The ensemble's overall score started at 50. For each correct note Zi Qian and Xin Hui played, they each gained 2 points; for each wrong note, they lost 5 points. My part only involved controlling the ensemble's speed and didn't count towards the score.
"Maybe I was too fast. Let's try again; I'll slow down a bit," I said.
This time, Zi Qian hit the third note wrong.
"I'm really sorry. I just can't get the hang of this rhythmic stuff," Zi Qian said irritably.
"How about I trade with you? The first part is free for me, and then it's just repeating a few notes," Xin Hui walked over to Zi Qian, looked at the yangqin in front of him, and said, "I can't promise I'll play well. I know nothing about music; you could say I'm tone-deaf."
"Sigh! I'm the tone-deaf one! I hate and am worst at this kind of rhythmic stuff!" He shook his head and sighed. "Mine is actually also just repeating a few notes. Yours isn't much different."
Seeing his dejected look, I suggested, "Trade with me! My part is super simple—just wave the baton following the red light. You decide the speed and rhythm."
"Really?" Zi Qian's eyes lit up as he asked.
"Of course.You'll be the conductor; we'll follow your rhythm."
I handed him the conductor's baton, and we swapped positions.
I picked up the yangqin's stick. The yangqin's strings that needed to be played were indicated by red lights.
"I'm starting," Zi Qian said, looking at me.
I nodded.
I learned piano as a child, so I wasn't unfamiliar with the melody in the first part.
After completing the initial solo, the accompaniment began. I was still responsible for the main melody, with Xin Hui's xylophone providing the accompaniment. We tried our best to match the tempo conducted by Zi Qian, piecing together a piece dominated by the crisp sound of the yangqin, accompanied by the melodious tones of the xylophone.
After restarting three times, we finally completed the prelude on the fourth attempt.
For the next full ensemble section, the red lights stopped appearing on the yangqin strings. Was I not needed to play anymore? I looked at Han Han; she had also stopped playing her xylophone.
"Why aren't you two playing?" Zi Qian asked while conducting.
"The red light hasn't appeared on the xylophone;no need to play," Xin Hui said, turning to me. "What about you?"
"No red lights on the yangqin either..."I pointed to the electronic board on the wall. "Look, our overall ensemble score has already exceeded 80. We probably don't need to play anymore, right?"
I then called out to Zi Qian: "Zi Qian, wave faster. Let's get the NPCs to finish the ensemble quickly."
Zi Qian increased his speed, and we performed a strangely-paced version of Canon.
"Very good! Thank you for your help," an NPC who looked like a teacher said. "They're back. You can continue with your own tasks now."
Finally, the sound of a normal Canon ensemble reached our ears.
"Are you here to help Xin Qin find her things?" a female NPC with a doll-like voice handed me a piece of paper. "Please give this paper to Xin Qin. She dropped it here last time."
I took the paper. On it was written: 66bpm Ped (G# C# E) ×4.