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."

Listening to Dylan's lamenting voice, Qi Mu cast his gaze to the stage, illuminated by the spotlights.

He watched as Langston's fingers danced on the black and white keys, playing a song with an elegant, light melody. Not far from the grand piano, a blonde girl sat with her head bowed, playing her cello. Her music was thick yet mellow, like the deep sea.

They were playing Fauré's 《Sicillienne》. The cello was like a shallow sigh, its tears of sadness falling into dance with the piano. Within such gentle, quiet music, the melody described a beautiful, rural scenery. It was akin to a mirror, only for eyes to see, but not anything that could be touched. It was a fragile nostalgia.

The cellist was Alleine, the chief of the cello department. Although her skill wasn't on-par with Langston, the melody she played moved Qi Mu.

Dylan, blinded by hatred, scoffed and whispered, "Langston and Alleine joined forces for the assessment. They're really despicable. They want to win with this?! It's impossible!"

With a smile, Qi Mu said, "But, they do play excellently."

The tall, Swedish guy stared at Qi Mu, dumbfounded. "Seven, how can you praise the enemy so much?! Isn't there a Chinese saying that goes… What was it again? No matter, it's not right to praise your enemy and not yourself!"

Raising his eyebrows, Qi Mu asked, "?"

Dylan nodded heavily. "Yes, that's the one! I know I can't surpass you so I'll bring Alleina with me! Hah, the two of them wanted to make the judges think they're better, now that they've joined forces. It's despicable! No way, Seven. Let's play together and beat them!"

Qi Mu was dumbfounded. "… Are you playing 《Spring Sonata》?"

Dylan instantly wilted. "No…"

Qi Mu looked at the Swissman whose expression screamed, "Why didn't I choose 《Spring Sonata》?!", not knowing whether to laugh or cry. After Qi Mu comforted the lad, Dylan immediately sprang up and cursed the "despicable" fellows again.

This time around, Qi Mu drew a lot with a late number. Even after most of the violinists had performed, even Dylan, it was yet to be his turn.

By the time it was his turn, most of the students had already performed. The judges and the audience were no longer fully focused on the stage.

It was unfavorable to any performer. Even if the level of their performance was adequate, the judges wouldn't listen patiently and would only give them an average score.

But, when Qi Mu stepped onto the stage, the clamor of the audience abruptly stopped. The whole audience, including the ten judges, all stared at the "famous" black-haired young man with focused gaze. Only a few discussions could be heard beneath the stage——

"This is Qi Mu?"

"I heard that he's very skilled! But, when London Philharmonic offered him an olive branch, he refused."

"Yeah, I heard about that. But it seems like many orchestras came for him this time. I don't know how skilled he is…"

These whispers didn't disturb Qi Mu.

On the brightly lit stage, he calmly his violin on his shoulder. Just as he was about to lift his bow, he stopped. A series of gasps filtered out from the audience and someone exclaimed——

"My God! That… Who's that?!"

Hearing such strange remarks, Qi Mu looked below the stage, only to see that the audience turned their attention away from him. Their eyes wide, it was as if they had seen something incredible.

Qi Mu had a strange premonition. When he turned to look behind him, he froze. His bow hung in mid-air.

"Is that Auston Bertram?!!!"

Translator(s): Kuro

Editor(s): Empress

Proofer(s): Ayn