Symphony's Romance Episode 2 Recap
> Symphony's Romance Recap
Li Zhenyan, reflecting on his own past and how he taught Fang Xiaowo, realized his methods were similar to those of his disliked teacher, Mr. Zhang. He decided to change his approach. On the day Mr. Hu was to observe their joint performance, Li Zhenyan instructed Fang Xiaowo to play freely, without the score, promising to follow her lead. Fang Xiaowo joyfully immersed herself in the music, improvising her performance.
Li Zhenyan skillfully adapted, and their collaboration became harmonious, revealing Fang Xiaowo's unique musical intuition and inspiring new musical insights within Li Zhenyan. After their performance, as they walked back, Fang Xiaowo found herself unexpectedly drawn to Li Zhenyan. Lost in thought, Li Zhenyan pondered that if he didn't move forward, no one would wait for him.
Distracted, he paused in the middle of crossing the road, prompting Fang Xiaowo to rush back and pull him safely to the other side. Li Zhenyan told her that becoming a pianist required diligent daily practice. However, Fang Xiaowo confessed her true aspiration was to become a kindergarten teacher, spreading happiness through music to children, a revelation that surprised Li Zhenyan with its pure, unadulterated love for music.
The next morning, Li Zhenyan prepared breakfast, which Fang Xiaowo, as expected, came to share. They bantered playfully while eating. Their lighthearted exchange was interrupted by Jiang Caiwei, who arrived with exciting news for Li Zhenyan, causing him to send Fang Xiaowo away. Jiang Caiwei informed him that Fisher, a renowned conductor, had arrived at Baiqi Conservatory of Music, urging Li Zhenyan to seize this rare opportunity.
She revealed that Fisher was as eminent as Wainda but maintained a very low profile. Meanwhile, Fisher, upon landing, subtly evaded the academy staff sent to greet him at the airport. He ventured to a local noodle shop near the academy, where he coincidentally met Qin Fen, a junior at Baiqi Conservatory. Qin Fen, recognizing Fisher as a graduate of Baiqi Conservatory, enthusiastically offered to take him to the school.
However, once on campus, Fisher quickly wandered off alone, taking photographs of the surroundings. He was soon captivated by the sound of Fang Xiaowo's piano playing and paused outside her practice room, even taking a photo of her. Qin Fen, also drawn by the music, decided to ask Fang Xiaowo for help with his make-up exam accompaniment, a request she kindly accepted. To thank her, Qin Fen treated Fang Xiaowo to a meal at his family's noodle shop.
Fisher soon joined them, and the three quickly bonded over their shared love for music, chatting until late into the night. Back home, Li Zhenyan, who had prepared dinner and waited for Fang Xiaowo in vain, felt a pang of disappointment. As he considered discarding the meal, a knock at the door revealed a heavily intoxicated Jiang Caiwei, who stumbled into his home. The following morning, Jiang Caiwei pressed Li Zhenyan again about transferring departments.
He reiterated his desire to maintain the status quo, having reflected that his past tendency to view problems from a "loser's" perspective was holding him back, and now he was determined to take a decisive first step. Fang Xiaowo, who had been unable to contact Li Zhenyan throughout the night, found an excuse to visit his apartment. Seeing Jiang Caiwei there so early, she mistakenly assumed she was Li Zhenyan's girlfriend, leaving her deeply upset.
Later, at the noodle shop, a troubled Fang Xiaowo confided in Fisher. Drawing on his "experience" with relationships, Fisher offered to analyze her situation and even suggested she introduce him to Li Zhenyan. In her distress, Fang Xiaowo agreed. As they approached Li Zhenyan's apartment, Fisher gently adjusted Fang Xiaowo's hair. Li Zhenyan opened the door at that precise moment, misinterpreting the scene, and punched Fisher, believing he had malicious intentions towards Fang Xiaowo.
Once inside, Fisher noticed photographs in Li Zhenyan's home, recognizing his father as the renowned piano Master Li Yazhe. Through Fisher, Fang Xiaowo learned about Li Zhenyan's parents' turbulent history; his mother had a heart condition, and his parents were divorcing when the tragic plane incident occurred. Fisher also spotted a picture of Wainda, whom he harshly criticized as a "second-rate" conductor, suggesting Li Zhenyan should apprentice with Li Yazhe if he truly aimed to become a conductor.
Li Zhenyan, who idolized Wainda and resented any mention of his father, angrily defended Wainda and promptly threw Fisher out of his apartment. The next day, Fisher officially arrived at Baiqi Conservatory. He presented the photos he had taken around the campus to the faculty, highlighting various issues. As they reviewed the pictures, Li Zhenyan entered, intending to submit his transfer application to Director Meng.
Director Meng introduced Fisher to Li Zhenyan, but Fisher, without hesitation, tore up Li Zhenyan's application, refusing to approve his transfer. Later, Fang Xiaowo called Li Zhenyan, frustrated that her attempts to understand Schubert were failing. Li Zhenyan explained that to truly connect with a composer's music, she needed to understand their intentions, not just project her own feelings, advising her to "make friends" with the music.
Playfully, he then gave her a series of commands over the phone—to stand, blink, turn, and open the blinds. Following his instructions, Fang Xiaowo opened the blinds to discover Li Zhenyan standing outside her window. He explained he was checking to ensure her practice room wasn't too messy and had come to help clean.
Fang Xiaowo lightheartedly compared them to Romeo and Juliet, but Li Zhenyan playfully corrected her, suggesting they were more akin to "Bean by the Window," a reference to a story about a boy who becomes a pianist. He then presented her with a Beijing Roast Duck. Fang Xiaowo was thrilled, realizing he must have overcome his fear of flying to retrieve it. She enthusiastically declared her renewed determination to win the upcoming competition and join him in Europe.
Li Zhenyan, however, gently cautioned her, emphasizing the importance of taking one step at a time and stressing that every note in a composition held significant meaning, requiring a complete understanding of the composer's intent for proper interpretation. Fang Xiaowo promised to diligently strive to understand the composer.
During this period, one of their teachers (implied to be Mr. Hu) conveyed to Li Zhenyan his concern for Fang Xiaowo, noting her recent decline in performance and enthusiasm, attributing it to unresolved painful memories. He stressed that only Li Zhenyan had the capacity to help her sustain her remarkable passion for music. Despite this, Fang Xiaowo eventually confided in Li Zhenyan that she no longer wished to concern herself with harmonies and was losing her desire to play the piano.
