yawned more than a dozen times, her head bobbing until she fell asleep leaning on Catherine's shoulder!
Franklin glanced at the audience below. "We've specially invited violin master Vincent Hall to perform for our opening ceremony!"
The crowd erupted - it was Vincent!
Hearing that Vincent was coming to perform, all the students and parents in the venue got excited!
Alkaid made her way up from the back rows, found Catherine's seat, and whispered, "Boss, there's a problem with Vincent. He's stuck in traffic and probably won't make it."
An assistant quickly went up on stage, and Franklin on stage also heard the news.
"Vincent is stuck in traffic and may not be able to arrive on time. While we wait for Vincent, please enjoy some other performances."
Everyone knew about Imperial City's traffic - getting stuck could easily take several hours to resolve.
There were quite a few performances prepared in advance for the opening ceremony, mostly rehearsed by students themselves.
Backstage, the principal's assistant clapped her hands: "Everyone get ready, you're up soon! Perform well, don't embarrass the school or yourselves!"
Lyra, who had changed into her performance outfit, was excited to see she was about to go on!
To be able to perform at the opening ceremony, she had practiced day and night. If she could make an impression in front of these big shots who were already elite figures in various fields, her future would be set!
It was a shame that while the Windsor family was all here, Richard didn't come. If only he could see her shine on stage, that would be wonderful.
Lyra was going to perform a piano solo.
Emilia opened her eyes during the performance and yawned.
"That piano playing - clearly beginner level, a bit too heavy-handed."
Catherine raised an eyebrow. "You know piano?"
"Can't play it, but I can listen. Anthony spent big money training me - he was waiting to sell me for a good price, but he ended up in prison first."
Emilia wasn't wrong. Lyra's piano playing could only be called outstanding among students, with many techniques being too forceful.
Catherine wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but while Lyra was playing, Catherine kept feeling like Lyra's gaze was intermittently looking at her.
She didn't think she knew this Lyra before, did she?
After the piece ended, Lyra didn't rush to leave the stage. Her gaze carried a hint of provocation as it landed on Catherine.
"Mr. Morales, I heard Catherine got in through special admission. I wonder if she has any talents to show?"
Franklin looked somewhat surprised, his smiling gaze also falling on Catherine.
"Catherine, are you interested in performing something?"
Catherine's expression was cool. "No."
Lyra's gaze became even more smug.
She knew this Catherine couldn't do anything! She must have gotten into Imperial University through family connections! Someone like that doesn't deserve to be Richard's sister!
Catherine sensed the inexplicable hostility Lyra was sending her way and raised an eyebrow.
Is this person stupid or something?
Alkaid whispered, "Boss, she was talking bad about you to others earlier. Looks like she's a fan of Richard."
A fan of Richard - what does that have to do with Catherine?
Franklin also sensed that inexplicable hostility and changed his approach.
"Since we have this opportunity, Catherine, why don't you come up and perform something? It can be anything - this stage belongs to your generation!"
With Franklin saying this, quite a few people in the audience clapped in agreement.
Marcus frowned. "Franklin, at your age, you still enjoy watching kids perform?"
If Catherine didn't want to go up, was Franklin going to force her onto the stage?
Franklin smiled warmly, but his tone was unyielding.
"Marcus, Catherine will be our student from now on. It's good for her to get to know everyone in advance! Young people are the rising sun of the new generation. If they're afraid of the stage now, how will they handle the world stage in the future? You're spoiling the kids now, but you won't be able to make all their decisions for them later!"
Catherine raised an eyebrow.
So if she didn't go up, she'd be labeled as afraid of the stage?
It seemed Franklin was determined to make her perform!