Qin Feng drove home.
On the way, "Coral Sea" was playing in his car.
He then sang along while driving.
His singing was truly heart-wrenching.
At this moment,
Qin Feng experienced another perverse aspect of this song.
It felt difficult just listening to it, but trying to sing it himself, he realized how incredibly hard it actually was!
The density of high notes was simply insane!
In that instant, his voice filled with emotion, carrying his deep admiration for the lead singer, Su Yu.
...
Returning home,
Qin Feng retrieved the key from under the doormat.
He unlocked the door.
Everything was gone.
It was as if she had never been there.
Qin Feng rushed into the bedroom and opened the nightstand drawer.
Seeing the box lying inside, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He picked up the box, his hands trembling, and opened it.
But then he froze.
"She didn't even leave this behind?"
Inside the box was supposed to be a matching "tongxin jie" (a type of love knot bracelet) they had sought at a temple during their travels, one for each of them. Now, both were missing.
"Did she lose it?"
Qin Feng frowned, a flicker of pain crossing his brow.
He rushed out of the house like a madman.
...
Qin Feng knew where Mo Xiaowen was.
A small mountain village.
That was the deep sea for her, his little fish.
The drive was only a few hours.
Qin Feng listened to "Coral Sea" the entire way.
Memories of his time with Mo Xiaowen replayed in his mind.
By the time he arrived at the small mountain village,
it was already past midnight.
Seeing the lights in a distant house, he finally felt relieved.
The mountain road was difficult, and Qin Feng stumbled.
He had never been so disheveled since childhood, but he paid no mind to it now.
As the door opened,
Mo Xiaowen's familiar face appeared before him.
Qin Feng could no longer hold back and hugged Mo Xiaowen tightly.
"Why did you come?"
Mo Xiaowen didn't resist, standing perfectly still.
"I don't want to be separated from you. If you're going to the bottom of the sea, I'll go with you!"
Qin Feng no longer cared.
At this moment, dreams were no longer important.
"You are a bird, you don't belong in the deep sea. Just as I accompanied you to the sky, I ultimately returned to the sea."
Mo Xiaowen shook her head with a bitter smile and pushed Qin Feng away.
She understood Qin Feng's feelings at that moment, just as she had thought she could let go of her world and be with Qin Feng when she made her decision.
Looking into Qin Feng's eyes, she reached out and wiped the dirt from his face, "Give up. We're not suitable for each other."
"I can't let go!" Qin Feng shook his head. Seeing the bracelet on her wrist, he paused, "You haven't let go either, have you?"
"My leaving doesn't mean I don't love you; it just means we are not suitable."
Mo Xiaowen tucked the bracelet into her sleeve and said softly.
Qin Feng stood there, stunned again.
That was right; they loved each other, they were just not suited.
The problem between them stemmed from their individual dreams; forcing themselves to abandon their dreams wouldn't bring them happiness.
"Where is my bracelet?" Qin Feng suddenly asked.
"What are you holding onto it for? It only brings more sorrow," Mo Xiaowen's gaze darted away.
"Give it to me." Qin Feng's tone was unyielding.
Mo Xiaowen was taken aback. In her memory, Qin Feng was a gentle, even timid person. This was the first time he had ever spoken so forcefully.
She took the bracelet out of her bag.
"Put it on me," Qin Feng continued.
Mo Xiaowen gritted her teeth, but ultimately slipped the bracelet onto his wrist.
"Wait for me. I'm already a top-tier artist now. If I release another song that reaches number one on the new song charts, I might be nominated for King of Singers. Then, I'll come back here to be a music teacher and teach with you."
Qin Feng raised his wrist with the red string, his eyes red, and smiled.
After speaking, he ignored the bewildered Mo Xiaowen.
Stepping into the moonlight, he ran off into the distance.
"The producer who can create number one hits, Ting Yu!"
He didn't look back, his steps more resolute than ever before.
...
Dormitory 408.
Everyone was there.
Zhou Tao's computer was playing Su Yu's latest song, "Coral Sea."
"Brother Yu, at this pace, number one on the new song charts is yours for sure."
He chuckled as he scrolled through the comments.
Zhao De, munching on sunflower seeds, added, "Our Brother Yu doesn't care about rankings. Rankings are illusory to the truly powerful."
Although Zhao De wasn't the sharpest, his admiration for Su Yu had reached a level of blind devotion.
He and Zhou Tao had initially been ordinary college students.
With just one song, "Father," Su Yu had turned them into a popular duo.
When Su Yu had proposed a fifty-fifty split in copyright royalties, they had voluntarily declined. Even though Zhao De was slow-witted, he had enough common sense.
Su Yu had helped them, and they were grateful. To ask for more money would have been grasping.
Even so, through commercial performances and other ventures, the two had become financially independent.
One song had directly granted them wealth freedom.
Who else could have achieved such a feat?
"No need to say it, my brother is naturally awesome."
As Su Yu's childhood friend, Zhang Yang's attitude towards him had never changed.
In his eyes, even if Su Yu became a music god, he was still the brother he had grown up playing with.
He and Su Yu were the kind of brothers who could confide in each other; they didn't need superficial courtesies.
"By the way, Zhang Yang, get ready. We're releasing a new song in a few days."
Facing everyone's praise, Su Yu put down his phone and smiled faintly.
"Holy crap!"
"Holy crap!"
"Holy crap, another song?"
A chorus of exclamations erupted from Dormitory 408.
It was enough to light up the corridor lights.
"That's right, I have a song that's perfect for Zhang Yang. If we can release it, the sooner the better."
Su Yu said with a smile.
Zhang Yang was his brother. He had become a huge internet celebrity with "Guest," but he hadn't fully broken into the industry.
Although he had many fans, Su Yu was not satisfied.
They had practically grown up together, wearing the same pants; even if Zhang Yang didn't say it, Su Yu would help him become a true singer.
At the very least, he would elevate him to an A-list position.
Once his singing improved, he could aim for King of Singers.
Because Su Yu knew that Zhang Yang wasn't as carefree as he appeared on the surface; he harbored a deep-seated worry that had affected him for ten years.
Perhaps only when he truly surpassed that person could he have the confidence to pursue his own path.
"Go, Zhang Yang! Our 'Slipper Brothers' still have quite a bit of momentum. We'll help promote your song."
"Brother Yu, what genre should Zhang Yang sing this time?"
Zhao De and Zhou Tao, although they had a vague guess, still asked curiously.
Zhang Yang's persona was that of a devoted admirer.
His song style was also love songs.
"A sad love song."
Su Yu said, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
The internet was full of rumors that he couldn't write love songs.
So, let these people see what a love song truly was.
Su Yu still had "Gentleman" and "The Light Chaser" in his hands.
"Gentleman" went without saying; it was for Zhang Yang. For him to become popular, he had to maintain his persona.
For anyone else, even a Heavenly King, if they wanted to sing it, without royalties, Su Yu wouldn't give it to them.
As for "The Light Chaser," that song was perfectly suited for Lin Yanyu.
Her vocal timbre and singing skills were more than capable of handling the song.
Therefore,
I'm sorry.
The top three spots on the new song charts this month,
they're all mine!
...