DAEYTT **Chapter 053: Me Performing? I'm Not Prepared...**
Today, Qin Xuerong is dressed more formally, with little leather shoes and a small suit. Her makeup is quite light, almost bare-faced. She ran up to Wang Qian with small, quick steps, smiled sweetly, then put her hands behind her back and followed him closely. "Aunt He went to take care of some things, so she asked Jiang Jiang, Xiaoyue, and me to pick you up."
Wang Qian casually asked, "What's the event today?"
Qin Xuerong thought for a moment. "Aunt He said it's an exchange event among three schools: Central Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, with Berklee College of Music and Curtis Institute of Music from North America! So, Xiaoyue and Jiang Jiang were brought over too. One represents Central Conservatory, and the other represents Berklee. They will both be performing."
Wang Qian's eyes lit up slightly upon hearing this.
Curtis?
That's a truly top-tier music school.
In recent years, as many young celebrities started building their personas, the high-achiever persona of graduates from prestigious schools became very popular. Several celebrities studying at Berklee have been quite successful. Even one who got expelled still gets a lot of admiration.
So, Berklee has quite a high reputation in China as a prestigious foreign music school.
However!
Berklee doesn't count as a top-tier music school. It's not even in the top ten worldwide.
Curtis, on the other hand, is a bona fide top-ten renowned music school.
Central Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and Zhejiang Conservatory of Music are several tiers below Curtis, yet they managed to get a chance to exchange with it!
In his previous life, Wang Qian spent a few years focused on composing and had specifically looked up information about these music schools.
"Curtis is coming? Shanghai Conservatory of Music really has some face," Wang Qian said in surprise.
Qin Xuerong, knowing the fame and status of Curtis, explained, "Aunt He said it's not exactly a formal exchange. We're just using this banner. It's just that a professor from Curtis brought students here for a tour and cultural exchange, and they happened to be traveling with a group from Berklee, so they decided to join in for fun."
Alright!
Wang Qian understood.
As they walked inside, they saw a banner at the school entrance welcoming the students and teachers from Curtis and Berklee for an exchange and study visit.
Although it was summer vacation, there were quite a few people around.
Jiang Yu and Murong Yue were waiting for Wang Qian and Qin Xuerong at the entrance.
Jiang Yu sized up Wang Qian. "Was that really you performing at the mall yesterday?"
Murong Yue also curiously examined Wang Qian closely.
Although they had participated in recording Wang Qian's songs in the studio, in the studio, Wang Qian was just singing. On stage, his performance was more complete and perfect. It was simply...
Like a different person!
The vibrant, flamboyant aura on stage was entirely different from the calm, low-key Wang Qian they usually knew.
Wang Qian asked back, "What do you think?"
Jiang Yu led the way. "I didn't expect your stage presence to be so strong. If you ever get the chance to hold a concert, you'll definitely be a huge success!"
Wang Qian: "Thank you!"
Murong Yue immediately raised her hand, excited. "Boss, if you hold a concert, you have to take me along!"
Wang Qian: "Let's see how you perform!"
Murong Yue: "I..."
Qin Xuerong pulled Murong Yue aside. "You can eat!"
Murong Yue glared at Qin Xuerong, full of defiance. "That's still better than your cooking, which is worse than poison."
"You... asking for a fight!"
Qin Xuerong's face turned red instantly.
She had just boasted about her cooking skills to Wang Qian, and now Murong Yue was tearing her down.
Murong Yue was not to be outdone.
The two girls in their twenties started playfully fighting.
Jiang Yu scoffed. "Childish and boring!"
Wang Qian watched this scene with a relaxed mood.
Ah, youth...
His mindset also felt a bit younger.
Jiang Yu led them to the large auditorium in the middle of the school, sternly saying, "You all need to behave later. Mom arranged seats for us in the front row! We'll have a close-up view of the performance. Don't embarrass us in front of the foreigners."
Jiang Yu looked at Murong Yue and Qin Xuerong.
Murong Yue immediately became a well-behaved, proper girl, wearing a white dress, her temperament becoming noble, like a princess.
Qin Xuerong glared at Murong Yue, put her hands behind her back, and exuded an aura of a strong woman, with eyes full of authority and an expressionless face, like a domineering female CEO.
Wang Qian couldn't help but applaud their acting skills.
Jiang Yu had already turned around and walked into the auditorium.
It was bustling inside, with most seats already occupied. Many students were excitedly discussing the upcoming exchange performance in low voices.
Jiang Yu led them to their arranged seats, then whispered to Wang Qian, "Get ready, you'll be performing on stage today!"
Wang Qian was curiously looking around when he was startled by Jiang Yu's words. "Me performing? What am I performing? Why do I have a performance?"
**Chapter 053: Me Performing? I'm Not Prepared...**
Jiang Yu, expressionless and looking at the stage, spoke in a flat tone, "Because my mom used you to take my place. Originally, I was supposed to perform on behalf of the Central Conservatory, playing the piano. My mom arranged for you to replace me yesterday."
Wang Qian could sense Jiang Yu's displeasure even with a hair's breadth of intuition. He himself was also quite unhappy, frowning and immediately standing up, "I'll go talk to Professor He."
Jiang Yu hurriedly grabbed Wang Qian's arm and pulled him back down, "Sit down, don't go."
Wang Qian was dissatisfied, "Why not? I haven't agreed yet, and no one informed me in advance. Arranging it this way disrespects not only you but also me."
Jiang Yu scrutinized Wang Qian to see if he was serious, then said, "It's okay, she's always disrespecting me. Talking to her won't help."
Wang Qian stood up again, "Then I'm leaving. You go perform."
Jiang Yu and Qin Xuerong both grabbed Wang Qian's arms, making him sit down again.
Jiang Yu softly said, "I haven't seen you play other pieces. But based on your performance of your tenth étude, you're indeed better than me, even better than my mom in terms of expression. You're more qualified to perform."
Qin Xuerong and Murong Yue were both silently watching, not daring to speak. This was the first time they heard Jiang Yu so openly admit she wasn't as good as someone else in music and give such a high evaluation, saying Wang Qian was better than Professor He.
Wang Qian shook his head, "But I'm not from Central Conservatory."
He had agreed to come just to see the level of music students here. After all, several of his competitors on "The Voice" were top students from renowned music academies in China. Now, asking him to perform on stage! He wasn't prepared at all... He didn't even have a suit on. In his haste, he was wearing sneakers without socks.
Jiang Yu: "They didn't say you're from Central Conservatory. Just do me a favor, go up and play your tenth étude, and then come down. I did record a few songs for you; that should count for something, right?"
Wang Qian looked at Jiang Yu and nodded, "Hmm, a little. But still not enough to ask me to perform."
Jiang Yu glared at Wang Qian, wanting to hit him out of frustration.
Murong Yue leaned in and whispered, "What about me? What about my favor? Is it enough?"
Wang Qian glanced at Murong Yue, "Barely."
Qin Xuerong quickly added, "And me? Adding me, it should be enough, right?"
Wang Qian knew he couldn't leave now, so he looked at the stage, "When am I supposed to perform?"
Jiang Yu: "Not sure, we'll see when they notify us."
The auditorium was almost full, with more people coming in, including quite a few foreigners. He Chaohui, wearing a dress, quickly walked over from the side, made Jiang Yu move aside, and sat next to Wang Qian, her face full of apology, "Sorry, Wang Qian. I'm really sorry for arranging this at the last minute and only informing you now."
Wang Qian, neither warm nor cold, said, "Jiang Yu is perfectly capable of performing, right?"
He Chaohui nodded, "Barely. However, with Curtis here, I discussed with the school and replaced her with you to make a deeper impression on them. I've personally vouched for you and applied to the school. I'll invite you to participate in an internal assessment and interview at our school. If you pass, we will hire you as an associate professor in the piano department at Central Conservatory."
He Chaohui's words shocked Wang Qian, Jiang Yu, Murong Yue, and Qin Xuerong, who all looked at her with wide eyes.
Murong Yue: "Professor?"
Jiang Yu: "Him? Professor?"
Qin Xuerong: "No way..."
Wang Qian was also stunned, looking at He Chaohui. This was something he hadn't expected at all.
He Chaohui was going all out?
She trusted him that much?
The problem was, he himself didn't think he could be a university professor!
He Chaohui, still full of admiration and trust in her eyes, continued to explain, "Originally, I wanted to invite you to study at our school, but later I realized you don't need it. Your piano skills are no less than mine, and you can compose master-level piano pieces. So, why not invite you to teach? The school disagreed because they haven't seen you, but I used my authority as the department head to secure an assessment and interview opportunity for you. Although I've only heard one of your pieces, it was enough to demonstrate your level, which is definitely not below mine. You are fully qualified to be a professor in our piano department. Once given the opportunity, you will surely shine."
"You have such astonishing musical talent and piano skills. Are you content with just being a hotpot restaurant owner?"
"Even if you are, I'm not!"
A small flame ignited in Wang Qian's heart.
Qin Xuerong couldn't help but tightly grasp Wang Qian's hand, her eyes full of support.
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