Chapter 383: The Tragic Hero
“I’m all ears, Mr. Lin Tian.”
Right now…
Mao Weiang had his eyes shut, sitting behind Gan Yan Yu, focusing intently.
Never before had he listened so closely to that girl’s music.
Gan Yan Yu, 19 years old from Qingzhou.
She’d never stepped foot in a conservatory a day in her life.
Yet she possessed musical talent that made countless performers green with envy and seethe with jealousy.
Such talent could probably only occur once every 300 years, even if you looked throughout the entire history of world music.
When Mao Weiang, sitting backstage at the Dragon Zither Cup, saw Gan Yan Yu perform for the first time,
He immediately decided.
His cello would never surpass the girl in front of him, no matter how hard he worked.
She was so dazzling that just watching her play on stage made people unable to look away.
Her “playing” was more than just “sounds,” but also a magnetically powerful presence.
Her “sounds” were merely tools.
The goal was to drag everyone into her own world.
Her “world” was what enraptured every single listener.
At this moment,
The girl’s cello took flight.
Gradually,
Mao Weiang’s view became covered in dust and sandstorms.
The wind whipped up, preventing him from opening his eyes.
When Mao Weiang finally opened them back up,
The entire scene had changed.
The ground was covered in dust, stretching far out into an endless desert.
Stunned,
Mao Weiang stood right in the middle of the vast sands beneath a scorching sun and hot sand below his feet.
Everything felt so real that it was terrifying.
As a “whoosh” sound cut through the air,
Mao Weiang turned and suddenly saw a wild horse galloping across the desert.
Meanwhile, Gan Yan Yu stood in full armor, holding a spear, eyes fixed ahead with a determined glare. Her hands gripped the reins tightly.
And the sharp tip of her lance gleamed brilliantly, along with a pack of pursuers tailing her.
In the midst of this horde charging forward,
Gan Yan Yu showed no fear. She charged ahead as though no one was there and laughed recklessly, treating the chase like a child’s game.
What boldness! What audacity!
Even just watching made Mao Weiang shudder, tighter gripping his own spear.
Watching this scene,
A faint bitterness crept into Mao Weiang’s smile.
Mr. Lin Tian,
You only told me that Gan Yan Yu would make a great teacher for me.
But you didn’t mention,
She’s entirely different from Teacher Gan Hua.
Mao Weiang nodded slightly.
From afar during the competition, watching Teacher Gan Yan Yu,
Indeed, both in her playing style and in the timbre of her cello, you could see traces of that man.
However, when they were on the same stage playing together,
Mao Weiang finally realized.
Gan Yan Yu’s cello was nothing like anything else.
Her playing was impossible to replicate.
It was unique to Teacher Gan Yan Yu.
Sighing deeply,
He thought,
Was he going to d*e before getting to see what Teacher Gan Hua saw?
This feeling of sorrow surged over Mao Weiang unexpectedly.
This was something new he felt while practicing with him recently.
In the end,
It seemed he’d been working hard for nothing.
But well,
At least he finally found another thing he wanted, as Teacher Lin Tian said.
—that is to play with his heart.
Right?
As Mr. Lin Tian said,
There is no one who is more qualified to be a teacher than Teacher Gan Yan Yu in this world.
Can I do it?
Taking a deep breath, Mao Weiang watched Gan Yan Yu riding a horse.
She was adorned in white robes, riding amid the chaos.
Could he be brave like her?
Clutching his spear tightly, he drew in another breath.
In that moment,
As the piano’s variation came into play,
Gan Yan Yu’s cello began to quiet down.
Seated on her left, Mao Weiang opened his eyes, grasping his bow!
Audience members grew excited,
“What? Is Teacher Mao’s solo next?”
“Yeah! Great!”
At the same moment,
Yao Han in front of the live stream widened his eyes,
Focused on Mao Weiang’s hands.
With those hands guiding the bow—
The melancholic music of a cello sounded.
“…”
Closing his eyes intently, Mao Weiang played.
The melody flowed smoothly.
Compared to Gan Yan Yu’s solo, his music was softer and more tender. It made people relax yet sensed loneliness deeply.
Among the audience,
Many expressed surprise:
“Don’t you think Teacher Mao’s cello sounds different today?”
“Yes, much slower.”
“Moreover, his strength seems less powerful than before.”
“Wait, isn’t it less impressive than usual?”
“…”
Some fans couldn’t help but complain in their hearts.
People enjoyed Mao Weiang’s cello because it gave chills the instant the music began.
That kind of extreme comfort created a unique experience for listeners.
This was the pinnacle of popular music for Mao Weiang.
But this time,
While his music still made people feel comfortable,
Clearly, it was much softer and slow.
It felt almost as if he—
“Is he telling us a story?” asked a viewer.
If your life had five months left, what would you do?
It’s a question that would yield a thousand different answers if asked to a thousand people.
Because five months—this actually offers quite a lot of freedom in terms of what you can do.
It is not just one day or three; it is about 150 days.
This period is enough to travel the world, learn new skills, or undertake great endeavors within abilities—all that counts.
Mao Weiang’s choice?
The cello.
—Even if it meant risking his lifetime reputation.
Mao Weiang spent his life creating popular music.
These invaluable works ensured that the world would remember him even after a century.
Eternal fame.
This eight-character phrase encapsulates every musician’s greatest dream.
Yet, he chose to risk everything by diving into the cello journey.
Even if it might ruin all he had accumulated over the years.
Leaving him, perhaps, meaninglessly dead,
Meaninglessly dead?
Thinking this, he felt some fear.
To be remembered like a stray dog dying, unnoticed and forgotten.
But,
Mao Weiang desperately wanted to feel it,
To know what it was like to be a true cellist.
Sitting on the same stage as his idol.
Seeing such breathtaking sight.
Opening his eyes,
He had become the person atop the horse.
About to complete his final performance.
Since he couldn’t witness Teacher Gan Hua’s view,
Could he sense it through Teacher Gan Yan Yu’s guidance?
Gripping the reins tightly,
He prepared to gallop.
As his cello’s pitch suddenly rose,
The music reached its climax.
The entire audience lifted their heads.
In the livestream,
Zhang Dong jumped up:
“What the hell?!”
“This crazy cello, it’s Teacher Mao?!”
Right now,
Mao Weiang’s cello tone instantly intensified dramatically.
In that rough tone, people saw Mao Weiang battling fiercely.
Soaked in bl**d, he fought on.
Despite being small among many, his figure intimidated everyone under the sunlight.
He walked so openly, proudly.
“Stop. Don’t k*ll.”
Zhang Dong muttered frantically in his heart.
Wouldn’t this lead to self-destruction?
This battlefield noise.
Such immense pressure.
Are you still the teacher who taught everyone the beauty of sound?
It’s as if—
You’ve completely detached yourself from life and d*ath!
“Dead man’s music.”
“What?”
Hearing this, He Shumo widened his eyes and looked at Yao Han.
“Only a dead person can produce such sounds.”
“This fearless spirit, learning more… pouring their soul into music…”
Yao Han sighed deeply with closed eyes.
Then he opened his eyes again,
“Teacher Mao doesn’t have many days left.”
“Why didn’t I know this?”
“Losing such an immensely talented composer is truly unfortunate,” Yao Han lamented.
Hearing this, He Shumo was stunned.
He turned back to the screen, trembling with incomprehension,
“They don’t have many more days?”
This is your world?
Lin Tian, Gan Yan Yu,
Raising his head, Mao Weiang gazed at the radiant sun.
He felt happier than ever.
No longer concerned about others’ opinions or feelings.
Boldly conveying his innermost thoughts.
Telling everyone everything on his mind.
Rather than serving them.
Maybe,
That’s what Teacher Gan Hua’s world is like too.
What did he want to convey from that stage?
Suddenly,
Mao Weiang’s pupils widened.
“Communicate! Communicate, yes?!”
Sixteen years passed.
Only now did he truly understand Teacher Gan Hua’s cello!
His playing aimed to convey classical music’s charm.
Using all his life’s techniques, he explained classical music history’s beauty,
Your intention,
Was to get everyone to understand and appreciate classical music more…
He roared in laughter, despite bitterness.
He hadn’t understood back then why Teacher Gan Hua strived so hard to pass his passion.
Just like how he created music for his fans today.
Tragic, yet enlightening.
But he felt relief.
Satisfied.
At least, he wouldn’t carry such regrets to his grave.
Playing with Teacher Gan Hua’s granddaughter here,
He finally grasped that understanding.
Right here, right now,
Mao Weiang would express this bittersweet feeling with his own flair.
Not just to feel!
As Mao Weiang pushed his music to its peak,
His cello swelled intensely, falling to profound silence.
Like the glory of success and the shadows of solitude and regret.
In this complex symphony,
Everyone witnessed a strange Mao Weiang.
But none found him unpleasant.
“Incredible,”
A girl stared at the stage, tears pooling,
“I actually cried listening to Teacher Mao’s music.”
“Although the style differs from before…I feel like Teacher Mao feels more real,” another viewer commented.
“The music flows so seamlessly with Gan Yan Yu’s, which is comforting.”
“Still beautiful, but warmer this time!”
“To be honest, while not as dramatic as before, I prefer this more authentic Teacher Mao!”
More viewers mustered courage to voice long-held sentiments.
They’d never felt such emotional depth in Mao Weiang’s music.
This emotion, they were entranced!
“How did he do it?!”
Hearing this, Yao Han lost it,
“Lin Tian, what happened? Why does Teacher Mao’s cello play like this?”
This isn’t like the script!
Mao Weiang’s cello should be nothing like this. This transition is impossible.
But the cello now,
As if imbued with a soul, vividly alive, truly resonating with Gan Yan Yu’s earlier music.
Finding harmony between classical and popular music.
“Unbelievably unexpected.”
Beside him, He Shumo also had an amazed look,
“Teacher Mao’s music someday gained such warmth… thought it might clash with Gan Yan Yu, but it fits perfectly!”
Thinking this,
He added,
“Not surprising, given Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu’s ability—would their concert go well?”
“Not yet!”
Interrupting harshly,
Yao Han shifted focus to another figure on the big screen,
“Bai Junze.”
“This partner’s combination will be tougher than Teacher Mao’s.”
While Mao Weiang’s musical transformation was within reason,
Given his humble learning spirit,
Perhaps Lin Tian’s guidance proved effective.
Next up,
Is Bai Junze.
This figure—Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu couldn’t possibly handle.
“Hold on,”
He Shumo interjected suddenly.
Bending close to the screen, he pointed at an arm half-visible near the edge of the camera.
“What’s this?”
Frowning, He Shumo read the screen,
A cello wrapped in tape, put together piece by piece.
(Fin)
