Chapter 42 (1/2)

On such a bleak night, even B City, which was usually filled with people during the day, was sparse. There were only a few cars driving by on the streets, and they quickly disappeared into the freezing night.

The security in this area was relatively good. There was a special system at the entrance, and outsiders were not allowed to enter freely. It was a high-end apartment, but there were only three buildings. Qi Mu’s apartment was on the 26th floor of the last one.

This building had twenty-seven floors. Qi Mu only recently learned that the entire 27th floor was owned by Min Chen, along with the one he lived in on the 26th, making his apartment a double-floor penthouse. It could be said that apart from this apartment, purchased before Min Chen had, the entire floor was also Min Chen’s.

Right now, those two floors were dark. Only Qi Mu’s apartment was shining with warm, yellow light. After cleaning the table, Min Chen didn’t immediately leave. Instead, he stared at an oil painting that Qi Mu had on the wall, lost in thought.

Qi Mu finished tidying up and looked over. He saw Min Chen staring at the painting and walked to stand beside him, “It was bought from a gallery in B City. The painter’s style is good. Similar to Ruben, it’s vivid and looks alive.”

When he spoke, Qi Mu pointed at the artistic representation of an autumn harvest on a wheat field that was beside the painting. His eyes bowed into crescents, “This autumn harvest is more like Ruben’s early works. Though not as radical, it has its own charm. I remember one by him is hanging in the first rehearsal hall of the Geneva Conservatory.”

Min Chen had initially been just studying the painting, but when he heard Qi Mu’s words, his dark eyes narrowed. Just as Qi Mu thought of introducing the other painting to him, Min Chen asked casually, “Was there such a painting there? When I went to last year’s graduation concert, I didn’t notice it.”

Being so suddenly asked about it, Qi Mu automatically replied, “Yes. Though, has it been removed recently? It’s possible. After all, Professor Deville, that painting. . .” Suddenly, Qi Mu’s voice silenced, and his throat went taut as he realized there was something wrong with his words.

After a long time, Qi Mu smiled, “I only heard about it. Professor Deville Carter at the Geneva Conservatory has a collection of paintings. I was interested in one of them when I was a child, and my mother told me she saw the painting there the last time she went.”

In the original’s memory, his mother did go to Conservatory for a concert when she was young. As to whether she saw that painting or not. . . Qi Mu really had no idea.

Qi Mu’s immediate clarification for the slip of tongue would have possibly made the other believe it if they were Du Sheng or Zheng Wei Qiao.

Even if it was Tan Zheng Hui, there might be some doubt, but he wouldn’t dwell on it.

But, the person standing beside him right now. . . was Min Chen.

Qi Mu has spent quite some thought in decorating his apartment. There was a spotlight to highlight and brighten these paintings. At the moment, the diffused white light reflected onto the man’s handsome profile, solidifying his sharp features.

Min Chen felt something incredulous flash through his mind, but just as he was about to capture his thought, it disappeared entirely without a trace. He squinted and gently hummed, “If you want to know, i can get Daniel to go find out. Geneva and Berlin. . . it’s not that far.”

Seeing that the other man didn’t seem to be suspicious, Qi Mu felt a bit relieved. He shook his head and said, “Let’s not bother him. It’s no big deal anyway.” After a pause, he laughed and changed the topic, “Oh right, I really am sorry about not telling you today would be informal beforehand. I. . . probably let you down.”

Qi Mu could imagine. For the Bertram family, it was impossible to have a simple 8-in-1 soup for a Christmas Eve dinner.

Min Chen’s profound gaze lingered on him for a bit. Then he shook his head and replied, “Your cooking is excellent. I didn’t know you could cook Chinese like that.”

Qi Mu laughed, “It was all learned from my parents. They were keen on Chinese cuisine. I’m glad you liked it. I really appreciate. . . what you did for me in Hong Kong. When I went to the score, did you say something to Mr. Boswell? He was very kind to me during the rehearsals.”

As a good man who never let his good deeds stick to his name, Min Chen shook his head, “I didn’t do anything special. Didn’t you say that Boswell’s temper was particularly good?”

However, Boswell himself had told him. This man had directly recommended him to Boswell. But. . . he still refused to admit it. Perhaps this was a form of. . . modesty?

After thinking for a time, he no longer tried to chase the matter. “All in all, I appreciate you taking care of me in Hong Kong.”

“I’m only repaying you.”

Qi Mu: “?”

Min Chen’s expression was calm, as was his tone: “For your help with the bug.”

“. . .”

This was a single apartment of roughly forty to fifty square meters. Even if the decorations were excellent, after ten minutes of appreciation, there was nothing left to look at. Now, there was still some time before midnight. Qi Mu knew it was important for many western families with strong traditions to keep the family together on Christmas Eve.

Although he personally had no interest in the vigil, when he considered that Min Chen had to return that large, empty house, waiting for the clock to strike twelve by himself. . . he shook his head and sighed.

Since the other man had helped him so much, even calling it a repayment. . . so why not?

“Before you knocked on my door that day, I had no idea you lived next door.” Qi Mu poured a cup of warm water from a thermos and handed it to Min Chen, continuing to say, “I didn’t expect to not know who was living next door for so long, it’s a bit funny.”

Min Chen took the cup and said, “I don’t remember hearing the violin through the wall.”