Chapter 58 (2/2)

But. . . to his surprise, Akkad actually shook his head and said decisively, “No.”

Min Chen jerked forward in surprise, “Why? He’s good, and he has a keen understanding of the violin.”

Akkad reached into the drawer and took out the bag of chocolates. He sat it on the table and reluctantly showed it to Min Chen. “Min, it’s not that I doubt you, but. . . do you see this bag?”

The handsome man across from him rubbed his brow. He turned to look at Akkad’s hands. There was a Jeff de Bruge gift bag.

“What about it?” Min Chen asked.

Akkad shook his head and said, “This is what my student bought for me this morning. Min, I just took a student this morning. He’s a great kid. I have little experience teaching. It’s impossible for me to take two students.”

Akkad’s word was a surprise. Min Chen only listened as he continued. “Look, the boss of Jeff de Bruge is your fan. You don’t need to wait for a bag. My lovely little student? He has to get up two or maybe even three hours early to wait. He’s a good boy, Min. I won’t give him up just for you.”

In the past thirty years, Min Chen had never been rejected before. Especially. . . in the classical music world. No one doubted his ears, and as long as he made the recommendation, they would stand at the top of the music scene.

This was a first.

However, it was impossible to force Akkad to change students just for his sake. He sighed and understood he was a step too late.

The two moved on to talk about the next concert. When the sun set, Min Chen finally rose and took the custom sunglasses from the neck of his coat. Before he could put them on, he suddenly stopped.

He looked at Akkad and said, “Reed, I believe in your vision. Your student must be excellent. Can I have the honor. . . what is his name?”

Akkad thought about it for a while then smiled around a mouthful of white teeth, “He’s called Xiao Qi.”

“Small seven. . . ?” Min Chen whispered then didn’t worry about it anymore. He nodded, “Well, Reed, I will see you later.”

Akkad suddenly remembered something and hastened to shout, “Wait a minute, Min! Do you still have tickets for the day after tomorrow? I’d like to take my student to hear it, but your concert’s tickets are always hard to grab.”

Min Chen only hesitated for a moment then nodded, “I’ll have Daniel send you tickets tomorrow.”

Akkad nodded with a smile.

When Daniel heard what he’d said to Akkad, his blue eyes widened in disbelief. “Auston!!! I asked only a few days ago! When I went to give you tickets, what did you say? You said you had no friends to come, so I didn’t need to keep them!”

“Now there is!”

Daniel was too surprised, or perhaps too crazy, and directly called out, “Auston!”

Min Chen looked at Daniel, calm, and answered, “If I remember. . . if it’s for my family, there’s always three seats reserved?”

“. . .” Daniel was speechless. “Family. . . you want Akkad and his student. . . to sit in the same box as you?”

As the permanent lead conductor, the second-floor box was free for Min Chen at every Bai Ai concert if he wished. It was independent and secluded, but it could comfortably accommodate four people.

Min Chen usually never liked to use these privileges, but this time. . . it surprised Daniel. He whispered, “Min, even if the other guy is Reed Akkad, you don’t have to do this? I thought you’d never use it in your life.”

Paris’s sunset was a gentle glow. Min Chen raised his head and looked to the distant west. The purple-red clouds rendered the sky a beautiful garden of Eden. The scene was magnificent, and even Min Chen could only stand and stare for a while.

“He thinks. . . his student is better than Qi Mu? I’d like to see him too. . .”

Daniel touched his head and asked, “Eh, Min? What did you say? What are you looking at?”

“It’s nothing.” He shook his head and whispered, “Remember, I’m going to send Akkad an invitation tomorrow.”

Daniel forgot about what Min Chen just said to himself and clutched his head in pain. “Oh my god. . . I really don’t want to see Akkad. That stinking old man! Every time, he laughs at my beautiful hair! He dares to say I have too little, that I’ll go bald! He must be jealous of my thick hair!”

Min Chen: “. . .”

Under that same sunset, Qi Mu put everything away in his small apartment. Afterward, even the fridge was packed full.

Once everything was done, he laid on the soft sofa and said, “Tomorrow. . . I will attend college officially. . .”

“I don’t know. . . what will it be like? . . .”