The number of pedestrians on the red brick roads were decreasing. Each of them carried a rich coffee or milk tea, ready to spend a leisurely afternoon drinking tea.
The members of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra were no exception.
They walked down a few steps to a cafe across the street in groups of two or three. Generally speaking, these people had good relationships with each other. Of course, there was also one person who walked alone but nobody cared about him, this was Luo Yu Sen.
“These snobbish people. . .”
Luo Yu Sen muttered, a fierce look on his handsome face.
Since Lu Zi Wen’s death, the other orchestra members, intentionally or unintentionally, began to alienate him. Although the autopsy report stated that Lu Zi Wen died from an accidental asthma attack and that it was impossible for a fight to cause it, everyone still had doubts in their hearts.
Some even discussed it in places Luo Yu Sen couldn’t hear, “Lu. . . did the asthma attack really happen after Luo left?”
Such a thing was ultimately unknown.
It was impossible to install a camera in the chief’s lounge, and Lu Zi Wen’s time of death was inaccurate enough. Before he left, Luo Yu Sen had poured the drugged water into the sewer, and the cup was taken away, so there was no evidence at all.
But, evidence was one thing. People’s minds were another matter.
This caused the situation Luo Yu Sen faced today.
“Hey, Luo. Why are you alone?”
Luo Yu Sen turned around and saw a short and fat black man walking down the steps. A trace of disgust flashed in his eyes, but soon he laughed and said, “Mr. Thomas, why are you walking so slowly today? I wanted to go for a walk, so I didn’t follow everyone.”
Liar!
No one wanted to go with him.
The stocky man named Thomas shot him a meaningful look. When there was no one around, he suddenly said, “Luo, many days have passed, and it truly is as if nothing happened to you. . .”
Luo Yu Sen’s footsteps suddenly stopped.
The man laughed and added, “Gee, didn’t you say that he had an asthma attack after you left? Haha, I’m just teasing. Don’t mind it, Luo.” He then lowered his voice, “I’ll keep it a secret for you, Luo. Haha!”
After that, Thomas snorted and threw a disgusted look at Luo Yu Sen. He quickly left and followed the other members, leaving Yu Sen standing alone in the same spot. Luo Yu Sen watched the twisting, obese form of his, and the nausea in his eyes was ready to spew out.
“Damn you, Thomas. You actually dare to threaten me. . . If it wasn’t for you. If it wasn’t for you. . .!!!”
Luo Yu Sen’s eyes were red, but he won’t say the last few words. After a while, there wasn’t anyone on the street. Only red maple leaves, drifting and swirling in the air.
Halfway across the globe, the night cover was already very dark, and Huaxia’s B City was approaching midnight. Zheng Wei Qiao was on the road, driving his car. The two people inside were separated from all the noise outside.
“Zheng-Ge, I am sorry to keep you waiting for such a long time today.” Sitting in the passenger’s seat, Qi Mu smiled apologetically and added, “I was surprised when I found you were still waiting for me. Actually, you could have left first.”
Zheng Wei Qiao shook his head, held the steering with one hand and said: “I waited for less than an hour. And Xiao Qi, you need to listen to Tan Lao’s guidance more. He is a seasoned musician, and there are some aspects that he is indeed very accomplished at. His advice and guidance will be helpful for your future development.”
It was obvious that Tan Lao was giving Qi Mu advice during that one hour.
Hearing this, Qi Mu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He then explained, “I went there not to see Tan Lao, but. . .” At this, he paused, and he slightly corrected his expression. Then, a serious look appeared on his beautiful face, “But to see Min Chen.”
“. . .!!!”
Qi Mu distinctively felt the tires slipping!
Fortunately, Wei Qiao’s driving skills were still very good, and he immediately stabilized the car. Just when Qi Mu thought he was calm, Wei Qiao shouted, “Min Chen? That Min Chen? How was it? Didn’t he returned to Berlin?”
The series of questions amused Qi Mu. He nodded and replied one by one: “Yes, Min Chen. That Min Chen. It was good. He didn’t return to Berlin. Zheng-Ge, what you said was true. It was Tan Lao who introduced me to him. Tan Lao really does take care of me. Only him, Du-Ge and I know about this.”
This was also big news for Zheng Wei Qiao, “Let me process this. . .”
After a moment, he couldn’t help but ask, “Xiao Qi. . . you didn’t get the wrong person?”
Qi Mu’s face was blank, “I really, really didn’t get the wrong person, Zheng-Ge.”
“. . .Oh, really. . .”
Qi Mu: “. . .”
In fact, to be honest, Qi Mu still felt a bit giddy and thought it was not real. Because of the warmth lingering at his waist, Qi Mu couldn’t convince himself that the man hadn’t appeared.
Because. . .
It really was Min Chen.
In fact, Tan Zheng Hui just wanted to create a chance for Min Chen and Qi Mu to meet each other and to pave the way for his future in Europe. But, Tan Lao did not know that Qi Mu already knew a lot of people in Europe. Whether it was London, Berlin, Munich, or Vienna, but Min Chen. . . That was really someone he did not know.
Qi Mu knew. Not to mention Min Chen, but Duke Daniel was also a catch to know. When it came to the classical music industry, having good relationships with others would allow his future to go more smoothly.
For this, he was genuinely grateful to Tan Lao.
But, the most worrying thing was that last question Min Chen asked, about the car’s sound. Qi Mu has subconsciously answered with the pitch, but he remembered that there was no hidden awe in Min’s eyes.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but turn his head to look at the night scene that flew past the window, and his sharp eyebrows slowly wrinkled. He sighed and thought to himself: should he say this was truly worthy of being Min Chen? It was the first time they met, and he did not know how Min Chen knew that he had absolute pitch. . .
“Ah, how embarrassing. Min Chen came to listen to the concert, and I didn’t notice him.” Zheng Wei Qiao did not show his distraught and eventually asked, “Right, Xiao Qi, did you really just go to exchange a few words with Min Chen? I thought Tan Lao wanted to discuss the issue of renewal with you.”
Qi Mu hadn’t signed a long-term contract with the B City Symphony Orchestra.
The orchestra had been forced to recruit because the deputy chief was temporarily ill. During this time, the deputy chief had almost recovered. Naturally, he would return to the orchestra, and Qi Mu’s position would have to be given away.
A few days ago Zheng Wei Qiao had asked him about what Tan Lao wanted. However, Qi Mu, himself, was unclear about it because the matter had never been mentioned and his temporary contract was indeed about to expire.
Zheng Wei Qiao thought about it and said, “If you want to go back to S City, I contacted some friends a few days ago. It’s said the S City Symphony Orchestra is recruiting again. It’s Teacher’s original orchestra, and the members there watched you grow up. So, they. . .”
“Zheng-ge, Tan Lao hopes to hire me as assistant concertmaster.”
“They will take care of you, and you won’t. . . Assistant concertmaster!!!”
Qi Mu: “. . .” He felt the car slipping on the road again.
Qi Mu couldn’t help but grasp his seatbelt tightly, and he shifted back a bit. “Ah, Du-ge said that is not too young anymore, and he wants to leave the orchestra to play solo for a bit. Of course, there’s no conflict in being a solo violinist and being the chief, but Du-ge said he doesn’t have that much energy.”
“. . .” There was silence for a while as Zheng Wei Qiao determined that he was mentally prepared for whatever else Qi Mu was about to say. Even if it was “Zheng-ge, Min Chen hired me to be Bai Ai’s chief.” he would not be surprised. So he said, “For Mr. Du to have this intention, it’s entirely possible. But, Xiao Qi, ah, do you really. . . want to develop in an orchestra first? You might like being a violin soloist like Sheng Yan Hui.”
This question was not answered for a long time.
It happened to be a red light. After Zheng Wei Qiao stopped the car, he turned to look at him but just when he was planning to ask again, he saw the expression on Qi Mu’s face, and the words evaded him.
In B City’s chaotic night, the young man’s handsome face was cast in light and shadow, making it impossible to catch. But a kind of unspeakable loneliness and helplessness was clearly revealed there, and Zheng Wei Qiao’s heart tightened.
After a long time, he listened to Qi Mu’s whisper. “Zheng-ge, my current goal is just the orchestra. Some think the solo road is more glorious, and that they could freely enter an orchestra and turn it into their accompaniment. But, in my heart, I always thought that it is only by being able to cooperate with others that you can truly reach your peak. If you take your own path, then. . . what you become will be the worth of only one, rather than growing by other’s influence.”
“I think, Du-ge has been the orchestra’s chief for so many years. Today, he wants to go solo, but I am afraid of the idea.”
“If given the opportunity to go solo, I will do my best, but my business will always be with an orchestra.”
“Like Min Chen. . . why do all people mention that he is an excellent conductor first, and then say he is a good pianist?”
“Because he can cooperate well with others, he is able to guide and direct people. That is truly a talent of its own.”
. . .
Zheng Wei Qiao stared at him blankly and could not think for some time. Then the car behind them honked their horn, and he quickly stepped on the gas and started the car. He didn’t know how to give encouragement, so he only said, “Xiao Qi, I support you.”
Later, when he thought of that scene again, Zheng Wei Qiao felt that he been brought towards a path that he could no longer turn back from.
From deputy chief to assistant concertmaster to concertmaster.
From B City to Paris to Vienna and, finally, to Berlin.
He walked alongside that child all the way and witnessed him stand at the top of the world.
There was not only one path to success, but as long as it was Qi Mu’s choice, he was duty-bound——