Vienna, the symbol of cla.s.sical music.

Countless famous musicians spent their brilliant music careers inthis beautiful city. Statues of music maestros such as Mozart, Beethoven, andBrahms stood over parks and various streets. Some were even named after them.

Vienna, the sacred place of every cla.s.sical musician. To them, thehappiest moment of their lives would be to come and listen to concerts andwatch musicals.

Qi Mu followed Akkad to Vienna in the middle of May.

Spring was already n fully swing, and all kinds of flowers viedfor beauty. Walking on such a quiet street, he could smell the fragrant flowersand listen to melodious music at any time. It was refreshing.

When Akkad arrived in Vienna, he immediately found a coffee shopcalled . Even before Qi Mu could put down his suitcase, the music mastergave his order, “One Sachertorte and a latte. Oh, Little Seven, would you like a Sachertorte aswell?"

Qi Mu smiled and waved his hand. "No, professor. I"ll just have amocha, please."

Akkad smiled and waited for the uniformed waiter to leave thenspoke mysteriously, “Little Seven, although you"ve been to Vienna as achild. . . it was several years ago. You have to take a good look, this time.Vienna has changed after all these years, ah.”

Qi Mu nodded. "Yes, professor."

"For example, Sachertorte is Austria"s national treasure. Whydon"t you have one?"

Did he just want Qi Mu to try Sachertorte? It was known as one ofthe top ten cakes in the world. Qi Mu didn"t know whether to laugh or cry."Professor. . . then, shall I have one?"

When Qi Mu ordered another cake, Akkad was satisfied. Before long,two small cakes were delivered to them on a glittering gold plate, making iteven more delicate and lovely.

Qi Mu took a single bite and didn"t touch it again.

He turned his head and looked out the window, catching sight of afew lovely children. They were chasing and playing with each other on a bluebrick lane. Next to them stood a white marble statue, its figure looking aheadholding a thick sheet of music in hand.

Qi Mu looked at this familiar yet unfamiliar scene and felt as ifhe was from another world.

Everything was the same, he even recognized the scent of the air.The sunshine was bright as ever. The people on the streets, the street signs,even this Sachar Cafe hasn"t changed.

The only thing that had changed…

Was perhaps himself?

Qi Mu looked out the window, the bright and dazzling sunshinemaking him squint. Ten years ago, he came to this place by himself. He diedhere with unfulfilled dreams. And now——

Now he was back.

“Hey Little Seven, don’t you want to eat? Don"t wastethis!” Akkad looked at the cake on the plate that was only missing asingle bite, and said, “The cake is so delicious, you can’t eat just thismuch.”

Qi Mu smiled and tacitly pushed his plate over. "If Teacherdoesn"t mind, would you like to share?"

Professor Akkad immediately took the plate and said, "I don"tmind, I don"t mind."

Akkad thought he was being considerate so he took Qi Mu to visitthe , the Belvedere and the St.Stephen Cathedral. After that, they endedthe first day of their trip and arrived at the hotel.

Qi Mu set down his luggage and couldn"t wait to open the curtain.

In an instant, Vienna’s golden night was in sight. The streetlights were exactly as they should be. Every building was still distributed thesame way. There was nothing different from the Vienna of his memories!

Qi Mu stared in amazement, and after a long time, it finally hithim——

He really was back.

. . .

Since he was back, he had something to do, didn"t he?

Qi Mu didn"t ask Akkad about their plans for the next few days. Ifthere was nothing, he wanted to go back to the house he rented.

When he had just about to knock on the door, he saw Akkad wasready to go out. The gray-haired old man wore a simple shirt with an ordinarycoat. He looked like the typical grandfather next door.

When he saw Qi Mu, Akkad blinked and smiled, “Little Seven,you"re early. Come on, bring your violin, let"s go.”

Qi Mu: ". . . Go?"

Akkad nodded with a straight-laced expression. "You want to stayin the hotel all the time? Little Seven, young people can"t waste their timelike that. Bring your violin and come with me!"

". . ."

When Qi Mu went back to his room to get his violin, he thoughtAkkad was going to take him to visit a master.

Many musicians, after becoming famous, except for those who preferto settle in their hometown, would come to Vienna and integrate with the city.Therefore, quite a few musicians lived in Vienna.

However, when Akkad went to the subway and walked to a place hewas very familiar with, Qi Mu"s eyelids twitched. A terrible premonition rosein his heart.

Akkad took him and stopped in front of the statue of the prince inthe Heroes Square, Qi Mu involuntarily gulped. He barely managed to restrain theurge to turn around.

Akkad smiled, bearing white teeth. "Little Seven, start playing."

Qi Mu: ". . ."

After a while, the beautiful young man could barely keep the smileon his face but asked, "Professor, what do you mean. . . start playing?”

Akkad said matter-of-factly, “Of course, you are playinghere. Little Seven, I know you Chinese are more humble, you need to open up alittle bit! Let the residents of Vienna hear your violin. Just like the streetmusicians we saw yesterday, boldly unleash your violin!”

The suspicion in his mind turned to reality, and Qi Mu could onlyshake his head helplessly. He placed his violin case at the side of the stepsand began to prepare.

Akkad was surprised to see him agree so quickly and whispered, ".. . He accepted so quickly? Little Seven is quite open-minded. I thought I willhave to persuade him for quite a while."

Akkad didn"t know that although he never played in the streets ofVienna, when the Munich College was on break on Sat.u.r.days, he would go to thebusiest square in the city center and play the violin by himself.

Performing in such public s.p.a.ces was a test for a performer"smindset and mentality which increased their courage and flexibility. There wasno audio equipment, let alone a magnificent stage, but ordinary pa.s.sers-by togive heartfelt applause.

Of course, for the poor Qi Mu at the time. . . it was also anopportunity to make money.

Akkad worried whether his lovely student could adapt to this kindof environment. After all, Qi Mu grew up a music prodigy, like a flower in agreenhouse. To his surprise, while he worried. . . Qi Mu was already ready!

The handsome young man smiled and looked at his teacher.“Professor, what kind of track do you want me to perform?”

Akkad, stunned, asked out of reflex, "You"re ready? Have yourubbed the rosin? The tuning is done?"

Qi Mu didn"t know whether to laugh or cry. "Professor, I"ve doneit all."

Akkad was not accustomed to such a promising student who alsoexceeded his expectations. He coughed twice and said, "Okay, then play threesongs. I won"t stand by your side and give directions or pressure. You willplay on your own. Choose the songs yourself, but remember. . . The first onecan be amateurish, but the last, I hope will be professional-level and beyond."

Qi Mu was quite embarra.s.sed but nodded quite confidently. "Okay,Teacher. I know."

Akkad left quietly after a few more words. Under the statue, Qi Muwas left alone with his empty violin case.

Tourists and pa.s.sers-by stopped to look at him when they saw hiscase on the steps.

Many musicians performed improvisations in the streets of Vienna.Some were professionals, but more were amateurs. They had long becomeaccustomed to such a thing, it wasn"t unusual for them.

But. . . when the star of the show was a handsome Asian youth,they couldn"t help but pay more attention. By the time Qi Mu set the beautifulviolin at his shoulder, four or five people had gathered, waiting for his performance.

In an area full of people, Qi Mu took a breath then slowlyexhaled.

The next moment, his bow met the swings and the pleasant melody ofhis violin rang out, sounding as if it flowed from the heavens!

Translator

(s): Kuro

Editor

Kuro:

Wanted to share this since I started translating, but I always forgot, and I"m sure many people already know this but here: a

ll hail our hero, Mozart!