Chapter 53 (1/2)

Although he received Professor Akkad’s invitation, Qi Mu did not leave for Paris immediately.

First, because the National Conservatory of Music was still organizing formalities. After all, Professor Akkad suddenly wanted to accept an outside student. Even if it was a symbolic exam, it still took time to prepare. And the other reason, was because B City Symphony Orchestra’s first performance had not begun yet and it was impossible for him to leave as concertmaster.

After Qi Mu announced that he would leave after the concert, none of the orchestra members were sad. Instead, they were thrilled to hold a celebratory dinner for him to congratulate him on being able to study in Paris, and for gaining an excellent teacher in Reed Akkad.

Afterward, Tan Lao confirmed the specifics for the orchestra’s performance.

This was the first time Qi Mu would be leading their concert as concertmaster. He was no longer a guest violinist, nor an ordinary member of the violin group. He was now the lead violinist that would lead not only the violin group but the entire orchestra.

Over the last two weeks of rehearsal, he didn’t know if it was because of his impending departure, but the orchestra members practiced even more seriously than usual. They wanted to give their mascot one last grand performance before he left.

Everyone was excited and harmonious, but the day before the concert, someone couldn’t help but wipe their tears as they choked out, “Xiao Qi, you have to practice well in Paris.”

Generally, the female members were too emotional. Several women had given Qi Mu homemade cookies and biscuits as farewell gifts. Several of the older men and women, the uncles and aunties amongst the orchestra members, had taken to Qi Mu as if he was their own child.

Qi Mu was the youngest in the orchestra, and while he had always been mature, they had not forgotten that he was just a child.

After the final practice, everyone gathered together again. When the party ended, the others laughed and patted his shoulders to cheer him on. It wasn’t until only Du Sheng’s car was left that Qi Mu wiped away the tears in his eyes as if it were sand blown into his face.

Over the last half a year, everyone had become accustomed to this polite, humble young man. Not only was this beautiful child talented, but he was obedient and hardworking.

They were sad because they would rarely get to see him in the future, but they were also worried. . .

That this child would go to a distant foreign country, where he did not have a single relative, and he wouldn’t even know if he was being bullied!

“Who dares bully our Xiao Qi! Let them try it!”

“Yes, I have several old friends in Paris. If they want to bully Xiao Qi, let them try us first!”

. . .

Qi Mu did not hear those words, but when he looked at the rearview mirror, he found that some of the members that had been laughing were now shedding tears. His eyebrows pinched a little, and he heaved a long sigh, but there was nothing to say.

Du Sheng smiled and said, “Xiao Qi, those guys really think of you as a mascot. When you come back to Huaxia during the summer, you have to come to see us.”

Qi Mu looked at Du Sheng and laughed, “Du-ge, you can rest assured. I will definitely come to see you.”

Du Sheng didn’t want to bring up a separate topic, so he quipped, “What is Paris’s specialty? I bet there’s nothing good. Xiao Qi, are you going to cook yourself? Don’t hurt yourself, eat more pig hoof stew, and fix up your face. Leaving our sandy city, ah, you might not be able to adapt right away.”

Qi Mu was dumbfounded, ready to both laugh and cry, “Yes, I’ll try my best to cook more. . . cough, pig hoofs.”

They smiled and exchanged a few more words. Qi Mu’s apartment building was quite close to the orchestra, and there was no traffic. Soon the car arrived at the entrance, and QI Mu took his case from the backseat. He walked in the direction of the hall for a few steps, then heard a sound behind him.

His footsteps stilled, and he turned to see Du Sheng waving him over. He said, “Du-ge, you can just go back. It’s not early, don’t let your family worry. . .”

Du Sheng just stared at him calmly.

After a while, Du Sheng looked at him with a solemn gaze. Finally, he said, “Xiao Qi. . . you have to take care of yourself in Paris. Listen to what Tan Lao and I said. Don’t hurt yourself. Our entire orchestra will back you.”

This was honestly too warm. Qi Mu felt his fingers clench tightly. There was a lot he wanted to say, but even with all the words on his tongue, he didn’t know where to begin. In the end, he could only show a bright smile as a thank you to this big brother that was taking care of him.

Being able to be part of such an orchestra was a privilege and a wonderful memory that he would remember for the rest of his life.

Perhaps only in a group of people who truly loved music could there be such open-mindedness. Everyone there got along, and no one wanted to try climbing up using despicable means.

In the classical music world, how many people were like Luo Yu Sen, who only wanted to go further but hadn’t thought of improving themselves first?