"It's title is——"

"《The twilight in the moonlight》."

In the dim room, the man's sweet, rich voice resounded in Qi Mu's ears. The next moment, the piano's clear sound filled the room.

It was a gentle adagio. Each key corresponded to a soft, singing tune. The tone was low and melodious, akin to a sea breeze on a moonlit night. Even the ending tremolo was ethereal.

Min Chen was right. This adagio was really slow, so slow that even Qi Mu could follow and keep up with his fingers.

Even in his first life, Qi Mu had never played the piano. This was his first time.

He watched as his fingers danced across the black and white keys. It was so fascinating, he couldn't help but get excited.

Under his fingers were Min Chen's calm and steady ones. If Qi Mu's fingers were like a child's first steps, there was no doubt…

Min Chen's fingers were like a man standing on top of the world.

At first, Qi Mu only felt the novelty of playing the piano. But as the piece went on, he began to immerse himself in the music.

In the soft, beautiful melody, he saw a brilliant beam of moonlight. As clear as water, the world was shrouded in its cold glow. However, a long, narrow ribbon split the world in two, the dividing line between sea and sky.

The setting sun gradually sank, but hung firmly over the sea, dyeing the vast sky with its dazzling light. Looking as if they were puffs of steam, the clouds lingered over the distant sea.

The two wonders that shouldn't coexist, moonlight and twilight. But, they were both present, silently competing. However, neither was more brilliant than the other. They only enveloped the world below in their masterful scene.

The melody stopped but Qi Mu was so immersed, he didn't return from his reverie.

After a long time, he grabbed the man's arm and looked up to him. Softly, he asked, "Twilight in the moonlight?"

Min Chen met his gaze and nodded, then whispered, "Yes, it's 《Twilight in the Moonlight》."

Qi Mu had always been smart. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have been able to live so peacefully in the orphanage. If he wasn't smart, he wouldn't have been able to keep what was left of the inheritance from his adoptive parents when they passed away. And if he wasn't smart enough, he wouldn't have been the deputy concertmaster of Wei Jiao by the virtue of his own strength.

Such a name, and such feelings brewed into the melody, inexplicably reminded him of several memories.

In the end, Qi Mu couldn't stop himself from smiling. "You seldom write such a soothing piece, Min Chen. You used to pay more attention to skills, like your 《D Major》 that was completely for professional musicians."

At this, Min Chen elegantly raised an eyebrow. He was very interested in hearing the youth's evaluation of him.

"Although your music style varies, you still retained the German style of classical music. In fact, your music is still dominated by it. It's very orthodox, formal, and magnificent. But this 《Twilight in the Moonlight》, I think… you've made a great change in your style. If Mr. Lyon heard the melody you just played, he might write a long and colorful review on it."

Having finished the short, unfinished piece, Min Chen gently held Qi Mu's waist with his left hand. With his right hand still resting on the keys, he looked at the young man and said, "I was inspired by something and came up with this song. I saw my Muse Goddess on a moonlit night, though… God cast the wrong gender."

Of course Qi Mu knew what he meant. Raising his eyebrows, he said, "Oh? How pitiful your Muse Goddess is. Why don't you find another one?"

Seeing the young man pretend to be angry, Min Chen smiled, then shook his head. "But it's him that I want, not a goddess."

"But he doesn't need you."

As soon as his voice fell, Min Chen pulled Qi Mu's waist forward, until he fell into his warm chest. Raising his head, Qi Mu saw Min Chen with his lips slightly curled up. He murmured, "Really?"

With this question, a warm, familiar breath swept across Qi Mu's lips.

After several months of separation, seeing the man again and meeting him with such a passionate kiss, it was impossible for Qi Mu to not be moved. Sitting sideways on the black stool, he wrapped his arms around the man's waist and responded to the kiss.

Min Chen's left hand tightly wound around Qi Mu's waist while his right hand caressed his hair. The tip of his tongue swept through a familiar space, sucking against his lover's with each breath. When he got a response, the temperature instantly rose.

The rhythm between their lips and tongue created an ambiguous sound in the quiet piano room. In such a dim environment, Qi Mu felt his mind gradually dulling, until only the man he loved was left in his sight, and they…

They hadn't seen each other for a long time.

Such warmth, such tolerance, such love that was as deep as the ocean, he was unable to restrain himself. He even acquiesced the man to the next step.

(For the complete version of this chapter, please refer to the Author’s Note.)

Qi Mu rested on top of Min Chen, hugging him gently and exchanging warm kisses.

Min Chen carefully kissed the corner of Qi Mu's ears, kissing away the physiological tears overflowing from the intense pleasure. They kissed as embraced each other, gradually slipping into another heated love affair.

When Qi Mu woke the next day, he was promptly folded by the pain in his waist.

"Cough… It hurts…"

Feeling like he'd been run over by a car, Qi Mu collapsed on a soft pillow and opened his eyes in a daze. For a moment, he couldn't react.

Only when the familiar footsteps padded in from the doorway did he wake again. Instantly, he grabbed a pillow and hid his face in it.

As soon as he stepped inside, Min Chen saw a black head of hair burying itself like an ostrich. "…"

Love and lust were truly evil!

Thinking of how he had fallen under lust and made those ambiguous sounds, Qi Mu almost collapsed.

How could that kind of sound come from his throat?!

Well… It wasan illusion, it had to be!

"Have some food, I made porridge." The man's voice was low and helpless.

The soft quilt Qi Mu was lying on suddenly sank and he shifted, expressing his reply in action. I'm not eating, absolutely not!

Seeing the young man's actions practically screaming, "I won't move this pillow even if I die", Min Chen smiled softly, still holding the porridge for Qi Mu. After some thought, he said, "Well, you need to rest a bit. So I called the Palisade Theatre this morning to ask for a leave for you, and your conductor, Wallace, happened to answer…"

Qi Mu stiffened.

Min Chen continued, "Well, he asked me who I was and I said I was Auston Bertram. He sounded surprised, then asked what happened, and I told him…"

"What did you tell him?!!!"

Throwing the pillow aside, Qi Mu stared at the man with wide eyes.

With great foresight, Min Chen grabbed the pillow and placed it on the edge of the bed. Offering the small bowl in his hand, he whispered, "Well, I lied to you. I told Daniel to do it, I didn't call the Palisade, myself."

Qi Mu: "…"

Although the young man still wore an expression that said, "I don't want to pay any attention to you", at least he was agreeing to eat his porridge.

Handing the spoon over, Min Cheng caught sight of his pale face and he frowned. In a whisper, he asked, "Is your behind uncomfortable?"

Qi Mu choked on the porridge. "Cough, cough, cough…"

Finally, Qi Mu gnashed his teeth and said, "It's fine, but there's some pain in my waist."

After the second round, Qi Mu was quite groggy. He vaguely remembered Min Chen carrying him to the bathroom to clean him. After that, he thought there might've been a third round, which he couldn't bear to think of…

Qi Mu covered his face with his hands. He swore to himself that he wouldn't pay any attention to Min Chen for the entire day!

But Min Chen's next words left him mortified. "By the way, when he heard about you, Lance called your phone. It was a little over half an hour ago. He called three times and I answered the last one."

Qi Mu had a bad premonition. "…What happened then?"

"He asked me what happened to you," Min Chen continued, looking calm. "I told him you weren't feeling well."

"He asked me if I was taking care of you and I said I was. Then, he asked when I returned and I said yesterday. Finally, he asked why you weren't feeling well and I said——"

Min Chen's face was blank. "Because your little girlfriend is back."

Qi Mu: "……………………"

Translator(s): Kuro

TL Check: Teo

Editor(s): Empress

Author:

Kuro:

Bet:

Monday’s update is going to be the “other half” of 142. Keep your eyes peeled. 👀