Symphony's Romance Episode 22 Recap
> Symphony's Romance Recap
On her way to the competition, Fang Xiaowo was still engrossed in her piano score, studying Rachmaninoff's compositions, which the subtitles describe as being known for their romantic style and innovative characteristics that had pushed the boundaries of piano works, making him one of the most significant contributors to piano art after Chopin and Liszt. Before she went on stage, Zhang Shangge repeatedly cautioned her to perform only the first piece, Beethoven's composition, and then step down.
He insisted her current state was unsuitable for playing the second, more challenging Rachmaninoff piece, emphasizing that even with her sharp ears, she couldn't possibly memorize the entire score. He asked if she understood, to which she nodded. During the intermission after Fang Xiaowo's first performance, Zhang Shangge praised her excellent execution of the Beethoven piece but reiterated that her condition wasn't right for the second.
He urged her to believe him and come off stage after the first piece, saying that losing qualification wouldn't matter. Li Zhenyan, watching from the audience, also expressed concern, noting that while Beethoven would be fine, Fang Xiaowo likely hadn't had time to practice the Rachmaninoff piece and wondered if she had overcome her psychological barriers.
Despite Zhang Shangge's warnings, Fang Xiaowo, determined that performing only one piece wouldn't secure a win, decided to take a risk and perform Rachmaninoff's composition. Zhang Shangge pleaded with her not to attempt a "surprise attack," reminding her again that even with her keen ear, she couldn't have committed the entire score to memory.
As she played the second piece, however, she began to recall traumatic childhood memories of being scolded by her piano teachers, including Zhang Shangge, causing her performance to become a frenzied outburst, and she began to forget parts of the score. The judges had differing opinions on Fang Xiaowo's performance. Some praised her unique and captivating playing, arguing that her creativity, despite a mid-performance error, should be recognized and that all audience members were drawn to her.
Others were critical, asserting that her deviation from the score and incomplete rendition showed a lack of seriousness and technical issues, making it unacceptable in a competition setting. Ultimately, Fang Xiaowo did not place in the competition. Disheartened, she left the venue, feeling she had failed and could not accompany Li Zhenyan to Paris. She lamented her failure to Li Zhenyan, speaking incoherently and contradictorily, asking why she always had to strive and found it exhausting.
She questioned why playing piano had to be so rigid, why winning was everything, and why she couldn't embrace her former, carefree self. Li Zhenyan tried to comfort her, telling her she hadn't truly lost, that she had overcome many difficulties, and her performance was genuinely powerful. He assured her that results don't define everything and that she had already progressed significantly, noting it was the first time he'd seen her treat music so seriously and powerfully.
Still, Fang Xiaowo remained inconsolable, reiterating her sense of failure. Meanwhile, members of the RGroup S expressed their worry for Fang Xiaowo, noticing she had become a different person, no longer the cheerful, food-loving friend they knew, and seemed to have lost weight. They decided it was best to give her space to adjust her mood. Later, Li Zhenyan went to Fang Xiaowo's apartment, but she didn't answer his calls, and her lights were off, which worried him.
Upon returning to his own place, he discovered a note from her, informing him she had gone home for a few days and asking him not to worry or search for her. Zhang Shangge, reflecting on Fang Xiaowo's performance, discussed his teaching methods with his wife. He wondered if his approach was hindering his students' potential, especially Fang Xiaowo, whom he considered his most talented student.
He admitted his eagerness to quickly develop her into a world-class musician had led him to be overly strict, sometimes yelling when she didn't meet his expectations, which frightened her and made him uncomfortable. His wife gently advised him that while strictness can produce high-achievers, Fang Xiaowo was unique and required a different, more understanding method. She urged him to change his ways if he wanted Fang Xiaowo to shine on the global stage.
Shortly after this reflection, Zhang Shangge received a phone call from international piano Master Vogri's management team. Vogri, having seen Fang Xiaowo's competition video, was so impressed that he formally invited her to Paris to study piano with him. Zhang Shangge, overjoyed, immediately called Fang Xiaowo, apologizing for previously hitting her with a music score and instructing her to return to school in three days to prepare for her trip. Fang Xiaowo eagerly accepted.
After hanging up, Zhang Shangge, brimming with suppressed excitement, confided in his wife. He envisioned Fang Xiaowo performing a four-hand duet with Vogri in Paris, a testament to the rising standard of Chinese classical music. Despite his pride, he also expressed his deep reluctance to see her go, admitting she had become like his own child after all their shared experiences—their arguments, her running away, their practices including "Pi Pi workouts," and meals like pan-fried buns.
Yet, he believed she needed to see the world, the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower, rather than the mundane view from their balcony. He acknowledged that children grow up and pursue their own paths, and their role as teachers was to share their experience, allowing them to independently navigate life's challenges. Meanwhile, at her home, Fang Xiaowo's father, Fang Dajiang, noticed her subdued demeanor over dinner.
He gently probed, suspecting she might have a boyfriend and that her sudden return was related to him, but Fang Xiaowo quickly denied it. Fang Dajiang then received an urgent phone call and had to leave, instructing Fang Xiaowo to go for a walk after her meal instead of staying indoors. Unbeknownst to Fang Xiaowo, Li Zhenyan, worried about her, had traveled to her hometown to persuade her to return.
He found her house empty and was about to leave when Fang Xiaowo called him. She asked if he was still upset with her, to which he replied he was angry because he cared about her sadness. Fang Xiaowo confessed her deep sadness about the competition. She then excitedly told him that Zhang Shangge had arranged for her to study piano in Paris with Vogri.
She shared her dream of them performing a concerto together on a world stage, with him conducting and her playing, as a "golden duo" for the rest of their lives, noting his skills on both piano and violin would give them many pieces to choose from. As she spoke of this future, Li Zhenyan, who had been walking nearby, suddenly appeared before her, making her incredibly happy. Fang Xiaowo joyfully brought Li Zhenyan home.
As they shared an embrace at the doorstep, Fang Dajiang unexpectedly returned. Misinterpreting the scene, he immediately assumed Li Zhenyan was bullying his daughter and shoved him onto a table. After Fang Xiaowo quickly clarified the misunderstanding, the atmosphere remained awkward. Li Zhenyan presented Fang Dajiang with duck neck, a spicy treat he claimed Fang Dajiang would love and that would aid digestion. Fang Dajiang initially hesitated but accepted, after Fang Xiaowo insisted it was his favorite.
Fang Dajiang then sent Fang Xiaowo to her room, leaving him alone with Li Zhenyan. Nervous, Li Zhenyan formally introduced himself, stating he was 22, lived in Shanghai with his aunt, didn't smoke or drink, had no hereditary diseases, enjoyed cooking, and typically had a habit of cleanliness, quickly retracting the last part. Fang Dajiang then inquired how he met Fang Xiaowo and, more importantly, what he liked about her.
Li Zhenyan earnestly explained that he was initially captivated by Fang Xiaowo's piano music, which he found to be the purest, cleanest, and most passionate he had ever heard. As he got to know her, he fell in love and was now "unable to extricate himself." During their conversation, Fang Dajiang received a call from Wang Popo, who needed help collecting fishing nets the next afternoon. Fang Dajiang agreed.
Li Zhenyan immediately volunteered to assist, boasting of his knack for tidying things. Fang Xiaowo, who had been eavesdropping from her room, burst out, insisting she wanted to go too, eager for Wang Popo's delicious fish. As it grew late, Li Zhenyan mentioned he should return to his booked guesthouse. However, Fang Xiaowo insisted he stay at their house, emphasizing its spaciousness and warmth.
Fang Dajiang, feigning a hand injury from the earlier incident, asked Li Zhenyan to cook breakfast the following morning, mentioning their house was close to the market. Later that night, Fang Xiaowo prepared a makeshift sleeping area on the sofa for Li Zhenyan, teasing him about his height being incompatible with the sofa's length. Fang Dajiang wished them goodnight, still feigning his hand injury. Fang Xiaowo playfully pointed out that her dad's hand seemed perfectly fine.
The next morning, Li Zhenyan woke early to prepare breakfast. Fang Dajiang watched him with curiosity, prompting Fang Xiaowo to tease her father about trying to "steal cooking techniques." When Fang Dajiang suggested Li Zhenyan didn't need to help with the fishing nets, Li Zhenyan clarified that his actions were out of accommodation for Fang Xiaowo, not Fang Dajiang. He explained that seeing Fang Xiaowo happy brought him joy, and her sadness affected him deeply. He concluded by saying that from the moment Fang Xiaowo entered his life, he couldn't live without her.
