Chapter 24

On the weekend, Yang Jingxing still went to the music academy. The two professors seemed to have already discussed it; He Hongchui would take up Saturday mornings, and the rest of the time would be given to Li Yingzhen.

He Hongchui's new task for Yang Jingxing was to write a melody, a single-line instrumental melody, which of course would be for the piano.

Li Yingzhen was still urging Yang Jingxing to practice Chopin's First Piano Concerto, which was also the first concerto he was formally training on. Just the first movement, the solemn slow E minor, seemed to really not fit Yang Jingxing's personality; he had been practicing it for several days.

Li Yingzhen scolded, "Many listeners consider this piece as a litmus test for a performer, romantic, sad, beautiful... You don't have Chopin's temperament at all!"

Zhang Chujia couldn't help but say, "Why do you always mess up the rhythm? You're too bold!"

Yang Jingxing chuckled, "This is my own interpretation."

Li Yingzhen was furious, "Can you interpret 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame' as a comedy? Who would dare to play with you in the future!?"

On Monday, the midterm exam results were out. Yang Jingxing scored 106 in Chinese, 124 in Math, 126 in English, 132 in Physics, and 21 in the comprehensive test. His total score was 509, ranking tenth in the class and thirty-third in the grade.

Tao Meng scored 128 in Chinese, 110 in Math, 148 in English, 118 in Physics, and 26 in the comprehensive test. Her total score was 530, ranking sixth in the class and twenty-fourth in the grade.

The teacher said that the questions this time were a bit difficult but affirmed the students' efforts and achievements. Compared to before, Yang Jingxing's scores had slightly improved, while Tao Meng's were even higher.

Tao Meng analyzed for Yang Jingxing, "Your math didn't perform well."

Yang Jingxing was relieved, "Fortunately, Chinese made up for it."

Tao Meng also regretted her math, "I shouldn't have made that mistake; I didn't read carefully... Mathematical thinking and physical thinking are really important."

Yang Jingxing said, "Keep it up."

Tao Meng looked at Yang Jingxing, analyzing whether he was up to no good. After confirming he wasn't, she was speechless and nodded, "You too."

The midterm exams seemed to have stimulated everyone, and the learning atmosphere became even more intense afterward. Yang Jingxing maintained his own pace, attending classes, practicing the piano, studying music theory, and trying to compose. Occasionally, he would tease Tao Meng and mutually encourage each other in their studies. Tao Meng seemed to have adapted and no longer disliked Yang Jingxing's bad jokes.

Senior year seemed to be the first time of urgency and the first time of striving in life. Time was hard to endure, yet it passed quickly.

Until Christmas Eve and Christmas, which fell on Saturday and Sunday, there was finally a reason to relax. Actually, the excitement started on Friday, with students discussing and planning how to have fun, especially those not from Puhai. Some had already booked KTV rooms a few days earlier, some had hired cars to go shopping, and many were expecting their parents to come for a reunion.

Only Yang Jingxing, who declined several people's invitations, planned to spend a lonely Christmas Eve in the practice room.

Tao Meng also advised Yang Jingxing, "You should relax appropriately; Mr. Jiang has told you that!"

Yang Jingxing asked, "How do you relax?"

Tao Meng said seriously, "Listen to music, play the piano at home, go to the gallery... Sometimes eat snacks."

Yang Jingxing was upset, "You still eat snacks, and you never share with me!"

Tao Meng said, "I don't eat as much as Ren Chuyu."

Yang Jingxing said, "Guess how I relax?"

"Hmm?" Tao Meng was quite interested.

Yang Jingxing said, "Someone taught me. For a small relaxation, just gently feel your breath; for a big relaxation, take deep breaths; for a huge relaxation, do both."

Tao Meng, of course, wasn't that silly, "How do you do both light and deep breathing?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I didn't understand at first, but later he told me that's why people have two nostrils. I've practiced for three years and have made some progress."

Tao Meng smiled slightly, looking at Yang Jingxing with a disdainful gaze.

Yang Jingxing also looked at Tao Meng, "I relax by looking at pretty girls smiling."

Tao Meng smiled, but turned around to put on her coat, not letting Yang Jingxing see.

Yang Jingxing said, "Alright, I'm relaxed. Merry Christmas to you."

On Sunday evening, Tao Meng suddenly said to Yang Jingxing, "Yang Jingxing, I'll tell you a joke."

Yang Jingxing, who had done many things he felt guilty about, looked at Tao Meng fearfully.

Tao Meng asked, "Do you want to hear it?"

"Go ahead."

Tao Meng laughed a bit, as a warm-up, then said, "A beggar's wallet was stolen by a fool, a blind man saw it, a mute shouted, a deaf man was startled, a hunchback stepped forward, a cripple kicked, and a pockmarked man said, 'For my sake, let it go...' Ha ha." She read it like a poem.

Yang Jingxing chuckled for a while and said, "I've heard another version, but it's not as funny."

"How is it?"

"A deaf man heard a mute say a blind man saw love."

"Ah..." Tao Meng thought for a moment, "It's not very funny."

After Christmas, New Year's Day followed, which was also a Sunday. Xiao Shuxia came to Puhai and took Yang Jingxing to buy a lot of winter clothes. Since Yang Jingxing would be staying in Puhai for a considerable time during the winter break to attend the music theory and sight-singing classes offered by the music academy.

According to Yang Jingxing's current level, such classes were not very meaningful, but both Li Yingzhen and He Hongchui advised him to attend.

Another important matter was that the homeroom teacher informed the parents that Yang Jingxing had a good attitude and performance in his cultural studies.

This made Yang Chengyi and Xiao Shuxia have some thoughts, wondering if it was a waste to send such a precious son to the music academy. What if Yang Jingxing became an unsuccessful but persistent artist in the future? Yang Chengyi had some family business, what could he do then?

However, no matter what, the music academy exams had to be taken first, or Yang Jingxing would definitely not agree.

The winter break would start on January 13th, and there was still over a week of final exams. The students were all working hard. Li Yingzhen also gave Yang Jingxing a break, saying he didn't need to go to the music academy to practice the piano during the last two weekends. She herself was also quite busy before the break.

The weather was truly cold during this period, and with the classroom heaters, the students were reluctant to go out. However, on January 5th, the first snow of the winter fell, and it was quite heavy. The students couldn't resist the youthful impulse and rushed out to play.

The school uniform coats in Puhai were made of deep purple-blue wool, not very thick but quite fashionable, and the students liked them. The rare snow that turned the ground white provided a good opportunity for students to show off and take photos.

Yang Jingxing and Shao Lei, being tall and handsome, were quite popular among the girls, with Yang Jingxing being even more so.

Ren Chuyu said, "You have broad shoulders, so you look especially stylish."

Yang Jingxing patted the snow off his shoulders, "Then don't let them freeze."

Tao Meng was also in a good mood, taking photos with the girls and a few boys. She had high standards and used a DSLR camera. She and Yang Jingxing didn't take a photo together, but they exchanged cameras to see each other's photos.

Yang Jingxing's small digital camera had a few snow scene photos, a few group photos with boys, and about ten with girls.

Tao Meng's camera had many photos. She allowed Yang Jingxing to look and explained, "My grandmother's cat... Don't look at this, it's scribbled... My dad took this... My mom... Ha ha, just random shots... Ah, I was afraid of losing it, so I took a photo." Yang Jingxing saw the photos of the manuscript Tao Meng had given him.

Yang Jingxing chuckled, "Thanks."

Tao Meng, embarrassed, "At least it's your work."

On the morning of the 13th, the school was full of cars picking up children. Yang Chengyi also came. He and Xiao Shuxia had arrived in Puhai the night before to arrange Yang Jingxing's life for the next ten days. Driving his Audi, he waited for his son for a long time, almost considering changing his car.

After the exam, Yang Jingxing went back to the dorm, picked up his suitcase and guitar, and met his parents. On the way, he met Tao Meng and her father. Tao Meng's father looked a few years older than Yang Chengyi, with a similar demeanor but not as tall. However, he had a good physique and wasn't overweight.

Yang Jingxing greeted him, "Uncle, hello."

Tao Meng's father smiled warmly and nodded, then looked at his daughter.

Tao Meng said, "Classmate."

Yang Jingxing knew when to be tactful, "Goodbye, have a good year."

Tao Meng's father said, "You too."

Yang Jingxing had already registered for the pre-exam tutoring classes, which started on the 16th and lasted until the 20th, with two classes in the morning and two in the afternoon, one for music theory and one for sight-singing. So, he needed to find a hotel near the music academy to stay.

Actually, Li Yingzhen had invited Yang Jingxing to stay at her place, but he didn't dare to disturb her. After settling into the hotel, the family went to have lunch.

Preparing for the music academy exams was a big deal, and Xiao Shuxia wanted to stay in Puhai to accompany her son. However, Yang Jingxing was very unwilling, implying that money was all he needed, which was really frustrating.

At just seventeen, their son was about to strive alone for his future, which made Xiao Shuxia both sad and proud. She asked her husband to deposit enough money into their son's bank account for living expenses.

Over the weekend, the family visited many places and bought many things, then Yang Chengyi and Xiao Shuxia returned home. Before leaving, Xiao Shuxia gave numerous instructions and warnings, with 180 concerns.

Yang Chengyi was already impatient, "Just tell him not to bully others!"

After sending off his parents, Yang Jingxing returned to the hotel and started practicing the guitar. The music academy was on break, and Li Yingzhen had gone home, so Yang Jingxing couldn't go to the North Building to practice. He refused to disturb others at their homes, so he had to use this cheap guitar.

Li Yingzhen had told Yang Jingxing that there were many places to practice near the music academy, especially the simple practice rooms rented to out-of-town candidates. These were small rooms with soundproofing, containing a domestic upright piano and a single bed. Such places were very popular, and many people had endured a lot to practice.

However, Li Yingzhen guessed that Yang Jingxing wouldn't be able to tolerate such conditions. A hotel room with a piano would be nice, but Yang Chengyi wasn't that generous.

Yang Jingxing had to call Lu Lin and the others to apologize. In previous years, the group would have already been together, causing trouble.

Lu Lin's first reaction was, "Oh no!" Then he asked about Yang Jingxing's specific plans and offered his blessings.

Xu Wei's first reaction was, "Ah... That's great!"

Zhang Yang's first reaction was, "Watermelon, chicken feathers!"

Du Ling called herself, "You're going for watermelon! What music academy!"

On the morning of the 16th, Yang Jingxing went to the music academy for class. Hu Yiqing couldn't come along, so she called to check on him.

He thought there wouldn't be many people for such classes, but it turned out that the tutoring classes were quite popular, with thirty people per class, and several classes running simultaneously.

After the class, he realized that the tutoring classes were a powerful tool for exam preparation. The exam points and questions were targeted, and even someone who had never studied music theory before could pass the exam if they attended these ten classes well.

In the classroom, there were definitely a few competitors. The music academy didn't expand its enrollment, and each major only accepted a few students. Thousands of people applied each year, but only three or four hundred could enter. The most brutal part was that most of these thousands had prepared for a long time.

People inevitably observed each other secretly. Looking at Yang Jingxing, he seemed to be applying for the modern department. Most people in the class had recording pens, but he didn't even have a pencil.

After the morning class, a large group of people walked out of the music academy gate in the cold wind, each going their separate ways. Yang Jingxing, being unprofessional, only found a small ad for renting practice rooms on the billboard at this time. He felt that he couldn't go a day without touching the piano, and with his current skills, even though Li Yingzhen had scolded him, he could still pass the piano department exam.

Yang Jingxing first checked out the first practice room. It was quite nice, though small, with good soundproofing and a decent piano. There was no bed, and it didn't provide accommodation, but the hygiene conditions were acceptable.

However, all the pianos were booked for the whole night, and only a few hours in the afternoon were available. But he had afternoon classes!

Yang Jingxing walked a considerable distance to find the second place. This one had a bed. The female owner welcomed Yang Jingxing, saying that there was one room still available, at 100 yuan per day. Exploiting these poor young artists on the path to art was truly inhumane.

Yang Jingxing didn't hesitate to bargain, saying he only needed it for daytime practice, not accommodation. They finally agreed on 60 yuan per day.

It was a large room of about 100 square meters, divided into eight small rooms plus a hallway, with a shared bathroom. Yang Jingxing, being the last to arrive, had to use the room closest to the bathroom.

The piano was not great, though the tuning was accurate, but the sound quality was poor, and he had to sit on a single bed to play. The soundproofing was also not good, and the piano sound echoed throughout the day.

After paying the rent for the day, Yang Jingxing closed the door, which was almost useless, and sat at the piano, inspired to play the first movement of Beethoven's "Pathétique."

Two minutes after his piano sound started, the surrounding rooms fell silent. Yang Jingxing didn't fear revealing his secrets and continued playing, hoping the others would learn and be inspired. After all, most of the people here were striving for the piano department.

After practicing for so long, he finally found a sense of superiority.

Yang Jingxing played Beethoven for an hour and Chopin for an hour. He was purely improvising, seeking a sense of music and insight. If he followed Li Yingzhen's requirements, it would affect the neighbors' moods.

Checking the time, he needed to go to the afternoon class. Yang Jingxing opened the door and went out, and the person from the room opposite also came out, a fair-skinned, beautiful girl in a down jacket and jeans.