King of Classical Music 194

On Berlin’s bustling streets, there was a constant flow of cars. A black European car drove quickly past the Brandenburg Gate and into the 206 district. The red taillights glowed, leaving a trail of light like a flame as it sped past. 

In the dimly lit car, Qi Mu didn’t speak and only held the driver’s hand, waiting for his words. 

For a time, he just listened to Min Chen’s whispers. “Lu Ziwen was a very talented violinist. I saw the video from when he first entered Wei Jiao ten years ago, and I heard the concert where he cooperated with Wei Jiao the year before last. He made rapid progress and handled his emotions very delicately.” 

It was as if he was really just explaining his point of view. Min Chen looked straight ahead and said in a flat tone, “He was an excellent violinist, and he had the potential to become one of a small group of people standing at the very top of the world.” 

When he said this, Qi Mu watched him seriously. 

The overlapping shadow and light of streetlights passing made Qi Mu unable to see the expression on Min Chen’s face, but he could see his deep and narrow eyes clearly. He knew this man disdained lies so what he’d said must have been buried deep in his heart. 

What he should have known a long time ago, he only just discovered.

God was always joking. When he was in Hong Kong, Qi Mu never thought that Min Chen would like his music, just like he never thought that Min Chen actually recommended him to Dorenza. 

If I had known earlier, would I like him more?

Or not, because I already love him to an extreme? Since I love him this much, how can I love him more?

The heated and lively heart in his chest throbbed. Qi Mu slowly squeezed Min Chen’s hand as he softly said, “Um.” After a long time, he added in a low voice, “Min Chen, do you believe in… destiny? Some people are destined to drift away, and some people are destined to be together no matter how far apart they are, and no matter how many obstacles they face.” 

Qi Mu’s words made Min Chen’s eyes narrow.

In fact, when Qi Mu asked who he meant when they spoke at the festival in Hong Kong, Min Chen had frozen as if he anticipated what would happen next. The palm of his left hand on the steering wheel was already soaked. He could barely maintain his composure, feeling all light and breezy. 

A year ago, Daniel said to him, “If you have confirmed 80- to 90% of something, is that last 10% really so important?” Now, in the brilliant night scenery of Berlin, Min Chen felt that the last 10% wasn’t so far out of reach. 

From the beginning until that moment, Min Chen decided to never ask Qi Mu about the matter.

When he first heard the young man’s music, he felt it was familiar, but he was dismissed by Professor Karl’s comment that “He sounds very similar to your music.” Later,  when he played 《The Bells》on Christmas Eve, he became completely suspicious and began to investigate, to no result. 

It was because of his curiosity that he wanted to get in touch more and understand how hardworking and lovely the young man was. He would stubbornly practice all morning if he couldn’t handle a scale well, and he would be excited about hearing a beautiful piece. 

In the past 30 years, Min Chen had never taken the initiative to contact anyone. His good family background allowed him to stand on a platform that surpassed so many people from the very beginning, and his talent soon made him one of the few at the top of the classical music industry. 

If he wasn’t curious about the young man, maybe… he would’ve missed him. 

A heart that had been lonely for 30 years, never having taken the initiative to touch, how could he open up to someone?

“I believe in destiny.” A firm voice flowed from Min Chen’s lips. “I believe in it very much now. Destiny let me meet you, fall in love with you, and give me the opportunity to sit here with you and say these words. Qi Mu…” 

At a red light, the black car suddenly stopped. 

Min Chen turned his head to look at the young man carefully and attentively. His eyes were pious and beautiful, as if looking at his most beloved treasure. The corners of his cold lips opened into a pleasant arch. Min Chen couldn’t hide the deep love he felt in his eyes. He said solemnly and sincerely, “You are the only reason I believe in destiny.” 

Such simple words of love made Qi Mu’s heart flood with warmth as his eyes began to burn. He had never been someone who liked to cry. In his last life, he even suffered to the extreme before he died and still held back his tears. Now, he couldn’t help the moisture in his eyes because of Min Chen’s words. 

As his vision grew hazy, Qi Mu leaned back on the soft seat and began to recall, “The dean said it was snowing the day I was born. It was a very difficult period in Germany. Many people lost their jobs and committed suicide, My parents put me in an ordinary vegetable basket and left me at the door of the hospital.” 

Min Chen’s body froze, already realizing what Qi Mu was talking about. 

“In fact, I’m still a little grateful to them. At least they filled the basket with cotton wadding, otherwise I might have frozen to death before I was found.” 

As if recalling something interesting, Qi Mu’s eyes widened slightly. After a while, he continued, “The dean had a bad temper and didn’t like us, but sometimes she was in a good mood and would talk to us. When I was five years old, she told me that although my parents abandoned me, they still left me a name, which was written in Chinese calligraphy. They called me Ziwen.” 

“When I was six years old, an old couple who came to Germany from China took me in. They weren’t rich, but they gave me a family. I had a surname and a given name. They loved me very much, cooked delicious Chinese food and often sang Chinese songs to me. I learned Chinese from them, although I didn’t speak German fluently in the end. This language is really difficult.” 

Min Chen held Qi Mu’s hand. He felt his sadness from being abandoned by his parents as well as his happiness from being loved by his adoptive parents.

“When I was seven, I heard a symphony concert on TV for the first time, it was Bai Ai’s New York Concert. At the time, I thought it was the most wonderful music in the world. For the first time, I stubbornly begged my parents to let me study music. Between the expensive piano and the violin, I chose the violin. Thinking about it now, I still don’t regret it. Because of the violin, I’m experiencing the beauty of life.” 

“After that, I began to study violin with a teacher in the music shop. When I was ten years old, my adoptive parents moved to Austria because of work, and I officially had a private teacher. Those five years were the happiest time in my life. My adoptive parents loved me very much. For the first time, I thought that I’d be able to experience such beautiful days in my life, without having to steal chocolate from the orphanage. I didn’t have to wonder what gifts I would get for Christmas 364 days of the year. It was such a good time…”  

Min Chen suddenly slammed on the brakes, and the black car stopped on the side of the street. He turned to look at the young man beside him, only to find that his face was covered in tears, but his light colored eyes shone brightly, full of hopes and dreams.

“Qi Mu…” 

“Min Chen, do you understand how it feels to fall from heaven to hell?” 

After a long silence, Min Chen finally shook his head. “I don’t understand.” The biggest setback he’d ever faced in life was Lu Ziwen’s death. But, at that time, he only wanted to repay his kindness, he hadn’t felt anything else. 

Qi Mu raised his eyes and looked at the elegant man. He smiled, but it looked even more unseemly than outright crying. He said, “I do. I experienced it twice. The first time was the departure of my adoptive parents, and the second was waiting for my death backstage at the Golden Hall.” 

“Qi Mu!” 

“When I was adopted, my adoptive parents were in their fifties. By the time I was fifteen, they should have reached their retirement age, but they still insisted on working in order to support our family. When I was sixteen, my father was overworked and got very ill. He was accidentally injured by the machine he worked on. He lay in the hospital for ten days before he finally died.” 

“My mother was hit hard by the accident, and she lost a lot of weight in half a year. She was an old woman whose husband she loved very dearly for many decades had been taken from her. I wasn’t even seventeen when she died of a broken heart.” 

Qi Mu spoke lightly, but Min Chen clearly understood the young man’s feelings. They were so painful that simple language couldn’t describe all of it. 

It was precisely because of this pain that he didn’t know how to express it. He used simple words to conceal his riddled, bleeding heart. 

Min Chen couldn’t control himself. He embraced the strong young man in his arms and held him tightly around the waist. Lowering his head, he whispered into Qi Mu’s ear, “Why… wasn’t I with you then?”