Chapter 21

Yang Jingxing had listened to *Pathétique* several times and really liked it. He had secretly played it a few times, but felt very inferior. Now, in a public place and under the pressure of not disgracing his parents, he had no mood to continue eating.

*Pathétique*, the name alone is quite intimidating. Some say women shouldn't play this piece, let alone a high school kid. Fortunately, Li Yingzhen, a renowned professor, gave him some pointers. She might not play it well herself, but her understanding of music and performance requirements certainly lives up to her reputation.

While Yang Jingxing was still looking at the sheet music, the café's musician arrived. A man in his thirties, he was quite polite: "Hello, may I ask who will be playing the piano... *Pathétique*!? Is it you?" He looked at Yang Jingxing.

Li Yingzhen was still unsure: "How is your piano? Is it in tune?"

"Oh, don't worry, it's fine," the musician said, looking at Yang Jingxing with some difficulty. "Can we change the piece? We have sheet music too." Everyone comes here to enjoy a quiet and leisurely afternoon; this music would be too out of place.

Li Yingzhen stood up and introduced herself: "I am Li Yingzhen from Puhai Music College, and this is my student." You, a pianist, should have heard of me, right?

The musician quickly extended both hands to welcome Li Yingzhen: "Professor Li, Professor Li, I've listened to your open classes for over ten years... I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you..."

Ten minutes later, Yang Jingxing sat down at the café's piano. Li Yingzhen and the others changed their seats to listen clearly and watch carefully. Hu Yiqing was assigned to turn the pages for Yang Jingxing.

Li Yingzhen had miscalculated a bit. She thought Yang Jingxing's parents would have some musical appreciation, so she took a risk by choosing the first movement of *Pathétique*, which is technically difficult and emotionally even more so, to fully showcase his talent and emotional understanding. However, Yang Chengyi and Xiao Shuxia were laymen and probably wouldn't be able to appreciate much from their son's performance.

Yang Jingxing sat at the piano for two minutes before lifting his hands. The first note struck right into the hearts of Yang Chengyi and Xiao Shuxia.

In their eyes, Yang Jingxing had always been the restless, odd-minded, not bad but annoying child who went to visit the elderly at a nursing home one day and got into a fight with classmates the next, never knowing what he really wanted.

Now, Yang Jingxing sat calmly at the piano, his expression almost serene.

After playing the first few bars, Li Yingzhen began to explain: "Listen to the emotion. Don't look at his age; his understanding of musical emotion is very strong."

Yang Chengyi and Xiao Shuxia seemed not to hear, staring at their son without blinking.

After the introduction, the passionate theme began to unfold quickly. At the exciting parts, Li Yingzhen was almost moved: "Just this, the left-hand arpeggios, are very difficult. One of my students practiced day and night for over a month, even cried, but still didn't play as well as his first attempt."

Yang Chengyi and Xiao Shuxia still didn't hear, nor did the musician, who just stared at Yang Jingxing.

In fact, Yang Jingxing had only played a few times, and his understanding of the piano and music was still limited. From a professional perspective, his performance had many shortcomings and even mistakes. However, there weren't many critical ears in the audience, and the melody and emotional power of the music were very attractive. After Yang Jingxing reached the climax of the exposition, many people in the café looked up at him.

Li Yingzhen stopped explaining and just listened to Yang Jingxing's performance, ready to critique later.

The intense emotions in the latter part of the piece made Yang Jingxing's body tremble slightly, which wasn't his usual style, possibly due to nervousness and excitement.

After the *minutes* of the piece, Yang Jingxing didn't immediately stand up to return to his seat but continued sitting there, looking at the keys as if waiting for applause.

The musician clapped first, followed by a few scattered claps from the surroundings.

But Yang Jingxing still sat there. Hu Yiqing bent down slightly and whispered to Yang Jingxing: "Why don't you apply for the piano department?"

Yang Jingxing looked up: "You have to support me!"

While Yang Jingxing was away, Li Yingzhen praised their son to Yang Chengyi and his wife: "Many people practice for ten or eight years and still don't reach this level. This is talent. But for composition, if I give him a motif, what can he come up with?" She was being unreasonable.

When Yang Jingxing and Hu Yiqing returned, Yang Chengyi said to his son: "Whether you learn piano or composition, it's all music. Professor Li is definitely doing this for your good, so you need to think carefully."

Yang Jingxing said deeply to Li Yingzhen: "Professor Li, thank you... But while playing the piano just now, I decided that I must study composition."

Li Yingzhen was stunned. The others were also quite awkward, as a well-known professor had put in so much effort and enthusiasm, only to be rejected by a young kid.

Yang Jingxing continued: "A month ago, I knew nothing. It was thanks to Teacher Hu that I took my first step, and then Professor Li broadened my horizons, not just in piano but also in my understanding and appreciation of music, which made me want to study composition even more. I am very grateful to you and Teacher Zhang. I won't let you down, so I will work hard on my musical path."

Hmm, did playing that piece make Yang Jingxing rethink his life? He suddenly seemed more mature! Hu Yiqing, who was mentioned alongside Li Yingzhen, felt quite embarrassed and lowered her head.

Li Yingzhen still wasn't convinced: "On the piano, you can go further and better, and it will be easier for you."

Yang Jingxing said: "But I feel that studying composition will help me better understand and appreciate music, so I won't give up."

Yang Chengyi patted his son's shoulder and said to Li Yingzhen: "Professor Li, I'm really sorry to waste your good intentions." Then to Yang Jingxing: "But remember, Professor Li will always be your teacher."

Li Yingzhen sighed: "Actually, in composition, what you can learn in school are mostly theories and concepts... Your ambition is good, but not specializing in piano is a pity."

Yang Jingxing replied: "I will definitely become a pianist, and hopefully a composer too."

Everyone chuckled. Xiao Shuxia seized the opportunity to ask Li Yingzhen: "Professor Li, how old are your children?"

Li Yingzhen said: "My son is already 28..."

After some casual conversation, Li Yingzhen said to Yang Jingxing: "Since you've decided to apply for the composition department, you need to start preparing well. You must get in, or you won't be my student."

Yang Jingxing was determined. Then Xiao Shuxia asked about the exam schedule and whether they needed to make any connections.

Li Yingzhen said: "Our school is very strict. But we can arrange a meeting with the head of the composition department to discuss the student... But it's still too early."

Yang Chengyi taught his son: "Do anything with your own abilities."

When the five of them left No. 18, it was already 6 PM, and they naturally invited the teachers to dinner. Xiao Shuxia decided to go for seafood.

After a satisfying meal, Li Yingzhen told Yang Jingxing not to interrupt his piano lessons until the exam next year. The Yang family of three thanked Li Yingzhen for her generosity.

After seeing off Li Yingzhen and Hu Yiqing, it was already 8:30 PM. Yang Chengyi looked at his suddenly grown-up son and asked: "Are you really decided?"

Yang Jingxing nodded.

Xiao Shuxia looked at Yang Jingxing lovingly and said: "Then don't be enthusiastic for just three days; it's time to grow up."

After chatting with his parents, Yang Jingxing still had to return to school and refused to stay at a hotel. But Xiao Shuxia thought that ideals aren't achieved overnight and insisted that Yang Jingxing accompany her shopping the next day.

"Move the piano back, and you'll play for me every day." Xiao Shuxia had a new topic to discuss with relatives and friends.

On the 3rd, Yang Jingxing and his parents went to buy a piano. The music store recommended by Li Yingzhen was the best in Puhai, with brands like Yamaha, Steinway, and others.

Of course, Yang Jingxing chose himself. Under the guidance of the store staff, he tried ten pianos, including uprights and grand pianos. This thing really is worth its price; the sensitivity and responsiveness of the keys and the sound quality of the Steinway grand piano, which costs over a million, were several levels higher than the Yamaha he played every day.

Considering the difficulty of moving the piano through the windows and stairs at home, Yang Jingxing ultimately chose an upright Yamaha piano for a little over 50,000, but the sound and touch were still quite good.

Even Yang Chengyi could hear the difference in sound quality between the grand and the upright, so he warned his son: "Think carefully, don't say it's bad after you get it."

Xiao Shuxia also felt a bit embarrassed. After circling around, she finally chose a lower-end model, which wasn't her usual style. Moreover, the store staff had praised Yang Jingxing many times, saying that only a good piano could truly showcase his skills, so they encouraged him to choose a grand.

Yang Jingxing said he had thought it through and that he would naturally have good pianos to play when he became a pianist.

After arranging for the piano to be shipped, Yang Jingxing accompanied his parents to an audio store, where Xiao Shuxia bought many classical music and piano albums, including a couple of Kunqu CDs.

During dinner, Yang Chengyi joked with his son: "Come, let's all raise a glass and wish you success in your dreams."

Xiao Shuxia asked: "When you practice at school, do any classmates come to watch?"

...

On the 4th, Yang Chengyi and his wife returned to Jiuchun. With three days left of the holiday, Yang Jingxing spent half the time practicing the piano and the other half studying harmony and arrangement, and reworking his *Until the End of the World*. He had rewritten his manuscript three times, and the final version was more complex in some places and simpler in others, but overall, it was richer.

This score was quite difficult for the average person to read, with many large spans and double notes in the left hand, and the right hand handling both the melody and chords, with each part needing to be clear to have an effect.

Yang Jingxing played it over and over, trying many different methods, but the overall feeling still became a softer version of *Until the End of the World*, with the melody and chords having a different intensity compared to the original rock version, and less of a sad mood. In the end, Yang Jingxing decided to go with the flow, changed the rhythm and time signature, and fully utilized the pedal, achieving an unexpected effect, a blessing in disguise.

The first listeners were Liu Miao and Xia Xue, who called on the evening of the 6th. Yang Jingxing also told them the good news about the new piano at home.

Liu Miao said: "Then you should come back early. I'll be embarrassed to visit your house during the New Year."

Xia Xue expressed her support: "I also have to go back to my hometown to pay respects."

On the evening of the 7th, the class meeting was held, and the schedule for the sports meet was distributed. The 11th Sports Meet of the high school department of Shangpu School would last five days, from the 8th to the 12th. The men's shot put for the senior class was scheduled for the afternoon of the 9th. Yang Jingxing didn't train and could slack off for several more days.

On the morning of the 8th, the opening ceremony of the sports meet was held on the main sports field. The entry ceremony required the class to be dressed uniformly. Class 3 of Senior 3 had the boys in collared shirts and the girls in skirts and blazers, led by Jiang Qing.

The broadcast introduction for Class 3 of Senior 3 was quite impressive. Shao Lei was the champion in the 50m and 100m freestyle and breaststroke in the previous year, and the runner-up in the 100m and international chess for girls, and the champion in women's doubles badminton... Of course, there was also Yang Jingxing's men's shot put championship, whose best performance was almost on par with the school record.

Unfortunately, Yang Jingxing couldn't bask in the glory, as he was not in the lineup, having gone to the music college with Hu Yiqing to practice the piano early in the morning.

"Finally here, I've been waiting for you!" Zhang Chujia, who had just returned from a trip, said cheerfully, "A few days without seeing you, you've become quite peculiar."

Yang Jingxing handed her a gift. Zhang Chujia immediately opened it and exclaimed upon seeing the brand: "Did you buy this?"

"I don't have the money; it's from my parents."

Zhang Chujia carefully refolded and repackaged the scarf and said to Yang Jingxing: "Professor Li is angry with you."

Yang Jingxing asked for advice: "What should I do?"

Zhang Chujia said: "Practice."

It was said that Li Yingzhen was angry, but she arrived at 10 AM, bringing a man in his early forties, who looked refined but was half bald. Zhang Chujia recognized him: "Professor He, hello."

Li Yingzhen called Yang Jingxing, who was already waiting: "Yang Jingxing, this is Professor He, the head of the composition department at our college, as I mentioned."

Yang Jingxing bowed deeply: "Hello, Professor He."

Professor He looked Yang Jingxing up and down and smiled: "Sit down, play a piece first."

Li Yingzhen told Yang Jingxing to play *Pathétique*, as the others weren't up to par, and asked: "You didn't bring your sheet music!?"

Yang Jingxing said: "I remember it."

Yang Jingxing played it once, and the one who reacted the most was Zhang Chujia. She couldn't accept it; there should be limits to being peculiar! She took two big steps to the door and sat down, looking at Yang Jingxing with a rather unfriendly gaze.

Professor He nodded and asked Yang Jingxing: "With such good conditions, why not apply for the piano department?"

Yang Jingxing tried to please him: "Because Professor Li is already my teacher."

Both professors smiled, not wanting to argue with a child. Professor He asked: "Have you written anything yourself? It doesn't have to be written down, just a melody that came to mind."

Yang Jingxing sat up straight at the piano, hands on his lap, and said to Professor He: "One night while practicing, it started raining, a light rain. I felt it was even quieter after the rain, so I played a random piece."

Professor He was quite interested: "Play it for me."

It was indeed a very quiet and gentle piece, less than half a minute long. It was a very common and ordinary tune that anyone with a bit of theoretical knowledge could play, suitable for background music in ads, which people wouldn't notice and would forget after hearing.

Professor He didn't criticize, but nodded: "The emotion is right... Take the first half as the theme, use this motif to write a piano piece. How would you write it?"

Yang Jingxing thought for a moment and said: "I would use a variation form."

Professor He nodded and added: "What key?"

Yang Jingxing was a bit puzzled: "E-flat, andante, 2/4 time."

Professor He stood up, walked to the piano, and played a variation with one hand, using a motif from Yang Jingxing's piece. Experts are experts; they can do it on the spot. After playing, he said to Yang Jingxing: "That's the flavor. Is that what you want to express? Andante is correct." He was a bit unhappy.

Oh, if only he hadn't pretended to know. Yang Jingxing, like answering a multiple-choice question, said: "4/4 time, A minor."

Professor He said: "Play it once."

After changing the key and time signature, Yang Jingxing played it using Professor He's variation method. Hmm, it felt different. The two professors exchanged glances; Li Yingzhen had thought Yang Jingxing knew nothing about composition, but now it seemed he had some understanding.

Professor He didn't praise Yang Jingxing but said: "Take your time to complete it. The ending should be a free variation. When you're done, bring it to me. My office is upstairs from Professor Li's."

Yang Jingxing nodded: "Okay, thank you, Professor He."

"Then I won't keep you. Practice well." Professor He left.

Li Yingzhen explained to Yang Jingxing, the layman, about Professor He's background. He had composed music for many films, written many main themes for national festivals, and won many awards both domestically and internationally, a well-known figure.

Yang Jingxing felt honored to have met so many big names; it seemed his first step on the musical path was going well.

But under Li Yingzhen's supervision, Yang Jingxing, who had just finished playing *Pathétique*, had to go back to practicing exercises. They started with No. 299, and Li Yingzhen wasn't worried that Yang Jingxing would run away after learning it.

Li Yingzhen didn't consider Zhang Chujia's feelings and said to her: "His use of the pedal is a bit better than yours."

Zhang Chujia was upset, pulled Yang Jingxing down, and challenged him to a piano duel. Yang Jingxing listened carefully and absorbed Zhang Chujia's strengths when it was his turn.

Li Yingzhen said: "You two can learn from each other and improve together."

Zhang Chujia was stunned; when had she fallen to this level?