Chapter 50 (1/2)

In winter, the sky always brightened slowly. Even at seven o’clock, the hazy crescent moon still hung in the distant west, delayed on the horizon. But on this bone-chillingly cold morning, many people had woken up wanting to leave S City before the morning rush to avoid traffic.

Qi Mu’s flight was at 10 am, so he got out of bed early to head to the airport. He had carried his suitcase downstairs and was checking out in the hotel lobby when he received a call from Zhu Wen Jun.

While talking, Qi Mu pulled his suitcase outside. He hadn’t exited the main doors yet when the conversation over the phone sent him into a daze.

A while later, Zhu Wen Jun drove to the front of the hotel and picked Qi Mu up.

He helped Qi Mu place his not-too-large suitcase into the backseat. After they were settled in the car, the handsome middle-aged man laughed, “Xiao Qi, I remember your flight leaves today around ten? It might be too late to catch it.”

With Zhu Wen Jun’s advice, Qi Mu already knew he would not catch the flight. He nodded his head. “Uncle Zhu, there’s another flight to B City tonight. Of course, if something happens, I can return a few days late. There shouldn’t be any problems with Tan Lao.”

Zhu Wen Jun smiled, “Then, I will trouble you. Master Farrell wants to meet you. I was surprised. I didn’t think he would attend the Centennial Celebration. But not only did he attend, but he also wants to meet you.”

Just that morning, Master Farrell Louis, through a relationship with the S City Music Association’s chairman, contacted Zhu Wen Jun. According to Farrell, he wished to meet with Qi Mu today, the sooner, the better.

Zhu Wen Jun believed this was an excellent opportunity, so he quickly gave Qi Mu a call. Even though he did not know why Farrell wanted to meet with Qi Mu, talking with one of the world’s top class musical masters would be beneficial for Qi Mu.

Although Farrell Louis and Min Chen were both world-class conductors and composers, Farrell’s specialty was the violin, and he had some experience with the piano. To talk with such an outstanding violinist, it would be helpful to Qi Mu’s growth.

Of course, Qi Mu understood the decision to abandon the flight and meet with this master.

Even though he didn’t know the other’s intention, Qi Mu had a faint hunch that this meeting wasn’t a bad thing.

When Qi Mu and Zhu Wen Jun arrived at the S City Symphony Orchestra’s building, Farrell and Cheng Ting Wen had already been in conversation for a while.

The two sat in the VIP room. While it wasn’t large, it was quiet and pleasant. There was an old fashioned sliding glass window on the south wall, and the green garden was visible.

Cheng Ting Wen saw them arrive and stood from the couch. She smiled and said a few sentences to Farrell in English then walked over to Qi Mu and said in Chinese, “Xiao Qi, Master Farrell is in a good mood today. He highly praised your performance yesterday.”

Qi Mu startled a little and laughed, “Okay, Auntie Cheng. I understand.”

Then Cheng Ting Wen and Zhu Wen Jun left the VIP lounge and closed the door behind them. Farrell and Qi Mu listened to the crisp sound of it closing then turned to each other.

Qi Mu didn’t have the nervousness of a younger person. He walked straight over to the couch where Cheng Ting Wen had sat originally. He asked warmly, “Mr. Farrell, hello. May I sit over there?”

The white-haired foreigner smiled and nodded, responding in awkward Chinese, “Of course.”

While waiting for Qi Mu to sit, Farrell very thoughtfully poured a cup of hot tea for him, giving Qi Mu a feeling of being “overwhelmed by unexpected favor.”

After saying “thanks,” Qi Mu was still deep in thought over how to ask what his intention for seeking him out was. Farrell’s eyes carried a smile as he studied Qi Mu up and down. Then he said with approval, “Qi, I heard your performance last night. You are very talented, and a violinist with great potential.”

Farrell’s straightforward words shocked Qi Mu. No matter how thick-faced, or how excellently he performed in front of a world-class violin master, he would not be arrogant.

Qi Mu’s eyes curled, and a faint smile crossed his delicate face. “Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Farrell. I was surprised to see you today. I used to like your 《Charles Fantasia》. I’ve listened to it frequently in private.