Chapter 84 Melody Music Store (Please keep reading)

The next day, Fang Xing led his team in rehearsing for the group’s sprint song for the Night. Li Caiwei had also joined the training camp, beginning to practice alongside the group. While Fang Xing was leisurely guiding the rehearsal for the competition piece, the Zhiyin Music House in Donghai City welcomed a guest.

After receiving the business card from Zhiyin Music House, Lu Xiang’er had been hesitating about whether to bring her violin in for repair. She deliberated for several days, and it was only on the weekend that she found the courage to sling her violin over her shoulder, take a taxi to Donghai World Trade Center, and locate the music house.

Zhiyin Music House was quite sizable, with a storefront occupying a hundred and twenty square meters in the World Trade Center. Stepping inside, Lu Xiang’er was immediately captivated by the array of instruments on display. Having studied violin since childhood, she was familiar with many instruments and could tell that the music house sold only high-end pieces.

Their main business was violins, both large and small, pianos, and guitars. Yet, Lu Xiang’er could see at a glance that their finest instruments were the violins. All the violins here were handcrafted and of considerable quality.

A sales assistant approached and welcomed her, “Please feel free to look around. If you have any questions, just ask.”

Lu Xiang’er gestured toward the instruments in the store and asked, “May I try them?”

The assistant smiled, “Except for wind instruments, anything displayed outside is available for sound testing.”

Her eyes sparkling, Lu Xiang’er ran her fingers over a piano, pressing a few keys to play a light, cheerful melody. Though she had never formally studied piano, she had sheet music in her mind and could easily play a few simple tunes. The piano produced a delightful tone.

Having satisfied her curiosity, she turned to the assistant and asked, “I’d like to speak with your boss.”

The assistant made a welcoming gesture toward the counter, “You’re in luck, our boss is here today.”

Lu Xiang’er, violin slung over her shoulder, walked to the white porcelain counter and greeted the young man lounging in a swivel chair, engrossed in his phone, “Hello.”

He looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six, dressed in a casual T-shirt. Hearing her voice, he set his phone aside and glanced out; upon seeing the delicate young girl, his eyes immediately brightened.

He stood up, smoothed his bangs, and asked, “What can I do for you, miss?”

“Hello, I heard you repair violins here, so I’d like you to take a look at mine,” Lu Xiang’er said, removing her violin case, unzipping it, and carefully taking out the instrument.

The scroll was broken, but the rest of the violin remained intact.

The young man put on a serious expression, examined the broken scroll, and said, “Even if we fix it, the tone will change. I’d recommend you buy another one. We have many violins here far better than yours. And since you’re so cute, I’ll give you half off.”

Lu Xiang’er shook her head, “I just want it fixed.”

He set the scroll down and replied, “We don’t do repairs here.”

Lu Xiang’er frowned, handing him the business card, “But someone gave me this and told me to come here for repairs.”

He took the card, his face showing surprise, “Huh… This is my grandfather’s name, but he retired years ago, and we’ve never issued cards like this. Who gave it to you? Are you sure you weren’t tricked?”

“I don’t think so…” Lu Xiang’er looked lost, then produced a slip of paper, “He also left me a phone number.”

The young man glanced at the note and suggested, “You’d better call and make sure. He could be scamming you—little girls like you are easy marks.”

Lu Xiang’er’s brows knitted in worry. She wanted to go straight home, but seeing her broken violin, she braced herself, took out her phone, and dialed:

“Hello, this is Lu Xiang’er. I’m at Zhiyin Music House, but they said they don’t repair violins.”

“Wait there, I’ll come and ask for you.”

Fang Xing’s rehearsal had gone well; after practicing most of the day, the team was tired. After receiving the call, he sent everyone home to rest and took a taxi to Donghai World Trade Center.

…

The young owner of Zhiyin Music House grinned, “Well, did you get scammed for being so naive?”

Lu Xiang’er shook her head, “He said he’d come help me ask.”

“What’s there to ask? I’m the owner here—I know everything that goes on. We don’t take repair jobs.” He turned to the assistant, “Bring over the Hua Mingquan violin and show it to this young lady.”

“No… that’s not necessary…” Lu Xiang’er tried to refuse.

She was here to repair her violin, not to buy one.

“It’s fine, take a look. I guarantee you’ll like it. Hua Mingquan is one of the country’s top luthiers—you’ll know its quality as soon as you play it.” The young owner’s face was full of enthusiasm.

Once a violin reaches the level of handcraftsmanship, the brand no longer matters—only the maker’s name. In fact, a handmade violin is an artwork. Some world-renowned luthiers may produce only a hundred or so pieces in their lifetime.

If it’s a peak-period piece, the price has no ceiling; it depends solely on the final auction value.

Of course, not every luthier’s handmade violin is so expensive. A regular luthier’s work can be had for ten thousand yuan. If you’re not chasing perfection, that level is already excellent.

Soon, the sales assistant retrieved the Hua Mingquan handmade violin from the glass cabinet, carrying it gently with both hands and laying it on a velvet cloth atop the counter.

The young owner arched his brow, “Try it—guaranteed you’ll like it.”

Lu Xiang’er gazed at the violin with stars in her eyes. It was the feeling of an angler seeing a top-tier rod, or a racer spotting a modified car—she might not intend to buy, but would still want to touch it.

“May I really try it?” she asked cautiously.

Violins could be outrageously expensive—if she damaged it, that would be a disaster.

“Of course, try it as you wish. You can even borrow it for a few days,” the young owner said generously.

Lu Xiang’er carefully picked up the Hua Mingquan violin and examined it closely.

The young owner came out from behind the counter and beckoned her, “Come try it here.”

He sat down at a pure white piano, tapped the keys, and played a string of notes.

The melody was unmistakably the prelude to “Nocturne.”

He asked, “Have you heard this piece? It’s really popular right now.”

Lu Xiang’er nodded, lips pressed together, “I’ve heard it.”

He became more interested, “Let me tell you, this song is everywhere right now. I scroll through DouM short videos, and see it every day.

“And you know, it’s genuinely good—even the prelude sounds great.

“There’s a new arranged version, too. Have you checked the Music Trend Chart? It’s reached number five on the Hot Songs list, going head-to-head with Wu Junchen’s new release.

“The fans’ taste is another story—those who know, know.

“We’re artists ourselves; just from the prelude, we can tell which song shines.

“You can play this too, right? Let’s try a duet.

“If it sounds good, we’ll record a short video for DouM—maybe we’ll go viral too.”

He straightened his imaginary suit, cleared his throat, and proposed, “How about it? Let’s give it a try; I’m sure it’ll be music to our ears.”

Lu Xiang’er felt uneasy about performing with a stranger, but was eager to test the sound of the Hua Mingquan violin. The craftsmanship was evident in every detail; it was a work of true artistry.