King of Classical Music 80

The impromptu public performances entitled “Feel Vienna, Exercise Performing Skills” lasted for three days after Qi Mu arrived.

In late spring, Vienna was full of fragrant flowers. Qi Mu and Akkad visited almost all of the famous spots under Qi Mu’s guidance.

Akkad had to admit, “Little Seven. . . Perhaps you have the talent to become a geographer? It’s not easy to read such a complicated map, and you’ve never got it wrong. . .”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

Although Vienna’s streets were complicated, there was still a long way to go between “able to read maps” and “becoming a geographer!”

After the impromptu performance, Qi Mu planned to see his old house. But, Akkad clapped his hands and said, “Little Seven, after three days, there’s finally a concert. Tonight’s concert is by the British BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, it will be the first orchestra we attend after coming to Vienna.”

Qi Mu thought for a moment and had an idea, “Professor, you mean, when you took me to all those places to perform over the past few days. . . were you waiting for the concert to begin?”

Akkad nodded with a very master-like expression and said, “Well, yes. From today on, there will be many good concerts in Vienna, enough for us to stay until May.”

As they talked, they walked into a cafe next to Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien’s building. Akkad ordered a cup of coffee then looked at Qi Mu and said, “Little Seven, you are skilled and have a great sense of music. What you lack most is the opportunity to work with an orchestra.”

Qi Mu nodded solemnly. “Yes, professor. There are few opportunities.”

Qi Mu, a member of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in his previous life, was a reserve member in his first year there and didn’t get to perform for quite some time. After that, he entered the first violin group directly and gradually grew from an ordinary member to the deputy chief.

But this meant he never had the chance to work with an orchestra as the concertmaster.

The concertmaster was a very glorious and sacred position, meaning they needed the strength to match. Excellent violin skills didn’t make an excellent concertmaster. It usually took a lot of practice to accumulate experience.

Qi Mu had a superb sense of music, which made it convenient for him to rehearse with an orchestra. But it was talent rather than experience, after all. What Qi Mu lacked was experience as the concertmaster.

In the quiet coffee shop, a gentle, female voice sang a blues song. The coffee shop was located near the Musikverein, where many classical musicians waited for the concert that evening.

Akkad didn’t wear a disguise. So many people who wandered into the cafe found this world-class master of the violin. When they noticed the handsome youth sitting opposite him, they realized instantly——

“Is that. . . Is that the person who won first place in the Paris’ National Conservatory’s last assessment?”

From time to time, people came to pay their respects to Akkad while sneaking a glance at the maestro’s favorite disciple.

When their coffee arrived, Akkad used a spoon to mix sugar into the drink and sighed. “Actually, Little Seven. . . if you were born a decade earlier, I don’t think you would have such a worry.”

Qi Mu looked Akkad, who helplessly continued, “Right now, all the world’s major orchestras are basically complete. Even Bai Ai, that has always been ‘a never changing old man’ made Christole their concertmaster seven or eight years ago. Now, basically, all the concertmasters of most of the first-class orchestras are young.”

Qi Mu was slightly startled. After a pause, he spoke. “Indeed. . . But teacher, have you forgotten the concertmaster of Wei Ai?”

Akkad was silent for a moment before replying, “I forgot that old fellow. Yes, he is quite old. But he has worked with Dorenza for so many years, and I don’t think he will leave Wei Ai in the near future.”

Qi Mu nodded and didn’t express his opinion.

Akkad sighed, “Even the Academy Orchestra of our college have Ange as the concertmaster. Even if he graduated next year, you would also graduate at that time. So that position won’t be yours, Little Seven.”

Qi Mu thought about it a bit and then asked, “That. . . Professor, can I start as an ordinary member?”

Akkad shook his head and said, “No, Seven. Before you came to Paris, I already saw your performance as deputy chief of the second violin group and assistant concertmaster of the B City Symphony Orchestra. As a member of the orchestra, I think you’re already excellent. You don’t need more experience in that. . . What you need is specific experience as concertmaster.”

Qi Mu went silent and said nothing more.

He knew how to cooperate with world-class orchestras after working with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra for over a decade. However. . . not everyone could have such an opportunity, and unfortunately, Qi Mu was not born in that “lucky” era.

Akkad smiled and went on, “But Little Seven, having a lot of strong opponents is a good thing for you. It is because there are so many rivals that you can watch and learn more. So this era that you were born in is not only a cruel era but also a beautiful one.”

At Akkad’s words of encouragement, Qi Mu nodded, and a smile appeared on his handsome face. “Yes, professor. I will work harder.”

Akkad nodded approvingly, and they quickly left for the Musikverein in the next building.

The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra was one of the top symphony orchestras in Britain. Their style tended to be romantic, graceful, and gentle. After five symphonies were played in one evening, thunderous applause broke out several times, and at the end of the event, an encore was performed.

The BBC Philharmonic’s concert wasn’t held at the Golden Hall but in another hall of the same building. However, when Qi Mu walked into the Musikverein again, his heartstrings pulled tight, an indescribable emotion flooding his being.

This was the last place he went in his former life.

The three-store building stood for more than 200 years, allowing numerous classical music maestros to perform and spread their music to the world. It had the world’s best music hall, the Große Saal—— which has collected countless virtuoso from all over the country.

Qi Mu hastened to maintain his composure and didn’t show any emotion in front of Akkad. He accompanied his mentor to greet many of the man’s old friends. Akkad also introduced Qi Mu to these world-renowned masters, expanding his contacts.

With such a famous mentor, this represented Qi Mu’s inheritance of his master’s various contacts and factions in a way.

The next day, Akkad took Qi Mu to visit a world-renowned cellist. The three of them chatted for a long time at the virtuoso’s house. Akkad let Qi Mu leave on his own in the afternoon as he needed to talk more with his friend.

Qi Mu smiled and said goodbye to Akkad and the cellist then left the building.

It had been four days since he first stood in the quiet streets of Vienna, and this was the first time since his arrival he was finally alone and could move freely.

He looked at the clear blue sky, unclear how long he stood there before recovering. After looking around, Qi Mu figured out where he was. He found the nearest subway station he was familiar with and took the line he had taken for over a decade.

The scenery leaving the subway was one he was so familiar with. The sights and sounds were engraved in his soul, and he stood there for a long time in a daze.

The dessert shop still looked like it did eight months ago with the owner’s favorite tulips placed in front. The owner of the small cafe on the opposite street preferred to move his lounge chair to the front of the shop in the afternoon, however, and basked in the sun.

Qi Mu took a step and moved forward. In a short while, a piano-like sound came from the side of a small building. A little boy, who didn’t have much talent in piano, still practiced every day. He never made any progress.

Qi Mu’s pace grew faster and faster. When he turned a corner and saw the house he had lived in for more than a decade, he stopped. He wondered whether he should go forward or turn back.

It took him a while to walk to the side of the apartment, then he stopped again.

The young man leaned against the brick wall. Because it was in the sun for quite a while, it was warm. He looked up and stared at the dark window on the second floor of the small building.

Qi Mu stared and remained silent until the sun set. Night came, and he still didn’t move. He didn’t go forward, he didn’t leave. It was as if he fondly remembered a past he couldn’t rewind. There was no way to save anything from it.

About half an hour later, Qi Mu finally heaved a long, heavy sigh and said to himself with a bitter smile, “It’s all over. . . it’s impossible to return.”

He turned and left.

Just as he turned away, a black Bentley parked nearby slowly followed his path.

Once the young man left, the window opened, and a handsome face appeared in the dark night.

Min Chen’s eyes narrowed, and he stared in that direction for a long time.

Ten minutes earlier, he saw Qi Mu on the street. He wanted to say hello, but he noticed he was staring at the apartment across the street. Unknowingly, the words he wanted to say died.

That. . . was Lu Zi Wen’s apartment.

He waited until he saw the familiar young man enter the subway, then Min Chen turned away and said in a low voice, “Let’s go.”

The driver, still unaware, started the engine without asking anything.

In the dimly lit car, the man pressed his long finger against his phone screen several times, and before long, he received a reply.【Are you already busy with the orchestra yet? I was just strolling around. Since we’re both in Vienna, there is time for us to meet.】

After Min Chen replied with an affirmative, they exchanged a few more texts then said, “Good night,” to each other.

He looked out the window at the golden night of Vienna, and his eyebrows furrowed for a long time before he sighed——

Since you were just strolling around, why…

Why did you stare at that apartment for so long with that expression?

Translator(s): Kuro
Editor(s): Empress, Ayn, Bet

The Author:

Listening to Aimer’s “If I didn’t meet you” at the end of this chapter was quite hard to do while translating lol curse you, playlist. What a nice time to play that song at the end of the chapter. Coincidence? I don’t think so