The spotlight grew increasingly bright, casting a radiant glow on her tall and slender figure.
Without flamboyance, all attention naturally converged upon her.
As she took her seat, the world seemed to become her stage.
Her oversized blazer concealed her figure, and her dark mask flickered with a dim glow. With eyes closed, she played the harmonica, her slim white fingers under the spotlight shone like reflectors, dancing lightly and gracefully.
The deep blues harmonica, with its somber melody tinged with a slight tremor, intertwined with the bright piano notes.
"This is... ’Child,’" Tang Jingming muttered, looking at the person on stage, suddenly losing himself in thought.
The familiar tune flowed sorrowfully and plaintively.
"One step, two steps, staggering as I learn to walk
Four steps, five steps, striding forward
There’s always a pair of gentle hands
Guiding me towards tomorrow
The voice was languid, deep, and lingering.
The soft tone was indescribably tender, the voice filled with affection, leisurely expressing a child’s gratitude towards elders.
This was Tang Wu’s signature song, "Child."
At that time, Tang Wu, fighting to break free from her family’s control, argued with Tang Huai Zhang, and after being punished, fell unconscious and hung by a thread.
Later, Tang Huai Zhang relented.
After a cold war with her father for over half a year, Tang Wu released this song.
At eighteen, with this single, she scooped up achievements like Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best-Selling Album of the Year, and many others that most people could not achieve in a lifetime.
Tang Wu’s starting point was extraordinarily high, but she never rested on her laurels.
Because, these were all things she obtained in challenging her father’s love.
She had to make accomplishments to gain her family’s recognition and support.
"Child" brought tears to Tang Mama and Granny Tang and ultimately changed Tang Huai Zhang’s perspective.
"Child" was an early song of Tang Wu’s, yet its difficulty was no less than "Rest of Life" or "Sorrow Fish."
Many imitated it, and countless versions were adapted.
But nobody could capture Tang Wu’s essence.
Tang Wu was incomparable.
Yet, Tang Jingming, looking at the Senior Sister on stage, felt an overwhelming shock.
For a moment, he actually thought this Senior Sister resembled Tang Wu.
This illusion wasn’t the first.
But this time, it was far beyond anything before!
Granny Tang excitedly clutched Tang Jingming’s hand, exclaiming, "She sings so well, really well!"
Indeed, she sings so well.
Tang Jingming swallowed hard, looking at the Senior Sister on stage, slightly stunned.
I can brave this city on my own
The crisp, bright piano slowed its pace.
The voice, languid and protracted, slightly choked up, the vibrato making one’s heart melt.
It was filled with earnest emotion, identical to Tang Wu’s from back then.
Granny Tang held her grandson’s hand, once more shedding tears copiously.
Leave me in this moment
Close your eyes, let your child go far
I will come back in a better form, loving you—"
The mournful harmonica intertwined in the air, the ethereal musical lines weeping sorrowfully.
Old Lady Shi, watching the Senior Sister on stage, felt a lump in her throat, and touching her face, realized she was already in tears.
I write quite slowly, only able to finish a Chapter in an hour, and scenes take even longer. It took me over two hours to write this Chapter, and I’m still unsatisfied.
When I feel it, I will come back and edit.
I saw comments saying Shi Lingyan doesn’t truly love Tang Wu; why can Ye Tiao recognize her, but Shi Lingyan can’t?
Let’s ask, when Tang Wu appeared before Shi Lingyan, when did she ever not disguise herself deliberately?
To be honest, if Tang Wu hadn’t intended for Ye Tiao to discover her, with Ye Tiao’s wits, it truly would have been impossible to notice.
She’s even more foolish than Tang Jingming.
Tang Jingming: Hey, saying that, have you ever considered my feelings?