Chapter 73 (2/2)

Dylan’s eyes also widened. “Is there another Mr. Bertram? I don’t really know, Little Seven. Didn’t Mr. Bertram tell you. . . he would be one of the judges today?”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

Qi Mu smiled reluctantly. “It seems. . . that’s what he might have been wanting to tell me.”

Dylan: “???”

. . .

When Qi Mu walked into the violin department’s lounge, he set down his violin case and sent a text to Min Chin.

He received, “I’m already sitting at the judge’s table,” as a response. Qi Mu couldn’t stop himself from covering his face with his hands. He finally understood. . . why Min Chin’s face was so stiff yesterday.

Indeed, the year’s main judge couldn’t be a violinist. So, wasn’t a world-class pianist qualified?

Qi Mu should have thought of it earlier. Min Chen had been in Paris for quite a while, maybe the academy had contacted him long ago? Perhaps Min Chen as the main judge was set in stone well before then?

He heaved a long sigh and dismissed that thought. Qi Mu didn’t have the time to think about it. Dylan already roped him along to discuss his “rank snatching strategy.”

The assessment didn’t divide the students by their musical instruments. Departments like piano and violin could send 4 – 5 students to participate. Whereas, it was rare for departments like the drums or harp to send more than 2 students. Most of the other departments only sent one student.

Therefore, for the equally matched violin and piano department, it became a contest to see which department would occupy the higher ranking and who would place at the top of the ranking in every assessment.

“Dylan, try to keep Lewis under control. He was scolded a lot by his mentor recently. Perhaps his violin has suffered.”

“Zach, how are you doing these days? Can you suppress Hooke?”

“Jenny, if you beat Lenna, I think we can have it easy.”

“Oh, Little Seven, it’s your first time participating, so take it easy. We will not give you any task. Get acquainted with our enemies. The guys in the piano department. . . are good opponents!”

The leader was called Angelo, a proud student of the violin department. He was an American adolescent with brown hair and blue eyes. Tall and lanky like a bamboo pole, he was quite enthusiastic and talkative.

At the sound of his name, Qi Mu nodded. “I understand.”

As soon as Qi Mu’s voice fell, Zach sighed. “Damn, this year’s judge is Mr. Bertram. Although it’s an honor to have him as the main judge. . . Mr. Bertram is a pianist. I’m afraid he’ll be partial to those guys in the piano department.”

Dylan disagreed. “Ah, Zach, you don’t know. Mr. Bertram and Little Seven. . . uh. . .”

Qi Mu covered Dylan’s mouth with his hand, and everyone turned to look at him. He sighed helplessly said, “Min and I. . . know each other. But I believe he will never be partial to anyone. When it comes to music, he will fair and just.”

Shocked for a moment, Angelo blinked then smiled. “Little Seven! Of course, we know Mr. Bertram will be fair. Don’t listen to Zach, this jerk. Let’s leave him alone and discuss. . . What track are you going to perform today?”

Seeing Angelo walking away with Qi Mu, Dylan stared at them for a moment. Then, he realized, “Damn it! That Angelo guy worships Mr. Bertram! He must want to ask for Mr. Bertram’s signature on his CD from Little Seven!”

“Hey, Ange! Angelo! You come back here!!!”

. . .

Most of the audience went to their seats.

Aside from the judge’s ten seats at the front, there was also a seat for the dean.

A handsome, black-haired man sat at the center of the judges’ table talking with the other masters, occasionally making them laugh.

A gold plaque rested on his table.

There was an English name engraved in small cursive on the lower part of the metal plaque, occupying about a fifth of the space——

Auston Bertram.