Chapter 93
A professor’s lounge was kept to a high standard, always comfortable and spacious . It was especially so for Akkad’s, which was well-lit and elegantly decorated .
Before Akkad took the lounge, the college had already prepared almost everything, including a safe with a double lock . Of course, Akkad had also brought his things over, such as . . .
A beautiful record player .
Pathe was a famous record player brand from Britain . From the first rough-grained phonograph to the Compact LP type with 33 RPM, the century-old brand witnessed the history of record player development . It was one of the oldest brands in Europe .
The record player in the lounge was designed for Akkad during Pathe’s centennial celebration a few years earlier . The name “Reed Akkad” was engraved on the arm .
When Qi Mu first met Akkad, he was attracted to the elegant record player . Records were the best medium to preserve the quality of symphony music . In the classical music industry, most chose to record with black vinyl if there was no cost-calculation .
While Qi Mu took the record from the safe, Farrell prepared the record player . When Qi Mu entrusted the album to him, Farrell asked, “Where did you get such a beautiful record, Angel?”
Qi Mu didn’t keep any secrets . “Min Chen gave me this record, Master Farrell, when I was in Vienna . He recorded some of Liszt’s works such as 《Danse Macabre》 and 《Reminiscences de Norma》 . ”
Farrell was stunned . He carefully placed the record on the player and said, “Oh, it was Auston’s . . . Angel, Auston is very kind to you . He rarely records his playing and seldom releases albums . ”
Qi Mu nodded unequivocally .
He knew Min Chen seldom released albums . He only owned one Chopin Complete Works and Beethoven’s Selection in his last life . So, when Min Chen gave him the record, he was astonished . If he hadn’t been so busy for the past few months and had a record player, he would have listened to this record over and over again .
Qi Mu smiled . “As far as albums go . . . Min Chen doesn’t record much, but, Mr . Farrell, I’ve listened to all his albums on the market . I think they’re great . ”
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Farrell completed the last of the preparations and looked at the young man . Qi Mu called Auston by his actual name . He chuckled and shook his head, convincing himself that, “Young people are like that, they must be closer to each other than older people . ”
“Well, Angel, look at the time . . . We might as well listen to the record, haha!”
Qi Mu nodded, and Farrell lowered the needle onto the record .
The record buzzed as it turned . Qi Mu sat on the bench next to the record player and waited for the music to start . Farrell sat a little farther away, enjoying it leisurely .
Few could surpass Auston Bertram’s piano . Even Farrell didn’t mind enjoying his music and readily agreed to it . Of course, it would be better if he had another cup of coffee .
After a brief silence, a beautiful gliding melody rang out . It was Liszt’s 《Danse Macabre》 .
It seemed like the pianist played five variations, but from the fast dance music, Qi Mu could feel the speed and intensity of its rhythm . Because he had seen Min Chen playing it half a month ago, when he heard it now, the scene played out again in front of his eyes .
Farrell was also delighted . He tapped his fingers along with the rhythm, and his smiling expression was full of praise——
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Dresden Symphony Orchestra were the best orchestras in Germany . In recent years, the former had widened the gap . Although he didn’t want to, Farrell had to admit it was Min Chen and Christole who created such a miracle .
Min Chen’s contribution was more apparent . At least in Dresden, no one could play such a beautiful and moving 《Danse Macabre》 .
After 《Danse Macabre》 ended, 《Grand Galop Chromatique》immediately began to play . Then, there were 《Rigoletto》, 《Reminiscences de Don Juan》, 《Hungarian Rhapsody No . 3 and No . 7》 . By the end of 《Reminiscences de Norma》, Qi Mu was immersed in the world of piano sonatas, unable to shake himself free .
Liszt wasn’t crowned the King of Hungarian Piano for show . Like him, there was no mistake when Min Chen was touted as the King of Contemporary Piano .
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Although Qi Mu couldn’t hear Liszt since he lived and died over a hundred years ago, he believed the magnificent piano he listened to now would not lose . It might even be . . . comparable .
After 30 seconds of silence, Qi Mu said, “Maybe it’s over . Mr . Farrell, is it okay to just lift the needle and turn the record over?”
Two meters away, Farrell nodded and whispered, “Right, Angel . You just need to turn it over . ”
Qi Mu tilted his head . His fingers gently pinched the silver-white arm of the needle, ready to lift it, when he heard a low, magnetic voice: “Qi Mu?”
Qi Mu paused, his eyes wide . He looked at the black record, still playing static incredulously . He couldn’t respond to what he had just heard .
Farrell raised his eyebrows . “Hey? Did Auston speak on top of recording? What language is that? Was it Chinese? Was that Angel’s name?”
Without giving them time to react, the voice spoke again .
“Qi Mu . ” The man repeated, carefully, solemnly .
Qi Mu’s hand on the record player’s arm froze . He returned to his senses but still couldn’t figure out what was going on .
Why did Min Chen record his voice? Why did he keep repeating his name . . . ?
A strange emotion surged in his heart, and Qi Mu’s fingers clenched . He almost understood, but it quickly escaped his grasp .
Qi Mu didn’t realize it was this hesitation that prevented him from stopping the record .
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“Qi Mu . . . ”
“I like you . ”
The young man’s eyes widened . He instinctively lifted the arm and removed the needle from the record . In his two seconds of hesitation, the pleasant voice already reverberated in the lounge . Farrell heard it clearly .
Even if it was in Chinese, Farrell had been to Huaxia more times than he could count in the past 40 or 50 years of his music career . He couldn’t understand complicated words after such a long time, but he could speak simple greetings like “Hello” and “Good Morning . ”
And among what he understood . . .
The phrase that expressed love in such a simple sentence——
『I like you . 』
The maestro, who was always gentle and ever-steady, looked at the youth beside the record player in a daze . After a long while, he asked, “ . . . Angel . . . That, what Auston said . . . Does he like you?”
The young man before him had his head tilted down . He turned his face toward the wall .
From that angle, Farrell couldn’t see that the young man’s eyebrows were knitted and his lips were pursed . But, his ears were red, almost dripping blood . The blush spread to his cheeks until his whole face was scarlet .
Qi Mu’s heart pounded in his chest, his face burned and his fingers trembled as he moved the record player’s arm away .
The whole world was covered in a veil, and his ears felt waterlogged . Even Farrell’s voice seemed far away . The only thing he heard——
『I like you . 』
It echoed in his ears .
This . . . What the . . . What the heck was going on?!
Just now . . . What he heard just now . . . What exactly was that?!
Qi Mu kept trying to hypnotize himself . Though, there was no way he could have misheard at such a close distance, not with his ears .
Farrell’s exclamation fished him out of his thoughts .
“Good heavens! Reed!!! Auston confessed to Angel!!!”
In an instant, the 【Little Angel’s Violin Room】 group chat exploded .
Min Chen: 【 . . . 】
Daniel: 【Ah?!!!!!】
Daniel: 【Ah?!!!!!】
Reed: 【Damn it, Auston!!! You really eyed my lovely student!!! You devil!!!】