Chapter 41

There was a saying in Huaxia that went, “pi ji tai lai.” (Extreme sorrow becomes joy.)

Due to the mistake in promoting the event, the Hong Kong Sea Music Festival had 20-30% fewer visitors than in previous years. However, since everything had already gone wrong, weren’t they due to be lucky at least once?

First, they used the New Ai’s recruitment drive, then the news that Min Chen was present triggered an onslaught of people. Then, the young Chinese violinist that performed with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and phenomenally successful concert.

When the festival came to an end, many people looked back on the ten-day event, and most of them thought something along the lines of: “Actually. . . this year’s festival was much more interesting than any other I’ve attended.”

Naturally, Qi Mu didn’t know this. He took the first flight back to B City the afternoon after the festival was over. Landing in B City, Qi Mu inhaled the fresh air of Huaxia and said wistfully, “This is what I’m most familiar with after all!”

Min Chen: “. . .”

Having left the warm climate in the south, the December chill in the north was enough to make the air feel like ice. The cold wind blew across the street like an iron knife. It was late at night, and traffic was sparse. By the time Qi Mu reached home from the airport, it was already early in the morning.

Since tomorrow was Christmas, Qi Mu invited Min Chen to his house as thanks for looking after him the past few days. Min Chen was surprised to receive the invitation, but he nodded and agreed.

For westerners, Christmas was like the Chinese New Year. Qi Mu had grown up in Europe and stayed there all his life. However, his adoptive parents were Chinese, so he never placed much importance on Christmas, and they instead celebrated the Chinese New Year.

When he was still a child in the orphanage, the cold dean would give them chocolates, at most, but other than that, he had never attributed anything special to the date.

This time, he invited Min Chen over because he knew the man wasn’t returning to Europe for Christmas and might feel lonely but also to thank him for his care at the same time.

Qi Mu had thought of a simple dinner. He didn’t know that a wall over, in the living room large enough to raise a whale, the always indifferent Min Chen was looking through various ties, tie clips, and cufflinks spread across the sofa with an unusually somber eye.

Standing before these dazzling items that would make it difficult for anyone to make a decision, the handsome man stared calmly for ten minutes then closed his eyes and randomly pointed in a direction. Like so, he selected a long, dark blue tie, a tie clip with a white diamond at its center, and a pair of sapphire cufflinks.

When it was time, Min Chen swiftly sorted out his attire and picked up the white lilies he had specially delivered this morning and exited his door. He impassively walked next door and rang the doorbell.

Soon after, the sound of footsteps came from behind the door.

“Creak——” The door opened.

Min Chen: “. . .”

The pretty woman standing in the doorway: “. . .”

After a moment, Min Chen glanced at the number on the door. Confirming that he hadn’t gone to the wrong place, the elegant man frowned.

Before he could speak, a familiar voice came from further inside, “Sister-in-law, who is it?”

The woman smiled and turned back to reply, “Xiao Qi, come see. . . if this is that friend you mentioned?”

Qi Mu come from the kitchen in a white apron. Seeing Min Chen, QI Mu unintentionally laughed and said, “Min Chen. . . it’s just a simple dinner at home. You didn’t have to wear such. . . formal attire.”

Outside, the handsome man wore an elegant black suit. Every corner of his clothing was ironed, looking freshly purchased. Even his hair was slicked back and fixed in place with hair gel. It almost felt like he could step on stage the next moment, pick up a baton, and begin a performance.

Min Chen was silent, and Qi Mu did not wait for a reply. He saw the bouquet of white lilies in the man’s arms and was stunned. He suddenly thought of something, and a trace of guilt flashed in his eyes. He said helplessly, “I’m sorry. I should have told you clearly yesterday so you wouldn’t worry too much.”

Qi Mu’s words left Min Chen in a daze, but the lost look in his eyes was suddenly swept away.

Min Chen stared at Qi Mu for a while then his thin lips curled upward slowly, and he laughed softly, “It doesn’t matter. I was the one who thought too much.”

The woman stuck in the middle: “. . .”

“Honey, why are you still standing at the door? Why don’t you go see what Qi Mu made. . . and how it tastes. . .”

“Aaaahhh!!! Min Chen!!!”

There was loud thud, and the things Zheng Wei Qiao had purchased at the supermarket fell to the ground. They quickly tidied up and went into Qi Mu’s apartment.

Once all the food was on the table, Zhao Yue, Zheng Wei Qiao’s wife, laughed and said while she served the soup, “Xiao Qi’s cooking is delicious. I thought I would need to help out more today, but it looks like I was worried for nothing.”

Zhao Yue wasn’t in the music circle. While she looked gentle, she was, in fact, a savvy and decisive lawyer. Although her husband was in the music industry, she knew nothing about it, so when she saw Min Chen, she didn’t recognize him.

Of course, to Zhao Yue, this was just a simple meal, and everyone had gathered to celebrate. Because Zheng Wei Qiao had told her beforehand that Qi Mu’s performance at the music festival was reported on in several international media, she only thought about celebrating that with Qi Mu today.

Like Qi Mu, the Zheng family didn’t put much importance on Christmas. Thus, at the table, only one man was wearing formal attire, appearing solemn, completely out of place.

This was Zheng Wei Qiao’s first time being in contact with Min Chen. Although Qi Mu always said the man wasn’t as harsh as he looked, having a dinner together with such a giant in the industry. . . it made him a bit uncomfortable.

Fortunately, he was only somewhat half in the circle right now. If he was still a violinist playing in an orchestra, he didn’t think he would even dare breathe.

The atmosphere was rather stiff once dinner started, so Qi Mu took the initiative to liven things up. As a lawyer, Zhao Yue was savvy with words, so she often made jokes here and there. Once dinner was over, Zheng Wei Qiao quietly pulled Qi Mu aside and gave him a red envelope, then he said, “Xiao Qi, ah, later. . . don’t make me eat with Mr. Min again.”

For the Zheng couple, Qi Mu was still a kid in his early twenties, so they often gave him pocket money.

Qi Mu quickly returned the envelope to Zheng Wei Qiao and helplessly said, “Zheng-ge, Min Chen is truly a good person. Really, get to know him a little, and you’ll get along with him. He has a good temper.”

Who would expect that Zheng Wei Qiao, known for his calmness, would suddenly burst into tears, “Xiao Qi, ah. I’m not being prejudiced against him or anything, it’s just. . . The sight of Mr. Min makes me remember when Teacher would punish me by having me practice 《Constance March》 for a month! I still can’t forget how terrible that song was, even after eight years. I’ll always remember that nightmarish month whenever I see Mr. Min’s face. . .”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

《Constance March》was the first movement in 《Violin Sonata No. 9 in D Major》. This symphony was written by Min Chen when he was twenty-one. There were four movements in the whole composition and among them, the violin section of the first movement was the most difficult to perform. Some professionals even secretly called it “Hell.”

Min Chen was a pianist after all. So compared to Paganini’s Caprice No. 24 “Devil’s Movement,” there were some areas of 《Constance March》 that were lacking. Particularly in the technical aspect. But, for a violin song written by a contemporary musician, no one doubted that this was the most difficult to play.

Watching Zheng Wei Qiao’s expression of “having just seen a ghost,” Qi Mu didn’t try to persuade him anymore. After he saw the couple off downstairs, Qi Mu returned to his apartment and unexpectedly found Min Chen. . . Clearing! The! Table!

Qi Mu’s eyes flew wide open in surprise, and he forgot to close the door. “Why are you clearing the dishes?!”

This patient whose obsession with cleanliness was very steep pinched the edge of a plate and picked it up. Qi Mu’s sudden yell caused him to fumble a bit, and his finger ended up brushing against a brown sauce. Min Chen’s face immediately turned black and he stiffened.

They went to the kitchen together, and Qi Mu started washing the dishes. He said profoundly, “Thank you so much for today, Min Chen. I really didn’t expect you to stay and help me clean up. I certainly didn’t expect you to pick up the dishes.”

Min Chen who stood beside him drying a plate but actually doing nothing: “. . .”

Qi Mu sighed, “It’s amazing that you actually carried them. . .”

Min Chen: “. . .”

How to say it. . . it wasn’t as though the plate he carried was explosive, right? Well, it had to be an illusion