Chapter 8, Song 8...

The "three missing one" quartet began weekly rehearsals. Everyone is usually busy with their own things, so it's already quite difficult for them to find time to practice their parts privately and then find a day to play together.

The program was quickly decided: Haydn's Lark Quartet. Qu Jiaying and Yue Yi went back to practice according to the score, while Yan Zheng, who was studying conducting, and Xiang Min, who was studying composition, did more research in addition to practicing.

The four chairs in the rehearsal room are arranged in an arc, allowing the four people to communicate through eye contact, but also facilitating arguments.

Qu Jiaying corrected Yue Yi's problem: "Play the violin according to the score, don't prolong the notes or slide them, make each note crisp."

Le Yi nodded and then said to her in return, "Although it wasn't really created based on Lark, the overall style is very light and lively, but you're still very tense."

The two of them were having a relatively mild and normal discussion at the moment, while the other two were about to start arguing.

Yan Zheng demanded that the performance be done according to the score. This is a characteristic of Haydn, or rather, of the Classical period. The changes are not as intense as in the later Romantic period, but they must be subtle. So he gave a lot of instructions, completely disregarding whether Yue Yi could do it.

Xiang Min is a composition student. Even though he still wants to create beautiful music, he is still influenced by avant-garde trends. He feels that there is no need to follow the versions from hundreds of years ago in a rigid way, and that more personalized elements can be added.

Yan Zheng's musical ideas are very traditional, and he can't accept them.

"For me, music is about having fun," Xiang Min said gently, holding his cello.

Le Yi laughed and said, "Yes, we should enjoy the fun of music. Yan Zheng, you and Qu Jiaying are both too serious about music."

Qu Jiaying disagreed with this view and said coldly, "Is that not allowed?"

Le Yi didn't know what to do, so Xiang Min quickly smoothed things over: "Everyone has been practicing the piano for so many years, so they must have different ideas."

Yan Zheng glanced at Qu Jiaying and stepped aside: "Xiang Min, how about this, play it once according to my instructions, and then do it again according to your own ideas."

Qu Jiaying glanced at the dejected Le Yi beside her, whose golden hair had even turned dull. She sighed helplessly and asked Yan Zheng, "Why don't Le Yi and I get this treatment?"

Le Yi immediately raised his head: "Exactly! I have a lot of ideas too."

"Okay, okay." Yan Zheng then asked Qu Jiaying, "Do you have one too?"

"Mind your own business. I'll have everything I need anyway," Qu Jiaying rolled her eyes at him.

Four people can create four different interpretations.

Le Yi added many embellishments according to his own habits, making many sections more intense. Xiang Min made some changes based on him, strengthening the contrast between the vocal parts and the theme. The biggest change was that he added a whistle at the very beginning.

Yan Zheng was very meticulous, giving instructions on everything from bow speed in different places to vibrato amplitude and consistent breathing. Qu Jiaying also made revisions to his score. She didn't quite understand how those theories and concepts were presented in musical notation; she simply felt that using a different bow speed or different vibrato in some places would sound better.

Although Yan Zheng was very dissatisfied with the inclusion of Le Yi and Xiang Min in the cast, Qu Jiaying had no objections, and the decision was made with a three-to-one vote.

After several adjustments, with some compromising and others persisting, under Yan Zheng's direction, the four members' individual styles were finally integrated into the quartet.

Xiang Min recorded a video and posted it on his WeChat Moments.

Xiang Min met many people while working at the bar. Industry insiders saw their performances and commented that some found them very interesting, while others frowned and asked if they had no instructors. Meanwhile, laymen praised them for being good.

Yan Zheng no longer has any expectations for participating in the competition. He only hoped that at least one day his colleagues would invite him to a concert, but now he feels that is unlikely.

He has lost count of how many times he has said this: "Performing is not composing."

But nobody listened to him.

Yan Zheng's gaze lingered on Qu Jiaying, while Le Yi circled around her, constantly asking about the technical difficulties she encountered while practicing the violin. Xiang Min replied to messages, but would occasionally look up at her.

Their "three missing one" quartet, without realizing it, has made Qu Jiaying the core. Of course, the first violinist is the core of the quartet. Although the four people seem to be equal, she is the one who ultimately controls the direction.

"The owner of the bar where I work really liked our performance and invited us to play 'The Lark Quartet' at her place this weekend. We'll get paid," Xiang Min said with a smile.

Le Yi was the first to agree, excitedly saying, "Then we definitely have to go!"

Yan Zheng wasn't very keen on it. He wasn't opposed to performances that made money, but his goal was at least the opening ceremony of the exhibition hall.

But when he looked at Qu Jiaying, she nodded in agreement, and the matter was settled.

Qu Jiaying was actually a little hesitant, not because of the bar itself. She had been there before and quite liked it. She also learned a bit about the place from Gao Ying and Xiang Min. Most of the patrons were music lovers or related professionals, and the overall atmosphere was friendly and mild. They wouldn't harshly criticize their novel performances.

She glanced at Xiang Min discreetly; he noticed and smiled gently at her.

After the "three missing one" quartet band's first gathering, practice, and dinner, Le Yi and Yan Zheng both had to return to their school dormitories, while Xiang Min rented a place off-campus, which happened to be on the same route as Qu Jiaying, who was also going home.

On a similar night, a cool breeze was blowing. Qu Jiaying felt a little cold and huddled up, wearing a shirt over her shoulders, the remaining warmth of which was transferred to her body.

Qu Jiaying turned his head to the side and saw that Min was wearing a short-sleeved undershirt. He smiled gently and said with a smile, "I was worried that it would be too cold at night last time, but I didn't have a chance to do this."

Qu Jiaying held onto her shirt collar to prevent it from slipping down and said softly, "Yan Zheng and I talked for a while, but we broke up more than half a year ago."

"As expected." Xiang Min smiled gently, pulled her close, and gazed into her eyes. "What do you think? I respect your wishes."

“I don’t want to complicate things too much,” Qu Jiaying said.

Xiang Min smiled and lowered his voice, saying, "Then this is our little secret."

After that, Qu Jiaying and Xiang Min continued their weekly evening rendezvous.

Qu Jiaying adheres to her principles: no overnight stays, no dates, no private conversations. She currently has no desire to pursue a long-term, stable romantic relationship. As for whether Xiang Min has other ideas, that's none of her business.

She didn't think there was anything wrong with letting Le Yi and Yan Zheng know, she just didn't want to affect the band's atmosphere.

She thought that since so much time had passed, no one in the bar would remember her and she wouldn't be exposed.

As luck would have it, the four of them arrived at the bar around 8 p.m. on the day of the performance. It was the bar's peak business hours. Senior Sister Gao Ying, who was also the owner, was there that day. She waved to Xiang Min in the crowd and then continued to greet the customers.

Unable to find any empty seats, they sat at the bar. Xiang Min had brought his cello and carefully placed it down.

A smart and capable female bartender approached with the drinks menu: "Would you like something to drink?"

Yan Zheng refused: "I don't drink."

Le Yi was curious and wanted to take a closer look at the wine list, but Xiang Min pulled it out and returned it: "Give this one a juice, and that one water. We both want non-alcoholic mojitos."

"No, I want some alcohol, make it with alcohol." Qu Jiaying drinks a little strong liquor to relieve tension before some important competitions.

The female bartender wrote it down and turned to leave.

Qu Jiaying looked around. Today's theme was classical music, which felt completely different from the jazz theme last time. The atmosphere was quieter, and the patrons were chatting quietly.

The boss walked over and said in a generous and friendly manner, "Hello, my name is Chen Li. You must be Jia Ying? Gao Ying told me about this. I'm sorry, I have some family matters to attend to and can't help you right now. How did your exam go?"

Qu Jiaying quickly said, "The exam results were very good, I ranked first." She tugged at Le Yi, "He is the one who replaced Gao Ying as her piano partner."

"Then today's guests are in for a treat." Chen Li had other things to do, so she exchanged a few pleasantries and hurried away.

The performance officially starts at nine o'clock, so they don't have much free time.

The female bartender placed the drinks in front of each person.

Qu Jiaying looked at the glass of wine in front of her: "I ordered a mojito, right?"

The spirited female bartender smiled and said, "I think tequila suits you better."

Agave is spicy and bitter, and tastes better when served with salt and lemon.

It seemed the bartender still remembered her. Qu Jiaying smiled slightly, skillfully rubbed some salt on the back of her hand, licked the salt first, drank the tequila in one gulp, and finally took a bite of lemon.

"You drank too much, didn't you? The performance is about to start, don't get drunk," Yan Zheng said nervously.

"It's alright, the wine warmed me up all over," Qu Jiaying said.

"Who told you to wear this dress? If you're not cold, who is?" Yan Zheng said.

Le Yi, with a straw in his mouth, said, "But it's so pretty! Aren't we going to have a performance?"

Xiang Min looked at Qu Jiaying's strapless blue fishtail dress, which was just as beautiful as the green halter dress she wore that day.

Qu Jiaying's mother loves to buy her pretty dresses. She loves to dress up when she performs, and she wants to capture everyone's attention, both aurally and visually.

Qu Jiaying's outfit was indeed very eye-catching, because all three young men were wearing black casual suits. Under the stage lights, only the blond Le Yi was more recognizable.

As the four men took the stage, the patrons gradually lowered their voices.

As Qu Jiaying tuned the instruments and the pitches became harmonious and unified, the four of them first pulled out whistles that simulated bird calls.

The patrons below the stage laughed because they were holding whistles shaped like little birds.

The middle-aged man sitting next to the boss, Chen Li, chuckled and said, "It's quite interesting."

Chen Li smiled slightly and quietly introduced the four of them to the regular customers in the store.

The four then set up their instruments again and began playing Haydn's Lark Quartet.

The second violin and viola scores begin in the same style, then the cello bass is added.

The middle-aged man felt nothing special and hadn't had a chance to tell Chen Li how he felt.

The first violin sounded like a lark's song, its tone exceptionally light and airy against the backdrop of the other three instruments.

The middle-aged man nodded slightly. A good performer is one who can be recognized immediately upon hearing their voice.

Her playing was not abrupt; sometimes she conversed with the cello, sometimes with the viola, sometimes with the second violin, and sometimes she joined hands with all three.

Qu Jiaying, dressed in a long blue dress, had slightly flushed cheeks and beads of sweat on her temples. She played with ease and focus, from the lively first movement to the aria-like melody of the second movement, then to the minuet-like quality of the third movement, and finally to the vitality of folk music in the fourth movement.

The twenty-minute performance of the Lark Quartet ended with thunderous applause from the audience.