"What’s this story about? Is it written about Yilan?" The focus my sister wanted him to see was not how incredible ’Rebirth’ was, but the plot of ’Phoenix’.
Qiu Bai nodded, "Yes! Su Hai publicly said that ’Phoenix’ was written with Yilan as the protagonist. He said ’Rebirth’ was very optimistic about Yilan."
"Really?" Mr. Liu stood up excitedly, "Did ’Rebirth’ really say that?"
"Yes!" Qiu Bai nodded, "Su Huili may be crafty and cunning, but he does not talk nonsense." On the contrary, every word from Su Hai was very serious.
"If Yilan could really rise like the ’Phoenix,’ if only Yilan could really do it..." Mr. Liu’s face flushed with excitement as he paced back and forth in the living room. The moment he saw the script, he was already emotionally stirred.
Now, just thinking that his daughter might achieve what ’Phoenix’ had, he was willing to die right then and there.
"Don’t worry, big brother, I think this is good news. You won’t have to worry every day anymore. And now that ’Rebirth’ is creating momentum for Yilan, no one will dare look down on her in the future."
"Who is this ’Rebirth’ exactly? Does he know Yilan?"
"I don’t know! Su Hai has kept a tight seal on it; even our main troop has no clue."
"That Su Huili, he is truly devious." The more mysterious he is, the higher ’Rebirth’s’ value becomes. "Take this script upstairs for Yilan to see, hoping it will awaken something in her."
Upstairs, Liu Yilan sat in front of the piano wearing a black mask, her fingers swollen from non-stop playing, unable to lift anymore. Her expression was solemnly frightening, but her eyes remained bright.
As soon as Qiu Bai walked in, she saw her in that state.
To be honest, she had never given up on Yilan. Her niece had always been determined since she was young; hardship could never beat her. Her current state was being stuck in a rut, bogged down in tunnel vision.
Just give her some time, or an opportunity, and she could bounce back immediately.
Now, she was bringing that opportunity.
Slam! Qiu Bai placed the script in front of Liu Yilan, "Take a look, a surprise I brought you, the hottest stage play right now."
Liu Yilan snapped back to reality and nodded slowly at Qiu Bai, slowly flipping through the script page by page. The more she read, the brighter her eyes became, until her page-turning sped up so fast it was nearly a blur.
Slam! Liu Yilan closed the script, her eyes shut tight for about a minute before opening again. When she opened her eyes, they were shockingly bright, with flames of passion burning within.
"How about it? You are the ’Phoenix,’ and ’Phoenix’ is you. Do you still have a reason to give up on yourself?"
"No!" Liu Yilan shook her head firmly.
"I knew ’Phoenix’ would move you."
Liu Yilan shook her head, "No, it’s not the ’Phoenix’ that moved me, it was ’Rebirth.’
"Yes!" Liu Yilan slowly caressed the words ’Rebirth’ on the script. She finally understood why ’Blood Rose’ had chosen Wu Youli as the female lead. A newcomer taking on such an important role had actually caused quite a stir within the Song and Dance Troupe.
It was squashed only after Director Su handpicked her.
Now she understood, because ’Blood Rose’ was written especially for Wu Youli. Just as ’Phoenix’ was written for her, she used ’Phoenix’ to strengthen herself and to rise from the ashes anew. As for reaching those unimaginable heights in the future, she suddenly felt full of vigor.
Musician, artist, national hero... Why couldn’t Liu Yilan achieve that? If ’Phoenix’ could, then she surely could.
"Sheng Ning..." Liu Yilan murmured silently. To know such a soulmate in this lifetime, she had no more regrets.