Chapter 44 (1/2)
Only a few days after Qi Mu’s return to B City, he sent off the most solemn, western Christmas celebration ever and ushered in the new year. On the night of December 30th, a New Year’s concert was to be held at the Great Hall of the People, and the performer was Huaxia’s National Symphony Orchestra.
The B City Symphony Orchestra was in a similar situation to the Vienna Symphony. Moreso, Tan Zheng Hui didn’t actually want to perform a national concert this year. So, on the evening of the 30th, Qi Mu arrived early at the Great Hall of the People.
This year, Huaxia invited the world-class master, Ivan Kocher from the US National Symphony Orchestra. This maestro’s style was delicate and gentle, and he had conducted the Huaxia National Symphony before. Qi Mu looked forward to tonight’s performance very much.
Throughout the nearly three-hour-long performance, Ivan and the Huaxia Orchestra received a lot of praise and applause. Once it had ended, a large part of the audience was still immersed and would not forget the experience.
Qi Mu had attended the concert alone this evening. The Zheng couple went to their hometown to visit family for the holidays. When Qi Mu had gone next door with the two tickets he received from the B City Orchestra, he knocked for quite some time without a response.
Just as Qi Mu thought it was strange, he remembered——
Huaxia was holding a New Year’s concert, wasn’t Berlin the same?
Min Chen must have returned to rehearse with the orchestra a few days ago. The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Year concert on the 31st was also a must-see.
Therefore, Qi Mu sat alone under the magnificent dome of the Great Hall while the seat beside him remained empty. But, as he was about to leave, he hadn’t taken even a few steps when he suddenly heard someone whisper his name.
Turning back, Qi Mu saw Tan Lao walking toward him with a smile.
Du Sheng looked Qi Mu up and down and smiled, “Xiao Qi, ah, why did you come alone? Didn’t the orchestra give two tickets per person? You don’t have a girlfriend?”
Qi Mu’s smile shrank, and he said helplessly, “Du-ge, you’re making fun of me again. I don’t have a girlfriend, ah.” I don’t even have a boyfriend!
Du Sheng just laughed and stopped teasing him. Instead, a graceful man in a suit beside him, who had been smiling at Qi Mu all the while, said, “Xiao Qi, I haven’t seen you for a long time. Why didn’t you come visit? Did you forget your Uncle Zhu?”
As a matter-of-fact, Qi Mu had noticed Zhu Wen Jun standing beside Tan Lao.
The handsome middle-aged man was the current conductor of S City’s Symphony Orchestra. Beside him, holding his hand and smiling, was the orchestra’s music director and also his wife, Cheng Ting Wen.
Qi Mu nodded and politely greeted them with a soft smile, “Uncle Zhu, Auntie Cheng, long time no see. I received that S City delicacy you sent last month. Thank you for the gift.”
Although Cheng Ting Wen was over forty, her body was well maintained, and she looked like she was in her thirties. She covered her mouth to hide her laugh and said, “Xiao Qi is really sweet. Oh right, we received that album you sent us from Hong Kong the other day. Your skill is getting better and better. Your Uncle Zhu and I listened to the Sibelius’ 《First Symphony》 you performed with New Ai, and we’ve decided to talk to you about something.”
Qi Mu asked, “What is it?”
Henpecked as always, Zhu Wen Jun would never oppose his wife. He only looked at her helplessly then said to Qi Mu, “This matter is still a secret. We intended to talk to Tan Lao first, then invite you. But since Ting Wen’s already mentioned it, I’ll tell you directly. Xiao Qi, do you know how many years ago our S City Orchestra was founded?”
This question was indeed a test. No matter how hard Qi Mu studied, it was impossible to remember the details of every single orchestra clearly. Even for the S City Orchestra, which was one of the most famous in all of Huaxia.
As for the original?