The next time he saw Ai Qing was six years later in Vienna.
She walked down the red carpet with the aid of a cane, entering the Golden Hall that Huai Shi had once dreamed of. She stood by her piano, receiving the applause and admiration of the entire world.
Huai Shi and his teacher sat in the audience, witnessing the pinnacle moment of her life.
"Jealous?" the teacher sitting beside him asked. "If you hadn't given up back then, maybe you'd be the one standing up there now."
"To be honest, a little," Huai Shi nodded, then immediately shook his head, feigning indifference. "But that time has passed, hasn't it?"
"It's not too late to pick up the cello again," the teacher said. "It's fine even if you start from scratch. Coincidentally, I recently retired and have plenty of free time."
...I thought about it, and it's still quite difficult.
