Chapter 64 (1/2)

At the end of classes on their first day, Akkad gave Qi Mu a task: develop all the pictures they took over the past few days.

In fact, this was strange from the start. Now with digital technology, it was rare to find a full-frame SLR camera like his professor’s that still used tape.

Although Qi Mu didn’t understand, he went and developed the hundreds of photos. Then he sat and looked through them all, the beautiful scenery and rare shot of himself laughing, and his heart trembled. . . Now, he understood.

Akkad mentioned he lived like the dead, refusing to let himself go.

So. . . his teacher dragged him around to play so he could let go a little?

A vulnerable smile touched Qi Mu’s lips, warmth swelling in his chest. His teacher might be old-fashioned, eccentric, and temperamental, but. . . he was cute.

He carried the photo album to the music room and saw Akkad sitting on the sofa with a few scores in hand.

The large windows faced south, and the warm sunlight filtered through the glass, giving the room a subtle glow. Qi Mu walked over and set the album on the table.

Akkad hardly acknowledged him aside from opening the album to random pages. He looked up at Qi Mu, “Well, Small Seven’s photography and development skills are good, we’ll go out and play some.”

Qi Mu, caught between tears and laughter, suggested, “Teacher, I do not understand. . . how about you take a picture later?”

“Small Seven, I’ll let you take a picture of me, are you still not happy?”

The two laughed then Akkad set aside the album and looked at him. His expression was stern as he stared at the youth opposite him, “When you developed them. . . what did you feel?”

Qi Mu’s lips curled at the corners, and he replied, “Yes, I felt. . . I was forced to play so much to make teacher happy.”

“. . .”

After repeating “Don’t care about the child” three times in his heart, Akkad snorted. “Feel good about yourself. I have a song here. You should be familiar with it, but after a couple weeks, I hope to hear a different version.”

Qi Mu sighed in relief, “Teacher, what song is it?”

Akkad handed him the score he had set side, and Qi Mu opened the cover. When he saw the name, he stilled. He looked up at Akkad in amazement and saw his teacher wore a terrible smile as he spoke, “Paganini 24, the 24th Capriccio.”

The pure white cover had a single white character——

《i》

When Farrell recommended Qi Mu to Akkad, he had emphasized, “The boy’s skilled. His grasp for rhythm and tone is incredibly accurate, especially on a Paganini song. His technique was beautiful and smooth, his perception is unique and creative.”

And for Qi Mu, when Farrell mentioned Akkad’s name, his first reaction was: “the contemporary Paganini.”

Akkad recorded many albums in his life, an among them, his recording of the “24 Caprices” was the most outstanding. The Master often played the 24 songs at concerts, and the depth of his feelings toward Paganini’s rhapsodies brought him to the pinnacle of his career.

But. . . Qi Mu didn’t understand one facet of Akkad’s words.

“Teacher. . . A different version? You want me to adapt this song?” Qi Mu could only ask this after thinking about it for a while.

Akkad nodded. “Didn’t I say it at the end of Bai Ai’s concert last week that I wanted you to practice adapting a song? This is the first. I hope to hear an innovative 24th Capriccio, unlike anything I’ve heard before. Small Seven, you will have to integrate yourself with this song, and in two weeks, show me what you pull out.”

This kind of task was difficult, but Qi Mu was not afraid.

The sun’s golden light poured through the window onto the face of this young man. Qi Mu nodded, his tone brisk, “Alright, Teacher, I will work hard.”

Qi Mu was excellent with Paganini’s songs——something many people knew.

But, being good did not mean he was proficient at every song. Unfortunately, he was only familiar with the 24th Capriccio. If Akkad wanted him to play it, he could immediately, but. . .

Asking him to make an adaptation, that was a bit embarrassing.

Especially because it was so familiar, if he closed his eyes, the melody of the song rang in his ear. It was a ferocious obstacle in his path to adapt it. For a long time, he didn’t know what to do.

The situation was so stagnant that he left the music for two days, took it up every now and then to practice, but he still had no idea.

He was most likely too immersed in the music and could not pull himself away from it. The next evening, when he returned to his apartment, he rubbed his hair dry as he walked out of the bathroom and heard his phone buzzing. Qi Mu picked up his phone and found six texts and a missed call.

Qi Mu opened the last message and was surprised to see the sender.

Min Chen: 【What happened? Reply quickly.]

Qi Mu checked the time on the next message. It was sent three hours ago——

Min Chen: 【How are you?]

Another half an hour later——

Min Chen: 【Are you busy?]