Chapter 81

After BBC Philharmonic’s concert, Vienna seemed to usher in the lively season of performance.

In just one week, Qi Mu watched four world-class orchestras’ concerts with Akkad. From the Salt Lake City Symphony Orchestra and the Japanese NHK Symphony Orchestra to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Czech Symphony Orchestra. The auditory feast left Qi Mu’s ears in an overwhelmed state, and he gained a lot of insight.

He used to live in Vienna, but when the other world-class orchestras were there to perform, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra also had their tour. So he always played elsewhere and missed their staggering concerts.

Being able to enjoy so many excellent concerts at once was not only a pleasure for Qi Mu but also an opportunity for him to temper himself and discover his short-comings.

Min Chen contacted him once and wanted to meet, but Akkad looked Qi Mu dead in the eyes and almost left with him.

One day, the poor Little Seven thought about it, and just as he started to mention the name “Min Chen,” the grumpy maestro immediately said, “Oh, Little Seven. I didn’t tell you this, but Auston is a bad one! Don’t contact him anymore!”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

“Little Seven, although Auston has excellent music skills, he’s not necessarily a good person. That little fellow Daniel is always calling him “The Devil.” He must have an even worse temper than me!”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

So you know you have a bad temper. . .

Akkad scowled and said disdainfully, “Besides, his violin is far worse than yours! It’s not good! It really is terrible! I don’t think it’s any better than Dylan’s.”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

To have an exclusive professor-level mentor, Dylan was very good, professor. . .

“So, as I was saying, Little Seven, you should only contact that guy for professional guidance in the future. I’ve been around for many years, but I don’t know what he has hidden in his heart. That guy is bad, you should. . .”

“Teacher!” Qi Mu raised his hands in surrender and laughed. “I promise I will not secretly meet Min Chen again in the future.”

Professor Akkad was relieved with Qi Mu’s assurance. He whispered, “Good enough,” before taking his lovely student off the subway to visit another of his old friends.

In his mind, although Auston seemed like a good guy. . . He was actually bad. If Little Seven was fooled by him, would he ever be able to escape?

This wouldn’t do!

In the clear blue sky above, the breeze dispersed the clouds. Only a few large ones still hung against the blue backdrop like white gemstones.

Qi Mu followed his teacher. A smile flashed in his pale eyes, and his lips curled up. If he couldn’t meet secretly. . .

Then why not meet openly?

How could Teacher have such prejudice against Min Chen?

——Qi Mu expressed his doubt for the 99th time.

. . .

The person Akkad brought Qi Mu to visit this time was another well-known violinist. After so many years of being immersed in classical music, people formed their own unique, mild temperament. Among the world-class virtuosos that he knew, apart from Professor Akkad and Mr. Evra. . .

It seemed most people had good tempers.

And what about Min Chen?

He was a gentleman!

Qi Mu really didn’t understand why Min Chen won with such an unbeatably high score on that Danube Forum ‘Conductor with the worst temper’ poll.

Akkad told Qi Mu to bring his violin today precisely because he wanted Qi Mu to play some in front of his friend and get some advice.

Every musician had their own style. Generally speaking, none of the masters were better or worse than the other. Other than those who were too outstanding and regarded as gods, of course. In the violin world, Reed Akkad, Farrell Louis and the one they were visiting that day, Lance Trier, naturally fell into that category.

After listening to Qi Mu’s 《E minor》 and 《Devil’s Trills》, the mild-mannered violinist pondered for a while. “Since Reed told me to give you some pointers, Little Seven, I won’t be polite.”

Qi Mu solemnly nodded. “Yes, Master Lance.”

When he saw Qi Mu’s modest and serious expression, Lance smiled with admiration. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and said, “Seven, your violin skills are already high. To tell you the truth, my hands have been shaking more over the years, and my playing may not be as good as yours.”

Akkad said, “Lance, you’re almost 80. Now, it’s the young men’s world, haha!”

Lance shook his head and objected, “No, Reed. I think, even if it was thirty or forty years ago, my ability is probably worse than your student’s. You know I was never able to practice 《Dance of the Goblins》 well, and I’ve never played it in public.”

Akkad choked on his words and uttered, “I didn’t expect you to see that video. . .”

During Qi Mu’s impromptu open-air performance, some bystanders took a video of him playing 《Dance of the Goblins》 and uploaded it on YouTube. Akkad didn’t pay much attention to that kind of thing, but when Qi Mu performed the following two days, the crowd increased in size. . .

The maestro had an epiphany. His student seemed a bit famous?

How could Akkad know it wasn’t just a little fame?!

With such a handsome and delicate face, his performance of such difficult pieces was impressive. Those videos gained millions of views on YouTube. It was like a fire, spreading across Europe!

If not for the firewall blocking the Huaxian fans, the count might have climbed even higher.

At Akkad’s helpless expression, Lance smiled. “My skills have always been worse than the dazzling things taught by that school of yours, but. . .” At this, Lance turned to Qi Mu and continued, “But Seven, if I were to judge from only a musical point of view, your understanding of those two pieces. . . are different from mine.”

Such a response shocked Qi Mu. He remembered; over half a month ago, the American violin queen said the same thing to him.

Qi Mu’s expression turned earnest in a way he couldn’t stop. “Your understanding of these two pieces. . . What do you mean, Master Lance?”

Lance replied, “Little Seven, though you and Reed have a good teacher-student relationship and your style is similar to his. . . Reed has gone through many setbacks and hardships, and his music was polished around those. So Reed’s 《E minor》 and 《Devil’s Trills》 are powerful and shocking. But. . .”

After a pause, Lance continued, “Your performances amazed me. I’m probably too sensitive, but I noticed a sense of aggression in your music. Seven, have you experienced something unforgettably sad?”

Qi Mu was stunned by this remark, and before he could speak, Lance said, “Not sad, it’s. . .” He sighed. “Well, this kind of aggression could also be called another word. It’s——”

“Resentment.”