Volume One, Chapter 13: Not Enough—Come Back, I Want to Hear More!

As for the detractors, who had initially intended to stir up discord, they now felt deeply ashamed. There was simply nothing in this song for them to criticize. Though they were skeptics, they were not malicious; they possessed their own sense of aesthetics and taste. Yet "Fragrant Path" had already won over many, transforming former critics into supporters.

"Thank you all for patiently listening to this song. 'Fragrant Path' is dedicated to you," Ren Yingying slowly opened her eyes and bowed to the audience in gratitude. Then she was ushered offstage by the staff.

Meanwhile, the audience remained immersed in the beauty of the music. Chen Tianxiong witnessed this scene, clenched his fists, and signaled to the sound engineer, determined to strike while the iron was hot. He would not allow the detractors a chance to regain momentum. By the time everyone regained their composure, Ren Yingying had already returned backstage.

Song Hongyan stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand. The background music began to play softly.

"Is this another new song?"

"Two new songs in a row—Eastern Group really spared no expense!"

"Hasn't Song Hongyan gone three years without releasing a new song? The melody sounds unfamiliar. Is she really releasing something new?"

Many in the audience discussed excitedly, even the detractors were surprised. Clearly, tonight’s concert was not so straightforward. Although "Big Fish" was not performed, Ren Yingying and Song Hongyan had both prepared new songs.

Bathed in soft, mysterious lighting, Song Hongyan’s presence appeared particularly gentle yet resilient. She opened her lips, and the familiar yet novel melody flowed forth with her emotions, like a warm stream silently nourishing the hearts of everyone present.

"Later, I finally learned how to love, but unfortunately you had already gone, vanished into the sea of people." This lyric seemed to unlock the gates of time, instantly freezing the atmosphere. Some in the audience wiped away tears from the corners of their eyes, not only mourning past love but also reflecting deeply on their current lives. Girls leaned on each other, shoulder to shoulder, tears welling in their eyes before slipping down their cheeks—such was the power of resonance, tender and moving.

Even the skeptics who had come with a critical eye found themselves defenseless against this flood of emotion. Many among them—especially those who had recently endured heartbreak—had their internal barriers completely shattered at this moment. Every word and phrase of the song struck precisely at their softest places within.

From initial surprise to eventual resonance, and finally to acceptance and release.

No longer adversaries, they had become an indispensable part of this shared emotional experience. The audience, especially the girls who recognized the lyrics, began to sing along. Even many of the detractors, who had come to stir up trouble, found themselves swept away.

From Ren Yingying’s "Fragrant Path," which left them nothing to criticize, to Song Hongyan’s "Later," which voiced their own sorrow, they were conquered. Detractors are fans, too. Especially under Song Hongyan’s performance, their regrets and sadness were drawn out.

Song Hongyan felt the passion from the crowd. Gathering her courage, she approached the edge of the stage. "Let’s sing together, shall we?" With her words, the big screen displayed the lyrics for everyone. This was all orchestrated by Chen Tianxiong behind the scenes.

"Later, finally in tears I understood, some people, once missed, are gone forever." As the chorus arrived, the entire venue seemed bound by an invisible force. The audience's emotions peaked—from solitary sobs to collective weeping—culminating in a moving ocean of sound. At that moment, a faint harmony rose from the crowd, quickly spreading and evolving into a stirring mass choir.

"Later... we finally learned how to love..."

"Unfortunately, you..."

Whether loyal fans or former detractors, all boundaries were forgotten as they sang together, expressing nostalgia for the past and hope for the future. In that moment, music transcended language; it was like gentle hands soothing every wound within.

Seeing the atmosphere fully enlivened, Chen Tianxiong, hidden backstage, wore an ecstatic expression. "It’s done, truly done! This concert is a huge success!"

"Yingying, you and Hongyan have both performed brilliantly!"

"We’ve gained countless new fans tonight; these two songs will become the signature of Eastern Group!"

"I’m proud of you!" Chen Tianxiong said, clenching his fist.

"President Chen, all the credit goes to Brother Su!"

"These two new songs are practically tailor-made for us!"

"Not just the lyrics and melody, but the profound meaning—they’re masterpieces beyond compare."

"Especially the song 'Later' that Hongyan sang—it felt exactly like a breakup scene, it made me cry." Ren Yingying rubbed her reddened eyes, pouting.

"Who could disagree? When she sang the chorus, even I was moved."

"Seems even the detractors have been conquered, just like us. That’s a good thing." Chen Tianxiong’s face was full of joy, his admiration for Su Le growing deeper.

Five years in hiding, and upon debut, he reached the peak. This was already his third legendary work.

"Brother Su is truly remarkable!"

"I wonder where his inspiration comes from—one moment it’s first love, the next it’s the regret of parting. His mind leaps so freely!" Ren Yingying rested her chin in her palm, gazing at Song Hongyan’s emotional performance, her mind filled with curiosity about Su Le.

What kind of genius could compose such perfect, mysterious music?

Onstage, Song Hongyan had finished her performance. The final nasal hum stretched the regret of lost love for a long moment. The audience below was awash in tears; the song was saturated with regret, triggering an overwhelming wave of sobbing.

"My God, this song is incredible!"

"They must have hired a master—Eastern Group has someone behind the scenes guiding them. I bet the songwriter for 'Big Fish' wrote these two!"

"It’s profound, worth pondering. Yingying’s song represents first love, Hongyan’s represents the bitterness of a breakup—absolute masterpieces."

"Hey man, didn’t you come to stir things up? Now you’re giving reviews!"

"Don’t talk nonsense—accusations need evidence!" The young man reviewing, face flushed with embarrassment.

Many were now speculating that both new songs from Eastern Group’s concert were penned by the original author of "Big Fish." This filled everyone present with curiosity about that artist.

Of course, they didn’t know that "Big Fish" and these two new songs were all created by the "White Elephant God" they admired.

"Thank you all for patiently listening to our performance!"

"No more regrets!"

"I know many of you, fans and audience alike, didn’t come just for us."

"We deeply regret that we couldn’t perform 'Big Fish' tonight."

"We hope these two songs bring you a new experience," Song Hongyan said, then turned and walked backstage.

She had been so immersed in the performance, so wrapped up in its emotion, that she now felt low, as if she had truly suffered a breakup.

"Don’t go, we haven’t heard enough!"

"Come back, come back!"

"We want more!"

"Can you sing it again?"