"For you, I spent half my savings, and traveled across the ocean to see you..."
The song reached the second verse.
The professional singers in the artist area all raised their hands, swaying to the rhythm.
The camera swept over Jiang Xiao'e on stage, still gentle and pitiable.
Zhou Qingshan, in the producer's area, opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. He had just thought Ting Yu had chosen a rather unremarkable story, but he hadn't expected Ting Yu to tell an ordinary story in such a simple style.
In fact, most hit songs told ordinary stories, because ordinariness made them relatable. Therefore, Zhou Qingshan truly admired the approach.
Jiang Qian took a deep breath and looked at Jiang Xiao'e performing on stage: "Perhaps it is precisely because of the existence of such foolish girls that love is so beautiful."
A girl's willingness to move to a strange city for love was already a very brave act.
Listening to this song, the people most touched were not women, but men.
After all, in this era where money reigns supreme and materialism prevails.
Meeting a girl willing to sacrifice for love was the dream of all men.
On stage, the performance continued.
"In a strange city,
In a familiar corner..."
The previously intense accompaniment suddenly softened slightly.
On stage, Jiang Xiao'e had already stood up.
She walked to the edge of the stage and stood there quietly.
As the chorus progressed with an emotional build-up, veins popped on her neck. Despite her effort, her voice remained gentle. Her control over the emotions could only be described as astonishing.
"In the midst of a sandstorm,
Watching you leave,
I am overcome with sorrow,
How I wish to escort you a thousand miles,
Until the end of the road,
To be with you for a lifetime..."
The final powerful delivery elicited cheers from the professional singers in the audience!
Then, the accompaniment gradually faded into silence.
It was as if a sense of release echoed within the song.
"How I wish to escort you a thousand miles,
Until the end of the road...
To be with you for a lifetime..."
As Jiang Xiao'e sang, she slowly squatted down.
She hugged herself like a wounded bird.
The final trembling note sent goosebumps down everyone's arms!
Based on this alone, it was evident that Jiang Xiao'e's stage presence and control surpassed that of many professional singers!
Listening to her sing felt like listening to a story being told, with excellent pacing and transitions!
The venue fell into a moment of silence.
"Amazing!!" someone exclaimed first.
"Xiao'e is awesome!" Gong Juren applauded wildly!
"Incredible!"
"Who dares to say she's not good with this singing?"
"Amazing!!"
A wave of cheers erupted from the audience!
The camera panned across the crowd and settled on Su Yu.
At that moment, Su Yu was looking at Jiang Xiao'e on stage with a gratified expression, giving her a thumbs-up.
...
Morita Yumi's eyes were already red.
She clutched the quilt tightly, repeating, "How I wish to escort you a thousand miles, until the end of the road, to be with you for a lifetime..."
Her Chinese was not good before. She had studied it briefly, and now, wanting to communicate with Ting Yu in Chinese, she had hired a teacher to teach her for a while.
This lyric struck a chord deep within her. A single glance at Ting Yu had ruined her life. Unfortunately, Ting Yu already had a fiancée, and she could only be an observer, unable to create any story with him.
"Heh, you're really serious about this Ting Yu?" her younger sister, Morita Yui, mocked. But inwardly, she was quite surprised.
After all, in her eyes, her sister had never been so invested in a man for so many years.
"Mind your own business!" Morita Yumi turned her body to the other side.
"I can't believe the former business prodigy has become like this for a man," Morita Yui got out of bed.
Then, she looked at her sister's fair and sensual back and continued with a cold smile, "No matter how infatuated you are with this Ting Yu, I need to remind you that we've contacted Jiang Nan for our trip to China. Jiang Nan is now a top screenwriter in China, and after the great success of 'Journey to the West,' he has gained considerable international recognition. With Jiang Nan's collaboration, we are at least guaranteed a top three spot in the September film festival."
Having said that, Morita Yui wore a smug smile.
Her sister wanted to collaborate with Ting Yu, which displeased Miyamoto Ze, the producer of their company, causing her to lose her managerial rights.
By choosing to collaborate with Jiang Nan, she faced no risk and would secure a top three finish at the film festival, earning praise from their father and solidifying her current position.
I, Morita Yui, am the true genius!
"Congratulations," Morita Yumi's heart sank upon hearing this, but she still stubbornly said.
Because she often paid attention to Ting Yu, she had some understanding of Jiang Nan. In her opinion, Jiang Nan and Ting Yu were good friends, often collaborating in the film and television industry.
She didn't know how capable Jiang Nan was, but she knew that if Ting Yu recognized him, Jiang Nan's talent must be outstanding.
Her younger sister finding Jiang Nan's help might truly allow her to secure a top three spot in the film festival.
With this ranking, their father would likely not return the position of Chairman of Nivi Entertainment to her.
"Heh, I hope you pull yourself together. I don't want to win too easily. If you really like Ting Yu, go all the way. As long as Ting Yu defeats Miyamoto Ze, and you gain Ting Yu's collaboration, you can still regain your father's favor." Morita Yui said.
She and her sister were not in a relationship of animosity. Although they competed, it was to showcase their self-worth. Their sisterly affection was always in their hearts.
Seeing that her sister still did not respond, she said no more.
"I'm leaving. Take care of yourself." Morita Yui said and then walked out of the bedroom.
After a long while.
Morita Yumi lay down again and leaned back on the headboard.
She looked at the program that had just finished playing on the projector, her eyes filled with a thoughtful expression.
"Ting Yu defeats Miyamoto Ze?" she murmured.
Was it possible?
Although she believed in Ting Yu in her heart, she understood Miyamoto Ze even better. While Miyamoto Ze did not have as much popularity as Ting Yu in the "King of Music" program, he was an absolute schemer who had been waiting for an opportunity. And now, because she had a good impression of Ting Yu, he felt displeased. Morita Yumi believed that Miyamoto Ze would definitely use his trump card to make a stunning debut during the episode where he competed with Ting Yu.
Although she wished for Ting Yu to win, it was because if he did, her father would not value Miyamoto Ze as much, allowing her to interact with Ting Yu and even collaborate with him.
In Morita Yumi's view, liking someone didn't necessarily mean obtaining them. If she could establish a collaborative relationship, she would be satisfied.
This way, at least she could communicate with Ting Yu and not be overlooked by him.
...