Symphony's Romance Episode 9 Recap
> Symphony's Romance Recap
Before Regiment A's performance, Lan Bo suddenly realized his score was incorrect. He remembered that he and Zhuo Yin had accidentally swapped scores during their recent meeting. With the performance about to start, there was no time to exchange them, so Lan Bo had no choice but to proceed with the flawed score. Meanwhile, backstage, members of Group S were anxiously waiting for their turn.
To boost their morale, Li Zhenyan changed out of his suit and into their team uniform. He encouraged everyone not to be nervous during their performance, but to follow their hearts, enjoy the stage, and let the audience hear their true voices. Li Zhenyan then presented Fang Xiaowo with a specially ordered team uniform, telling her she was an indispensable part of the team, its mascot, and that her contributions were valued.
He asked her to wear it in the audience and feel their music, as her effort was part of it. Later, Zhuo Yin also discovered she had the wrong score, realizing it was Regiment A's. After Lan Bo's performance, he intended to return Zhuo Yin's score to her, but Tian Yisong intercepted him. Tian Yisong argued that returning the score would be unfair to Regiment A.
Since both groups faced the same problem with incorrect scores, each should be responsible for finding its own solution. In the audience, Principal Lin Yumian asked Fisher if he truly intended to disband Group S if they lost. Fisher avoided a direct answer, instead asking if Lin Yumian would be willing to let him disband Regiment A if they lost.
Lin Yumian acknowledged Regiment A's perfect performance for their age, adding that their composure under pressure demonstrated their rigorous professional training. She then pressed Fisher again, asking if he was willing to give up Group S, and more specifically, Li Zhenyan. Lin Yumian revealed that she knew Fisher's actual purpose for being at the institution was Li Zhenyan and warned him not to forget why she brought him back. Fisher simply replied that he had no worries.
When Group S took the stage, Li Zhenyan took a deep breath and began to conduct. Zhuo Yin, still holding Regiment A's score, watched Li Zhenyan's conducting with palpable tension. The audience was visibly surprised by Group S's performance, with many remarking that their playing sounded nothing like an orchestra composed of underachievers. Some noted Qin Fen's impressive skill despite failing professional courses, and Li Zhenyan's exceptional conducting despite being a piano major.
Editor Bay also took notice of Li Zhenyan and inquired with Director Meng about him, learning that Li Zhenyan was a piano student, not a conducting major. After the official part of the performance, Li Zhenyan unveiled his "secret weapon," leading the orchestra members in a piece they had only rehearsed recently. Instead of a rigid, traditional style, Group S's rendition was vibrant, passionate, and captivating. After the music concluded, Li Zhenyan nervously awaited the audience's response.
A wave of enthusiastic applause erupted, and Li Zhenyan finally breathed a sigh of relief, reflecting that he didn't regret his unconventional choice, even if it meant no "positive reviews." Despite the exceptional performance, a competition still required a winner. Director Meng praised the outstanding performances of both Regiment A and Group S, then invited Fisher to announce the results, reminding everyone that the losing team would be disbanded.
Fisher expressed his immense appreciation for both groups, particularly Group S, saying they "ignited every nerve" of the audience and that he personally would have voted for Group S based on the difficulty of their chosen pieces and their technical execution. However, he pointed out Group S's "low-level mistake" regarding the music scores, while Regiment A had handled their similar score issue with remarkable professionalism. Ultimately, Fisher declared Regiment A the winner. The Group S members were deeply disheartened.
Though saddened himself, Li Zhenyan rallied, comforting his team. He reminded them of his pre-game advice to follow their hearts and let their true voices be heard, which he believed they had accomplished. He then congratulated Tian Yisong on the win. When Tian Yisong asked about Group S's impending disbandment, Li Zhenyan acknowledged it but said they had been prepared for it. During an interview, Tian Yisong stated his belief that success comes from accumulated strength.
He proclaimed that leading Regiment A to victory not only solidified their position as the strongest orchestra but also proved that he was the student conductor Fisher had been seeking. He downplayed Li Zhenyan's conducting, noting that as a piano major, Li Zhenyan's win against him was not particularly impressive, and affirmed his intention to strive to become Fisher's apprentice. Lin Qingshang sought out Qin Fen to congratulate Group S, praising their performance as truly spectacular.
She admitted that their performance had given her a newfound respect for Qin Fen, even playfully suggesting he had the potential to be her apprentice. After a brief chat, she received a call about the celebration party and hurried off. Meanwhile, Lan Bo opted not to attend the celebration and instead went to Group S to return Zhuo Yin's score. He found Zhuo Yin quietly grieving, blaming herself for Group S's impending disbandment due to the score mix-up.
Feeling a pang of guilt, Lan Bo took the blame, insisting it was his fault for taking the wrong score. Worried about Li Zhenyan's mood, Fang Xiaowo searched the entire school before finally finding him. She found him deep in thought, and she began earnestly comforting him. Fang Xiaowo sensed his true sadness wasn't about losing but about Group S's dissolution. Li Zhenyan, initially dismissive, was touched by her words, and for a moment, an undeniable feeling stirred within him.
As he leaned in, an unexpected growl from Fang Xiaowo's stomach broke the spell. They joked about the almost-kiss as they walked away. Fisher explained to Principal Lin Yumian that although he had ruled for Group S to lose, the orchestra was his creation, and it would have disbanded anyway upon his departure, making the current situation no different. He confessed his admiration for Li Zhenyan and his desire to take him on as an apprentice after graduation.
Lin Yumian, calling him "Fei Sixing," deduced that Fisher's elaborate plan was to elevate Group S and Li Zhenyan's public profile, then recruit Li Zhenyan as his apprentice, especially since a rival, Wayneda, also had similar intentions. Fisher later posted an announcement stating that Group S would continue to rehearse as usual until his departure from the school. The Group S students were puzzled by the announcement, unsure whether they were truly disbanded or not.
However, Li Zhenyan understood Fisher's underlying intentions. He found Fisher to express his gratitude, despite Fisher having ruled against Group S. Fisher ambiguously suggested his motives might not be as noble as Li Zhenyan assumed. As they spoke, Fisher's secretary and agent, Ellis, suddenly appeared, scolding him for neglecting his international performance contracts and staying in a "primary school" for so long. She summarily took Fisher away, instructing Li Zhenyan to inform Principal Lin Yumian that she had taken him.
Fisher protested about being dragged off. Fang Xiaowo began to appear more and more naturally at Li Zhenyan's home. One morning, she even changed his computer's screensaver to a picture of herself with the words "Love you Mua Da." When Li Zhenyan opened his computer, he was startled and, seeing Fang Xiaowo's photo, resolved to confront her. To his surprise, Fang Xiaowo was already standing right beside him, intently staring at his screen.
Their proximity was so close that when Li Zhenyan turned his head, he accidentally kissed Fang Xiaowo. Fisher did not return after Ellis took him away, causing Li Zhenyan concern that Group S would truly disband if Fisher remained absent. As Li Zhenyan discussed this with Qin Fen and other Group S members, a student (seemingly associated with Tian Yisong) approached them, holding a magazine featuring an interview with Li Zhenyan.
The student implied Li Zhenyan had manipulated the situation to steal Tian Yisong's opportunity. Qin Fen and the others were surprised to learn of the interview, recalling that Editor Bay had approached Li Zhenyan after the competition. During that interview, Editor Bay had praised Group S's performance but questioned Li Zhenyan's risky decision to change their performance style in such an important competition.
Li Zhenyan explained that, influenced by an unnamed teacher, he wanted everyone in Group S to experience a "soul-shattering happiness" in what could have been their final performance. Editor Bay then inquired why a piano student like him chose to be a conductor.
