Symphony's Romance Episode 7 Recap
> Symphony's Romance Recap
After Group S regained their fighting spirit, Li Zhenyan, now their official conductor, told them they must win, and from that moment until the competition, everyone had to follow his lead. The team enthusiastically agreed to fight the battle well. During a rehearsal, Li Zhenyan noticed a significant improvement in Zhuo Yin's playing; her rhythm was precise, and she was playing with a newfound openness. He asked her how she had achieved this sudden change.
Zhuo Yin revealed that she hadn't realized her own issues until Fisher helped her. A flashback showed Zhuo Yin sighing alone, worried about being a burden to Group S and struggling to keep up with the music. Fisher appeared and asked her why she was sighing on such a beautiful day. He then asked her to play "Carnival of the Animals: The Elephant" on the street.
While playing, Zhuo Yin realized that true confidence comes from within, not from others' opinions. She found that once she believed in herself and disregarded others' gazes, all her musical problems seemed to vanish. Fisher commended her and then departed. Meanwhile, Fisher visited A Regiment and announced the upcoming confrontation performance between A Regiment and Group S.
The A Regiment members were surprised and questioned the fairness, especially since the losing team would be disbanded and Fisher wasn't personally guiding either group. Tian Yisong asked if winning the competition was the only path to becoming Fisher's student. Fisher clarified that both A Regiment and Group S were "his" and he wanted to see the unique sparks they could create independently. He also gave a friendly warning not to underestimate their opponents, as it could lead to disadvantages.
As Fisher was about to leave, Tian Yisong pursued him and made a request: if he won, he wanted to become Fisher's true student. Someone else pointed out that Fisher never accepted students. Fisher then offered Tian Yisong a lollipop instead, but then said he would consider the request if Tian Yisong won the competition. Tian Yisong vowed to win. Group S gathered at Qin Fen's home to celebrate Li Zhenyan's official appointment as their conductor.
Despite some bickering among members about being too optimistic regarding the competition and the disbandment clause, Qin Ba served "victory fried chicken," inspiring them with his belief that they were all destined to be kings of classical music. He even quoted Monkey D. Luffy, saying, "Though I am not a born king, I have blood that refuses to bow." This prompted Li Zhenyan to finally join a toast with his team.
Separately, Principal Lin Yumian confronted Fisher about the announced confrontation match, upset that he hadn't consulted her. Fisher explained that he had been entrusted with both A Regiment and Group S, and felt the academy had become too complacent, needing the pressure of a competition to challenge the students. He assured her he would protect them and help each student "sparkle." Fisher then played a melody that stirred Lin Yumian's memories.
He asked if she remembered the song, which he cherished as the "best of times" in his life. Lin Yumian, however, dismissed it as something from over twenty years ago, but Fisher pressed her, asking if she still blamed him for choosing to leave her to study in Europe. Lin Yumian acknowledged that she hadn't forgotten, but emphasized that not forgetting didn't necessarily mean she still harbored resentment.
She stated that after all these years, she found she didn't want to forget, and that living a life with music and no regrets was good. Fisher admitted that hearing her name still made his heart pound "like a deer." Lin Yumian playfully called him "disrespectful for his age" but warned him that if the competition went awry, she would settle the score with him. On her way to school, Zhuo Yin struggled with her large violin.
Lan Bo from A Regiment approached, offering to help carry it. Zhuo Yin politely declined, insisting she could manage. However, Qin Fen arrived, immediately accusing Lan Bo of harassing a member of his team. Lan Bo denied it, explaining he was only offering to help with the violin, but Qin Fen insisted that A Regiment had "cheated and kidnapped" Zhuo Yin and was now "using hands and feet" on her.
Lin Qingshang then intervened, defending Lan Bo and countering Qin Fen's accusations. She challenged Qin Fen to focus on practicing rather than bickering, suggesting that losing to A Regiment, whom he accused of cheating, would be even more humiliating. Lin Qingshang then pulled Lan Bo away to practice. Zhuo Yin tried to explain to Qin Fen that Lan Bo was genuinely trying to help her.
Li Zhenyan announced that Group S would play Beethoven's "Eroica" for the competition, explaining that with only a month to prepare, they couldn't realistically surpass A Regiment in technical skill. Instead, they would focus on superior conducting style and overall completeness, emphasizing that this was a battle for survival, not just a simple match. He strictly forbade any intonation errors, deviations from the score, or unauthorized improvisation.
However, Qin Fen declared he had a "secret weapon," piquing the interest of Fisher, who had just entered. During the rehearsal, Qin Fen unexpectedly stood up and played a strikingly high and abrupt note, claiming it conveyed Napoleon's imperial aura, to whom Beethoven originally dedicated the piece. Li Zhenyan was furious, calling Qin Fen a "fool" and his idea a ridiculous "secret weapon."
Qin Fen and other members, however, argued for innovation, believing a strict adherence to the score wouldn't allow them to defeat A Regiment, and that as a unique group, they should be different. As the discussion devolved into chaotic brainstorming, Li Zhenyan felt a surge of anger but realized that yelling would only scare the students and be counterproductive.
He reflected on Beethoven's choice to abandon the dedication to Napoleon and rename the symphony "Eroica," deciding that becoming a tyrant would be futile. Fang Xiaowo, sensing Li Zhenyan's low spirits, tried to cheer him up. She surprised him with a handmade scarf, claiming it was a gift with embroidered images of them both, which he bluntly called "ugly." Undeterred, she then brought flour and pork stuffing, insisting they make dumplings together, an idea Li Zhenyan initially resisted.
Though Fang Xiaowo struggled with the dumpling making, calling her own creations "ugly," they eventually enjoyed the meal. Later, at Qin Ba's noodle shop, Qin Ba introduced a special "Group S's winning package." Fang Xiaowo proudly declared herself the team's "super invincible, lovely, lucky mascot," prompting Li Zhenyan to quip that he must have "destroyed the galaxy in his past life" to encounter her. Fang Xiaowo was pleased to see him finally smile after his earlier frustrations in practice.
Discussing the upcoming competition, Li Zhenyan asserted that "every melody in a symphony is the result of careful polishing," and victory couldn't be achieved merely through luck or friendship. Fang Xiaowo, however, believed music should be simple and enjoyable, without such complexities. Li Zhenyan sighed, wishing it were that simple. She then playfully offered him a chicken leg, her "favorite," clarifying she was addressing the chicken leg itself.
Principal Lin Yumian, still concerned about the upcoming confrontation, urged Fisher to take the students' development seriously and not simply "stock" them. Fisher articulated his philosophy: Group S, though ordinary, possessed a unique, pure love for music and a wide range of emotions, making them special in classical music. A Regiment, despite being composed of elite students, lacked this essential purity. Fisher believed that Group S's raw potential, if guided correctly, could lead to a breakthrough.
While Lin Yumian acknowledged his rare seriousness, she questioned if "just appropriate" guidance meant now. Fisher agreed that creativity needed development and guidance, which he would provide, but insisted that different individuals required different approaches—some a push, others a subtle hint—and that true guidance took time. Lin Yumian voiced her hope, acknowledging widespread skepticism about Group S and the fact that they would ultimately have to prove themselves.
Meanwhile, at Qin Ba's noodle shop, other teachers debated the merits of the competition. Teacher Zhang, dismissive of Group S, praised A Regiment's recent achievements and questioned the necessity of the match, suggesting Group S should simply be disbanded, especially since Li Zhenyan was primarily a piano student.
Mr. Hu, however, subtly challenged Teacher Zhang's negativity, expressing enthusiasm for a fresh challenge and curiosity to see if a "crane-tail orchestra" led by a piano prodigy could triumph over an "elite orchestra." Teacher Zhang retorted, calling Mr. Hu "brain-damaged" for his "big curiosity mentality" at his age and implying he just wanted to see Group S lose. Mr. Hu defended his "childlike" enthusiasm, stating that artists should maintain a youthful outlook and that he simply enjoyed the spectacle.
He even speculated on the "subtle" situation if A Regiment were to lose and face disbandment. Tian Yisong subjected A Regiment to intense, almost militaristic training, sternly correcting mistakes in accents and bowing, and pushing them to practice for an additional two hours daily. He chastised a member, Lan Bo, for a missed note, refusing to trust his judgment and questioning if their "baggy attitude" meant they wanted to be disbanded.
Tian Yisong asserted that the competition with Group S, whom he considered no match, should be a foregone conclusion, and he wouldn't allow A Regiment's focus to be diverted by their less-skilled opponents. Jiang Caiwei arrived to find Tian Yisong but quietly departed without interrupting his rigorous session. Soon after, Director Meng approached Jiang Caiwei, praising her heroic performance at the recent Mody concert.
She informed Jiang Caiwei that her department was recommending her for advanced studies in France, a prestigious opportunity at a school renowned for producing world-class coloratura sopranos. Director Meng handed her the registration form, urging her to seize this well-deserved chance, become a master, and later return to mentor future students. Group S's rehearsals were equally challenging.
Li Zhenyan, exasperated, unleashed his temper on the members, who later expressed their frustration, calling him a "devil" for his harsh criticisms and threats. They felt so defeated that some even wanted to quit the competition. After the members had left, a disheartened Li Zhenyan remained alone, until Fang Xiaowo approached him. He confided in her, admitting he had only just realized how truly dedicated everyone was beneath their casual exteriors.
He was particularly surprised by Qin Fen, who, despite his jovial demeanor, took notes more seriously than Li Zhenyan himself. Fang Xiaowo agreed, highlighting Chen Zheng's immersive focus on the timpani and the Xu twins' consistent improvement after feedback. She then asked why he didn't express these positive observations directly to the team. Li Zhenyan replied that some things were "best to stay in my heart" and didn't need to be said everywhere.
Unbeknownst to them, Qin Fen was hiding behind a tree, overhearing their conversation. When Lin Qingshang approached, hearing what she thought was Qin Fen's voice, he quickly intervened, stopping her from interrupting and assuring her she must have been mistaken. He then decided to "be a good man" and let Li Zhenyan and Fang Xiaowo continue their discussion, sensing they needed to talk.
