As the《Spring Sonata》concluded, the atmosphere boiled. Nearly every orchestra under the stage wanted to compete to get such an outstanding violinist. Of course, seeing that Bai Ai’s conductor was also on the stage, most of them couldn’t open their mouths but… asking in private should be okay, right?
“Qi Mu’s mentor is Reed Akkad. Say… Was it Mr. Akkad who invited Min Chen?”
“Mr. Akkad’s name is really big, ah. Such a perfect cooperation, they must have rehearsed countless times, right?”
“…..But I heard that Bai Ai was busy rehearsing lately?”
……
All kinds of discussion filled the air until the end of the assessment.
And the first place went to Qi Mu. With full marks, he was naturally worthy of the title, as he was the first student who has achieved that in the history of Paris’ National Conservatory of Music.
Even Akkad was surprised by the result, but he nodded with satisfaction.
If Akkad was surprised, then the students in the violin department were beyond shocked. Angelo, one of Min Chen’s fans, ran back to his violin room the moment Min Chen appeared and gathered his latest CD collection for an autograph.
As for his fans in the college orchestra, they were even crazier. Last time, they got Min Chen’s autograph from Qi Mu. And now… the actual person was right in front of them, what were they waiting for?!!!
And so, Qi Mu witnessed how the usually rough crowd suddenly turned into obedient sheep, greeting Min Chen one by one and expressing their love for his music.
Qi Mu didn’t know what to say.
Say… Some of you guys even forgot to introduce yourselves, you’re overexcited!
After the excited students collectively expressed their respect and love, the assessment finally came to an end. Hooke went backstage and invited Qi Mu to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, saying, “Oh, Seven, I didn’t expect to have this conversation with you a year ago!”
Qi Mu smiled and shook his hand, replying, “Long time no see, Mr. Hooke. It seems that it really has been a year… since we met in Hong Kong.”
“Yes, Seven. I’ll just say it out right. Mr. Boswell sent me to the Paris’ National Conservatory of Music in hopes that we’d gain an excellent violinist. Your skill is obvious, you’re our first pick. Furthermore, we have cooperated before and everyone in the orchestra is very fond of you.”
Hooke wore a straight expression as he spoke, not even sparing a glance at Min Chen. At his side, Min Chen looked down at the youth beside him, paying no attention to the bearded man.
Watching the two grown-up men ignoring each other, Qi Mu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
If not for the fact that he had witnessed how much Hooke adored Min Chen a year ago, Qi Mu would have thought that the man couldn’t stand him.
There were so many awkward tsunderes in the world. Having experience in dealing with the countless charming tsunderes, Qi Mu thought before politely answering, “Mr. Hooke, I really admire the members of the New York Philharmonic. I am very happy to cooperate with you, but at present, I have no plan to develop my career in the United States. I’m hoping to develop my career in Europe for a while.”
The words “for a while” wasn’t specific. It could be a month, a year, a decade, maybe even a lifetime. Qi Mu discreetly turned down the invitation.
Hooke was disappointed, hearing Qi Mu’s answer. When he sneaked a peek at the man standing beside the youth, he thought, Say… Is Seven going to Bai Ai? But no one’s quit or retired from Bai Ai, though!
Hooke couldn’t figure it out. After exchanging a few more words with Qi Mu, he went to where the major orchestras were gathering in Paris that night. Before he left, Qi Mu covertly put a paper bag in his hand, surprising him.
When he opened the bag, Hooke was moved to tears!
“Little Seven still remembers our agreement a year ago… Seven, you’re so kind! If I don’t bring you to our New York Philharmonic, my name is not Hooke!!!”
. . .
Was it only Min Chen’s latest album inside the brown paper bag? Not quite. In the top right corner of the album, there was also a name, written in dragon and phoenix-like strokes. Such beautiful Chinese cursive…
It’s that man’s signature, alright. No one else could imitate such writing.
But Hooke… Your idol was standing in front of you just now, yet, you ignored him, acting like you didn’t see him at all, right? Why didn’t you just say that you wanted his autograph…
That would be much more convenient!
The dark night obscured the pedestrians as the moon grew dimmer. The cold forced them to don thicker coats, and the ground was coated in a thin layer of frost. Winter was well on its way.
After saying goodbye to the other students, Qi Mu took his violin case and walked back to his apartment. It was only a kilometer away from the campus so he strode slowly, the man beside him following suit.
“So… Did Master Akkad already know you were coming to perform with me tonight?”
Being in public, Qi Mu was only about 20 cm apart from Min Chen. He had always been weak to the cold, so he swapped the hand that held his violin case with the free one which is always tucked into his pocket.
The corner of Min Chen’s lips curled up. Reaching out, he took the violin case from Qi Mu’s hand. Nodding, he said, “Yes, I told him the other day. He was against it at first, but… I was hoping to do something for your graduation, so he relented.” After a pause, Min Chen added, “Reed will announce that it was him who invited me and that it has nothing to do with you.”
With Reed Akkad as his mentor, even if Qi Mu did something shocking in the future, no one would be surprised. After all…
“This is Reed Akkad’s student!”
Qi Mu couldn’t help but chuckle. Nodding, he wondered aloud, “Wait a minute… Since you’ve made such a decision a long time ago, why didn’t you tell me? Right! During last night’s phone call, you said that you were going to rehearse with Bai Ai today and wouldn’t have the time to come to Paris!”
It was an obvious thing but it only crossed Qi Mu’s mind then.
Looking down at Qi Mu, Min Chen murmured, “Because… I wanted to surprise you.”
Qi Mu’s smile disappeared abruptly. Before he could speak, Min Chen frowned and added, “Christole thought you wouldn’t be surprised, but frightened. Hmm… Guess he was wrong.”
Qi Mu: “…”
I was frightened!
A pleasant surprise should be a small thing that could be ignored, okay!!!
No matter how slow they walked, it would never take them long to walk a kilometer. By the time they arrived at Qi Mu’s apartment, only a dozen minutes had passed. Looking up at Min Chen, Qi Mu reached for the violin case in his hand.
The youth’s fair complexion was as bright as the moonlight. His eyes glimmered in the darkness.
Sighing, Qi Mu said, “Bai Ai… Is very busy now, right? Every time you go to Paris, you have to go back on the same day.”
“The second half of our global tour has just started. We won’t have a holiday until mid December.” The man’s low, magnetic voice resounded in the corridor. Looking at the youth before him, he resisted the urge to hold him in his arms. “Qi Mu, be sure to visit Berlin more and… Look for me, okay?”
The words were simple, but his tone was weighted.
Qi Mu had been very busy during his time at college, and he couldn’t afford to take time off to go to Berlin. Once he graduated, though, he would have time. It would be no problem to stay in Berlin for quite a while.
But…
“I want to go to Vienna after graduation.” Qi Mu’s eyes dropped, not daring to look up at Min Chen’s reaction. “I will go to Berlin to see you, but I won’t be living there.”
Min Chen already knew it would happen, but it still hurt to hear.
However, Qi Mu’s next words stunned him to silence. “But… If I remember correctly, Vienna is closer to Berlin than Paris is, right? When I get my driver’s license and buy a car, I will go and visit you as often as I can.” After a slight pause, Qi Mu grimaced, “But later, don’t do anything like… Well, this surprise.”
When he spoke, his lips turned down, displeased. He was scared by one “surprise” after another. If his heart was weak, he would’ve had a heart attack onstage. But this man thought it was——
A! Pleasant! Surprise!
Seeing the young man being so difficult was such a rare sight that it made Min Chen’s lips curl.
Reaching for Qi Mu’s waist, Min Chen pulled him into his arms. Stepping forward, he covered Qi Mu’s figure under the shadow of the apartment’s stairs.
If any pedestrians passed, all they could see was the figure of a tall man holding his lover, his back facing the streets.
Who was this man!
Qi Mu coughed, his cheeks reddening. “There are a lot of people, be careful…”
Akkad didn’t want the public to know their relationship before Qi Mu made any accomplishments, so Qi Mu had to be very careful.
“They can’t see.”
Looking up, Qi Mu could only see Min Chen’s dark eyes and thin lips in the darkness.
Qi Mu stared at him in a daze. They hadn’t seen each other in two weeks. Feeling the warmth on his waist, Qi Mu sighed and roped his arms around the man, pulling him close.
“Before, I thought… Ten days, or even half a month of not seeing each other wasn’t that long.” The youth’s whisper rose to Min Chen’s ear, “But why… Do I miss you more every time I see you?”
As far as confessions went, Min Chen was wholeheartedly, completely floored. The tip of his ears burned red, and he managed to keep his expression calm. His voice, however, couldn’t cover his delight.
Hugging Qi Mu even more tightly, Min Chen murmured, “Um… I miss you, too… I love you even more, every time we meet.”
The emotions between them were thin and delicate, flowing like a stream of water. It wasn’t like a storm or a wave of the ocean. No, it was more like wine, growing more mellow and thick as time went on.
Qi Mu couldn’t stop himself from tilting his head up to kiss him.
He seldom took the initiative, but when they played 《Spring Sonata》 together, Qi Mu felt as if his soul merged with Min Chen’s.
With every breath he took, he could feel his lover’s heartbeat. It was as if their spirits intersected. Their souls moved in a dance, finally reaching its peak.
No one else… Could understand his music better than this man.
Just like no one else would make him feel this deeply in love.
The kiss lasted for only a few seconds, ending with them nestling deeper into each other’s arms. In the streets of Paris, the capital of romance, this sight was common. Pedestrians didn’t even bat an eye.
Gasping, they dipped forward again, their lips meeting in the shadow of night.
Seeing Qi Mu’s lips a brilliant red, Min Chen’s eyes darkened. He had to catch a flight in an hour, but… He didn’t want to leave!
The man’s hand caressed Qi Mu’s chest, but the youth shook his head, stopping him. “Tomorrow… Bai Ai has a rehearsal. Min Chen… You don’t have time.”
The words left Min Chen at a loss, but Qi Mu raised his head and whispered, “I love you, Min Chen… When your tour arrives in Vienna, I want to… be in your piano room and listen to you playing it for me.”
Min Chen’s stern eyes widened suddenly as he realized…
What the youth was saying!
Seeing Qi Mu’s light pupils stained with lust, Min Chen gave Qi Mu another poignant look
With only each other in their eyes, the pair didn’t notice….
Across the street, a tall Swissman with eyes wide open in shock exclaimed, “Oh my God! Is that… Umph…”
Before Dylan could shout, a hand was slapped over his mouth. Turning around, he found himself face to face with Reed Akkad. With a cold expression, the maestro ordered, “No shouting, young man. You get that!?”
Dylan quickly nodded. When he looked back across the street, the two men were talking normally, giving their final exchanges before parting.
Looking at his beloved, lovely student… and the vicious devil, Akkad’s head shook, as if saying, “Those two… are a match made in heaven.”
Dylan nodded. “Yes, Little Seven and Mr. Bertram… are a great match.”
The young man bid farewell to his lover under the soft moonlight.
Watching Qi Mu’s figure disappear in the corridor, Min Chen’s face turned blank. Frowning, he whispered, “《The Twilight…under the Moonlight》?”
《The Twilight under the Moonlight》。
It was then did those words emerge in the world for the first time.
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