Forcefully Doting On You - v5c14

 

Chapter 120

The preliminary contestant list for the Queen's International Violin Competition was announced.

When Mu Cai checked the preliminaries' results on his computer, he couldn't help but feel some nerves, despite his confidence in himself.

This international tournament consisted of the first round, semifinals, and finals, with the competition venues and subsequent concert locations being overseas. The preliminaries were akin to the open auditions of domestic singing competitions, but rather than attending in person, contestants submitted their music videos to the competition committee's specified email address for review by dedicated judges.

There was no limit to the number of people who could advance from the preliminaries, but it had to be more than 24 contestants. When recording their video, competitors had to choose one of the songs specified by the competition rules and use professional equipment for the recording. Mu Cai had participated in similar contests in the real world. Back then, his family was well-off, and he never had to worry about acquiring equipment.

But it was different now.

He had been checking the balance on his original bank card, worrying about the situation, when Pei Jingyun approached one step ahead and arranged for professional recording equipment and cameras to be installed in his room. Based on Mu Cai's past experience, just the camera alone might have been worth hundreds of thousands.

He hadn’t anticipated that Pei Jingyun would attach such importance to his competition. A formerly relaxed attitude suddenly became a little nervous. Thankfully, Mu Cai's rich competition experience meant that a video recording wouldn’t trouble him, although the hand checking the initial selection results was slightly trembling.

As expected, Mu Cai was chosen in the preliminaries.

Mu Cai breathed a sigh of relief, at least the expensive camera hadn't been wasted. Alongside the preliminary results, he also received a notification email from the competition committee. They invited him to attend the first round of the competition in Orly three months later. The committee would arrange free accommodation and reimburse a portion of his travel expenses.

Such competitions usually had long timelines, especially at the preliminary stages. Mu Cai had submitted his preliminary video in October of last year, and now, almost a year had passed before the results of the preliminary competition came out.

During this year, the majority of Mu Cai's energy was devoted to his violin practice. He had a strong foundation, and only due to a hand injury and involvement in the national energy department's mining plan had his practice been interrupted. In the past year, he practiced for at least six hours every day without fail and finally managed to regain his former competitive condition.

While Mu Cai had virtually ignored outside affairs in this past year, that didn’t mean he was unaware of the person who made it possible for him to focus on his violin practice in peace.

Over the past year, he had lived freely and enjoyed all the upscale life has to offer, with no one disturbing his practice or rest. He was also guided by a famous tutor for the competition and was frequently taken to exchange meetings in the capital’s music circles, where he made many friends in the industry. Using his outstanding violin skills, Mu Cai had carved out a reputation for himself in these circles, with many who had heard him play patting his shoulder sincerely, expressing their anticipation for his performance.

All these conveniences were brought to him by Pei Jingyun.

Previously, Mu Cai had been so absorbed in his practice and communication with his peers that, although he knew this in his heart, he never stopped to ponder it. He was just deeply grateful for the help. Now that the competitions had come to a pause, the taut string in Mu Cai's heart relaxed, and he finally had time to give serious thought to it.

Could it be that Pei Jingyun's selfless help and his meticulous care are solely for supporting outstanding artists and then reaping benefits?

Although Mu Cai is slow, he is not foolish. And he had made discreet inquiries at the exchange meetings. He found that what Pei Jingyun said was indeed true, that he did have a foundation dedicated to supporting impoverished students and artists. However, the amount the foundation granted was limited, and the application conditions were not loose. He had never seen Pei Jingyun help anyone else like this.

Had his lover actually regained his memory, or had he simply fallen in love with him again? Or could it be that all of this was just his own wishful thinking?

Mu Cai was a little tangled, his brows furrowed like distant mountains, his crimson lips slightly pouting. He thought for a long time but didn't come up with an answer. He decided to first tell Pei Jingyun about his passing the preliminary selection. After all, the latter seemed to take this competition very seriously. As Pei Jingyun's beneficiary, it was crucial for Mu Cai to keep him informed about the competition results promptly.

Just as he was about to get up, the phone lying on the side started to vibrate.

When Mu Cai picked up the phone, he saw that it was a call from Lin Ling.

On seeing the name, Mu Cai was momentarily at a loss. Apart from occasionally running into him at previous music exchange meetings, Mu Cai hadn't seen Lin Ling for some time. They did chat on WeChat, but because Mu Cai was busy practicing and attending exchange meetings, and meeting with many seniors, his conversations with Lin Ling had significantly decreased in frequency and content.

In the past, Lin Ling could drag him into talks about myriad topics - family, hobbies, dreams, philosophies and more. However, their recent exchanges had largely been confined to discussions about the violin and the competition. Typically, they'd hurriedly chat just before bed.

Given the call from Lin Ling at this time, it was likely that he wanted to discuss the preliminary selection results since he too participated in the Queen's competition. Mu Cai, having some free time, picked up the call.

As soon as the call connected, an eager voice came from the other end:

"Cai Cai, the preliminary results of the Queen’s competition are out, do you know?”

Mu Cai laughed, "Yes, I just received an email. I passed the preliminary selection, what about you?"

The voice coming from the phone was ethereal and pleasant, like divine music, causing Lin Ling's mood to lift as well. "Congratulations, I passed too!"

A light chuckle came from the other end, carrying a nasal twang, sounding a bit mellow, "Congratulations to you too!"

Lin Ling felt like his heart was melting.

Heaven knew how long it had been since he last heard Mu Cai's voice! Since he had last left Mu Cai's place, his father had arranged a series of tasks for him, incredibly heavy. And they were all related to music, related to the violin he played. Lin Ling could find no way to shirk them!

Once he protested, his parents would join forces, scowling at him, and launch a barrage of admonitions. They would ask him, didn't he want to pursue his music dream? Didn't he want to make a living from his interests?

These questions hit right at home, leaving Lin Ling speechless.

He was, after all, not a particularly grounded person. He learned music half out of interest, and half to avoid academic studies. Anyway, his family had his sister to support them, so Lin Ling, relying on his family's financial security, did not really invest in his learning. While he often spoke about chasing his dreams and turning his hobby into a career, he was essentially still treating it as a hobby.

That year, his parents gave him no face - Lin Ling had a long and bitter period. He'd been puzzled by his previously indulgent parents suddenly turning stern, but the truth was finally obtained from his drunken father.

Pei Jingyun was the culprit behind all this!

Not only was he stirring his parents and sister against him, but he was also keen to find all the possible tasks for Lin Ling; making him busy as a spinning top, with no time to think of the person he wanted to remember!

It wasn't that Lin Ling wasn't willing to work hard, but he was not pleased to be pressed to such an extent that he did not even have time to meet Mu Cai. However, this issue was not about whether he was willing or not, but it was akin to a mountain to cross.

It was not until tonight when the initial selection results for the Queen's competition came out. He shared his successful passing result with the family, only then allowing him a moment of rest. Lin Ling instantly called Mu Cai without hesitation, luck being on his side, Mu Cai was not practicing the violin at that moment.

If he wasn't practicing, what would he be doing later?

Thinking of this, along with his dealings with Pei Congliang, Lin Ling couldn't hold back the words he'd been suppressing.

According to the character of Pei's family's head, if he had already captured Mu Cai, he would definitely put out that he's already taken. But Lin Ling heard no news, plus with his usual probing of Mu Cai, so he can confirm that as of now, Mu Cai hasn't been taken.

No matter the reason for Pei Jingyun's hesitation to act against Mu Cai, Lin Ling felt it necessary to warn him and remind Mu Cai to watch out for the plotting Pei Jingyun. At the very least, he shouldn't be taken advantage of without realizing it!

So Lin Ling became agitated and said, "Cai Cai! Listen to me!"

"I don't know what you're about to do, but you must be on guard against Pei Jingyun!"

"Do you know how Pei Congliang suddenly left the capital, going to Haicheng to become the general manager of the branch company so urgently? Do you know why I haven't come to practice the violin with you this year?"

"It's all because of Pei Jingyun! Cai Cai, you must be careful to protect yourself. He has malicious intentions towards you!"

Mu Cai didn't expect the person on the other end of the phone to become emotional after a moment of silence, bursting out with such explosive news and saying so many things. He listened to the murmuring, even somewhat incoherent accusations, going from being utterly shocked at first to now having mixed feelings.

Was Pei Jingyun so calculating, so strategic? And, all because of him? Mu Cai now listened to Lin Ling's description and felt increasingly uneasy.

In the other's description, he and Pei Jingyun seemed like a tyrant and a bewitching concubine. The tyrant wanted the disaster-bringing concubine at all costs, plotting and scheming, with ruthless means.

Once this thought took shape, Mu Cai could no longer focus on what Lin Ling was saying. His train of thought went further astray, causing a faint blush to rise to his cheeks. Paired with his bright eyes, he looked especially adorable.

After Mu Cai finally calmed Lin Ling and ended the call, the latter's words still lingered in his mind. He was uncertain about the truthfulness of Lin Ling's words but wondered if it implied that his sweetheart had liked him much earlier than he thought. His ears tingled with a rosy blush upon the thought of Pei Jingyun's daily care for him.

Mu Cai decided to go find him.

After all, he was planning to tell Pei Jingyun about his preliminary results in the Queen's competition and took that opportunity to subtly probe him.

With this thought, Mu Cai gently sneaked downstairs. The third floor was their bedrooms, and the second floor was the other's study, where Pei Jingyun usually works in the evening.

Wearing soft plush slippers and a loose white high-necked sweater, Mu Cai quietly descended the stairs. Before he got to the study, he could faintly hear a low male voice inside:

"......Help me take a look, what are my possible itineraries for May and June?”

"…... Delay those that can be postponed, start the project with Hong's company in March or April. Push back some non-urgent meetings until July…”

"......I have to go to Orly in May and June to accompany someone to the Queen's International Violin Competition."

Upon hearing this, Mu Cai's heart trembled slightly.

Intentionally, he amplified his footsteps outside the door, and immediately the sound inside the room fell silent. Mu Cai knocked on the door, and as soon as the study door opened, a towering figure appeared. His gaze softened as soon as he saw the young man at the door.

Looking up at the other, Mu Cai's white face was illuminated by the lights, making his eyes glitter like brilliant stars. "Mr. Pei, I have passed the prelims. I will be going to Orly to compete in May or June. I'm unfamiliar with the place, could you accompany me?", he asked.

The speaker was dressed in a loose white high neck sweater and soft bunny slippers. His soft black hair draped over his ears, with his pale hands behind his back, making him look extraordinarily well-behaved and adorable.

Pei Jingyun's throat bobbed, and his eyes deepened as he said softly, "Of course. I just checked, there is nothing scheduled at the company for May and June, I will accompany you."

________________________

Author's Notes:

After years of careful planning, not realizing that he had already lost control, Mr. Pei: "Ah, the little bunny hopped into my arms by itself!"

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