King of Classical Music

It was as Zheng Wei Qiao said. The man who was the deputy chief violinist of B City Symphony Orchestra did have his own strengths. He played Dvorak’s 《6th Symphony in D Major》 second movement with a gentle and soft adagio*.

*Adagio: a music piece done leisurely

The sound was light and refreshing, like a gentle hand that fluttered at a person’s heartstrings. Even Qi Mu had a good appreciation for this sound. The only pity is that on the final piece, he was obviously impatient, and he didn’t end it with the tranquility it should have.

Qi Mu heard this and frowned.

If this was to be played at a European concert, he might get a warning or his name may even get removed. But for the current orchestra’s audition, he had performed well enough, at least, to let others wait and see.

“Qi Jia* brat, even if someone has no talent, they can still do anything. Your parents died early, so I will teach you for them. You should watch what you say, and mind your step.” After he finished with his audition, Lu deliberately went to Qi Mu and said this with a sneer.

*Jia: family, this is like saying “The Qi family boy”

Qi Mu heard this and smiled suddenly. Evidently, this guy. . . really thought he was a soft persimmon he could pinch without caution?

“Mr. Lu, do you know who else has said this before you?”

The middle-aged man asked, “Who?”

Qi Mu’s delicate eyebrows raised slightly, pretending to ponder on this for a while, he then said, “Mr. Tan, the chief conductor of B City Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Xu, the chairman of Huaxia Music Association, the musical director of S City Symphony Orchestra. . . also Mr. Verona, the principal violinist of Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, and Mr. Derek, the musical director of Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Yes, those are the ones that I can remember for now.”

Qi Mu’s tone was flat and calm, but the people around who heard his voice stared with astonished eyes. There was an awkward silence for a while.

The more he listened to the names he listed, the darker Lu’s face was. Forget the music director of Vienna Symphony Orchestra, even the chief conductor of B City Symphony Orchestra who was the closest to him was still far beyond his reach.

The man originally thought that because Qi Mu was an orphan and no longer had the backing of his family, he could taunt and ridicule this young prodigy and get him out of his way. He didn’t expect to end up lifting a stone only to drop it on his own foot, even making himself look bad. One must know that even dead, a camel was still bigger than a horse. Those seniors, for the sake of Qi Mu’s late parents, would make it impossible for anyone to humiliate him.

Well, nobody told this old man to bully him, so it was his own fault.

In the hearts of old predecessors, there were always scales hanging.

The middle-aged man’s face was pale and he said awkwardly “You can say that after you get this job. If you can, that is.” After speaking, he walked away hastily.

A person who was blinded by hatred and envy wouldn’t get far on this road.

Qi Mu came late so his number was among the last few. When it was his turn, there were only 3-4 people left. But the middle-aged man was still there, looking at him as if he was expecting to see a joke.

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“Heh, a kid who hasn’t even touched the violin for a few years really thinks he’s on par with us?”

Qi Mu didn’t pay attention to this obvious provocation. After his number was called, he put down the rosin in his hand and stood to walk to the forefront.

The stage for this audition was a small theater, and several big names of B City Symphony Orchestra were sitting on the front row.

Qi Mu walked over calmly step by step.

“Qi Mu. . .?” The chief violinist of B City Symphony Orchestra who was sitting in the front row said his name in surprise. He then turned to look at the old man next to him and asked tentatively, “Mr. Tan, is this. . . really that Qi Mu?”

The old man grunted and coldly said, “Just listen to his performance.”

The chief violinist smiled and didn’t ask any more questions.

“Number 36, Qi Mu, playing Dvorak’s 《6th Symphony in D Major》 second movement, please ask for guidance.”

As soon as he heard this, Lu’s face immediately blackened. The other contestants also smirked and snickered, pointing at him. The judges also saw this. Du She Xiang, the chief violinist of B City Orchestra asked curiously, “Didn’t you originally chose to play the fourth movement?”

Dvorak was a legendary existence in the history of music, he had composed nine great symphonies in his life. The nine symphonies were spread all over the world and was known as 《New World Symphony》, and this 《Symphony in D Major》 was the sixth of the nine.

The main track that B City Symphony Orchestra would perform was Dvorak’s 《Golden Spinning Wheel》 along with 《D Major》. Therefore, all 40 contestants who came here today auditioned with one of these two pieces.

Qi Mu smiled and said, “Mr. Du, I thought the final part lacks the triple movement that the front part has, so I wanted to change to the second movement.” Saying this, Qi Mu glanced at the middle-aged man who was already gritting his teeth, and the mirth in his eyes deepened.

Du She Xiang saw this little movement of his and nodded with a smile, “Alright, then you can begin.”

Qi Mu politely bowed, lifting his violin, and he rested it gently on his left shoulder. Taking a deep breath, he then lifted the slender bow. The next second, a soft, feathery, and graceful sound flowed from the violin.

From the start, the people there were already entranced, their minds brought to a beautiful fairyland. The fluttering vibrato, the way the chords were handled, making the violin to let out a delicate and exquisite sound. They felt as if they were in warm water, or peacefully walking on clouds.

To a lot of people, the second movement in 《D Major》 was the most ordinary part of the song. It didn’t have the vitality of the first movement, nor the wit of the third movement, nor was it as exciting as the fourth movement. Yet, Qi Mu hands could bring this piece to life. The seemingly ordinary and unassuming piece could make people feel calm and soothe their soul.

If Lu’s performance before could reach the standard of Huaxia’s National Grand Theatre, Qi Mu’s performance now far surpassed it. Even if it was Europe, his level was second to none.

Especially the final piece, with a lingering sound, it had a long-lasting charm. The judges were unable to recover from the music, let alone the other violinists who were listening.

“My performance is over, thank you for listening.”

The youth’s soft and pleasant voice brought everyone back from their wandering thoughts. Du She Xiang put away his relaxed expression and solemnly looked at Qi Mu on the stage.

Under the bright spotlight, the youth’s handsome face and his straight posture seemed to compete with the sun. Especially when he closed his eyes. It was as if there was an invisible light shining from behind him, making it impossible to look directly at him.

He secretly thought to himself: If this was the black sheep that Old Tao always talked about. . . then his whole family was a waste!

At the side of the stage, the middle-aged man’s face was already red with indignation and anger.

There was no need for comments from the judges, the difference between him and Qi Mu was obvious to everyone. He only played the second movement in 《D Major》, but it already felt like he was playing the whole piece. The liveliness of the prelude, the humor near the final part, this made the people who listened to it want to hear the entire thing.

At this thought, the middle-aged man could no longer stand being there. He flicked his sleeve and left, the view of his back giving the impression of him running away.

Qi Mu naturally noticed the man’s departure. He smiled a bit but didn’t say anything.

Mr. Tan Zheng Hui, the principal conductor of B City Symphony Orchestra, who was sitting in the middle of the judges’ panel looked at Qi Mu for a long time with a complicated expression. Finally, he let out a deep sigh and slowly loosened his clenched fist.

Old Tan said, “That was an excellent performance, you can go down and wait for the results.”

Hearing this, the people present were shocked. Qi Mu was also slightly surprised but he quickly smiled, bowed politely then exited the stage.

Du She Xiang looked at Qi Mu’s retreating back, frowning in doubt. He then whispered, “Old Tan, why did you let him leave without saying anything? Isn’t this. . . not in line with regulation?”

Unexpectedly, Tan Zheng Hui raised his eyebrows and asked, “Regulation made by whom?”

Du She Xiang paused for a moment and replied, “By you.”

“Oh well, now the rules are changed, I guess.”

“……”

Alright, alright. You’re the conductor, you can do whatever you want!

Zheng Wei Qiao had been waiting outside of the theater for a while. When he saw Qi Mu, he immediately went over to him and offered words of comfort, “You haven’t touched the violin for a few years and you’ve only begun to practice for the past few days so this failure is understandable. Don’t worry about it. The B City Wind and String Instruments is recruiting next month, you can try then.”

Qi Mu widened his eyes at this and looked at Zheng Wei Qiao funnily.

Zheng Wei Qiao took his silence as a confirmation and hurriedly continued, “If you don’t want to, we can also go to S City. A lot of your parents’ friends are there, their students and colleagues. If you try again and work hard, I’m sure you can join their first violin group.”

The sunshine gave a golden tinge to Qi Mu’s hair. He smiled and asked confidently, “Zheng-Ge, are you worried. . . that I won’t be selected?”

Zheng Wei Qiao was a bit surprised and asked subconsciously, “Aren’t you?” After a moment, he remembered he couldn’t outright talk about this so he said discreetly, “My friend told me that Mr. Tan didn’t comment on your performance and just let you leave after that. . . But don’t take it to heart, Mr. Tan watched your mother grow up so he must have his own reasons for doing that. Even if you didn’t get selected this time, there are plenty of other orchestras that are recruiting.”

As he listened to Zheng Wei Qiao’s words, Qi Mu’s smile grew brighter and brighter. He looked up to the sky and the sun’s golden rays. He asked abruptly, “Zheng-Ge, B City Symphony Orchestra. . . what kind of orchestra is it?”

Zheng Wei Qiao absent-mindedly replied, “They’re the top orchestra in Huaxia, second to none.”

“Then. . . what are you worried about?”

Zheng Wei Qiao frowned, unable to understand his words, and Qi Mu continued, “If they don’t pick me, then. . . B City Symphony Orchestra is only at this level, that’s all there is to it.”

There was a smile in the youth’s calm voice, but Zheng Wei Qiao was stunned at his words. He stared blankly at Qi Mu who was walking away carrying his violin case. Noticing that the man was falling behind, Qi Mu just smiled and waited for him to catch up.

Alongside his blank mind, Zheng Wei Qiao thought that he might have seen an illusion.

He never saw such a confident Qi Mu, one with the fortitude of a king. As if he’s did not belong in Huaxia, the undeveloped land for classical music, but in Europe where the giants were.

There was a thought, surging suddenly in his mind——

The man who should be standing in the Golden Hall with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, showing the world the infinite charm of music! But in this world, there was no such existence. . .

No!

There was one!

At the beginning, he only accompanied the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, but he became a sensation and was nicknamed the king of the piano.

Thinking of this, Zheng Wei Qiao’s blood boiled. He never experienced this kind of excitement in his 30 years of living. He was eager to stand by this youth’s side, to see how far he could go.

The streets of B City were crowded in the evening. The vast expanse of the sky was full with the reddish glow of the sunset. As if the clouds were burning, it swept the city making the passer-bys unable to help but stop and admire it.

The Eastern Sun was beginning to burn brightly.

And the West was completely ignorant of this.

Chapter translated by Kuroshinji and edited by Betwixted