By the end of the year, several things were happening in Europe’s cla.s.sical music circle. Almost all the major orchestras had some kind of gossip.
Of course, the scandal involving Wei Ai and Wei Jiao stole the spotlight and had blown up in Vienna and the rest of Europe, with little signs of slowing.
Just when the flame was about to extinguish, news came out that Leon Zayev publicly sold the position of deputy chief for Wei Ai. After a brief respite, it was suddenly made clear that Luo Yu Sen had been isolated by the members of Wei Jiao.
The scandal was nearly the on thing musicians and fans" minds when a clear stream suddenly flowed onto the magma-covered land——
Bai Ai was about to begin their second to last tour!
The scheduled concert had to be postponed for a week because of their a day and a half delay in S City.
One day was the equivalent of 24 hours of rehearsal to get familiar with their repertoire. Each repertoire was different, so one day was valuable rehearsal time.
In the Golden Hall, every performance had to be booked in advance. So when Bai Ai had to postpone their performance, the concert hall who got their hall fully booked placed their schedule a week later.
Fortunately, their last concert would be held on their own turf, in the Berlin Philharmonic Hall. Otherwise, they"d have much more trouble.
After resting for a whole day, Qi Mu got up early and went out to do his morning exercises. He also made his last payment to Charles along the way. After receiving the confirmation message from him, Qi Mu deleted the private detective’s number and completely buried the matter in his heart.
Qi Mu didn"t ask Charles to do anything illegal, just to find out the truth. As a private detective, Charles abided by professional ethics and conducts, so he would keep everything secret. Even if it was later known that he asked Charles to do those things, Qi Mu had a clear conscience that——
What he investigated was the truth. Even the police found more concrete evidence, didn"t they?
When Qi Mu returned home, the rice porridge in the rice cooker had already turned soft. He scooped out two bowls of porridge and left the kitchen. Only then, he saw the handsome man had finished showering and was sitting at the dining table, looking at himself.
Qi Mu raised his eyebrows and stepped forward, "You"re awake?"
Min Chen arranged the chopsticks and spoons, then spoke, his tone wilting, "You didn"t wake me up."
The previous night, Qi Mu promised Min Chen that he would wake him up before his morning exercises. But that morning, he rose before the sky was bright and went out quietly without any intention of waking Min Chen.
Hearing this, Qi Mu"s hands stopped, then he smiled helplessly. "I woke up too early this morning, so I didn"t want to wake you. I promise to wake you up everyday after this, okay?"
The man replied with a soft humph and Qi Mu coaxed him with a few more words. He promised he would cook for the proud, yet charming guy after he returned from the theatre that evening. Only then did he stop sulking.
While eating light dishes with the porridge, Qi Mu told Min Chen about the Palisade Theatre, smiling as he did. However, he didn"t notice the man who kept responding to him in a low voice was looking at him with a deep and obscured gaze.
In fact… Min Chen woke up the moment Qi Mu did. He felt that the young man was deliberately moving quietly, as if he didn"t want him to notice, so he played along. He already had some guesses in mind why.
Min Chen"s eyesight was pretty good but in the foggy morning, he couldn"t clearly see the corner of the building from the top floor. So, he took out his prescription gla.s.ses that he hadn"t used for ages and watched as the young man stood before the ATM machine at the end of the street. His eyes narrowed, Min Chen made no mention of it.
…That thing should be over now?
During Qi Mu"s usual morning routine, Min Chen made several phone calls and began to take over the matter that Qi Mu thought has been solved.
When Min Chen sat at the dining table and saw the young man"s natural, warm smile, his heart trembled. He understood now——
Qi Mu had left it behind.
However, while Qi Mu was completely relieved, Min Chen was the opposite.
Most people knew Auston Bertram as a tolerant gentleman, elegant and polite to everyone. But only a few who were familiar with him like Daniel and Qi Mu knew….
The man was verypetty.
When Daniel first came to Bai Ai for an interview, Min Chen was the a.s.sistant conductor at that time. On that day, the former conductor was taking Daniel to the rehearsal hall for a tour and Min Chen was demonstrating a piece for a violinist.
Min Chen was excellent with piano, but his violin… wasn"t flattering. Anyway, at his level, whether or not he could enter Bai Ai with his violin skill need not be said.
Therefore, after hearing Min Chen"s violin, Daniel politely said, "Mr. Laurent, this violinist"s skill is quite average. He seemed to have made a mistake in this 《Symphonie Espagnole》just now."
Laurent shook his head. "Daniel, don"t you recognize him? That"s Auston Bertram, he"s our a.s.sistant conductor. He"s not in the violin group."
"Oh my G.o.d, I didn"t recognize him!"
Daniel said that quietly, but he forgot that a certain man had excellent hearing. So when Min Chen bullied him for a whole year afterwards, Daniel couldn"t help but ask, "Auston, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d. What did I do?"
Min Chen converged his gaze and calmly said, "My violin is very good."
Even after a year, Min Chen could still remember a single word.
As for Luo Yu Sen and Leon Zayev, Min Chen had already recorded their names on his list. How could the word "arrested" settle everything?
He would never forget the cold winter that year when he went to a mortuary as a friend. He didn"t dare to open the white cloth, but one pale hand fell away from the cloth.
The hand was stiff and pale and all fingertips were bruised blue. The messy fingertips, the broken skin and fingernails, they were all imprinted in his memory, forever there.
What kind of desperate pain would make a violinist hurt his fingers like that?!
Looking at the youth"s bright, gentle smile, Min Chen converged his gaze, hiding his intense emotions behind his deep eyes.
The victim no longer cared but… he did!
Because this was his beloved.
Those people had no right to hurt him!
"Are you really going to the Palisade Theatre with me now? I think it"s better for you to meet with Daniel at the Musikverein first, or I"ll just reserve a seat for you in the evening. Would you like to listen to our performance tonight?" Qi Mu didn"t notice the man"s deep gaze. He smiled while taking another bowl of porridge for them both and added, "Our 《The Marriage of Figaro》is quite good. I think it"s not bad, but not quite as good as Mr. Farrell"s Don Quixote."
Min Chen"s thin lips curled up in a slight smile, the emotions in his eyes quickly swept away. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "Better than Farrell?"
Qi Mu : "…Don"t!!!"
After a warm breakfast, the two stood in the wardrobe and put on coats for their outing.
About to wrap a scarf around the youth"s neck, Min Chen stopped when Qi Mu suddenly said, "Ah, I bought you a birthday present and forgot to give it to you!"
Min Chen"s pupils shrank. "Present?"
Qi Mu nodded softly and took out a small gift bag from a compartment. Taking out its contents, he sighed, "I bought it in Paris, but I could only give it to you now. I thought it would be quite meaningful but… Compared with your wrist guards, I mean, your gloves, it doesn"t seem to be so meaningful."
Min Chen"s thin lips pursed, but his heart was screaming. They are gloves! Gloves! Gloves!
Qi Mu didn"t mind the man"s awkward expression. Taking out the metal bracelet from the gift bag, he gently clasped it on Min Chen"s left wrist. He then took another one and fastened it on his right hand.
"You can only buy these beads in Paris and Vienna." Chuckling, Qi Mu rubbed the jewels on the metal bracelet. "After we go to other places, we can string beads from those places as well. When I was in college, I heard many students say that they often bought a pair for their lovers, representing the memories of the time they spent together. They"re not expensive but they"re very meaningful."
Qi Mu was greeted with the man"s broad, warm chest. "Yes, it"s the time we spent together."
Before setting out, Min Chen reached out for Qi Mu"s waist and gently kissed his lips. And when they went out, they each went in separate directions.
The Palisade Theatre was very close by, so it was better to take the subway than face a traffic jam.
When Qi Mu stood on the subway"s platform, he suddenly felt cold. So, he took out the wrist guards… Oops, no. The gloves.
The delicate bracelet that adorned Qi Mu"s slender wrist and the funny looking wool gloves protected his hands from the wind.
After entering the theatre and catching everyone"s attention with the gloves, Qi Mu just waved his hand and said, "My lover made them. Lovely, aren"t they?"
The crowd then burst into laughter. "Little Seven, your girlfriend is so cute."
The cute little girlfriend, who had just entered the Musikverein, sneezed heavily.