Chapter 29

Yang Jingxing still had to rush to the melody writing exam, while Zhang Chujia urged him, "Hurry up, I'm hungry."

Yu Xinting handed the manuscript to Yang Jingxing and asked, "Do you still want this?"

Hu Yiqing was about to take it, "I'll hold it for you."

But Yu Xinting pulled it back, "Can I keep it?"

Yang Jingxing smiled, "Thanks, finally someone appreciates it."

The melody writing exam lasted ninety minutes. The motifs and rhythmic patterns were specified, and they were required to write two instrumental melodies with different characteristics and styles. Yang Jingxing had been trained specifically for this, but he still took over an hour to write two good ones.

After the exam, it was already one o'clock. Not only Zhang Chujia, but Hu Yiqing was also hungry. The three of them had lunch together. Zhang Chujia asked Yang Jingxing what he had written, but Hu Yiqing said, "Forget it, just prepare for the afternoon."

In the afternoon, there was a three-hour songwriting exam with a specified lyric, something like praising the country. Many people looked overwhelmed, and Yang Jingxing also had to rack his brain. It turned out that there were seventy to eighty people applying for the composition major this year, but only ten would be admitted. Reality was indeed harsh.

In the evening, Li Yingzhen treated them to a meal. She had already told Yang Jingxing that Yu Xinting had made it to the second round. Yang Jingxing didn't tell Yu Xinting, as he didn't even know if he had made it himself.

The music college was quite efficient, and the preliminary results were posted on the morning of the 19th. Yang Jingxing had stayed at a hotel the night before. At eight in the morning, he received a call from Yu Xinting: "I made it, I made it, I'm in the second round!" Her joyful voice was quite surprising.

Yang Jingxing was angry, "Well, you didn't even invite me, you went alone!"

Yu Xinting laughed, "I got up so early, came quietly by myself, and was waiting at seven. I made it."

Yang Jingxing teased, "There's still the second round, don't be too happy yet."

Yu Xinting laughed, "If I don't make it in the second round, I won't hate myself."

Yang Jingxing said, "Check out the others."

Yu Xinting paused, "I don't want to, I've already been happy... I'll check yours... Let me see, let me see... over there... why isn't your name there, I'll check again... really not there!"

It wasn't that Yang Jingxing was confident, but Yu Xinting was a poor liar. Yang Jingxing said, "It must be a mistake, I'll go and sort it out."

"Ha ha, I was kidding, you made it too, second place! I'm second to last." Yu Xinting's voice was always so loud, unlike yesterday when she spoke like a mosquito.

Yang Jingxing asked, "Does your hand not hurt anymore?"

"It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt. If it weren't for paying you back, I'd really want to reward myself."

Yang Jingxing said, "Alright, you pay me back, I'll treat myself, and take you along."

"Okay, okay!" Yu Xinting agreed enthusiastically.

Yang Jingxing met Yu Xinting at the music college and called his parents, teachers, and friends on the way to tell them he had made it through the preliminary round. This was all expected, and they weren't as happy as Yu Xinting.

At the entrance of the music college, Yu Xinting saw Yang Jingxing from afar, and they both smiled. Yu Xinting bounced over and said, "I really didn't expect it, if I had known, I wouldn't have been up all night, what a loss."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Then you'll be up all night again tomorrow."

Yu Xinting said, "We'll see after today."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Where do you want to go?"

Yu Xinting said, "Let's check the results first."

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "No need, let's save time."

Yu Xinting thought for a moment, "I want to go shopping in the commercial district, I've been in Puhai for so long and haven't gone out."

"Alright, let's go to Nanjing Road." Yang Jingxing was about to call a taxi.

But Yu Xinting wanted to take the subway, "No, I'm not as rich as you... Did you know, Yidu doesn't have a subway, and the first time I took the subway was with Geng Xidong. Have you ever flown? I haven't."

On the way, Yu Xinting chattered happily. When they arrived at Nanjing Road, Yu Xinting looked around carefully and told Yang Jingxing that Yidu also had a Chunxi Road, but it couldn't compare to this.

While walking, Yang Jingxing asked, "Don't you want to go into the stores?"

Yu Xinting shook her head, "Do you want to? I'll go with you."

Yang Jingxing disagreed, "I'm here to accompany you."

Yu Xinting laughed, hesitated, and said, "Let's go, to motivate myself!"

In the New World, Yang Jingxing saw Yu Xinting carefully putting on gloves and asked, "What are you doing, aren't you hot? No one is looking at your hand, they're all looking at your face."

Yu Xinting giggled and took them off.

After a quick look at the first floor, Yu Xinting shook her head, "So expensive, good thing I don't like it."

On the second floor, the women's clothing caught Yu Xinting's eye, but she didn't have the courage to look closely, only sighing, "So expensive, let's go somewhere else, this is too discouraging!"

Yang Jingxing asked, "Didn't you want to motivate yourself?"

Yu Xinting said, "That's within my means, when will I earn that much money!"

Yang Jingxing laughed and asked, "How do you plan to earn money?"

Yu Xinting said, "I can be a tutor, or find a place to perform. My former teacher could earn ten to twenty thousand a month."

Yang Jingxing scolded, "Is your teacher teaching you to play the piano or to make money!"

Yu Xinting felt embarrassed and asked, "Do you think this is expensive?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Expensive! Good thing I don't want anything."

"Then what do you like?"

Yang Jingxing pretended, "What I like can't be bought with money."

Yu Xinting said, "I like good food and pretty clothes."

Yang Jingxing lectured, "You should focus on your studies!"

Yu Xinting, who had forgotten her pain, said, "I just wanted to encourage myself that day... Let's not talk about it, painful memories."

The two of them visited two malls and a few old shops but didn't buy anything.

Yu Xinting asked, "Are you hungry?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Yes, let's eat." Thinking Yu Xinting might like hot pot, he took her there.

Sure enough, Yu Xinting was fascinated by the menu, looking at it carefully and asking the waiter pitifully, "Can we order half portions of everything?"

No! Yu Xinting had to flip through the menu a few times and ordered a few of her favorites. Yang Jingxing added a few more.

When the food came, Yang Jingxing raised his glass, "Here, let's praise you, you were brave and strong, you'll definitely earn a lot of money in the future."

Yu Xinting quickly put down her chopsticks, "Okay!"

Despite her injured finger, Yu Xinting's chopstick skills were still amazing, "So delicious, I've never had this before, good thing you ordered it, or I would have missed it."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Why don't you learn to cook?"

"I just like eating, not cooking."

Midway through the meal, Yang Jingxing received a call from the class monitor, "Did you pass the preliminary round?"

"Passed."

"Oh, keep it up, I'm waiting for your good news."

After the meal, they continued to walk around and returned at three in the afternoon. Before parting, Yu Xinting asked, "Are you going to treat your teacher to a meal tomorrow?"

Yang Jingxing said, "You can come too."

Yu Xinting shook her head and said after a while, "Thank you."

Yang Jingxing smiled, "You're welcome."

Yu Xinting looked at Yang Jingxing, "Really, thank you. If I don't make it, you're not allowed to contact me."

Yang Jingxing scolded, "What nonsense, am I that hateful?"

Yu Xinting said, "I'm serious, I'm afraid I won't have the chance to say it later." She laughed, "If I make it, just pretend I never said it."

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll definitely pretend I never heard it!"

On the 20th, the number of candidates at the music college was reduced by more than half, and the atmosphere was several times more tense. Being eliminated after making it to the second round was a cruel thing. There were many universities for general students, but for art students, especially those studying music, who had invested so much time and effort, the options were limited, making it really tough.

The piano major only had a theory exam in the morning, but the composition major had two days. On the morning of the 20th, there was a three-hour harmony exam, followed by an hour of sight-singing and dictation. In the afternoon, they had to write a complete piano piece based on specified material, which took three hours.

Today, He Hongchui also came to check on Yang Jingxing, asking about his situation. He had heard that Yang Jingxing had started arranging Liszt and Chopin, and with this level, these exams should be child's play.

Perhaps to avoid disturbing Yang Jingxing, Yu Xinting didn't contact him and went back after her exam.

On the morning of the 21st, the composition major had an instrumental performance exam. In theory, they could choose an instrument other than the piano, but no one took that risk.

For the etude, Yang Jingxing chose Chopin's Op. 10 No. 12, the so-called "Revolutionary Etude." The right hand had rapid long jumps and octaves, and the left hand was a concentrated display of various techniques, making it quite challenging.

Yang Jingxing's performance was clear, smooth, and powerful, with no hesitation, especially the left hand, which was outstanding without overpowering the right.

As soon as he finished, someone bothered him, "How many years have you been playing... Why didn't you apply for the piano major... What awards have you won..." It seemed he wasn't famous enough yet.

For the counterpoint, Yang Jingxing chose Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 251, and Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. The sight-reading was his own "Night Rain Variations," which was quite a joke. He probably played better than anyone else that day.

In the afternoon, there was an interview. Yang Jingxing submitted two piano pieces, one "Night Rain Variations" and another polyphonic piece he had composed at home, which he hadn't named, only numbered.

The teachers looked at them and asked some questions, none of which were difficult. But one old man asked, "Is this fugue really written by you?"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Yes."

Then came the improvisation, which required playing in the pentatonic scale to evoke the ancient Chinese cultural atmosphere. It was quite a joke, and if Yang Jingxing were rebellious, he would have challenged those old men to try. But he still tried his best, playing a chaotic piece that made the old men nod in approval, one even saying, "It reminds me of the bianzhong (ancient Chinese chime bells)."

Next, he had to sing, and it had to be a folk song, which was a challenge for 21st-century teenagers. Yang Jingxing sang "Alamuhan," and if Shao Lei saw it, he would laugh at him forever.

Finally, there were some professional knowledge questions, which Yang Jingxing answered without difficulty.

Finally, it was over. Zhang Chujia had been waiting, and in the evening, she treated Yang Jingxing to a big meal because they would be schoolmates in the second half of the year. Being schoolmates with such a weirdo was quite a pity.

On the morning of the 22nd, Yang Jingxing went to wait for the results at seven o'clock and indeed saw Yu Xinting.

Yang Jingxing gloated, "Caught you."

Yu Xinting's expression was almost hateful, "Why are you here!?"

"To check the results."

Yu Xinting was anxious, "I can't check with you!"

Yang Jingxing was sad, "Then we'll check separately."

Yu Xinting lowered her head, almost in tears, "Chengzi didn't make it through the preliminary round." Chengzi was her short-haired female neighbor in the practice room.

Yang Jingxing said, "She was prepared for it."

Yu Xinting added, "But she still cried... Geng Xidong said his interview didn't go well."

Yang Jingxing said, "He's not good at communication, there's nothing he can do."

Yu Xinting was even more upset, "It should have been me."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Do you really want to make it?"

"Yes."

"Then it's better than all of you failing, they can still congratulate you."

"But I feel I won't make it... I'm afraid to tell them if I do... I feel guilty to you and my parents..." Yu Xinting was really stressed.

Yang Jingxing lectured, "But you'll be most guilty to yourself."

After a long struggle, Yu Xinting said, "Let's check yours first... No, let's check mine first, then yours, so I can be happy."

Yang Jingxing suggested, "How about I check yours, and you check mine?"

Yu Xinting hesitated and agreed.

It was a long wait. Most of the candidates for the second round had arrived. At eight o'clock, the results were posted, and the crowd surged forward.

The piano and composition majors were listed separately. Yang Jingxing and Yu Xinting split up. Yang Jingxing, with his good eyesight, saw Yu Xinting's name from afar. The piano major admitted twenty students, and Yu Xinting was ranked 18th, which was quite risky.

Yang Jingxing waited on the side. After Yu Xinting squeezed through the crowd and turned around, she saw Yang Jingxing and ran over, happy, "I made it, I made it, first place!"

But seeing Yang Jingxing's solemn expression, his eyes downcast, Yu Xinting couldn't laugh. After a moment of silence, she reached out to shake Yang Jingxing's hand, "It's okay, really, I'm strong."

She was strong, but her eyelashes were trembling, her chin was quivering, and tears were about to fall. Yang Jingxing sighed, "You didn't do well... I'm really disappointed, with my score, you only got second to last."

Yu Xinting stood there, looking at the ground, tears rolling down her cheeks, almost silently saying, "I'm sorry..."

This scared Yang Jingxing. He had gone too far with the joke and quickly said, "You made it, you made it!"

Yu Xinting didn't look at Yang Jingxing or move.

Yang Jingxing had to push Yu Xinting's shoulder, "Go check, you really made it."

Yu Xinting seemed afraid to look at the list and looked around. Yang Jingxing pointed to her name, "Look here, look here, or everyone will recognize you!"

Amidst the laughter, Yu Xinting lifted her eyes, and her expression changed. Although her face was still tear-stained, she had already forgotten about crying, looking at the list with curiosity and moving closer.

After a careful look, Yu Xinting looked at Yang Jingxing, smiling, "I really made it! You were scaring me."

Yang Jingxing defended, "I wasn't scaring you, I just thought you should have done better."

Yu Xinting raised both hands, wiping her face, looked around, and quickly left.

Finding a place with no one within five meters, Yu Xinting started to happily accuse Yang Jingxing, "You were deliberately scaring me!"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "I'm sorry, I really regret it." He took out a tissue and handed it to her.

"Do you know how sad I was, my mind was blank." Saying this, Yu Xinting was about to cry again.

Yang Jingxing comforted, "It's okay, you're not sad now."

"You're a bad person!" Yu Xinting looked at Yang Jingxing with suspicion.

Yang Jingxing, laughing and crying, "I'm sorry, you made it, don't cry."

Yu Xinting smiled, "I really made it, I need to call my family. You too!"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Okay, let's do it separately."

Yu Xinting asked, "Aren't you happy?"

Yang Jingxing smiled, "Of course, I'm overjoyed."

Yu Xinting smiled, "Right, congratulations."

"Congratulations to you too."

Yang Jingxing first called his parents to share the good news. Xiao Shuxia loudly announced in the office that she would treat everyone to a meal. His father was much calmer, telling Yang Jingxing that this was just the beginning, and the road ahead was long, so he needed to focus on learning and improving.

His mother wanted Yang Jingxing to come home immediately, or they would come to see him. But Yang Jingxing said he would return to school to continue studying, showing maturity and ambition.

Yu Xinting was happy on the phone, spinning and jumping in place, and even waving and smiling at Yang Jingxing when their eyes met. Yang Jingxing still had to call Hu Yiqing to thank him. As for Li Yingzhen and He Hongchui, they probably knew the good news before Yang Jingxing, but he still called to express his gratitude. He also called Liu Miao, Xia Xue, and Lu Lin to inform them and have them pass the news to their friends.

Yu Xinting had many friends, and it took her half an hour to finish her calls, giving Yang Jingxing two apologetic smiles.

Finally, after finishing the calls, Yu Xinting started to worry, "I don't dare to go back, I don't know how to face them." Especially since Geng Xidong also didn't make it.

Yang Jingxing said, "Don't blame me, I thought you really wanted to make it, who knew you were so loyal."

The two of them first went to collect the cultural exam notification. Passing the professional second round didn't guarantee admission to the music college; they still had to take the college entrance exam and meet the score requirements. But those who passed the professional exam but failed the college entrance exam were rare.

Looking at the cultural exam notification, which was equivalent to a music college admission letter, Yu Xinting was moved, "My mom cried, she's been with me practicing the piano for so many years..."

Yang Jingxing asked, "When are you planning to go home?"

Yu Xinting said, "I'll buy a ticket tomorrow... Do you think I should treat Geng Xidong and the others to a meal?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Sure, but this meal isn't about the