Chapter 129 (1/2)

A young man leaned his back against the wall and listened to the violin echoing in the corridor.

Luo Yu Sen played Bach’s 《Partita for Violin No. 2. The piece was monophonic with a three-beat dance melody. It was general in terms of skill, but had high requirements for emotion.

Qi Mu listened casually for a few minutes. When the part where it was slightly difficult came, he was a bit shocked. Once the song reached the high tide, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Luo Yu Sen, ah… It’s been a year, but why haven’t you improved?”

Luo Yu Sen, who was pretty smart and talented, had managed to muddle his way to the seat of the deputy chief of the second violin group. At the very least, he wasn’t a mediocre musician.

But, calling him stupid wasn’t wrong either. He spent six years in the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, yet still didn’t know that Evra was fond of Bach. It was only when Luo Yu Sen took the initiative to ask Qi Mu about the conductor’s preference in his previous life that he found out. And Qi Mu gave that information freely.

But Luo Yu Sen…

Won’t you just add fuel to the fire by playing so sloppily?

If you can’t play Bach well, then don’t play Bach. Play another piece, and you might have a better chance at getting the deputy concertmaster seat.

Qi Mu straightened up and left. He only wanted to see if Luo Yu Sen had made any progress during the past year. After all, the man was also a member of the orchestra. If he did, it was very likely that Evra would promote him.

But Luo Yu Sen disappointed Qi Mu, stagnating at his current level was his limit.

Soon after he returned to the preparation room, Luo Yu Sen arrived to take his stuff. All of the orchestra members ignored him, but Luo Yu Sen was used to it.

Wearing a fake smile on his face, he approached Qi Mu. “Qi Mu, I haven’t seen you for a long time. I’ll wait for you after the audition and… Let’s go for a meal together? After all, it’s hard to meet a fellow countryman in Vienna.”

Qi Mu smiled. On the surface, it was polite, but his tone was very perfunctory. “My turn is towards the end, so I’m really sorry but you don’t have to wait for me. I’m going to have a meal with Mr. Lance at his place, I’ve already made an appointment.”

Hearing the name “Lance”, Luo Yu Sen’s eyes widened but he quickly hid it. “Okay, I will contact you later. We both live in Vienna anyway, we can meet anytime.”

Luo Yu Sen’s tone was warm, as if he was talking to a friend he had known for many years.

Qi Mu said a few more words, then Luo Yu Sen left.

Qi Mu stared at the man’s back as he left, sighing in his head. When you heard Mr. Lance’s name… Were you tempted? The most important thing in the music world isn’t how many people you know, but…

How strong you are.

When it was Qi Mu’s turn, most of the musicians who turned up for the audition were gone. He went to the center of the rehearsal room and saw——

Evra, the orchestra’s chief conductor, Jacques, the concertmaster and Ms. Caroline, the orchestra’s music director.

After listening to Qi Mu introducing himself, Ms. Caroline looked at him in surprise, then asked, “You… Your name is Qi Mu? Oh, you’re Akkad’s student?”

Qi Mu answered gently, “Yes, Ms. Caroline. I’m Professor Akkad’s student.”

The accomplished music director with short haircut nodded. Frankly, she said, “Okay, you can play now. What is your repertoire for today? We’ll only give you 10 minutes and you can play any piece of your own choosing.”

Qi Mu was used to Caroline’s straight-to-the-point character so he said, “I’m playing the fifth movement of Bach’s 《Partita for Violin No. 2》.”

As his voice faded, Evra, who wasn’t paying much attention, suddenly turned to look at him. After observing him, the grumpy conductor asked, “Who told you I like Bach? Lance or Reed?”

Qi Mu shook his head. “Neither, Mr. Evra.”

The young man’s voice was very sincere, his tone firm and certain. His light eyes, focused on Evra, were so sincere that it looked like he’d never lied in his life.

Evra nodded. “Okay, then. You can play now. I hope… You can play my favorite Bach.”

Both Jacques and Caroline turned to Evra in surprise. Expressionless, Caroline stared at the young man.

Although Evra didn’t look any different from the usual, they both knew…

——That was the first time he’d said that all day!

Before Qi Mu, some auditioners had also mistakenly chosen Bach’s works as their repertoire. Evra never responded to any of them, he was too lazy to even comment on their performances.

But now… He was looking forward to this young man’s performance!

Caroline and Jacques immediately turned serious. Their gaze fixated on Qi Mu.

Under the dazzling light, the young man put his violin on his shoulder. His posture was straight, forming a beautiful line with the violin. From the visual aspects alone, Caroline and Jacques couldn’t help but think——