DAEYTT ### Chapter 061: Piano Is Not Everything! When Did You Practice the Piano?
Qin Xuerong was driving. In the car, Wang Qian's newly uploaded song "I Believe" was playing.
The high-pitched voice and the confident aura, as if it were about to break through the atmosphere, filled the car. Qin Xuerong gripped the steering wheel tightly, her cheeks flushed with excitement, and she sang along with the music: "I believe I am myself, I believe in tomorrow, I believe that youth has no horizon."
"Hahaha, Wang Qian, you are amazing. Do you know? It was the first time I saw Aunt He plead with someone like that. You didn’t see it, but Director Yang of Moyin and Director Peng of Zhejiang Music looked like they wanted to devour you. The expressions of those foreigners watching you were also quite funny... You are incredible..."
Wang Qian, sitting in the back, gazed at the bustling street outside and laughed, "Alright, let’s put this matter behind us!"
Qin Xuerong immediately quieted down and obediently asked, "Where should we go for lunch? My treat!"
Jiang Yu and Murong Yue, seated behind Wang Qian, waited for Qin Xuerong’s excitement to subside. Those who didn't know might have thought Qin Xuerong had just accomplished something incredible.
Jiang Yu whispered to Wang Qian, "Can I get a copy of the sheet music for that Eleventh Etude?"
Murong Yue chimed in, "I want one too!"
Wang Qian replied, "Sure, I’ll give it to you both at work tomorrow."
Jiang Yu nodded seriously, "Thank you!"
Murong Yue also nodded, "Thank you!"
Previously, only they had heard Wang Qian’s piece, so while they liked it and thought it was good, they didn’t realize its true value. After receiving evaluations from three piano department heads and recognition from professors at Curtis Institute and Berklee, they understood.
Wang Qian’s piece had the potential to become a world-renowned composition, making it highly valuable. Wang Qian personally giving them a copy of the sheet music was a sign of his recognition of them.
Thus, Jiang Yu and Murong Yue felt closer to Wang Qian, as if they had become friends.
"You really aren’t going back? My mom, Director Yang, and Director Peng will definitely look for you again. My mom doesn’t give up easily. With Professor Dawson’s endorsement, Director Yang and Director Peng won’t let you go either," Jiang Yu said to Wang Qian.
Wang Qian reclined in his seat, "We’ll see. Anyway, I don’t have time to go to school."
Murong Yue said, "I saw Professor Dawson talking to you. Did he also invite you?"
Wang Qian looked at Murong Yue curiously, "How did you know?"
Murong Yue, with a smug look on her face, said, "I know a bit of lip-reading, and also, I graduated from Berklee."
Jiang Yu was surprised, "Professor Dawson really invited you? To Curtis Institute? To study or to teach?"
Wang Qian nodded, "Yes, he did. Initially, he invited me to study, then to teach. I declined."
Jiang Yu’s eyes widened, "You declined? Do you know what Curtis Institute is?"
Qin Xuerong chimed in, "Is Curtis Institute that amazing? It’s just the second best in the world. Wang Qian is so great, he should go to the best in the world to be worthy of his talents."
Wang Qian shook his head, "It’s not about that. It doesn’t matter which is the best. Like I said, I don’t even have time for domestic invitations, let alone abroad. So, I simply refused."
Jiang Yu was taken aback. If Dawson had invited her to study at Curtis, she would have agreed immediately. But Wang Qian had refused to teach there...
This guy...
Murong Yue asked curiously, "So, Wang Qian, is your ambition not in music? If you want to pursue music, Curtis Institute is definitely the best choice."
Wang Qian replied, "Is piano the only form of music?"
Murong Yue shook her head, "Of course not!"
Jiang Yu answered seriously, "The piano is the king of instruments!"
Wang Qian chuckled, "I will make whatever music I want. The piano is just a hobby, not everything. My current goal is to debut in the entertainment industry! Everything else will have to wait."
Jiang Yu asked, "So you succeeded in the program you participated in?"
Wang Qian replied, "Of course! It’s about to air. I have to go record again next week."
Murong Yue was speechless, "Xue’er said you didn’t talk about the program and came back so soon, so she thought you failed and told us not to ask."
Qin Xuerong smiled awkwardly, "I was just guessing."
When she picked up Wang Qian at the train station last time, Qin Xuerong noticed Wang Qian was not in high spirits and didn’t talk about the program. So, she assumed Wang Qian had failed and didn’t ask about it. She also told Murong Yue and Jiang Yu not to ask.
Unexpectedly...
She had overthought it.
Wang Qian felt warm and grateful, "Thank you for your concern. My main focus will be on this program, so I’ll put piano aside for now! Jiang Jiang, Xiao Yue, I’ll continue to rely on you."
Wang Qian’s sudden politeness made Jiang Yu and Murong Yue a bit uncomfortable.
Jiang Yu said, "It’s alright, we have a contract, it’s my job."
Murong Yue said, "When you become a big star, don’t forget to take me along for performances!"
Wang Qian laughed, "That might happen soon."
The four of them chatted all the way. Instead of going to Haidilao, they went to a rooftop Sichuan restaurant on the same street as Tang Feifei’s shop.
Looking down from the high building, they could clearly see Haidilao’s business still booming, with a long line of people waiting for tables. Haidilao employees were serving water to those in line with disposable cups.
Just as Jiang Yu sat down, her phone rang. It was her mother, He Zhaohui.
Jiang Yu glanced at Wang Qian, who was looking at the scenery outside, and then answered the call.
"Jiang Jiang, are you with Wang Qian?"
Her mother’s voice came from the phone.
Jiang Yu replied, "Yes, I’m with Xue’er, Xiao Yue, and Wang Qian having lunch."
He Zhaohui asked, "Is Wang Qian coming this afternoon?"
Jiang Yu said, "I’ll give him the phone, you can talk to him."
He Zhaohui agreed, "Okay!"
Jiang Yu handed the phone to Wang Qian, "My mom wants to talk to you."
Wang Qian took the phone, "Hello, Professor He!"
He Zhaohui got straight to the point, "Wang Qian, Professor Dawson, Professor Carl, Director Yang, and Director Peng all want to invite you to continue participating in the upcoming school exchange meeting."
Wang Qian: "Professor He, please apologize to them for me. I'm really busy here and don't have the time."
He Zhaohui didn't say much. She hoped that Wang Qian would not participate in the upcoming exchange. This way, Wang Qian would have less time to interact with others, greatly increasing her chances of inviting Wang Qian to join Central Conservatory of Music.
Having received Wang Qian's answer, He Zhaohui said directly, "Okay, I'll inform them. But I hope you will seriously consider my invitation. I can meet all your conditions. You don't even have to join Central Conservatory of Music..."
Wang Qian smiled, "Thank you, Professor He, I'll think about it carefully."
He Zhaohui: "Great! Goodbye. By the way, your performance today was exceptional!"
Wang Qian: "Thank you!"
He hung up the phone.
Wang Qian then started ordering food with Qin Xuerong and the other two.
Meanwhile, at the Magic Music Academy.
When He Zhaohui relayed Wang Qian's answer to the others, Yang Jiansen and Peng Donghu, as well as Dawson and Karl, were very disappointed. Only a few, like Mike, Wei Shuxin, and Hu Ke, hoped Wang Qian wouldn't come, fearing he would steal their spotlight!
Where there are people, there are rivalries.
Professor Dawson said disappointedly, "This is really unfortunate. I have been contemplating Wang Qian's two pieces. The more I think about them, the more I realize how amazing they are. I wanted to discuss the ideas behind these pieces with him..."
He Zhaohui calmly said, "Professor Dawson, I'm sorry to disappoint you."
If it had been before, He Zhaohui would have tried to get Wang Qian to meet with Professor Dawson for a better outcome. Now, the result couldn't be better. She was eager to keep Wang Qian hidden.
Taylor said softly, "I really love the tenth etude. I can't wait to perform it."
Dawson said to his favorite student, "I feel the same way!"
Seizing the opportunity, Yang Jiansen said, "Professor Dawson, Taylor, Professor Karl, how about we center our afternoon exchange around Wang Qian's tenth and eleventh etudes?"
Professor Dawson's eyes lit up, "That's a great idea."
Karl, who also recognized the excellence of these pieces but had fewer chances to speak with Dawson around, clearly expressed his stance, "Of course! I'd love to perform these pieces myself."
Yang Jiansen smiled, "Then it's settled. You all can rest first, and in the afternoon, we'll have a research discussion on these two pieces in the main hall. I'm sure we can spark more musical ideas."
Dawson nodded, "Good."
With that, Dawson left with his students Taylor and Jason to rest. Karl also took Mike and the others for a break.
Only the members from the three major music academies of China were left.
Yang Jiansen looked at He Zhaohui and Peng Donghu and smiled, "Director He, Director Peng, I think we should have a good talk about Mr. Wang Qian. What do you think?"
Peng Donghu nodded, "We should definitely talk. We shouldn't let a piano master like Wang Qian remain unrecognized outside the academies. He deserves recognition."
He Zhaohui smiled, turned around, and left, "Then you guys talk. I have something to do, so I'll head back first. I'll be there on time in the afternoon."
With that, He Zhaohui really left.
Yang Jiansen and Peng Donghu frowned as they watched her leave. Peng Donghu quickly left too, obviously to talk to the higher-ups at his school.
Yang Jiansen beckoned to Wei Shuxin, "Shuxin, did you find information on Wang Qian?"
Wei Shuxin nodded, handing his phone to Yang Jiansen, "Director Yang, look! Actually, you can find information on Mr. Wang Qian easily online. He's been quite popular lately."
Quite popular?
Yang Jiansen took a look.
Wang Qian.
Stage name, Weibo name: Qian Qian Jun Zi!
Age: 31!
Alma mater: Beijing Film Academy, Acting Department.
Owner of Haidilao.
Released works: "Once You", "Ordinary Road", "Those Flowers", "Not So Simple", "I Believe", and other popular pieces!
Net worth over 100 million...
All sorts of information converged.
Yang Jiansen widened his eyes and looked again and again.
"Really graduated from Beijing Film Academy? Net worth over 100 million? Started two incredibly successful hotpot restaurants and released several hit songs?"
Yang Jiansen couldn't believe it.
Studied acting...
Started a hotpot restaurant...
Started a hotpot restaurant and then released songs?
The issue is!
He succeeded in all of it.
Then...
When did you learn to play the piano?