Chapter 44

Yang Jingxing first dropped Li Yingzhen off at her home, then took Yu Xinting back to school.

Yu Xinting happily looked forward to Yang Jingxing's future: "You will definitely be able to travel the world, and you must send me photos."

Yang Jingxing said, "I don't like traveling, I won't go."

"Why not?"

"I like being at home."

Yu Xinting assumed, "Then you won't be at school in the future, either."

Yang Jingxing said, "I still have to study, where else would I go... Oh, you'll miss the apples!"

"No! You're accusing me!" Yu Xinting slapped her thigh, "At noon, it was because you were with Professor Li. Hey, what did you eat for dinner? Was it steak?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I don't know, if it's good, we can go next time."

Yu Xinting worried, "It must be expensive... I still prefer hotpot... Are you going to wear a tuxedo tomorrow night? I really want to see it."

Yang Jingxing said, "Of course you have to come! Don't even think about running away."

Yu Xinting asked, "Will they give us tickets?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll ask tonight, if they're out, you'll just have to bear with it."

Yu Xinting said, "As long as I can go, that's fine."

Yang Jingxing went home, changed clothes, and called his mother. Xiao Shuxia shouted, saying she would drive to Puhai that night and yelled, "Why didn't you tell us earlier!?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I just got the notification myself, you can leave tomorrow morning, it will be in time."

Xiao Shuxia refused, "No! I want to go early to avoid embarrassing you."

Xiao Shuxia asked many details, then told Yang Jingxing to rest well that night, and mentioned she had a key.

At 8 PM, Yang Jingxing and Li Yingzhen arrived on time at the restaurant of the hotel where New York Philharmonic was staying. Jaromir and Le Xian were already waiting, dressed formally.

The dinner lasted for two hours, during which everyone got to know each other better, with a focus on understanding Yang Jingxing. They also discussed the performance, as Yang Jingxing was a guest performer and didn't need to sign a contract. He would play a concerto each night, specifically Rachmaninoff's Third and Beethoven's Third, and he would be the finale. Jaromir also encouraged Yang Jingxing to prepare a small program for the encore.

Yang Jingxing proposed inviting friends and asked if tickets were still available. Le Xian contacted the organizer and got six tickets for Saturday night, but none for Friday. Of course, Yang Jingxing would have to pay for them himself. As for Li Yingzhen and Yang Jingxing's parents, they could sit in the VIP box, which could be arranged. Jaromir and his team also wanted to meet Yang Jingxing's parents to see how they raised this genius.

After dinner, Yang Jingxing dropped Li Yingzhen off at her home, which was already close to 11 PM. Yang Jingxing called Tao Meng first: "Are you asleep?"

Tao Meng said, "I'm about to sleep, what's up so late?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I'm performing at Puhai Concert Hall on Saturday night, are you free?"

"Saturday night? You're telling me now!" Tao Meng wasn't at all surprised.

Yang Jingxing explained, "I only confirmed it this afternoon."

Tao Meng asked, "What kind of performance? Organized by your school?"

Yang Jingxing proudly said, "I'm performing with the New York Philharmonic."

"Blowing hot air!" Tao Meng asked again, "How did they choose you? Is it official?"

Yang Jingxing flattered, "If it wasn't official, would I invite you?"

Tao Meng doubted, "Can you still get tickets for Saturday night?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I have them, everything is ready, just come."

Tao Meng asked, "Who else? Are your parents coming?"

Yang Jingxing said, "They are already on their way. I plan to invite Hu Yiqing, a graduate student from the piano department who taught me, and Yu Xinting and one of her friends."

Tao Meng said sarcastically, "Quite a few people... Do you have time tomorrow? Let's meet and talk."

Yang Jingxing said, "I have a performance tomorrow night, and I need to practice during the day."

Tao Meng exclaimed, "Then who are you inviting tomorrow night!?"

Yang Jingxing quickly explained that it was because there were no tickets left, but Tao Meng still insisted on meeting at noon the next day. Then Yang Jingxing called Hu Yiqing, who was very happy. Yu Xinting hadn't gone to sleep yet, and Yang Jingxing could hear her sharing the good news with An Xin.

After returning home, Yang Jingxing had to take a shower and do laundry, and he reviewed the Beethoven pieces he hadn't practiced much. Around midnight, he heard the door open and Xiao Shuxia scolding, "Be quiet, you'll wake him up!"

Yang Jingxing called out, "I'm not asleep yet!"

Yang Chengyi and Xiao Shuxia rushed into the room, scolding Yang Jingxing for not being asleep, but then they started asking him questions for over an hour.

Xiao Shuxia was delighted, "No wonder your card money is used up so quickly!" Actually, it didn't matter much.

Yang Chengyi advised his son to stay calm and get some rest.

On Friday morning at 8 AM, Xiao Shuxia was about to take her son shopping when Yang Jingxing received a call from Tao Meng: "I got tickets for tonight, are your parents here yet?"

Yang Jingxing was angry, "I don't even have them... They are here."

Tao Meng asked, "What's the schedule? Can we meet in the morning?"

They discussed for a while and decided to meet at the concert hall before noon, as Yang Jingxing would start practicing in the afternoon.

With her son about to perform with foreigners, Xiao Shuxia couldn't help but spend money, especially on dressing herself up, so she was busy all morning.

Around 10 AM, Yang Jingxing, unable to wait for his mother, went to the concert hall first and met Tao Meng at the entrance. They chatted in the car, and Tao Meng asked many questions, even more detailed than Xiao Shuxia, to understand how Yang Jingxing got involved with the New York Philharmonic.

Tao Meng didn't believe it, "That's it? They just asked you to perform?"

Yang Jingxing said, "What else could there be?"

Tao Meng discouraged, "This is your first performance, what if you're not prepared and something goes wrong? How could you be so careless? Why didn't you tell me earlier!"

Yang Jingxing said, "Nothing will go wrong, even if it does, it won't be me."

Tao Meng said, "Whoever it is, you will be the most affected... Do you know how it feels to face a thousand people for the first time? When I spoke on stage at school, my legs were shaking."

Yang Jingxing said, "I don't believe you, you're exaggerating!"

Tao Meng was serious, "I'm not in the mood to joke... But don't be nervous, playing the piano is different from speaking."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "I asked you to come because I'm afraid of being nervous."

Tao Meng lectured, "What's there to be nervous about? Just treat it like practice, didn't Hu teacher say you're a genius? How many times have you practiced?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Many times, don't worry."

Tao Meng was still concerned, "Can I watch in the afternoon?"

Yang Jingxing said it was fine. However, he had a lunch appointment with Li Yingzhen and Xiao Shuxia. Tao Meng hesitated, "They will be with you in the afternoon?"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "You can't get rid of them."

Tao Meng scolded, "That's not good, you need to be alone and calm... I'll go eat first, call me when you're done."

Yang Jingxing invited her, "Come with us."

Tao Meng shook her head, "Introduce me as your high school classmate, who used to practice the piano."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "What else could I say?"

Tao Meng glared.

Around 11 AM, Xiao Shuxia and Yang Chengyi arrived, and they waited a few minutes for Li Yingzhen. Li Yingzhen brought Yu Xinting again, clearly making an effort to cultivate her.

"Aunt and Uncle, hello." Seeing the elders, Yu Xinting was polite but a bit shy.

Xiao Shuxia warmly greeted, "Hello... Professor Li, is this your...?"

Li Yingzhen said, "A student, a first-year like Yang Jingxing... They've known each other for a long time, even before they entered school."

Yang Jingxing introduced, "Her name is Yu Xinting, we met when she was preparing for the exam last year."

Xiao Shuxia looked at Yu Xinting, "Where are you from?"

"I'm from Yidu."

Xiao Shuxia said, "Girls from there are usually petite and pretty. How old are you?"

"Eighteen." Yu Xinting became increasingly shy.

Xiao Shuxia was surprised, "You look like you're fourteen or fifteen, right?"

Yang Jingxing said, "She's afraid of being called young at this age, let's go eat."

They found a decent restaurant nearby, and Xiao Shuxia treated the guests, "Order what you like, don't be shy."

Yu Xinting held the edge of the large chair with both hands, not shy, "I like everything."

Xiao Shuxia understood, "You should like spicy food from your region."

Yu Xinting said seriously, "Actually, I don't like spicy food much, but I like sour and spicy, and I like sweet things, but not in dishes, I like ice cream."

Xiao Shuxia chuckled and asked the waiter, "Do you have ice cream?"

"We do."

Yu Xinting quickly said, "Not now, after the meal."

Li Yingzhen explained, "Xinting and Jingxing are very familiar, they don't need to be formal with each other."

Yang Chengyi said, "That's good, it's not the era of being overly polite, this is fine."

Yu Xinting became shy again and lowered her head.

After the meal started, Yu Xinting was more reserved compared to when she was with Yang Jingxing, but she wasn't shy. Her chopsticks were active within her reach, occasionally looking at the table, hesitating which dish to pick.

Xiao Shuxia asked, "How does it taste? Can you get used to it?"

Yu Xinting nodded, "Everything is delicious, Aunt, you eat, don't worry about me."

The braised pork ribs were a bit large, and Yu Xinting struggled to pick one up, accidentally dropping it on the table. She tried to salvage it.

Xiao Shuxia quickly stopped her, "Don't, Jingxing, push the plate over!"

Yu Xinting picked it up again and quickly put it back in the bowl, saying softly and embarrassedly, "It's not dirty, it's fine."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "You learned that from me."

Yu Xinting was even more embarrassed, "No, I didn't."

Yang Chengyi said, "Every grain of rice is hard-earned... Good upbringing."

Yu Xinting said, "Yang Jingxing doesn't waste food either, he always cleans the table."

Yang Jingxing said, "I just have a good appetite."

Everyone laughed.

After the meal, Xiao Shuxia asked Yu Xinting if she wanted ice cream, and Yu Xinting shook her head, "I'm full."

Yang Jingxing encouraged, "I'll have one with you."

Yu Xinting said, "I really can't eat anymore... Thank you, Aunt, thank you, Uncle."

Xiao Shuxia smiled and asked, "Do you have any siblings?"

Yu Xinting shook her head, "No, only child."

Xiao Shuxia said to her husband, "She feels like a little sister at home."

They still had work to do, so Yang Jingxing called Tao Meng, "We're done eating, you can come over."

Tao Meng said, "I'll be there in ten minutes."

Xiao Shuxia asked, "Who is it? Why didn't you invite them to eat with us?"

Yang Jingxing said, "A high school classmate."

Yu Xinting looked at Yang Jingxing.

The group walked to the concert hall, and Tao Meng was already there with a smile, greeting them, "Hello, hello, nice to see you again."

Yu Xinting was happy, "You came, that's great."

Xiao Shuxia remembered, "You're Yang Jingxing's classmate, the student representative at the parent-teacher meeting."

Tao Meng nodded, "Yes, you still look young." It hadn't been that long.

Yang Jingxing said, "Tao Meng also plays the piano, she's here to watch."

Xiao Shuxia remembered again, "Tao Meng, that's right... You've changed a lot, hehe, where are you studying now?"

"Fudan University." Tao Meng, without waiting for praise, said to Li Yingzhen, "You're Professor Li, hello."

Li Yingzhen nodded and smiled.

Tao Meng said to Yang Jingxing, "I won't take up your time, let's go in."

The group entered the concert hall, and Xiao Shuxia said to Tao Meng, "Thank you for coming, do you have classes today?"

Tao Meng said, "No classes in the afternoon. I used to play the piano, Yang Jingxing called me yesterday, so I came to see his debut."

Yu Xinting asked, "Will you come tonight?"

Tao Meng nodded, "Yes, I've already booked a ticket."

Yu Xinting asked again, "Tomorrow too?"

Tao Meng said, "Yes." Then to Yang Jingxing, "I don't need your ticket, you can give it to other friends." She then asked Xiao Shuxia, "You came here in a hurry, must have been tiring?"

Xiao Shuxia said, "Not at all."

On the second floor, Jaromir and Le Xian met Xiao Shuxia and Yang Chengyi. Yang Jingxing translated from English to Chinese, and Le Xian translated from Chinese to English, establishing a friendly bilateral relationship. They chatted for half an hour, and Xiao Shuxia's vanity soared. She said she hadn't prepared a gift because of the rush, feeling embarrassed, and Le Xian smiled and translated.

Jaromir said Yang Jingxing was the best gift, almost scaring Xiao Chengyi and his wife. This was their son, not to be given away.

Tao Meng finally found the opportunity to respectfully greet Jaromir, introducing herself in fluent English as Yang Jingxing's high school classmate, welcoming him to Puhai, wishing the performance success, and praising his conducting.

It was time to get to work. Yang Jingxing had to practice Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor with the orchestra. The large group of foreigners in the practice hall piqued Xiao Shuxia's interest, and she looked at each one, hoping to find a beauty.

Tao Meng was polite, "Professor Li, please sit, Aunt..."

Tao Meng sat to the right of Xiao Shuxia, and Yu Xinting sat to the right of Tao Meng. Tao Meng said to Yu Xinting, "You're a professional, if he plays anything not good, let me know, thanks."

Yu Xinting was embarrassed, "You know his playing better than I do, it's a pity you didn't come yesterday..."

Tao Meng smiled.

Jaromir paid respects to Xiao Shuxia's side before starting, and he didn't plan to nitpick, going through the entire piece.

Yang Jingxing sat at the piano, but the orchestra played the introduction for a few minutes, and he had nothing to do. With dozens of people in the orchestra, the feeling was very different from listening to a CD at home or watching Yang Jingxing play solo. Xiao Shuxia was anxious, swaying to the music and staring at her son.

Finally, Yang Jingxing started, and Xiao Shuxia smiled. Yang Chengyi wasn't interested in the music but watched the audience, hoping to read something from their expressions. The grand climax at the end of the first movement made Xiao Shuxia pinch her husband's hand hard, almost making him wince.

Tao Meng watched very seriously, not noticing Yu Xinting looking at her from time to time.

Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor was grand and powerful, suitable for Yang Jingxing's appearance and style, so Jaromir specifically chose this piece. His choice was right, Yang Jingxing's performance was flawless, even the deep second movement was perfect. Gradually, Xiao Shuxia and Yang Chengyi were drawn in, shifting their focus from their eyes to their ears, especially Yang Chengyi's呆呆的表情 (dull expression).

After the 40-minute piece ended, Jaromir led the applause, and the rest of the orchestra followed. Le Xian said to Xiao Shuxia and Yang Chengyi, "He is... really amazing!"

It was indeed amazing. Although Xiao Shuxia and Yang Chengyi didn't understand the nuances, they felt it was good. What a magnificent and grand piece of music, this was what Yang Jingxing should do.

Tao Meng also smiled and clapped, asking Yu Xinting, "How was it?"

Yu Xinting smiled.

Jaromir came to ask the audience's opinion. Yang Chengyi didn't understand, just smiled broadly, and said, "Good, very good! It's you all who are good, not Yang Jingxing."

Xiao Shuxia pulled Yang Jingxing's ear, "Let me see, you're sweating... I didn't raise you for nothing."

The orchestra had more practice to do, so Yang Jingxing and the others went to the rest room, accompanied by Le Xian. Yu Xinting was very proactive, "Aunt, what would you like to drink?"

"Water, coffee, anything." Xiao Shuxia wasn't in the mood to think about it.

Yu Xinting asked Tao Meng, "What about you?"

Tao Meng said, "Coffee, with sugar, thank you."

Yang Jingxing followed Yu Xinting, "I'll help you."

"No, no!" Yu Xinting pushed Yang Jingxing back to his seat.

Le Xian, learning that Xiao Shuxia and Yang Chengyi were music novices, was surprised and said her situation was the same, but that was decades ago. Xiao Shuxia asked, "Where are you from?"

Yu Xinting returned with the coffee, placing a cup in front of each person, and Yang Jingxing asked, "What about yours?"

"Oh... I forgot." Yu Xinting laughed