Huaxia\u2019s Green Card<\/a> that foreigners dreamed of.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHuaxia was a large country with a history\nspanning over five thousand years. They had broad and tolerant minds, but they\nalso had a mindset of \u201chiding their shortcomings.\u201d Want to become a Huaxia\nnational? Yeah, dream on. Huaxia would never recognize dual citizenship!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu learned a lot about Huaxia\u2019s culture from\nhis adoptive parents and his Chinese was also excellent. They often said:\n\u201cDifferent race, different heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu could only fully comprehend those words\nwhen he applied for Huaxia nationality numerous times in his past life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He spent half his life preparing the materials\nto apply for it, and yet, in the last month of review, he died and was reborn\ndirectly as a Huaxian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zhu Wen Jun mentioned before that this was the one hundredth anniversary, and all the\nmusicians they invited would be Chinese. The orchestra was naturally the S City\nSymphony, and the musicians were almost all geniuses under the age of thirty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu could understand this feeling. It was true\nthat the development of classical music started late in Huaxia when compared with the west, but their rise was not slow\neither. Many Huaxians were in prominent positions in several different\nworld-class orchestras around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu felt deeply that the older generation of\nmusicians, and even artists, had the desire to spread classical music\nthroughout Huaxia. This idea was confirmed within the first five hours of his\narrival in S City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think that \u300aFirst Symphony in E Minor\u300b Qi\nMu performed with New Ai was excellent. Why don\u2019t we select a similar piece\nthat\u2019s written by one of our own, instead of Paganini?\u201d Cheng Ting Wen wore\nglasses and her curly hair skillfully tied up. Her expression was both professional\nand serious. \u201cThe style we want to showcase is different from Paganini\u2019s!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As one of the music directors, Cheng Ting Wen was also a famous cellist. She\nmight look like a beautiful woman on the outside, but she had a keen instinct when it came to classical music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another music director slapped the table. \u201cDid\nyou even see the violin competition last year? He\u2019s good with Paganini\u2019s and\nhis ability to perform it is perfect. In this aspect, we should showcase our\nskill level to those foreigners. Do you have a better choice than Paganini\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cheng Ting Wen refuted, \u201cIf you want to show\nskill and difficulty, is Prokofiev\u2019s \u300aPiano\nConcerto No. 2\u300b that Wang Zheng is\nplaying not enough?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe majority of people attending that day are\nprofessional musicians, Cheng Ting Wen,\nnot amateurs that play outside! This is our hundred\nyear anniversary. The music style is good, and Paganini\u2019s is the only\none that is sophisticated enough for this. What are you not satisfied with?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
. . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seeing these music directors argue to the point\nthat they were rolling up their sleeves, Qi Mu was humored and distraught. He\nthought Huaxia musicians would be more reserved and not show their emotions so easily. He didn\u2019t expect that when it came to\nmusic, musicians all over the world were like this. . . short tempered and without manners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In S City\u2019s conference room, Qi Mu and the other\nmembers of the orchestra persuaded them for a long time. Eventually, Zhu Wen\nJun made a decision and didn\u2019t give them an opportunity to think about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe last two songs Qi Mu will perform are going\nto be Min Chen\u2019s \u300aViolin Sonata in D minor\u300b and \u300aLiang Zhu\u300b. It is settled.\u201d The handsome middle-aged man looked at his wife\nand said kindly, \u201cTing Wen, see, both are in tune with the theme, right? And\nthey\u2019re both the works of a Huaxian.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cheng Ting Wen hummed and agreed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zhu Wen Jun looked at the man on the other side\nof the room and said helplessly, \u201cLao<\/strong> Qi, ah, \u300aD minor\u300bis not that difficult,\nbut are you okay with \u300aConstance March\u300b?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe middle-aged man called Lao <\/strong>Qi nodded\nreluctantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nZhu Wen Jun let out a relieved sigh. He looked\nat Qi Mu who was sitting opposite him. \u201cXiao<\/strong> Qi, ah, sorry for making\nyou see this joke. Your Auntie Cheng, Uncle Qi and I grew up together, so this is normal. Don\u2019t be surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWatching the two musicians arguing until their\nnecks were flushed with anger already made it hard for Qi Mu to restrain his\nlaughter. He dutifully fixed his expression and nodded earnestly, \u201cOkay, Uncle\nZhu.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zhu Wen Jun naturally knew that Qi Mu was\nsuppressing his laughter and he felt helpless. But he still had to say, \u201cAs you\nheard, you will perform after Wang Zheng, and you will be the last. You worked\nwith \u300aLiang Zhu\u300b when\nyou were a child, so I don\u2019t worry about it, but how\u2019s your \u300aD major\u300b?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u300aD major\u300b was\nthat one Zheng Wei Qiao mentioned before. . . the\nnightmarish one. The first movement was called \u300aConstance March and had a variety of complex tremolo, jumps of the bow, and notes spanning from G to E\nstring repeatedly. It was all challenging to a musician\u2019s skill and endurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu hadn\u2019t touched this piece for a long time,\nso he honestly replied, \u201cI haven\u2019t played it for a long time, Uncle Zhu. But\nthere is still just over a month to prepare. Give me three days, I\u2019ll master it\nagain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zhu Wen Jun asked, \u201cThree days? Is that all you\nneed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu smiled up at him then solemnly nodded,\n\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Getting an affirmative answer from Qi Mu, Zhu\nWen Jun smiled gently and said a few words of encouragement. He then discussed\nthe song selection with Cheng Ting Wen. Qi Mu, led by his assistant, returned\nto the hotel arranged for him by the S City Symphony Orchestra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the original left S City a few years ago,\nhe went with a bad attitude. He sold his house, so when Qi Mu returned, he had\nno choice but to live in a hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His room had a view of the Huangpu River and today\u2019s weather was unusually\ngood. Qi Mu could see the oil tanker sailing along the river with just a\nglance. Qi Mu put away his luggage and took out his violin case. He then went\nto the S City Symphony headquarters not too far away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The headquarters was a small three-story\nbuilding over a hundred years old. It was one of the oldest buildings in the\ncity. Qi Mu entered and went to the music room marked with his name. He thanked\nthe girl that guided him to it then closed the door and was alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Placing the case on the table, Qi Mu took out\nthe bow and rubbed it down with rosin. Before he could start tuning, he\nsuddenly heard a familiar ringtone. It was the \u300aE Minor\u300b that the B City\nSymphony Orchestra had performed. Qi Mu was surprised when he saw the name on\nhis screen and quickly answered, \u201cHello, Min Chen?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A magnetic voice echoed over the phone line,\n\u201cYes, it\u2019s me. Are you not home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu was stunned and asked without thinking,\n\u201cAre you at my door?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu smiled helplessly at the affirmative he\nreceived then put down his bow and said, \u201cI flew to S City today. Did you know\nabout the S City Symphony Orchestra\u2019s Centennial Celebration? It will be held\nnext month. It was decided they were going to showcase some young musicians, so\nI received an invitation. . .\u201d Speaking of, Qi Mu suddenly remembered, \u201cBy the\nway, you should have also received an invitation, right? I forgot about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holding the phone with one hand, Qi Mu set his\nscore on the tripod then looked down at the familiar name on the score. He said\nwith a smile, \u201cIt\u2019s a pity you can\u2019t participate. It\u2019s a rare centennial\ncelebration after all. Do you know what score I\u2019m looking at right now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He listened to the answer from the other side\nthen laughed, \u201cI\u2019m looking at your \u300aD\nmajor\u300b. I\u2019ll be playing it next month. This piece is\nquite difficult, so I wanted to. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The youth\u2019s pleasant voice filled the quiet\nroom. After speaking for a few minutes, he\nsuddenly remembered, \u201cWhy did you call me? I thought you returned to Berlin and\nwouldn\u2019t be back for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a long silence over the line, and just\nas Qi Mu thought the man wouldn\u2019t answer, he suddenly heard Min Chen sigh,\n\u201cIt\u2019s nothing. Just. . . I just found out you weren\u2019t home. I\u2019ll be going back\nto Berlin tomorrow. There\u2019s something I have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu nodded with confusion and just happened to\nsee a small moth flapping its wings in front of the score. He automatically\nwaved his hand to drive it away and turned to close the window at the corner of\nthe room. Behind the music room was a small garden of flowers. It was common\nfor bugs to wander in if the window wasn\u2019t shut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Qi Mu closed the window, a sudden thought\nflashed through his mind, and he asked on\nreflex, \u201cDid you call me. . . because you found another bug again?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Min Chen: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu realized this joke wasn\u2019t funny and said,\n\u201cI\u2019m just kidding, don\u2019t mind me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Min Chen: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After exchanging a few more words, Qi Mu hung up\nthe phone. He first read the whole score\nthen whispered helplessly, \u201cIt\u2019s really not easy.\u201d He began to practice the\npiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What he didn\u2019t know is that in a well-furnished\nhigh-end apartment in B City, a man was staring silently at a bug the size of\nhis fingernail on his porch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This staredown lasted for five minutes. Finally,\nhe closed the door and turned to walk\naway without hesitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where was he going?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A hotel, of course!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t you see that big bug on the floor?!!!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n