Professor Walter led Jason Carter into the small reception room beside the studio.Jason motioned for Ava Summers, Lily, and Grace to join them.
A moment earlier, the three girls were just students and Walter was the strict professor towering above them.But the moment Jason stepped into the equation, everything flipped.
Walter treated them with unmistakable courtesy—almost respect.
Ava sat beside Jason and whispered, voice soft with concern,"Jason… are you really interested in the piano industry? Or are you thinking of investing just to help me get a competition spot? If it's the latter… I can't accept that. A piano school investment isn't something small."
Jason chuckled."Your spot doesn't require my investment at all. One word to Professor and it's settled. As for investing—I actually am interested. It's business, not charity. So don't ever feel the burden."
Ava's cheeks warmed slightly. Even though he spoke casually, she couldn't deny the warmth blooming in her chest.
Walter noticed their quiet conversation—and after taking in Ava's beauty—his attitude toward her became even gentler. More respectful.He suddenly seemed like a butler addressing the young madam of a powerful family.
He poured tea for everyone and began,"Mr. Carter, although the economic environment hasn't been ideal recently, the demand for artistic enrichment is surprisingly high. A great many parents are eager to enroll their children in piano lessons. If you invested in our studio, the future would be quite promising—"
Jason raised a hand, stopping him."I'm optimistic about the music industry overall, but private tutoring is too small in scale. I heard HarmonyStar Piano Corporation has been looking for investors."His eyes narrowed slightly."Can you connect me with their chairman?"
Walter almost coughed blood.
Was Jason… talking about investing in HarmonyStar Piano itself?A corporation worth hundreds of millions?
If anyone else said this, Walter would assume they were bragging.But Jason Carter?
He absolutely had the capability.
Ava, Lily, and Grace stared in disbelief.
Investing in a private piano studio was already a big deal…But HarmonyStar Piano Corporation?
HarmonyStar had begun decades ago as a tiny workshop run by passionate craftsmen. Over the years, it evolved into a full-scale piano manufacturer handling research, production, sales, and global distribution.
It wasn't Steinway or Yamaha, sure—but it was a respected American brand with 30 years of reputation and a solid foundation.
Buying into such a company wasn't something normal people could dream of.
Walter's eyes gleamed with excitement."Yes—yes, absolutely! I'll contact the chairman right away. Chairman Travis can't come to Houston immediately, but we can arrange a video call."
"Good," Jason replied. "Tell him we'll set up a meeting. I'll have my secretary come over."
While Walter made the call, Jason dialed Olivia, his executive assistant.
Within minutes, Olivia arrived—accompanied by Lisa, now a full-time corporate legal advisor Jason had personally poached from her former law firm, along with two more attorneys.
Olivia handed Jason a file immediately."Mr. Carter, here's the evaluation report you asked for."
She had clearly prepared it on the way.Every detail about HarmonyStar Piano Corporation—its financial status, manufacturing output, supply chain difficulties, and market projections—was laid out cleanly and professionally.
Jason nodded approvingly.
Moments later, Walter announced,"We're connected."
The large screen lit up, revealing Chairman Travis, a rugged middle-aged man with a composed yet humble demeanor.
He greeted Jason respectfully,"Mr. Carter, I've heard of you. May I ask how much you already know about HarmonyStar? Do you need me to introduce the company?"
Jason smiled slightly."No need—I've already reviewed the details. HarmonyStar seems to be short on capital at the moment."
Chairman let out a bitter chuckle."Yes… fluctuations in wood and metal prices, increased labor costs, and the overall economy have hit us hard. Profit margins have been shrinking.We've reached a bottleneck, and without new investment, expansion is impossible."
Chairman Travis spoke earnestly through the video call, his tone humble yet passionate.
"Mr. Carter, despite the difficulties, the American music education market is expanding rapidly. Parents want culture, enrichment, and high-quality instruments. The piano industry still has enormous potential. We are committed to innovation, to improving craftsmanship and customer service, to expanding across both domestic and international markets.I believe that investing in HarmonyStar Piano Corporation is a decision you won't regret."
Jason nodded thoughtfully.
"I'm very optimistic about the industry," he said, then added calmly,"But I'm not fond of investing and letting other people manage everything. Chairman… would you be interested in selling HarmonyStar outright?"
The room fell silent.
Walter froze mid-breath.Ava Summers, Lily, and Grace all stared at Jason like he had just claimed he could buy NASA.
Investing was one thing.
But acquiring a corporation worth hundreds of millions?
HarmonyStar Piano Corporation wasn't a small business—it was a legacy brand, three decades old, with manufacturing plants, design labs, and a private-tutoring chain spanning multiple states.
Chairman blinked, stunned."Mr. Carter… are you serious? This is extremely sudden."
Jason leaned back casually, utterly calm."Completely serious. HarmonyStar is your life's work, I understand that. But with your current cash flow strain, what's the point of holding on so tightly? HarmonyStar's quality has reached the limit of what it can produce at its current scale. What you truly lack is large-scale marketing and international branding. And that takes serious funding."
He shrugged lightly.
"If you keep carrying the burden yourself, one day the capital chain will snap. It could collapse.Better to retire comfortably while the value is still high."
Jason's words were sharp, but painfully true.
Quality alone didn't guarantee survival—not in modern markets. Plenty of excellent American piano companies had gone bankrupt, while others with inferior craftsmanship thrived due to aggressive marketing and celebrity endorsements.
HarmonyStar's financial bottleneck was real, and Chairman knew it.
And he was getting older. Running the corporation was becoming harder every year.
Seeing his hesitation fading, Jason passed the negotiation role to Olivia, who stood ready with Mia and the legal team.
Negotiations began, fast and professional.
The number eventually stabilized at $110 million USD, and couldn't be pressed lower.Olivia whispered to Jason that if they delayed talks for a week, HarmonyStar's valuation would almost certainly fall further.
But Jason didn't want to waste time.
Or risk the chairman changing his mind.
Or risk a competitor swooping in with a proposal.
The cost? A little higher.
Jason Carter's attitude?
He didn't care.
If spending more bought him immediate goodwill—and made Ava Summers look at him with that warm, starry-eyed admiration—then it was a bargain.
Within the hour, Jason gave the final instruction:
"Complete the acquisition at one hundred ten million."
And just like that…
HarmonyStar Piano Corporation—manufacturing plants, distribution networks, and its entire nationwide tutoring chain—belonged to him.
Ava, Lily, and Grace were beyond stunned.
Ava whispered, voice trembling,"T-That's… one hundred ten million… not one hundred ten dollars…"
Their minds struggled to comprehend the scale of the transaction.
As paperwork was finalized, Jason asked casually,"Chairman, you must have connections in the American Piano Teachers Association, the National Music Educators Guild, the Royal Schools of Music boards, maybe even international organizations?"
He nodded instantly."Of course. Those connections are essential for business. I'll transfer everything to you."
Almost immediately, Olivia's phone began receiving new contact requests.
Presidents of major music associations.Committee members of national arts organizations.Directors of international piano certification boards.Renowned concert pianists.Competition judges.Top industry influencers.
They were all adding Jason's secretary, not Jason himself.
Ava watched in disbelief.
These were people university professors bowed to. People who rarely met ordinary musicians, let alone students.
Yet now they were sending contact invitations like eager fans trying to join a VIP club.
It was no longer just Professor Walter who was suddenly "easy to talk to."
It was the entire American piano world bending itself to welcome Jason Carter.
And all Ava could do was sit beside him, her heart pounding, wondering…
Who exactly have I been teaching piano to?
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