Spring nights in Paris were cold. The wind brought the scent\nof salt from the sea, and everyone tightened their coats as they exited the\nconcert hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Paris Philharmonic Hall was in the suburbs, surrounded\nby a man-made lake, and outlined by silver moonlight. One car after the next\ndrove down the path and left the magnificent building behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier, Akkad and his student came by taxi. Qi Mu did not\nhave a car in Paris, and Akkad hadn\u2019t bought one yet, so the professor suggested\nthey hitch a ride with Min Chen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu followed Akkad out of the concert hall. He tugged on\nthe scarf around his neck as a breeze brushed past and turned when his teacher spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMin, the concert tonight was great. Your and Charles\u2019s\nadaptation was excellent!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Akkad had long forgotten how narcissistic and arrogant Min\nChen acted moments ago. \u201cIn fact, I wanted Small Seven to adapt a song for practice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking of Qi Mu, Akkad remembered his student. He\nintroduced the two, \u201cOh, I forgot to say before. Min, this is my student. . .\nQi. . . Mu. His name is hard to pronounce, but I recall you\u2018re fluent in\nChinese.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu stood under the large poster with Min Chen\u2019s name embodied\non it and smiled. He didn\u2019t have time to interrupt as Akkad went on, \u201cSmall\nSeven, this is Auston Bertram.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu had nothing to hide, so he nodded. Helplessness shone\nout of his delicate white face. \u201cTeacher, I. . . I met Mr. Min a long time ago.\nIn Huaxia. . . we were neighbors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Akkad wondered. . . did he have hearing issues? \u201cSeven, what\ndid you say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu solemnly repeated himself, \u201cTeacher, I said Min Chen,\nand I met each other a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c. . .\u201d Akkad turned to look at Min Chen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The stoic man raised an eyebrow, \u201cI knew him before you did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Akkad: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When did the world\nbecome so small? Weren\u2019t there over 7 billion people?!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Since there was no need for introductions, Akkad asked a few\nmore questions about the concert then continued toward the exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Akkad nodded, but he was dissatisfied. He walked past the\nartificial lake and recalled, \u201cWait a minute, Min! That gifted student you\nwanted to recommend, it wouldn\u2019t be. . . Small Seven, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu: \u201c?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Min Chen: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man\u2019s ears stained red in the dark, but he maintained a flawlessly\ncalm and collected expression. Min Chen reached up to cover a cough with his\nhand, \u201cEn. . . yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Akkad muttered, \u201cThis has to be God\u2019s joke. Is there such a\ncoincidence?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to Akkad\u2019s lamenting, Qi Mu was dumbfounded. He took\na moment to understand the words \u201cstudent you wanted to recommend\u201d from Akkad\u2019s\nmouth, then he realized. . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Min Chen recommended him to Akkad?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n An indescribable well of emotion burst forth in Qi Mu\u2019s\nchest, spreading into every corner of his body. He was warm despite the cold\nair. This man helped him too much. It both dazed and moved him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you for taking care of me. . . Min Chen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The young man kept his voice low, so it didn\u2019t spread far,\nbut it tunneled straight to Min Chen\u2019s ear. He turned and looked at Qi Mu. Satin\nmoonlight illuminated the boy\u2019s eyes, and there was a tremor in his heart when\ntheir gazes met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a while, Min Chen answered, \u201cNever mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu could not describe his gratitude. \u201cIn Huaxia, you\nhelped me a lot, I don\u2019t know how to thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu referenced the many pointers the other man had given\nhim. Although Min Chen wasn\u2019t a violinist, his experience and the depth of his feelings\ntowards music had inspired Qi Mu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t take it to heart, you are very good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Min Chen\u2019s low-pitched voice resounded on the quiet path.\nThey had spoken in Chinese and Akkad couldn\u2019t understand what they were saying.\nThough the eccentric professor frowned, he said nothing and let the two\nconverse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What Akkad didn\u2019t know was the two\u2019s conversation had long shifted\naway from the concert to their recent lives. Min Chen paid close attention to\nQi Mu\u2019s words. The youth had no relatives now and to be alone in Europe, it had\nto be uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe orchestra will stay in Paris for a while, if there\u2019s something,\ncome find me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu laughed a little. \u201cIf there\u2019s something I need help\nwith, I won\u2019t be shy.\u201d He remembered a certain trait of Min Chen\u2019s and teased\nwith a smile, \u201cOf course, if there\u2019s anything you need. . . I can help anytime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c. . .\u201d Min Chen thought in silence for a long time then his\neyebrows rose high in question, \u201cWhat would I need?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBugs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n What retribution would he get for teasing this arrogant,\nstingy man?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, this time Qi Mu found out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They got into the car Bai Ai provided and Min Chen made the\nentire trip in pursed silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Akkad, at some point, asked, \u201cMin, what\u2019s with that cold face?\nIt\u2019s even colder now!\u201d However, when Akkad saw Min Chen open his mouth to speak,\neyes even chillier yet, he raised a hand and begged for mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, you can stop hurting me now. Who doesn\u2019t know that\nyou won the championship for world’s worst temper on the Danube Forum? No one dares\nquestion it. That vote. . . the second place lost by over five hundred votes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So Akkad also visited the Danube Forum!<\/p>\n\n\n\n After saying goodbye to his teacher, Qi Mu looked at Min\nChen\u2019s handsome but indifferent face and smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He raised a finger and swore, \u201cI promise, no one except for\nthe people that already know, will find out you\u2019re afraid. . . cough, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Min Chen turned to look at him, voice quiet as he asked, \u201cAre\nyou sure?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu blinked: \u201c. . . Certain!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright, go to bed early and be careful on the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t have such a good face!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once Min Chen saw Qi Mu\u2019s apartment lights turn on, the car\nleft and drove toward Akkad\u2019s house. The professor had hopped into the back\nseat after Qi Mu got out so he could sit next to Min Chen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He wasn\u2019t too interested in the shift, so he glanced over at\nAkkad but didn\u2019t pay much attention. The seventy-year-old musician sighed and said,\n\u201cMin, my student. . . what do you think of him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Outside, the streetlights flashed by, their halo casting\nonto the car as they drove past, and Min Chen\u2019s face flickered in and out of\nillumination. He looked over at Akkad. \u201cHe\u2019s very talented, very diligent, and\nvery astute to the emotion of music. His skill is good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou used three \u2018very,\u2019 ah. . . if Farrell heard how you described\nSmall Seven, what expression would he have?\u201d Akkad did not smile. \u201cMin, I\nalways thought you weren\u2019t one to raise the next generation. Even that stupid\nboy, Daniel, knows you\u2019re lazy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Min Chen raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t like to raise\nthe next generation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n . . . This was the sentence he just heard?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut, Min, for you to take care of my student like this, it makes\nme feel. . . strange. Gives me strange ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The little old man turned and stared at his left ear without\nfear. \u201cIf you Germans are homosexual, you wear an earring in your left ear, show\nme!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Min Chen: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He turned to face this old man, his expression dark as he\nsaid dryly, \u201cI don\u2019t wear earrings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t prove you\u2019re not gay!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDamn, are you looking at my lovely student? I\u2019m warning you!\nYou\u2019re not allowed to give him a black hand. Small Seven is a lovely boy, and I\nwon\u2019t let you do anything to him. If you try something with him under the name\nof Bai Ai, it\u2019s not qualified!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, wait a minute, Auston Bertram! You\u2019ve never been in\nlove, have you?! Damn, you\u2019re gay and paying attention to my student, you\ndemon. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cReed Akkad!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man next to him gnashing his teeth made Akkad fall silent. Min Chen\u2019s face was dark enough to squeeze out water. He pursed his lips and asked in a dangerous voice, \u201cWho told you. . . I’m homosexual?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Akkad retorted, \u201cThen why are you so good to my student?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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