Chapter 52
Before attending the physics training, at the request of his teacher Li Zhiyuan, Lin Mian had to participate in a recently emerging piano competition held in Shanghai.
Lin Mian hadn't competed in China in a long time. As one of China's most prominent young pianists, competing in the youth division of a competition like this was undoubtedly a daunting task. For this very reason, if it weren't for Li Zhiyuan's request, Lin Mian wouldn't have participated in such a competition.
Li Zhiyuan asked Lin Mian to participate because he wanted to show off. No matter how much you hear, it is better to see it in person to know the difference.
Especially to let his childhood rival and current friend Qin Zhiping see that the son he had devotedly trained was completely insignificant compared to his disciple.
Just like how people once commented on him and Qin Zhiping, he was nothing compared to him.
He was the nightmare of his youth, so he wanted the next generation to continue this fate, but this time in a different position.
He could not match him, but his disciple would be far superior to his son, and that was enough.
Lin Mian didn't know what the teacher was thinking, but since it was a request from the teacher who had taken care of her so much, Lin Mian couldn't refuse.
But she didn't expect to meet an old friend here, but are they still friends? Lin Mian couldn't answer.
He looked thinner than before, with his cheeks becoming thinner and his cheekbones more noticeable, and his increasingly deep eyebrows seemed to indicate that he had not had an easy life growing up.
In fact, Qin Yumin's life was not very good.
Lin Mian's sudden departure that year made him calm down and start to reject people and things other than piano. He no longer had any desire for friendship.
Rather than letting your sincerity be trampled upon, it is better not to give it away.
In the first year after their separation, Qin Yumin hated Lin Mian, hated her for being so cruel, and hated himself for not letting her take him to heart.
In the second year after their separation, Qin Yumin began to miss Lin Mian. There had never been anyone like Lin Mian in his life. It was obvious that they could cooperate so well with each other, and it was obvious that she understood his piano music, and he also looked up to her.
In the third year of their separation, Qin Yumin began to reflect on herself. Was it because her original intention of making friends with Lin Mian was wrong that led to the current situation? Did she realize that his original intention was not pure?
It wasn't until that year that he heard the news about her that she returned to the stage and never gave up the piano.
It turned out that he was the one who was abandoned.
It turns out that he was the only one who was abandoned.
In the fourth year of their separation, in the new century, it seemed as if the world was renewed, but only he was left in the past.
The reluctance to be left behind made him focus more on practice. He wanted to let her see a completely different Qin Yumin, a Qin Yumin who would not be sad because of her leaving without saying goodbye.
Qin Yumin was thinking this, but in that hot summer, he learned that Lin Mian won the Group A championship of the ETLG International Youth Piano Competition. While he was still wandering around in domestic competitions, she had already gone abroad and embarked on a different track from him.
It is difficult to describe his mood when he heard the news. When he thought about it later, he still didn't know whether he felt more unwilling or happy.
Obviously she left him for a better path, but as the one who was abandoned, he would still be happy for her achievements.
Standing in a dark corner, secretly watching her, he understood her better than those people.
He knew her pain, envied her talent, and when they were friends he was proud to be her friend.
At the end of the fifth year of separation, he finally reunited with her.
When those bright eyes looked at him, he subconsciously lowered his head.
So stupid!
Why does he have to act like he did something wrong when the person who did it is right in front of him?
He once thought that when they met again, he would treat Lin Mian coldly to let her know that she was wrong, or loudly accuse her of her mistakes to let her know how much she hurt him.
But the reality was that he was neither indifferent nor blaming, he just lowered his head madly the first time he saw her.
Is he a fool?
Qin Yumin now wants to stab the villain, but he is actually stabbing himself.
"Qin Yumin?"
Five years have passed, but she still recognized him the first time she saw him. Does this mean that she has thought about him in her heart?
Seeing that the other party was silent, one of them just lowered his head even lower.
Lin Mian knew that this was Qin Yumin.
"haven't seen you for a long time."
This sentence seemed to anger Qin Yumin. He raised his head and looked at her, his eyes full of bloodshot.
When he learned yesterday that Lin Mian would also be participating in the competition today, he did not sleep well and spent the whole night thinking about what he should say when they met again.
"What qualifications do you have to say that? You must be very proud of me, right? People who have been abandoned need to muster up the courage to even stand in front of you, and yet you can just casually say 'long time no see'. Long time no see, do you still remember why it's been a long time no see?"
After saying these words almost in a roar, Qin Yumin froze in place.
How could he say such a thing? It would scare her, and make her feel even more confident that she was right to stay away from him.
At this moment, the warm feeling on his hand brought Qin Yumin back to his senses.
"I'm sorry, I did make mistakes before. It must have been hard because of my willfulness."
She was so close that the sunlight shone through the window next to her onto her profile, and even the hairs on her face were so clear, like some kind of warm yet unattainable dream.
It was more dreamy than any dream he had ever had, and even what she said seemed unreal, as if he was still in a dream.
She actually apologized to him? This is Lin Mian!
He knew very well how high her self-esteem was. Over the years, he had tried to understand why Lin Mian left without saying goodbye, and he could understand even more how strong her self-esteem was.
But a Lin Mian like this would look at him with an apologetic look on his face as he apologized, and the sincerity in his eyes could not be faked.
Qin Yumin's heart suddenly twitched, as if something had suddenly and tightly gripped it, and his breathing slowed down.
Where he couldn't see, Lin Mian became more mature.
What kind of experience made her grow up? He didn't know.
During those days of separation, he could only learn about her growth from the outside world; he was unable to witness her growth with his own eyes.
But now, her hand was on his, but he was able to hold it with his backhand, tightly wrapping her hand without leaving any gap, and then begging her not to leave without permission again.
But reality is not a dream after all, and Qin Yumin let go of Lin Mian's hand.
"You don't have to apologize. Ultimately, this is all my own fault."
He took a step forward to put some distance between them. He didn't want to hear her apology. He was afraid that he would cry in front of her, which would be too embarrassing.
Lin Mian lowered his eyes and looked at his empty hands.
In the past, her immature decisions would hurt others' hearts, but by the time she learned to say goodbye properly, it had been too long.
But every step she takes is a sign of growth. Just like there is no medicine for regret in the world, she will find ways to make up for the wrong things she has done. If the wound cannot be healed, then just wait for it to remain open. Why spend more time regretting it if it cannot be healed?
But before that, she will find a way to make it up to Qin Yumin.
Lin Mian knew that Qin Yumin had always been eager to compete with her again, and next year Qin Yumin would be promoted to a higher group.
She thought that he must be looking forward to competing with her again before being promoted to the next group.
She was grateful to Li Zhiyuan from the bottom of her heart at this moment. If it weren't for his request, perhaps they would have had more regrets.
Through the curtain, Lin Mian saw the lamp pouring all its light onto the dark grand piano, and Qin Yumin, wearing a suit, sitting in the halo.
Everything is just like when they first met, except that they have all grown up.
As his fingertips fell, it was like a thunderclap, carrying unquestionable authority and power, enough to infect everyone present.
The slender fingers have a control beyond their age, making each note fall accurately, and the power is freely regulated between accumulation and explosion.
But after the thunder, what was revealed was the youthful and innocent poetry.
Lin Mian's right hand unconsciously beat the rhythm at his side.
He has grown up well, but the direction he chose is not very good. When Qin Yumin was young, Qin Zhiping would let him fly, but now he is too cautious with Qin Yumin. He should let Qin Yumin go out and try his luck.
Qin Yumin can go out. Blindly protecting him will only waste his talent, and his talent is the most important part of who he is.
When the last key fell, Lin Mian, who was standing in the corner, broke the silence. Once, twice, crisp applause rang out.
His eyes instantly caught the figure in the corner.
Just like the first time he saw her, in the silence of the room, she was the bustling presence.
The breath that has not yet subsided is burning stronger and stronger.
Even though the distance between them was not very close, he could see the smile on the corner of her mouth, a smile of appreciation.
While he felt sorry for her growth, she was also happy for his growth.
At that moment, Qin Yumin thought, let it be, just forgive her. They were too young at that time, and he also did some wrong things.
He also wanted to be her friend, to make the withered flower of friendship sprout new buds and bloom again.
As he passed by her, he said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Come on, Lin Mian."
I want to see the Lin Mian who makes me feel ashamed, and I want to see the Lin Mian who shines so brightly on the stage that he no longer notices others.
Qin Yumin swallowed these words, and his clenched fists indicated his inner unrest.
After many years, he finally got to see Lin Mian playing the piano again and listen to the piano music that only existed above the dome.
His cherishment for her has never changed.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
