"You have to shine as soon as possible..."
"Do you know what true ethnic romance is?"
"Acting? You're not suited to playing a supporting female role. You are destined to become someone whose name stands alongside the sun and moon. The protagonist, that role belongs to you."
"Don't memorize those humble, pitiful lines. Recite the words that truly suit you. A story that begins with a sword should also end with a sword..."
At this moment, all the fragments from before seemed to condense into a single sentence, appearing before Yu Shuying's eyes. She stared at the speech bubbles, unable to stop herself from thinking of that man...
A man whose face was always slightly greasy from exhaustion, whose expression was perpetually worn out. Even if he woke up at five in the morning, all she ever saw was his retreating back as he rushed off to work. He always seemed to hide within the shadows, running tirelessly through life like the aging men in the neighborhood, gradually exhausting every trace of light within himself.
But why... Why did thinking about him make her heart ache so much?
Before Shuying could delve deeper into those thoughts, Nana suddenly exclaimed, "Shuying, your mother just posted about this online!"
Instantly, the entire arena reacted as one as everyone turned toward the massive screen or glanced down at their phones. Someone had already taken a screenshot, and the translation of the meaning of Liu Shi's post was simple: [My daughter naturally inherited my brilliance.]
Accompanying the words was a photograph of a rose in full bloom, vibrant and dazzling.
For some reason, Shuying felt a wave of disgust rise within her. Looking at that rose, she recalled another image.
A man awkwardly presenting a withered rose for the first time.
A rose that had fallen to the ground.
A rose that had quietly withered.
Her brows furrowed, and she tried to sift through her memories from the age of seven until now. Several women had appeared in her life, and they had taught her things. Which one was it? Was there really a woman behind his rise? Silence enveloped her.
Eventually, she stopped thinking about it altogether. Instead, she calmly looked ahead, her conviction unshakable. A few simple words were not enough to change her stance. After all, during the earliest years of her life, the woman who called herself her mother had never fulfilled that role honorably.
Meanwhile, the contestants had already begun discussing the matter.
Contestant 01, Su Wen, spoke confidently. "I knew it. It really is related to the Liu family. That explains why Little Shuying possesses such a noble and regal temperament."
Beside him, Contestant 02, Zhang Zhi, nodded in agreement. "This is the natural result. Liu Shi must have taught Little Shuying etiquette and temperament. Perhaps she even took her into elite social circles, allowing her to study and practice in high-end environments. Combined with Little Shuying's natural talent, it unlocked her full potential."
Contestant 03, Jiang Yue, nodded as well. As a director and instructor at the Theatre Academy, she had witnessed countless children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Even those blessed with attractive appearances often seemed timid and fragile under the camera lens. They lacked true presence. What they lacked was confidence. Cognition. Faith in their own abilities. When faced with the scrutiny of an entire production crew, they would instinctively retreat.
"Yes," Jiang Yue said slowly, "having a mother with an outstanding background undoubtedly played a role."
At this moment, Liu Shi's post seemed to answer every lingering question. Even the guests seated on the program panel, Chen Cheng, Sheng Yue, Zhao Changguo, Yuan Quan, and Chen Xuejian, offered no objections. There was simply no other explanation, as the contrast was too extreme.
Although the Liu family had once struggled financially, Liu Shi herself had originated from a scholarly family. After the divorce, she had gone overseas, married into wealth, and reportedly published several books. Elegant. Accomplished. Extraordinary.
To the audience, an image naturally formed in their minds. A refined socialite from an elite family. Dressed in a custom-made Italian gown. Exquisite makeup accentuating her features. Walking forward with effortless grace.
On stage, Director Xuejian slowly lifted his microphone, and his aged voice carried a trace of melancholy. "My first impression of Yu Ye was from the earliest replay footage. He wore a suit back then, looking dignified and spirited. But afterward, due to work, he became disheveled and exhausted."
"In most people's eyes, he represents poverty, hardship, and powerlessness. It's as if this man spent every ounce of energy simply trying to survive. When life itself is already so difficult... how could people believe he still had the time to educate a child? And even if he did... how could he possibly raise such an exceptional daughter?"
Coming from a family deeply involved in drama and the arts, he understood the significance of upbringing better than most. It was just like the first time he saw Little Shuying. The moment he laid eyes on her, he understood. This was a child raised with dignity. A child nurtured by refinement.
The headlines were already spreading rapidly online.
"So that mysterious woman is finally appearing... I knew it couldn't have been Yu Ye."
"As expected. Since Little Shuying was seven years old, Ye was exactly as she described him: mentally unstable, irritable, rigid, and stubborn..."
"There's no helping it. His own life was filled with suffering."
The stadium buzzed with endless discussion; only Yu Shuying remained silent. She simply wondered... If that man were watching this scene unfold right now... What would he say?
In the final row of seats, Ye watched quietly. Separated by hundreds of meters, he struggled to catch a glimpse of his daughter's beautiful eyes. His daughter couldn't see him but his own gaze remained warm and bright, carrying the tenderness accumulated over countless years.
As for the woman who had appeared, he didn't care.
Time strips away all illusions.
Time bears witness to every truth.
All of his flowers had already bloomed once before.
Then, the familiar voice echoed once more within his mind.
[The Time-Space Deprivation Screen Continues.]
[Replay of the Joint Program Recording Continues.]
As the announcement sounded, an old man stood at the edge of his life. Years of battling brain cancer had transformed him repeatedly. From emaciated and skeletal... To swollen and bloated from treatment... Then back again to a body as thin and fragile as a withering tree. Every organ within him had endured cycles of collapse and decay. This torment extended far beyond the physical.
From possessing unparalleled elegance in his youth to enduring decades of darkness in silence, he had truly grown old. Even amidst the cheers of a hundred thousand people, he felt as though he had returned to that orange-lit bedroom. Curled up alone. Forgotten by the world.
If time froze at this exact moment... Someone might notice it. The old man whose face carried countless untold stories, a tear silently slipping from the corner of his eye as if summarizing his entire life in a single drop.
Then, a voice seemed to emerge from the depths of his heart. Have you ever seen the light? Or perhaps...