King of Classical Music 58

The spring breeze streaked across the campus’s lawn, between Paris’ buildings, and through their exquisite architecture. The national conservatory was filled with students. Some played the trumpet, some the violin, the music was elegant, forming a unique atmosphere.

A handsome man walked the white cobblestone path up to the college. He wore sunglasse, and his lips were thin. His expression was cold, but he held a bag of chocolate in his right hand.

“That person looks familiar. . .”

“Who? Oh my god, it is familiar. . .”

“. . . Doesn’t that. . . look at bit like Mr. Autson Bertram?!”

“How could that be? Bai Ai came to Paris to perform, but Mr. Bertram isn’t conducting. The guest conductor, Mr. Charles Littis, is in charge. Mr. Bertram probably didn’t come to Paris!”

“Yeah. . . how could Mr. Bertram possibly be here? . . .”

. . .

Some students whispered in surprise when they saw the man walking up. None of these whispers escaped Min Chen’s ear, but he continued forward calm.

——This kind of behavior made everyone guess “This man is definitely not Mr. Bertram.”

But, halfway to the building, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at a girl standing under the shade of a tree and practicing seriously.

The girl’s hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she had freckles dotting her face. She was focused intently on her songs. It was one of his, but her skill had a few. . . deficiencies and she kept fumbling. Her delicate face was damp with anxious sweat.

With a sigh, Min Chen walked over and stated, “In the third section of 《Constance》, there’s a problem with your finger technique. If you change the strings, you’ll reduce the difficulty, but. . . the effect will be poor.”

His low, magnetic voice carried over the quiet lawn. The girl looked up in amazement and stared at him with fright. The students scattered around them were confused and turned to look at him as well. When they saw him under the shadow of the tree, Min Chen merely removed his sunglasses and extended his hand to point at the girl’s fingers.

Perhaps a conductor could endure terrible music for a while. But if a composer were to hear his own song being played like this, even for Min Chen, it was unbearable.

The moment Min Chen removed his sunglasses, everything was silent for a moment. The next, chatter exploded——

“Oh my god, it’s really Mr. Bertram! Lily, I was right, it is him!”

“God! How did Mr. Bertram get here? Come!”

“Aaah. To get to see Mr. Bertram, I’m so lucky!”

. . .

This mayhem caused by Min Chen’s arrival in the violin department spread throughout the entire college. Although Reed Akkad was one of the world’s best musicians, he was a little less famous, and the most important thing is. . .

Min Chen is so handsome!

No matter the country, people with excellent looks. . . it really was an advantage!

When Min Chen pushed aside Professor Akkad’s lounge door, the proud, awkward little old man snorted and was too lazy to look at him. He turned and pointed his butt towards the door.

Min Chen: “. . .”

Min Chen set the Jeff de Bruge gift back next to Professor Akkad and sat casually on the soft to the side. His dark eyes narrowed, and he said, “Reed, I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

Akkad’s answer was chilly, “Haven’t seen you, haven’t seen you. You meet my students downstairs and get surrounded by lovely schoolgirls.”

Min Chen: “. . .”

His phoenix eyes flashed with a hint of a smile. In the face of old friends, he naturally understood the man’s personality. He pushed the chocolate gift bag forward with a finger and said solemnly, “I came today to ask something of you.”

Akkad blinked at the bag. Then he hurried and stuffed it into his desk drawer. He looked over at him. “If you have something, say it. I don’t want to play with an orchestra right now. If you want to invite me over to play, it goes without saying, Min.”

Reed Akkad had recently had a change of heart and wanted to teach a student. Min Chen naturally knew and had come over because of that.

“I wanted to recommend a student for you. His skill is good, and he’s diligent enough. More than enough to consider.”

Min Chen’s tone was calm. He knew Akkad was looking for a student, and he had come with a personal recommendation. It was naturally watertight.

But. . . to his surprise, Akkad actually shook his head and said decisively, “No.”

Min Chen jerked forward in surprise, “Why? He’s good, and he has a keen understanding of the violin.”

Akkad reached into the drawer and took out the bag of chocolates. He sat it on the table and reluctantly showed it to Min Chen. “Min, it’s not that I doubt you, but. . . do you see this bag?”

The handsome man across from him rubbed his brow. He turned to look at Akkad’s hands. There was a Jeff de Bruge gift bag.

“What about it?” Min Chen asked.

Akkad shook his head and said, “This is what my student bought for me this morning. Min, I just took a student this morning. He’s a great kid. I have little experience teaching. It’s impossible for me to take two students.”

Akkad’s word was a surprise. Min Chen only listened as he continued. “Look, the boss of Jeff de Bruge is your fan. You don’t need to wait for a bag. My lovely little student? He has to get up two or maybe even three hours early to wait. He’s a good boy, Min. I won’t give him up just for you.”

In the past thirty years, Min Chen had never been rejected before. Especially. . . in the classical music world. No one doubted his ears, and as long as he made the recommendation, they would stand at the top of the music scene.

This was a first.

However, it was impossible to force Akkad to change students just for his sake. He sighed and understood he was a step too late.

The two moved on to talk about the next concert. When the sun set, Min Chen finally rose and took the custom sunglasses from the neck of his coat. Before he could put them on, he suddenly stopped.

He looked at Akkad and said, “Reed, I believe in your vision. Your student must be excellent. Can I have the honor. . . what is his name?”

Akkad thought about it for a while then smiled around a mouthful of white teeth, “He’s called Xiao Qi.”

“Small seven. . . ?” Min Chen whispered then didn’t worry about it anymore. He nodded, “Well, Reed, I will see you later.”

Akkad suddenly remembered something and hastened to shout, “Wait a minute, Min! Do you still have tickets for the day after tomorrow? I’d like to take my student to hear it, but your concert’s tickets are always hard to grab.”

Min Chen only hesitated for a moment then nodded, “I’ll have Daniel send you tickets tomorrow.”

Akkad nodded with a smile.

When Daniel heard what he’d said to Akkad, his blue eyes widened in disbelief. “Auston!!! I asked only a few days ago! When I went to give you tickets, what did you say? You said you had no friends to come, so I didn’t need to keep them!”

“Now there is!”

Daniel was too surprised, or perhaps too crazy, and directly called out, “Auston!”

Min Chen looked at Daniel, calm, and answered, “If I remember. . . if it’s for my family, there’s always three seats reserved?”

“. . .” Daniel was speechless. “Family. . . you want Akkad and his student. . . to sit in the same box as you?”

As the permanent lead conductor, the second-floor box was free for Min Chen at every Bai Ai concert if he wished. It was independent and secluded, but it could comfortably accommodate four people.

Min Chen usually never liked to use these privileges, but this time. . . it surprised Daniel. He whispered, “Min, even if the other guy is Reed Akkad, you don’t have to do this? I thought you’d never use it in your life.”

Paris’s sunset was a gentle glow. Min Chen raised his head and looked to the distant west. The purple-red clouds rendered the sky a beautiful garden of Eden. The scene was magnificent, and even Min Chen could only stand and stare for a while.

“He thinks.  . . his student is better than Qi Mu? I’d like to see him too. . .”

Daniel touched his head and asked, “Eh, Min? What did you say? What are you looking at?”

“It’s nothing.” He shook his head and whispered, “Remember, I’m going to send Akkad an invitation tomorrow.”

Daniel forgot about what Min Chen just said to himself and clutched his head in pain. “Oh my god. . .  I really don’t want to see Akkad. That stinking old man! Every time, he laughs at my beautiful hair! He dares to say I have too little, that I’ll go bald! He must be jealous of my thick hair!”

Min Chen: “. . .”

Under that same sunset, Qi Mu put everything away in his small apartment. Afterward, even the fridge was packed full.

Once everything was done, he laid on the soft sofa and said, “Tomorrow. . . I will attend college officially. . .”

“I don’t know. . . what will it be like? . . .”

Translator(s): Bet
Editor(s): Bet