For the semifinals, Zhou Yun Sheng accepted Xue Zi Xuan's suggestion and chose a very difficult piano piece. On the contrary, Xue Jing Yi shocked the hearts of the judges with the song "Sorrow."
She played very well. It could even be said that she completely exceeded her previous level. Olsen gave her a super high score of 19.5 and predicted that she would become a great pianist on par with her brother.
Xue Jing Yi was so happy that even her fingertips were shaking. This was what she wanted, to use music to prove that she was better than Huang Yi. After this competition, her brother would definitely transfer his focus back onto her again.
The semifinals ended, and a total of ten people entered the final stage. Once again, Olsen raked Zhou Yun Sheng over the coals. Fortunately, his skills were really superb, and he surprised the other three judges. Two of them awarded him full marks, and the third one gave him a score of 19.5, thus ensuring that he entered the finals at seventh place.
Upon leaving the Golden Hall, all the contestants gathered around Xue Jing Yi to congratulate her for winning first place in the semifinals. She kissed everyone one by one, and looked at the teenager standing not too far away with provocative and contemptuous eyes.
"You're no good!" She mouthed to him silently.
Zhou Yun Sheng glanced at her coldly, and then walked away, minding his own business.
Back at the hotel, he sat in front of the piano and played the score he had played in the competition once again. Angrily, he asked: "How can I be no good? The sound of the piano has soul? I don't believe that. As long as there's no mistake in the melody, isn't it the same no matter who plays it?"
"No, you are wrong. Music with soul and music without soul will sound very different." Xue Zi Xuan walked over to him. His eyes darkened. "How about I play a song for you?"
Zhou Yun Sheng nodded in agreement. He had never heard Xue Zi Xuan play the piano, and he had never asked him to play. Everyone said that he was the greatest pianist of this century, and that his achievements surpassed even his instructor Olsen's, but Zhou Yun Sheng felt that Xue Zi Xuan did not love the piano as much as the rumors said.
"What will you be playing?" He asked curiously.
"I will play a piece of my own creation, called "Forever."" Xue Zi Xuan raised his head and stared at the boy, then he enunciated each word, "The Chinese name is called "Eternal Love.""
[T/N: In the raws, "Forever" is written in English.]
"Doesn't forever mean eternal? Why add a superfluous word? Either you make the Chinese name "Eternal," or change the English name to "Forever Love." Only then would it make sense." Zhou Yun Sheng laughed and teased.
[T/N: In the raws, "Forever Love" is written in English.]
Xue Zi Xuan gave him a deep look, and then he lifted his hands and began to play. The soothing and graceful piano sounds flowed from his white and slender fingertips.
The first part of the song was very cheerful and bright. It was like walking on a small country road, with dew-filled flowers blooming on both sides, and it made the listener mentally and physically happy.
A significant vibrato suddenly jumped out, like the sudden meeting of a destined lover at the end of the road. The extremely fast-rotating notes indicated the violent heartbeat at that moment. The "ding ding dong dong" sounds symbolized the frequency of uncontrollable heartbeats.
The soothing piano sound becamehigh-pitched and short, and Xue Zi Xuan's expression changed from smiling to in pain.
After listening to the beginning, Zhou Yun Sheng thought that this was a love song at first, and it would be warm, suave, and refreshing. But the series of strong tremolos in the second section told him that this was not a lyrical minor. On the contrary, it was flooding, raging waves, and howling storms. The second part of the score was full of strong resistance and deep helplessness.
It was as if there was an invisible sickle, destroying the first section's blooming, colorful world in a cruel and unstoppable way. The final strong vibrato fell, and the rapid melody gradually slowed down, relaxing little by little, and finally returned to calmness. As for that splendid, loving world, it disappeared into nothingness.
Xue Zi Xuan told of the deepest pain and confession in his heart with the softest touch. When the last note reverberated beneath his fingertips, he couldn't return to his senses for a long time.
This was the piano music that he had spent a lifetime composing for his beloved teenager. It was called "Forever, and it was also called "Eternal Love." There was no need to add an extra English word, because he used his fingers and the sound of his piano to tell the teenager what is "love."
Zhou Yun Sheng felt as if his heart was wrapped in a thick cocoon, heavy and oppressive, yet he was unable to shuck it off. Sad emotions lingered in his mind, making him feel very uncomfortable.
He bent down and stared at the young man earnestly: "Why are you crying? Whom did you write this song for?"
Zhou Yun Sheng didn't have a high appreciation for music, but even so, he could feel the despair in this song. Eternal love? It was better to call it desperate love.
Only after Zhou Yun Sheng questioned him did Xue Zi Xuan feel the dampness on his cheeks. He touched his face and his hand came away wet with tears. He spent his entire life composing this piece, but he didn't play it until today, because the owner of this piece was now in front of him.
"This is the tune that I wrote for you."
Xue Zi Xuan quickly wiped away his tears, stood up, and sat the boy down on the piano bench.
He demanded, "Xiao Yi, can you play it for me? I want to hear you play it for me once." In his last life, this was a wish that he could not obtain even until his dying breath.
Zhou Yun Sheng placed his hands on the piano keys, but he could not press a single key for the longest time. Although there was no music score, he could reproduce any song from start to finish just by listening to it once. However, this song was different from any song that he had ever heard before. It was alive. It was so sad, and so desperate; as if it were covered all over with cuts and bruises.
He couldn't play it.
He really couldn't.
Maybe he could copy the melody, but not its shattered hurt and beauty. He finally understood what Olsen was saying. It turned out that music with a soul was really different from music without a soul. Music with a soul lived in people's hearts, and not in their ears.
"No, I can't play." He dropped his hands and shook his head, ashamed.
Xue Zi Xuan felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar. He bent down, hugged the boy tightly, and muttered: "You can't play it because you don't love me."
Yes, he finally understood that whether it was in his previous life or in this life, the teenager had never loved him. Even if the youth and him had the closest physical relationship, his heart was still far away.
The desperation only appeared for a moment before Xue Zi Xuan drove it out of his mind. Not loving now did not mean not loving in the future. At this very moment, the youth was within his embrace, filling the empty space between his arms, and pouring warmth into him. What was he not satisfied with? He had a lifetime to get his heart.
Zhou Yun Sheng heard Xue Zi Xuan's whispered words, but he pretended not to hear it. He didn't know how to respond to this love. It was too heavy, too sad, and too desperate. It seemed that Xue Zi Xuan himself knew that their feelings were actually built on a castle in the sky that would collapse at any moment.
The young man had brought him from the village to the city for his heart. And their intimacy was used as a means to take advantage of him. How could two people who each have their own ulterior motives love each other candidly? Unless everything could go back to the very beginning.
The two embraced quietly for a while. Then, while gazing deeply at each other, they kissed. Xue Zi Xuan threw the boy onto the big bed.
The two embraced quietly for a while. Then, while gazing deeply at each other, they kissed. Xue Zi Xuan threw the boy onto the big bed. He hastily stretched him for a bit and then rushed in right away.
His movements were fierce, and he held the youth's thin waist tightly with both hands so that he wouldn't send the boy flying with his rough movements. Only in this way could he be sure that the teenager belonged to him, both inside and out.
Zhou Yun Sheng was quickly lost in the intense pleasure. He liked rough sex. The quick and powerful thrusts made him forget a lot of troubles.
When his backside heated up to a feverish temperature, when electric currents passed through his whole body, when the orgasm took over his reasoning, he climbed onto the young man's neck and moaned.
What villain system? What son of destiny? What present? What future? They could all go to hell.
"Faster, faster, more!" He slapped the young man's sweaty back, repeatedly urging the other man to ram him good.
The current Xue Zi Xuan was not at all like the gentle, elegant, and poised Xue Zi Xuan of before. He was like a beast, roaring and encroaching on the prey under his body, striking faster and harder each time, wishing he could stuff his swollen cock into the youth's moist and hot honey cave.
When the final orgasm washed over them, the two men embraced tightly and erupted together. Then they crumpled onto the bed in a twitching mass of limbs. Neither of them spoke, nor did they want to separate. So they fell asleep while still entangled together.
The next day, Zhou Yun Sheng felt a burning hot meat stick in his back hole. He itched to pressed Xue Zi Xuan's handsome sleeping face into the pillow.
"You didn't clean me up? I will have diarrhea, fever, and more importantly, it will affect my performance on stage." His heart was very board, he had already long forgotten about yesterday's estrangement completely, and was nagging away.
Xue Zi Xuan clamped onto the youth's waist tightly, and gave a thrust inside his honey cave. In a husky voice, he teased: "Since we have to clean up anyway, let me just shoot inside again, and fill you up."
Zhou Yun Sheng wanted to spit at him very much, but in the end he submitted to the man's fierce attack. Intermittently, he stammered out: "Did, anyone, ever tell you, atop the bed you're a beast, and off the bed, you're a gentleman?"
"No, because I have only ever slept with you. I only love you." Xue Zi Xuan confessed while thrusting in and out of the teenager. Except for the boy in his arms, his body could not stand the touch of anyone else.
After their passionate coupling, Xue Zi Xuan hurriedly carried the boy, whose waist was sore and legs were weak, into the bathroom to clean up. Then he bought some anti-diarrheal medicine and antipyretic, and they rushed to the Golden Hall.
Zhou Yun Sheng lazily did not want to move. Xue Zi Xuan had to half drag and half carry him to the lounge.
When Xue Jing Yi saw Zhou Yun Sheng's moist eyes and swollen red lips, she itched to throw herself on him and tear him to shreds.
"What's wrong with Xiao Yi?" In order to have a chance to talk to her brother, Xue Jing Yi had to pretend to be concerned.
Xue Zi Xuan ignored her, kissed the boy's reddish cheeks, and said: "It's all my fault. I forgot to clean you up last night. Later, if you get dizzy or if your stomach feels uncomfortable, don't try to act tough. We'll immediately withdraw from the competition."
"Not withdrawing. I said that I would definitely win the championship." Zhou Yun Sheng wanted to see what would happen to the villain system after breaking the trajectory of fate.
"Okay. Win the championship. You're the best." Xue Zi Xuan agreed with a smile. He reluctantly parted from the teen when a staff member called the participants over to draw lots.
"Take the championship? You?" Xue Jing Yi showed a vicious expression as soon as her brother left.
Zhou Yun Sheng was too lazy to bother with her. He drew a number and then walked away on wobbly legs. Both of them were lucky. One drew the number five and the other drew the number six.
Most of the contestants who entered the finals were of extraordinary talent. The first few performances were very exciting, with frequent applause from the audience, and someone even shouted loudly "encore!"
When Xue Jing Yi stepped onto the stage, the audience cheered. It was evident that they had high hopes for her. Even Olsen turned his head and said to his disciple: "Your sister is good. Her performance is full of passion. She has thoroughly inherited your style."
Xue Zi Xuan gave a noncommittal "en" sound. He clapped his hands slowly. His attitude was neither lukewarm nor cold. He only revealed a shocked expression when the host announced the piece that Xue Jing Yi wanted to play.
He never expected that her choice would turn out to be "To Palochev." In his previous life, Xiao Yi had perfectly interpreted "To Palochev" and smoothly entered the semi-finals with this score.
Throughout the history of classical music, this score was known as the "devil's music." It was composed of continuous inconsistent chords, and the entire piece stayed at the climax from beginning to end, without a soothing transition. It took a lot of energy and emotion to play it perfectly. Its melody was very strange, ugly even. And the tearing emotional collision would drive the performer and the audience into madness.
Many well-known pianists have tried to challenge this music score, and without exception, they all ended in failure, because the strong love and hatred incorporated in the piece made it possess a destructive magic.
As far as Xue Zi Xuan knew, in his previous life, the only person who could perform this piece perfectly was Xiao Yi. But right now, Xue Jing Yi was choosing this song irresponsibly. Could her fragile heart bear it?
However, Xue Jing Yi's performance surprised Xue Zi Xuan and shocked the collective audience. She struck the piano keys frantically. She hit a few wrong notes, but the intense love and hatred of her music pierced through everyone's heart.
She understood the true meaning of this music score. This was a song of vengeance. The composer wanted to take revenge on the death god and the profane world that took away his lover. Therefore, she fully understood the resentment of wanting to tear the world into pieces, and the madness that denoted one's willingness to fling oneself into hell in order to retrieve one's beloved.
She struck the piano keys one after another. Because of how forcefully she was playing the piano, her hair came loose and became a complete mess, obstructing her face from view. Through the gaps in the curtain of her hair, people could see the spite gleaming in her eyes, making her look like a devil.
When the song ended, the place was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
It was Olsen who stood up and applauded first. Then the audience returned to their senses and responded with thunderous applause.
"The devil's music should be played by the devil. You have completely assimilated with this score and won me over. I give you full marks." Olsen commented excitedly. Then he finally looked at his disciple and teased, "Sean, what do you think? Can your sister inherit your mantle?"
[T/N: Reminder, Sean is Xue Zi Xuan's English name.]
Xue Zi Xuan did not applaud. He spoke lightly into the microphone that was shoved towards him: "She is indeed the devil."
The audience laughed. They thought that Sean's words was an agreement in disguise, but only three people there knew that his words did not have any complimentary meaning. It was a statement.
Xue Jing Yi was indeed a devil.
In the end, of the judges in Olsen's faction, one gave her full scores, and two gave her a score of 19.5, but unfortunately for her, the judges of the other faction were more partial towards technique. She played several wrong notes, which was unforgivable, so the score they gave was not high, but not low. On average, she got a total of 19.2 points, and was currently ranked in first place.
Xue Jing Yi slowly stepped off the stage amidst the cheers of the crowd. When she saw the teenager waiting beside the curtain, she revealed a smug smile.
Zhou Yun Sheng was not nervous at all. He looked down at the smartwatch, and a line of words appeared on it. The system had released a new task, which was to lose to Xue Jing Yi in the piano competition.
"Haha, you're telling me to lose, but I want to win. Let's wait and see who prevails," he muttered silently, and was not surprised by the pain that spasms through his body. This was a punishment imposed by the system. He didn't want to lose, so the system planned to hurt him so much that he would be unable to play.
But the system never expected that the unrestrained punishments it used to mete out would make the youngster resistant to pain.
Zhou Yun Sheng walked onto the stage step by step. He did not bow to the audience and judges. Instead, he held his jaw high and pasted on an arrogant expression. Not only did the pain fail to destroy his will, it made him even more excited.
At the same time, the host announced the score that he would be playing: "Show Off."
An uproar went through the audience. There was no doubt that in terms of technical difficulty, this music piece occupied the pinnacle of piano history. Sears, the piano emperor of the previous century, had created this score as a challenge to the fellow piano masters of that time period. He flaunted his status as the piano emperor of that time. For this piece, he had used the most fancy score arrangements and highest fignering techniques. The most jumping notes were integrated into this song. It was believed that the only person in the world who could play this complete score perfectly was the composer himself.
Until now, no one has been able to shake this belief. The performers of the new century challenged the score one after another, but they all failed to rise up to the challenge. And this score became an unclimbable mountain.
Sears had composed this score with arrogance. This was a score made purely to show off one's technique, and not one of emotional catharsis. As long as the player was arrogant enough and possessed the same superb technique as Sears, then the piece could be performed perfectly.
On the way to the venue, Zhou Yun Sheng and Xue Zi Xuan unanimously chose this song, because only this piece could make up for Zhou Yun Sheng's lack of emotions.
"Show Off." It turned out he had chosen this damn show off piece! Xue Jing Yi felt extreme unease.
Sitting at the judges' bench, Olsen's beard was trembling as he shook his head. In a low, muffled voice he said, "Even Sean couldn't finish piece smoothly. I can't believe anyone would choose it. This contestant has a lot of courage. He is challenging two piano emperors at the same time, the one of last century and the one of this century. I am looking forward to it." He said he was looking forward to it, but his expression of waning interest told everyone that he thought this contestant was desperate and staking everything in one throw.
The audience gave encouraging applause.
Xue Zi Xuan looked at the teenager sitting in front of the piano with his held high, and said silently, "Come on, my little rooster."
Zhou Yun Sheng could read lips, and he saw the young man's close-up face on the big screen. His arrogant expression stiffened for a moment, and he thought: Little rooster? What the hell? You must explain that to me clearly after this contest!
When it comes to playing the piano, this master is number one in the world, so Sears, Xue Zi Xuan, and Olsen, you can all take a back seat! Zhou Yun Sheng silently hypnotized himself. His already arrogant expression became even more insufferable as he raised his hands and quickly entered the first section of the score. Almost every time he finished playing a bar, he changed his technique, and his slender fingers looked like a blooming flower under the shining spotlight.
He was able to show off his adroit skills with ease. His expression became more and more arrogant, and his attitude became increasingly unrestrained. When he hit the third section of the score, which contained the fastest rhythm, he even stood up and made a swing motion, showing his obvious enjoyment. He was not playing the piano, but rather, playing with the piano. While everyone else worshiped the piano as a sacred object, he was treating it as a plaything, and he was the master.
This was a kind of contempt, and also extremely goddamn arrogant. But it was precisely because of his arrogance, his negligence, his brazenness, and his unbridled attitude that the sound of his piano has an unparalleled charm.
The song came to an end.
He did not nod. He did not bow. He merely lifted up the sweaty hair on his forehead with an extremely haughty attitude, just like a real king.
The audience all stood up and applauded, shouting "encore" frantically. He had completely conquered them with his music. Xue Zi Xuan was particularly excited. He clapped until the palms of his hands turned bright red, and blew the boy endless air kisses.