Chapter 3Even the True Prodigy Can’t Steal My Spotlight

Caleb was utterly confident. After his initial defeat at lunch, he was even more determined.

“I’ve missed out on so much progress before!” He clenched his fist and shouted, “If it weren’t for that kidnapper, if I’d grown up normally, I’d be a thousand times more successful than Leo!”

“I’ll prove my bloodline!”

His cheeks flushed after the outburst. Just then, applause and laughter echoed from above. Caleb bristled, looking around. “Who?! The parrot? Get down here!”

The parrot cocked its head, observing him from its perch. Seeing this, I quickly called out, “Flyer, don’t mind him. Keep eating!”

Caleb spun around and snapped at me. “Leo! What are you showing off about? I’m the real son of this family! A pet, and I can’t even order it around?”

I sighed. Idiot. Didn’t he know Flyer was like a flying hydraulic system? I was saving him! Besides, Flyer wasn’t just any parrot…

A moment later, Flyer, fed and content, lifted its head and opened its beak. A familiar song filled the living room. It was eerily similar to the drinking song Dad had sung at lunch. Caleb’s jaw dropped. Flyer elegantly flew over his head, dropping a feather. He spat and brushed off the feather, then asked me, flustered and angry, “Can this bird sing opera?”

I shrugged. “Your ears aren’t broken. Dad found Flyer when he was touring in the Southeast. He raised him from a hatchling, and he’s incredibly musical.”

Caleb couldn’t believe it. He looked up at the bird, then down at me, his mouth opening and closing. Finally, he broke. “What the hell is going on?!” He shrieked, “Even a bird is a prodigy here! Leo! How have you managed to live peacefully until today?!”

I sat cross-legged on the plush carpet, starting a game, and spared him a smile. “I just accept reality, accept myself.”

“You’re shameless!” Caleb’s face was beet red, looking utterly disgusted. “You’ve taken my place since childhood, received so much education, yet accomplished nothing! You’re a piece of garbage! I refuse to live under the same roof as garbage and pollute the music!”

He ran upstairs to find Mom and Dad. “Dad! Mom! Are you there? I have something to say!”

Mom and Dad stepped out onto the terrace. “In the middle of the day, so loud. Don’t you worry about disturbing others? What is it?” Mom’s expression was displeased.

Caleb pointed furiously at me. “Mom, now that your real son is home, there’s no reason for him to have privileges that I don’t!”

“I want to go to the Conservatory, I want to become your personal disciple, I want to be the rightful heir of the Forester family!” He spoke with increasing indignation, gritting his teeth. “Also, your energy is limited. With a genius around, why bother with garbage?”

“Leo is tone-deaf, any further training is a waste. All the lessons, instruments, and practice rooms assigned to him should be given to me instead!”

I dropped my game, utterly thrilled. Really? Forester family lessons? For a tone-deaf person, that's eighteen levels of hell! Music practice rooms? My sister's domain. Every time I set foot in there, I'd crash and burn!

“Yes, yes, give it all to him!” I jumped up and shouted. “Mom, Dad, Caleb is so motivated! Listen to him! He’s a genius; he’s the one who can truly absorb the nourishment of the lessons!”

Mom shot me a quick, sarcastic glance. Dad, however, hesitated. “Caleb, are you sure about this? All the courses… they’re quite challenging.”

“It’s not hard for me!” Caleb was resolute. “I’m a true genius, I can definitely meet all the Forester family’s demands!”