Symphony's Romance Episode 26 Recap
> Symphony's Romance Recap
Lin Qingshang, who had just arrived in Paris, was initially reluctant to step in to help Li Zhenyan after his violinist fell ill moments before the finals. Li Zhenyan urgently explained that he had only half an hour to find a new violinist familiar with the Tchaikovsky piece who could also communicate quickly, or he would have to withdraw from the competition.
He appealed to Lin Qingshang, reminding her of her excellent past performance of Tchaikovsky and their long-standing tacit cooperation in the A and RS orchestras, assuring her that no rehearsal was needed. Despite the immense difficulty, Lin Qingshang agreed to help. After Tian Yisong's commendable performance, which Sasha applauded enthusiastically, Li Zhenyan took the stage. Before his performance, Fang Xiaowo expressed her extreme nervousness, and Li Zhenyan encouraged her.
Despite no prior rehearsal, Lin Qingshang's exceptional cooperation led to a brilliant performance. Afterwards, Li Zhenyan gave a heartfelt speech, thanking Lin Qingshang for giving soul to the music and creating a perfect D major concerto. He also thanked Fang Xiaowo for always noticing his hidden disappointments and helplessness, concluding that meeting her was his greatest luck. The awards ceremony commenced, with chief judge William Fox taking the stage.
He praised all three finalists, stating their performances felt more like excellent concerts than a competition. The host then announced the winners: Li Zhenyan was crowned the champion of the Platonius International Conductor Competition. This brought relief to Tian Yisong, who confessed to Sasha he never doubted Li Zhenyan's ability. William Fox congratulated Li Zhenyan, urging him to prepare for his debut recital, a reward for winning the competition, and emphasized that this was just the beginning.
During a press interview, Li Zhenyan gracefully responded to a reporter's comment about Lin Qingshang, noting she already had a boyfriend. Fang Xiaowo, confused by the English conversation, asked Lin Qingshang for clarification. Lin Qingshang explained that Li Zhenyan was "upgrading to a global anti-monster mode," meaning he would soon be leaving Paris for global tours. Meanwhile, Tian Yisong approached Li Zhenyan to commend his immense progress, vowing never to give up competing against him.
Later that evening, Li Zhenyan returned home to find Fang Xiaowo, Lin Qingshang, and others celebrating with drinks. Lin Qingshang informed Li Zhenyan that Fang Xiaowo was in a bad mood. Fang Xiaowo, in a drunken state after only half a can of beer, expressed how distant Li Zhenyan seemed on stage but how comforting it was to have him back.
Li Zhenyan carried her to her room, where she asked if he would leave her to go find Master Wainda now that he had won the final. This revealed the true cause of her unhappiness, and Li Zhenyan reassured her that he would never leave her, then told her to sleep. Back home, Chen Zheng showed Qin Fen the orchestra's budget, revealing that after current expenses, they lacked the funds to cover rehearsals and performances.
Qin Fen instructed Chen Zheng not to alarm the other members and vowed to find a solution. He and Chen Zheng began the difficult task of seeking sponsors, facing numerous rejections. During a video call, Lin Qingshang, who was thriving in Paris, noticed Qin Fen's haggard appearance and questioned if the RS Orchestra was proving too challenging.
Qin Fen and Chen Zheng feigned being out for a stroll, deliberately hiding their struggles to avoid worrying her, though Qin Fen did express his concerns for Lin Qingshang's well-being abroad. Their perseverance eventually paid off when they met a Mr. Wang, who had previously seen an RS Orchestra performance.
Mr. Wang initially expressed concerns about the orchestra being composed of students and recent graduates, but then revealed he was deeply impressed by their passionate and fervent love for music during that previous viewing. He was now willing to provide the necessary sponsorship. Qin Fen, greatly relieved, happily shook hands with Mr. Wang, securing a vital lifeline for the RS Orchestra.
Fang Xiaowo began preparing to study piano with Vogri, feeling both excited and nervous about his teaching style, the language barrier, and whether he would like her. She shared her newfound aspiration for a recital, inspired by Lin Qingshang, and envisioned playing next to Li Zhenyan on stage, illuminated by a spotlight, just like their four-hand duets.
Li Zhenyan, though finding her description "disgusting," encouraged her, assuring her that her talent would surely lead to a successful recital if she practiced diligently. He promised to accompany her and even agreed to a date on Saturday, sealed with a pinky swear. The next morning, Li Zhenyan presented Fang Xiaowo with a strict daily schedule: eight hours of piano, two hours of music theory, and daily French vocabulary practice, with each completed task to be checked off.
While Li Zhenyan was later admiring a dress in a Parisian shop window, Fisher unexpectedly appeared, proposing Li Zhenyan become his assistant commander for a world tour. This was a coveted opportunity that promised to quickly fulfill his dream of becoming a world-class commander. However, Li Zhenyan rejected the offer, stating his only mentor was Wainda. Fisher challenged him, asking why he didn't seek out Wainda then, sensing that Li Zhenyan was hesitant to leave Fang Xiaowo.
Fisher warned that Fang Xiaowo's piano talent was on par with Li Zhenyan's, but her entire focus on him prevented her from recognizing her own potential and considering her future. He argued that if Li Zhenyan continued to indulge her, she would stagnate, effectively harming her.
Fisher asserted that an indecisive "warm man" was most detrimental, and that for Fang Xiaowo to truly shine, she needed to realize her passion for the piano and the stage, which could only happen if Li Zhenyan allowed her to see herself, independent of him. This, he concluded, was a painful but necessary part of growth. Later, Li Zhenyan pondered Fisher's words. He understood that while Fang Xiaowo might not regret her choices, he would regret not fostering her growth.
After much thought, Li Zhenyan decided to leave Paris. He didn't say goodbye in person, instead leaving a note in his room, informing Fang Xiaowo he would be gone for two months and instructing her to attend classes and take care of herself until his return. Discovering the note, a heartbroken Fang Xiaowo called Li Zhenyan, tearfully reciting French vocabulary and detailing her strict practice regimen, pleading with him not to abandon her.
Though he felt a pang of reluctance, Li Zhenyan held firm, knowing that "Amour," the word he had playfully told Fang Xiaowo meant "fool," actually signified "love." With their funding secured, Qin Fen gathered the RS Orchestra at their new rehearsal space, a former auto repair shop lent to them by its music-loving owner.
Qin Fen rallied the members, proposing that they set their sights on performing at the Shanghai Concert Hall, a goal that was met with some skepticism due to the high venue costs. However, Qin Fen passionately argued that it was a fitting aspiration for musicians and achievable with hard work. He then introduced He Shengliang as their new commander, and their first rehearsal began. However, conflicts quickly arose between He Shengliang and the musicians.
He Shengliang harshly criticized the chief for being too absorbed in his own playing and other members for their "numerous problems" and "uneven rhythm," suggesting they lacked musicality. A female member retorted that such issues were normal after a long break and that He Shengliang wouldn't be commanding if Li Zhenyan were present. He Shengliang defended his strictness, asserting that truly professional musicians aren't affected by breaks and that he was only there because Li Zhenyan asked him.
He enforced a strict new rule: three instances of lateness or early departure would lead to expulsion, a policy the members vehemently protested as inhuman. Unable to find common ground, He Shengliang abruptly ended the rehearsal. Qin Fen and Chen Zheng deliberated on how to handle the situation, with Chen Zheng still expressing his dislike for He Shengliang's self-righteous attitude.
Qin Fen, however, emphasized the need for commercial gigs to fund their Shanghai Concert Hall ambition and offered to provide meals from his family's noodle shop to save costs. Just then, a hair salon owner, impressed by their music, approached them and invited the orchestra to perform at his shop's opening ceremony that weekend, offering a fee of 8,000 yuan. After calculating the meager individual share per musician (251.
85 yuan after deductions), Chen Zheng was furious, pointing out the owner's ignorance of classical music. Qin Fen acknowledged this but insisted they take the job, highlighting their desperate need for funds to continue rehearsing and work towards their goal. Shortly after, Qin Fen received a call from Li Zhenyan, who, along with Fisher, had returned to China for a performance and wanted to meet. Qin Fen eagerly rushed to meet him, asking about Lin Qingshang's well-being in Paris, including her eating habits and any potential suitors.
