Chapter 68
Europeans have always been the type to be calm and enjoy the silence, to dislike disturbing the peace and quiet . This manifested even in Parisians . Paris was quiet and empty in the night . Only the rustle of leaves could be heard after dark, making the entire city melodious .
From the college to Qi Mu’s apartment, it was only two blocks . It was pretty close, but right now, Qi Mu felt it was a long ways away . He walked side by side with this man who, for some reason, suddenly appeared in Paris, and it slowed his pace .
Qi Mu wanted to ask why he was here, but he remembered . . . in their texts the past few days, he had mentioned he didn’t need to be present at the next two concerts .
So . . . if he wanted to travel Europe, he was free to do so now?
Qi Mu didn’t know what to say, so he looked ahead at the road lit by the moon .
The first rain of spring had fallen a few days ago, and the temperature wasn’t that low in the evenings, but Qi Mu still wore an extra scarf——
He had always been afraid of the cold .
“Spring in Paris has always been good,” The man’s voice rang out in the quiet street, and Qi Mu turned to look at him in surprise . Min Chen tilted his head up a little to look at the dim moon and whispered, “I like the spring in here, it’s quieter than in Berlin . ”
This kind of conversation confused Qi Mu . After thinking for a while, he came to an epiphany, “So . . . you came to Paris for this?”
Min Chen calmly nodded in affirmation: “Yes . ”
Qi Mu laughed, “I’ve never seen spring in Berlin, I don’t know what it’s like . ”
Although there was a faint smile on his face, Qi Mu thought inwardly: So he came to Paris for spring . For a second there . . . I thought he came looking for me .
There was a smile in Min Chen’s dark eyes . He nodded and blackened his industrial city without hesitation, “In Berlin, the air is terrible this time of year . Un . . . not as good as Paris . ”
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Qi Mu had never been to Berlin during spring before, so he nodded along, “I see . . . ”
Min Chen nodded, “That’s right . ”
. . . You’re going to get slaughtered by all the Berliners!
“I think spring in London is too . Right, speaking of London, I heard Bai Ai’s concert was a success . I saw 《Classical Paris》’s review and the special introduction by the 《Voice of France》 . . . ”
Once he changed the topic, the awkward atmosphere faded a bit .
When they arrived downstairs at Qi Mu’s apartment, he felt as if the time had passed too quickly and he hadn’t gotten the chance to talk much . But, looking at the time, it was quite late . He laughed and waved his hand, “Since we’re both in Paris, we can contact each other more . ”
Min Chen tucked both hands into the pockets of his trench coat and nodded, “yeah, good night . ”
Qi Mu smiled, “Be careful on your way back . ”
The bright moon overhead was slowly covered by a dark cloud, and only two or three pedestrians walked the narrow street . The beautiful young man smiled and after saying a few more words turned and went into the building . The other man watched him go upstairs but still didn’t leave right away .
Min Chen tilted his head up and watched the window of Qi Mu’s room in silence . The lights flickered on inside, and the darkness just outside was lit up as well .
He himself didn’t know why . . . he had suddenly come to Paris .
He remembered wanting to know what Qi Mu had been doing all this time, so he rushed over to find the answer . But in that dark corridor, when he saw the youth’s slender back, he felt as if “finding the answer” was no longer important .
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At first, he had found the younger man’s violin a little familiar, so he paid special attention to him .
Later, he found out Qi Mu’s sound was identical to that man, so he devoted all his attention to this strange anomaly .
When, in fact, before last year, Min Chen didn’t even know the person he had spent years looking for . . . was called Lu Zi Wen .
The seemingly insignificant help he received from that person in his childhood was engraved deeply in his heart . When he finally found him, he was surprised to learn the other man had already become the deputy concertmaster for the Vienna Symphony Orchestra . So Min Chen decided to——
Give him a hand .
He recommended Lu Zi Wen to Mr . Dorenza and helped him with that grand performance with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra .
But before he could even think of what to say when they met, it became impossible . Then, he met someone with the exact same violin as Lu Zi Wen . . .
Qi Mu .
There were a lot of thoughts in Min Chen’s head, but on the surface, he still wore an indifferent expression . He looked at the bright window overhead and wondered how long it had been, then abruptly turned and disappeared into the dark alley .
When Qi Mu woke up the next day, he went downstairs with his violin and saw a familiar figure . He froze for a moment then walked over and smiled, “Min Chen? What a coincidence?”
Min Chen shook his head under the warm sunshine of that spring morning, “Unfortunately not, I was waiting for you . ”
Qi Mu: “ . . . ”
Min Chen didn’t seem to notice his speechlessness and raised his left hand to look at his watch . “It’ll be 8 o’clock in thirty minutes . If you don’t go now . . . won’t you be late?”
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Qi Mu still didn’t know why he was at his apartment, but he did know he needed to get going . He walked while he spoke, “It’s alright . Professor Akkad is in the United States for an event . He won’t be back for another few days . It doesn’t matter if I’m a little late . ”
It only took ten minutes to get to the conservatory, but Qi Mu had to get breakfast, so it naturally took more time . His pace was quick as he went, but he didn’t expect Min Chen to follow him all the way there .
Qi Mu smiled as he received the bread from the baker uncle then walked alongside the German conductor . “Min Chen, did you come to find me for something today? I’ve been busy with the assignment Teacher gave me, so I don’t have much time . ” Qi Mu suddenly remembered, “That’s right, have you had breakfast yet? Want some?”
Min Chen self-consciously took a croissant from the box in Qi Mu’s hand and took a bite . “It’s still Paganini’s 《No . 24》?”
Qi Mu nodded, “Yes . Teacher gave me two weeks, but . . . it’s already been a week, and I haven’t gotten the whole song down . ”
As they talked, they passed a flower shop . The blonde florist handed a sunflower she had cut just that morning to Qi Mu and glanced at Min Chen . In a furtive whisper, she asked, “Seven . . . who is this? Your friend?”
Qi Mu turned the sunflower to one side, and his lips quirked up into a gentle smile, “Yes, he’s my friend, Vina . ”
The young girl looked at Min Chen shyly for a few moments then smiled and handed him another sunflower, one that had just bloomed .
Min Chen took the flower in surprise, but Qi Mu had already exchanged a few words with the girl and stepped away towards the college . He explained, “Vina has the mentality of a seven-year-old girl, but she’s very kind . ”
“Un, she’s cute . ”
Qi Mu smiled, “She will only give flowers to the people she likes . It looks like she likes you a lot . ”
This stunned Min Chen, and his steps halted . “Then she . . . also likes you a lot . ”
Qi Mu laughed and didn’t continue chasing the topic . “By the way, do you have business with the college? I might be busy, but if you need someone to show you the way, I can ask Dylan . Dylan is a Swiss violinist who practices next door . He’s studying now, but he practiced the piano for a long time . You’re his idol . ”
The piano department was well known throughout the world . And most of these privileged people respected Auston Bertram highly, in other words . . . Min Chen .
Min Chen, who was only 31 this year, already stood at the top of the piano world . When he served as a judge at Xiao Sai several years ago, countless young pianists jumped at the chance to sign up, and it made quite the splash .
“I have nothing to do . I just wanted to come take a look . I can listen to your 《No . 24》 . . . at the same time . ”
Min Chen’s plain tone made Qi Mu turn to look at him again . The man stared straight ahead, calm, like the man really was just going to wander around and listen to him play .
A strange thought flashed through Qi Mu’s mind, but before he could discern what it was, it disappeared without a trace .
He didn’t think too much about it . Qi Mu smiled, his eyes forming into crescents . “Oh? You want to hear . . . my 《No . 24》?”
Min Chen raised an eyebrow when he saw the young man’s “bad” smile . “Um? Yes?”
“Well . . . then you must give me more advice!”
Min Chen: “ . . . ?”
Qi Mu was not stupid .
Since he wanted to listen to his violin so much, then . . . he can also give a few pointers .
Really, it’s killing two birds with one stone .