Chapter 76

The Huaxia classical music industry was a quiet, waveless pool. Apart from the occasional headline that read, “S City Symphony Orchestra about to start tour,” or, “Who won the huxia youth group?”, the industry remained stagnant.

Until. . . the《Music Hall》 May 2016 edition came out.

As one of Huaxia’s top classical music magazines, and having been in print for over 30 years, they were the well-deserved big brother of the industry. Compared to their peers, 《Music Hall》 had state support and branches in Vienna, Berlin, Paris, New York, and more. They delivered the best information at both home and abroad.

Photos of Chinese musicians or shows often graced their covers. This issue, though, surprised everyone with——

A recital?!

The photo of a beautiful youth holding a violin and wearing a smile took up the cover’s largest section. A third of the picture, however, was relegated to a handsome, profound face almost obscured by the shadow under the stage.

Most lighting in the photograph focused on the stage, so few could recognize the man under it. But. . . they knew the center of attention, and several cried out, “Qi Mu?!!!”

In large font, the title read——

《Huaxian Violinist, Qi Mu, Wins First Place of the Paris’ Conservatory of Music’s Assessment》.

This seemingly small stone was cast quietly into the long silence of the Huaxia classical music industry. Ripples spread, bit by bit. . . and in just four hours, the news turned into a massive wave!

“He really became Reed Akkad’s student!”

“Sure enough, he went to Paris’ Conservatory of Music. I didn’t expect to be right…”

“It’s amazing he can be Reed Akkad’s student!”

. . .

“What?! First place in the college’s assessment?! The Paris’ National Conservatory of Music, at that? Is this true?!”

“Haha, I know Xiao Qi is the most powerful. First place is nothing unusual!”

“You know a fart, this is the assessment for the entire university. Did you not see the report? They mentioned that the one in the second place, who played the piano, accepted the invitation of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. After graduation, he’ll serve as their resident pianist!”

. . .

All kinds of voices rang throughout Huaxia, and their discussions were heated.

When Qi Mu left Huaxia that year, he left without revealing his college, nor which professor he would study under. Many wondered if he was going to the Paris’ Conservatory and whether Reed Akkad was even in Paris.

When it turned out to be a reality, the musicians were shocked by the news.

Not only did he enter the Paris’ National Conservatory, he was also Reed Akkad’s student. And. . . in a little over a month, he won first place in the college’s assessment.

A rocket jetting into space was slower than his progress.

After 《Music Hall》 ‘s smooth report, many people cursed Zhou Kang Sheng’s words——

“Who wants to know how spectacularly Qi Mu played? Don’t your pictures tell us that already?! And! Why don’t you tell us more on how Qi Mu is doing?!!!”

Some people focused on Qi Mu’s recent sensation in Paris, but others… were interested in something else.

“. . .”

“Ah, look. . . this person applauding, isn’t that Min Chen?”

“It looks like him but. . . I don’t think so. He gave Qi Mu a standing ovation?!!!”

“Oh, this Qi Mu is too powerful!!!”

. . .

Similarly, when Min Chen’s presence was discovered, some people thought, “This Qi Mu must be an outstanding violinist for Min Chen to give him a standing ovation.” Others paid for cross-ocean telephone bills to call and ask directly, “Xiao Qi, Mr. Min was in Paris all along? Why didn’t you tell me?”

When Qi Mu received the call from Zheng Wei Qiao, he was cooking dinner. He took the phone in one hand, the chili sauce in the other, and replied, “Ah? He left Paris a few days ago. . . Zheng-ge, I didn’t tell you? Min Chen stayed in Paris for quite a while, about a week. . .”

Qi Mu nodded along with the voice over the line and said, “Well, I will inform you about these things in the future. You can rest assured that I mind my manners with him. . . Well, don’t worry about it. . . Ah okay, we’ll talk later, good night.”

He put the phone aside and poured the canned chili sauce into the pot.

Earlier, Zheng Wei Qiao specifically mentioned that Qi Mu should not behave. . . ”frivolously” with Min Chen just because he was younger than other masters.

Although Qi Mu promised, when he carefully thought about it. . . his attitude toward Akkad and Min Chen was different?

After careful consideration, Qi Mu finally had a satisfactory answer.

“Well, how could you worship a guy who’s afraid of bugs? Shouldn’t anyone be disillusioned?”

Of course, although he wasn’t that courteous with him when they meet, Qi Mu still respected Min Chen a lot.

A few days previous, Qi Mu watched the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert in Zurich. It was the orchestra’s closing concert of the spring. Min Chen served as pianist for a concerto and received warm applause for his talent.

If you want to idolize a person, worship their merits, and don’t think about the messy stuff.

——As a victim of this poison, Qi Mu thought the saying was accurate.

Before the assessment, Akkad didn’t mention what he expected from Qi Mu.

Only after Qi Mu won first place did the little old man say, “Little Seven, this is a good start. Do you want to keep up with this standard? The dean told Teacher if you get first place consecutively in three assessments, you can directly graduate.”

Given this arduous task, Qi Mu had just finished Bruch’s 《Scottish Fantasy》.

Qi Mu first received the task with Paganini’s 《Caprice No. 24》 with two weeks to practice. Then, a week for Sarasate’s 《Carmen Fantasy》. By the time he was tasked with Tartini’s 《G minor》, the time limit had fallen to five days.

When he got 《Scottish Fantasy》, Akkad straightforwardly said, “Little Seven, you have to practice this song quickly. I’ve already booked a flight in three days. You don’t want to trouble me with changing the flight, right?”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

Qi Mu had yet to breathe a sigh of relief after playing 《Scottish Fantasy》 to Akkad’s approval, and he already triggered the task “win first place in the assessment three times in a row (13)”.

The workload of all the students in the violin department couldn’t add up to his!

Qi Mu struggled to smile. He gritted his teeth, “Okay, professor. I will. . . Work. Hard. Non-stop.”

Akkad nodded and said, “Okay, go pack your clothes and stuff. This time. . . you can bring the violin along. It might come in handy.”

After puzzling it over for two days, Qi Mu finally asked, “Teacher, where are we going? Are there activities you need to attend?”

Akkad stared at him incredulously. “Little Seven?! Don’t you know what month it is right now?”

Qi Mu automatically answered, “. . . May?”

Akkad nodded, “Yes, it’s the Golden May! Do you. . . want to waste your time in this dull college?”

“. . .”

Can you say that again in front of the dean?

Earnest, Akkad continued, “Spring has just fully awakened, and Europe has ushered in the beautiful season. Seven, beautiful music is calling us. Don’t you think that you should feel and embrace it?”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

Akkad put down the chocolate in his hand and said, “Little Seven, you have to remember that it’s hard to achieve anything with just hard work and a dull mind. Isn’t there an old saying in Huaxia, what was it, ‘Driving with the door closed’?”

Qi Mu gently corrected him, “It’s ‘to build a cart behind closed doors.’”

“Yeah, that’s it. Therefore, we must leave. We need to go out and see more things and enrich ourselves with this experience, you know?”

The young man smiled helplessly and admitted defeat. “Yes, sir. I know. But. . . can you first tell me where we’re going?”

The professor stood and walked towards him. He laughed, “Seven, there is a place in Europe where you need to go.”

“That place is. . . Vienna.”