King of Classical Music

Eight spotlights illuminated the stage. Standing on such a dazzling stage, the handsome young man placed an exquisite replica of a Stradivarius violin on his shoulder. But instead of playing his violin, he turned his gaze to the grand piano.

The piano provided by the Paris' National Conservatory of Music for the assessment was a 9 ft Bösendorfer grand piano. This behemoth was so overbearing, it took four grown men to move it.

It resided on the stage even when students from the piano department weren't playing. The school would only remove the piano after the assessment was over.

The spacious concert hall was so quiet that even the drop of a pin echoed. Everyone was staring in disbelief at the man in front of the piano.

For Qi Mu, his feelings couldn't be described as "surprised" as much as——

Frightened.

Just a second ago, he was ready to play. But, the next, he turned his head and saw a man that should be thousands of miles away!

Qi Mu didn't get to dwell on his surprise for too long. Min Chen raised his index finger and gently placed it in front of his nose. He then pointed to the astonished young man.

It was a simple action, yet Qi Mu immediately understood it. In the complete silence, they looked at each other and smiled. Qi Mu turned around. The next moment——

A soft and melodious tune poured from his violin.

The violin was like the warm hot springs, it dispeled the bleakness of autumn and ushered in the beauty of spring. The melody was light and soft, every note flowing with ease, as if there were elves dancing on the strings.

An even gentler echo accompanied it by the piano.

Beethoven's 《Spring Sonata》 was a violin and piano ensemble piece. At the beginning, Qi Mu only practiced the first and the fourth movement. The first section was a light and brisk allegro and the other was a melodious tune that was repeated in a leisurely cycle. With the piano in the background, the beautiful melody reverberated in the hall.

This piece was full of whispers between the piano and the violin. They responded to each other's voices tenderly, like close friends or a couple in love. Full of vigorous tides and surging enthusiasm, they spread the fresh breath of spring to the audience. Everyone felt the warmth of the spring breeze.

Onstage, the youth's slender fingers were illuminated by the spotlights. The light was so dazzling that the audience under the stage couldn't even see the movements of his fingers. They could only hear the violin flowing like a stream.

Behind Qi Mu, Min Chen's figure was mostly blocked by the grand piano. The man watched his fingers on the piano keys calmly and occasionally raised his gaze to look at the youth not far away. His eyes were soft and intimate, but with their view obstructed, the audience couldn't see it.

The violin uttered a whisper and the piano replied. When the violin danced excitedly, the piano happily played along with its steps.

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Someone once made a comment on the piece, saying, "Beethoven's 《Spring Sonata》 is neither difficult to play nor hard to understand. But, if you want to make the violin and piano integrate perfectly, you need to rehearse it for a long time."

Right now, the audience thought the same.

Practically seeing the green scenery of spring, the audience enjoyed the performance and praised the beautiful sound. Although no one said it, many thought——

『They must have been rehearsing this 《Spring Sonata》 for a long time, right?』

For any piece played by two or more musicians, they must rehearse beforehand. Even if the rhythm and melody were the same, neither artist could guarantee that their music could integrate perfectly once they performed together.

One section might require the violin to be on a higher note while the piano should be playing low. Or, the violin should be a little faster and the piano would hasten after it.

Could you perform to your best potential without rehearsing?

If you say you can, no one would believe it, not even Dylan!

But… Only Qi Mu and Min Chen knew that this nearly perfect 《Spring Sonata》 was their first ensemble.

However, they performed as if they had played together countless times. When Min Chen suddenly pressed a chord, Qi Mu immediately picked up his speed. And when Qi Mu suddenly did a spiccato to interpret a note, Min Chen tacitly responded with a glissando.

Obviously, Qi Mu made some minor changes in this piece. But even if the changes happened mid-way through their performance, the other man took to it like a duck to water. He did it effortlessly and freely, adjusting and making changes accordingly, he highlighted the soaring and beautiful timbre of the violin perfectly.

When the piece reached its final section in the harmony, the audience was already immersed by the mutual dance of the violin and the piano. After the performance ended, and the first "Bravo" was heard, an unprecedented applause broke out.

In the thunderous applause, some people finally woke up from their stupor——

"Just now… I think I heard the sound of spring!"

"I didn't expect the 《Spring Sonata》 would actually make me see green leaves and flowers blooming!"

"This performance was above the level of a college student. It's more at home in a world-class orchestra, isn't it?"

Of course, there were others whose attention was drawn elsewhere——

"Did Mr. Bertram do this especially for Qi Mu?" "It's quite an honor but this ensemble… Why do I feel that the violin was better than the piano? The violin is the main character of this piece!"

"Mr. Bertram deliberately played low-key as the accompaniment, but I really didn't expect that such a young student could cooperate with him perfectly!"

"This atmosphere…?"

All the people commenting on Auston Bertram were members of major orchestras across the globe. They came to the assessment today especially to find and recruit good seedlings into their orchestras.

Before Qi Mu started his performance, many people were weighing on whether to invite him to their orchestra or not. But, when they saw a certain man appeared before the piano and perform 《Spring Sonata》 with the young man, they realized——

"He's already been snatched by Bai Ai? Then how can we grab, ah!"

Was there really no one who wanted to try?

Hooke, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra's concertmaster, boldly handed Qi Mu's an olive branch onstage, under the 'indifferent" gaze of Bai Ai's principal conductor.

What was even more surprising was that…

Qi Mu didn't refuse!!!

Looking at the old man with a thick beard under the stage, Qi Mu felt helpless. He didn't refuse, but that didn't mean he would accept the orchestra's offer. Qi Mu didn't anticipate that Hooke would be at the assessment. It was really difficult for him to refuse the man, as he needed to take care of Hooke's reputation.

After the major orchestras finished offering their invitations, it was time for the judges to give their scores.

The Paris' National Conservatory of Music's assessment didn't make the students perform alone as a rule. The students could play in an ensemble, like Langston and Alleina did, but each of them would be judged separately.

Of course, they could also invite someone from outside the college to perform with them but… No one had ever invited a maestro like Min Chen.

When it came to the judges, more than half of them knew Min Chen. Two or three of them were even his fans.

This wouldn't add points to Qi Mu's performance, however. Some judges even harshly commented, "Your accompaniment was too formidable, I think… Qi Mu, you need to control your accompaniment. Such strength is very hard to find. And I really am sorry to watch… You controlling Mr. Bertram's piano so perfectly in the performance just now."

As he said this, the pianist with a face full of sadness gave the score, "I really am angry and my impulsive brain wanted me to say "I prefer your accompaniment!" to you but…My reason told me to give you full marks."

Qi Mu received the first score with such a sad comment.

Then the second, the third and the fourth…

Then, the ninth.

Until, finally, the last judge gave their comment.

"Your accompaniment is very good and so are you. I like Auston's piano as much as Lazzoni does but I'm not as childish and emotional as he is." Lazzoni was the first judge, and the one currently commenting was the main judge, an excellent trumpeter. He smiled at Qi Mu and said, "I am different from Lazzoni. I think… Your score should be worthy of your strength. Being able to make Mr. Bertram serve completely as your accompaniment, Qi Mu… Your score is——"

"10 points."

Translator(s): Kuro

Editor(s): Empress

Author's note:

《Spring Sonata》 is very good, Fuwa recommends!

The God Min Chen was actually reduced to being just an accompaniment to Qi Mu!

This is a historic event!

Sprinkle flowers~~~

Fuwa : Min Chen, in view of your success of becoming Xiao Qi's accompaniment, please tell us your mental state at the moment.

Min Chen : I'm very happy.

Fuwa : ……Min Chen, you're coming to woo…

Min Chen : I'm very happy.

Fuwa : ………………………………