Symphony's Romance Episode 14 Recap
> Symphony's Romance Recap
As Li Zhenyan performed the piano concerto No.1 in b flat minor with Fisher, he found himself increasingly swept away, realizing he wanted Fisher to teach him more and to deeply experience such music and stage presence. This fluent and exciting sense of rhythm truly felt like a master's touch, causing a full-body tremor and a profound, real sense of happiness that he never wanted to end.
However, Fang Xiaowo quietly left before the performance concluded, feeling a sense of loss. After the concert, Li Zhenyan acknowledged he finally understood Fisher’s intention behind inviting him to play – to help him find happiness and joy in the purity of music. Despite this revelation, Li Zhenyan firmly refused Fisher's offer to go to Europe, stating his decision would not change. Fisher, calling him stubborn like his father, accepted his refusal.
Fisher then gave Li Zhenyan a final lesson, emphasizing that every music master experiences life's troughs. He cited Tchaikovsky, whose first piano concerto faced criticism but was released unchanged and later garnered immense success, embodying unwavering belief and rich emotion. Fisher urged Li Zhenyan to transform his inner pain and struggles not into shackles, but into motivation and hope.
Meanwhile, Fang Xiaowo, observing Li Zhenyan shining on stage, felt a pang of worry, realizing Li Zhenyan was just embarking on his true musical journey and would go further and further, making her fear she wouldn't be able to keep up if she remained stagnant. Fisher's departure from Baiqi was imminent, a decision he deemed "the most appropriate time." Director Meng expressed gratitude for Fisher's guidance to the Group S and Group A students, acknowledging its lifelong impact.
Fisher, in turn, advised the school to offer more opportunities, patience, and to nurture the potential of each student, seeing every individual at Baiqi as a creator. Elis then gave Fisher five minutes to say a private farewell to Lin Yumian. Lin Yumian sadly noted that this time he was "really going" and wouldn't suddenly return.
Fisher, recalling the watch she gave him, reflected on how he used to chase time but now, in the "second half" of his life, desired to walk slowly, passing the baton to the younger generation. He expressed regret that despite dedicating their lives to music and both remaining unmarried, they never quite found a way to be together. As a final, surprising gesture, Fisher leaned in and whispered to Lin Yumian, "When we meet again, marry me."
Lin Yumian, uncharacteristically, replied that she would consider it. Later, Group S members, emotional, tried to stop Fisher from leaving. He playfully rebuffed them, saying he needed to earn money and wasn't a full-time teacher, but encouraged them to continue striving so that next time he returned, they would each be capable of standing alone on stage. Tian Yisong met Jiang Caiwei, who was upset about not being able to find him.
She had prepared a stack of European orchestra recruitment information and competition details for him, urging him to remain positive. Tian Yisong, however, stopped her, revealing he had "found a way to go abroad." He explained that an agent interested in him had secured a potential assistant conductor position with a foreign orchestra. Jiang Caiwei was overjoyed, believing he would surely be discovered.
She passionately declared that seeing his dedication to his dream had solidified her own resolve to study abroad with him, stating, "Fate is not as good as you want. I am as good as you want." She excitedly anticipated they could "be together all the time in the future." Tian Yisong, overcome with guilt, began to speak, but could only manage to thank her, unable to reveal the truth of his arrangement.
After Fisher's departure, Song Ran also bid farewell to Li Zhenyan. She apologized for her past judgmental views on his musical choices, admitting she had been self-indulgent. She told him that seeing him "happier and happier" recently made her realize that "standing on the stage that suits you is the best of you," and promised to be his strongest supporter. She then emotionally blessed Fang Xiaowo. Li Zhenyan, touched by her words, happily accepted.
Song Ran soon left for her international tours, promising to keep in touch. Li Zhenyan then realized how unaccustomed he was to Fang Xiaowo not dropping by for meals. He later encountered Ji Mo, who was delivering food to Fang Xiaowo, and only then did he learn the real reason Fang Xiaowo had been engrossed in piano practice – she wanted to play a concerto with Li Zhenyan and didn't want to drift further away from him.
Feeling a pang of jealousy that Ji Mo had been regularly feeding Fang Xiaowo, Li Zhenyan immediately went home and cooked a meal, inviting Fang Xiaowo to eat and promising to listen to her play the piano the next day if she ate well. Li Zhenyan then visited Group S, where the graduating members were discussing their struggles with job interviews and the impending dissolution of the group.
They reminisced about how Group S had given them valuable memories and a chance to play music, with some expressing a desire to keep the group going. Qin Fen, in particular, enthusiastically proposed that Group S continue, citing that he, Zhuo Yin, and Chen Zheng were still students, and others could join rehearsals when their work schedules allowed. Li Zhenyan, however, dismissed the idea as "unrealistic."
He pointed out the practical challenges: Zhuo Yin, as a chief, was still technically lacking, and with many members needing to find jobs, consistent practice time would be impossible, rendering the orchestra's continuation meaningless. He bluntly told Qin Fen and Fang Xiaowo that they were "completely ignorant about the word 'professional.' " Qin Fen, frustrated by Li Zhenyan's pragmatism, questioned why he stayed at Baiqi if he wasn't going to conduct, and why he didn't go with Fisher.
Li Zhenyan was angered by the remark, and Qin Fen quickly apologized. Later, Fang Xiaowo, sensing Li Zhenyan's low spirits, offered to treat him to dinner. They went to a sushi restaurant, where Li Zhenyan was skeptical she had enough money. She insisted she did, wanting to "free his hands" by treating him. However, he barely ate, mentioning he wasn't hungry. He found the food "ordinary," annoying Fang Xiaowo.
She then realized she didn't have enough money to cover the meal and admitted she had spent "the rest of my living expenses" just to cheer him up. Li Zhenyan, exasperated, told her to focus on her own future. He was disappointed to hear her reiterate her dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher, teaching children piano, believing it was a "waste" of her talent. Fang Xiaowo countered by asking why he chose to stay in Baiqi as well.
After their dinner, Li Zhenyan informed Fang Xiaowo that he was "no longer her mentor" and that Teacher Zhang was now her instructor. He explained that Teacher Zhang's extreme teaching methods were designed to push her past her "psychological barrier," enabling her to truly grow. Back at Qin Ba's noodle shop, Teacher Hu and Teacher Zhang discussed Li Zhenyan's impressive performance with Fisher.
Teacher Zhang, acknowledging Li Zhenyan's talent, regretted losing him to Teacher Hu's guidance, especially since Li Zhenyan was poised to become a conducting graduate student next year. Teacher Hu then provocatively mentioned he still had Fang Xiaowo. Teacher Zhang, recalling Fang Xiaowo's "random" playing with Group S, expressed skepticism, claiming she would fail even the first round of a professional competition.
However, when Fang Xiaowo later played the piano concerto with Li Zhenyan, her improved playing was noticed by students, and even Teacher Zhang, passing by, paused and remarked, "Play well. . . Isn't this the mascot Fang Xiaowo?" Hearing her play, Ji Mo also seemed to recognize something from his past. Meanwhile, Qin Fen, following advice from Xu Zixuan and her sister, bought lipsticks for Lin Qingshang.
He tried to pass them off as a "prize" from a "lucky draw" at his family's noodle shop, congratulating her on her graduate school admission. Lin Qingshang, unconvinced, challenged him to apply the lipstick for her. As he nervously complied, she noticed lipstick swatches on his arm, exposing his lie. Embarrassed, Qin Fen quickly fled, sheepishly reminding her about a natural face mask he had given her.
