Chapter 22 (2/2)

The smile on Qi Mu’s face faded away.

His bright and handsome face showed a heavy expression. He looked at this stubborn bear child for awhile then suddenly bowed and said solemnly. “I apologize. Due to certain circumstances. . . I can’t go to Munich. Last time was my fault, please forgive me.”

Sheng Yan Hui was stunned and took a step back. His face turned red and white. After a while, he stammered, “You. . . You don’t have to do this. Teacher accidentally mentioned it, and I heard about it. Only then did I know that you intentionally let me win. Everyone has their own difficulties, I know. But actually, Qi Mu. . . after hearing Teacher’s words, I felt lucky.”

Qi Mu raised his head in surprise. There was a trace of confusion in his pale eyes.

“If you didn’t deliberately lose that competition, then I. . . probably wouldn’t get to go to Munich in this lifetime. I’m not that young, and I don’t know when I would get another chance if I lost this opportunity. But even if I feel lucky, I don’t feel like I’ve won against you. So today, I deliberately delayed my performance, to perform before you and let the audience be the judge!”

By the end of his speech, Sheng Yan Hui had become more confident and no longer appeared to be shrinking back.

Qi Mu was utterly shocked, and he stared at him incredulously. After a long while, he asked, “Are you. . . sure?”

A lot of well-known people were attending this small concert, and their hearing was excellent. The organizer would almost always deliberately arrange the performances so the same instruments wouldn’t be played in a row. This was so the audience wouldn’t compare the two with each other.

Sheng Yan Hui solemnly nodded, “I know that this is a little threatening to you but, Qi Mu, I’m going to Munich with Teacher soon. I hope. . . we can compete straightforwardly! It’s a little risky but if you really don’t want to, I can perform now, and I will never mention anything about competing with you again.”

Sheng Yan Hui spoke gravely, and Qi Mu also understood what he meant.

Once someone lost, it was hard to outperform the other later unless they improved drastically. Otherwise, even many years later, someone might mention the two and someone else will remember this concert and say: “Oh, so-and-so. Well, he was worse than so-and-so.”

That was why Sheng Yan Hui said that even if Qi Mu refused, he wouldn’t complain.

Seeing such an earnest expression on his face, Qi Mu’s lips curled into a smile: “Alright, I agree.”

Sheng Yan Hui was surprised. “Really?” After thinking for a while, he quickly added, “There are a lot of important people here today. Are you really sure you want to compete with me? Once you lose, you. . .”

“You are so sure I will lose?” Qi Mu raised an eyebrow, and his beautiful face was like a sunset on the earth’s horizon. His smiling face stunned Sheng Yan Hui into silence, then he heard Qi Mu laugh. “Last time is still bothering you, and that was my fault. If we don’t do this, I think you will still be tangled up over the matter even if you go to Munich. Professor Karl perhaps suggested this solution?”

Startled, Sheng Yan Hui asked, “How did you know. . .”

Knowing his guess was right, Qi Mu’s smile deepened then he sighed, “Whatever the result is this time, Sheng Yan Hui, I hope you will leave this to rest. Real music is not about contending to see who is better. You are really good, and your future self should not be tied down by such trifle matters.”

As he spoke, Qi Mu suddenly stretched out his hand, and the corner of his eyes turned upward as he smiled, “Simply put, I’m glad to have the chance to formally compete with you. Let me introduce myself again.”

“Hello, Sheng Yan Hui. I am your opponent tonight——Qi Mu.”

Under the warm background light, this youth’s handsome face wore a dazzling smile. With his eyes tilted in a smile and his lips curved so beautifully, those that saw it could hardly look away.

Sheng Yan Hui had played the violin for over twenty years, and this was the first time he felt that his right hand refused to listen to him. It took a long time for him to shake Qi Mu’s hand, to his dismay. It wasn’t until he left the preparation room with his violin that he returned to his senses. He reflexively turned to look back.

As if inspired, he took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

Then, a gentle, spring-like melody filled the hall with the idyllic atmosphere of the countryside. This was Beethoven’s 《Spring Sonata》 which was like a spring breeze blowing away the autumn wind, it swept through the hearts of everyone present.

Even Daniel couldn’t help but smile. At the end of the song, he leaned closer to Min Chen and whispered in his ear, “Huaxia has a lot of talented people, Min. This Sheng guy too. . . Damn, what’s his name. . . Oh well, his 《Spring Sonata》 is very good. Hey Min, where are you looking?”

He followed the direction of Min Chen’s gaze but could only see Sheng Yan Hui’s figure in the background. He couldn’t see anything else. Daniel touched his head and frowned, “What’s wrong, Min. What are you doing. . .”

“He was blushing.”

Daniel asked, shocked, “Blushing? Who?”

His phoenix’s eyes slowly narrowed, then Min Chen said with a light tone, “Sheng Yan Hui.”

Daniel was utterly at loss. He didn’t understand why Min Chen would pay that much attention to this young man. Of course, he didn’t know that just before Sheng Yan Hui entered the backstage, Min Chen saw another young man standing behind the curtain.

Before Sheng Yan Hui went up to the stage, he was talking. . . with Qi Mu?

Then what was this blushing about?

Having lived for nearly 30 years, Min Chen felt confused for the first time. But, he didn’t have the time to think about it. A figure exited the backstage holding a violin, and he startled. Suddenly things were becoming clear in his mind.

Daniel exclaimed, “How could it be Qi Mu?! The last one was a violinist, and now him?!”