King of Classical Music 196

Qi Mu laid on the bed for a long time after waking up before checking the clock hanging on the opposite wall. At 11 o’clock, he finally opened his eyes and got up to dress. 

Qi Mu hadn’t slept so deeply in years. Living alone, he had so much to worry about. It was a little easier, in his last life, when his adoptive parents were still alive. But, when he attended Geneva College, Qi Mu was exhausted by school, work, and his living expenses. 

In this life, he had only been a member of Wei Ai for five months. He was still a newcomer and had plenty of things to work on. 

As soon as Qi Mu left the room, he spotted the tall, handsome man sitting at the table, looking down at a music score.

Qi Mu walked over curiously, only to find half the score blank. 

In the middle of Berlin’s late Spring and early Summer, it was already hot. Qi Mu walked out wearing only a thin shirt. Maybe the carpet was too soft, or maybe Qi Mu had unconsciously lightened his steps, but despite his excellent ear, Min Chen was absorbed in the score and didn’t notice his arrival. 

It was rare for him to let down his defenses. Qi Mu smiled. He stood behind him without saying a thing and looked down at the score. 

At first, he simply wanted to see what the tune was, but when he saw the third line, he couldn’t help humming. 

The youth’s quiet, pleasant voice echoed in the empty room. The tune itself was gentle, but seemed even softer from his lips. The next second, the bang of the thick score snapping shut filled the air. 

Qi Mu: “…” 

Min Chen: “…” 

After a long time, the handsome man explained, “I haven’t finished this piece. There are many things that need to be revised.” 

Qi Mu: “…” 

It’s half empty, how could it be finished!

As if feeling that what he said wasn’t enough, Min Chen added, “It’s very bad.” 

After a moment of speechlessness, Qi Mu sighed and pulled up a chair to sit. “You really begin to dislike your own piece just so I won’t watch you write it? Is it really no problem to hurt yourself that much?” 

Min Chen: “…” 

Qi Mu couldn’t help laughing at the other party’s awkward “I wouldn’t show you anyway” stare. Since Min Chen didn’t want him to see it for the time being, he naturally had his reasons. Qi Mu wouldn’t force it. After thinking about it, he asked, “Why didn’t you go to Bai Ai today? Is it a holiday?” 

Collecting his music score, Min Chen nodded, “Well, I needed to go this morning. I’ll have Daniel take full responsibility.” After a pause, Min Chen looked up to see Qi Mu peeking at the score. 

Caught in the act, Qi Mu helplessly spread his palms and said, “Okay, okay, I really won’t look. I’ll swear in the name of Paganini, shall I?” As he asked, he lifted his hand and swore.

After thinking for a long time, Min Chen reluctantly answered, “Um.” 

The two had a simple lunch, then Min Chen secretly sequestered the score away while they cleaned the dishes and chopsticks. Just as Qi Mu was putting a white porcelain bowl into the disinfection cabinet, Min Chen asked, “How long is your vacation?” 

Qi Mu was taken aback, then subconsciously replied, “I have about three days before I have to go back. There’s something on Wei Ai’s side that I have to discuss with Mr. Dorenza, so I can’t be gone for too long.” 

After thinking for a moment, just when Qi Mu began to suspect he’d been asking casually, Min Chen said, “I bought a plane ticket for this afternoon. It’ll be a three day trip.” His tone was light, his voice flowed without inflection as though he were discussing what to eat for dinner. 

Qi Mu: “… I don’t have a change of clothes?” 

Min Chen: “Wear mine.” 

Qi Mu: “… I don’t seem to have much cash.” 

Min Chen: “Swipe my card.” 

Qi Mu: “… I only have three days off…” 

Min Chen: “That’s enough time.” 

Qi Mu: “…” 

After a long time, Qi Mu sighed and smiled helplessly. “Excuse me, Mr. Min, do I have any reason to refuse you?” 

Min Chen raised his eyebrow and said, “You don’t want to go out, you just want to spend… three beautiful days with me… in the… apartment… cough…” 

After a blow to the man’s chest, the beautiful young man’s lips curled into a brilliant, sly smile. “I don’t mind having you in some special way… You won’t go out for three days.” 

Min Chen, who had flirted too much: “…” 

When the two packed up their simple luggage and planned to leave, Qi Mu casually let the man who put forward the “bad idea” carry the heavy luggage, while he walked in front. When they arrived at the airport, Qi Mu asked, “So, where are we going?” Qi Mu pressed against the seatbelt fastened to his body. 

Several cars were already parked in the Tagore Airport’s parking lot. Even in a large international airport, the lot was dimly lit and so empty that no one could be seen. 

Min Chen pulled out the key and paused. “Geneva.” 

This answer went beyond Qi Mu’s expectation. His eyes widened in surprise. “Geneva?!” 

His raised voice filled the quiet car. The excellent sound insulation prevented his voice from traveling, but it made Min Chen’s lips curl slightly upwards as he looked at him. 

In the dim light, the man’s handsome face grew more three-dimensional. Qi Mu’s surprised expression fell into those deep eyes and Min Chen smiled. “Well, we’re going to Geneva because… I want to hear the bell ring at Geneva College. I want to see the swan named Nanali by the lake in Swan Square. I want to know where my lover once lived. I want to… walk with him in every corner he once walked.” 

The low, magnetic male voice echoed in the quiet car. When he heard “hear the bell ring”, Qi Mu didn’t know how to describe how he felt. When Min Chen reached the last word, he was already smiling, feeling happy and helpless inside. 

After thinking for a moment, he said, “You want to walk through every corner with me? There must be no less bridge holes in Vienna, ah!” 

Min Chen: “… Bridge… holes?” 

Qi Mu nodded. “Yes, under the small bridge on Stark Avenue. When I first arrived in Vienna, I hadn’t found a house to rent, and it wasn’t time for my appointment with Wei Jiao, so I had to sleep in a bridge hole first. Well, it was late Autumn then, right? We don’t need to go back in Autumn. It’s too cold. But, right now it would be fine to lie in a bridge hole for the night.” 

Min Chen: “!!!!”

“Pffft, okay, okay, I was just joking with you. That small bridge was demolished a few years ago, anyway.” He breathed a heavy sigh of relief. The next second, Min Chen looked at Qi Mu seriously and said, “I’m going to the bridge hole.” 

Qi Mu: “?”

“I want to go everywhere you’ve been.” 

Qi Mu: “… Would you dare to say that before I told you the bridge hole was demolished?” 

Min Chen: “I wouldn’t dare.” 

Qi Mu: “…” 

In fact, Qi Mu couldn’t imagine what this man would look like curled up in a damp, dark space under a bridge. At the time, he was speaking casually, but he never thought that three days later the man would really take him to the place where a small bridge once stood and sit silently all night with him. 

The man really wanted to experience the hardships that had befallen his beloved. He wanted to experience that life personally, as if he could participate in them and bear with him the loneliness of those years. 

……

After arriving in Geneva, Qi Mu, as a “native” who had lived there for three or four years, directly led Min Chen to Geneva College. Though neither mentioned the confession the night before, they understood each other. 

As one of the top conservatories in the world, the Geneva Conservatory of Music sat beside the beautiful Rhone River. The free-spirited Baroque-style architecture was seen everywhere, and the famous college bell tower was a must-visit spot for many aspiring musicians. 

The world famous school of music had a long history of producing countless celebrities, including Mr. Essen, the current chief violinist of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the well-known Swiss cellist Master Mosco, and the American violin queen, Bella Keim. 

When Qi Mu stood before Geneva college’s magnificent iron gates, he was already fully prepared. “Remember to bring sunglasses and a hat. Oh, yes, I also have a mask here. You better wear it. Don’t say anything, don’t say anything! The students in the college are very… Er… very hospitable.” 

Min Chen: “…” After a while, he said blankly, “I’ve been to the National Conservatory of Music in Paris before.” 

The clear, beautiful eyebrows suddenly wrinkled. Qi Mu looked at Min Chen with a look of, “What? Are you kidding me? You think this is comparable?” and said, “You don’t understand, the students of the Geneva College and the Paris National Conservatory of Music are completely different… Well, we are very enthusiastic and have many campus organizations. I remember when I was still in college, your fans established a ‘Bertram Music Fan Club’. By now it must have expanded exponentially!” 

Min Chen: “…” 

After Qi Mu carefully put a hat, sunglasses, and a face mask on Min Chen, he breathed a sigh of relief and led him into the open and inclusive college. 

Just as they entered the Geneva Conservatory of Music, they saw a beautiful, artificial lake. On the sparkling lake, many swans elegantly stretched their necks and splashed on the water. 

Around the lake were vast expanses of green lawns. On a beautiful Spring day, many students were talking and laughing on the lawn. Some played the harp, some played the violin, and some even sang. 

Min Chen hadn’t been to the Geneva Conservatory of Music for many years. Even when he came the last time, he took a bus and arrived at the side. This time, he entered and visited the institute from the main entrance. He really understood the difference between this institute and the National Conservatory of Music in Paris——

This was more youthful, energetic, and full of vitality. 

Qi Mu led Min Chen through the tree lined road. The dense trees created shade that covered the narrow path so that only round streaks of sunlight filtered through the leaves. 

Qi Mu announced the different buildings on either side as they walked towards the clock tower at the center of the campus. 

Qi Mu smiled a little when he announced the cello department’s building. A group of beautiful, energetic girls went past. Each carried thick music scores in one hand and a violin case in the other. They seemed to be catching up with class. 

Knowing that the teachers at the Geneva College had unique “extracurricular teaching” practices, Qi Mu stretched his arm in front of Min Chen to let the girls pass. He chuckled, “The professors in the violin department are creative. Sometimes they’ll teach by the lake, but the river is really far from the violin department building, so it’s very troublesome to catch up with the classes every time.” 

Min Chen nodded, then asked, “Won’t the open space impact the sound quality?” 

Qi Mu raised an eyebrow. “Bai Ai’s Forest Music Festival every summer, do you find a concert hall for your performances?” 

Min Chen: “…” 

“The teachers like an open, free environment. In fact, in addition to the late, there’s also a small forest on the west side of campus, a hillside in the east, and…” 

“God!!! You are, you are…” 

Qi Mu’s voice stopped as a female voice piercing the sky stunned him to silence. He turned his head and immediately looked at a blond girl with a happy expression on her face. 

The next second, Qi Mu took Min Chen’s hand and said solemnly, “Hurry up, I’ll hold them off here for a while. You don’t understand the enthusiasm of the students here, you must hurry…” 

“Qi Mu!!!”

“God, it really is Qi Mu!!!!!” 

“It’s Wei Ai’s Little Seven! Oh my god, I’m so nostalgic, who did I see? I saw Little Seven!!!” 

“Little Seven are you really Little Seven?!” 

Qi Mu, about to push away Min Chen: “….” 

Min Chen, whose face was mostly hidden by sunglasses and a mask: “….”