King of Classical Music 64

At the end of classes on their first day, Akkad gave Qi Mu a task: develop all the pictures they took over the past few days.

In fact, this was strange from the start. Now with digital technology, it was rare to find a full-frame SLR camera like his professor’s that still used tape.

Although Qi Mu didn’t understand, he went and developed the hundreds of photos. Then he sat and looked through them all, the beautiful scenery and rare shot of himself laughing, and his heart trembled. . . Now, he understood.

Akkad mentioned he lived like the dead, refusing to let himself go.

So. . . his teacher dragged him around to play so he could let go a little?

A vulnerable smile touched Qi Mu’s lips, warmth swelling in his chest. His teacher might be old-fashioned, eccentric, and temperamental, but. . . he was cute.

He carried the photo album to the music room and saw Akkad sitting on the sofa with a few scores in hand.

The large windows faced south, and the warm sunlight filtered through the glass, giving the room a subtle glow. Qi Mu walked over and set the album on the table.

Akkad hardly acknowledged him aside from opening the album to random pages. He looked up at Qi Mu, “Well, Small Seven’s photography and development skills are good, we’ll go out and play some.”

Qi Mu, caught between tears and laughter, suggested, “Teacher, I do not understand. . . how about you take a picture later?”

“Small Seven, I’ll let you take a picture of me, are you still not happy?”

The two laughed then Akkad set aside the album and looked at him. His expression was stern as he stared at the youth opposite him, “When you developed them. . . what did you feel?”

Qi Mu’s lips curled at the corners, and he replied, “Yes, I felt. . . I was forced to play so much to make teacher happy.”

“. . .”

After repeating “Don’t care about the child” three times in his heart, Akkad snorted. “Feel good about yourself. I have a song here. You should be familiar with it, but after a couple weeks, I hope to hear a different version.”

Qi Mu sighed in relief, “Teacher, what song is it?”

Akkad handed him the score he had set side, and Qi Mu opened the cover. When he saw the name, he stilled. He looked up at Akkad in amazement and saw his teacher wore a terrible smile as he spoke, “Paganini 24, the 24th Capriccio.”

The pure white cover had a single white character——

《i》

When Farrell recommended Qi Mu to Akkad, he had emphasized, “The boy’s skilled. His grasp for rhythm and tone is incredibly accurate, especially on a Paganini song. His technique was beautiful and smooth, his perception is unique and creative.”

And for Qi Mu, when Farrell mentioned Akkad’s name, his first reaction was: “the contemporary Paganini.”

Akkad recorded many albums in his life, an among them, his recording of the “24 Caprices” was the most outstanding. The Master often played the 24 songs at concerts, and the depth of his feelings toward Paganini’s rhapsodies brought him to the pinnacle of his career.

But. . . Qi Mu didn’t understand one facet of Akkad’s words.

“Teacher. . . A different version? You want me to adapt this song?” Qi Mu could only ask this after thinking about it for a while.

Akkad nodded. “Didn’t I say it at the end of Bai Ai’s concert last week that I wanted you to practice adapting a song? This is the first. I hope to hear an innovative 24th Capriccio, unlike anything I’ve heard before. Small Seven, you will have to integrate yourself with this song, and in two weeks, show me what you pull out.”

This kind of task was difficult, but Qi Mu was not afraid.

The sun’s golden light poured through the window onto the face of this young man. Qi Mu nodded, his tone brisk, “Alright, Teacher, I will work hard.”

Qi Mu was excellent with Paganini’s songs——something many people knew.

But, being good did not mean he was proficient at every song. Unfortunately, he was only familiar with the 24th Capriccio. If Akkad wanted him to play it, he could immediately, but. . .

Asking him to make an adaptation, that was a bit embarrassing.

Especially because it was so familiar, if he closed his eyes, the melody of the song rang in his ear. It was a ferocious obstacle in his path to adapt it. For a long time, he didn’t know what to do.

The situation was so stagnant that he left the music for two days, took it up every now and then to practice, but he still had no idea.

He was most likely too immersed in the music and could not pull himself away from it. The next evening, when he returned to his apartment, he rubbed his hair dry as he walked out of the bathroom and heard his phone buzzing. Qi Mu picked up his phone and found six texts and a missed call.

Qi Mu opened the last message and was surprised to see the sender.

Min Chen: 【What happened? Reply quickly.】

Qi Mu checked the time on the next message. It was sent three hours ago——

Min Chen: 【How are you?】

Another half an hour later——

Min Chen: 【Are you busy?】

After another half an hour——

Min Chen: 【Qi Mu？】

The last two were almost at the same time.

【？】

【What happened？】

Half an hour later, Min Chen directly called him, but Qi Mu was in the shower and didn’t hear it. Qi Mu didn’t know the man was patient enough to send so many messages.

He smiled and texted back: 【Sorry, I was thinking about a song all afternoon and didn’t even notice my phone vibrating. I’m not doing anything.】

Not long after, there was a reply: 【Hmmm.】

Another came a moment later: 【What song?】

Qi Mu thought about Akkad’s original task and said: 【Paganini’s 24th Capriccio. Teacher wants me to innovate it.】

Qi Mu canceled the vibration on his phone and continued towel drying his hair. He looked in the mirror and thought: . . . When did my hair get so long?

He didn’t get to linger on that thought for long, as his phone suddenly rang. Qi Mu jerked a little in surprise and grabbed his phone. He checked the flashing name and picked up the call. “Min Chen?”

The man’s magnetic voice passed over the line all the way from distant London, “Hmmm. Is the adaptation demanding?”

Qi Mu wasn’t expecting the question and laughed a little, “Teacher didn’t have any requests other than giving him something new in two weeks. I haven’t a clue, and it’s been two days. I don’t know about demanding but. . . probably high?”

Min Chen was silent for a long time.

Since the other didn’t intend to reply, Qi Mu added, “I’m a bit lost on how to start. I’ve adapted songs before, but never a classic track. . . I’m a little hopeless.”

After a moment of silence, Min Chen’s quiet voice asked, “Is it convenient for you now?”

Qi Mu looked around and smiled in reply, “I’m at my apartment, it should be?”

“Well, I happen to be in a music room.”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

“I’m at the house in London, there’s a music room here.”

. . .

Various rumors he had heard from members of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra flashed through Qi Mu’s mind, specifically: there were over a dozen Steinway nine-foot grand pianos in the Bertram family. At first, he had thought it was a joke, but. . .

To have a music room with a piano in London as well. . .

It’s possible to have over a dozen, ah. . .

Not noticing the strange silence, there were a few crisp sounds of a piano over the line then Min Chen said, without waiting for Qi Mu’s response, “The piano version of 24^th Capriccio is famous. If it’s convenient for you, listen to this version first.”

Qi Mu thought of declining but suddenly recalled what Akkad said. “Min Chen has that point, the one you’re missing.” So he accepted the other’s kindness and smiled, “Alright, I’m afraid I must trouble you.”

After a moment, the rapid notes of a piano spilled from the phone’s speaker. They leaped like the steps of a dance, twisting dramatically between tension and confrontation.

Qi Mu could envision the man on the other side of the phone, his fingers dancing over the black and white keys.

Because it was transmitted over the line, there were some deviations in the sound, but even then, it couldn’t weaken the elegance of this piece’s music.

After Liszt adapted Paganini’s 24^th Capriccio for the piano, it became a favorite for many piano prodigies. Liszt was the crazy master of illusion, and his skill on the piano spanned across the era, earning the disdain of his peers.

In fact. . . Min Chen could also be regarded as someone who liked to show off his skill, right?

He remembered 《The Night Tsunami》 the man had played at Hong Kong Disneyland. At the time, the man’s slender fingers fly over the piano’s keys as though they were born for it.

There was a beautiful portamento, and it pulled Qi Mu from the memory. Shortly after, the short 24^th Capriccio ended, and silence remained.

“The piano and violin are a bit different, but there are still. . . some things in common. If you have questions, call me any time.”

Qi Mu’s face broke into an uncontrollable smile, “Alright.”

Teacher really was being playful, ah.

Look at Min Chen, how zealous, how kind, ah!

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