MR Chen's office-
After school, Su Feiyan was called to the office by Mr. Chen. As he walked in, his steps were hesitant, vaguely sensing that this conversation wouldn't be an easy one.
"Feiyan, you're here." Mr. Chen looked up, smiling as he greeted him. "Have a seat. Don't be nervous—we're just having a casual chat."
Su Feiyan pulled out a chair and sat down. He slightly lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously fidgeting with his backpack straps, while his mind raced, trying to guess the purpose of this meeting.
Mr. Chen poured a cup of hot water and slid it toward him. "How's it going lately? Are you adjusting to the pace of senior year?"
"Um… it's okay, I guess," Su Feiyan replied softly, his voice as faint as the breeze outside the window. "Just… a lot of homework."
Mr. Chen chuckled. "That's senior year for you. Everyone's in the same boat. But honestly, I've noticed your consistent effort, and I really admire it."
Su Feiyan raised his head slightly, "looking" in the direction of Mr. Chen, surprised by the rare compliment.
"By the way," Mr. Chen shifted the topic, pausing briefly, "I heard that Song Ziheng invited you to participate in a piano competition, is that right?"
Su Feiyan's fingers clenched tightly, and the relaxation he had just begun to feel quickly dissipated. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded. "Yes…"
Mr. Chen seemed to notice his unease and softened his tone. "Feiyan, I truly admire your talent in piano. You've worked hard over the years, and I've seen it all."
Su Feiyan lowered his head again, responding with a faint "Mm."
"But about this competition…" Mr. Chen paused, his tone growing more serious. "While this is indeed a rare opportunity, I'm a bit concerned about your academics. You're in your final year, and this is a critical time to focus on your studies."
Silence fell over the room. Su Feiyan wanted to explain, but he didn't know where to begin.
"Of course, it's just my suggestion," Mr. Chen added, patting him on the shoulder. "The final decision is yours. Whatever you choose, I'll support you."
Su Feiyan nodded, thanked him, and left the office. On his way home, his mood was heavy, as though the conversation had added a weight he couldn't shake off.
A Family Discussion
After dinner, his parents called him over. His father turned off the TV, and his mother set down her sewing. The three of them gathered in the living room.
"Feiyan, we heard that Song Ziheng invited you to a competition," his mother began, her tone calm.
"Mm." Su Feiyan nodded.
His father glanced at him. "It sounds like a good opportunity. What do you think?"
Su Feiyan pressed his lips together before answering, "I… I'm not sure yet."
"If you want to participate, we won't stop you," his mother said. "But you've been really busy with school lately. Do you think you'll have enough time?"
Su Feiyan remained silent, looking down. Seeing this, his mother sighed. "We know you love piano, and you're very talented. But Feiyan, the college entrance exam is incredibly important. If you miss this window of preparation, it might be hard to catch up later."
His father chimed in, "You just finished the mock exam, and your results weren't ideal, right? We're not blaming you; we're just worried that taking on too much might not be good for you."
"I…" Su Feiyan opened his mouth but couldn't find the words to respond. He had expected his parents to oppose him more strongly, but their calm reasoning left him feeling an even heavier sense of pressure.
"Feiyan, the choice is yours," his father said, patting him on the shoulder. "But whatever you decide, make sure to weigh the pros and cons carefully."
Though their tone was gentle, Su Feiyan felt as though a heavy stone had been placed on his chest.
Unpleasant Memories
Back in his room, Su Feiyan sat on the edge of his bed. Memories of a competition from years ago at the blind school suddenly resurfaced. It was his first—and only—group performance.
At the time, he was still in middle school. The school organized a group ensemble competition, and he was assigned to a four-person team. At first, he was full of excitement, dedicating a lot of time to practicing and even taking the initiative to communicate with his teammates to adjust their performance style.
But on the day of the competition, things went wrong. Midway through their performance, the student in charge of rhythm made a mistake, throwing off the entire ensemble. The judges' expressions turned sour, and the applause from the audience was sparse.
Afterward, the atmosphere in the waiting room was heavy. The boy who had once been his "best friend" was the first to break the silence.
"If it weren't for you messing up the timing, we wouldn't have fallen apart!" he accused, pointing at Su Feiyan with frustration in his voice.
Su Feiyan froze. He had practiced every note meticulously, but it seemed everyone assumed the "blind kid" was the weak link. The other teammates remained silent, neither defending him nor joining in.
After that day, his relationship with them grew distant. The boy who had once practiced and chatted with him became a shadow of the past.
Since then, Su Feiyan had never participated in any form of group competition. He even silently vowed never to collaborate with others again.
Inner Struggles
"But Song Ziheng's invitation…" Su Feiyan muttered, sitting on his bed, his fingers hovering over the laptop keys as his mind swirled in turmoil. He didn't dislike the idea of joining the competition; in fact, he felt a faint sense of excitement.
Yet, the words of Mr. Chen and his parents weighed heavily on him. He knew how critical senior year was. But this rare opportunity was also hard to ignore.
"What should I do…" Su Feiyan clenched his hands tightly, his heart a chaotic mess.
The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a faint glow on him, like a silent sigh.