King of Classical Music 52

Just as Qi Mu got off the plane and set foot on B City once more, the wind was cold like a knife as it whizzed past his face. He tightened the wool scarf around his neck and took a taxi back to his apartment.

Initially, Qi Mu considered purchasing a car, but for the time being, there was no need to contemplate the issue.

If he really had the honor of becoming Professor Akkad’s student, then he would leave for Paris. He would not stay in the city for long.

The next day, when Qi Mu returned to the B City Symphony Orchestra, there was no special reception from the other members. They all congratulated him on his success at the Centennial Celebration. Only Du Sheng’s gaze stared at him, profound, then took him to Tan Lao’s lounge.

Tan Lao was always serious and old-fashioned. Like others from his era, he was almost traditionally conservative, but he had a vision and expectation that strove for innovation.

His lounge’s layout was simple. Apart from a few chairs at a table and an old desk, there were only a few trophies and pennants the orchestra had won decorating the room.

Qi Mu opened the door and directly entered. Tan Lao was in the middle of looking over the next season’s repertoire, but after seeing Du Sheng and Qi Mu come in, he set the pile of papers aside. He looked up and said, “Xiao Qi, ah. This time, S City’s performance was quite good.”

Because the orchestra had been busy, Tan Lao did not have the change to go to S City. However, ever since the concert, several magazines, and other insiders had praised the performance.

Naturally, Tan Lao saw the re-broadcast on Huaxia CCTV last night. Though hearing it over the system was far from seeing it in person, Tan Lao believed the entire performance was excellent, and the ending had successfully suppressed the audience.

Qi Mu’s eyes dipped in a smile, “Thank you for the praise, Tan Lao.”

Tan Lao was also not roundabout. He said bluntly, “You should have gotten in yesterday, but I got a call from Wen Jun. I hear. . . you met with Master Farrell Louis.”

Qi Mu understood what Tan Lao and Du Sheng had called him out for.

He did not deny it. He smiled with a nod, “Yes, I met Master Farrell yesterday. He told me that he wanted to recommend me to Master Reed Akkad as a student.” He added, “Master Akkad is currently a professor at the National Conservatory of Music in Paris.”

Although Tan Zheng Hui already knew from his conversation with Zhu Wen Jun, he still felt both sad and relieved to hear it from Qi Mu’s own mouth.

Sad, because if Qi Mu went to Paris, he would barely return to B City a handful of times a year.

But relieved because this child would finally begin his studies and train under the master musician, Reed Akkad.

Tan Lao did not speak, but Du Sheng, who sat to his side, smiled, “Xiao Qi, I did not expect there to be good news from you going off to S City. When I found out, I thought I had heard wrong! You must cherish this opportunity, ah.”

With a gentle smile, Qi Mu said, “Du-ge, you’re thinking too far ahead. Mr. Farrell just took back my albums to have Professor Akkad listen to them. I haven’t necessarily been accepted as his student yet.”

Du Sheng shook his head. “Since Mr. Farrell has already spoken to you about it, he is naturally quite sure. You cannot give up this opportunity, you must go. It’s already unbelievable that Reed Akkad is a professor, you can’t be like last time.”

He referred to Qi Mu’s rejection of Professor Karl’s offer, but this time, Qi Mu had already made up his mind.

In the past six months, he had learned and grown a lot. Huaxia was his motherland, but what he needed now was to learn even more and make himself stronger. So he could better develop Huaxia’s classical music.

“Please, rest assured, Du-ge. If I have the honor, I will seize it.” After a pause, Qi Mu looked at Tan Lao and said, “Tan Lao, you don’t have to worry about me. I know what to do.”

Tan Lao had long been watching Qi Mu’s growth. He looked at the handsome young man standing before him and felt that this youth had changed a lot.

There was none of that suborn rebelliousness in his memory, that offensive speech and behavior. Now, Qi Mu was like warm jade. Although the light had converged, people could still see the magnificence of this treasure at just a glance.

After a long while, Tan Lao finally sighed, “Xiao Qi, the first performance of our tour next month. . . you will replace Lao Du.”

It took time for Qi Mu to comprehend what he meant, but when he did, his fingers clenched tight, and he asked, “Tan Lao, you mean. . .”

Tan Zheng Hui, who always kept a stern expression, slowly showed a kind smile. He nodded. “You’ve been in the orchestra for five months, and you’ve rehearsed for so long. You have the chance to be a concertmaster, and you won’t? What can you do as assistant concertmaster?”

The content was a reprimand, but Tan Lao’s tone was soft.

He said it easily and casually, but for Qi Mu’s ears, it stunned him in place. Qi Mu did not dare believe his ears, but his hearing was perfect, and he could not even pretend to wave away Tan Lao’s words.

“You really. . . want me as concertmaster for the first round!?”

Qi Mu couldn’t believe it and asked again, but Tan Lao’s expression darkened, and he asked, “Why not? You don’t have the confidence?!”

Qi Mu immediately smiled and shook his head, saying confidently, “No, I do! You can rest assured, I will perform well!”

Tan Lao smiled and let him go practice after a few more words.

In the quiet lounge, with only Du Sheng and Tan Lao in the room, the old-fashioned man suddenly lost the tension in his body, and he gazed into the distance without focus.

Du Sheng sighed, “Tan Lao, I’m afraid Xiao Qi really will. . . go.”

Tan Lao nodded but did not speak.

“I didn’t sign a long-term contract with him precisely because of this, but I didn’t expect this day. . . to come so fast. It’s only been half a year.”

When he recruited Qi Mu to the B City Symphony Orchestra, Tan Lao had used personal connections to sign a temporary contract with him. As long as there was three-months notice, either party could terminate the agreement.

The official contract was for three years. But Qi Mu was in the prime of his life right now, the perfect time to grow and learn. Tan Lao did not want to restrict him to the orchestra in such a crucial period, so he had given him such a special contract. . .

But, no one thought that it would be put to use so soon.

After a while, Tan Lao looked at Du Sheng and scolded with a smile, “What? You’re not happy Xiao Qi is going to Paris?”

Du Sheng immediately retorted, “Where? Aren’t you afraid you’ll be sad? Who doesn’t know how old you are, yet you’re so partial to Xiao Qi. You’ve given my position to Xiao Qi already.” Du Sheng’s words lacked any jealousy, just a laughing joke.

Tan Lao’s eyebrows rose. “I know I favor him, but who are you to speak? Don’t you guide him?”

After a few more laughs, Du Sheng left the lounge. Alone in the silent room, Tan Zheng Hui stared at the list in his hand without saying a word.

Some time later, a sigh echoed in the lounge, but it was light and soon dissipated in the air.

Since Qi Mu was confirmed as concertmaster for the first round of performances, the entire orchestra’s rehearsals began once again. Many members were happy to congratulate Qi Mu on the opportunity, but at the same time, they knew that it meant he was leaving the orchestra.

But no one took the initiative to bring it up and instead, they rehearsed, dutiful as always.

Half a month later, just when he thought perhaps he wouldn’t get to go to Paris after all, Qi Mu received a call from Farrell.

Over the phone, Farrell first apologized and said Professor Akkad’s temper was too eccentric. The man wouldn’t call him personally, but he also brought good news.

“Angel, Reed really likes your music. Especially once he heard your 《Liang Zhu》, he decided to take you on. Qi, You know, Reed has such a bad temper! He listened to your albums and put off replying to me for two weeks! Today, I’m happy to tell you——”

“Angel, come to Paris!”

When he got the news, Qi Mu was packing up his violin case to head home.

There was such an overwhelming, indescribably complex emotion swelling in his heart that he didn’t care too much when he heard the name “Angel.”

There was. . . Paris.

There. . . Reed Akkad would be his teacher.

There. . . He would encounter several of the world’s top classical musicians.

There, it was Europe.

Six months, he——half a year!

He could go back!

Translator(s): Bet
Editor(s): Bet