DAEYTT Chapter 054: Graduate of Beiyin? No, Beiying!

Wang Qian wanted to inform Professor He about how popular his hotpot restaurant was...

"Professor He, just being a professor at Central Conservatory of Music is fine."

Wang Qian politely declined the assessment invitation from the professor: "I can go to today's performance."

It wasn't that he thought he was unqualified.

It was because.

He thought he might not have the time.

He Chaohui asked, "Are you afraid you won't pass the assessment?"

Using reverse psychology?

I'm not falling for that.

Wang Qian smiled and shook his head, "Hehe, no."

He Chaohui: "Then why? Are you really going to let your talent go to waste?"

Wang Qian shook his head again, "I don't think I'm wasting my talent. I'm already preparing to debut."

He Chaohui also shook his head, "You should have higher aspirations!"

Wang Qian: "Isn't pop music a higher aspiration? Professor He..."

He Chaohui said nothing more, glanced at Jiang Yu and Murong Yue beside him, and said, "I won't argue with you anymore. However, I will keep my invitation for you open for one year. Think it over carefully."

Wang Qian: "Thank you, Professor He."

He Chaohui: "No need to thank me. Come with me and change your clothes. You stand out too much like this."

Wang Qian thought he was just coming as an audience member, so he dressed casually, which indeed looked quite different from the suits and formal dresses around.

Although Wang Qian was easygoing, he didn't want to be an outlier, so he nodded in agreement and followed He Chaohui to the back to borrow a set of clothes to change into.

Just as he came out.

A middle-aged man in a suit approached He Chaohui, looked at Wang Qian curiously: "Director He, is this the Wang Qian you highly recommend?"

He Chaohui nodded: "Yes, he is Wang Qian! Wang Qian, this is Mr. Yang Jiansen, Director of the Piano Department at the Magic Sound Conservatory."

Wang Qian shook hands with Yang Jiansen: "Hello, Director Yang, I'm Wang Qian."

Yang Jiansen appeared very polite. After a courteous handshake, he asked, "Mr. Wang, where did you graduate from?"

Wang Qian answered honestly: "Beiying!"

Yang Jiansen was surprised: "Beiyin? Beijing Conservatory of Music?"

His eyes showed some confusion, as Beijing Conservatory of Music wasn't as prestigious as Central Conservatory of Music or Magic Sound Conservatory. Why would He Chaohui highly recommend Wang Qian, even going so far as to have his own daughter, a Central Conservatory of Music PhD graduate, withdraw from the performance?

Wang Qian corrected: "No, it's Beijing Film Academy!"

Yang Jiansen fell silent, took a closer look at Wang Qian, and then looked at He Chaohui with confusion: "Director He, is he telling the truth?"

He Chaohui nodded: "Yes, he graduated from the acting department of Beijing Film Academy."

Yang Jiansen's brows furrowed slightly, looking at Wang Qian with a scrutinizing gaze: "Then where did Mr. Wang learn to play the piano?"

Wang Qian remained honest: "Self-taught!"

Yang Jiansen turned to He Chaohui again: "Director He, is he joking, or are you joking? Do you know how important today's exchange meeting is for us? Professor Dawson from Curtis Institute of Music is a world-renowned pianist and composer. If he gets a bad impression, the reputation of our entire music community in China will drop a notch globally."

He Chaohui met Yang Jiansen's gaze and said firmly: "That's why I highly recommend Wang Qian to perform. It's also to enhance our reputation. I believe in him. You heard the piece I played yesterday, right? You've been asking for the name and author, haven't you? It's him. The piece is called 'Wang Qian's Tenth Etude'!"

Yang Jiansen widened his eyes, looked at He Chaohui, then at Wang Qian, with doubt.

Wang Qian humbly smiled: "I just casually named it. Sorry for the laugh, Director Yang!"

Yang Jiansen asked: "Is it really your composition? You self-taught the piano?"

Wang Qian met Yang Jiansen's gaze: "Yes, I composed it in my spare time. I taught myself music and piano at home!"

Yang Jiansen was silent for a few more seconds, processing this information.

At this moment, he saw a group of formally dressed foreigners entering from a side entrance, led by a thin, white-haired old man. He immediately turned to He Chaohui and said: "Director He, I hope your choice is correct." Then he looked at Wang Qian, "Mr. Wang, perform well. If you're really interested in music and piano, we can talk afterward. I can offer you an auditor position in the piano department at Magic Sound Conservatory. If you pass the exams later, I'll personally award you a formal graduation certificate."

Wang Qian smiled: "I'll do my best. As for auditing, I'll pass. I'm quite busy lately and might not have the time. Thank you, Director Yang."

Yang Jiansen gave Wang Qian a deep look, then turned with a smile, extending his hand to welcome the white-haired old man and his group: "Professor Dawson, Professor Karl, this way, please."

Yang Jiansen, as the host, welcomed the group and led them to their seats. A total of ten people had arrived. 

Leading the group was Professor Dawson, a renowned professor from the Curtis Institute of Music. He was a world-famous pianist, composer, and conductor, and a prominent figure at Curtis. 

Sitting next to Dawson were a young man and woman. The man had brown hair, blue eyes, and chiseled features, epitomizing Western handsomeness, though he appeared to be only in his twenties. The woman had black hair, fair skin, and purple eyes, with soft features that indicated she was of mixed heritage with some Eastern blood, and she looked around twenty years old. 

These two were Dawson’s students who had come to China for cultural exploration: Jason and Taylor, top students from Curtis. Their presence alone commanded attention, with nearly all eyes on them. 

Even the group from Berklee College of Music, sitting on the other side of Professor Dawson, appeared somewhat overshadowed. 

He Chaohui also stepped forward to say a few words to Professor Dawson, but Dawson remained expressionless and did not respond to anyone’s remarks. 

Nevertheless, Yang Jiansen, He Chaohui, and Peng Donghu from the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music were not displeased. They were thrilled just to meet Dawson. 

Professor Carl from Berklee said in English, "Gentlemen, can we start the performance?" 

As the host, Yang Jiansen nodded to Dawson before replying to Carl, "Of course, it’s almost time. I hope everyone enjoys today." 

Carl replied, "I hope so too!" 

Carl then spoke to a tall young man beside him, "Mike, you’ll perform 'The Tempest' next." 

The Berklee group all looked at Professor Carl. 

Mike smiled and said, "Professor, you want to impress them, don’t you?" 

'The Tempest' is a famous piece composed a hundred years ago by a great English composer, known for its high difficulty. It’s challenging to play even at a professional level, and to perform it perfectly requires a world-class pianist. 

Mike, nominally just a piano graduate student at Berklee, was actually skilled enough to apply for a doctorate and beyond, being one of the top students in Berklee’s delegation and quite renowned in the North American piano community. 

Carl asked Mike casually, "Can you do it?" 

Mike shrugged, "Sir, I’m looking forward to seeing their reactions." 

Carl smiled, "I’ll be watching closely." 

Dawson glanced at Carl and Mike, then said to the person beside him, "Taylor, you’ll go on stage too." 

Taylor asked, "Professor, didn’t we decide not to perform?" 

Dawson replied, "Now we are!" 

Taylor nodded obediently, "Alright." 

Wherever there are people, there are rivalries and disputes. 

So-called exchanges are essentially competitions. 

Representing Curtis, the institution’s honor could not be tarnished. 

Mike looked at Taylor and smiled, "Taylor, I’m looking forward to your performance. I’m sure these Chinese people will be amazed. That is, if they can understand your music." 

Taylor didn’t look at him, only replying indifferently, "Thank you!" 

That was all. 

Mike was somewhat disappointed, realizing she didn’t think much of him. He adjusted his mindset and turned his attention to the stage. 

A young man from the piano department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music was already walking towards the piano in the center of the stage. 

The performance was about to begin.


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