Chapter 54

(Listen, listen, listen, listen—This chapter is dedicated to my beloved movie)

Xiaoyu Cheng saw Xiyue Fu off into a taxi. Despite her gloom, Xiyue Fu managed a smile and said goodbye to Xiaoyu Cheng, saying, "Stay in touch."

Xiaoyu Cheng could only smile and say, "Sure, give me a call when you have time." He waved to Xiyue Fu, thinking that perhaps they would never meet again.

Xiaoyu Cheng didn't feel too regretful. Although Xiyue Fu was quite beautiful, men never refused to get to know pretty girls. But he now cherished his feelings and was unwilling to easily give them to anyone. He wasn't sure if this sentiment was due to his nature as a shut-in or as a music director.

Watching the taxi drive away, Xiaoyu Cheng stood under a camphor tree by the roadside and received a text message from Wenqian Tang.

"Your performance was amazing, sis!" followed by a clapping emoji.

Xiaoyu Cheng then remembered the instigator and quickly replied, "Damn, you made me lose face. You still have the nerve to text me? Luckily, I have exceptional skills, or I would have been completely ruined by you!"

"Hey, you're getting all puffed up now? Oh, sorry, you are indeed quite fat. Haha. I was hesitant to text you, but since you promised to fulfill one of my requests, I had to gather my courage to collect it!" Wenqian Tang replied quickly.

Xiaoyu Cheng thought about the bet, where he had even given her a broken rose and was mocked by others, losing all his dignity. He felt it was a waste to not even know what Wenqian Tang looked like. He immediately replied, "Alright, what's your request? Let's talk in person."

After sending this, there was no immediate response.

Xiaoyu Cheng turned and walked toward the Forest of Lights. His coat was still in the dressing room. Ou Wang and Xia Shaomo were already at the bar's entrance. Xiaoyu Cheng saw Xia Shaomo's mother still standing under a streetlight, pushing her bicycle.

Xiaoyu Cheng said goodbye to Xia Shaomo and waved to her mother from a distance, then walked with Ou Wang, watching the mother and daughter pedal away under the dim streetlights.

Ou Wang excitedly grabbed Xiaoyu Cheng's arms and shouted, "Fatty, you're really f*cking awesome! That 'Dragon Inn' was absolutely mind-blowing. When can I play it? You have to copy the sheet music for me when you have time!"

Xiaoyu Cheng laughed and said, "Don't rush. There will be a day. For now, you need to practice more fundamentals. Don't aim too high. I'll teach you everything I can. Go home now, it's already late. If you're any later, the subway will be closed."

Ou Wang nodded, slung his guitar over his shoulder, and ran toward the subway station.

Xiaoyu Cheng took out his phone and saw that Wenqian Tang hadn't replied. He didn't plan to call her either. He wasn't insistent on meeting. He went back to the bar to get his coat and then drove to Fudan University.

It wasn't until he got in the car that he received a text from Wenqian Tang: "Sis, I'll definitely meet you next time. I didn't wear makeup today, and I was afraid my plain face would scare you. I'll get dressed up next time before we meet."

Xiaoyu Cheng found the tone familiar but didn't think much about it. He started the Ferrari and said, "Then I'll head back to the palace first! You can rest now."

Shortly after, he received numerous angry emojis from Wenqian Tang. Xiaoyu Cheng didn't reply, not realizing he was setting himself up for trouble.

Qin Ning and Yu Xi watched Xiaoyu Cheng leave the bar. They asked Ling'er Li and Wenqian Tang to follow and make sure he was gone before they left the Forest of Lights.

Xiaoqi Huang and his group also left the Forest of Lights. Xiaoqi Huang asked Ling'er Li if Qin Ning and Yu Xi wanted to go to the Nirvana Bar. Wenqian Tang had already asked and they agreed to go.

Ling'er Li replied irritably, "I'm not a messenger. Can't you ask them yourself?"

Xiaoqi Huang had no choice but to promise Ling'er Li a few Michelin-starred meals to get her to speak up.

Qin Ning had already called a driver to pick her and Yu Xi up, planning to go home. Ling'er Li walked over and hugged Qin Ning's arm, saying, "Ning, Xi, Xiaoqi Huang wants to invite you to the Nirvana Bar. Are you going?"

Qin Ning shook her head without hesitation. She knew Yu Xi wouldn't go and told Ling'er Li, "If you and Wenqian want to go, remember to be home by 1 AM. I promised Wenqian's mom."

Wenqian Tang thought for a moment and said, "Forget it. If you and Xi aren't going, I don't want to go either."

Qin Ning held Yu Xi's hand and said, "Good. Bars are noisy and full of lecherous men. There's no point in going."

Ling'er Li knew that Qin Ning and Yu Xi were not easily persuaded and sighed, "I've done my best. I can only help Xiaoqi Huang this much."

Yu Xi was well aware of Xiaoqi Huang's feelings for her but genuinely believed that love was a boring thing and wouldn't waste time on any man. In her eyes, almost all men were single-celled,下半身动物. She smiled at Ling'er Li and said, "Ling'er, try to get Huang Luyang's bank account number. I'll transfer the money for tonight to him."

Ling'er Li was taken aback and said, "Xi, Xiaoqi Huang isn't stingy. It's not that much money."

Yu Xi replied seriously, "It's not about the money."

Ling'er Li sighed again for Xiaoqi Huang and said, "I'll try, but he won't tell me if he knows it's you."

Qin Ning interjected, "Don't tell him it's from Xi. My car is here, I'm going home. Wenqian, are you coming?"

Wenqian Tang nodded.

The three girls waved goodbye to Xiaoqi Huang and his group from a distance and got into the Rolls-Royce by the roadside.

Ling'er Li returned to Xiaoqi Huang and patted his shoulder, saying, "Brother Seven, I suggest you give up. It's hopeless."

Xiaoqi Huang smiled bitterly at Ling'er Li and said, "When have I ever thought I had a chance?" He turned and walked toward his Porsche 911 parked by the roadside. He didn't want to think about anything now; he just wanted to get drunk.

Xiaoqi Huang wasn't sure what love was or where his persistent feelings came from. Looking back, he had seen Yu Xi only a few times since elementary school. But each time he saw her, the impression was so vivid. Whenever he couldn't sleep at night, those images would play back in his mind like a movie.

He remembered every dress she wore, every gesture she made, and every piano piece she played on stage.

Those piano pieces, which he didn't find particularly pleasant, he bought on CD and would listen to them when he had time. Although he couldn't really appreciate them, he felt that Yu Xi played them the best.

At this age, when he didn't understand what love was, those unattainable dreams were the sweetest. Every person in a one-sided love had a pilgrim's heart, looking up at the stars. They never expected happiness to suddenly descend; they just cautiously thanked the occasional happiness of each day.

Xiaoqi Huang thought this way: if he got her, it would be his luck; if not, it was his fate.

He seized every opportunity to get closer to her but never let such closeness become a burden to her.

This was the most glorious dignity of a one-sided lover.

————————————华丽的分割线———————————

A few days after the piano duel, it didn't significantly affect Xiaoyu Cheng's life. He didn't receive any love letters from girls at the Forest of Lights, which he found quite disappointing. Such a perfect performance, such a classic song, and still no girl's favor—it was a huge loss for him.

In the morning, Xiaoyu Cheng didn't have time to practice in the music room. He had been busy choosing a piano. He got up early today, seeing the year-end approaching, and the renovation of his recording studio was almost complete. In the end, he didn't feel comfortable buying a piano from Xiyue Fu's music store. Xiyue Fu hadn't contacted him, and he didn't think a reserved beauty would initiate contact with a creepy fat guy.

Xiaoyu Cheng entrusted his butler, Qiao San, to buy the piano for him.

Regarding which brand of piano to buy, Xiaoyu Cheng ultimately didn't choose the same Steinway as Yu Xi but opted for the Bechstein, which Liszt loved.

Actually, there is no "best" piano brand, only "one of the best." Factors like brand history, craftsmanship, sound, and touch are all considered. In terms of top-tier pianos, the following brands can be considered on par with Steinway: C. Bechstein and Bösendorfer.

Pianos are like cars; can you say Ferrari is definitely better than Lamborghini? Mercedes also has the SLR 722. Simply comparing brands isn't very meaningful.

An old topic immediately came to mind: what are the differences in sound between these famous pianos, and which one sounds better?

In recent days, Xiaoyu Cheng had visited many music stores to study this. Steinway's pursuit of sound is almost obsessive. Before sale, each piano undergoes rigorous inspection to ensure a unique sound. Describing Steinway's sound is difficult, but it feels regal and imperial. When people first hear a Steinway, they are often captivated by its noble quality. Steinway's bass is incredibly rich, the midrange is warm and full, and the treble is bright and brilliant. However, the midrange is where Steinway excels, with strong expressiveness and感染力. But Xiaoyu Cheng believed the most compelling aspect was Steinway's innate imperial quality.

Bechstein, on the other hand, has a different standard, resulting in a different sound emphasis. Bechstein's sound is reserved but rich in depth, clearly a German-Austrian sound. Its bass is clear and round, yet rich and full, creating a unique sound atmosphere. Many pianists describe it as "deep and restrained," akin to "a heavy sword without a sharp edge, simple and effective."

Regarding the differences between Steinway and Bechstein, American-made Steinways are brighter, while European-made ones are sweeter. Most pianists say their pianos can meet various requirements, with pure and wide-ranging sound, bright treble, and rich, full bass.

Many pianists don't think Bechstein is as versatile as Steinway, but its bass to midrange is rich, and its treble is sweet without a metallic sound, comparable to Steinway. Bechstein is ideal for playing elegant Viennese-style works by Mozart and Schubert. Pianist Backhaus mentioned in a famous interview that he found Bechstein to have a unique playing effect, completely compliant with the pianist's intentions in sound and touch.

Compared to Steinway and Bechstein, Bechstein has a more balanced feel. Each string of a Bechstein grand piano is precisely tuned to a pure octave, and the manufacturing technology is impressive. The wood is air-dried for over five years before assembly, ensuring a clear and transparent sound. The attention to detail in every part is meticulous, resulting in a unique sound that meets the needs of demanding pianists. Bechstein's sound is balanced from high to low, with clear and precise pedals, making it suitable for those who handle music delicately.

Steinway and Bechstein differ in their focus on personalization. In the bass, the sound is as strong as the player's strength. More accurately, Bechstein has a very smooth and rounded sound, and the treble might seem less prominent, but it's not necessarily less. Steinway's treble has a distinct metallic quality, making the sound very open. If compared to human voices, one is like a mature adult, the other like a young adult.

In terms of musical expression, Steinway's sound is unsuitable for Baroque music. Many masters who play Bach, Scarlatti, Rameau, and Couperin on modern pianos find it lacking and need modifications. Steinway is a piano with a bold personality, making it difficult for reserved people to resonate with it. Bechstein is excellent for German-Austrian works, while many modern pieces are better suited to Steinway, which has a more expressive quality. Therefore, Bechstein's treble metallic sound is not as prominent as Steinway's.

Vietnamese-French pianist Dang Thai Son's performance on a Bechstein is exceptionally beautiful, a sound no Chinese pianist can match. American pianist Xu Feiping refused to record with a Bechstein.

Ultimately, the choice of piano depends on personal preference. European pianos are generally heavier and more tiring to play for extended periods. Bechstein and Bösendorfer pianos are also heavy, making them challenging for many to play.

However, Xiaoyu Cheng liked Bechstein's almost obsessive attention to detail, so he chose Liszt's favorite. He also remembered that the ornate grand piano in his beloved movie "The Legend of 1900" was a Bechstein.

So, his heart had already made the choice: Bechstein.

1900 never left the ship, but he would, for the one he loved.

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