King of Classical Music

Qi Mu had to fully prepare himself before he entered the apartment next door. Taking a deep breath, he slowly exhaled and stepped inside. He couldn’t help but be astonished at the difference between his apartment and this one.

It was decorated in postmodern minimalism. Everywhere in sight, it was mostly black and white contrast. The warm sunlight shone in through the large windows and gave the room a sense of cleanliness and comfort. But most importantly. . .

Wasn’t it at least four or five times bigger than his own?

The idea flashed through his mind, but he shook his head and drove away the thought. Looking around, he couldn’t find the evil, but so he turned to helplessly look at Min Chen but froze the minute he saw him.

Qi Mu: ". . ."

What are you doing standing so far away? It’s a bug, not a lion!!!

Min Chen’s eyes were hidden, and the man stood just outside the door, refusing to come inside. Looking at Qi Mu, he immediately pointed in the direction of the sofa and said in a low voice, “There. Black. Bug.”

Qi Mu nodded and walked toward the sofa. He searched for quite some time and finally found something near the foot. . . it was only as big as his fingernail. It was such. A. Small. One. It Wasn’t. Even. Big!!!

Qi Mu expressionlessly took a tissue paper from a side table and caught the bug. He instinctively wanted to toss it into the rubbish but suddenly had the realization that he’d better throw this “biochemical weapon” away in his own apartment.

Qi Mu, with the crumbled tissue in hand, walked calmly to the door. He saw the taller man was still standing behind the door refusing to take even a step forward. When he saw Qi Mu coming out, Min Chen’s eyebrows twitched, and he asked, “There’s. . . no others?” His tone was calm but definitely relieved.

Qi Mu had been surprised to see him at the beginning. But, after battling with his “biochemical weapon,” the respect and regard he held for the man had completely vanished, at least for the moment. Xiao Qi nodded slowly and said, “Yes, it’s just this one. It isn’t dead yet, so I’ll take it to mine and throw it out.” As he spoke, Qi Mu suddenly thrust his hand forward, pushing the crumpled tissue right in front of Min Chen.

Min Chen took half a step back instantly, and his Phoenix’s eyes widened. His face was unnaturally blank, “Yes. . . throw it away.”

Qi Mu: ". . ."

It wasn’t easy for Qi Mu to hold back his laughter. He sealed his mouth shut to prevent it from bursting out, but he couldn’t completely hide his shaking shoulders. He sped up and hurried into his apartment.

Min Chen: ". . ."

Min Chen let out a sigh, and his tense muscles eased when he saw the crumpled paper balled up and tossed into the trash can. By that time, he noticed the youth was all packed up.

He frowned. After thinking for a while, Min Chen asked seemingly casually, “You’re packing? Going somewhere?”

He had just found out who his neighbor was, but after that. . . funny incident, even Qi Mu couldn’t maintain his usual alienation from the man. This turned out to be the key that opened up the door for communication. Qi Mu lowered his head and packed up a few other things with a nod.

“Yes, I have a flight to Hong Kong this evening.” Qi Mu suddenly seemed to think of something the moment he finished speaking. He set down the things he was organizing in his suitcase, having remembered the man was currently a guest. “There’s a music festival next week, but I’m going early because I want to participate in it.”

Qi Mu quickly stopped packing and stood to pour a glass of water. He set it on the coffee table with a smile, “Mr. Min, I never thought I would see you here. It surprised me.”

Xiao Qi couldn’t be blamed for his negligence. If you suddenly had your idol knocking on your door to get rid of a bug the size of your nail for him, you would also be blinded in an instant and not understand what was going on too.

Min Chen nodded and took a sip. After finding out it was lemonade, he nodded once more in praise for the young man’s taste for quality.

Well, there was only plain water in his house.

Min Chen looked up and said, “I didn’t know you were my neighbor. When did you move in?”

There was a guest present, so Qi Mu didn’t continue to pack. Instead, he sat up on the sofa opposite Min Chen, holding a glass of lemonade, and answered politely, “Just over a month ago. The environment here is good, and it’s close to the orchestra. I moved last month.”

A dim light flashed in his narrow eyes. Min Chen just replied with a, “Hmm,” but thought in his head: When I saw him on the street last time, he already lived here?

Although Qi Mu’s apartment wasn’t very large, everything was well-organized and nicely arranged. The few accessories added a little character to the space. Compared to his neighbor (the great god Min Chen), his apartment looked more lived in, and everything was neat.

Min Chen pretended to casually look around then asked, “Next month. . . there’s a music festival in Hong Kong?”

Qi Mu nodded with a smile, “Yes, it’s a grand music festival. I heard the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Salt Lake City’s Symphony Orchestra, and masters like Sweet Sherri and Claude Porter will also be there.”

Min Chen’s eyebrow suddenly raised and he looked somewhat interested, “New York is going too?”

“The promotion went out a few days ago. If I remember right, New York has a performance at the beginning of the second week.” The youth’s slender fingers tapped on the glass table. He thought for a moment then looked up, “The music festival will last for two weeks, but I want to familiarize myself with the area, so I booked a flight for this evening.”

In the quiet apartment, the chatter of the two talking continued on. It was the first time Qi Mu discovered that this man was quite talkative and didn’t put up any airs at all. Talking with him was like talking to a familiar friend, someone you’d never lack a topic to talk about with.

After they talked for a while, Min Chen stood and planned to leave. Qi Mu immediately stood to send him off, but Min Chen’s steps abruptly stopped when he passed the table. He looked at the different dishes on it.

There was still no expression on his elegant face, but he turned to Qi Mu and asked, “Did you cook this yourself?”

QI Mu took a look at the dishes on the table and smiled at MIn Chen, “I did. . . um. . .”

The man’s dark eyes were profound as if the endless sea was staring out of them. His expression seemed indifferent, but the message in his eyes made Qi Mu want to both laugh and cry.

After a bit, Qi Mu tentatively asked, “Since we’ve been talking for a while, would you like to. . . stay for a meal?”

“Okay.”

He agreed so quickly, it didn’t even give a chance for Qi Mu to take back the invitation.

Qi Mu: ". . ."

After the big god was “satisfied with the food and wine,” Qi Mu closed his door and helplessly laughed out loud.

“Min Chen is afraid of bugs, bugs the size of a thumbnail.”

“Min Chen can unexpectedly cadge a meal.”

Such a thing, even if he said it, who would believe him?

Yeah. . . even he still found it somewhat unbelievable.

Thinking about it, Qi Mu walked over to his computer and opened a familiar website. He saw that the handsome man was still the site’s background. A man who wouldn’t even enter his own because he was afraid of bugs. . . what a huge gap!

Qi Mu couldn’t help his laugh. His lips curled as he typed out a post——

【How do you think it would be if someday you could have dinner with your idol? You really have to brace yourself to eat together.】

After posting it, he turned off his computer and didn’t pay attention to it. He continued packing up his suitcase and was soon finished. While the sky was still bright, Qi Mu called over a taxi and was driven to the airport.

While waiting to board the plane, he remembered that he had written a post on the Danube forum and logged into his phone. There were dozens of replies!

【The great god Mozart has long passed away, so let’s not talk about that. The existing maestro that I want to have dinner with. . . Mr. Dorenza? Haha, I would faint!】

【Oh my god, a meal with my goddess? When I eat, I always play her piano as the background music!】

. . .

The replies were quite diverse, but there were several that mentioned a name Qi Mu was familiar with.

【Dinner with great god Min Chen. . . isn’t that too cool? God must be playing a joke on me. I’d have to plan a week in advance. . . no! a month in advance, to train my table manners!】

【Mr. Bertram has a very aristocratic atmosphere. I guess if I was having dinner with him, I would eat nothing, haha!】

Qi Mu stared at the messages for a while and pondered. The way he remembered it. . . the man ate his dishes until he was satisfied, he even looked as if he hadn’t had enough. Really, one’s imagination could kill.

Who would have imagined that the conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the same man with such great momentum on stage, was actually very afraid of bugs!

Qi Mu felt that he could count on this gossip to survive a lifetime.

What Qi Mu didn’t know was that halfway across the city, on the top floor of a high-class apartment building, a handsome man with a cold face and a fear of bugs was standing in front of his floor-to-ceiling window. He was staring down at Huaxia’s bustling nightlife. With its bright neon lights, sleepless city’s night had just begun.

Min Chen held his phone, looking down at the bustling street below.

“You suddenly ask me to book a ticket for a flight about to take off in an hour, how could I do it! Huaxia isn’t Germany. We don’t have that kind of relationship here. There’s only a flight tomorrow, Min.” Daniel’s dejected and infuriated voice echoed over the phone.

The man frowned slightly then finally said, “Hmm, okay.”

Daniel thought for a moment and asked, “What do you want to do in Hong Kong? Oh, by the way, there’s a music festival there soon. Do you want to check it out? Nah, you’re too antisocial. You’ve never liked going to such crowded places before. . .”

Who knew that the moment Daniel spoke, Min Chen’s expression turned dangerous and his voice darkened, “You knew there was going to be a festival?”

Daniel instinctively answered, “Of course I know. Kedori received several invitations. Of course, nobody invited you, haha.”

Kedori Mensa was their concertmaster, and he had a good reputation throughout the world. Several festivals and events invited masters to perform, so it was normal for Kedori to receive an invitation.

Daniel’s laughter continued, “You’re not easy going like Kedori, so of course people won’t want to invite you. Besides, it’s not like you’ll be willing to play the piano at a festival. Didn’t you say it yourself in your performance last year?”

Min Chen ignored Daniel’s deliberate teasing. He lowered his gaze and asked, “Is Kedori going?”

Daniel said, “No, you’re not at the orchestra right now, so he’s in charge. How can he go?” Halfway through, Daniel seemed to have realized something, and he suddenly asked, “Min, why did you ask whether Kedori was going or not? It can’t be. . . you want to go?!!!”

Min Chen nodded without expression: “Yes.”

“. . . If you have time to go to a music festival, then you should go back to the orchestra!!! You’re making people live difficult days!!! Let me tell you, you. . .”

Min Chen wisely and decisively ended the call before the person on the other end of the line could blow a fuse, and his apartment returned to its usual calmness. Min Chen looked at the gorgeous city. The lights were bright, but they were cold as they shone onto his solemn face.

“Hong Kong. . .”

Translator(s): Kuro

Editor(s): Bet

Notes

From your editor:

Does anyone else remember when Min Chen made Daniel sample those fried scorpion skewers in ? It's funnier if you go reread that scene again after this chapter. Haha!