Symphony's Romance Episode 16 Recap
> Symphony's Romance Recap
Fang Xiaowo, now under Zhang Shangge's instruction, presented him with a "Piano Lesson Agreement" outlining three rules: no hitting, no swearing, and performing the "Pippi Exercise" together. Initially, Zhang Shangge was hesitant about the Pippi Exercise, stating it was for kindergarten children, but Fang Xiaowo insisted, threatening to switch to another teacher if he didn't comply. They then performed the cheerful exercise together. Soon after, Fang Xiaowo discovered a note that had fallen from Zhang Shangge.
Titled "How to Deal with Fang Xiaowo," the note listed "1. Little doll, 2. Pan-fried buns, 3. Laissez-faire." She realized these were tactics suggested by Li Zhenyan. Li Zhenyan later confirmed to Zhang Shangge that his conventional teaching approach wouldn't work for Fang Xiaowo, who lacked typical ambition. He explained that incentives like "little dolls and pan-fried buns" could keep her engaged.
When Zhang Shangge raised a practical concern about the distance to buy pan-fried buns, suggesting Suzhou soup dumplings instead, Li Zhenyan agreed, clarifying it was a general concept. Most importantly, Li Zhenyan advised that for Fang Xiaowo to genuinely love playing the piano, she first needed the freedom to "play freely and haphazardly." Zhang Shangge worried this would negate the purpose of lessons, but Li Zhenyan stressed the importance of "gradual progress" and that "haste makes waste."
He acknowledged Zhang Shangge as a good but strict teacher, suggesting a need for occasional "entertainment" in his approach. Lin Qingshang approached Li Zhenyan, proposing the formation of a new orchestra. She explained her intention to pursue further studies abroad and participate in competitions next year, believing an orchestra would best enhance musicians' skills.
When Li Zhenyan questioned her choice over Tian Yisong, Lin Qingshang stated Tian Yisong was going abroad, but even if he wasn't, she would still choose Li Zhenyan due to her admiration for his conducting style and musical philosophy. Li Zhenyan, who previously held little interest in student orchestras, confessed that Master Fei's visit, the collaborative spirit between two musical groups, and his stimulating short-term cooperation with Lin Qingshang had altered his perspective, leading him to agree.
He voiced concern about recruiting new musicians, but Lin Qingshang assured him she had already spoken with former Regiment A members and other talented university musicians who showed interest. She also encouraged Li Zhenyan to recommend anyone, calling him "the big star." Li Zhenyan found the idea "quite interesting" and they confirmed their collaboration. At that moment, Qin Fen, who had been listening nearby, enthusiastically intervened, eager to join the new ensemble.
Li Zhenyan and Lin Qingshang, however, playfully set a condition: he would first need to pass the Regiment A entrance examination. Tian Yisong informed Jiang Caiwei of his decision to go to Lyon instead of Paris, where they had initially planned to study together and where he had secured an assistant conductor position. He clarified that his new assistant conductor role and mentorship under Wayne Da would be in Lyon.
Despite his reassurances that Lyon was not far from Paris and he would visit frequently, Jiang Caiwei was deeply upset, lamenting that he had "ruined it all" after she had spent days envisioning their future life together. Tian Yisong apologized. That evening, while Jiang Caiwei was at a bar, she inadvertently left her passport behind. Yan Yan, who discovered it, promptly chased after her to return it, for which Jiang Caiwei expressed her gratitude.
Some time later, Tian Yisong was seen immersed in studying Brahms' Symphony No. 4. Sasha arrived, confirming his flight to Lyon was booked and inviting him to dinner at a popular restaurant overlooking the Bund, which she had long wanted to visit. Tian Yisong accepted, eager to thank her for her help. At the restaurant, Sasha expressed her excitement about finally getting a reservation, acknowledging Tian Yisong's busy schedule with his overseas preparations.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Caiwei entered the restaurant and witnessed Tian Yisong and Sasha dining together. She was visibly stunned. Tian Yisong tried to downplay the situation, referring to Sasha merely as "a friend" when Jiang Caiwei's friend inquired. Jiang Caiwei, overwhelmed, quickly departed. Tian Yisong pursued her, confessing that Sasha's father had secured his assistant conductor position in Lyon, and he had withheld this information to prevent her from "overthinking." He insisted there was nothing romantic between him and Sasha.
Jiang Caiwei, however, told him she wasn't angry, but profoundly "disappointed," and pressed him on whether he would still go to Lyon with Sasha. Li Zhenyan welcomed returning members, noting they were rehearsing in Regiment A's old hall, a special concession. Lin Qingshang introduced new additions: Mu Zhiren on clarinet and An Zhen on flute, with Lan Bo and Chen Zheng already familiar. Several new members recognized Li Zhenyan from a classical music show and jokingly requested his autograph.
Addressing the group, Li Zhenyan thanked them for trusting him and Lin Qingshang and joining the "New S Group," explaining its unique history under Master Fei. He emphasized that their orchestra wouldn't be rigid but would focus on nurturing individual talents and blending them. While he was the conductor, he declared that "the core is every member here" and expressed confidence that their collective passion would create beautiful music, despite their modest venue and instruments.
He then formally announced the establishment of the New S Group. The group began discussing their first public performance, including repertoire, venue, and time. Chen Zheng pointed out that major concert halls were too expensive and unlikely to host an inexperienced new group. Li Zhenyan suggested performing at the school, seeing it as an opportunity to rediscover their original musical aspirations and inspire younger students, a proposal everyone supported. During repertoire discussions, various classical composers were suggested.
Fang Xiaowo humorously proposed "children's songs" for "character," which was met with teasing. Qin Fen then suggested "youthful passion" as a theme, which Li Zhenyan found promising, tasking Qin Fen with selecting the specific piece within three days. Soon after, Qin Fen and Zhuo Yin, having successfully passed the Regiment A exam, joined the new orchestra, bringing snacks to celebrate. Later, during rehearsals, Qin Fen sought advice from Lin Qingshang on "connected staccato bow strokes."
She patiently explained the techniques for both slow and fast variations, including specific bow movements which Qin Fen found quite amusing. Observing the other musicians, Qin Fen was deeply impressed by the advanced skills of Mu Zhiren, An Zhen, and his sister Yan Zixuan, who had won numerous awards and performed at a professional level. He admitted he needed to work much harder to keep pace.
Feeling outmatched, Qin Fen approached Li Zhenyan, requesting a change of repertoire, claiming it was "not good to listen to" and he wanted to impress Lin Qingshang. Li Zhenyan, however, bluntly told him that even with ten different pieces, he wouldn't surpass Lin Qingshang and advised him to focus on brainstorming a name for the new orchestra instead.
Lin Qingshang proposed the new orchestra still lacked an excellent oboe chief, and Ji Mo was unanimously suggested due to his excellent past collaborations. Li Zhenyan initially appeared hesitant, admitting he disliked Ji Mo's closeness to Fang Xiaowo, but eventually agreed to recruit for the position. Li Zhenyan later found Ji Mo practicing and learning about competition and overseas interviews. He offered Ji Mo information about job openings in European orchestras, for which Ji Mo thanked him.
Li Zhenyan then extended a formal invitation for Ji Mo to join their orchestra as the oboe chief, deeming him the "most suitable" candidate. Ji Mo, surprised, mentioned he thought Li Zhenyan disliked seeing him. Li Zhenyan admitted to disliking Ji Mo "sticking to that guy," but acknowledged his exceptional musical talent, adding that he had "confidence in that guy." Li Zhenyan reiterated his hope that Ji Mo would join to help establish a "truly excellent professional orchestra."
Ji Mo expressed that his busy schedule with "exams and competitions" might prevent him from joining, but Li Zhenyan urged him to "think it over." Ji Mo promised to join if his schedule allowed. As Li Zhenyan prepared to leave, Ji Mo, curious, asked why Li Zhenyan, with his passion for orchestras and classical music, hadn't pursued studies in Europe. After a significant pause, Li Zhenyan responded simply, "Because I cannot go."
Ji Mo pressed for a "special reason," but Li Zhenyan remained silent. Having overheard Li Zhenyan's conversation with Ji Mo, Fang Xiaowo confronted him at home, asking why he couldn't go to Europe. Li Zhenyan evaded the question, instead testing her knowledge of classical music and then accusing her of eavesdropping. When Fang Xiaowo playfully speculated about his reasons, Li Zhenyan dismissed her "imaginative" theories and turned the question back on her, asking why she "resisted Teacher Zhang so much."
Fang Xiaowo fell silent, prompting Li Zhenyan to suggest that everyone harbors secrets they prefer not to share, and they should simply keep them "hidden in our hearts." Meanwhile, Mu Zhiren and An Zhen approached Lin Qingshang at Qin Fen's noodle shop, explaining their instrument competition demanded their full attention, leaving little time for orchestra rehearsals. They proposed a two-month hiatus for the orchestra and requested Lin Qingshang to relay this to Li Zhenyan.
Lin Qingshang, despite also preparing for a competition, expressed her frustration at their lack of commitment, as she managed her time to balance both. Mu Zhiren bluntly stated he would prioritize the competition if forced to choose. As Yan Zimang and Yan Zixuan arrived, Mu Zhiren and An Zhen swiftly departed, reiterating their plea to Lin Qingshang. Qin Fen, observing Lin Qingshang's distress, inquired about the situation.
She explained her overwhelming stress, detailing how members were preoccupied with their competitions and reluctant to commit to rehearsals, making it difficult to propose a two-month break to Li Zhenyan. Qin Fen, ever the optimist, offered a practical perspective: if members were uncommitted, their participation would only "drag down" the rehearsals, and "it's best if they don't come at all." Lin Qingshang conceded his point but worried about finding suitable replacements.
Qin Fen then shifted the topic to naming the orchestra, suggesting imaginative names like "Rainbow Orchestra" or "Vast Orchestra," which Lin Qingshang found uninspiring. As the instrument competitions approached, Mu Zhiren and An Zhen frequently arrived late or missed rehearsals. When they were present, the orchestra's atmosphere remained strained.
Qin Fen openly advocated for the orchestra to become a professional ensemble, but Mu Zhiren and An Zhen confessed their true intention was to use the orchestra as a "good experience" to merely "make their resumes look better," with plans to pursue further studies elsewhere after spring. Other members echoed these sentiments, revealing their aspirations to become soloists on the "world stage," prompting one to challenge Li Zhenyan on his own ambitions.
The tense discussion was abruptly halted by Li Zhenyan, who, visibly angered by the lack of commitment, commanded everyone to "rehearse first." The ensuing rehearsal was difficult and marked by a palpable sense of unease. Lin Qingshang privately acknowledged the "tricky" situation, realizing that with only two months until their performance, replacing departing members would be impossible. Observing the growing despair, Fang Xiaowo took initiative.
She sought out Yan Zixuan and Yan Zimang, who were both immersed in demanding new jobs with "considerable monthly salaries." Despite their initial reluctance, Fang Xiaowo passionately appealed to them. She expressed her deep envy as a piano major who couldn't perform in an orchestra, explaining that music "truly exists" only when created collectively, resonating within everyone. She emphasized the unique opportunity of their current age, warning them against future regret if they abandoned their musical dreams.
Moved by her heartfelt plea, Yan Zixuan and Yan Zimang, along with other former members, decided to rejoin, acknowledging that Fang Xiaowo's words had "poked directly into their hearts." Li Zhenyan and Lin Qingshang warmly welcomed the returning musicians, with Lin Qingshang expressing joy that they came back "despite past grudges." The members, now committed to their musical aspirations, declared their intention to become professional musicians.
Li Zhenyan, reflecting on previous technical rejections, expressed his profound happiness as a conductor to see their return and thanked them for not abandoning their initial dreams. As the group discussed a new name for the orchestra, Fang Xiaowo, looking at the night sky, shared her belief that her wish for everyone's return had been heard by the "stars." She quoted that "human hope, like an eternal star, whose light dark clouds cannot hide."
Li Zhenyan, correcting her quote, was suddenly struck by inspiration from her "stars" comment, declaring Fang Xiaowo a "genius." He then proudly announced the orchestra's new name: the "RS Youth Symphony Orchestra," with RS signifying "Rising Star," representing a fresh start and shimmering hope.
