Chapter 149 (1/2)

Qi Mu only stayed in Berlin for a day after Bai Ai’s tour in Berlin ended, then left the city afterwards.

When he said goodbye to the sullen man at the airport, Qi Mu looked at him and helplessly said, “Alright, alright. You only took half the day off, you need to go back early. You and Daniel need to deal with Bai Ai’s matters before Christmas break, right?”

In the bright, vast airport, tourists from all over the world hurried on their way. Min Chen stood before the security checkpoint in his light black coat with narrow phoenix eyes drooped down, looking at Qi Mu attentively. The latter blinked innocently, as if saying, You’re the one who’s busy, not me.

With a long sigh, Min Chen said, “Take care of yourself. I heard the temperature in Paris has dropped.”

Qi Mu smiled, then raised the end of the scarf hanging down his chest, “I’ll just wrap up in this.”

Since they were in public, they just hugged each other for a long time before finally separating. Before leaving, the man covertly put a bunch of keys into the youth’s pocket. When Qi Mu got the text message after boarding the plane, he really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Min Chen: 【The keys are in your pocket. Take care of yourself in Paris. ]

……

Paris, with its temperate marine climate, was always humid and warm even in winter. The temperature never reached below zero. The silver plane landed steadily at the Charles de Gaulle Airport and when Qi Mu stepped on the ramp, the salty sea breeze brought with it the breath of the English Channel, making him smile.

…And you said the temperature in Paris had dropped?

Even Berlin wasn’t as warm as Paris.

This was the first time Qi Mu returned to Paris after he graduated. Two months had passed, but when Qi Mu walked in the Charles de Gaulle Airport, he felt as if he had never left.

Qi Mu took the subway to the station nearest to the Paris National Conservatory of Music. He came with only a small suitcase so he brought it along with him to the college.

Walking through the streets of his old neighborhood, the owner of the 「Love you」 bakery was surprised to see him suddenly appear there. After a brief conversation with the owner, they took the opportunity to stuff him with a baguette.

When Qi Mu passed the flower shop, the shy florist Vina excitedly offered him a bunch of sunflowers. After Qi Mu thanked her, she added one white lily still wet with dew and handed it over to Qi Mu.

When Qi Mu arrived at the gates of the Paris National Conservatory of Music, he carried a baguette and his suitcase in his left hand and a bouquet in the right. The elegant fragrance surrounded the youth and the warm winter afternoon sunshine completed the beautiful scene.

At the time, the college was on its lunch break, so a few people milled on the spacious lawn. When Qi Mu approached the violin department, several students greeted him in surprise and excitedly welcomed him back.

Reaching the long corridor, Qi Mu took out the chocolates he bought early on.

Even during the lunch break, melodies could be heard from the tutors’ music rooms. When Qi Mu passed by Dylan’s music room, he heard the Swiss boy playing Schubert’s 《Serenade》 . The boy had obviously improved his skills in the past two months. He could now control the trill and treble transition more smoothly.

Qi Mu didn’t want to disturb Dylan’s practice, so he went straight to Akkad’s music room at the end of the corridor.

He hesitated when he got there, but finally opened the door. Looking at the hopelessly empty room, Qi Mu sighed and turned to the lounge.

When he reached it, he heard the soft, comfortable sound of a violin.

After knocking and waiting for permission to enter, the door opened with a squeak. The handsome young man stood at the door with a smile on his face. The light wrapped him in gold as delicately as a cicada’s wing.

Akkad immediately stopped the record. He looked at the man standing at the door and his eyes slowly widened. After a few moments of silence, he grumbled, “You came to Paris without even informing me… How outrageous.”

Although his words were admonishing, his eyes were watery.

Seeing the old man’s appearance, Qi Mu’s frown gradually eased. Smiling, he offered the bag of chocolates in his hand and said, “Professor… I’m back.”

Now that they had reunited, they each had a lot to talk about.

Not mentioning Luo Yu Sen and Zayev, Qi Mu told his mentor about his experience in Vienna.

When he heard that Qi Mu was the concertmaster of the Palisade Theatre Orchestra and that the opera was fully booked for a month, Akkad raised his eyebrows. “Little Seven is doing well, ah. Why didn’t that Lance fellow mention this to me? That guy is really irresponsible!”

Qi Mu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Professor, Mr. Lance helped me a lot. He personally introduced Mr. Wallace to me. Otherwise, how else could I enter the Palisade Theatre so smoothly?”