I slowly got up and vaguely saw Yan Feng sitting in the left-hand position of the front row, waving at me. Glancing at him, I felt a mix of annoyance and a hint of joy. I didn't want him to appear in my workplace. I almost shook my head but reconsidered, quickly bowed to the audience, and walked briskly towards the backstage. Hiding behind the door, I thought it wasn't entirely his fault. It must be Dai Yanzhi who gave him the ticket. I wondered if Dai Yanzhi was here to help me or to cause trouble.
Seeing him walking towards me from the dressing table, I stared at him. When he approached, I firmly held his hand, "Don't cause trouble for me." "Haha, come on, the applause outside hasn't stopped. Why not go on stage and play another encore?" "No more next time. You're not allowed to bring anyone into my workplace without my permission." "He's not just anyone."
"Speak softly. I'll settle the score with you when we return to the hotel tonight." I let go of his hand and returned to the stage.
Walking to the edge of the stage, I bowed to the audience once again. The applause thundered, and young ladies in the front row handed me flowers. One of them spoke excitedly in words I couldn't understand. I smiled and nodded at her, accepting the flowers one by one until I couldn't hold any more. I glanced backstage, and Dai Yanzhi came out to help me take the flowers backstage.
Sitting at the piano bench, I searched through the prepared encores in my mind – Schumann, Liszt, or Ravel. Many musical scores flashed before me. I glanced sideways and saw Yan Feng's expectant gaze. Well, let's play Schumann then. "Der Dichter spricht" (The Poet Speaks), "Traumerei," and finally, I performed "Papillons" (Butterflies). As the piece approached its end, thinking about the deep blue pond Yan Feng had led me into, butterflies from my childhood fluttered around. I lifted my head slightly, gazing directly at a beam of spotlight above. I emerged from the water along with it, once again drenched in sweat. I sat in front of the piano, unable to stand up for a long time. Applause erupted from the audience below, continuing until it gradually faded, and only then did I stand up and bow.
"Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!" Cheers erupted from the audience below. I no longer looked toward Yan Feng and instead scanned the room, nodding in acknowledgment to the audience before making my way backstage. The staff from the Suntory Art Foundation bowed uniformly to me, and I expressed my gratitude with a continuous "Thank you" in English. A translator accompanied one of the staff members to me, explaining the schedule for the evening.
"In a while, we will be going to a restaurant in Ginza with the president, the president's assistant, and three representatives from Dezhi for dinner. Mr. Ye, please go to your dressing room and change into casual attire."
"Alright," I agreed. After looking around for a moment, I wondered where Dai Yanzhi had gone. Glancing at my watch, it was 10:27 PM. I estimated that we wouldn't be back at the hotel until after midnight. The outcome of tonight's dinner might directly influence tomorrow's meeting with Dezhi. That naive Dai Yanzhi insisted on bringing Yan Feng over.
"Where is Dai Yanzhi?" I couldn't help but ask the translator.
"Oh, he just went to the restroom."
"Alright, I'll go change clothes first." As the translator's words faded, I walked to the door of the backstage area, standing in the doorway. Thinking about the stage setup before the performance, I turned back to address the people inside, "Everyone has worked hard. Thank you all for your efforts today!"
After my final words, I turned to find Dai Yanzhi. As I turned, I bumped into him.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" he said, steadying me by my shoulders.
"Did Yan Feng leave?" I asked him in a low voice.
"Yes, he just left. I went to help him get a taxi."
"You arranged things quite well," I said to him with a somewhat teasing smile.
"Your boyfriend said the same thing," he chuckled triumphantly. "Hurry up and change your clothes."
"Don't get too proud of yourself." I took off my coat and tossed it to him.
After changing into new clothes, I felt my phone vibrating inside the jacket pocket. Hastily taking it out, it was a text message from Yan Feng.
"Xi xi, you looked stunning on stage, glowing all over. Your hair was damp with sweat. Actually, all I could think about was how you looked in my arms last night. Do you remember what I said yesterday?"
My face suddenly flushed, and I quickly hid my phone. Despite the spacious dressing room, I felt as if countless eyes were watching me. It was as if I hadn't come down from the stage yet, excitement and fatigue intertwining, and sweat trickled down my neck again. I found a spot on the couch and sat there for a while until a knock on the dressing room door interrupted my thoughts.
"Hurry up, it's getting late. We've already informed the Suntory people. We'll just have a few drinks and leave. We have an early meeting tomorrow," Dai Yanzhi called from outside the door.
"Alright, I'll be right out."
I sat in the business car, constantly checking the time. Ten minutes later, we arrived at the restaurant's entrance. Champagne-colored railings adorned the white sandstone exterior. Countless metal ornaments adorned the central glass door. Inside the restaurant, the carpet was still golden, with many light-colored roses patterned on it, complementing the pristine white tablecloths. Following the host, we entered a private dining room. On one of the largest black stone walls hung a cubist oil painting, reminding me of a Mondrian artwork I had seen a long time ago.
"Mr. Ye Xi, this is a renowned French restaurant in Ginza. We hope you enjoy it," Nagano Nobutada said, looking at me as if I could understand his words.
"Alright, thank you," I glanced at the translator and spoke to Nagano in English. If I didn't know what to say, I always smiled and used "thank you" as a substitute.
"This collaboration has been very pleasant. Thanks to Mr. Nagano and all our colleagues for their cooperation. The excellent venue and the promotional resources you provided are greatly appreciated," Dai Yanzhi said, looking at me as he addressed Nagano. "Our staff at the Music Association have gained a lot from your working methods."
"Yes, your management of the venue is truly excellent. It's not just the maintenance of the hardware facilities but also the management of the concert process, the preparation of all materials, and the design of these brochures. You've engaged the best designers and coordinated well with our colleagues in China. Communication was smooth, and everything is perfect," another colleague added.
"Your praise is too much; it's what we should do," the president's assistant nodded, gesturing for us to take our seats.
"Mr. Ye Xi's exquisite and perfect performance is our invaluable asset this time. Suntory Hall has truly shone. Since Mr. Ye Xi won the Chopin Gold Award, not only has there been continuous coverage in the American media, but also in the Japanese media. It can be said that currently, globally, Mr. Ye Xi is the most renowned classical musician. I'm sure many record companies will approach your team soon," Nagano said.
"Your praise is too much, really. Although I've won the Chopin Gold Award, it's just the beginning of my career. Performing in top concert halls worldwide is my privilege," I suddenly felt the need to say something courteous. Nagano's words genuinely startled me; I usually didn't care about others' evaluations, and excessive praise wasn't something I enjoyed.
"When will Dezhi's representatives arrive?" Dai Yanzhi quietly asked his colleague from the Music Association.
"They should be arriving soon. They said before 10:50, and there's just one more minute. Today, it's only a few of their subordinates. The head of their delegation will join the meeting tomorrow morning, so it doesn't have to be too formal. Everyone can relax a bit. Today is mainly about celebrating the concert," they spoke quietly, and I happened to hear them clearly.
The door to the private room opened, and two formally dressed ladies and a gentleman walked in. Starting from the colleague closest to the door, they shook hands with each of us until they reached me.
"You must be Mr. Ye Xi. I'm Chen Hanwen, the assistant to the president of Dezhi's Asia-Pacific region. These are my two colleagues, who are the main participants in tomorrow's meeting. Today, I am here on behalf of the president to congratulate you. Your performance was absolutely enchanting, splendid. Your image is so elegant and perfectly aligns with our company's image. I believe tomorrow's meeting will go very smoothly," she complimented. I assessed her for a moment; she was probably around 30 years old, petite, with delicate features, single-lidded eyes, radiant fair skin, thin lips, and a small nose. While not a stunning beauty, she was an attractive woman. When she didn't speak, I might have mistaken her for a Japanese person. She wore a black suit, pants, and had her hair tied in a ponytail, giving off a very professional vibe that seemed incongruent with my stereotypical image of a musician.
"Thank you. Today's performance went smoothly thanks to the cooperation of all the Suntory colleagues, especially President Nagano, who went out of his way to welcome our team today," I said, glancing at Nagano and nodding to the translator.
"Hello, Mr. Nagano. The last time we met was a year ago during Marta Aglicich's performance," she spoke to Nagano in fluent Japanese. She paused, smiling somewhat mysteriously. "I hope you've been well. If there's a need for live recordings next time, we can coordinate with our long-term partners to assist you. If any of our signed artists require live recordings, it would be an opportunity for us to collaborate more deeply."
The translator leaned in and translated for me.
"I'm doing well, haha. Last time was thanks to all of you. Well, let's not stand around. Sit down, have some appetizers, and a few drinks," Nagano slightly lowered his head, adjusting his glasses with his hand.
"Sure, sure," she replied. "Mr. Ye Xi and the team must be tired. After a busy day, let's have a little celebration today. It's mainly for enjoyment; we can discuss work more in-depth tomorrow."
As the dishes were brought to the table, I no longer felt any hunger. During tours, I tended to lose weight. Apart from irregular eating due to intense concentration and the fatigue of interacting with various people, I still enjoyed the working state of touring. Unlike past competitions, everyone involved in touring was highly professional, and I didn't have to awkwardly engage in unrelated conversations. Moreover, collaboration with concert halls and record companies helped motivate my regular training. Thinking about this, I looked at the food on the plate, set down my utensils, and lifted the champagne glass, taking a small sip.
"Don't just focus on drinking by yourself," Dai Yanzhi whispered to me, nudging my elbow.
"Here, let's toast to Mr. Ye Xi's perfect performance," Chen Hanwen raised her glass, seizing the moment.
"To the success! Cheers!" everyone exclaimed.
"Considering you have a meeting tomorrow, we specially ordered a selection of delicious appetizers, mainly featuring seafood that complements the wine," Mr. Nagano said.
"These are all exquisite choices: Mount Fuji trout paired with Ossetra caviar, sea scallops from the Sanriku coast, and duck from Aichi Prefecture ('Megumi Gamo' duck). If you have any other preferences, please let us know, and we can order separately," the waiter said as three dishes were elegantly presented in succession.
The trout had a slightly salty and tangy taste. Cooked trout flesh can sometimes become dry, but this dish was exceptional. It had a tender and silky texture reminiscent of tofu, mixed with unidentified herbal fragrances. Paired with the extremely fresh caviar, it created a refreshing yet rich flavor.
"The Sanriku coast scallops are cultivated using a special method. Each scallop is individually hung in the water, allowing it to grow to its ideal size. This method restricts their movement, resulting in scallops with succulent, tender, and sweet meat," Nagano explained. After his description, he picked up a scallop with a fork, brought it to his lips, and slowly savored it. I could tell from his expression how delicious the scallop was.
Using the smallest fork, I picked up a scallop. When held in the air, the scallop was semi-transparent, adorned with a small slice of black truffle and a sprinkle of fine vegetable powder. This reminded me of a summer from my childhood when Dai Yanzhi, He Tiantian, and I crouched under a banyan tree on the playground. Spotting a white mushroom with a black cap, we were captivated, forgetting that Grape Sister had already discovered us. When she did, we scattered and ran, shouting and laughing like mad. I smiled at the memory and brought the plump scallop into my mouth. Suddenly, I recalled last night, Yan Feng's smooth yet firm tentacles, with a hint of the salty aroma of the ocean, was in my mouth. My face instantly turned red.
"Why is your face so red? Don't drink too much; we have business tomorrow," Dai Yanzhi whispered to me, nudging my elbow, as Chen Hanwen and Nagano engaged in lively conversation.
"I understand, I'm just a bit tired."
Ten people, two bottles of champagne, all emptied. I glanced at my watch again, 11:30. It seemed like the pleasantries should be coming to an end.
"Thank you for the wonderful hospitality today; the food was truly delicious," I said to Mr. Nagano.
"Thanks to Miss Chen and colleagues from Dezhi for making a special visit today. Hope our meeting tomorrow goes smoothly," I looked at Chen Hanwen.
Mr. Nagano and his secretary stood up, shaking hands with me once more. Then, Chen Hanwen also left her seat, raising the last glass of wine and toasting my empty glass.
"Ye Xi, you will be the greatest pianist of this century," she leaned back in her chair, lazily tilting her head as she spoke to me.
With that sentence, the dinner concluded. Like the gentlest conductor, she gave the signal for us all to rise, exchanging handshakes and hugs, executing the final stage of the business meeting.
"I still need to rely on your support. Besides piano technique, the platform is equally crucial. Suntory Art Foundation and Dezhi are world-class concert halls and record companies. This collaboration with the Suntory Art Foundation will undoubtedly elevate my visibility, and if I can smoothly sign with Dezhi next, it will be my greatest honor," I said during that time when I couldn't believe I was uttering such words. In the past, I always felt uncomfortable in such situations. With a slight buzz from the alcohol, I found myself increasingly enjoying the social interaction. "My wine is finished, so I'll switch to tea. Cheers, and thank you all for your support."
Another part of me was secretly pleased—finally, I could return to the hotel. Playing the piano can be pure, but work is always tiring. After bidding farewell to Nagano, Chen Hanwen, and the others, we boarded the business car. I gently unbuttoned the first button of my coat, taking a sigh of relief.
"Tired, huh?" Dai Yanzhi said, smiling again. "This is just the beginning, though. But I must say, you seem quite adept at it, Younger Bro. It's hard to imagine you're only eighteen." He started teasing me, placing his hand on my head.
I disliked physical contact with others, so I pushed his hand away. "Take your hand off me," I laughed.
"By the way, can't you learn from Aglić's style?" Dai Yanzhi said. "You've been too obedient since childhood." After saying "obedient," he chuckled silently.
"Yanzhi, don't teach Ye Xi bad habits," the senior musician Lin Su said seriously.
"Okay, okay, got it. I was just kidding. If Ye Xi acts like Aglić, no one will want to be his manager. We all need to keep our distance from him. Haha, right, Senior Lin Su?" Dai Yanzhi laughed again.
"Haha, yes," everyone joined in the laughter.
With two soft clicks, the door unlocked. Yan Feng was hiding behind it, and as soon as I opened it, I fell into his arms. Finally, I could rest.