Chapter 7 (2)

B City Symphony Orchestra was worthy of being the number one orchestra in Huaxia. After only three days of rehearsal, the entire orchestra was great and had a tacit understanding of each other. During this time, Qi Mu also learned a lot about Tan Zheng Hui.

Old Tan was a senior artist who worked really hard and was doing his best at everything. His ability as a conductor was undeniable, and Qi Mu admired his attitude toward musical excellence.

Each conductor had their own style in interpreting music scores. Mr. Albert Dorenza, the conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, for example, had a style that was romantic and filled with passion and a gentleness one might expect from a gentleman. In contrast, Lao Tan’s style was much more realistic and down to earth.

With the gentle and simple sense of nature, it made the audience experience a pure atmosphere. His style matched Dvorak’s naturally. Which was why there was always a shadow of Dvorak’s influence in the B City Symphony Orchestra’s performances.

For example, the orchestra was currently rehearsing the 《Symphony No 8 in G Major》for the twelfth time, it was one of Dvorak’s most famous works. The whole song was soothing and calm. It brought people to the 19th century, to experience the beauty of the plains in the Czech Republic and the infinite allure of nature.

“The clarinet should enter a bit more naturally!”

“Recorder, a little higher!”

. . .

Even if he had corrected them 100 times, Tan’s attitude and strive for perfection allowed him to pick out an egg from stone and would demand them to be better, better and even better. Whenever they had a rehearsal, the said conductor was akin to someone with an obsessive-compulsive disorder, demanding about every single little detail.

Among them, even though Qi Mu could hear the rhythm and pitch of each instrument, he was not a conductor, and he didn’t know what kind of symphony Lao Tan wanted.

Today’s rehearsal ended in the evening and they went home. Qi Mu had not left the gate yet when he was stopped by someone calling his name. He turned around and saw Lao Tan’s serious face, the older gentleman sitting in a black car.

“Get in.”

Qi Mu froze slightly, then he got into the car.

In the quiet and cramped space, just as Qi Mu put away his violin case, he heard a low-pitched voice, “Tomorrow’s competition. . . how’s your preparation?”

He suddenly understood. Qi Mu turned to look at Lao Tan and said with an earnest expression, “I have been preparing for it these past few days and you can rest assured, Lao Tan. I have worked hard.”

Ever since Lao Tan told him about the violin competition, he had entered a busy flurry of preparation. Originally, he planned to contact the referee himself to register, but Lao Tan already arranged everything for him. All he needed to do was get on stage and play.

Tan Zheng Hui looked at Qi Mu’s solemn expression and nodded, satisfied. The car turned and drove up a hill. He then asked, “What songs did you prepare?”

Qi Mu replied, “I plan to play Paganini’s 《Love Scene》 first. I practiced this song a lot these past few days. The second is Mozart’s 《Serenade》.” At Old Tan’s nod, he added, “It’s 《Serenade in G Major》, which I am most familiar, which is why I chose it. And the last song is Mendelssohn’s 《Violin Concerto in E Minor》.”

Lao Tan kept nodding as he listened to Qi Mu. Then, Lao Tan frowned and thought for a while. He asked, “If I remember correctly, Tartini’s works were the ones you’re the best at so why you didn’t choose his songs this time?”

Qi Mu startled a little. He then said with a smile, “Tan Lao, that is a thing of the past.”

Hearing this, Tan Lao looked at Qi Mu deeply. He didn’t say anything else and the car fell to a dead silence.

When the car arrived at his house, Qi Mu went to bid Tan Zheng Hui goodbye. He stood beside the car, holding his violin case, but Tan Lao heaved a long sigh and said, “I haven’t seen you in 3 years and you’ve already changed a lot. . . Qi Mu.”

The brilliant setting sun shone on the youth’s black hair, and he saw Tan Lao slowly narrowing his eyes. Finally, he revealed a rare smile and said, “You have to keep this up. Ah, I will wait for your results tomorrow, Qi Mu.”

Before long, the black car drove out of the neighborhood and disappeared from Qi Mu’s sight.

But the young man did not immediately turn around and go upstairs. Holding the box, he looked into the distance and watched Lao Tan’s car drove away. He smiled and said dryly, “Qi Mu, ah, there are so many elders who care about you, yet how did you let yourself fall into such a state? You are quite a lucky person.”

His voice was bitter and helpless with a touch of envy.

After a while, the youth disappeared down the path to his house. The words which were like a sigh was drowned out by the autumn wind.

If even Tan Lao was watching this violin competition, naturally it was not a normal one.

This was a national violin competition organized by Huaxia’s official and Munich Conservatory of Music in Germany. It was divided into two categories, the juvenile and youth sections. According to Qi Mu’s age, he was in the youth category of 18-25, in which he was just in the middle.

When he arrived at the B City Theatre where the competition was held, there were already many violinists there preparing. It was not every day that he could see so many young violinists, so inevitably, he took a look around. He heard a young man beside him say, “Qi Mu, you’re not young. You wasted 8 years and didn’t take advantage of it. Do you not regret it even a bit?”

Qi Mu turned and looked at him. He then asked, “Zheng-Ge, do you think I regret it?”

The person who accompanied Qi Mu to the theatre was Zheng Wei Qiao.

Originally, Qi Mu had no intention of telling Zheng Wei Qiao about his participation in this competition. After all, the man was quite busy with all the articles he had to send to various magazines. But somehow, Zheng Wei Qiao got the news anyway, though Qi Mu didn’t know from whom. He had gone to Qi Mu’s house early this morning to “kidnap” him.

Zheng Wei Qiao pushed the frame of his glasses up the bridge of his nose, the clear lenses reflecting a silver light, “Don’t you?”

Qi Mu shook his head and squinted his eyes to look at the energetic group of young players, he then said with a smile, “Even if I regret it, it won’t change anything so I don’t regret it. I can only change the future, after all.”

Hearing Qi Mu’s words, Zheng Wei Qiao was stunned for a long time. He only returned to his senses when Qi Mu took out his violin and began to tune it. He looked at the handsome youth with a complex expression then, after a while, his lips curled into a smile.

Zheng Wei Qiao was busy recently, so he only accompanied Qi Mu to B City Symphony Orchestra’s rehearsal once. At first, he was worried that Qi Mu would be isolated and bullied by the seniors, but seeing that Qi Mu knew how to handle it and even managed to have a good relationship with his colleagues, he was relieved. So he didn’t accompany him further.

He learned from a friend who was also in the orchestra that Qi Mu was very well liked there, he even had the nickname “Xiao Qi”. Although Lao Tan was always nitpicking, most of the time he was very protective of Qi Mu.

Zheng Wei Qiao was greatly relieved knowing this.

Wow, he really grew up overnight!

Not bad, not bad. . . Yeah, but isn’t this change too big?

Zheng Wei Qiao was somewhat worried, and he asked, “Qi Mu, how are you doing after your rehab from marijuana?”

Not being in contact with Zheng Wei Qiao for a while, when he heard the word “marijuana” from him, Qi Mu was at first stunned. He then said with a calm voice, appearing quite normal, “It’s almost over, Zheng-Ge. You don’t have to worry about it.”

But still, Zheng Wei Qiao was worried. “Are there any abnormalities with the withdrawal? Is that why you’ve changed so much?”

“. . .”

“This is not going to be a problem, right? Like, you waking up one morning and your brain suddenly gives you the idea that you want to go back to your previous lifestyle?”

“. . .”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“We can go to a doctor in a few days.”

“. . .There’s really no need for that, Zheng-Ge.”

“Let’s find a doctor to have a look at you.” The more he thought about it, the more he felt that his concern was very reasonable, and he nodded.

Qi Mu didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. “Zheng-Ge, I really, really don’t have any issues! This is not a side effect of marijuana.” Even if it was, well, he already smoked himself to death anyway.

Zheng Wei Qiao still hesitated, and it wasn’t until Qi Mu promised him three times that he put the matter to rest and didn’t say anything more on it. Looking at Zheng Wei Qiao’s expression that resembled an old lady, Qi Mu’s heart felt warm. His fine face was full of smiles.

What they didn’t notice was that, not far from them, a young violinist was looking at them and frowning. After staring at them for a while, the young man whispered to himself:

“Qi. . . Mu?”

Chapter translated by Kuroshinji, edited by Betwixted.