Private Morning Concert

When Charlize Theron woke up in the morning, she couldn't find her partner. This, of course, didn't alarm her, because Charlize knew that within seven steps...

Okay, seven steps is too short. Anyway, that person must be nearby. She just doesn't know where they'll suddenly appear and give her a fright. After being startled a few times, she's become immune.

After relieving herself in the bathroom of the guest room, Charlize Theron dressed neatly and left the room to look for her boyfriend.

A melodious piano tune drifted over. Without thinking, Charlize Theron instinctively headed towards the source of the sound.

In the music room, Henry Givenchy and Philippe Vigne sat quietly on an antique sofa, enjoying the music.

Charlize Theron recognized the grand piano as Steinway piano from the logo on the front. It is a world-renowned brand in the world of handcrafted pianos, where the tone, touch, and aesthetics are all of the highest quality.

However, Charlize couldn't recognize the music being played. She could only say it was a familiar piano piece.

Trying not to disturb anyone, Charlize quietly found a place to sit down.

She knew Henry could play musical instruments, and even had some insights when discussing film scores. But Charlize had never heard Henry play the guitar, though she had heard him play computer-edited electronic music.

So this was quite a rare opportunity to hear Henry showcase his virtuosity. She listened quietly to her boyfriend's performance.

The music was pleasant to listen to, but it didn't quite captivate me. The man, though serious, was handsome, but I couldn't discern the confident air of a performer.

What If...? this man hadn't been Henry Brown, Charlize Theron might not have been able to sit still. She felt a sense of incongruity, as if he were just watching a machine he was tinkering with, making it perform precise movements—all the same old thing.

When the piece ended, the two men gave a perfunctory applause. They were certainly aware that Charlize had joined the morning concert, but out of respect, they did not disturb the performers.

But now that the performance was over, Givenchy turned around and asked, "Miss Theron, what did you think of Henry's performance?"

"Mr. Givenchy, please don't call me Miss Charlize, just call me Charlize."

"Alright. Please drop the 'Mr.' and just call me Givenchy." "Philip," Givenchy's husband chimed in at the same time.

Of course, Givenchy didn't forget the initial question, "How do you feel about the music Henry played?"

"Hmm, very clean? Very precise?" Charlize managed to come up with two answers.

"I think you feel the same way I do." Givenchy turned to look at Henry, who had stopped playing and was sitting on the piano bench. "But to be more precise, I would say: very craftsman-like, lacking passion."

Philippe Vigne nodded in agreement, saying, "Franz Liszt's Liebestraum No. 3 and dreams, flowing smoothly with a magical and dreamlike quality, and captivating."

"But Henry, your style is just playing the piece mechanically according to the score, without any passion. Did you know that this piano piece is based on a poem?"

"Keep your heart burning, keep it yearning. As long as there is one heart that will give you warmth in return." Henry recited the words of the Germany poet Ferdinand Freiligrath in German.

Then he recited it again in English, this time for Charlize to hear.

Philippe Vigne chuckled and said to his partner, "Yes, look at this clever young man, of course he knows the poem." Then, turning to his partner, he added bluntly, "But you interpret it so coldly."

"So it was a wise decision of mine not to become a pianist, wasn't it?" Henry said with a self-deprecating laugh.

He certainly wasn't unaware of his own mental health issues. But often, the doctor cannot heal himself.

And I don't want to see a psychologist; who knows if I'll end up with some guy named Hannibal Lecter? What If...? he gets curious about the taste of Krypton meat?

Henry himself felt that this wasn't a mental disorder. To some extent, it was a side effect of his Super Brain. When you analyze things too clearly, it's easy to fall into a mechanical, materialistic rationality.

Anyway, once he had a seemingly reasonable explanation, Henry stopped thinking about it.

However, Charlize wouldn't just stand by and watch her boyfriend be criticized without reacting. She went to the piano bench, took half a piano, and lightly touched the keys of the expensive instrument with her fingers, asking, "Don't you have any more lively music?"

Looking into those big, watery eyes, those deep gazes that seemed to draw you in, just before you felt yourself about to be completely captivated, Henry turned his head away and placed his hands back on the piano keys.

"I want something lively. How about the Ievan Polkka, <Ievan Polkka>?"

This song later became the famous "Scallion Song".

Henry played the instrument while singing in Finland. In the latter half of the fifth verse and the entire sixth verse, the lively improvisational singing brought a knowing smile to the faces of everyone in the audience.

Even Henry, who was playing the piano and singing, couldn't help but look at the girl beside him.

Charlize Theron initially tried to keep up with the beat, swaying her head from side to side. But then it got too fast, and she couldn't keep up. The off-beat rhythm made her burst out laughing.

When the song ended, the two men behind him burst into enthusiastic applause, shouting, "Bravo!"

Givenchy then approached Henry and excitedly said, "I used to think your music was like a machine's performance. I never imagined that it only when you have your own muse by your side does it feel like a switch has been turned on, allowing you to play out your own passion."

"Is the difference really that big?" Henry looked at the girl beside him in surprise. He had never seen this side of himself before.

Charlize Theron was surprised by the role she played and even blushed.

The two old men burst into laughter.

At this moment, JJ Harris finally appeared. But all she heard was laughter, and she asked, puzzled, "What's everyone so happy about?"

The two older men, almost teasingly, quickly recounted what had just happened. Harris was also amazed by Henry's talent. "Henry, I never knew you could even play the piano. Is there anything you can't play?"

"Hmm... I don't know how to do things I don't know. That's normal, isn't it?"

To this extremely arrogant and pretentious statement, the people present rolled their eyes and sighed in despair.

Givenchy's butler stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Master, distinguished guests, breakfast is ready."