Font Size:
“Wow, what a handsome guy! Is he going to perform on stage? He looks like he should sing beautifully,” someone remarked excitedly.
“Wait, Mingxian Conservatory of Music? Isn’t that the one? The one who was trending recently for playing and singing ‘The Secret That Cannot Be Told’ at a campus gala? I’ve been listening to that song all week!” another replied.
“It seems to be him! Jiang Yichen… what a nice name, but he looks a bit aloof, expressionless…”
“Normal. I heard people from his school say he’s the cool guy there.”
“……”
Downstage, some people recognized Jiang Yichen immediately.
The three judges also sat up, looking attentive. They had been sitting there for half the afternoon, feeling a bit drowsy, but Jiang Yichen stepping onto the stage reignited their interest.
“I will be performing an original song titled ‘Old Testament of Bach’,” Jiang Yichen announced.
His voice carried through the microphone, reaching Qin Ling and Fang Ruoyan on the second floor.
Fang Ruoyan looked puzzled at the beautiful woman beside her and asked, “Weren’t we leaving? Why did you sit back down all of a sudden?”
Wearing sunglasses, Qin Ling’s gaze was fixed on the stage, so Fang Ruoyan couldn’t see where she was looking.
Qin Ling raised her hand, pointing to the boy about to sing below, saying, “That one, my student.”
Fang Ruoyan followed her finger’s direction, exclaiming, “Huh? Your student? Aren’t you a piano teacher?”
“Wait, your student is quite good-looking! But why does he look a bit familiar?”
Fang Ruoyan pondered.
She and Qin Ling were quite different; Qin Ling didn’t even have a social media account, let alone a short-video platform. She was like an antique.
Fang Ruoyan suspected that Qin Ling might have a generational gap with today’s youth.
Suddenly, the accompaniment of the song began to play.
Fang Ruoyan looked serious. If she hadn’t misheard, the boy had just said, “I will be performing an original song.”
Qin Ling was also listening intently to the melody.
Old Testament of Bach…
That name…
Few piano students wouldn’t know Bach’s name.
The famous composer and keyboardist, known as the “Father of Western Music.”
As Qin Ling was lost in thought, the singing brought her back to reality.
“March 21, 853, in the town of Eisenach…”
“The melody flowing by the Hessel River, in the St. Thomas Church…”
“……”
“To make a living, Bach wrote the Well-Tempered Clavier, the moonlight of Weimar Palace is the prelude to the aria…”
“……”
“Memories that classical piano cannot express, like Bach’s music lost in the crowd…”
“……”
“Outside the window, purple wind chimes sway, like your crisp voice in my ear…”
“Last autumn, I wrote you a letter, remembering how much I wanted to meet you, but sadly, the Old Testament is now meaningless.”
The melodious voice echoed through the mall.
Jiang Yichen’s voice was distinctive, a very clear youthful tone.
His performance was heartfelt and engaging, perfectly conveying the emotions and meaning of the song.
After he finished the last note, the audience erupted into thunderous applause.
Although they didn’t quite understand the lyrics, the melody was undoubtedly beautiful.
Some were already preparing to record Jiang Yichen’s performance to post online.
The three judges snapped back to reality, raising their “Pass” signs in unison.
The rules at the audition site were simple: as long as two judges raised their passes, it meant the contestant could advance to the next stage of the competition.
“Wow! Wow!” Fang Ruoyan gasped, her jaw dropping. “Qin Ling, tell me again, is that really your student?!”
Qin Ling nodded firmly, “Yes.”
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Fang Ruoyan immediately stood up. “You have to introduce me to him! Your student is extraordinary, an original song, and his singing skills are impressive!”
While babbling, she slapped her forehead and exclaimed, “I remember now! Isn’t he the one who got a bit famous recently for singing at the campus gala?”
“I don’t know.”
“That song ‘The Secret That Cannot Be Told’ was sung by him, right?” Fang Ruoyan continued.
“Mm.”
“Then that’s it!” Fang Ruoyan clapped her thigh and pulled Qin Ling to head downstairs quickly.
This was a gem among gems!
If she could have such a strong player on her team, winning the championship would be just around the corner!
……
As soon as Jiang Yichen stepped off the stage,
He was immediately approached by several young women eager to exchange WeChat QR codes with him.
Some might have been drawn by his looks, while others likely thought he sang well and wanted to get to know him better…
“Little brother.” A wealthy woman approached Jiang Yichen, handing him her business card, “If you’re free, let’s grab a drink together. You can contact me using the number on this card…”
She hadn’t planned to come here to browse but unexpectedly spotted such a handsome young man.
She was completely drawn in by Jiang Yichen’s looks…
“……”
Jiang Yichen remained expressionless.
The wealthy woman smiled meaningfully at him before turning to leave.
Once she was out of sight, Jiang Yichen casually tossed the hot business card away.
This lady looked to be at least thirty-five!
Is she kidding?!
He was only eighteen!
At that age, she could be his mother!
Not far away.
Qin Ling’s expression changed rapidly.
As soon as she stepped downstairs, she saw Jiang Yichen accepting a business card from a wealthy woman.
Fang Ruoyan immediately noticed something was off with her best friend…
Before heading downstairs, Qin Ling seemed to be in a good mood, with a faint smile on her lips, but after stepping down, her face transformed instantly. She felt the temperature around her drop slightly with her cold expression…
But it didn’t take long for Qin Ling’s furrowed brows to relax.
This textbook-like change of expression left Fang Ruoyan stunned.
“Qin Ling, what’s wrong with you?”
Fang Ruoyan, who was slightly nearsighted, didn’t realize that Qin Ling’s changing expressions were related to Jiang Yichen not far away.
“It’s nothing.”
“Nothing? Your face was ice-cold just now, like someone owed you money.”
“Suddenly thought of something unhappy.”
“And now? Why do you seem to be thinking of something happy again?”
“Mm.” Qin Ling smiled, “You’re right; I indeed thought of something happy again.”
Fang Ruoyan: “6”