DAEYTT ### Chapter 056: Never Heard of It... Just Clap!
The suit may have been borrowed, but it fit Wang Qian perfectly. Without a bow tie and with his hair slightly tidied, some noticeable stubble still marked his face due to the lack of makeup. He walked steadily to the center of the stage, standing under the spotlight, and bowed slightly to all the audience below.
His gaze briefly swept across everyone. Most of the expressions and looks he saw were of confusion, curiosity, and a bit of shock! Because some people recognized him. After all, he had recently become a popular rising internet singer in Shanghai. With an audience of over a thousand, most of whom were locals, it was normal for some to have seen his performances.
Wang Qian nodded slightly to Qin Xuerong, then turned and walked towards the center piano. Qin Xuerong felt a bit nervous, her hands clenched tightly. Jiang Yu and Murong Yue were simply full of anticipation, eagerly awaiting Wang Qian's performance.
He Chaohui and Yang Jiansen exchanged glances for a few seconds, maintaining a firm attitude, then looked at Wang Qian on the stage with some concern. After all, Wang Qian had no experience in such performances, and he wasn't her student, so she knew very little about him.
Professor Dawson, who had been silently watching without saying a word, now looked at Wang Qian with a gleam in his eye. He whispered to Taylor and Jason beside him, "I think I see Richard!"
Taylor and Jason were both shocked! They naturally knew who Professor Dawson was referring to—Richard, a world-renowned young pianist who had already held solo concerts in Vienna. For their teacher to say he saw a shadow of Richard in this person?
Jason couldn't help but ask, "Professor, are you sure?"
Dawson did not answer, his eyes remained fixed on Wang Qian. Taylor, too, said nothing, her gaze like Dawson's, staring intently at Wang Qian. The moment Wang Qian sat down, she instantly sensed a transformation—a kind of absolute confidence and command, coupled with elegance and composure.
Taylor nodded slightly, agreeing with the professor's observation. On the other side, Berkeley's Carl frowned slightly, looking at Wang Qian with some surprise, instinctively feeling that there was something unusual about him—the kind of aura that only renowned artists possess.
Sitting down, Mike remarked softly, "Professor, did you see their frenzy just now?"
Carl nodded lightly in agreement. Mike's performance had indeed received an enthusiastic response from the Magic Music students. However, Carl, looking serious, told Mike, "Mike, listen carefully to the next performance!"
Mike, unimpressed, said, "Taylor's performance is at the end. There's nothing to watch in the current performance, right?"
Carl shook his head, somewhat displeased with Mike's arrogance and disdain.
At this moment, Wang Qian sat down and, unlike the previous performers, did not take out prepared sheet music. Instead, he quietly sat at the piano for two seconds. A thousand pairs of eyes focused on him, unsure what piece he would perform next.
Under the gaze of the audience, Wang Qian slowly closed his eyes, then placed his hands on the keys! Even the arrogant Mike became completely silent at this moment.
Playing blind! Although surprising, it wasn't shocking to most of the professionals present. In the field of piano, playing blindfolded isn't considered particularly difficult. A piece practiced countless times can be played without looking at the sheet music, even with closed eyes—it’s quite normal!
Ting ting ting...
Wang Qian's hands began to dance lightly on the keys, his expression filled with enjoyment, a smile of reminiscence on his lips. This world-famous piece he frequently played in his previous life was making its debut in this world—Turkish March!
The lively melody instantly filled the ears of everyone present. Dawson, Taylor, Jason, Carl, Mike, and others immediately became serious... They all recognized the key of A minor! However, it wasn't any familiar piece they knew. With their professional level, any familiar piece could be identified within a few notes and beats. This was clearly a new piano piece they had never heard before.
Dawson's eyes lit up, and he began to tap along gently with Wang Qian's performance. Taylor and Jason also looked intently, almost pricking up their ears. Carl, Mike, and the others from Berkeley were equally serious, listening quietly. Even the arrogant Mike didn't utter another word.
However, He Chaohui, Jiang Yu, Murong Yue, and Qin Xuerong's expressions changed. He Chaohui frowned, looking somewhat worried and a bit angry! "Wang Qian actually didn't play the Tenth Étude but chose a new piece? How bold... What if..."
He Chaohui was worried. Wang Qian's self-composed Tenth Étude, in her opinion, was on par with the works of famous masters. A perfect rendition would definitely make Dawson and the others take notice! But a new piece... She didn't know it and had never heard it, so she was unsure.
Jiang Yu, Murong Yue, and Qin Xuerong also began to worry. However, their primary emotion was anticipation. They had a strong trust in Wang Qian, especially Qin Xuerong, who clasped her excited hands to her chest, smiling and gazing at Wang Qian with full support and trust.
Yang Jiansen and Peng Donghu also frowned simultaneously. This wasn’t the practice piece they had heard He Chaohui play... What happened to the original plan? However, with their level of expertise, they could instantly recognize the extraordinary nature of Wang Qian’s piece.
The performance continued. The audience grew even quieter, each person intently listening to this new piano piece they were hearing for the first time.
Dawson silently kept time with his hands, turning his body slightly to face Wang Qian with his right ear, as if that would help him hear better. Taylor stopped looking at Wang Qian, her eyes unfocused, all her attention concentrated in her ears, not missing a single note. She gently tapped her hand on her knee and, after listening to most of the piece, muttered softly to herself, "A minor, 2/4 time... modulating to A major... sixteenth notes... back to A minor... rondo form..."
Suddenly, Taylor’s eyes lit up, focusing on Wang Qian, "The structure is very complete, the style is distinct, and the performance is perfect. Did he write this himself?"
Wang Qian remained with his eyes closed, deeply immersed in the music, his hands dancing gracefully on the keys. As the final climactic notes finished, his hands lingered on the keys for a few seconds before he withdrew them and opened his eyes. He stood up, turned, and bowed, elegant and composed.
The audience remained silent. Every pair of eyes was focused on him, each listener who understood the piece was filled with surprise and shock, and a sense of disbelief.
Even Mike stared wide-eyed at Wang Qian, clearly in disbelief. Carl, Dawson, Jason, Taylor, and others were still savoring the piece. Dawson continued to keep time with his hands. He Chaohui, Yang Jiansen, and Peng Donghu, the three piano department heads, were also still contemplating, their eyes filled with thought and some astonishment.
Clap, clap, clap... A sudden applause broke the silence. It was Professor Dawson, who was the first to comprehend the piece fully. He stood up and looked at Wang Qian, clapping his hands vigorously. Following him, Taylor and Jason also stood up, clapping forcefully. Carl, Mike, and the others from Berkeley couldn’t remain seated either. Despite Mike’s reluctance, he stood up along with Carl and the others, clapping hard.
The applause grew more enthusiastic. Yang Jiansen, Peng Donghu, and He Chaohui snapped out of their thoughts, all standing up with smiles and clapping along. Although they didn’t fully understand the piece, seeing Dawson and Carl applauding meant it was undoubtedly a great success, so clapping along was the best response.
Qin Xuerong, Jiang Yu, and Murong Yue quickly stood up as well. The entire audience of over a thousand people followed suit, with some still puzzled about what had just happened. The applause surged like a tidal wave. Those who recognized Wang Qian whispered, "Wow, the boss is amazing!"
Facing the overwhelming applause and recognition, Wang Qian smiled slightly, bowed again, and then walked down the stage with steady steps.
What everyone didn’t expect was that as Wang Qian walked past Professor Dawson, Dawson suddenly stepped forward, extended his hand to lightly shake Wang Qian’s, and asked softly, "That was wonderful. Can we talk about this piece later?"
Wang Qian understood and replied, "Of course!"
Dawson responded, "Thank you!"
Then, Dawson returned to his spot but remained standing, clapping along with everyone else, watching Wang Qian return to his seat.
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