Chapter 150 (1/2)

The clear, blue sky was divided into two hues by the sun gradually setting in the west. One side was still the beautiful blue, as if it was filled with more than a burst of vitality, while the other was old, rendering the faint golden yellow in the brilliant clouds. The top of the Eiffel Tower stood right between the boundaries, symbolizing the two sides of the choice.

The pigeons in Ares Square still flapped their wings tirelessly, one by one, flying up and down. After catching sight of them, the grey-haired Akkad shook the pigeon food in his hands and watched as they descended.

After his question remained unanswered for a long time, Qi Mu said, “Professor, Paris is a good place, but… You are so lonely here. Your life has ten, twenty, or more years, yet. I can accompany you and provide for you.”

Akkad’s wife died early, leaving him without a child. When Qi Mu was in college, Akkad went back to Turin to take care of his nephew’s funeral arrangements. The old man’s last relatives were also dead.

In Qi Mu’s heart, since his teacher didn’t want to accept any other students, then he would treat him as his father. He accompanied him well, spent what was left of the old man’s time with him, and let him enjoy the Spring Festival.

But, in Akkad’s mind, it was obviously not like that. He shook out all the pigeon food in his hand and calmly said, “Paris… It’s a good place. It’s very romantic and beautiful. I’m afraid it’s a heaven in every girl’s heart.”

Qi Mu didn’t return to his mind for quite a while. “Professor, what did you say?”

“Little Seven, do you know where I like best in my life?”

Thinking of the words he just said, Qi Mu tentatively replied, “Is it Paris?”

But, Akkad shook his head and said, “No, it’s not Paris. Nor Turin, not even New York where I lived for more than twenty years of my life, or Vienna.” After a pause, he softly said, “My favorite place is where Alice is.”

Qi Mu shuddered, unable to speak for a while.

Alice Akkad, the name of his professor’s wife. Qi Mu had never met her, since she died of illness when Akkad was young. Since then… Akkad had never married anyone else.

“47 years ago, when we were first married, we came to Paris for our honeymoon. Alice said she liked it very much, that it was beautiful and quiet here. This is her favorite Fontainebleau palace.” Akkad’s voice was very calm. “Every girl has a princess dream. Alice said that when she saw Fontainebleau palace for the first time, she felt that…”

“This is her castle.”

“I grew up with Alice, and when I was very young in the slums, I built a palace in the sand with her. She said it wasn’t her castle. She wanted Fontainebleau, but… where could I pile up a Fontainebleau palace?”

The old man’s hoarse voice sounded in the open square, and Qi Mu’s fingers slightly tightened. He whispered, “Professor…”

“Forty years ago, when she died, I was performing with NHK Symphony Orchestra at the Boston concert hall. At the time, it was a cold winter, right? She told me a month earlier in a telegram that she had a small cold, but not a serious illness.”

Akkad’s voice was a little choked, and Qi Mu lowered his eyes. He couldn’t bear to look at his expression.

“In fact, it’s not a serious disease. Tuberculosis was treatable at the time, but Alice didn’t want to disturb me and let me finish my first global tour safely…”

Akkad’s voice abruptly stopped, and Qi Mu reached for him.

Unlike his great musical achievements, Akkad was a small, thin, old man. He patted his student’s shoulder, but his body was straight. He said, “Little Seven, your professor likes Paris very much. Here, I can walk on the street quietly by myself. It’s as if I see myself and Alice when I see young people hugging and kissing.”

Qi Mu still didn’t want to give up. “Professor, but you are alone…”

“Little Seven.” Akkad’s eyes were slightly red, but his tears didn’t fall. He looked at his student carefully and said, “One can have many pursuits in life. You think your professor is very lonely, but I don’t think so. Here, I feel like Alice is right beside me. She is a beautiful princess, waiting for me in the Fontainebleau palace.”

“Little Seven, no one in the world will be waiting for you forever. I asked you to cherish your feelings for Austin because… you have this opportunity to be together and have happiness.”

“If someone asks me now if I regret not going back to Turin to see Alice because of the tour, then I would say that I have never regretted it. This is the choice Alice made for me, and I will never question her.”

“But, Little Seven, if someone asked me… Whether I wanted to be a world-famous violin master Reed Akkad or a Reed Akkad belonging to Alice, I would want to belong only to Alice.”

“Everyone’s choices are different. Alice made a choice for me 40 years ago. Now… Let me make a choice for her. You still have a long way to go, and a lot of time. When you reach the Golden Hall’s stage, remember to send an invitation to your professor, and I will be very happy as your professor.”

……