The students participating in the talent show all needed to go to the auditorium in advance to be orientated. The teachers briefed us on how we should go on stage, how to introduce ourselves, and even how to smile when facing the camera.

  It was only then that I realized that there would be a video recording made of the entire event. This made me even more nervous.

  4 pm.

  I stood in the magnificent auditorium and saw that the students had slowly entered the venue. The art teacher had put on light makeup for me. I wore the best dress I owned to go on stage.

  As the opening theme song, I was in charge of taking the lead. Just as the recital was about to begin, I heard someone calling my name. I turned around, only to find Su Qi waving at me from the first row. I immediately noticed the person standing next to him, looking at me silently.

  When Dongyu saw me, he straightened up and looked at me nervously. His eyes were filled with anticipation.

  Our eyes met briefly. Before I could say anything, the arts teacher pulled me over and said, “Xiachun, it’s your turn!”


  I nodded and hurried to the back of the stage. It wasn’t until the host announced my name that I realized what was going on. The teacher urged me on, and grabbed the last few seconds to instruct me. I knew he did it to help me relax and not be too nervous.

  When I stepped onto the stage, the rest of the hall was pitch black.

  Smack!

  The stage lights fell on me. In that instant, I was bathed in the blazing white glow. The entire world was barren.

  I became nervous and held the microphone in my hands, not knowing what to do. I looked around but couldn’t see anything.

  Finally, at the front of the stage, I saw him. He was silhouetted against the light. I couldn’t make out his face, but I knew it had to be him.

  “Greetings, everyone! I’m… I’m Yin Xiachun from Year 2 Class 1! I… I’m very honored to be on this stage… Next, I…”


  I guessed that the arts teacher who was watching from backstage must have been so angry that he beat his chest and stamped his feet. Then, he desperately lowered his voice and said, “Don’t be nervous! Don’t be nervous!”


  But I couldn’t hear or see anything.

  My heart was pounding so much that it was about to jump out of my throat!

  I pressed my hand against my chest. Finally, after calming down a little, I slowly said, “Hello, everyone. I’m Yin Xiachun from Year 2 Class 1. I’m very honored to be on this beautiful stage. Next, I’d like to present a piano piece ‘Autumn Whisper’.”


  Applause sounded out from below the stage.

  I turned around and gently held my chest where my heart was racing. I slowly walked to the grand piano. When I sat down, my fingers accidentally touched the piano keys. This was picked up by the microphone. The wrong notes presented a discordant sound.

  I frowned and suddenly took a deep breath. I gently stroked the piano keys again. I imagined Dongyu sitting beside me. And just like this, my nervous soul seemed to have found an out!

  My ten fingers moved and then the notes flowed smoothly from my fingertips.

  Unobstructed, soothing, harmonious.

  The playing technique for this piece was much more difficult than “Jiangnan”, but the advantage was that I had practiced this song for an entire year. With just a bit of polishing up, I was able to become proficient as if I was one with the instrument.

  At the end of the piece, I sat there in a daze for a long time. It wasn’t until the audience erupted into thunderous applause that I finally reacted. Behind me, the teacher excitedly urged, “Take a bow! Take a bow!”