Chapter 199: A Story Based on True Events
Zhou Shilan initially had no intention of writing a song for them, no matter how much they offered. She was the queen of pop, destined for greatness. Why would she write for two newcomers? They should have known better.
But…
Seeing the look in Nangong Ying’s eyes, a flicker of inspiration ignited within her, a feeling she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
This girl’s eyes held a story, a rare and precious thing.
“Alright, Nangong, I’ll listen. You have ten minutes. If you can move me, I might change my mind.”
She was a superstar, her time invaluable, her services in high demand. Li Yuexin had pulled every string, used every connection, just to secure this meeting. She hadn’t dared to hope for anything more than a few words of advice.
“Senior, I want to tell you a story. Perhaps… it will inspire you.”
“I’m listening.”
“A long time ago, there were two little girls, the best of friends, sharing everything: ice cream, clothes, even drinks. When one was bullied, the other would stand up for her. They believed their friendship would last forever, even after marriage, even after having children, even after growing old. Their bond was eternal, deeper than friendship. They both believed this.”
Her words were sincere, heartfelt, a true reflection of her past. She and Yu Linna had once believed in their forever, their bond unbreakable.
Until that day, when she, for her dream, for her career, had betrayed her, abandoning her.
Since then, there had been no going back.
“But one day, one of the girls, wanting a toy, deceived the other, making her the target of everyone’s scorn, causing her immense pain. The girl who had done the hurting knew she was wrong, but she was afraid, unable to face her friend, pretending she hadn’t seen anything. The other girl, the one who had been hurt, endured the pain silently, knowing that tears wouldn’t change anything. Years later, when the girl who had done the hurting grew up, she realized her mistake, knowing she was wrong, wanting to apologize, to be forgiven, but it was too late. They could never go back.”
If she could choose again, would she make the same decision?
Nangong Ying had asked herself this question countless times, and the answer was always the same: yes. Even a hundred times, a thousand times, she would make the same choice.
Because back then, for her dream, she would have done anything, betrayed anyone. Even with a second chance, she might hesitate, might struggle, but to become a star, she would still choose the easiest, most direct path: betrayal.
“She regretted it, yet she didn’t. She was conflicted. She wanted to apologize, but she didn’t dare to ask for forgiveness. She wanted to be friends again, but they both knew they could never go back. The girl who had been hurt couldn’t forgive her, and the girl who had done the hurting couldn’t forgive herself. They were destined to be strangers for the rest of their lives. And so, there was only the longing for the past, the pain of an unspoken apology.”
Zhou Shilan listened, her expression unreadable, her silence broken only when Nangong Ying finished her story.
“That’s… a good story. Is it true?”
“…Yes.”
“I see.”
She understood. Nangong Ying wanted her to write a song based on this story.
Ignoring her motives for a moment, the story itself was a sad and poignant tale of lost friendship, of a past that could never be reclaimed, a story that resonated with her.
Zhou Shilan had written countless love songs, pop songs, but songs about friendship, about sorrow… they were rare.
Nangong Ying’s story was compelling, her pain palpable. She felt a surge of inspiration, a desire to create a new song, a different kind of song, a song she wanted to sing herself.
Zhou Shilan had started her career at sixteen, a nobody in the entertainment industry, her talent initially unrecognized. She had wanted to be a songwriter, but no one would sing her songs, until she started singing them herself, seizing an opportunity, becoming one of the most popular female singers in the country, a queen of pop, a representative of a new generation of Chinese music. And before that, she had been nothing, not even a finalist in the National Singing Competition, let alone a champion.
Though she couldn’t fully comprehend the pain of Nangong Ying’s lost friendship, she understood the feelings of helplessness and sorrow, the struggles of a young artist trying to make it in a cruel and unforgiving industry.
“Alright, Nangong, I’ll give it a try. Your story… it’s good. You said you wanted to sing your feelings, right?”
“Yes, I want to sing it for that fool who can’t go back to the past. If I could go back, I would tell her, ‘You’re wrong. You have so many choices, but you shouldn’t have chosen this path.’ I know she would listen to me, because I’m the one who understands her best.”
Zhou Shilan smiled.
Those words… they were good, perfect for a song lyric.
Anyone could say pretty words, and Zhou Shilan didn’t know how much of Nangong Ying’s story was true, but it didn’t matter. She just wanted to write a different kind of song, a song that would be a new chapter in her own career.
“Senior Zhou, are you serious? You’re really going to write a song for us?”
Li Yuexin was stunned. She had come here on a whim, never expecting such an outcome. A superstar like Zhou Shilan, writing a song for their band… it was a dream come true.
“Don’t celebrate just yet. I’m just willing to try; I haven’t agreed. If the song isn’t good, I won’t give it to you. And if your band can’t perform it well, I won’t let you sing it. I’d rather sing it myself than have it ruined. So, you have to be serious, you have to have talent to sing my song.”
“Yes, Senior! We won’t disappoint you!”
Li Yuexin was ecstatic. A promise from Zhou Shilan was more valuable than anything. As for the price, she didn’t care. Hiring such a big star… it was worth it. If necessary, she and Nangong Ying would take on more acting roles, more variety shows, to earn the money.
Zhou Shilan was genuinely intrigued by Nangong Ying’s story, wanting to write a song based on it, a song dedicated to someone. She hadn’t written a new song in a while; it was time to unleash her talent, her fans surely eager for new music.
Leaving the meeting, Li Yuexin looked at Nangong Ying, realizing she didn’t know her as well as she thought. She had thought she understood her, but now… she realized Nangong Ying was far more complex than she had imagined.
“Little Ying, that little girl who was hurt… it was your friend, Yu Linna, wasn’t it?”
“…”
“And the one who did the hurting… that was you, wasn’t it?”
“…Yes, that was me.”
There was no point hiding it anymore. Confessing… perhaps it would ease her guilt, her burden.
After all, Nangong Ying was a selfish person.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, Yu Linna had been traveling with the Huo family for a few days, enjoying their company, the delicious food, the sights. In the evenings, she worked on her manuscript, preparing for her next publication. With July approaching, the deadline for university applications, and her exam results due soon, she had to finish her manuscript.
◆ Chen Xi: Shion-sensei, your publication work is complete. Ballad of the Enchantress, Volume Two, will be released on July 1st. If your sales are good this year, we’ll probably invite you to the annual company meeting.
◆ Shion: The annual meeting is a small matter. I just want to write good stories.
◆ Chen Xi: Why are you working so hard? With your current status, you could easily procrastinate, like Air-sensei.
◆ Shion: Because I love what I do.
Chen Xi, sitting at her computer, was stunned by her reply. Because she loved it… such a simple, yet profound statement. If not for her own love of writing, she wouldn’t have stayed at Wenqing for so long.
She suddenly felt a surge of admiration for all the authors at Wenqing, their dedication, their perseverance, their love for their craft. This industry, with its long hours, low pay, and uncertain future… without passion, it was impossible to survive.
Shion-sensei was truly a good author. Chen Xi was glad she had signed her.
◆ Chen Xi: Shion-sensei, do you have any ideas for the sequel to Ballad of the Enchantress? I’ve read the second volume, and though the male and female protagonists have met again, they’re now on opposing sides, enemies. I’m just wondering… are you really writing a love story?
◆ Shion: Don’t worry, I have an outline. It won’t be a tragedy. If I can publish a volume a month, I think I can finish the novel by the beginning of next year.
◆ Chen Xi: If you do that, you’ll have finished the series in about ten volumes?
◆ Shion: That’s the plan.
Chen Xi felt a headache coming on. Such a good story… ending so soon? Even by Qidian’s standards, a popular novel should run for at least twenty volumes. Ten volumes… it seemed too short. She wanted to persuade her to write more.
But when Shion-sensei made up her mind, no one could change it.
