Volume One, Chapter 86: A Conversation Across Time and Space

Before Jiang Yu even stepped onto the stage, the background music began to play. The audience was full of curiosity; this was the first time a singer hadn’t appeared before the music started. Then, the big screen lit up.

One after another, precious old photographs appeared. The images showed youthful faces, all beaming with sunny smiles. Though the pictures were not in color, it was clear they all wore military uniforms—the very uniforms worn when they saved countless civilians. Each photo bore their age...

A voice rang out from the projection: "I am willing to give my life for this country and its people!"

Finally, Jiang Yu's voice emerged.

"That year, you were the same age as I am now."

"So young, like the melody of an innocent song."

"But to create that new world you dreamed of, you turned and hurried into the storm."

His voice flowed like a clear spring.

Though the music was gentle and melodious, for some reason, everyone felt a surge of tragic heroism and selfless courage in their hearts.

Especially after everything that had happened before, everyone understood instantly.

Jiang Yu was giving voice to those veterans!

"I see millions of beloved faces like yours."

"Never looking back, you ran deep into the smoke and fire."

"Countless youthful figures vanished into the night, trading their futures for the dawn..."

Jiang Yu paused.

Behind him, another precious video clip appeared. It showed the swearing-in of all the veterans—and unexpectedly, there were interviews with those very veterans who had sat among the formations earlier. Though the old men’s voices now faltered with age, everyone could clearly hear their words.

"For the motherland, giving my life is nothing."

As they spoke, their faces shone with gentle smiles; with the softest of voices, they uttered the most solemn vows.

Inexplicably, many in the audience felt their noses sting and their eyes moisten as they listened to Jiang Yu’s song.

This—this was what a song should be.

All previous songs had focused on personal emotions—family, classmates, romantic love.

But this song transcended all those small affections.

Listening to the music, it was as if they could see the tragic grandeur of that awakening age.

Those children in the photos were the same age as themselves, yet the burdens they bore far surpassed anything the audience had ever known.

And Jiang Yu’s expression only deepened the resonance among those listening.

It was as if he wished to speak across time and space to those martyrs.

No, not just the martyrs—also the elder generation of scientists.

The footage shifted to the moment when the first mushroom cloud rose.

"I must return home; the nation’s construction needs me."

"I gaze up at the starlit sky you once saw."

"Across a hundred years, we meet again."

"Before you turned away, the smile on your lips—I understand it all!"

"I gaze up at the starlit sky you once saw."

"The earth beneath our feet has changed with time."

"The crimson you left fluttering in the wind lingers in my heart, always..."

In front of their computers and televisions, viewers could no longer hold back.

"Salute!"

"This song is called 'Displaced in Time and Space,' right? If only time could truly shift, so our forebears could see today’s China with their own eyes! It’s their struggle that gave us such a powerful nation!"

"So full of youthful vigor—they are the most beautiful people in the world!"

"Did you all see? Every one of them blinked back tears, every one of them smiled gently—thank you, for winning us this bright and open land!"

"They were the first to awaken, and the first to depart..."

In the Huayue Entertainment office, both Su Muyu and Su Ling had reddened eyes.

"Xiaoyu, your Jiang Yu is truly remarkable!"

Before, Su Ling had worried that Jiang Yu might be affected by the airport incident—but someone who could write a song like this could never be in the wrong.

Just then, the phone rang.

Su Muyu picked up: "Hello, Dad?"

On the other end, Su Wenli sighed. "Xiaoyu is a fine young man. Make time to bring him home—your grandfather wants to meet him."

"Okay..."

Her grandfather actually wanted to see Jiang Yu! He had always disdained so-called celebrities, yet now he had taken the initiative to request a meeting.

Covering her mouth, Su Muyu felt warm tears sliding down her cheeks—whether from the emotion of the song or joy she could not say. Her eyes never left the figure on the screen.

The scene changed.

Now modern soldiers appeared.

On their faces were the same smiles as their predecessors.

"As a soldier, my life has long ceased to belong solely to me."

"Raising my hand, I swear the same oath."

"Between black and white, your smile is so vivid."

"You said you never regretted it."

"To dedicate a lifetime to this vast land."

A photograph appeared of an old veteran and a modern soldier saluting together.

"How I wish I could reach out and embrace you tightly."

"To tell you that all is finally at peace."

"A hundred years ago, the China of your dreams—how beautiful it is!"

The most beautiful people of two eras met at last.

Those born in the 1980s, 90s, and 2000s were now reporting back to those from a century ago.

From the wars of decades past to today’s peace.

Countless ancestral sorrows and sacrifices had created today’s powerful China.

And to protect the light their forebears had won, the younger generation, after flashing a smile, picked up the mantle and carried on.

And proudly, they could say to those who came before:

This prosperous age is just as you wished!

In the audience.

Yang He’s eyes were red, as were those of Yu Zhiwei beside him. They too had lived through that era, and listening to the song, their hearts overflowed with emotion.

"Xiao Yang, this young man is impressive. Who is he?"

In the very front row sat an elderly gentleman with kind eyes. Watching Jiang Yu on stage, his gaze was full of admiration as he turned to ask Yang He.

Upon hearing the question, Yang He quickly leaned over. "Reporting, Sir—this young man is Jiang Yu, an outstanding member of the younger generation."

"That name sounds familiar," the old man mused, raising his brows as if recalling something. "Ah, yesterday, when those old fellows came to see me, this was the young man they spoke of! Excellent—truly excellent!"

Yang He stared in astonishment at the figure on stage.

Jiang Yu had earned praise from this venerable leader!

On stage, Jiang Yu noticed Yang He’s expression and wondered if something had happened. Yang He waved at him, then pointed to the elderly man in the front row.

Jiang Yu followed his gaze.

He saw the leader looking at him with a beaming smile—perhaps their eyes met.

The elderly gentleman gave him a thumbs-up.

Though it was praise, Jiang Yu’s knees nearly gave way.

"I have looked up at the starlit sky you once saw, and across a hundred years, we meet again."

"In this moment, our hearts are truly connected."

"I understand it all!"

"I gaze up at the starlit sky you once saw, and the earth beneath our feet has changed with time."

"The crimson you left fluttering in the wind lingers in my heart, always..."