Chapter 8 (1/2)

After all, this was a national competition organized by Huaxia officials and the Munich Conservatory of Music, so the competition was well regulated. Except for how Qi Mu entered through the “back door” with his recommendation from Tan Lao and others who’re the same, the rest of the participants already went through two rounds of audition. Those who passed the screening were naturally very talented.

This was the first time Qi Mu had gone to the B City Theatre. As a participant in the youth group, he was temporarily moved up. His number was on his back, and it was among the last of the participants. Therefore, when the juvenile group started their round, he could leisurely watch them while Zheng Wei Qiao was anxious.

“Qi Mu, ah, are you. . . not nervous at all?”

A 12 years old girl was on stage playing 《Roxanne’s Veil》, and Qi Mu listened intently, smiling from time to time. Hearing Zheng Wei Qiao, he turned and answered, “Nervous? Maybe a little.”

Zheng Wei Qiao calmed down a bit. He was actually a normal person that knew how to feel nervous!

“So why don’t you get ready and practice a bit? This is not a simple competition, Tan Lao also attaches great importance to this competition.” Saying this, Zheng Wei Qiao reached his hand out and pointed at an area under the stage that was dense with people, saying, “I just went and checked, Tan Lao, is sitting on the third row.”

Qi Mu looked in the direction his finger was pointed.

He saw the crimson curtain and the brilliant spotlight that shone onto the girl. Beyond the stage, the light was so bright that it made people in the denser area feel their scalps tingle. Don’t even mention the third row, the first row was hard enough to see.

Qi Mu stared for a long time, but he didn’t say anything. Zheng Wei Qiao continued, “I inquired about this earlier. This time, the main judge is Professor Karl of the German Munich Conservatory of Music, and it is rare for him to come to Huaxia. If you work hard, some say that Professor Karl will take a student back to German with him, which is a once in a lifetime opportunity!”

The more Zheng Wei Qiao talked, the more excited he became, with sweat on his forehead and eyes shining behind his glasses. He went on to say, “If you went to the Munich Conservatory and became Professor Karl’s disciple, it’s the equivalent to having a letter of recommendation in Europe. Wasn’t the current concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra his student?”

Qi Mu just said “Un” with a carefree attitude, yet Zheng Wei Qiao didn’t notice this at all and continued, “If it wasn’t for Tan Lao’s recommendation, I’m afraid we wouldn’t get such a great opportunity.” Zheng Wei Qiao viewed him as his own family, so he always said “we,” and Qi Mu carefully noted this. “If you perform well this time, maybe. . .”

Qi Mu didn’t pay much attention to Zheng Wei Qiao’s words.

His eyes were focused on the center of the judges’ panel, on a bearded foreigner.

Unlike the rigidity and solemness of most Germans, Robert Karl seemed to be born with the literary flair of the French. He had long hair, and it was tied in a small braid with a rope. His beard was also long and just as strong and mighty as Hagrid’s from Harry Potter.

However, this kind of valiant and robust man, Qi Mu knew, was one of the best music professors in Europe. Professor Karl had taught many world-class violinists, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra concertmaster and his students could achieve almost anything.

He still couldn’t believe that Robert Karl had come to Huaxia. Hearing Zheng Wei Qiao say that the professor wanted to select a student from this competition, it shocked even him.

Regardless of their current level, becoming Robert Karl’s student would be the equivalent of having the red carpet rolled out for their future, eliminating almost all bumps along the way.

Following this train of thought, Qi Mu couldn’t help but seek out the old man’s face in the brightness he couldn’t see through. He finally understood why Tan Lao asked him to participate in this competition, and why he expressed concern before it. It turned out that. . .

He wanted to help him go to Europe?

True, for every violinist, the twenty-two year old was supposed to be in university.

However, that was not Qi Mu.

He had wanted to try out the Munich Conservatory in his previous life, but his adoptive parents had died by then, leaving only a small house as a legacy. That house of memories, he refused to sell, so he lacked the money for the high tuition.

It just so happened that the Geneva Conservatory began its policy for impoverished students and increased the number of scholarships, so Qi Mu went to Geneva to complete his studies.

That was. . . already more than a decade ago.

Qi Mu’s beautiful phoenix eyes lowered, and he sighed softly.