Chapter 149 (2/2)

Although his lovely student said good things about Lance, the old Akkad still made a note of it in his mind.

As the mentor and the disciple chatted, the sun started to reach the western horizon, the sky outside the window dyed it in the colorful sunset.

However, Qi Mu couldn’t stay in Min Chen’s apartment in Paris, because when Akkad saw his student carrying his suitcase, he invited him to stay at his place.

In his words, “You cancelled your rent a long time ago. Instead of spending money on a hotel room, just stay at my house! By the way, Little Seven, what shall we have for dinner tonight?”

In fact, Qi Mu already planned to spend more time with his old teacher, so he wouldn’t stay at a hotel anyway, let alone stay at Min Chen’s apartment. Taking his luggage and following his teacher to the parking lot, he heard Akkad’s words and couldn’t help but laugh. “Professor, whatever you want to eat… I’ll cook it for you, alright?”

Akkad acted humble, saying, “No, you’re a guest after all…”

“Professor, I’m your student, so you can’t treat me as a guest!”

With that, Akkad ate a delicious, home-made Chinese meal. Gong Bao Ji Din, sweet and sour pork, and some basic Mapo Tofu filled his stomach. All of these made the old professor smile so wide, he even ate three bowls of rice.

The next day, Qi Mu and Akkad repeated the routine they had when they had first met.

The two carried their heavy DSLR cameras, passing the Eiffel Tower, Château de Fontainebleau, the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile and lastly, Louvre. Qi Mu took countless photos of the familiar, beautiful places and sometimes even asked passers-by to take some of him and Akkad.

In the photos, the grey-haired man smiled so wide, his eyes were curved into crescents while the handsome young man beside him smiled happily.

More than half a year had passed since Akkad first forced Qi Mu to do it all. Back then, he couldn’t let himself go completely and looked awkward and uncomfortable in every photograph.

Today, Qi Mu found only relief and contentment in the activity——The taste of freedom lingered over the beautiful sky, it didn’t even need a Statue of Liberty.

At the end of the two-day holiday, Qi Mu sat on a stair step and watched the doves flying in the square. A cool breeze blew and a dove suddenly took off, blocking the sun with its back. It was amazing, the way the light streaked around it.

“Little Seven, what kind of chocolate do you want?”

Akkad’s voice woke Qi Mu up from his reverie. Turning to the old man, he smiled and said, “I’ll have some dark chocolate, professor. You used to say that when your heart is bitter, keep your mouth sweet. I’m very happy these days, my heart is really sweet, so I need to neutralize it.”

Seeing the young man remembered his words, Akkad laughed and took a small dark chocolate from the gift bag he kept with him most of the day.

They sat on the steps for a long time. When the setting sun casted a gold light on the Eiffel Tower, Qi Mu looked at the beautiful scenery he’d been missing. In a low voice, he said, “Professor… You told me last month that you took in a new student.”

Qi Mu stopped there and didn’t go on.

After a long while, Akkad hummed softly and said, “Well, yes. But, she asked for a leave to go home. That little girl really cares for me, she cooks delicious meals for me every day!”

Hearing this, Qi Mu turned to Akkad and saw the old man looking up at the sky, unable to hide his pride. Qi Mu couldn’t ignore the loss that was deeply buried in his eyes.

The moment he left Paris, he felt…

Professor won’t accept any more students.

Akkad was 70 that year and it was very taxing to teach students. To be honest, Qi Mu was also surprised when he was told that this maestro accepted him as a student. After that, Qi Mu made a good effort to manage his time and seize opportunities to keep Akkad from worrying.

For many violinists, death was the end of a long music career. Few would have great students and pass on their mantle, further enhancing their status.

Resolutely taking in a student towards the end of his life, let alone taking in Qi Mu, not many musicians would allow it to happen.

Akkad had a bad temper and was quite rebellious. However, he decided to devote his efforts to teach a student for the last time in his life. Not many maestros possessed such sentiments.

Cultivating a student, guiding every single detail in their techniques, opening his connections, and even traveling around for the student, all of those things could exhaust an old man.

Bitter dark chocolate filling his mouth, Qi Mu finally looked at his mentor and softly said, “Professor, would you like to… leave Paris with me?”