Chapter 82

Cheng Xiaoyu slowly walked back to the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Along the way, he saw the innocent faces of young students and the worried expressions of their parents, which made him feel deeply moved.

University is certainly not the only path, but being able to attend a top university means experiencing the most beautiful scenery along the way.

It is undeniable that the college entrance examination divides life into different paths. The scores you get determine where you will go, and this is something you cannot change. However, the place you are going to will surely bring you unexpected surprises. You will meet people and feel regret for not meeting them sooner; you will experience events that make you suddenly understand life; you will encounter what you should encounter and accept what you cannot change.

After years of hard study, from a naive child to a mature young adult, you have learned Chinese, mathematics, astronomy, and geography, and gained knowledge of ancient and modern times, both in China and abroad. You have met different teachers and made different friends, all of which are valuable assets in life. Through the college entrance examination, you submit a report on your efforts. Regardless of the results, whether you are happy or regretful, you cannot turn back, because this is just the beginning. The exam of life is far from over.

The ideology of China's five thousand years of civilization has determined that all professions are inferior, except for scholarship. Otherwise, the tycoons of the past would not have gone to read MBAs after making their fortune, spending a lot of money to buy a diploma that adds luster to their face.

With such reflections, Cheng Xiaoyu quietly moved forward, once again standing at a crossroads in life, choosing his direction.

This time, he will raise his head, cross the vast sea, and reach the other shore where flowers bloom.

Cheng Xiaoyu walked to the entrance of the Shanghai Theatre Academy with a passionate heart. Unfortunately, the gate of the Shanghai Theatre Academy was not as imposing as that of the Central Conservatory of Music, hidden behind a lush greenery, giving it a deep and elegant Jiangnan charm. Perhaps this is also a difference between northern and southern cultures.

In the morning, Cheng Xiaoyu did not have the chance to take a good look at the school in the crowded crowd. After the morning exam, most of the people had left, and the campus of the Shanghai Theatre Academy appeared spacious.

The Shanghai Theatre Academy does not have any particularly tall buildings, only small buildings from the Republican era that combine Chinese and Western architectural styles. To highlight the distinct cultural atmosphere, there are ancient trees with lush greenery everywhere, and colorful flowers and plants can be seen everywhere.

Thinking about living here for four years, Cheng Xiaoyu was quite excited. The Shanghai Theatre Academy is famous for its many beautiful women, and no other university suits Cheng Xiaoyu as well.

With these thoughts, Cheng Xiaoyu returned to Examination Site No. 6, where many candidates were already sitting inside, practicing their scores. Cheng Xiaoyu found a seat at random and began to close his eyes to rest. As he was reviewing the music score in his mind, his shoulder was suddenly tapped.

Cheng Xiaoyu turned his head to see Duanmu Linsha holding two cups of Häagen-Dazs and winking at him. Duanmu Linsha looked beautiful in her school uniform, making Cheng Xiaoyu feel a bit attracted. Despite the purity of the school uniform, it could not hide her perfect proportions and graceful, sexy figure. Her serene and charming face added a fatal allure that Cheng Xiaoyu found hard to resist. He could only recite the Great Compassion Mantra in his heart to suppress his desire.

Duanmu Linsha smiled and placed a cup of ice cream in front of Cheng Xiaoyu, saying, "Thank you for treating me to dinner."

Cheng Xiaoyu smiled and said, "It's my honor to treat a beautiful woman to dinner."

Duanmu Linsha sat down next to Cheng Xiaoyu and said, "I don't have your phone number yet! You have to give it to me so I can return the favor."

Cheng Xiaoyu picked up the ice cream and said, "I can give you my phone number, but one dinner is enough. I never accept dinners from girls."

Duanmu Linsha asked, a bit puzzled, "Why?"

Cheng Xiaoyu took a spoonful of ice cream and said leisurely, "Because I am, well, a bit silly and have a lot of money."

Duanmu Linsha covered her mouth and laughed.

Her charming and delicate appearance made the surrounding boys hold their breath.

Cheng Xiaoyu's gaze focused on the subtle movement of Duanmu Linsha's chest under her white shirt. He silently appreciated it for a while and smiled contentedly.

Duanmu Linsha noticed Cheng Xiaoyu's lecherous gaze but did not feel repulsed. Instead, she felt a bit embarrassed because he looked at her so openly and confidently, without any sneaky or dirty intentions. Cheng Xiaoyu's direct gaze made her blush and she patted him, saying, "No peeking."

Cheng Xiaoyu was not embarrassed. He raised his head and moved his gaze to Duanmu Linsha's blushing face, chuckling, "Looking at a beautiful woman is a beneficial and elegant art that benefits both the mind and the country. Only a true gentleman like me can perform this high-class art with grace. I must seize every opportunity to look at a beautiful woman and carefully plan every step of the process. In fact, my gaze is clear, appreciative, and elegant. I maintain patience and grace when looking at each object. Unfortunately, most people misunderstand me deeply." Cheng Xiaoyu still had a look of "I have every right to look at you" on his face, with a calm and composed expression, exuding a bit of a literary youth's charm.

Duanmu Linsha, who was no match for this forty-something cultural rogue, blushed even more, her heart beating fast, and a hint of sweet emotion spreading in her heart. But she didn't know what to say in response to Cheng Xiaoyu. She instinctively scooped a spoonful of ice cream and, driven by some inexplicable force, fed it to Cheng Xiaoyu.

Cheng Xiaoyu, not reacting, subconsciously ate it, not minding the indirect kiss with a beautiful woman. He unhesitatingly swallowed it.

The scene shocked the surrounding group, who watched as a top beauty openly flirted with an unremarkable fat boy in the classroom. Groans of envy filled the air, and everyone regretted that they were not the lucky one.

After feeding Cheng Xiaoyu a spoonful of ice cream, Duanmu Linsha realized what she had done. Embarrassed, she almost threw the ice cream away. She forced herself to calm down, shouting in her heart, "Duanmu Linsha, Duanmu Linsha, don't be a fangirl! Be elegant, you must be elegant." She turned her head, not daring to look at Cheng Xiaoyu, and used eating ice cream to cover her nervousness, forgetting that it was the same spoon Cheng Xiaoyu had used.

Cheng Xiaoyu chuckled, not saying anything, and secretly laughed, feeling like he had gotten a great deal.

But everything seemed a bit unreal to Cheng Xiaoyu. He didn't know what Duanmu Linsha, such a beautiful girl, saw in him. It definitely wasn't for money, as students at Gezhi Private School were either rich or noble.

And he himself had no real value to offer. His old man's heart couldn't understand the subtle emotions of young girls. Just like he couldn't understand the mentality of fans who would die for their idols.

However, all this was seen by He Mingzhe, who was quietly following behind. He Mingzhe was so angry that he wanted to rush into the classroom and tear Cheng Xiaoyu apart. But this was clearly not a good idea. He had a grim face, thinking of ways to get rid of Cheng Xiaoyu. He sat in the last row of the multi-functional music classroom, racking his brain.

Sure enough, heaven rewards those who are determined. After much thought, a light flashed in He Mingzhe's mind, and he remembered who Cheng Xiaoyu was!

Isn't this the rich kid who caused a stir last year by hitting the new school beauty, Pei Yanchen! He Mingzhe immediately had a plan, intending to give this arrogant and ignorant fat boy a harsh lesson.

He Mingzhe left the classroom with a cold smile, determined to make Cheng Xiaoyu feel despair.

The exam continued in the afternoon sunlight, with warm light flooding the classroom, shining on the piano and the sweating young man playing with all his might, all of which was the taste of youth.

What is the taste of youth? In Cheng Xiaoyu's closed eyes, it was the taste of mint. Fresh, invigorating, and slightly sweet and stimulating.

He sniffed carefully and found that there was indeed a faint mint scent in the air, which was the scent of Duanmu Linsha sitting next to him.

A candidate finished, and Cheng Xiaoyu turned to see Duanmu Linsha extending her hand, indicating that he should give her a light high-five. She whispered, "I'm next. Give me some luck, Brother Xiaoyu."

Cheng Xiaoyu didn't understand what Duanmu Linsha meant by "give me some luck," but it didn't stop him from encouraging her. He lightly high-fived Duanmu Linsha, who then confidently went to prepare. She would be next after the current candidate finished.

At this time, there were not many people left in the classroom, only about five or six.

Cheng Xiaoyu's mind followed the candidate on stage, marking every place where the performance was not good enough. He didn't realize that this ability was a bug-level skill, and he was already quite impressive.

When Duanmu Linsha bowed to the examiners and gracefully sat down at the black piano, the moment of silence was like a colorful comic page, incredibly beautiful.

Duanmu Linsha's slender ivory fingers, with strands of black hair falling over her long, white neck, the sunlight shining on her long, curved eyelashes, decorating her small, straight nose, and her red lips accentuating her flawless face, created a face of unparalleled beauty. She was like a proud swan, about to spread her wings.

Bach's "The Well-Tempered Clavier" in C-sharp minor, BWV 849. This is one of the two most difficult five-part fugues in "The Well-Tempered Clavier." Generally, one should not even attempt it without at least ten years of playing experience.

This five-part fugue is structured like a grand and sacred cathedral. It has been described by Lehman as "the most sacred and sublime piece of music presented by musical culture." The various voices imitate and transform, "expressing the aspirations of a great soul."

However, the difficulty of this piece is not ordinary, and the few remaining people were amazed by Duanmu Linsha's exquisite technique.

Cheng Xiaoyu was also a bit surprised by Duanmu Linsha's outstanding performance.

Improving piano playing skills depends on the flexibility and independence of the fingers. Playing polyphonic works requires even more of this. For example, the control of the layers of different voices, the grasp of the melody lines, the handling of the beginning and end of phrases, and the coordination between the two hands.

Duanmu Linsha did all of this flawlessly, especially since she was playing one of the most difficult pieces in "The Well-Tempered Clavier," making her performance even more remarkable.

However, from Cheng Xiaoyu's perspective, there were still some shortcomings. An important aspect of piano performance is that the performer must clearly hear what they are playing, meaning that the various voices in the piece should be clearly presented.

Of course, Cheng Xiaoyu's standards were a bit strict. It is not easy to see what Bach's "The Well-Tempered Clavier" aims to express, but from Bach's ideological characteristics and his unified and complete way of thinking, we can understand the rich content hidden in his works.

Due to the complex era in which Bach lived, he was greatly influenced by religion, often using religious themes to reflect the people's suffering and express sympathy, sadness, and praise for heroes.

At the same time, Bach's works also reflect the people's longing for light and their pursuit of it, rather than being programmatic music that includes language that society could not discuss at the time, indirectly reflecting the people's lives and society.

For example, this C-sharp minor, BWV 849, is a piece with strong religious overtones. It must use musical lines to depict deep philosophical reflection and the solemnity of religious hymns.

After all, the exam is not a piano performance. Under great pressure, it is already difficult to express a high-difficulty piece completely, let alone that this was the first time someone played a five-part fugue in the entire exam.

After the piece was played, there was some applause in the classroom for the first time. But Cheng Xiaoyu maliciously thought that most of the applause was due to Duanmu Linsha's extraordinary beauty.

Subsequently, Duanmu Linsha performed two Chopin etudes very well. Clearly, her level was among the top few in this Examination Site No. 6.

In Cheng Xiaoyu's judgment, Duanmu Linsha's passing the preliminary exam was a sure thing.