Chapter 152 (1/2)

The early winter of B City was much colder than that of Paris. Siberian wind shrouded the city, coating it in a layer of bitter cold. Once people stepped free from the pleasant warmth of their home or the sun, they could do nothing but shiver.

Qi Mu stayed in B City for another day, then left for S City. His holiday was only for a month in total, then he would return to Vienna before Christmas. Now he had less than two weeks left before the end of his holiday, so he needed to hurry.

Just after arriving at the S City airport, Qi Mu saw Zhu Wen Jun and his wife. They’d been waiting for a long time at the airport. Smiling, he gave them a big hug, then said, “Uncle Zhu, Aunt Cheng, why are you still here in person?”

Zhu Wen Jun, in his forties that year, groomed himself well. Wearing a light grey overcoat, he looked much younger than his actual age. Hearing Qi Mu’s words, his eyes flashed a dark color, but were hidden by his glasses.

Zhu Wen Jun reached out his hand and pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, saying “Little Seven, I haven’t seen you for a long time. Of course we had to pick you up when you came to see us in S City.” While talking, Zhu Wen Jun took Qi Mu’s suitcase with great enthusiasm, surprising him.

Cheng Tingwen, wearing makeup, snorted from her nose, then glanced dismissively at her good-for-nothing husband. She said, “Little Seven, don’t worry about him. He wouldn’t be like this if he had something to ask you, would he?”

Together, the three walked to the parking lot. Qi Mu frowned a little. Smiling with embarrassment, he said, “What do you want me to do? Aunt Cheng, you don’t have to tease me, how could Uncle Zhu ask something of me?”

Cheng Tingwen looked at her husband as if she was disgusted, then said, “Just listen to him about this, Little Seven.”

Hearing this, Qi Mu’s handsome white face flashed a puzzled look. He turned to Zhu Wen Jun, who stood on the other side of the car. Looking at the elegant chief conductor of the S City Symphony Orchestra, he noticed his eyes were… Deep.

…So he did have something to ask!

When they reached the car, Zhu Wen Jun finally put his thoughts together and explained the situation one piece at a time.

At first, Qi Mu thought there was something wrong with the orchestra’s latest concert and needed his help to perform onstage. But, to his surprise, Zhu Wen Jun said, “Little Seven, there will be a new Huaqing Cup national violin competition soon, did you know?”

Hearing this, Qi was shocked. Fastening his seatbelt, he looked up at Zhu Wen Jun in the driver’s seat, just to see him looking back. In the bright rearview mirror, their eyes met.

After thinking for a long time, Qi Mu helplessly said, “Uncle Zhu, if I remember correctly, Huaqing Cup… only those under 20 can compete? I am 22 this year, I may not be able to participate.”

Zhu Wen Jun: “…”

Cheng Tingwen laughed out loud, “Little Seven, you misunderstood me. How could you think your uncle would misremember your age? He didn’t want to invite you to participate in the competition, but…” uttering a sound, she glanced at Zhu Wen Jun, whose face was a brilliant red in the driver’s seat, then continued, “He wants to invite you to judge the competition.”

As soon as her voice fell, Qi Mu was stunned. Then he got the reason from Zhu Wen Jun.

It turned out that Huaqing Cup was usually hosted by the Huaxia Classical Music Association, or B City and S City Classical Music Association in turns. This year, it was the S City Classical Music Association’s turn. Zhu Wen Jun, as the vice chairman of the association, had undertaken the organization work for the competition.

Zhu Wen Jun, as the chief conductor of the S City Symphony Orchestra, had no doubt in his ability. Therefore, the competition ended smoothly from the initial audition stage to the preliminary stage. Three days later, it would be the second stage, and then the final would be held.

Zhu Wen Jun handled the matter properly without any mistakes. He even considered the weather conditions. Who knew that just when he finished making final preparations for the judges and contestants three days before the competition, something big would happen to one of the judges. Because it was a youth violin competition, in addition to three relatively authoritative and heavyweight music masters, two of the five judges were talented young masters.

Qi Mu also knew that Wang Zheng, who worked with the orchestra during the centennial celebration, would be there. Although Wang Zheng was an outstanding pianist, he also had made some accomplishments in violin since childhood and had won some awards.

After thinking for a long time, Zhu Wen Jun finally picked another young violinist in Hong Kong. Although the violinist was a little older and hadn’t won any well-known awards, he was quite popular among the young people, so he could barely be nominated as one of the judges.

But, to Zhu Wen Jun’s surprise, after calculating the weather and transportation, he never considered that——

One of the judges would fall ill!

The violinist in Hong Kong City suddenly had multiple stomach aches two days earlier. When he went to the hospital, they said his long-term drinking and smoking caused a cyst in his stomach, which needed to be removed as soon as possible. The excision… he’d be recovering for ten days, which wasn’t good.

Zhu Wen Jun was completely worried.

The candidate was already hard to find, but now he had an accident. Why wouldn’t he be worried?

When Zhu Wen Jun received Qi Mu’s call, he learned he was going to visit him in S City.