readsfreenovel Chapter 215 Breaking Free from the Cocoon and Becoming a Butterfly
Chapter 215 Breaking Free from the Cocoon and Becoming a Butterfly
Click.
Han Dong gently closed his laptop, his gaze shifting from the remaining celebratory headlines on the screen to the misty view outside the window.
The sticky heat of summer has been gradually smoothed out by the passing years, replaced by the gentle drizzle of late autumn.
Raindrops pattered against the floor-to-ceiling windows, leaving winding streaks that spread out in concentric circles following the warm glow of the distant streetlights.
In the center of the desk, a newly burned CD lies quietly.
On the pure white cover, a line of neat handwriting reads:
[Han Dong Private Session Vol. 4]
In an era where network transmission takes only a fraction of a second, she stubbornly chose this oldest method of mailing.
Although Su Hao casually mentioned "everything is fine" in his few messages on the chat software, in Han Dong's eyes, that guy was a complete research fanatic.
She recorded this piece after staying up several nights in a row.
If we use the most expensive international express courier service, it should take at most three days to cross half the globe and reach that blockhead whose mind is filled with nothing but algorithms.
"...I wonder if he's doing well over there?"
Even if this piece of wood is sick, it will definitely grit its teeth and endure it without making a sound.
It makes you want to fly over and pry open his skull to see how his brain circuits are structured.
She sighed, turned around and sat on the piano bench, her fingers slowly pressing the keys.
"Thump—"
The low notes of the D chord, like the deep-sea whale's cry, are muffled and heavy, echoing layer upon layer in the empty room.
The music seemed to possess a magical power that struck straight to the soul, instantly tearing open a wound in her memory and reminding her of those trivial yet shining moments she had shared with Su Hao not long ago.
Han Dong has been acting like he's in a berserk state lately.
To fill a certain inexplicable void in her heart, she transformed into a ruthless "trophy harvester," frequently shuttling between top piano competitions at home and abroad.
Beijing Grand Theatre, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in Singapore, Suntory Hall in Tokyo…
She lifted her skirt, stepped into high heels, and walked step by step onto these top stages, big and small.
Then, like autumn winds sweeping away fallen leaves, they swept all the championship trophies in an absolutely crushing manner!
Initially, this almost self-destructive frequency of competition was simply her way of venting the anxiety she felt as that figure receded further and further into the distance.
But as the number of performances accumulated, and new calluses formed on the fingertips and then faded away.
Han Dong suddenly realized that the sound of his piano playing had changed.
Those pieces that once only pursued the ultimate in technique have begun to have textures as delicate as silk.
Each note is no longer a cold, physical strike, but is infused with an unprecedented and unfathomable emotional weight.
Only at this moment, in the lingering echo of the D chord, did she truly believe:
I have finally shed the naive cloak of an "excellent student," emerged from my cocoon, and stepped into the realm of a true "musician"!
That distant figure has now become a guiding light deep within her heart, capable of tearing through the endless darkness and illuminating her path forward.
Even now, Han Dong, in the most mundane daily fingering practice...
They can also effortlessly weave that full, passionate emotion into every note, as if taking a leisurely stroll.
……
A few days later, during a piano lesson.
In the empty music room, the piece came to an end.
Her internationally renowned classical music teacher, Lin Shanhua, did not immediately offer technical feedback as usual...
Instead, he gazed at her intently with a complex, indescribable look, a gentle gaze tinged with a hint of amazement.
"Han Dong..." Lin Shanhua suddenly spoke.
"Julia School of Music is indeed an excellent choice, but..."
Given your current situation, why don't you consider applying to the Curtis Institute of Music?
Han Dong's fingers, which were hovering in mid-air, ready to turn the page, suddenly stopped.
Curtis Institute of Music?
Upon hearing this name, even Han Dong, who has now swept across the Asian arena, couldn't help but gasp.
It was a true "monster containment facility," a tiny elite institution with only about 150 students and faculty members.
Each year, they only admit about thirty new students from tens of thousands of exceptionally talented individuals worldwide.
What if we further break down this quota into just piano majors?
The number of students admitted each year can probably be counted on one hand.
Sometimes, the judges even feel that no genius has emerged that year, and they would rather leave the position vacant than settle for less.
It's no exaggeration to say that calling it the world's most selective, fiercely competitive music institution, one that specifically crushes the confidence of ordinary people, is an understatement.
"Teacher, why did you suddenly bring this up?" Han Dong swallowed, looking completely bewildered.
"When I set my goal to go to Julia, you clearly said it was the safest and most agreeable option at the time, didn't you?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Shanhua's lips curled into a gentle smile with a hint of relief.
"Because at that time, although your skills were dazzling, your soul was too thin."
You haven't yet shown the ability to use music to open Curtis's heavy door.
But now, you have it.
A ripple of emotion swept through Han Dong's heart; she had to admit that her teacher had a sharp eye.
"I remember... Professor, you graduated from Curtis, didn't you?"
Lin Shanhua is one of the few internationally renowned pianists in China who can play the leading role in top European concert halls.
Han Dong had previously read countless interviews with him, and almost every one of them highlighted his time studying at Curtis Institute in great detail.
"yes."
Lin Shanhua sighed softly, as if lost in distant memories. A faint sorrow and an undisguised pride surfaced in his deep eyes.
"That place... was the cruelest, most cold-blooded, and most existentially terrifying place I've ever been in my life, a place where I questioned the meaning of life every single day..."
But it was also the most brilliant and peak period of my life.
The old man's gaze returned to Han Dong's young hands.
"Dongdong, to be honest, your playing technique is already impeccable."
But that school had no shortage of skill geniuses.
They value the core; you have to bring out your emotions and put them on the piano keys.
Only by playing music that truly resonates with their soul can they earn the approval of those discerning old monsters.
Han Dong took a deep breath: "Do you think I'm qualified to knock on that door right now?"
Lin Shanhua didn't speak, but looked into her eyes and nodded firmly and slowly.
The Curtis Institute of Music is located in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is just a stone's throw from New York.
It's not far from that figure in Boston.
"Okay, I'll give it a try." Han Dong's eyes instantly became incredibly determined.
"I will do my best to give myself the best explanation."
She knew all too well that if she just stayed in this comfortable circle and stagnated...
That figure who once commanded respect in academia is destined to become a star in the heavens, fading further and further from her sight until it is completely out of sight.
Now that Su Hao, far away in a foreign land, has begun to frantically explore his own world on that unfamiliar continent.
Han Dong also desperately longed to complete the most painful transformation on this musical path, to finally emerge as someone who could stand tall and proud alongside him!