Chapter 22 (1/2)

Just when the clarinetist finished his performance, Du Sheng returned from the preparation under the cover of the loud applause. He leaned down and whispered to Tan Lao, “The second was Professor Karl’s student. He wanted to delay his performance.”

The loud applause almost drowned out Du Sheng’s voice, but Tan Lao frowned, “Delay his performance? Professor Karl didn’t mention this to me when he recommended them. His student? Which one?”

Du Sheng thought about it for a moment and said, “It seems to be. . . Sheng Yan Hui?”

Qi Mu, who sat beside them, was surprised.

Tan Zheng Hui’s eyes also widened in surprise. He automatically turned to look at Qi Mu. He frowned, and after a while, said, “He is Xiao Qi’s acquaintance too. Why don’t you go see what’s going on?”

Naturally, Qi Mu didn’t refuse. He nodded, stood up, and went in the direction of the preparation room. Tonight, he wore a light black suit. By then, the bright light was focused on the stage, so it was difficult to see his figure.

While walking, Qi Mu frowned slightly. Somehow, there was an unusual feeling in his heart.

Qi Mu looked back at the hall. There was a solemn atmosphere as everyone listened attentively. There was nothing strange.

After laughing at that and scolding himself, Qi Mu turned and entered the preparation room.

He didn’t know that as he entered, a blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigner appeared where he had just stood. The man entered the hall under the guidance of a hostess and, after a while, he seemed to have remembered something. He quickly turned around and stretched his hand out behind the door.

A moment later, an unhappy gentleman was pulled into the hall.

The hostess nodded with a smile, then turned and left them. Daniel approached him quietly and whispered, “Min, aren’t we late? We set off an hour early, who knew that the road here is always packed? Alas, there are too many people in Huaxia!”

Min Chen paid no attention to Daniel as he said this. He looked around the hall instead. There were not many people there. Including the person on stage, and the courteous ladies standing around the hall wearing polite smiles, there were only a few dozen people.

Min Chen quickly noticed that the person he was looking for wasn’t in the hall. He frowned and asked, “Where is he? Did he perform already?”

“He? You’re talking about. . . Qi Mu?” Daniel looked at the list in his hand and said, “The third soloist is playing now, so there should be another performance yet. Qi Mu is the fifth.” Pausing, he then grinned, revealing his white teeth, “We weren’t too late, Min.”

The walls were white marble and covered in artwork. Some of the most outstanding pieces were engraved with various exquisite carvings. The pillars were enveloped in red wallpaper with golden trim. The pale gold vines provided a classical aesthetic, and this touch made everything shine with splendor.

The people who attended this type of event wore formal dress. Even Daniel, who had such a large personality, wore a white suit. Naturally, Min Chen wore dark formal wear.

His outfit was very low-key, with only silver threading at the chest to indicate it was a high-end brand. Hearing Daniel speak, Min Chen abruptly raised his right hand to look at his watch, and the blue sapphire on his cufflink glittered in the light.

“This is not considered late?” Min Chen asked plainly.

Daniel nodded with certainty, “Yeah. . . this is only the third performance?” As soon as he said it, his eyes met Min Chen’s, and he shivered all over. Raising his hands in surrender, he said, “I was wrong. Auston, I won’t dally anymore. Let’s take advantage of the moment to go sit down, okay. Let’s go, let’s go.”

With that, Daniel hurriedly found the two empty seats and didn’t dare look back.

The audience was just applauding the performance of the trumpet player, and the one or two who saw Daniel were speechless with surprise. They couldn’t help but do a double take. Before they could recover their gazes, they saw a man walking over and were so surprised that they could not close their mouths.

Unexpectedly, the late one. . .

Was Min Chen?!

Just then, Qi Mu, who was in the prep room, had no idea that a minor uproar was happening in the hall.

Everyone who was performing tonight went to the prep room to prepare their instruments and to do some “warm up” exercises. There weren’t many people there, so Qi Mu quickly found Sheng Yan Hui in a corner, adjusting the strings of his violin.

Qi Mu walked forward and asked with a smile, “Sheng Yan Hui? Long time no see. It’s been two months, right? I didn’t expect to see you here. What a coincidence.”

Qi Mu’s words were very skillful and polite, with no mistakes. But just as his voice fell, Sheng Yan Hui raised his head and stared at him thoughtfully. When he could no longer hold the expression on his face, the man suddenly said, “Unfortunately, I came here for you specifically.”

“. . .”

Bad boy! Absolutely a bear child!

Looking at Sheng Yan Hui’s expression that seems to be saying “Hmm, I’m looking for you,” Qi Mu somehow thought of that term.

Although he felt helpless in his heart, he still smiled, “Me?”

Sheng Yan Hui nodded, “I came to find you, and to compete again openly and honestly! The last competition. . . doesn’t count. This time, I hope you can go all out. Rest assured. I have made a lot of progress under Professor Karl’s guidance. I am not the same as I was previously.”