Boyfriend's passive-aggressive behavior, she turns the tables and makes him her backup option.

"Woof! Woof—" Polly barked loudly at him after hearing this.

Xie Jingyao repeated: "Your mom doesn't want you anymore, your mom doesn't want you anymore."

Bao Li freed her head from Xie Jingyao's hands.

Whether it understood or not, its tail drooped down, and it went to lie down in the corner.

Xie Jingyao paused for a moment, then squatted down in front of Baoli and stroked its head.

"Polly, she's a heartless, wicked woman, isn't she?"

"Waaah..."

"If you say she is, I'll open a can for you."

"Woof—"

……

After leaving Xie Jingyao's house, Si Nian carried her cello and hailed a car to go to the orchestra to prepare for rehearsal.

The orchestra she belongs to is one of the top orchestras in the country, a place that countless musicians would kill to join, and it brings together many of the country's best performers.

Si Nian doesn't usually spend a lot of time with the orchestra. Apart from necessary performance rehearsals, she spends most of her time practicing in the Lin family's practice room.

She prefers to be alone in the music room.

Although most of the band members weren't very familiar with her, they were still quite enthusiastic towards Si Nian.

However, when Si Nian came to the orchestra this time to prepare for rehearsal, unlike in the past when everyone greeted her warmly, most people had rather strange expressions this time.

Some people even looked at each other and whispered among themselves, their gazes towards her carrying a mixture of pity and scrutiny.

Si Nian didn't pay attention. She headed towards her seat, preparing to sit down.

Suddenly, the orchestra's assistant principal stopped her.

"Niannian, you've come at the perfect time. I have something to tell you..."

"Teacher Zheng, what's the matter?" Si Nian stopped in her tracks.

Zheng Ruochun said to her, "Let's go to the back and talk."

Si Nian was pulled away by Zheng Ruochun. After the two left the rehearsal hall, Zheng Ruochun looked at her with some difficulty.

Si Nian noticed her hesitation: "Teacher Zheng, what's wrong? Just say what you want to say."

"The performance at the end of the month may be subject to some changes. The orchestra has a new cellist... who is quite talented. The sponsors want her to participate in the international gold medal competition at the end of the month."

"To take my place and compete in Italy?"

"It's not exactly a replacement. If she doesn't pass the orchestra's evaluation period, the competition spot will still be yours. After all, it's an international gold standard competition, and there can't be any cheating."

Si Nian has an exceptional talent for the cello. She has never been a substitute, but it is normal for symphony orchestra competitions to have substitutes.

Although Si Nian was disappointed, it was related to the Gold Standard Competition after all. If the newcomer was more outstanding than her, she was willing to withdraw for the honor of the band.

Zheng Ruochun continued, "But you still have to come to the rehearsals during this period."

"Okay, I understand, Teacher Zheng." Si Nian composed herself and forced a smile at Zheng Ruochun.

Zheng Ruochun took Si Nian back to the rehearsal hall and arranged a seat for her at the back.

Si Nian subconsciously looked at her old seat. The person sitting there seemed to sense Si Nian's gaze and suddenly turned their head to her.

The moment Si Nian saw Chen Bitong's face, she instinctively tightened her grip on the bow.

Chen Bitong got up and walked towards Si Nian.

She took the initiative to say to Si Nian, "Niannian, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to take your place. It's just that Tinghan couldn't bear to see me as a substitute. I didn't expect that you would be the one to be replaced. If I had known it would be you, I would have stopped Tinghan."

Si Nian stared blankly at the woman in front of her.

Chen Bitong tidied up the stray hairs on her forehead, where the gauze was clearly visible.

"The injury on my forehead was definitely worth it. Tinghan was heartbroken, and as compensation, he even invested more in the band, just so I could join. Niannian, will you welcome me?"

Si Nian knew that Chen Bitong's sarcastic remarks were all meant to provoke her.

If a truly talented player were to replace her, Si Nian wouldn't feel any resentment.

Si Nian only had a general idea of ​​Chen Bitong's methods.

Chen Bitong had only had brief contact with the cello, back when she and Lin Tinghan had just started dating.

Si Nian was already a well-known cellist at that time. After Si Nian's performance, Chen Bitong asked Lin Tinghan to arrange a cello teacher for her as well.

At that time, Lin Tinghan went directly to Si Nian.

Si Nian taught Chen Bitong a little bit for a while, but the other party just didn't get it and had a very poor sense of pitch.

Si Nian didn't have much patience, so she recommended a cello teacher to Lin Tinghan, pushing Chen Bitong, this hot potato, away.

Later, Lin Tinghan told me that Chen Bitong found the cello uninteresting and gave up learning it after less than two months.

Si Nian knew that having a cellist of Chen Bitong's caliber replace her was a deliberate arrangement by Lin Tinghan.

There was no other reason besides feeling annoyed by her.

Faced with Chen Bitong's provocation, Si Nian did not become impatient and violent towards her as she had in the hospital.

Instead, he said with a hint of arrogance, "Whether I welcome you or not is not important. What's important is that you have the ability to stay in the orchestra. If you really have the ability to participate in the Gold Label Competition, I'd be happy to give you a performance spot."

Chen Bitong narrowed her eyes and said with a forced smile, "Then I'll have to work hard. Niannian shouldn't slack off either. Although she's just a substitute now, what if she gets a chance to play?"

After saying that, Chen Bitong turned around and returned to Si Nian's former seat.

She hadn't expected Si Nian to be so composed. She thought that taking Si Nian's performance spot today would enrage her, and she would have a big fight with Lin Tinghan.

Surprisingly, Si Nian didn't get angry. Instead, she spoke to her in a tone that seemed to look down on her abilities!

As the rehearsal was about to begin, the orchestra's investors, leaders from various parties, and several outstanding musicians in the industry gradually took their seats.

Although the rehearsal for this performance was open to the public, only those with invitations were allowed to enter and see the event in person.

Although Si Nian is currently in a later position, she is still preparing very seriously.

Just before the performance was about to begin, someone quietly went up on stage and whispered in Si Nian's ear, "Senior Si, the leader asked me to inform you to wait downstairs."

Si Nian frowned slightly. "Which leader?"

The person who handed her the message must have been new; he looked embarrassed and said, "Please come down with me first."

Si Nian picked up her cello again and stepped off the stage.

The man said, "Senior Si, the leader is also in a difficult position. The main reason is that General Manager Lin said that you haven't been feeling well lately and need to rest properly."

Si Nian finally understood that Lin Tinghan not only wanted to make him a substitute, but also wouldn't even give her the chance to sit on stage as a substitute or have a rehearsal.

She returned to the lounge, and Lin Tinghan called her shortly afterward.

"Niannian, have you thought this through? When are you going to apologize to Hengheng and Bitong?"