Chapter 232

His applause woke everyone up.

More and more people stood up, offering the most enthusiastic applause of the day.

A masterpiece of art! This is truly a masterpiece of art!

To have heard this piece today is truly to die without regrets!

Huh? Why did I say "die"?

Onstage, Su Meng shook his head slightly in regret.

Today's performance was indoors; I must say, the concert hall's soundproofing is excellent!

If this were outdoors, and a hundred birds came dancing through the air, that would be truly spectacular!

But then again, if that many birds showed up, wouldn't the cleaning lady fly into a rage from all the bird droppings?

For a moment, Su Meng's thoughts had already wandered off somewhere else.

……

Xiao Ying ran onto the stage, her eyes filled with admiration.

"Teacher Su, you're truly incredible!"

"Could you introduce us to this piece, 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix'?"

Su Meng chuckled and took the microphone in hand.

"'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' is a suona solo with three movements; I'm sure everyone has noticed."

"The first movement, 'Phoenix Dying,' depicts the phoenix nearing death, with a hundred birds coming to mourn—it's played at funerals."

"The second movement, 'Nirvana,' shows the phoenix reborn from fire, with a hundred birds celebrating—it's played for a baby's full-moon ceremony."

"The third movement, 'Harmonious Song,' portrays the phoenix about to take flight, with a hundred birds paying homage—it's played at weddings."

"So this one piece can accompany a person's entire life, from birth to death."

"This is the legendary… one suona, one lifetime."

In the venue and livestream, countless people suddenly felt uneasy.

So does this mean I'm stuck with this one suona for my whole life?

Xiao Ying tilted her head, thinking, a little embarrassed.

"Teacher Su, I only heard the phoenix as king and the hundred birds singing—I never thought that far."

Su Meng smiled, his tone now tinged with gentle teasing.

"It's normal you're too young to fully understand."

"There's an old saying: First hearing, you don't know the suona's meaning; second hearing, you're already in the coffin."

What?

In the venue and livestream, silence fell, dead and absolute.

First hearing, you don't know the suona's meaning; second hearing, you're already in the coffin?

Then I just now… I think I actually understood…

Amid the silence, Su Meng slowly raised the suona in his hand.

"Now, I'd like to ask everyone a question!"

"Who still thinks the suona… is crude?"

"Who still thinks folk music… is crude?"