King of Classical Music

It was early morning in Vienna, the streets were not busy, and people were leisurely walking by. There were tall sycamore trees on both sides of the road. Because it was early autumn, the ground was covered in a layer of golden leaves, making it appear enchanting from afar.

When Luo Yu Sen exited his taxi, there was a group of people rushing through traffic. Carrying his violin case, he cursed inwardly and waiting at the side for these people to pass.

It had been a week since Luo Yu Sen was released from the police station. Lu Zi Wen’s death was determined to be an accident due to an acute asthma attack. It was because, in current medical history, there were no deaths by asthma attack caused by a fight that resulted in little to no injury.

Moreover, Luo Yu Sen also blamed himself, crying heavily when he was detained. Saying things like “Why didn’t I stay longer?” and “Why didn’t I see his illness?”, Etcetera. The detectives who observed this just looked at each other and shrugged. They released him because there was no proof that he was directly involved in the accident anyway.

According to Luo Yu Sen’s testimony and the time of death inferred by the coroner, it should be that after Luo Yu Sen left the lounge, Lu Zi Wen suddenly had an asthma attack. Without medication, the asthma attack was too violent, and he couldn’t call for help. Soon after, he lost consciousness and eventually died.

Honk——

The honk came from a fast moving taxi, passing Luo Yu Sen. He took a step back in shock and almost fell to the ground, but someone held him up. Returning to his senses, he turned around and saw a blond man with blue eyes. The man asked him, “Hey mister, are you alright?”

Luo Yu Sen nodded but didn’t say thank you. He hurriedly walked over to the other side of the street, chasing the green light. When he opened the door of the red-brick, European styled building belonging to the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, he didn’t notice that the blue-eyed blond behind him slowly smiled and looked thoughtfully at the door he disappeared through.

After a while, the blond turned and left. Walking across the street, he stopped under a huge sycamore tree. Laughing, he said, “This Luo Yu Sen guy looks. . . normal. Hey, aren’t you thinking too much, Min? The detective also said that he just happened to be in the lounge and left before the asthma attack.”

Under the grand, golden sycamore, a handsome man lifted his head slightly and calmly looked at the swaying leaves. He wore a long black coat. Although the brand was unknown, the excellent workmanship on it showed its elegant lavishness. He stood on the side of the road, looking up at the tree with passing vehicles behind him.

The other man found himself being ignored and couldn’t help but laugh, “Hey, you’re the one who wanted to come here and meet him. Now that you’ve met Luo Yu Sen. . . Damn, why are Chinese names so difficult to pronounce? Now that you have seen him, why didn’t you talk to him?”

A yellow leaf slowly descended along with the autumn wind, and he subconsciously reached out to catch it. He stared at the leaf, no longer full of life, for a while and suddenly said, “Daniel, in Huaxia, there’s an old saying——Coincidence doesn’t exist.”

Daniel looked at him in surprise, appearing somewhat puzzled.

“But this matter, really. . . Is he truly that skillful?”

The autumn wind drowned the man’s soft sigh, and not long after, a black Bentley slowly drove away from the block. The pedestrians rushed up and down the street. Only the huge sycamore tree bore witness to what happened there.

Meanwhile, halfway across the globe, it was already afternoon in Huaxia.

When Zheng Wei Qiao learned from his friend that Qi Mu was selected for the B City Symphony Orchestra, though it was unexpected, somehow he was not surprised by it. Despite knowing that Qi Mu was the only applicant whose performance the judges didn’t comment on, he inexplicably felt that. . .

Qi Mu, he could be successful.

Zheng Wei Qiao had not heard him play the violin for a long time, and he also knew that Qi Mu hadn’t touched the violin for 8 years. Naturally, his skill wouldn’t be the same as before, but Qi Mu was confident. Because he remembered that, yesterday, the young man who confidently said “If B City Symphony Orchestra doesn’t pick me, then they’re only at that level.” was definitely not lying.

That being said, when Zheng Wei Qiao drove his car to Qi Mu’s house, he knocked on the door for a while but didn’t get a reply. When he dialed his number, he only heard Qi Mu’s surprised voice from the other side of the line, “Hmm? Zheng-Ge, what are you doing at my house? I’m already at the orchestra.”

“. . .”

How dare you. . .

Was this child too old to listen to his elders?!

By the time Zheng Wei Qiao rushed to the orchestra, he just entered the practice room to see an old man, well-known in the industry for being stubborn, offering Qi Mu a handmade maca wine to taste but being rejected humorously by the young man. All the people around them were laughing.

The atmosphere. . .

Was so blinding and harmonious.

Wait a minute, shouldn’t all these people reject the sudden addition to the orchestra? And Qi Mu, being called ‘the genius prodigy,’ when they deliberately isolate him, shouldn’t that make him angry and have him kicking up a fuss?!

Why was this completely different from what he imagined?!

Zheng Wei Qiao felt like a bad person.

As soon as Qi Mu looked up, he saw Zheng Wei Qiao standing near the door. He could see Zheng Wei Qiao’s face was pale and sighed, looking exhausted and exasperated.

He couldn’t help but smile, then he waved, “Zheng-Ge, I’m here.”

Zheng Wei Qiao didn’t immediately walk over to him. He went to the old members of the orchestra and said a few words to them, and only then did he go over and sit in the seat next to him, asking, “Qi Mu. . . why did you go straight to the orchestra and not wait for me?”

Qi Mu lifted his eyes to look at Zheng Wei Qiao and asked in surprise, “Zheng-Ge, didn’t you say today you would be working on the article for 《Music Hall》? I didn’t want to bother you, so I went by myself. I took a bus here. There was a bus station at the entrance of the community, and it’s really convenient for me to take public transport, so you don’t have to worry.”

“. . . ”

I’m not worried about your journey here! I’m worried about you being swallowed up by this group of slippery old people!

Seeing Zheng Wei Qiao hesitating expression, Qi Mu shifted his gaze and understand what the man meant.

Qi Mu was born in Europe and only came to perform a few times in Huaxia when the orchestra had their global tours. Needless to say, he was not familiar with the symphony orchestra here.

Growing up in an orphanage since childhood, one needed to know how to observe people, to be patient but have a little force, that was the best way to go. By the time he was seven, he’d already been able to live peacefully without other kids bothering him, thanks to his ability in reading people.

Later when he was adopted by an old couple with no children, he had the opportunity to learn how to play the violin. He then entered the European classical music scene full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons, so he had to be low-key. There was one thing Luo Yu Sen said that was correct. He didn’t have any family background so he could only rely on himself to survive in Vienna. Things like how to get along with people, how to make a good first impression, that was already ingrained deep in his bones.

But. . . compared to the arrogant and old-fashioned old fritters in Vienna, these seniors here were much nicer.

Qi Mu thought secretly.

“Zheng-Ge, you don’t need to worry about that. I can handle it myself,” Qi Mu said with a smile. “That’s right, don’t you have to hand in an article today? How’s the draft coming?”

Zheng Wei Qiao looked at him strangely for a while, then he sighed, “You’re still young, and teacher left you in our care, so you don’t have to worry about other things. As long as you work hard and keep practicing, that’s all teacher would want.”

Qi Mu didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.

Zheng Wei Qiao really put Qi Mu’s mother kindness to heart, quite like the saying: one day a teacher, lifelong a father. . . .cough mother.

They talked for a bit after that but didn’t get to talk for too long because the concertmaster of B City Symphony Orchestra, Du She Xiang entered the practice room.

Du She Xiang was the top violinist in Huaxia, and he had a great reputation globally as well. He was known for his skill, rich experience, and knowledge. Qi Mu once heard him at the Golden Hall, playing Mendelssohn’s 《Violin Concerto in E Minor》 and even he had to praise it.

The conductor was not here today, so the concertmaster would lead the orchestra. Du She Xiang went to the podium and helped the first violin group set up. He then turned and looked at the second violin group, and in the position of the deputy concertmaster, sat a beautiful young man. His gaze stayed on Qi Mu for a while then he began the sound process.

When the orchestra had finished setting up, Du She Xiang didn’t tell the first violin to pick up the ensemble. Instead, he smiled and looked at Qi Mu, saying, “Today, we have a new member, taking over Lao Zhang’s position as the deputy concertmaster——Qi Mu. Even though he’s young, don’t even think of bullying him. Let me tell you, Old Tan views him with high regard, so if you bully him, don’t come to me when Old Tan comes for you!”

Several people laughed at Du She Xiang’s joke.

The deputy chief of the first violin group then said, “Mr. Du, you don’t have to say it. Who would dare to bully Xiao Qi? Xiao Qi is so clever and sensible. If we hurt him, then we are being mean. When I first saw him, I felt like I was seeing my son who recently graduated from college. It felt familiar.” The deputy chief of the first violin group was a woman in her 40’s.

Zheng Wei Qiao’s eyelids twitched. Clever and sensible. . . are we talking about the same person?

A larger member of the group laughed, “Yeah, Xiao Qi is so handsome, who would bully him? Hey, Xiao Qi. My good daughter is turning 28 this year, when are you going to visit my family?”

“Lao Wang, you shameless old man. My daughter is turning 20 this year, so her age matches Xiao Qi. You can go away!”

. . .

The sound of laughter echoed in the practice room. When Tan Zheng Hui arrived, all he heard was “Xiao Qi”* and “Xiao Qi” that. He frowned then grunted, and the entire room went quiet.

*Referencing a folktale, see more about it

Du She Xiang stepped down from the podium to give way for Tan Zheng Hui. The old man had just gotten on the stage and asked, “What is Xiao Qi? Where is the seven? Is Dong Yong here?”*

*Referencing the same folktale above

After a moment of dead silence, they all suddenly burst into laughter.

Qi Mu laughed until his eyes teared up, but he didn’t know. . .

Xiao Qi, this nickname would follow him forever, and he was stuck with it his whole life. He had better accept his fate.

Chapter translated by Kuroshinji and edited by Betwixted