{"id":9844,"date":"2019-12-13T12:00:10","date_gmt":"2019-12-13T17:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/?p=9844"},"modified":"2019-12-16T13:29:28","modified_gmt":"2019-12-16T18:29:28","slug":"kocm124","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/kocm124\/","title":{"rendered":"King of Classical Music 124"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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For the rest of the college, the third assessment was business as usual, like the previous ones. For Qi Mu, however, it was different.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The assessment was held in the same hall north of the campus. Dozens of excellent students would play their best pieces to display their improvements.<\/span><\/p>

Akkad was absent from the previous two assessments. In his words, \u201cThe college is testing you, not your professor. I\u2019m not going, no!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

But this time, Akkad realized that\u2026 it was likely Qi Mu\u2019s last assessment. This time, he accompanied his student backstage early on. Over and over, he asked vexingly fussy questions like, \u201cHave you wiped your bow with rosin yet?\u201d or \u201cIs this the right tone?\u201d and the likes, seeming as though his personality had shifted entirely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Dylan was confused. He couldn\u2019t understand why Akkad, who had always been cold, got so chattery all of a sudden. What happened to him?<\/span><\/p>

Qi Mu on the other hand, listened attentively to Akkad\u2019s every word.<\/span><\/p>

Why was Akkad so fussy now?<\/span><\/p>

But, Qi Mu knows his mentor well. This maestro, who looked\u2026 difficult and proud was actually a tsundere. He was reluctant to part with his student.<\/span><\/p>

Although he has been saying things like \u201cYou have to graduate early, so you can better yourself\u201d and \u201cCollege is wasting your youth years, you need to go out to discover the world\u201d, in fact…<\/span><\/p>

Even if this man was <\/span>the<\/span><\/i> Reed Akkad, he was just another old man.<\/span><\/p>

After answering the inane question, \u201cHave you read the score?\u201d, Qi Mu finally couldn\u2019t help but reach out to hug the old man.<\/span><\/p>

Qi Mu\u2019s hug stopped Akkad\u2019s babbling. Feeling the warmth emanating from his student, Akkad heard Qi Mu whisper \u201cProfessor, I will try my best. I will not let you down or disgrace your name.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

For the night\u2019s assessment, Qi Mu\u2019s priority was to fulfill Akkad\u2019s requirement. In the future, after he left the college, he would always strive to keep Akkad proud.<\/span><\/p>

The youth\u2019s pleasant voice was like a balm, soothing the old man\u2019s heart. Even someone as surlish as Akkad got weepy. Finally, the old man snorted and said, \u201cSee that you do. If you dare to stop working so hard\u2026 Don\u2019t call yourself my student!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

His words were reproaching, but the tone he used was like an elder advising his beloved youngster. Qi Mu\u2019s heart warmed as he promised to do as he was told.<\/span><\/p>

When the assessment started and students began to perform onstage, Akkad looked at Qi Mu and hesitated to say something. When asked, he just shook his head. After a few more words of admonition, he went to the seats arranged for the professors.<\/span><\/p>

Watching Akkad take his leave, Dylan went to Qi Mu and covertly pulled the hem of his shirt. In a whisper, he asked, \u201cSeven, why is Professor Akkad so weird today? Do you know what happened? It\u2019s just so unlike him!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cMaybe because\u2026 Today is my third assessment?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Dylan froze, stupefied, before letting out a loud \u201cAh\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cOh, God! It\u2019s already your third assessment? Wait\u2026 You only need to get first place in three assessments in a row to graduate, right?!!!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Since Qi Mu joined the college\u2019s orchestra, his relationship with the other students grew closer. Some of them heard from their mentors that Qi Mu could graduate after three assessments. When asked, Qi Mu admitted it, not bothering to hide it from them.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYes, Dylan\u2026 This really is my third assessment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cMy God!!! How could I forget?!!!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Immersed in shock, Qi Mu could only smile helplessly and comfort him, saying that even if he graduated, he will still visit them. But, Dylan\u2019s mood didn\u2019t improve. It wasn\u2019t only until an old enemy from the piano department took the stage that Dylan changed the topic.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cSeven, ah\u2026 Langston will only graduate after the next assessment. If you graduate first\u2026 I\u2019m afraid our violin department will have a hard time beating him after this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Listening to Dylan\u2019s lamenting voice, Qi Mu cast his gaze to the stage, illuminated by the spotlights.<\/span><\/p>

He watched as Langston\u2019s fingers danced on the black and white keys, playing a song with an elegant, light melody. Not far from the grand piano, a blonde girl sat with her head bowed, playing her cello. Her music was thick yet mellow, like the deep sea.<\/span><\/p>

They were playing Faur\u00e9\u2019s \u300a<\/span>Sicillienne<\/span><\/a>\u300b. The cello was like a shallow sigh, its tears of sadness falling into dance with the piano. Within such gentle, quiet music, the melody described a beautiful, rural scenery. It was akin to a mirror, only for eyes to see, but not anything that could be touched. It was a fragile nostalgia.<\/span><\/p>

The cellist was Alleine, the chief of the cello department. Although her skill wasn\u2019t on-par with Langston, the melody she played moved Qi Mu.<\/span><\/p>

Dylan, blinded by hatred, scoffed and whispered, \u201cLangston and Alleine joined forces for the assessment. They\u2019re really despicable. They want to win with this?! It\u2019s impossible!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

With a smile, Qi Mu said, \u201cBut, they do play excellently.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

The tall, Swedish guy stared at Qi Mu, dumbfounded. \u201cSeven, how can you praise the enemy so much?! Isn\u2019t there a Chinese saying that goes\u2026 What was it again? No matter, it\u2019s not right to praise your enemy and not yourself!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Raising his eyebrows, Qi Mu asked, \u201c<\/span>Boosting others\u2019 morale and destroying your own prestige<\/span><\/a>?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Dylan nodded heavily. \u201cYes, that\u2019s the one! <\/span>I know I can\u2019t surpass you so I\u2019ll bring Alleina with me! <\/span><\/i>Hah, the two of them wanted to make the judges think they\u2019re better, now that they\u2019ve joined forces. It\u2019s despicable! No way, Seven. Let\u2019s play together and beat them!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Qi Mu was dumbfounded. \u201c… Are you playing \u300aSpring Sonata\u300b?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Dylan instantly wilted. \u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Qi Mu looked at the Swissman whose expression screamed, \u201cWhy didn\u2019t I choose \u300aSpring Sonata\u300b?!\u201d, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. After Qi Mu comforted the lad, Dylan immediately sprang up and cursed the \u201cdespicable\u201d fellows again.<\/span><\/p>

This time around, Qi Mu drew a lot with a late number. Even after most of the violinists had performed, even Dylan, it was yet to be his turn.<\/span><\/p>

By the time it was his turn, most of the students had already performed. The judges and the audience were no longer fully focused on the stage.<\/span><\/p>

It was unfavorable to any performer. Even if the level of their performance was adequate, the judges wouldn\u2019t listen patiently and would only give them an average score.<\/span><\/p>

But, when Qi Mu stepped onto the stage, the clamor of the audience abruptly stopped. The whole audience, including the ten judges, all stared at the \u201cfamous\u201d black-haired young man with focused gaze. Only a few discussions could be heard beneath the stage\u2014\u2014<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThis is Qi Mu?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI heard that he\u2019s very skilled! But, when London Philharmonic offered him an olive branch, he refused.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYeah, I heard about that. But it seems like many orchestras came for him this time. I don\u2019t know how skilled he is\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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These whispers didn\u2019t disturb Qi Mu.<\/span><\/p>

On the brightly lit stage, he calmly his violin on his shoulder. Just as he was about to lift his bow, he stopped. A series of gasps filtered out from the audience and someone exclaimed\u2014\u2014<\/span><\/p>

\u201cMy God! That\u2026 Who\u2019s that?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Hearing such strange remarks, Qi Mu looked below the stage, only to see that the audience turned their attention away from him. Their eyes wide, it was as if they had seen something incredible.<\/span><\/p>

Qi Mu had a strange premonition. When he turned to look behind him, he froze. His bow hung in mid-air.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIs that Auston Bertram?!!!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Translator(s): Kuro
Editor(s): Empress
Proofer(s): Ayn<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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