Chapter 28 (1/2)

Huaxia was a rising star in the classical music world. In recent years, this art form that originated in the west was growing popular, but it was nowhere as big as it was in Europe. Magazines and newspapers like 《Music Hall》 and 《Sound of Music》 were generally only circulated with the people already involved with the circle.

Li Yue Yue’s favorite pastime was to watch movies. She felt happy watching a good one every day, and every Friday before work, she would stop by the newsstand to purchase a copy of that week’s 《Entertainment Frontier》 to lick* the face of her favorite idol.

*For more details, read Rebirth of a Supermodel

But today, just as she was about to pick up《Entertainment Frontier》from the stand, her sight was not immediately drawn to the picture of her idol on the cover. Instead, her eyes involuntarily fell on a small image on the cover of a different magazine.

It wasn’t big enough. The main focus of the cover was a violin, and the picture was placed at the lower right corner. This square photo that was only 10 cm in size made Li Yue Yue unable to move her eyes away. She stared at it for a long time and suddenly pointed at the magazine and said, “Boss! Boss! Which star is this? How can he look so good?! I want this magazine!”

The owner picked up the magazine and looked at it for a while then handed it over to Li Yue Yue. He laughed and said, “This is 《Sound of Music》, it’s a classical music magazine. No stars here, young miss.”

When she heard this, Li Yue Yue eyes widened, “He’s not a star?! How is that possible, he’s so beautiful he must be a star!”

With that, Li Yue Yue ran away excited with the magazine clutched in her arms, leaving the puzzled booth owner to pick up a copy of 《Sound of Music》 and stare at it for a long time. The more he looked at it, the more he felt, “He really does look like a star. Don’t say. . . did 《Sound of Music》 really invite a star this time?”

Entertainment magazines were generally the best-selling ones in the newsstand. The owner thought of Li Yue Yue’s reaction just now and made a decision he himself could not believe: Put 《Sound of Music》 in the most eye-catching spot!

So, in one day, before it was even evening, 《Sound of Music》 that usually only had okay sales was unexpectedly sold out. The owner who had earned money narrowed his eyes, and from then on, he made the decision to purchase more classical music magazines.

That was something to talk about later.

Around this time, Qi Mu’s period of leisure had begun. He only needed to report to the orchestra two or three days a week. He didn’t know all that many people in B City, and that reacquainted him with the long-lost feeling of loneliness and idleness.

Every morning, he got up early and ran a few laps around the community, bought some dishes to cook some simple meals for lunch and dinner, and practiced the violin. He practiced in the morning and afternoon, wanting to get himself familiar with this body and playing the violin with it. For the past two months, Qi Mu practiced without rest.

Qi Mu hadn’t done this type of ten-hour-long practice in years. Back when he first learned how to play, this was how he began. It was the most bitter period for him, but it was also crucial for his foundation. Once he got into the Conservatory, he systematically learned professional skills, so he no longer had to keep up with his foundation as much.

The violin he had taken back from Zheng Wei Qiao had terrific lines, and it produced a charming sound. Qi Mu was reluctant to let it go, it was such a good violin. Sometimes, he would think: if this imitation was already so good, how much better would the real thing in that bank be?

If he could get that Xiao Gongzhu Edith, he wouldn’t dare to even think about selling it like the original had. Instead, he wanted to hold it while standing in the place light gathered and perform with it.

“Back to Golden Hall. . .” Qi Mu muttered and then laughed softly, “This is truly a great challenge.”

Want to get Xiao Gongzhu back?

You can, but first, you have to go back to Europe and show your strength.

This was the test given by the elders to the original, and now, it had fallen to him.

With that pressure motivating him, Qi Mu focused more on his practice for the next few days. He wanted to be able to play the songs he was most familiar with in the past.

Perhaps the apartment’s insulation was that good, or Qi Mu’s decorations for the specially renovated violin room were too good. But, he had played the violin for ten hours a day every day, yet the beautiful sound never left the room. Not even a single note!

Similar to how Qi Mu never heard the sound of the piano from next door.

Qi Mu spent most of his time in the violin room. At the time, he was unaware that while he practiced his violin, just a wall over, a man played a nine-foot Steinway grand piano in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his fingers dancing across the keys.

The elegant Steinway could produce the most beautiful sound. It was proficient at expressing both sad and happy songs, and even solemn ones. Compared to Qi Mu’s diligence, this man was simply lazy beyond saving. More often than not, he would lay on the sofa flipping through scores.

His scores were different from Qi Mu’s. Generally, conductors printed their scores on sheets of A3 paper. The details for the string instruments, the brass, the woodpipe, and the percussion, everything would then be written out in great detail.

Every conductor had their own style and, similarly, they had their unique way of seeing music. For example, the chief conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Mr. Erberk Dorenza. His music scores were always packed with notes, so they were often used as a reference by instructors in various academies.

And when those same conducting instructors heard the name “Min Chen” or “Auston Bertram,” they would share a difficult expression.

Because. . .

This man’s music scores were always pristine——they were blank——Totally! Blank!