Chapter 124 (1/2)

For the rest of the college, the third assessment was business as usual, like the previous ones. For Qi Mu, however, it was different.

The assessment was held in the same hall north of the campus. Dozens of excellent students would play their best pieces to display their improvements.

Akkad was absent from the previous two assessments. In his words, “The college is testing you, not your professor. I’m not going, no!”

But this time, Akkad realized that… it was likely Qi Mu’s last assessment. This time, he accompanied his student backstage early on. Over and over, he asked vexingly fussy questions like, “Have you wiped your bow with rosin yet?” or “Is this the right tone?” and the likes, seeming as though his personality had shifted entirely.

Dylan was confused. He couldn’t understand why Akkad, who had always been cold, got so chattery all of a sudden. What happened to him?

Qi Mu on the other hand, listened attentively to Akkad’s every word.

Why was Akkad so fussy now?

But, Qi Mu knows his mentor well. This maestro, who looked… difficult and proud was actually a tsundere. He was reluctant to part with his student.

Although he has been saying things like “You have to graduate early, so you can better yourself” and “College is wasting your youth years, you need to go out to discover the world”, in fact…

Even if this man was the Reed Akkad, he was just another old man.

After answering the inane question, “Have you read the score?”, Qi Mu finally couldn’t help but reach out to hug the old man.

Qi Mu’s hug stopped Akkad’s babbling. Feeling the warmth emanating from his student, Akkad heard Qi Mu whisper “Professor, I will try my best. I will not let you down or disgrace your name.”

For the night’s assessment, Qi Mu’s priority was to fulfill Akkad’s requirement. In the future, after he left the college, he would always strive to keep Akkad proud.

The youth’s pleasant voice was like a balm, soothing the old man’s heart. Even someone as surlish as Akkad got weepy. Finally, the old man snorted and said, “See that you do. If you dare to stop working so hard… Don’t call yourself my student!”

His words were reproaching, but the tone he used was like an elder advising his beloved youngster. Qi Mu’s heart warmed as he promised to do as he was told.

When the assessment started and students began to perform onstage, Akkad looked at Qi Mu and hesitated to say something. When asked, he just shook his head. After a few more words of admonition, he went to the seats arranged for the professors.

Watching Akkad take his leave, Dylan went to Qi Mu and covertly pulled the hem of his shirt. In a whisper, he asked, “Seven, why is Professor Akkad so weird today? Do you know what happened? It’s just so unlike him!”

“Maybe because… Today is my third assessment?”

Dylan froze, stupefied, before letting out a loud “Ah”.

“Oh, God! It’s already your third assessment? Wait… You only need to get first place in three assessments in a row to graduate, right?!!!”

Since Qi Mu joined the college’s orchestra, his relationship with the other students grew closer. Some of them heard from their mentors that Qi Mu could graduate after three assessments. When asked, Qi Mu admitted it, not bothering to hide it from them.

“Yes, Dylan… This really is my third assessment.”

“My God!!! How could I forget?!!!”

Immersed in shock, Qi Mu could only smile helplessly and comfort him, saying that even if he graduated, he will still visit them. But, Dylan’s mood didn’t improve. It wasn’t only until an old enemy from the piano department took the stage that Dylan changed the topic.

“Seven, ah… Langston will only graduate after the next assessment. If you graduate first… I’m afraid our violin department will have a hard time beating him after this.”