Chapter 124 (2/2)

Listening to Dylan’s lamenting voice, Qi Mu cast his gaze to the stage, illuminated by the spotlights.

He watched as Langston’s fingers danced on the black and white keys, playing a song with an elegant, light melody. Not far from the grand piano, a blonde girl sat with her head bowed, playing her cello. Her music was thick yet mellow, like the deep sea.

They were playing Fauré’s 《Sicillienne》. The cello was like a shallow sigh, its tears of sadness falling into dance with the piano. Within such gentle, quiet music, the melody described a beautiful, rural scenery. It was akin to a mirror, only for eyes to see, but not anything that could be touched. It was a fragile nostalgia.

The cellist was Alleine, the chief of the cello department. Although her skill wasn’t on-par with Langston, the melody she played moved Qi Mu.

Dylan, blinded by hatred, scoffed and whispered, “Langston and Alleine joined forces for the assessment. They’re really despicable. They want to win with this?! It’s impossible!”

With a smile, Qi Mu said, “But, they do play excellently.”

The tall, Swedish guy stared at Qi Mu, dumbfounded. “Seven, how can you praise the enemy so much?! Isn’t there a Chinese saying that goes… What was it again? No matter, it’s not right to praise your enemy and not yourself!”

Raising his eyebrows, Qi Mu asked, “Boosting others’ morale and destroying your own prestige?”

Dylan nodded heavily. “Yes, that’s the one! I know I can’t surpass you so I’ll bring Alleina with me! Hah, the two of them wanted to make the judges think they’re better, now that they’ve joined forces. It’s despicable! No way, Seven. Let’s play together and beat them!”

Qi Mu was dumbfounded. “… Are you playing 《Spring Sonata》?”

Dylan instantly wilted. “No…”

Qi Mu looked at the Swissman whose expression screamed, “Why didn’t I choose 《Spring Sonata》?!”, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. After Qi Mu comforted the lad, Dylan immediately sprang up and cursed the “despicable” fellows again.

This time around, Qi Mu drew a lot with a late number. Even after most of the violinists had performed, even Dylan, it was yet to be his turn.

By the time it was his turn, most of the students had already performed. The judges and the audience were no longer fully focused on the stage.

It was unfavorable to any performer. Even if the level of their performance was adequate, the judges wouldn’t listen patiently and would only give them an average score.

But, when Qi Mu stepped onto the stage, the clamor of the audience abruptly stopped. The whole audience, including the ten judges, all stared at the “famous” black-haired young man with focused gaze. Only a few discussions could be heard beneath the stage——

“This is Qi Mu?”

“I heard that he’s very skilled! But, when London Philharmonic offered him an olive branch, he refused.”

“Yeah, I heard about that. But it seems like many orchestras came for him this time. I don’t know how skilled he is…”

These whispers didn’t disturb Qi Mu.

On the brightly lit stage, he calmly his violin on his shoulder. Just as he was about to lift his bow, he stopped. A series of gasps filtered out from the audience and someone exclaimed——

“My God! That… Who’s that?!”

Hearing such strange remarks, Qi Mu looked below the stage, only to see that the audience turned their attention away from him. Their eyes wide, it was as if they had seen something incredible.

Qi Mu had a strange premonition. When he turned to look behind him, he froze. His bow hung in mid-air.

“Is that Auston Bertram?!!!”