Chapter Sixty-Four: Revolutionary Etude

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Oceanic Piano Paradise. The theme of our gathering will be revealed later; for now, please feel free to mingle,” announced a man in a snow-white tailcoat, standing on the deck with a microphone in hand, smiling at everyone. “At eight o’clock this evening, we will officially begin the event. I hope none of you will hide your talents—please, showcase your brilliance to the fullest!”

The crowd responded with enthusiastic applause.

Meanwhile, having satisfied their hunger and thirst, Zhang Chao and Liao Yuan returned to the deck to meet the assembled pianists one by one.

All around, scholars and artists held champagne flutes, clinking glasses with genteel laughter. Each was impeccably polite, smiling as if nothing in the world could disturb their composure.

Among them, a strikingly handsome boy of about twelve or thirteen, standing no taller than one meter sixty, drew particular attention. Surrounded by a group of young women teasing him, his face betrayed a hint of helplessness. But when he noticed Zhang Chao and Liao Yuan, his eyes sparkled and he shouted,

“Fatty Zhang, is this the Mr. Liao you mentioned?”

A ripple of excitement spread through the crowd. Many musicians who had heard of Liao Yuan turned to look at him.

“So, this is the newcomer who wrote ‘Journey Beyond the Western Regions’?”

“‘Journey Beyond the Western Regions’? Why haven’t I heard of it?”

“It’s a new piece, not yet officially released. Mr. Liao sold it for 1.43 million to be the theme for Zhang Yichi’s television drama.”

“I’ve only heard a few melodies played by someone in our circle—astonishing, really, but I haven’t heard the complete piece.”

“His real name is Liao Yuan? Wait, isn’t he the host from Donghai Radio?”

“The host from Donghai Radio? Oh! Xi Yun, Xi Yun!”

Someone called out the name Xi Yun, and soon enough, a woman appeared from the crowd, clad in a snow-white evening gown. Her figure was graceful, her waist slender as a willow. After greeting her friends, she asked with a smile,

“What’s the matter?”

“Is that man one of your station’s hosts?” a young woman asked, pointing at Liao Yuan.

Xi Yun turned to see Liao Yuan surrounded by curious onlookers, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

“Mr. Liao, it’s an honor to meet you. My name is Gao Feiliu, but you can just call me Feiliu,” the young boy said, running over to Liao Yuan, introducing himself with genuine excitement. “I’ve heard your composition—I love the chords you used in ‘Journey Beyond the Western Regions.’ They’re amazing! I can’t believe Fatty Zhang actually managed to invite you; we all thought he was exaggerating.”

Zhang Chao puffed up with pride. “Little Feiliu, when have I ever exaggerated? I always get things done, don’t I?”

“Feiliu?” Liao Yuan regarded the diminutive youth with a curious expression. “Are you a pianist?”

“Of course! I’m the president of the National Youth Piano Association!” Gao Feiliu declared, chest out with pride.

“Wow, our little Feiliu is so impressive!” the young socialites accompanying him giggled. “You must show us your talents later, Feiliu.”

Feiliu scowled playfully. “Hey, if you’re going to call my name, just use my name—why add the ‘little’?”

“Oh? Has our little Feiliu grown up? Let me have a closer look,” one teased, prompting laughter all around.

Many present had watched Feiliu grow up. Since the age of five, he had been lauded as a prodigy, conquering competition after competition with his parents’ support. By ten, he was performing overseas at concerts and events. Last year, he was interviewed by ‘Time’ and other magazines, making waves in the global music community as China’s ten-year-old piano genius.

Many predicted that once grown, Feiliu would become the resident pianist of the world’s five great concert halls.

But the young Feiliu harbored ambitions beyond his years. He aspired not only to be a pianist and performer but also a composer. Yet, despite his remarkable skill, perhaps due to his youth and limited life experience, his creative ability remained unremarkable.

For this reason, Feiliu had always admired pianists who could compose. He was, in fact, the first to challenge Zhang Chao to invite Liao Yuan.

Hearing Zhang Chao recount Feiliu’s achievements, Liao Yuan looked at the boy with warmth. He saw in Feiliu a reflection of himself. From an early age, Liao Yuan had also been hailed as a piano prodigy, and later as a genius pianist in his student days, earning every certificate available. Yet, because of his upbringing, his fame remained limited—his parents intentionally suppressed his exposure, intending to plan his musical career after adulthood. Fate, however, had other plans: Liao Yuan’s rebellious streak led him to choose his own path, filling out his college applications as he pleased, and after graduation, becoming a midnight radio host. This upended all his parents’ carefully laid plans.

Nevertheless, his parents, open-minded as they were, neither complained nor offered encouragement. In hindsight, this laissez-faire approach seemed to have failed.

“Mr. Liao, could you play ‘Journey Beyond the Western Regions’ for us later? We’re all looking forward to it!” someone in the crowd called out.

Feiliu eagerly added, “Brother Yuan, please?”

Liao Yuan accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, took a small sip, and nodded in agreement.

He genuinely liked this child—still innocent, yet with a maturity beyond his years. Looking at Feiliu, he felt as if he were seeing his younger self.

At that moment, the ship’s clock struck eight, and a timely chime echoed through the cruise ship.

Soon, the hundred or so guests formed a semicircle. At the center stood a brand-new grand piano, unmarked by any brand—a custom instrument, clearly.

The first to take the stage was a man in his thirties, sporting a neat mustache and lustrous short hair, untouched by the sea breeze.

Standing before the piano, he smiled. “I’ll go first and set the tone. Please don’t laugh at my humble performance,” he said.

The audience applauded warmly.

“That’s Yu Chengjiao, visiting professor at Donghai Conservatory of Music, a concert-level pianist,” Zhang Chao murmured to Liao Yuan. “He’s Lin Weiyin’s teacher.”

“Lin Weiyin?” Liao Yuan asked with some confusion.

“The one who won first prize at the Chopin International Piano Competition,” Zhang Chao explained.

As the applause faded, the piano began to sing.

It was as if a river crashed into a waterfall, the music cascading downward, stirring both grief and passion, yet inspiring all who listened.

Eyes lit up across the crowd.

Yu Chengjiao, true to his reputation as a visiting professor at Donghai, played without pause from the very first note. His left hand wove shadows of movement, while his right conjured chord after chord, leaving the audience in awe.

“The Revolutionary Etude in C minor? Impressive,” Liao Yuan said with admiration.