King of Classical Music 135

The news that The Vienna Symphony Orchestra’s second violin group deputy was dismissed made a splash in the classical music world. It wasn’t everyday that a deputy of the second violin group of a world-class orchestra was fired without a clear reason.

The surprising thing was, not many music newspapers reported the news. Evra put several magazines under pressure before making a report on it, obviously not willing to draw attention to the matter.

When Luo Yu Sen went to Zayev, he still didn’t know that he was dismissed. The two found a remote place to sit in a quiet cafe. Almost no one could hear their conversation, courtesy of the location.

Zayev frowned. “Why did Evra fire you?”

Three days after being dismissed, Luo Yu Sen’s face was haggard. Coupled with his disheveled hair, he cut quite the sorry figure. “Evra… Seems to know about us.”

As soon as the words fell, Zayev’s eyes widened and he shouted, “Impossible! How could Evra know? If he did, do you really think you can sit here being all well now? Even if you don’t know who Evra is, do you think I don’t? If he knew you drugged Lu Zi Wen, he would have exposed it!”

Luo Yu Sen shook his head. His tired eyes flashed with resentment. “Evra said he didn’t have any evidence, so he made the excuse that my skills aren’t on par with the rest of the orchestra. Damn it, he even told me not to dream of rejoining the classical music world from now on…” While he spoke, Luo Yu Sen broke down and covered his face.

“Mr. Zayev, what should I do?”

Zayev was speechless for a while. After a few moments, he asked, “What did he mean by… Don’t dream of rejoining the classical music world from now on?”

Luo Yu Sen clenched his fingers tightly. “I went to an audition for a small orchestra the day before yesterday and they rejected me even after I passed the audition! Yesterday, I sent my resume to two British orchestras and they sent it back to me directly! Mr. Zayev, Evra has been in the classical music world for a long time, he is really… powerful!”

Luo Yu Sen’s eyes were bloodshot as he looked at the man opposite him. “Mr. Zayev… I’m desperate. Evra meant his words! I can only rely on you now, so please help me!”

Although Luo Yu Sen said that, Zayev, the person he put his hopes on, withdrew his hands from the table. He leaned back, wearing a tangled expression. “…You said he has no evidence, right?”

Luo Yu Sen was a little surprised. “Yes, he has no evidence. I have no idea where he got the news from that he was so firm in his decision to dismiss me! Mr. Zayev, please help me!”

Luo Yu Sen reached out to hold Zayev’s hands as he spoke, but unexpectedly, Zayev leaned back. His hands were left grasping the air.

Luo Yu Sen froze on the spot. He panicked, having a sudden realization.

Zayev looked at him calmly and said, “Evra’s connections in the circle are really wide. If he really wants to block you, then there’s nothing I can do. Then… How about I recommend you as a tutor to a music conservatory? With your qualifications, you should be able to be a permanent professor in ten years. Evra’s hands couldn’t reach that far so you can go there.”

Luo Yu Sen’s expression turned cold. “Mr. Zayev, I’m only 35 years old… And you want me to go there so early in my life? I can still work in an orchestra for at least another 20 years!”

Zayev shook his head ruefully. “But Luo, as you can see, Evra won’t give you that opportunity.”

“…Did you forget who caused me to fall like this?”

Luo Yu Sen’s tone turned gloomy and hoarse, making Zayev a little uncomfortable. He shrunk his neck and said, “Luo, it took me a lot of effort to bail you out. Do you think… A simple case of drugging Lu Zi Wen so he couldn’t perform which turned to his accidental death could be linked to me?”

Luo Yu Sen clenched his fist and said, “But Mr. Zayev! It’s clear that you caused it! You told me that you would make me Vienna Symphony Orchestra’s deputy concertmaster, which is why I did it in the first place! I’ve kept quiet from the beginning, but now that you’ve crossed the river, you want to burn the bridge?! Are you not afraid that I’ll expose everything…”

“Luo Yu Sen.” Zayev’s voice was eerily calm as a sly smile graced his aged face. “Even if you expose it… Everyone will know that I only wanted you to hinder Lu Zi Wen, not… kill him.”

Luo Yu Sen was flabbergasted. “You… I didn’t kill him!”

“Is that so? You know how he died. If I didn’t cover you, I don’t think you’d be sitting here right now, won’t you? Don’t you think… I’ve paid enough for you?”

As soon as the conversation was over, Zayev picked up his coat and stood up to leave. Placing a 100€ on the table, he tapped the table with his fingers and said, “Luo Yu Sen, I will ask my assistant to give you Aarhus Conservatory’s information tomorrow. I am familiar with the dean and he will not refuse you for Evra.”

Luo Yu Sen raised his head slowly and looked at the man, smiling like a gentleman.

“This is… the last thing I can do for you. Luo Yu Sen, cherish this opportunity.”

Luo Yu Sen was frozen in his seat even after Zayev left the box. He clenched the 100€ bill tightly, a year’s regret turning into tears, drenching his face——

“Ziwen… Ziwen, I really didn’t mean to kill you. I really didn’t… Zayev! Yes, it’s all him!!! I didn’t mean… to hurt you. You died of an asthma attack, it has nothing to do with me…”

The remorse carried the denial of his own sin.

Luo Yu Sen left the cafe around half an hour later. What he didn’t know was that just two minutes after he left, an ordinary looking foreign man dressed as a waiter walked into the box he had occupied.

That evening, Qi Mu received a small, unique- looking bug.

He plugged it and listened for a while. When he heard a certain someone’s tearful confession, he was slightly surprised. He couldn’t say what he felt, then. There was no hatred, perhaps. He just inexplicably thought that Luo Yu Sen’s life was funny…

You can still deceive yourself now?

In a way, the man was pathetic.

After listening to the bug’s contents, Qi Mu sent a text to Charles.

He wrote that he hoped Charles would tip off Evra, “Luo Yu Sen is acting very restless recently” and let a small music magazine make a report on “a private meeting between Wei Ai’s concertmaster and the former deputy chief of the second violin group of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.”

About two days later, Qi Mu saw the report in a shifty tabloid.

Thanks to the strong musical influence in Vienna, gossip in the entertainment circle was sometimes not as interesting as that of the classical music circle.

After finishing all his work, Qi Mu asked Charles to keep the recording and not make anymore moves.

Too much work might lead to mistakes, so…

It was best to let the wise and upright Evra do all the hard work.

When there’s a chance… Maybe I will treat the man to a meal?

——Was Qi Mu’s thought.

A month after entering the Palisade Theatre Orchestra, Qi Mu has fully integrated himself into the family. Although the orchestra was indeed inferior to the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Wei Ai, and New York Philharmonic, in general, Qi Mu understood the necessary factors of being a concertmaster.

Qi Mu was the concertmaster for more than a month when he was with the college’s orchestra before. But, because students were busy even in their spare time, they rarely rehearsed together. He only had the gist of it but never fully comprehend and experienced the responsibility of a concertmaster.

“Little Seven, I didn’t expect you to be so proficient with 《The Marriage of Figaro》. Our recent performances have been very wonderful!”

The resident conductor of their orchestra was a brown-haired Jewish man. He appreciated Qi Mu’s skills a lot and it was him who first agreed to invite Qi Mu to the orchestra.

Qi Mu shook hands with the conductor and smiled. “Thank you for your compliment, Mr. Wallace. I will continue to work hard.”

A gentle and polite young man would always be easily liked. And so, the whole Palisade Theatre Orchestra, including the conductor were all fond of their lovely, young concertmaster.

It happened that the orchestra’s once-a-week celebration dinner was that evening. Qi Mu didn’t refuse their invitations this time. When the group left the party, Qi Mu walked out with his violin case in hand. The cold wind sobered him up.

After a moment, a certain man who always had a knack for good timing…

Made a phone call.