Chapter 126: That Is the Ninth Floor of the Library Pavilion

Just as Qin Yunqi was marveling at the scene, Elder Qin suddenly sat up straight. His eyes lit up, and he rolled down the car window to call out, "Gu, my girl, over here!"

Qin Yunqi’s lips twitched. He had never seen his grandfather act so disregardful of his own dignity.

Following the elder’s gaze, he saw the young girl walking slowly toward them.

Qin Yunqi considered himself well-accustomed to the beauties of the Imperial Capital, yet the moment he saw Gu Ci, he couldn't help but lose his train of thought.

"You brat, why haven't you opened the door yet? Go sit in the front! What are you standing there for, stunned like a fool?"

A kick from Elder Qin brought Qin Yunqi back to his senses. "Ah! Oh, oh! Grandfather, don't kick, I'm getting out right now!"

With that, Qin Yunqi scrambled to open the car door and stepped out.

Hearing Elder Qin’s voice, Gu Ci walked over with her schoolbag on her back. From a distance, she saw a handsome, gentle, and refined young man open the car door and wait for her.

Gu Ci quickened her pace slightly. The young man by the door offered her a friendly, gentlemanly smile. "You must be Gu Ci. Hello, I'm Brother Qin, nice to meet you."

Gu Ci raised an eyebrow in surprise. Meanwhile, sitting in the car, Elder Qin—who had just composed himself into the posture of a teacher—nearly spat out his water.

The dignified teacher image he had struggled to maintain completely collapsed.

He jokingly scolded Qin Yunqi, "What are you talking about, you brat? You can't even speak clearly!"

Qin Yunqi felt incredibly awkward. He didn't know why he had suddenly felt such an imposing aura from Gu Ci, causing him to trip over his own words...

Qin Yunqi couldn't help but cover his face. His reputation as a refined young gentleman was completely ruined the moment he met Gu Ci.

"Hahaha, I meant my name is Qin Yunqi. Little Sister Gu Ci, you can call me Brother Yunqi."

Qin Yunqi used an awkward laugh to cover everything up.

"Come, come, get in. The old man has been talking about you for days."

"Thank you, Brother Yunqi." She was thanking him for getting out to open the door for her.

Qin Yunqi waved his hand hurriedly. "Not at all, not at all."

He climbed into the car and signaled for the driver to set off.

Elder Qin looked at Gu Ci with increasing satisfaction.

He asked in a gentle voice, "Gu, my girl, have you been practicing conducting lately?"

Gu Ci paused, then shook her head and said earnestly, "I'm in school, I need to focus on my studies."

If Huo Shuyue were here, she would surely recognize that Gu Ci’s expression was exactly like the time she was caught playing on her phone by Rong Ye, yet insisted with a straight face that she was looking up study materials.

Elder Qin was almost anxious. "You child... with your level, if you practice a little and study diligently, isn't a recommendation to Mianle Academy a sure thing?"

Mianle Academy was the top music institution in Mianzhou, a place of pilgrimage for all music students.

Hearing his grandfather’s words, Qin Yunqi couldn't help but twitch his eyes.

He realized his grandfather was pulling out all the stops to trick his little apprentice into the path of conducting!

Was a recommendation to Mianle really as easy as the old man made it sound?

Especially for the conducting major, which required the conductor to basically be able to play all instruments, possess the ability to understand and creatively interpret scores, and control the rhythm and emotions of an entire ensemble—all of which required years of time and experience to accumulate. Even the highest talent could not compensate for that.

Therefore, while Mianle had admitted students via recommendation for individual instruments over the years, there had never been one for conducting.

The conducting major at Mianle had always required passing the entrance exam; there was no precedent for a recommendation.

Furthermore, Mianle did not just value musical ability and talent; they also prioritized the students' academic grades.

No matter how high his grandfather’s status was, he couldn't influence that.

However, he had heard that the First High School in Songdu was quite reputable in the state, so he assumed that his grandfather’s little apprentice must have decent grades to be enrolled there.

But regardless, a recommendation for conducting was an insurmountable chasm for any conductor...

Gu Ci rubbed her nose, not telling the elder that she had never even considered applying to Mianle.

The reason Elder Qin had caught her conducting before was due to special circumstances, and it certainly wasn't because she was interested in it.

If she hadn't promised Principal Ji, she wouldn't even have thought about taking the college entrance exam...

Seeing that Gu Ci didn't seem particularly interested, Elder Qin pulled out his trump card.

"I have already applied for your membership in the Music Association, but the Association has strict rules. To be certified, you must participate in three city-level performances. So, Little Ci, you must practice diligently and never slack off."

Qin Yunqi watched as his grandfather told such a blatant lie with a straight face.

Becoming a member of the Music Association did indeed require an application and three city-level performances... but that was for ordinary people!

His grandfather was the President of the Conducting Division!

None of those steps were necessary at all!

Looking at the entire Music Association, which disciple of a division president—or even the disciple of a high-ranking member—had to undergo such assessments to get in?

He didn't understand why his grandfather insisted on deceiving this young girl, Gu Ci.

Gu Ci nodded, signaling that she understood. She then asked, "If I want to gain access to the ninth floor of the Music Association's library, what level of membership do I need?"

There were, after all, different levels of membership in the Music Association.

Hearing this, Qin Yunqi nearly choked on his own saliva.

Some people joined the Music Association and kept upgrading in pursuit of the ultimate musical art, while others joined for fame and profit...

But this was the first time he had ever heard of someone joining the Music Association just to read the books in the library!

Qin Yunqi couldn't help but say, "Little Sister Gu Ci, if you want to know something, you can just ask me or my grandfather. There's really no need to specifically go to the library..."

That was the ninth floor of the library...

Although it held countless musical treasures left behind by predecessors, the level required to enter was extremely high. Usually, the big shots only go there to browse and learn from the experience of their predecessors after reaching that level, not specifically to work toward that level just to get into the library...

His grandfather’s little apprentice was truly... unique.

Elder Qin, however, was overjoyed. Hearing Qin Yunqi’s comment, he glared at him. "What do you know, you brat? That place holds countless treasures left by those who came before us. Especially for a conductor, even just studying a portion of the materials would be incredibly beneficial—how can you and I compare to that? Gu, my girl, you are right to have the determination to go there and study. Don't you dare put any crooked ideas into her head!"

He didn't care why Gu Ci wanted to join the Association; as long as she was willing to work hard to learn conducting, that was all that mattered!

And the fact that Gu Ci immediately aimed for the ninth floor of the library was even more pleasing to the elder.

The ninth floor... even he, the division president, hadn't been able to go up there yet.