Chapter 11
Life at the provincial No. 1 High School was like a slowly unfolding, exquisite scroll, each inch revealing a texture completely different from that of rural middle schools. The curriculum progressed at an astonishing pace; teachers only touched upon topics briefly, requiring more independent study. His classmates were either engrossed in their studies or engaged in lively conversation, most displaying a clear sense of planning for the future. Li Ming was like a sponge thrown into an ocean of knowledge, greedily absorbing it, while simultaneously feeling an invisible pressure. Here, the glory of his top scorer in the high school entrance exam was quickly diluted; everyone had once been a leader in their own area.
In the dormitory, the basic structure of the four-person group began to take shape. Liu Qiang was a loyal follower, with an inexplicable admiration for Li Ming; Zhao Zhen remained confident and outgoing, enthusiastically participating in various clubs and student council elections, occasionally engaging in lively discussions about his views on current affairs in the dormitory, but his gaze would always inadvertently sweep over Li Ming, with a hint of subtle comparison; Wang Hao, on the other hand, was completely immersed in his world of code and circuit boards, often staying up until the early hours of the morning, forming a contrasting scene with Li Ming's goal-oriented diligence.
Li Ming studied methodically, maintaining a stable, above-average level in his grades—neither outstanding nor lagging behind, deliberately preserving an inconspicuous mediocrity. He devoted more of his energy to observing the campus and even the entire city of Jinyang. He frequented computer malls, bookstores, and stationery stores around the school, paying attention to the topics students discussed and their spending habits, trying to find the fulcrum that could unlock his "first pot of gold." However, despite having many ideas, he always felt he lacked a crucial opportunity, or rather, a stage where he could safely and unsuspectingly demonstrate his "prophetic" abilities.
Just as he was feeling anxious, posters for the campus arts festival were plastered all over the bulletin boards.
This is the annual grand event of Jinyang No.1 High School, a large-scale event that even attracts external media and prominent alumni to come and observe. The campus is instantly filled with the sounds of rehearsals, music, and a unique pre-festival excitement.
Li Ming had no interest in this at first, until he saw that familiar name, so familiar it made his heart stop, in the most prominent position on the poster—the host and piano soloist: Li Ziqing.
Despite being mentally prepared, he still felt a momentary daze when the name entered his vision in such a concrete way. Fragments of memories from his past life surged up, sweet and bittersweet, ultimately coalescing into an indescribable complex emotion. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. This was not the time to indulge in personal feelings; this was an opportunity! An opportunity to get closer to her, and… perhaps even kill two birds with one stone, achieving the starting point of one of his plans!
On the night of the arts festival, the grand auditorium, which could hold a thousand people, was packed to capacity, brightly lit, and filled with the lively chatter of the crowd. Li Ming used his student ID to find a seat in the middle with a good view. He appeared calm, but his palms were slightly sweaty. His gaze almost never left the waiting area on the side of the stage.
When the program reached its halfway point, the announcer announced in a passionate voice, "Next, please enjoy the piano solo 'Chopin's Ballade No. 1,' performed by Li Ziqing from Class 3, Grade 11." The whole audience burst into enthusiastic applause, which seemed to be mixed with some particularly loud cheers from the boys.
The stage lights focused, and a spotlight shone on the black grand piano in the center of the stage.
Li Ziqing, dressed in a simple white knee-length dress, walked gracefully onto the stage. Her posture was upright, her neck long and slender, like an elegant white swan. Under the spotlight, her skin was almost translucent white, her features exquisite, and her demeanor clean and outstanding. She simply stood there, giving a slight bow, and captivated the entire audience.
"Wow, this is Li Ziqing? She's even prettier than the rumors say!"
"I heard her father is Li Yuanshan..."
"She's truly beautiful and talented..."
A low murmur arose from the surroundings. Zhao Zhen, sitting not far from Li Ming, was also watching intently, muttering to himself, "No wonder she's the richest man's daughter, that aura..."
Li Ming ignored the commotion around him; his entire focus was on that person. In his past life, he had met her during a work-study program at university. Back then, she was equally radiant, but lacked the naiveté and distance she possessed now. At this moment, Li Ziqing on the stage seemed like an unattainable star.
She sat down, adjusted her breathing, and her slender, fair fingers gently touched the black and white piano keys.
The first note flowed out, clear and pure. Immediately following, a series of smooth and emotionally charged phrases poured forth, the heroic tragedy and lyrical tenderness of Chopin's Ballades intertwining and colliding at her fingertips. Her playing technique was superb, but even more remarkable was her understanding of music far exceeding that of her peers, bringing out the essence of this highly challenging piece to its fullest extent.
The auditorium was completely silent; everyone was immersed in the beautiful music.
However, just as the music reached its most exciting and complex cadenza, a sudden change occurred!
"Zheng—!"
A sudden, jarring note rang out! Like exquisite silk being ripped apart!
The music stopped abruptly.
Li Ziqing's fingers froze in mid-air, her face turning deathly pale. She instinctively pressed a few more keys, but the resulting sound was filled with noticeable static and off-key pitch.
The piano is out of tune! And it happened at the most crucial moment!
The audience erupted in uproar.
"What happened?"
"You played it wrong?"
"It seems the piano is broken!"
"This is awkward..."
The teacher in charge of backstage rushed onto the stage, checking the piano, cold sweat beading on her forehead. The whispers from the audience grew louder, and the scene descended into awkwardness and chaos. Li Ziqing stood alone beside the piano, facing hundreds of gazes from the audience—some sympathetic, some doubtful, and some just watching the spectacle. She bit her lower lip tightly, trying to suppress her helplessness and embarrassment, but her slightly trembling shoulders betrayed her vulnerability.
Zhao Zhen sighed in regret, "What a pity! Why did it have to happen at this time..."
At the height of this chaos, Li Ming made his move.
Without the slightest hesitation, as if he had rehearsed it countless times, he quickly stood up, squeezed through the gaps between the seats, and strode towards the side of the stage. His movements were calm and decisive, a stark contrast to the panicked crowd around him.
“Teacher,” he walked up to the anxious teacher in charge, his voice not loud but clear, “I have a high-quality electronic accompaniment tape of Chopin’s Ballade No. 1. It’s a high-quality MP3 ripped from a CD. It can be played on a sound system and should be enough for an emergency.”
As he spoke, he pulled an ordinary, even somewhat old, silver-white USB drive from his pocket and handed it over.
The teacher turned around abruptly, staring at the unfamiliar student before him—a student with a calm face but unusually determined eyes—and paused, stunned. "You…who are you? This…"
“Class 7, Grade 1, Li Ming.” Li Ming spoke steadily, “The accompaniment tape is what I usually listen to when I practice. The sound quality is very good and the rhythm is accurate.”
Time was of the essence, and there was no time to think. The teacher in charge, looking into Li Ming's unwavering eyes and glancing at the isolated and helpless Li Ziqing on the stage, grabbed the USB drive: "Quick! Take it to the control panel!"
The students at the control panel hurriedly took the USB drive and plugged it into the computer. After a few rapid mouse clicks, the melodious and precise piano accompaniment of the "First Ballade" flowed out through the auditorium's top-notch sound system, instantly filling the silence on the stage!
On stage, Li Ziqing looked in astonishment toward the side stage, her gaze meeting for a fleeting moment with Li Ming, who was about to retreat to his seat. Seeing his calm, unwavering eyes and the composed manner with which he handed over the USB drive, the panic in her heart strangely subsided somewhat.
She took a deep breath and said softly into the microphone, "I'm sorry, there's a small problem with the equipment. Next, I will use the backing track to complete this piece for everyone."
She adjusted her mindset and returned to playing. Although it was no longer a pure piano solo, the high-quality accompaniment made her performance still very captivating, and the little incident even added a touch of composure under pressure.
The performance concluded successfully.
The applause, like a belated tide, was enthusiastic and long-lasting, louder than ever before. This applause was for Li Ziqing's talent and composure, and also for the unexpected turn of events that had averted disaster.
Li Ming silently returned to his seat, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him. Zhao Zhen leaned over and slapped him hard, his face full of disbelief: "Wow, Li Ming! You've been hiding your talent! How did you happen to have the accompaniment for that piece of music? And you even carried a USB drive with you?"
Li Ming smiled and replied dismissively, "It's just a coincidence. I just like listening to it."
His gaze, however, passed through the crowd and landed behind the stage. He knew this was no coincidence. It was a small but crucial "investment" he had made, based on his vague memories from his past life (he vaguely remembered her mentioning the minor mishap at this arts festival) and his precise grasp of opportunities in this life.
The party ended, and the crowd thronged. Li Ming followed the crowd out, and just as he stepped out of the auditorium, a clear, slightly urgent voice rang out behind him:
"Excuse me! Wait a minute!"
Li Ming paused, then slowly turned around.
Li Ziqing changed out of her performance costume, wearing a light blue sweater and jeans. Standing on the steps, slightly out of breath, she had clearly rushed out. The evening breeze ruffled her hair, and the lamplight cast a soft glow on her face. Her clear, bright eyes were fixed on him, filled with curiosity, gratitude, and a sense of inquiry.
She walked quickly to him, looked up at him, and said with a hint of uncertainty in her voice, "Thank you... for earlier. You are... Li Ming, right?"
"Hmm." Li Ming nodded, his heart pounding in his chest, but his face remained calm.
Li Ziqing looked at him, as if trying to find something on his face: "How could you... so coincidentally, have the accompaniment for that piece of music with you?"
Her question was exactly the same as Zhao Zhen's, but the inquiry in her eyes was much deeper.
Li Ming had already prepared an answer to this question, but at this moment, looking at her so close and so vivid, the overlapping memories of his past and present lives made his throat tighten.
How should he explain this "coincidence"? What kind of inevitability is hidden behind this seemingly accidental encounter?
The night was gentle, the lights were dim, and the two stood at the entrance of the hall where the noise had subsided. It seemed that from this moment on, the gears of fate began to mesh anew.
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