The Paris" National Conservatory of Music held these tests fourtimes a year. Since it was one of the world’s top cla.s.sical music schools,orchestras often observed outstanding students at their a.s.sessments.

However, some believed the stream of talent was beginning to fade.For several years, no one was bright enough to catch anyone"s gaze. Of course,that was the high-demanding masters.

The audience seemed unusually large. It made sense, though. Torecuperate from the slump of the past few years, the college official speciallyinvited the famous Spanish cellist Melinoff, French music connoisseur MasterLeonid, “The Queen of the Violin” Bella Kem, and. . . Min Chen.

As long as any one of them appeared, it would create a disturbancein the French music industry. With all of them gathered together, the wholeworld of cla.s.sical music couldn"t help but sneak in to witness the event.

Melinoff, Leonid, and even Bella Kim, they could understand. But.. .why Min Chen?

All the others were excellent students who graduated from theParis" National Conservatory of Music. It was natural for them to return totheir alma mater to honor the request. But, it was converse for Min Chen.

Everyone knew Auston Bertram graduated from the LeipzigConservatory in Germany. Not only that, but this elegantly cold music masterhad not partic.i.p.ated with a compet.i.tion for three years. The last time heserved as a judge was in Xiaosai four years ago.

So. . .

"Why did Mr. Bertram become a judge this time?!"

Countless audience members and the media from various countries inEurope pondered this question.

When Qi Mu woke and started for the college with his violin case,he was shocked to see the horde of people standing in front of the gates.

It may as well have been the Chinese Spring Festival, the crowdwas so lively. Some even carried valuables like SLR cameras and tried to squeezein. At least the noisy group was detained at the college"s entrance. Beyond it,the cobblestone path was packed but much quieter.

Before Qi Mu got to the concert hall, he caught sight of Dylan,his violin case also in hand. They greeted each other and walked together.

Dylan nervously clutched his treasured violin. "Little Seven, didyou see the crowd at the gate? It"s terrible! I"ve never seen so many people inmy life!"

The brunet looked like a small child crying out, "Too scary, tooscary! Mama, come and save me!" Qi Mu couldn"t help but laugh. He pattedDylan"s broad shoulder and said, "Dylan, you should never go to Huaxia. There.. . Well, how to say it? The subway is worse than this."

Dylan touched his head, eyes wide, and asked, "What do you mean,Little Seven? Does the subway eat people? I"ve heard that there are a lot ofmonsters in Huaxia. . . Is the subway one of them?!"

Qi Mu recalled a famous saying. He looked at Dylan and spokesolemnly, "No, Dylan. There"s a rule in Huaxia. After the founding of therepublic, no one is allowed to become a ghost. So the subways you"ve heard ofare all forbidden from turning into monsters."

Although the Swiss musician felt like Qi Mu was teasing him, whenhe saw his stern expression, he unconsciously took the tale seriously. Dylanshrunk his neck in fear and said with horror, "Well, no wonder my father alwayssaid. . . Huaxia is a magical and beautiful country. It turns out that Huaxia.. . is full of wonders."

When he saw the man"s expression, Qi Mu couldn"t contain hislaughter.

After a few more jokes, they arrived at the concert hall.

Although it was a concert hall for their own use, the NationalConservatory hadn"t spared any expense. With an interior designed byworld-renowned architects and materials carefully selected to create the bestacoustics, the building itself was masterfully constructed.

Though it wasn’t the first time he entered the concert hall, Qi Mudeliberately walked behind Dylan. He let the simple Swiss take him backstage,where the other students were starting their preparations. When he pa.s.sed thepreparatory room of the piano students, he heard two students talkingexcitedly——

"Oh my G.o.d, Hooke, can you believe it? We will have the honor ofMr. Bertram commenting on our performance!"

"Good G.o.d, Lewis, I know you"re excited. I know Mr. Bertramis your idol, but could you let go of my sleeves?"

"No, Hooke! You don"t get it! The thing that inspired me toseriously learn the piano was Mr. Bertram"s performance at XiaoSai!"

"Yes, yes, yes. You"ve said so three times a day. . ."

"Ah, ah, ah! Hooke, I can get a commentary from Mr. Bertram. . ."

. . .

The two students squealed as they walked away, but Qi Mu stoppedto watch them go with wide eyes. He was so shocked, someone might as well haveshouted, "The heavens have collapsed!"

"Little Seven? Why are you stopping?"

Dylan"s voice brought him back to his senses. He slowly turned toDylan, then asked calmly and clearly, "Dylan. . . Please tell me honestly.There is another Mr. Bertram who partic.i.p.ated in XiaoSai, right?"

Dylan"s eyes also widened. "Is there another Mr. Bertram? I don"treally know, Little Seven. Didn"t Mr. Bertram tell you. . . he would be one ofthe judges today?"

Qi Mu: ". . ."

Qi Mu smiled reluctantly. "It seems. . . that"s what he might havebeen wanting to tell me."

Dylan: "???"

. . .

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

He received, "I"m already sitting at the judge"s table," as aresponse. Qi Mu couldn"t stop himself from covering his face with his hands. Hefinally understood. . . why Min Chin"s face was so stiff yesterday.

Indeed, the year"s main judge couldn"t be a violinist. So, wasn"ta world-cla.s.s pianist qualified?

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

He heaved a long sigh and dismissed that thought. Qi Mu didn"thave the time to think about it. Dylan already roped him along to discuss his"rank s.n.a.t.c.hing strategy."

The a.s.sessment didn"t divide the students by their musicalinstruments. Departments like piano and violin could send 4 – 5 students topartic.i.p.ate. Whereas, it was rare for departments like the drums or harp to sendmore than 2 students. Most of the other departments only sent one student.

Therefore, for the equally matched violin and piano department, itbecame a contest to see which department would occupy the higher ranking andwho would place at the top of the ranking in every a.s.sessment.

"Dylan, try to keep Lewis under control. He was scolded a lot byhis 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 partic.i.p.ating, so take iteasy. We will not give you any task. Get acquainted with our enemies. The guysin the piano department. . . are good opponents!”

The leader was called Angelo, a proud student of the violindepartment. He was an American adolescent with brown hair and blue eyes. Talland 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. "d.a.m.n, this year"sjudge 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 thepiano department."

Dylan disagreed. "Ah, Zach, you don"t know. Mr. Bertram andLittle Seven. . . uh. . ."

Qi Mu covered Dylan"s mouth with his hand, and everyone turned tolook at him. He sighed helplessly said, "Min and I. . . know each other. But Ibelieve he will never be partial to anyone. When it comes to music, he willfair 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 performtoday?"

Seeing Angelo walking away with Qi Mu, Dylan stared at them for amoment. Then, he realized, "d.a.m.n it! That Angelo guy worships Mr. Bertram! Hemust 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 aseat 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 lowerpart of the metal plaque, occupying about a fifth of the s.p.a.ce——

Auston Bertram.

Translator

(s): Kuro

Editor

The Author:

Above that English name, there were two beautiful Chinesecharacters written beautifully—— Min Chen.