King of Classical Music 91

Farrell Lewis was one of the four top conductors.

As chief conductor and music director of the Dresden Symphony Orchestra, Farrell Lewis had many great accomplishments to his name. Unlike many maestros who started as a pianist turned conductor, Farrell’s achievements with the piano were less than his achievements with the violin.

Such a great violin master and conductor was praised by Master Akkad as a “good teacher”?! This was a mentor students all over the world dreamt of, ah!

But. . . Qi Mu was excluded from this list of students.

“Angel, your skill with tremolo is excellent, but I had hoped you would be more decisive with the overtone and show the true excitement of 《The Lark》. Like this. . .”

Farrell took the violin from Qi Mu’s hands and demonstrated.

The delicate violin was clear in his hands. Though there were differences between his and Qi Mu’s technique, his performance showed the aesthetic romance unique to Parisians.

Farrell was a French musician. Because he was the current conductor, his musical style deeply influenced the orchestra. It made Dresden, once classically German, romantic and gentle.

Although Qi Mu felt helpless in the face of each “Angel” the master uttered, he had to admit he was young and less experienced compared to the other man. During the three days of practice, he listened to the master’s guidance with the utmost respect and soon won his recognition.

With a smile, the master said, “Angel, if you perform 《The Lark》 for next week’s assessment, I believe. . . it will be hard to find someone across all of Paris to accompany you.”

Qi Mu interjected, politely, “Thank you for your advice, Master Farrell. But. . . Professor didn’t seem like he wanted me to take the assessment with this piece.”

Over the two weeks of practice, Akkad gave him three pieces to perfect and proclaimed that when he got back to Paris, he would personally listen to Qi Mu performances.

To be recognized by Reed Akkad?

Well. . . It was even harder than gaining Farrell’s approval.

Akkad’s temper was so much worse. He wouldn’t let even the speck of a flaw pass.  

Farrell frowned. “That fellow just wants you to play a full-court song and make his own prestige rise. 《The Lark》 is only two minutes long, but I think Angel’s 《The Lark》 could take first place.”

Farrel laughed, “Angel, play this piece. I’ll let Reed know. How can he treat his lovely student so harshly? Reed is so insensitive, you’re practicing hard every day with so little time to relax.”

Farrell was right. Before he saw Qi Mu’s dutiful practice, he would never believe a 22-year-old could, and would, practice from 8 am to 8 pm every single day.

Moreover, the pieces he practiced were never simple. Each and every one of them required a high level of skill.

The students at Paris’ National Conservatory of Music were all so excellent, and most would become the backbone of the industry a decade after their graduation. If the pieces Qi Mu practiced every day were handed to Dylan next door, it would take him at least a week to prepare.

The deadlines Akkad set for Qi Mu were never more than 3 days.

Such strong pressure concerned Farrell. But, to his surprise, the beautiful young man in front of him shook his head. “Mr. Farrell, Professor hopes I can graduate early, so don’t stop him. He knows my limits. Please don’t worry.”

The bright sunshine illuminated the pristine room like a golden awn. It shone from behind Qi Mu, surrounding him with a thin golden halo, hazy and gentle. 

Farrell was stunned. He automatically reached for his phone and unlocked the screen. He had to make sure this scene was captured.

Qi Mu frowned. “Master Farrel, did you. . . ?”

“Oh, Angel, you’re so cute! Your teacher hasn’t seen you for a long time, he must miss you a lot, eh? I took your picture and sent it over to show him his lovely student. Now he’s even livelier!”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

I really don’t know what these maestros are thinking…

Qi Mu started to practice the next piece Akkad gave him.

The master at his side, whose head was bowed as he tapped on his phone’s screen, only offered an occasional comment as he chatted in a very active group chat.

What? Was it possible that Farrell, who was already over 60 years old, could be savvy with his phone?

Well, he had followed the footsteps of time and refused to be left behind by youngsters!

In a group chat called【Little Angel’s Violin Practice Room】, the otherwise quiet chat exploded with the release of the picture. Although there were only three people in the group, two were chatterboxes, and the third was particularly hyperactive. Rapid-fire lines of text filled the screen. 

Farrell: 【Angel’s been practicing 《The Lark》 very well, Reed. I think he can use this piece as the performing track for the assessment. It’s very good! By the way, your Angel looks particularly cute today!】

Half a minute passed. . .

Reed:【Farrell! Who allowed you to take my lovely student’s picture?!】

Farrell:【I took it fair and square, Reed. Don’t insult me.】

Daniel:【Oh, it’s already time for the second assessment. Hey. . . This picture of Little Angel is beautiful. My sweetheart became his fan after seeing him perform 《Dance of the Goblins》last month. I have to save it and show it to my baby when I get back.】

Farrell【Haha, Daniel, you’re a bad one!】

Reed:【Daniel, you baldy! You’re not allowed to keep pictures of my student! Wait a minute, why are you in this group chat? Where did you come from!!!】

. . . 

After spending the day practicing, the sky outside was dark. In the summer, the sun went down at 8 o’clock, giving way to the moon. Qi Mu carefully wiped away the rosin powder on his violin’s panel then placed it in its case.

Picking up the case, he prepared to leave. He saw Farrell on the sofa, still gazing at his phone. He didn’t know who the master was texting.

After spending three days with this maestro, Qi Mu decided he liked Farrell.

He was a talented master with a good temper and lots of patience. It was no wonder he was ranked third on the poll for the best-tempered conductor, right after Boswell from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and Dorenza of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Of course. . . If he could stop calling him “Angel,” Qi Mu would rank him number one in his heart.

“Mr. Farrel, are you ready to leave? Almost everyone has left already.” With violin case in his hand, Qi Mu said, “If you don’t mind, we can walk together. My place is closer than yours, but I can accompany you half-way there.”

Farrell was still typing like a madman on his keyboard. Finally, he said, “Angel, could you wait a little longer? Just ten minutes, then we’ll leave together.”

Ten minutes wasn’t long, so Qi Mu agreed.

There wasn’t anything to do, Qi Mu thought, turning his eyes left and right. He picked up his phone but remembered something before he could unlock it. There was an excellent record player in his professor’s lounge. 

Qi Mu already brought the record to the university, intending to borrow Akkad’s record player. But until now, he had been too busy to use it. 

Now was a great opportunity.

Qi Mu set down his violin case, leaving it in the violin room, and moved to the lounge.

As for Farrell? He was having the time of his life in the group chat.

Daniel:【Damn it! Min saw me try to send the picture to my sweetheart! How did he manage to sneak up behind me and steal a peak? What a devil!】

Farrell:【Huh? You haven’t left the orchestra yet? Is Bai Ai that busy, Daniel?】

Daniel:【We’re preparing for the next tour and the one after that. No, Auston is #%^%#^. . .】

Daniel:【Farrell, where are you?】

After a while,

Farrell: 【. . . Auston?】

Reed:【Damn it, Auston! What are you doing here?!!】

Daniel: 【Are you in Paris, Farrell?】

Reed: 【Shut up! Shut up! Don’t talk!】

Farrell: 【I’m in Reed’s violin room. He asked me to take care of Angel in his absence. It just so happens the orchestra is on holiday, so I came.】

Daniel: 【It’s. . . little past 8 in Paris. You’re still in the violin room? What about Qi Mu?】

Farrell: 【Angel? He seems to be out just now, I told him to wait ten minutes before we go. Let me tell you, Angel is such a lovely child. He’s been practicing violin all day until now. He wanted to leave earlier but couldn’t bear to leave me alone, so he’s waiting for me. 】

Daniel: 【Put down your phone. You should go back now, Farrell.】

Farrell: 【. . . ?】

Reed: 【Farrell, you dare to make my lovely student wait for you?! Don’t tell me you haven’t had dinner yet!】

Farrell: 【No, we ate a loaf of bread, Reed.】

Daniel: 【Farrell, you can go back. It’s late now, it’s time to rest. Berlin is very close to Dresden, I can visit you next quarter. When do you want me to go?】

Farrell: 【. . . Auston? Well, you might be right. I should go now. Then, I’m going next door to call Angel over. Goodbye.】

Daniel：【Well, be careful on the road.】

Farrell reluctantly set down his phone and went to the lounge. When he opened the door, he saw the handsome young man place a brand-new record on the player, preparing to put the needle on.

Startled, Qi Mu turned to him. “. . . Mr. Farrell?”

Farrell nodded, then asked, “What are you doing, Angel?”

Qi Mu smiled. “I wanted to listen to a record while waiting for you. Have you finished your work, Mr. Farrell?”

Farrell wanted to say, “No hurry, if you want to listen to the record, I can wait.” But the threatening words from the group chat still lingered, fresh in his mind. The mild-tempered conductor sighed helplessly and said, “I’m a bit busy, Angel. It’s getting late so let’s leave first. You can listen to the record tomorrow.”

Qi Mu hesitated for a moment but finally nodded. He put the record back into the kraft bag then placed it in Akkad’s safe.

A certain man in Berlin tossed the phone back to its owner. Eyes closed, he thought, today. . . he should have listened to the record already, right? He should have.