Chapter 60: This Night Belongs to Zhang Liangying
“This song has so much power!”
“Is someone crying?”
“I want to call my dad right now, but I don’t know what to say. I just argued with him yesterday about blind dates.”
“One song, 《 Farewell 》, one song, 《 Father’s Prose Poem 》, made me cry buckets. I haven’t cried like this in years.”
“My boyfriend was watching the competition with me, and now he’s gone to the bathroom, probably to cry in secret. He hasn’t been back to his hometown in Shaanxi for Chinese New Year in two years.”
“……”
People were discussing it all over the country.
Because every family that strives to live has a father who silently writes his own unique prose poem.
The Tieba forums and QQ groups were flooded.
Fans with computers at home just wanted to share their feelings immediately and vent the emotions pent up in their hearts.
【Zhang Liangying Bar】 and 【Super Girl Bar】 already had dozens of new posts about Liangying, each one praising the two songs she sang tonight.
【Sealed God! 】
【Zhang Liangying is the only god of this Super Girl season! 】
【Tonight’s two songs are enough to be remembered for a hundred years. 】
【Even my father cried listening to it. He must be thinking of his own father. 】
【I hate Zhang Liangying. She made me cry all night. 】
Besides the lively venting online…
In reality, more people were silently contemplative.
Most Chinese people are reserved and not good at expressing emotions, but their inner thoughts are richer than any other nationality.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to write such a vast ocean of poetry.
And for the few who are good at expressing emotions, their homes were lively – some daughters hugged their fathers and cried, some sons locked themselves in their rooms to study intensely, while their mothers sat nearby, shedding tears and smiling.
As for the children who had minor disagreements with their fathers, they now said what they couldn’t say before: “Dad, I won’t make you angry anymore.”
As for whether they would rebel again in the future?
That remains to be seen.
But at this moment, their feelings were conveyed.
The old fathers were very gratified.
……
Mahjong parlor.
Zhang Guiying was sobbing uncontrollably and fainted twice.
Her neighbors helped her sit on the sofa and stayed with her, gently stroking her back. “Guiying, you must take care of yourself. Liangying is your only family.”
Zhang Guiying cried, “Liangying, I didn’t take good care of you these past few years, and I’m sorry to your father…”
Hearing her say this, the dozen or so people in the room had red eyes.
“Yingzi, you did a great job.”
“Liangying is very outstanding now.”
“Yes, you took great care of Liangying. Old Zhang would be happy to know.”
“Guiying, don’t be sad. Things will get better.”
“When Liangying wins the national championship of Super Girl, Old Zhang will be especially happy.”
“With such an outstanding daughter, he’ll be able to brag everywhere in heaven.”
“……”
On the other side.
Zhang Liangying had already wiped away her tears. She didn’t know her mother was watching the live broadcast at the mahjong parlor and felt a little relieved that her mother wasn’t watching.
If she had watched, she would have been overcome with emotion.
At this moment.
Liangfen fans kept shouting Zhang Liangying’s name.
“Liangying, don’t cry, be strong.”
“Go, Liangying!”
“Your dad will definitely hear the songs you sing!”
Meanwhile.
The three judges began their critiques.
They unanimously gave high scores, and unprecedented evaluations.
He Jiong: “This is, by far, the song with the best lyrics I have ever heard, period.”
Xia Qing: “Tonight, you are a music poet!”
Hei Nan: “If I gave 《 Farewell 》 95 points, then for this song, I must give you 195 points. I truly love it.”
At this moment.
The Liangfen fans in front of the TV were cheering.
Some even leaned out their windows and shouted, “Zhang Liangying is awesome!”
And the shouts of the Liangfen fans in the studio were incessant.
Host Wang Han reminded them twice before the cheers gradually subsided.
Li Xiang: “I understand everyone’s feelings. That song was incredibly moving. Liangying, with her simple and plain lyrics, sang the entirety of a father’s life, making many of us emotional. The applause can never be too much…”
Wang Han: “If I had written this song, I would immediately retire from writing for the rest of my life, because I could never write better lyrics. Zhang Liangying, you… you continuously bring us surprises. I am so looking forward to your next performance.”
Li Xiang: “Now, we will ask the three judges to write the names of the contestants they believe can advance directly onto their boards.”
As soon as she finished speaking, two groups of fans in the audience began to compete, as if the louder they shouted, the sooner they could advance to the top six.
“Bichang, Bichang…”
“Liangying, Liangying, Liangying…”
It could be heard that Zhou Bichang’s fans were all female voices, while Zhang Liangying’s fans had both male and female voices.
This was the biggest difference between the two contestants.
Zhang Liangying was more well-rounded, attracting a wider range of fans.
Zhou Bichang, on the other hand, was like an niche artist, only attracting a small group of fans who liked her neutral style.
Actually.
For contestants like Zhou Bichang and Li Yuchun, they could hardly be called fans anymore. What songs did they even have now?
Those fans were likely looking for a sense of belonging within a specific circle!
……
Hei Nan raised his board and said, “Liangying’s song just now, 《 Father’s Prose Poem 》, made me feel very complex and think of many things… Therefore, I choose Liangying.”
Zhang Liangying showed no discernible expression. She hadn’t recovered from the song yet and simply nodded quietly, “Thank you, Teacher.”
The fans, however, were extremely excited.
They drowned out Zhou Bichang’s fans.
He Jiong also raised his board: “I also choose Zhang Liangying. Whether it’s the lyrics, the melody, or your singing skills, you have impressed me.”
Xia Qing said, “Adjust your mood. For next week’s competition, I hope to see you deliver an even more brilliant performance. Go for it!”
Ultimately.
Zhang Liangying advanced strongly to the national top six with a 3-0 advantage.
The Liangfen fans cheered throughout the venue.
Shen Qing also stood up. Although he knew advancement was almost certain, hearing the girl he mentored truly step towards success made him unable to remain calm.
Who understands the joy of being a music godfather?
Zhang Liangying, whose face had been downcast all night, saw Shen Qing jumping and dancing and her face bloomed like a summer flower, letting out a giggle.
Her father was gone, but her life was just beginning. She had to be strong!
Back in the rest area, Ji Minjia and Ye Yiqian warmly embraced Zhang Liangying, offering words of blessing and comfort.
Soon, the two of them and He Jie would be in the same group for a PK.
Their fates hung in the balance.
……
Ji Minjia performed Power Station’s 《 Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow 》, a rock song she was always good at.
Ye Yiqian sang 《 A Curtain of Dreams 》, with lyrics by Qiong Yao, released in Taiwan in 1974. Such a sad song was not really suitable for her; she couldn’t capture its essence.
He Jie sang A-Mei’s 《 Only Love High Heels 》. The title sounded a bit like Zhang Liangying’s 《 Red High Heels 》.
Finally.
He Jie successfully advanced.
Ji Minjia, Ye Yiqian, Huang Yali, and Zhou Bichang remained. One of them would have to leave.
After another round of performances, Huang Yali and Ye Yiqian were sent to the PK stage.
Ye Yiqian, with her average singing skills, had exhausted her luck this time. Only 12 out of 35 public judges voted for her.
The Super Girl journey of the beautiful Ye ended at seventh place nationally, forcing her to leave the stage.
However, this departure was also fortunate.
Not long after, she met retired diving athlete Tian Liang, who pursued her madly. Will she agree to the proposal of the handsome Tian this time?!
When the live broadcast ended, the national top six took the stage to thank the audience.
Zhang Liangying, Li Yuchun, Zhou Bichang, He Jie, Ji Minjia, and Huang Yali. Just looking at the names was ridiculous.
Except for Zhang Liangying, all the others had short, dyed hair!?
How could they even compare?
What songs would they use to torture the other five in the next round!?
