Chapter 136
Entering November, the air in Vienna was chilly and bleak . Where London and Paris had warm, humid sea breezes, Vienna was landlocked . With such cold, dry air, the temperature plummeted as soon as night fell .
Holding his violin case in his right hand, Qi Mu pulled his sleeves down to his fingers, scarcely keeping them from being frozen by the cold .
When Qi Mu received a phone call from the man, his low voice already carried a hint of hoarseness from the wind . “Min Chen . ”
Min Chen frowned . “Have you caught a cold?”
Perhaps because he also thought his throat was sore, Qi Mu was planning to take a cab home instead of the subway . But for some reason, no taxi stopped for him, even though he stood by the street for a long time .
Qi Mu coughed softly, trying to moisten his throat . His voice turning more normal, he said, “En, it seems to be getting colder . Everyone in the orchestra attended tonight’s party and we ended it a bit late, I might’ve caught a slight cold . ”
Worry flickered through the man’s voice . “Go back early and keep yourself warm . There’s a convenience store just a block away from the apartment . You can buy some ginger and boil it in a tea to drink . ”
Finally, after great difficulty, Qi Mu managed to hail a cab . Quickly getting in, he smiled and said, “En, it’s nothing big . A little cold, at most . The season just changed, so it’s normal to catch a cold . A few people in the orchestra have already caught colds, so don’t worry so much . ”
“…But, I will still worry . ”
The voice was low and mellow, yet it rang like a bell in Qi Mu’s heart, stunning him .
It took him quite a while to give the driver his address . When he spoke again, he unconsciously softened his voice, “En, I know . I’ll take good care of myself . ”
Even so, the man on the phone was still dissatisfied . “I’m in Japan now, about to board the flight to S City . We will perform at the S City Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall tomorrow . Do you want me to bring you anything? I’ll be staying in Huaxia for three days, so it’s no problem . ”
After thinking for a moment, Qi Mu said, “I don’t think I need anything . But please send my regards to Uncle Zhu and Auntie Cheng of the S City Symphony Orchestra . ”
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“Okay . ”
Qi Mu barely spoke again in the next 20 minutes, as the domineering man told him that he should not speak when his throat was uncomfortable . Reduced to only “Yes” and “Okay” as responses, the youth’s voice softly rang in the quiet taxi . The most he spoke was just two words——
“No thanks . ”
After Qi Mu paid the fare and left the cab, the man realized, “I just remembered… There should be a car in the underground garage . You can use it . The key is in the second drawer by the door . ”
Entering the apartment, Qi Mu sighed as the warm air blew over him . He pressed the elevator button to the top floor, then said, “You forgot, I don’t have a driver’s license yet . I’ve been busy ever since I came to Europe so I couldn’t find the time to take the test . ”
Min Chen was silent for a beat before saying, “I will ask Daniel to find a driver for you . ”
Qi Mu: “…”
Trying to fight off his laughter, Qi Mu said, “Don’t be ridiculous . Vienna isn’t that big, I don’t need a driver . ” To prevent the man from saying anything else, Qi Mu rattled the keys in his hand and added, “I have to hang up, going to open the door . ”
Hearing the words “hang up”, Min Chen was at a loss . With a trace of disappointment in his tone, he said, “I have to catch my flight too . ” It was easy to hear his dissatisfaction .
Qi Mu looked up, thinking before he spoke . “If I remember correctly… S City is your third-to-last location for this tour, right? The second-to-last stop is… Vienna?”
“Yes . ”
The man’s mellow voice was like a cello reverberating in the quiet doorway as Qi Mu closed the door . In the rich darkness, Qi Mu was in no hurry to move . He smiled and said, “We haven’t seen each other for a long time, Min Chen . I miss you very much . ”
After a good while, the man said, “I miss you, too . ”
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Even though the bustling airport was so loud, the words “I miss you, too” filled Qi Mu with joy . For him, it was the best sound he had heard in his life .
He still didn’t turn on the light . Standing in the dark and leaning against the mahogany door, he said, “Practicing alone in the piano room these days… I always thought that the piano room was too big . It’s too lonely for just one person . ”
“Four days left . ”
Qi Mu smiled and nodded . “En, four days left… Then you will be back?”
“I owe you a concert . ”
“Yes… You owe me a concert . ”
Neither of them spoke again after that . Only when Qi Mu heard Daniel calling Min Chen in the background, did he remember that the man was currently about to board the plane .
Feeling an impulse, Qi Mu said, “…Come back soon . ”
Not expecting his words, Min Chen was silent for a beat before saying, “I will . ”
After hanging up the phone, Qi Mu leaned back against the door and looked up at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts . The ceiling was just like the room, painted in simple black and white with smooth lines to outline the modern style of the Bauhaus .
Such a style was really like that man . Always so simple and elegant, and no extra words are needed . A simple “I miss you” was enough to make Qi Mu’s heart beat faster .
He stayed like that for a long time, before turning on the light and taking a shower .
The apartment… was really big . Perhaps, with one more person, it might feel a little smaller .
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Just as he was about to flip the switch on the lamp before going to sleep, Qi Mu froze . “It’s already been… two months since I last saw him?”
The soft sight of the young man reverberated in the quiet room, full of wonder .
While Qi Mu was sleeping peacefully, the members of Bai Ai were stepping foot into Huaxia, ready to start their third-from-last performance of the year .
On the other side of Vienna, Evra looked at a gossip column in a tabloid . His study was silent as he was lost in thought .
“…Luo Yu Sen and… Zayev?!”
Although the old man kept up with current affairs, he liked to spend his free time in the evening reading newspapers, especially those about music .
Vienna had a very strong musical atmosphere . It was difficult to find an entertainment newspaper in the newsstand, but if he wanted to find a classical music newspaper… They had them by the dozen .
Each day, Evra read seven to eight newspapers . From the most widely distributed one, to this humble one . If he wasn’t paying attention, he would have missed this small news .
Before reading the report, Evra never would have connected Luo Yu Sen with Zayev .
Never .
One was Wei Ai’s concertmaster, while the other was the second violin group’s deputy chief . The two shouldn’t have any connection with each other, let alone… With Evra’s understanding of Zayev, he was not a guy who likes to mingle with young people .
In the spacious study, a lone yellow light shone dimly . The gray-haired old man had already taken off his conductor suit . In his pajamas, Evra looked like a grandfather next door .
His fingers clenched the newspaper tightly, forming countless creases in the paper . After thinking for a long time, Evra took off his glasses and rubbed his temples .
Although he was old, his mind was still active . It hadn’t dulled at all .
After a brief hesitation, he decisively made a phone call .
When he heard the surprise from the other end of the line, he sighed heavily and said, “Dorenza, yes, it’s me, Evra . There’s a thing… I need to tell you face-to-face… Yes, it’s hard to say it on the phone, I have to see you in person… Do you have time tomorrow afternoon? Okay, I’ll go to your orchestra . What’s going on? Well, in fact… It has something to do with a letter I received…”
Alone study, Evra made an appointment with Dorenza .
He realized the truth, the hidden truth behind everything . It was very complicated but the truth was…
He couldn’t believe it .
“Maybe… I have to ask Dorenza . Alas…”
His heavy sigh was trapped in the study . When Evra got up and left, he flipped off the light, watching as the room darkened . The darkness swallowed every secret hidden inside the space .
But… Evra didn’t intend to keep the secrets buried forever .
When a life was involved, especially a young one, it was impossible to ignore .
Translator(s): Kuro
TL Check: Teo
Editor(s): Empress
Proofer(s): Ayn