Trapped in the sunset

"Wei Young, Wei Young, what do you think of this?"

Wei Young looked up at the blonde girl who was holding a sterling silver necklace and staring at her expectantly.She blinked her eyes, and the hand holding the spoon stopped moving: "How about something?" She asked puzzled, her eyes flicked to the fruit sponge cake in her left hand.

It's dinnertime the day before the finals.Ever since Anne Wiens successfully "talked up" her "idol", this cheerful and optimistic girl who sometimes lacks a muscle will run to Weiyang's practice room every day during the daily break A small diner next to the college for dinner.Although the girl said with great enthusiasm that she wanted to invite Wei Young to dinner every time, in fact, the only meal that made her succeed was the first meeting.

For such "interruption", Wei Young is not disgusted.Because even if Annie goes offline again, she always considerately confirms that she didn't disrupt Wei Young's schedule before taking any action.

"It's this necklace! The teacher gave it to me this morning and said it would be very suitable for my dress tomorrow. How, how?" Not paying attention to the grilled steak she hardly touched, Annie asked Wei Young tirelessly Views.

—like a kid who gets a present at Christmas and can't help but run to the kid next door to brag about it. . .

Wei Young smiled helplessly: "The design is beautiful. Your teacher is really caring."

Hearing her friend's gentle response and seeing her good-natured smile, Annie couldn't help sighing: "Wei Young, you are really gentle."

"Ah?" The sudden comment made Wei Young, who was about to eat again, stop again.Wei Yang frowned slightly: "Why do you say that?"

gentle?can you?

Wei Young thought for a while, but couldn't think of the basis and origin of Annie's words.

She admits that she is not a person who will get angry casually, and she can be said to be very easy-going in terms of personality, and she will generally not refuse even as long as the request is innocuous. . .But tenderness?

"It's very gentle." Annie looked at the black-haired oriental girl who was lost in thought and showed doubts and a hint of veto, and repeated seriously.It was only at this moment that Anne revealed the behavior she should have at her age.

In fact, although it was the first time she met Haiyinsi Weiyang a few days ago, Annie noticed this girl full of musical talents a few years ago.The first chair of the St. Paul College Symphony Orchestra in the United States, and the chief violinist with superb violin skills.At that time, she was traveling with her family and got separated from her parents during an "expedition".The footsteps of the desolate target brought her to the gate of a school.

She still remembered the disbelief that surged in her heart when she saw the school's name clearly—that famous music academy was found by her by mistake?

Driven by curiosity, she left her name in the guard room and stepped into the strange campus without hesitation.

What she saw along the way made her feel envious—why is his school so advanced, but hers is so backward?

—apparently she forgot that the school she went to was one of the most prestigious in America.

——However, she also forgot that the school she attended was not a music school.So it is impossible for the grand piano she was staring at at that time to appear in her "backward" school.

Due to time constraints, she had to speed up her pace, hoping that she could visit the entire school within two hours.In general, she was dissatisfied with her fleeting "visit" afterwards.

She first learned of the existence of Haiyin Temple Weiyang in an auditorium.

At that time, the girl in front of me was just a twelve or thirteen-year-old child.

- is a very cute child.

That was Anne's first impression.For Westerners who are relatively precocious in physics, Easterners are still children even at the age of 20.

——Who told them to look so immature?

Annie shrugged innocently.

The girl was holding a violin and standing in the middle of the stage. Although she was very serious, she couldn't hide the smile from the corner of her mouth.

——She really likes music.

Then, from the first sound the girl uttered, Anne seemed to be frozen in place, unable to move half a step.

Soft timbre, more playing skills, delicate melody. . .She took the meaning of the piece to the limit.

Can one person's music be so shocking?

Annie put one hand on her chest, feeling the beating of her heart.

Although they did not meet face to face, the throbbing that Anne felt at that moment stayed with her for a long time.She fell in love with the piano, which she had almost grown tired of, and in performing in front of crowds—just to see the happy, deeply moved faces on their faces.

So when she inadvertently caught a glimpse of the girl standing alone in the corner on the opening day of the game, she was taken aback and more than pleasantly surprised.

After her own performance in the second round of qualifiers, she slipped into the auditorium and waited for the NO.15 girl's performance.On that day, the girl's piano sound overlapped with the violin sound she remembered.

The same enthusiasm, the same full of contagion.

After the semi-finals, she really couldn't help but want to meet this girl named Wei Young.

After getting acquainted with the girl as she wished, she found that Wei Young is a person who talks very little, and the girl prefers to be a listener rather than talk.Being by her side always calms people down.

Annie looked at the girl who was wiping her mouth with a smile: "Wei Young, let's work hard for tomorrow's game."

The girl put down the tissue and nodded lightly: "Yes. Let's do our best together."

. . .

The ten remaining contestants will all have to play two pieces on the final day.One is a designated song set by the organizing authority, and the other is a free choice.However, for some reason, all the contestants have tacitly chosen the song they played in the first video qualifier.

So naturally, the piece that Wei Young submitted was Liszt's "The Bell".

As for the specified song——

Bach's "Partita II, BWV826".

It's a tune that many people are familiar with.

Because of this, the pressure on the performers is not so great.It's not easy to play a song that everyone knows until it matches their memory, or even exceeds that.

Furthermore, although the members of the jury are very concerned about the fairness of this competition, they are human after all.And after people listen to the same song over and over again, it is inevitable that they will get bored.Under this condition, the top two players in the order of appearance have advantages that other contestants behind do not have.

Wei Young's current order of appearance is fourth, ahead.

I thought I would feel nervous before going on stage, but unexpectedly found that I couldn't feel anything but a steady heartbeat.

——It's incredible.

Standing in front of the audience for the third and last time, Wei Young looked around the large and magnificent concert hall deeply after bowing, and lowered her head.

——No matter what ranking she gets later, she doesn't mind anymore.

. . .

Annie, who was looking out from the backstage, stared at the figure on the stage, and suddenly thought, even if she really lost to her, she would still be convinced.

She played Bach almost perfectly.Annie held her breath unconsciously, waiting for the girl's last song.

The quiet, ethereal sound of the piano filled the hall after a moment's pause. It was obviously the same piano, but she played different timbres and tastes.

Like the notes of bells spreading to all corners, the further you go to the back, the more intense resonance with the girl's music in your chest.

Then Annie saw it.

The stream of tears that ran down the girl's cheeks before she stood up, and her upturned lips.

. . .

what. . .

it is finally over.

. . .

Wei Young returned to her room in a daze.

The results of the final will be announced in one hour, until then, all people can move freely.

All she wants now is a good night's sleep.As if a major task had been done, she wanted to rest.The tense nerves were completely relaxed at this moment, and the tiredness accumulated for a month broke out instantly.

. . .

"At the same time, Japan, Kyoto, Akashi's mansion"

Akashi Seijuro supported his chin with one hand, and sat by the French window in his room with one foot slightly bent.The snow in the courtyard reflected the morning sun, dazzlingly white.However, the red-haired boy kept staring out the window as if he didn't notice.

Directly in front of where he sat was a brand new forty-inch high-definition plasma television.

The strange thing is that apart from the uninterrupted English commentary on the screen, the scenes captured by the camera are empty.The upper left corner of the screen is marked with "live broadcast" in small words, and occasionally a few different scenes are interspersed.

And the people in the few pictures of people are almost all white people-mostly Europeans.

On the empty stage stood a lonely grand piano.

It's obviously not a special program, and it would never be switched to this channel in normal times, but today's Akashi has no intention of changing the channel at all.

"It's been a month."

It's been a month.

Akashi's strange eyes flashed some emotions that only he knew.After he said the first sentence of the day, he pursed his lips tightly and stopped speaking.

He just sat there, motionless like a stone statue.

It wasn't until there was a new development in the TV program that he slowly looked away.

. . .

"UK, London, International Music Competition Result Announcement"

Wei Young was wearing the crimson tube top dress she wore when she was on stage, standing quietly beside Annie.

A look of nervousness or confidence appeared on the faces of the other contestants, Wei Young lowered her eyes, clenched her fists lightly and then released them immediately.

The host's cookie-cutter speech passed away in an atmosphere full of urgency.

"Now, I will announce the ranking of this year's international music competition, and the top three winners. This time, we are honored to meet so many talented musicians. To be honest, this makes the judges It's a headache."

Everyone smiled knowingly.

The host slowly opened the envelope, pulled out the paper inside, quickly glanced at the results and cleared his throat——

"Then let's start with the last one to announce. No.10, Hannah Ariel—" He paused here, signaling the people whose names were announced to come forward to receive the certificate.

Annie squeezed her hands tightly: "Weiyang, I'm so nervous." She quietly said to the girl beside her who seemed too calm.

Wei Young slightly turned her face away, and smiled reassuringly: "Don't worry, Annie. You performed very well today."

"But--"

Wei Young interrupted what she wanted to say next: "You've tried your best, haven't you?"

Annie's dark blue eyes stared fixedly at those firm silver-gray pupils, and finally she showed a relieved smile: "Yes. I have tried my best."

——So grades are not important, right?

"—No.6, Antonette Martin—No.5, Nana Rosen—No.4, Anne Wiens—"

Annie's eyes widened, and she walked over in surprise.Wei Young applauded silently, sending her blessings from the bottom of her heart.

"Next are the winners of this contest. No.3, Amy Laurent——No.2, Weiyang Haiyin Temple!"

. . .

"Japan, Kyoto, Akashi Mansion"

A slender finger pressed the red button on the remote control, and the room suddenly became deserted.

—Second?

He took out his phone expressionlessly, stared at the screen for a long time, and then decisively left the room.

The author has something to say: This is the last chapter of the competition! ! ! (⌒▽⌒)

how is it going?Akashi finally showed up!I miss him so much~~~

The ending is a bit unsatisfying. . .Will try to improve in the next chapter!