Chapter 18 The Melody of Moonlight
On Sunday afternoon, Su Feiyan made his way to his piano teacher's small apartment. He gently touched the wall with his left hand and stopped when his right hand brushed against the door frame. He knocked softly on the door.
"Come in, Xiaofeiyan!" His teacher's gentle, cheerful voice came from inside. She opened the door with a smile. "How's your practice been lately? Same as always—start by playing for me."
Su Feiyan nodded, took off his shoes, and stepped inside. His teacher's small apartment was simple yet cozy. The soft yellow curtains filtered the winter light, and bookshelves filled with sheet music and books lined the walls. In the center of the living room stood a black grand piano, the soul of the room.
This piano teacher had no original connection to the welfare home. Several years ago, she had come as a volunteer on weekends, initially just helping the children with their reading and storytelling. But one day, she heard they were looking for a music teacher and decided to stay, hoping to bring music into the children's lives. She never expected that this decision would lead to a deep bond with a blind boy.
At first, the children at the welfare home were eager to learn the piano, but as time went on, most of them lost interest. The lessons seemed too dull, or the practice too difficult, and many gave up. Only Su Feiyan—the quiet, introverted, yet stubborn boy—remained committed. Despite his blindness, he always sat at the piano, so focused, as if using his ears and heart to touch every note.
"You're the only one who hasn't given up," his teacher once said, half-joking and half-serious. Su Feiyan smiled quietly and continued playing, never answering aloud.
"Okay, let's sit down and hear how you've progressed with this week's assignment." His teacher pulled out the piano bench, lightly patting the space beside it. "Don't be nervous, just play 'Clair de Lune' as you remember it."
Su Feiyan sat down, carefully feeling for the right keys with his fingers. He took a deep breath and began to play. The melody flowed out smoothly, but there were noticeable issues. The left hand chords were too heavy at times, overshadowing the right hand melody, and the rhythm was slightly off.
The teacher listened quietly, and once he stopped, she spoke gently, "Xiaofeiyan, overall it's better than last time! But there are a few places we can adjust."
She played a short section of the piece, gently accompanying the right hand melody with her left, and then paused to explain: "For example, in the third bar, the left hand needs to be lighter. It shouldn't overpower the right hand melody. Can you hear the difference?"
Su Feiyan nodded. "I hear it. I'll try again."
"Good. Now, let's break it down. I'll sing the right hand part, and you focus on adjusting the left hand's volume," she said, her voice playful.
She began humming the right-hand melody, her voice soft like a flowing stream. Su Feiyan tried again, this time making the left hand more subdued, and the melody became much clearer.
"Nice! That's the right feeling!" His teacher smiled, praising him. "Now, let's look at the fourth bar. The rhythm there feels a bit rushed, doesn't it? Like you're speeding through it."
Su Feiyan thought for a moment and smiled shyly. "Yeah, it feels a bit rushed."
"No worries, take it slow," she reassured him. "Let's practice the hands separately first. You play the left hand, and I'll keep the beat for you."
The teacher began tapping the piano lid lightly to keep the beat: "One, two, three, four… Great, now keep it steady."
Su Feiyan played the left hand, adjusting to the teacher's rhythm. After several repetitions, the left hand became steadier.
"Now, let's try adding the right hand melody again. I'll sing the right hand part for you to follow," she said with a warm smile, her eyes full of encouragement.
As they continued practicing, the teacher also gently corrected his use of the pedal. "Do you remember what we talked about last time with the pedal?" she asked. "Let's go over it again. When you change chords, lift the pedal first, then press it again immediately to let the sound stay clear."
Su Feiyan nodded, repeating the motion as the teacher guided him through it. After a few more tries, the pedal technique became smooth, and the sound became bright and resonant.
"Excellent!" His teacher smiled, clearly pleased. She reached out and gently patted Su Feiyan's shoulder, her expression warm and encouraging. "Debussy would be proud of you."
After practicing, the teacher handed him a glass of water and said casually, "You've made great progress this week, but 'Clair de Lune' is a delicate piece. You'll need to polish it a bit more. How are you preparing for the new student recital?"
Su Feiyan nodded. "Yes, Teacher Chen asked me to play this piece."
"Then I'll be there to hear it!" His teacher grinned. "And I'll also get a chance to see your cute deskmate."
Su Feiyan's face flushed instantly, and his voice dropped low as he muttered, "Teacher, don't say that…"
"Haha, don't worry, just do your best, Xiaofeiyan. Let everyone hear how beautiful your moonlight is!" She winked.
Su Feiyan smiled shyly, his face still bright red. As he left his teacher's apartment, the sky was turning to dusk, with the evening glow casting a soft light on his warm cheeks. He quietly promised himself that he wouldn't let his teacher, or anyone, down.
In this version, the teacher calls him "Xiaofeiyan" as requested, keeping the warmth and encouragement consistent throughout.