This star just wants to learn.

"Comparing musical instruments?"

After making the call, Pu Tong reported the exchange to Wei Mingfeng, who was visibly taken aback when he heard about the content of the fourth round of the competition.

They had already conducted targeted research on the five players opposite them, so they were well aware of how terrifying Hattie's piano skills were.

However, this is precisely Pu Tong's weakness. In terms of songwriting and singing skills, Wei Mingfeng believes that this kid is no worse than anyone else, but when it comes to musical instruments...

It's not that he's belittling himself by praising others, but the gap is just too big. Pu Tong seems to only know how to play the guitar and piano. He can accompany singing, but he's really lacking in artistic exchange skills.

To ensure a smooth college entrance examination, this competition was scheduled for April, which is only two months away. It is clearly impossible to master the piano skills in such a short time.

The results of these four rounds of competition seem to be in...

Wei Mingfeng suppressed the urge to sigh. Although he had given up hope of winning, he certainly couldn't show this on the phone, otherwise it would further discourage Pu Tong.

We can't put any more pressure on this child. Even if the odds are slim, they should act calm and collected in front of Pu Tong. That's the best support they can give.

Even if we lose this game, the score is still 2-2, so it's not time to wallow in self-pity.

There's still room for error. In the end, playing Charlie will definitely be better than playing pop music, which is something Pu Tong is very good at. In the fourth round, he used his weakness to counter his opponent's strength. There was no other way.

"It's okay, just do your best."

Pu Tong nodded. He could roughly imagine how Uncle Wei felt at that moment. Seeing victory in sight only to be overtaken again, it was no wonder he felt terrible.

However, they didn't show it in order not to put pressure on him, and he didn't need to make it clear either. This kind of care was enough to be understood without being spoken of.

After hanging up the phone, Pu Tong was met with three pairs of serious eyes. Yu Wanwan and the other two stared at him intently, as if trying to figure out what he was up to.

Even if others don't understand him, don't the three of them understand him?

This kid rarely fights unprepared battles and is quite steady in his dealings with others. Just now on the phone, he seemed calm and collected during the instrument competition, and even specifically asked Hattie not to hold back, clearly indicating that he had already thought of a strategy to defend himself.

His initiative in challenging her certainly wasn't to give away points to his "old flame"; he must have known what he was doing.

"Tell me, what are you planning?"

Firstly, they were curious, and secondly, the three of them wanted to help as much as possible.

We're all old teammates, what's there to hide among ourselves?

"It's just a musical instrument, we're proficient in playing, singing and playing all kinds of instruments."

Seeing that Pu Tong was still silent, Iori Yukino volunteered directly: "We two will be in charge of playing the piano and singing, and Wanwan will be in charge of playing the wind instrument."

What you're referring to best is musical instruments...

"I don't have any specific plans, I'll just compete normally." Pu Tong became a little more serious. "But I'll need to train for two more months."

He did have ideas, but he still didn't have much of a chance of winning. That was world-class piano skill, top-tier skill. It wasn't something he could win easily.
"What are you planning to play, guitar or piano?"

Yu Wanwan took his hand in her hands as if to observe the feasibility of his playing.

In terms of proficiency, Pu Tong is more skilled at guitar, but it just feels incongruous to compare instruments based on who plays guitar...

The piano has a stronger artistic atmosphere, but choosing the same instrument as Hetty makes it easy to be outmatched.

Losing isn't terrible, but being crushed head-on on the same track is just too humiliating.

"Uh, guzheng."

"?"

Three faces were confused.

Yu Wanwan even doubted that she had heard correctly. The guzheng was indeed a musical instrument, but Pu Tong didn't know how to play it.

Having known him for so long, they had no idea he had this skill.

"Do you know how to do this?"

Lin Yuxi does know a thing or two; she often uses the guzheng to accompany her folk dances. You can't even get the hang of this without years of hard work, and Pu Tong doesn't seem like it either.

"No." Pu Tong genuinely didn't know how; he had never learned it before.

The three girls were even more confused upon hearing this. "You don't know how to play the guzheng? This thing is extremely difficult. Two months isn't even enough to get started, let alone compete in it."

It's over, Pu Tong has finally gone mad...

While his guitar and piano skills are decent, at least he actually knows them. But going all the way to the guzheng is really something else. Is he trying to get himself out of the game quickly enough?

"I can learn."

High emotional intelligence means changing "I don't know" to "I can learn".

"Excuse my bluntness," Lin Yuxi paused, "but what have you learned?"

For the well-mannered Lin Yuxi to say such a thing, it's clear that the other party was truly anxious. Among the people present, she was undoubtedly the most knowledgeable about the guzheng.

There were people in her grandmother's family of artists who studied the guzheng, and Lin Yuxi knew a few of them. Aunt Liu Mu, who helped Pu Tong adapt "The Butterfly Lovers," was one of them.

Those who learn the guzheng generally start from childhood, practicing for several years before they can achieve even a little success.

Pu Tong's current learning is far too hasty. This competition is no child's play; there is no room for carelessness.

Lin Yuxi's words may be rough, but they make a valid point. There are still two months left. You want to fly before you've even learned to run?

"Don't worry, I know the guzheng is very difficult."

Pu Tong wasn't stupid; he certainly understood that playing the guzheng required years of practice, but he wasn't blindly confident.

"It's too late to learn the guzheng in time, but what if I just learn to play a fixed piece?"

When it comes to musical instruments, the real challenge is to master one instrument so that you can apply it to everything. Learning a single piece is much simpler; you don't even need to understand it, you can just memorize it.

This kind of imitation, copying without understanding, is called "quick learning".

Normally, learning requires understanding both the "what" and the "why," but in extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are needed. With limited time, knowing only one song may not be the best solution.

The three women exchanged bewildered glances, somewhat shocked by Pu Tong's audacious idea. If they were to learn only one piece of music and one movement at a time, it might actually take two months...

However, there is a major premise: he already has an existing piece of music; otherwise, it would be too late to learn it on the spot.

Seeing Pu Tong's calm and composed expression, they quickly figured it out. No wonder he was so calm; he had something in reserve.

"You're good, kid. That makes things much easier."

Lin Yuxi breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that Pu Tong was still the same Pu Tong, and there was no need to worry about the creative aspects.

The Japanese girl, however, didn't quite grasp the point. Something still didn't make sense. Even if Pu Tong had a ready-made piece, wouldn't it be more convenient for him to play the piano?

Those who can play will pick it up faster than those who can't.

Yu Wanwan glanced at Pu Tong, and she knew perfectly well why he was going to such lengths instead of staying close by.

The reason is simple: to remain faithful to one's partner.

Pu Tong's purpose in participating in the competition was not entirely to win, but to use the competition as a window to showcase excellent culture.

The guzheng is a traditional cultural instrument, and it is perfectly appropriate for him to use it in instrumental competitions on a world-class stage.

Playing the piano and guitar was certainly easier for him, but Pu Tong still chose a more difficult, but more meaningful, path.

He still wants to compete using his own culture.

The piece Pu Tong chose was none other than "High Mountains and Flowing Water," one of the ten most famous Chinese musical pieces.

This used to be their school bell; I have a very deep impression of it.

The artistic merit of "High Mountains and Flowing Water" is self-evident, and the story of Bo Ya and Zi Qi adds a touch of romance, making its meaning even deeper.

He hoped his duel with Hattie wouldn't be tense, but rather a meeting of kindred spirits. (End of Chapter)