Symphony's Romance Episode 21 Recap
> Symphony's Romance Recap
Fang Xiaowo found herself continually struggling to comprehend the profound emotions woven into Schubert's compositions. She openly lamented to herself that "Mr. Shu" was difficult to understand, pondering the composer's intentions behind his intricate melodies. Suddenly, Li Zhenyan called her, asking if she knew why she couldn't connect with the composer's work.
He advised her to engage with Schubert's intentions and the meaning behind his compositions, explaining that only then could she truly befriend the music and bring it to life. Fang Xiaowo, surprised, wondered how he knew what she was practicing. Following his playful instructions, she looked out her window to find him standing there.
Li Zhenyan explained he was there to ensure her practice room wasn't too messy, comparing their window interaction to Romeo and Juliet, while Fang Xiaowo jokingly likened it to a story about a boy who became a pianist. He then presented her with Beijing roast duck, which he had flown to Beijing to get. Fang Xiaowo was overjoyed that Li Zhenyan was now able to fly.
Driven by a newfound confidence and the desire to join him in Europe, she declared her determination to win first place in the upcoming competition. Li Zhenyan, however, reminded her that success was a gradual process, emphasizing the importance of understanding every note and the composer's complete intent. Meanwhile, Mr. Zhang was astonished by Fang Xiaowo’s swift progress.
Initially questioning if Li Zhenyan had visited, he later conceded that her improvement was remarkable, stating that at this rate, winning first place was well within reach. He was, however, reminded by his wife not to push Fang Xiaowo too hard, prioritizing her health over intense practice. Before Fang Xiaowo’s first round of competition, the RS ensemble gathered to cheer her on, offering words of encouragement and good luck.
Li Zhenyan advised her to stay calm and have confidence, assuring her of his constant support. He also gave practical advice, reminding her to wear a shawl and warm her hands because the stage would be cold. During her performance, Li Zhenyan watched, noticing her transformation; she radiated happiness and strength, shining brightly on stage, a clear sign of her growing understanding of Schubert's emotions.
After her successful preliminary round, Fang Xiaowo excitedly rushed to Li Zhenyan, who praised her exceptional performance and offered to cook anything she desired as a reward. However, she was eager to return to practice for the next round, playfully requesting more Beijing roast duck from his next flight, a testament to his overcoming his fear of flying. Later, Li Zhenyan called his aunt, informing her of his decision to participate in an international conducting competition in Paris.
His aunt was surprised by the sudden news, but he explained it was a long-considered plan, heavily influenced by Fang Xiaowo's encouragement. His aunt, in turn, expressed her growing fondness for Fang Xiaowo. In Europe, Tian Yisong and Jiang Caiwei were navigating their long-distance relationship. On their anniversary, just as Tian Yisong was preparing to meet Jiang Caiwei, Sasha arrived with exciting news: a Master had called her father, expressing interest in meeting Tian Yisong that very night.
This was a crucial opportunity, a step closer to his dream of conducting on Europe's best stages. Despite his initial reluctance due to his anniversary plans, Sasha's persuasive words convinced him to seize the rare opportunity. Jiang Caiwei later saw a photo of Tian Yisong and the Master on social media. Though disappointed, she tried to suppress her feelings and convince herself to be happy for Tian Yisong's career advancement.
Back at the academy, many talented musicians approached Li Zhenyan, expressing their desire to join the renowned RS Orchestra, even as substitutes. Li Zhenyan politely declined, explaining that the orchestra was not officially registered and had no immediate plans for new recruitment, and directly compared an applicant's skill and musical understanding to their current principal and second violin principal, finding the applicant lacking.
Qin Fen, overhearing this, was thrilled, believing the RS ensemble would thrive for a long time, unaware of Lin Qingshang's conflicted emotions. Lin Qingshang, who had earlier confided in a friend about leaving Regiment A to pursue her dreams, was burdened by an offer from her teacher, Darren, to come to Europe in the spring, with him promising to make time for her. This was a significant opportunity, but she struggled with how to tell Qin Fen.
Fang Xiaowo quickly passed her semi-finals, delightedly rushing to Li Zhenyan for a celebratory hug, which he playfully dodged while praising her expected success. Mr. Zhang then selected two highly challenging pieces for the finals: Beethoven's Sonata No. 23 and Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 23. Fang Xiaowo immersed herself in rigorous training, but the intensity and difficulty of the new pieces led to struggles with rhythm and dynamics. Mr. Zhang, under pressure, became increasingly demanding, harshly criticizing her playing.
This strictness began to erode Fang Xiaowo's confidence, making her emotional and causing her to flee the practice room in tears. Later, Li Zhenyan called her, promising to cook her champion braised pork if she won, to which she insisted she was not slacking off. Concerned by Fang Xiaowo’s distress, Ji Mo sought out Li Zhenyan.
He revealed that he had known Fang Xiaowo since childhood, recalling an incident where a teacher severely reprimanded her for her uninhibited playing style, leaving her with deep-seated emotional scars. Ji Mo emphasized that Fang Xiaowo was particularly vulnerable now and any further setbacks could be devastating, asserting that only Li Zhenyan could truly help her. Li Zhenyan rushed to the practice room, where Fang Xiaowo, overwhelmed, tearfully embraced him, confessing her desire to abandon the piano.
Li Zhenyan gently comforted her, explaining that Mr. Zhang's harshness stemmed from his immense pressure and deep desire for her success, and that even Mr. Zhang was actively trying to change his teaching approach. He reassured her that he would always be by her side, which helped Fang Xiaowo regain her resolve to continue practicing. The strenuous training took its toll, leading both Mr. Zhang and Fang Xiaowo to fall ill.
Mr. Zhang's wife, worried about Fang Xiaowo's health, insisted she leave the practice room to rest. On the day of the finals, Fang Xiaowo confidently approached Mr. Zhang with a surprising request: she wanted to perform Rachmaninoff's piece instead of the practiced Beethoven. Mr. Zhang was taken aback, highlighting the extreme difficulty of the Rachmaninoff composition and her lack of practice time.
He strongly advised her against it, explaining that even with her exceptional ear, memorizing such a complex piece within an hour was impossible, and urged her to stick to the safer, well-rehearsed Beethoven.
