Chapter 61: The Importance of Background Music
“Why do the five of you look unhappy?”
“You advanced, so be happy.”
“What? Because Zhang Liangying’s song just now reminded you of your fathers?”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Competing well is the best way to honor your fathers.”
“Good luck next week, I’m looking forward to your even more brilliant performance!”
“……”
The live broadcast ended.
The judges, hosts, and a few contestants stood on stage chatting, while the band and other staff were packing up equipment.
At this moment.
From the expressions and conversations of Ji Minjia, Huang Yali, He Jie, and others, Zhang Liangying could clearly feel that “Father’s Prose Poem” had deeply touched them.
The way they looked at Zhang Liangying was very complex.
Seemed a bit jealous?
This scene couldn’t help but remind Zhang Liangying of a female classmate in her junior high class—she was fair-skinned, tall, ranked first in the entire school academically, and came from a wealthy family.
Back then, the girls in the class felt inferior to her, and Zhang Liangying had also envied that girl.
“Are they feeling inferior to me now?”
“Probably~”
“Oh, no, Liangying, what are you thinking!!! Stop being narcissistic. How could they feel inferior? They were just thinking of their fathers.”
Gradually~
The joy of advancement faded.
Zhang Liangying’s heart was filled only with longing for her father.
“Dad, are you okay over there? I haven’t seen you in seven years. Mom and I miss you very much…”
“Dad, you want to ask who Shen Qing is?!”
“He’s a pretty bad boy, three years younger than me, but he’s very, very good to me, takes special care of me, and wrote me so many amazing songs. I’ve gotten this far because of him…”
“Dad, would you like him as your son-in-law? Do you like him…”
“……”
At this very moment.
Zhang Liangying’s thoughts drifted.
She stood quietly behind the crowd.
At some point, everyone’s gaze fell on her because she was the only one standing there, lost in thought, and smiling foolishly.
He Jiong called out a few times, but Zhang Liangying didn’t hear him.
He Jie said, “Is Liangying not feeling well? She was so sad just now, and now she’s smiling foolishly. Was tonight too much for her?”
Ji Minjia said, “Maybe. Her father passed away early, and that song really hit hard. She might be too heartbroken.”
Li Xiang frowned and patted Zhang Liangying’s shoulder with concern, “Liangying? Liangying, what’s wrong?”
Wang Han, He Jiong, and the others looked at her with confusion.
“Ah?”
“I’m fine, I just thought of some happy things.”
“Sorry for making everyone worry.”
“……”
Zhang Liangying, snapping back to reality, quickly explained.
“We thought you were upset. Your song just now made half the audience cry, you must have been even more upset…”
“Yes, Liangying, you must look forward.”
“Keep up the good work in next week’s competition.”
“I was crying too just now. Sigh, I can’t help but cry when I think of my dad. He was always so good to me since I was little.”
“Me too, Liangying, you’re amazing for being able to write such a song. I couldn’t write something like that.”
“Ah? Did Shen Qing write this for you too?”
“I thought lyrics this heartfelt could only come from personal experience. Shen Qing actually… his parents are both alive…”
“How can a person be so talented!!”
When Shen Qing came over to the group, he was praised by everyone.
He Jiong laughed heartily, “You guys don’t know, the single I’m releasing next Monday was written by Shen Qing for me!”
Wang Han said, “Shen Qing is truly a music genius.”
Li Xiang: “Liangying, you’re so lucky…”
More couldn’t be said.
Because Li Yuchun and others were nearby.
As they were feeling a bit uncomfortable, Li Yuchun, Zhou Bichang, He Jie, and Huang Yali went to interact with the fans who hadn’t left.
Ji Minjia hugged Zhang Liangying and then also ran off to see her fans.
Meanwhile, Zhang Liangying’s fans also hadn’t left; they were all sitting quietly in their seats, waiting for Zhang Liangying to arrive.
Li Xiang said with a smile, “You should go quickly, your fans are waiting, and we’re off duty too.”
Zhang Liangying nodded.
Then, she grabbed Shen Qing’s sleeve and walked towards the audience.
……
Back at the hotel, Zhang Liangying sobbed under Shen Qing.
Was it because of “Father’s Prose Poem”!? She hadn’t fully recovered yet?
Or was it because Shen Qing was too forceful and too fast?
So, to avoid similar situations, she should sing something happy for the next competition!
Otherwise, it’s not good to keep making people cry and making yourself tremble. Just tonight, nearly a thousand people in the studio were feeling quite emo~
Super Girl competitions should be more cheerful.
……
The next day.
Shen Qing woke up early, lying in bed staring at the ceiling. He suddenly thought of a song that perfectly fit the mood and could perfectly follow yesterday’s competition:
“When You Are Old” is good!!
“Last night’s song was for Dad, this song is for Mom! The main point is to be fair, to give everyone equal attention!”
“Uh, you say you want to be happy? Wait a bit longer. While you’re in the mood to cry, cry a little more. I’ll let you be happy in the next round.”
“……”
After getting up, Shen Qing wrote the lyrics with great speed.
Then.
He went to the street to buy clothes for Liangying.
Today, the speakers on the streets and alleys played a couple of new songs that sounded very different from the styles of “Happy Worship,” “Nocturne,” “Not Afraid, Not Afraid,” “Ten Thousand Reasons,” and “Two Butterflies.”
A middle-aged man pushing a wheelchair with his elderly father for a walk stopped at the entrance of a clothing store. Hearing “Father’s Prose Poem” coming from inside… he looked at his old father and secretly wiped away tears behind the wheelchair.
The old father in the wheelchair looked back at his son, slowly raised his wrinkled hand, his eyes filled with cloudy tears.
This old father’s love for his eldest son was still so deep. No matter how old his son was, in his eyes, he was still a child…
On the street, there was a young man about to part ways with his friend.
The two stood at the intersection, laughing and joking, when suddenly they heard “Farewell” playing.
One of them said, “Get lost, get lost. The song is urging you to leave. See you next New Year.”
The other said, “Haha, get lost. Who the hell wants to see you.”
The one who spoke first said with a smile, “As if I want to see you.”
Thus, after a few words, one of them shouldered his bag and walked towards the nearby bus stop.
During this time, both of them looked back at each other.
But their gazes never met again until one got on the bus and drove away, and the other turned to stare at the bus, watching it disappear around the corner.
Similar things were happening all the time.
But with the enhancement of background music, the sadness of parting seemed even deeper.
Shen Qing suddenly understood why short videos in later generations all had BGM; it indeed had its reasons. If the BGM were removed, the videos would lose a lot of their flavor.
Zhang Liangying: “They all seem to be thinking of each other. Why don’t they stop and say a proper goodbye?”
Shen Qing: “Separations between men are often like this; they act nonchalant even when they are reluctant.”
……
After buying the clothes.
Shen Qing bought a newspaper at a roadside kiosk and sat in a restaurant, eating and reading. There was everything from entertainment news to political news and citizen reports.
Among them, one piece of news attracted Shen Qing the most.
It is reported that the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television will soon meet with the Hunan Provincial Propaganda Department and Mango TV, allegedly regarding the “Super Girl” competition.
