The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performed their last concert\nin the Golden Hall at the end of May. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As one of the world\u2019s best symphony orchestras, they had a solemn\nstyle. Each musician was world-renowned, and their shows were always so well\nreceived, they filled the house. Even the articles in music magazines reporting\ntheir concerts could be turned into a thick music commentary collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At nightfall, the streetlamps glowed golden. The European-styled lampshades cast hazy shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In front of the Musikverein, a river of cars slowly stopped, relieved\nof their smiling patrons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the audience was seated, Qi Mu found familiar faces. Among them was Scott, the cellist he visited, and Kenneth, the concertmaster of the London Symphony Orchestra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The concert attracted many famous musicians, and the media and\nmusic critics followed suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ticket Min Chen gave to Qi Mu was on the left side of the\nthird row, giving him a good view of the violin group. The location also had\nthe best audio of the entire performance. Although the hall\u2019s architectural\ndesign provided the audience with an almost perfect sound, a good ear could\nhear subtle differences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu looked at the repertoire in his hand. The black card\u2019s\nedges were lined with silver patterns. The back featured an introduction of the\norchestra while the front displayed the five pieces they were going to\nplay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra\u2019s Europe tour this year\nfollowed Schumann as their theme. Almost all of their repertoire were his\nworks, but they would also play some pieces by other maestros. That night\u2019s\nrepertoire had two of Schumann\u2019s sonatas as well as Chopin\u2019s \u300aPiano\nConcerto No. 1<\/a>\u300b and Beethoven\u2019s \u300aSymphony No. 3<\/a>\u300b and \u300aSymphony No. 9<\/a>\u300b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This repertoire reminded Qi Mu of the concert he missed half a\nyear ago*. On that stage in Huaxia\u2019s capital, Bai Ai performed \u300aThe Destiny Symphony\u300b as their closing\npiece and earned applause from the entire audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n *See chapter 14<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s a pity that I didn\u2019t get to hear their \u300aDestiny\u300b…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu smiled helplessly and chuckled to himself softly. A\nmelodious bell rang out, and members of the brass group filed in from the left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amidst the thunderous applause, Christole, holding his violin,\nstepped out from backstage. After he led the other members by group to their\nseats, a handsome man came from the other side. He was accompanied by growing\napplause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu also smiled and applauded as he looked at the stage\nilluminated by spotlights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It may have been his imagination, but he felt Min Chen\u2019s gaze\nlock on him, startling him a bit. By the time he recovered, Schumann\u2019s \u300aCarnival of\nVienna<\/a>\u300b, full of joy and\nenthusiasm, had already started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This piece was bright and vibrant, and when the melody resounded\nthroughout the concert hall, it brought the audience to a scene of national\ncelebration. The violin was gentle, and the pipe group played a light tone.\nWhen this piano sonata was reorganized into a symphony, many people wondered\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n It could be changed like this?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu had listened to \u300aCarnival of Vienna\u300b once, conducted by Mr. Charles in Paris. At that time, Min Chen\nwas sitting beside him. Now. . . He stood before the podium, leading the whole\norchestra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although he knew he should be paying attention to Christole\u2019s\nperformance to learn something, Qi Mu\u2019s eyes were focused on the conductor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Min Chen raised his finger, the orchestra\u2019s sound rose.\nWhen he clenched his fist, it became silent instantly, and the audience\nfollowed suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some conductors preferred to use batons, while others did not.\nMost didn\u2019t use batons at all. That night, Min Chen didn\u2019t use one. This didn\u2019t\naffect his performance in the slightest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n No one dared to question Bai Ai\u2019s level; Min Chen’s strengths\nwere never doubted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the closing piece \u300aSymphony No. 9 in D minor\u300b, the fierce melody seemed to reverberate across the concert\nhall. The applause grew even louder. It felt as if the sound almost toppled the\nroof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu kept applauding without end. This was his second time\nlistening to Bai Ai\u2019s concerts, the first two years before. With his ears and\nsense of music, he noticed Bai Ai had made considerable progress compared to\nthen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The concertmaster\u2019s violin was more emotional, the orchestra coordinated, and even their music style better stabilized and complete. It was as if they reached the peak of their era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of this. . . might be due to one man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu couldn\u2019t help but stare at the man standing centerstage.\nHe bowed along with the members of the orchestra to thank the audience. Before\nQi Mu could tear his gaze away, the man looked at him, a smile on his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu\u2019s eyes widened in surprise, and he couldn\u2019t stop himself\nfrom laughing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Min Chen was bold enough to sneak a glance at him on such an\noccasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the concert, Qi Mu didn\u2019t leave immediately like everyone\nelse. When he spoke with Min Chen earlier, he mentioned the orchestra would\nhold a celebration, and he hoped Qi Mu would join them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu wasn\u2019t a member of the orchestra, though, so it was\nunnecessary for him to join the party. Despite it, Min Chen said, \u201cI have\nalready reserved a seat for you,\u201d leaving him with no choice but to accept the\ninvitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Qi Mu arrived at the so-called party venue, he looked at\nhis \u201cseat\u201d in silence. He could only feel dumbfounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The young man raised his eyebrows and looked at Min Chen. Voice\nslightly raised, he asked, \u201cThis is. . . the seat you reserved for me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the double-floored luxury apartment, there were only a few\nempty chairs left in the dining room apart from the sheepskin sofas in the open\nliving room. Unlike the formal celebration in Qi Mu\u2019s imagination, this was a\nfamily gathering with snacks placed in every corner of the room for everyone\u2019s\nenjoyment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Min Chen nodded and calmly said, \u201cWell, I asked Daniel to\nreserve a seat for you.\u201d After a pause, Min Chen turned to Daniel and asked,\n\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you reserve a seat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Daniel: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ditching the responsibility on me!<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In front of the man\u2019s cold and indifferent eyes, Daniel laughed then\nreplied to Qi Mu, \u201cAngel, in fact. . . In fact, we originally wanted to book a\nhall in the hotel, but the hotel was already booked full. So you see. . . we\nhad to hold our party at Min\u2019s house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a moment of silence, Qi Mu said,\u00a0 \u201cDaniel, my name. . . isn\u2019t Angel. Please call me Seven.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Daniel laughed and said, \u201cOh, that\u2019s a lovely name, my Angel\nSeven!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the word \u201cAngel\u201d, several members glanced up at Qi Mu. No one\nknew who started: \u201cAre you the violinist who played \u300aDance of the Goblins\u300b?!\u201d But, after that,\nall of them gathered around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh God, your \u300aDance of the Goblins\u300b was great!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0\u201cAngel? So your name is Angel? I was never good with \u300aDance of the Goblins\u300b, your performance was really excellent!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, Angel, do you want\nto join us too?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n . . . <\/p>\n\n\n\n One after the other, all the \u201cAngel\u201d comments drowned out Qi Mu.\nMore and more members of the orchestra gathered together, and soon, they were\nsqueezed Min Chen and Daniel into a corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Really, his name wasn\u2019t \u201cAngel\u201d!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Outside the crowd, Min Chen stared at the group so thick, he\ncouldn\u2019t see so much as the hair on Qi Mu\u2019s head. He snorted and pursed his\nlips as he whispered, \u201cDaniel, why didn\u2019t you book a hotel instead of holding\nthis meaningless family reunion? Did you leave your brain in Berlin?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Daniel let out an exaggerated \u201cAh,\u201d and mercilessly said,\n\u201cDidn\u2019t a certain someone inexplicably say that the party must be held today\nand very kind-heartedly offered up his own house as the venue?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Min Chen: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A certain someone just experienced what it meant to lift a stone\nand drop it on their own foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the end of the party, Qi Mu had to explain his real name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately. . . after discovering Min Chen and Qi Mu had a\nphone call earlier, they all exchanged a glance. They shouted, with even more\nenthusiasm, \u201cAngel, you have to visit us later,\u201d \u201cAngel, it\u2019s a good habit to\nconstantly call,\u201d and \u201cAngel, Bai Ai\u2019s gate is already opened for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was not easy to get to the end of the party. When it was\nover, Daniel realized their celebration, originally for Bai Ai\u2019s successful\nconcert, had turned into something else entirely. It was now about pestering Qi\nMu with a chorus of \u201cLittle Angel, make more phone calls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Daniel screamed, \u201cYou useless fellows!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n At his side, Christole burst out laughing. \u201cIt seems like the\nconductor really likes Little Seven. I think. . . it\u2019s good to have Little Seven\ncall him more often and let the members relax a little, Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, after Qi Mu repeatedly vowed to make a daily phone call\nto Min Chen, the slippery members let him go. Qi Mu didn\u2019t know whether to cry\nor laugh as he watched them leave one by one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Daniel was about to leave, Qi Mu also planned to hitch a\nride, but Daniel shook his head in horror. \u201cNo, no, no. Angel, I. . . My car\nbroke down, so I\u2019m walking back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you think I didn\u2019t see you come by car?!<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The door closed behind Daniel with a \u201cclick,\u201d and Qi Mu picked\nup his coat helplessly. Before he could open his mouth, he saw Min Chen. His\ndeep, dark eyes gazed at him, the corner of his lips curling. His heart skipped\na beat. . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strange feeling burst from his chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cXiao Qi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu involuntarily gulped and nodded. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why did he call me that name. . .<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A smile flashed in Min Chen\u2019s dark eyes. But his expression was\nstill stern like he was about to begin a solemn conversation. \u201c. . . I have\nsomething to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu: \u201c. . . Wh. . . What?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cActually. . . I think. .\n.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu held his breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease. . . Help me\nclean this up.\u201d Min Chen said calmly, raising a finger to point at the messy\nroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu: \u201c. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you have to make\nyourself look like a national leader for this?!!!<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <<< Previous<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n N<\/a>ext >>><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Translator Min Chen is a kid, now everyone can go home. JK, let\u2019s just watch him fumbling his way through this so that we can laugh some more<\/p>\n\n\n\n Choplin’s Piano Concerto 1 (Long)<\/a> (Short)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Beethoven’s Symphony 3<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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