What should a father be like? Shuying's earliest memory of her father was of a stubborn, inflexible old man. But now, after seeing many things, she could no longer hold on to that simple impression. She had been shocked by every revelation, and, admittedly, that man's appearance alone earned him more than a few points in her heart.
Yet appearance meant nothing.
Literature.
Elegance.
Poetry.
Those were the true measures of a person's heritage.
Writing poetry was never simply about flowers, grass, or sentimental emotions; it required vision. And this man... had begun his poetry with science, the starry sky, and the universe itself as his proposition.
At this very moment. this kind of magnificent poetry, elevating human emotion to the scale of the cosmos, was something Shuying had never witnessed before. For the first time... She realized that the man she had always regarded as someone to surpass... Might truly deserve to be called an opponent.
Now, the beautiful young woman stood silently on stage, confusion filling her eyes, but she was not surprised by the poem itself. After the National Poetry Competition, she had also written countless astonishing masterpieces.
What truly shook her... Was the realization that this man, her own father, was someone she had never understood. Just how much had he been hiding all these years?
"Wait a moment." Hong suddenly reacted. She had still been immersed in the grandeur of that cosmic poem when another memory abruptly surfaced. "When Shuying wanted to study poetry, Ye bought her science books instead. He even told her poetry was useless. Only in the end did he reluctantly buy her a copy of the Book of Songs from the Pre-Qin period."
Everyone remembered that replay. Shuying had stubbornly declared that she wanted to participate in the poetry competition, but Ye's response had been to buy piles of science books with an expression full of disdain. Shuying had nearly exploded with anger.
But now, Hong spoke with unprecedented seriousness. "Perhaps... He already knew that contemporary poetry had become a barren desert. Perhaps, from the very beginning, he already possessed the concept of cosmic poetry."
"He bought Shuying science books so she would understand the cosmic paradoxes, the Roche limit, the birth and death of stars, the atoms that make up all things, and the quantum world hidden beneath reality."
The entire studio gradually fell silent as everyone recalled that scene.
A man had casually told his daughter, "If you're going to write terrible poetry, then study basic science first. Learn physics. Learn astronomy. Modern poetry is worthless."
Then he had tossed her a book. "Memorize every verse inside. And don't you dare skip a single one."
Filled with resentment, Shuying had no choice but to bury herself in books about astronomy, physics, and science. She forced herself through one paradox after another. Those dry concepts nearly drove her mad. Eventually, exhausted, she casually opened the book that he tossed to her.
Without realizing it... The two worlds merged inside her mind.
Ancient poetic rhythm.
Modern scientific thought.
At that moment, an entirely new concept quietly formed. Poetry... Could describe the universe. Poetry... Could use the stars themselves as its destination.
Hong stared blankly at the screen. "Was this... How you guided her toward poetry step by step?"
Even now, she found it impossible to believe. No... Monster wasn't the right word. He was an unbelievable father. Every action had appeared random, yet every single step had quietly expanded Little Shuying's thinking, allowing her to discover everything on her own.
"You deliberately kept her away from contemporary poetry. You looked down on those shallow works because you feared they would become her first impression of poetry. You wanted her imagination to break free from narrow emotions. You wanted her poetry to rise beyond sorrow, beyond love and hatred... to the vastness of the universe itself."
By the time Hong finished speaking, she had already risen to her feet and stood frozen. Even she didn't know why everything had suddenly become so clear. Then she remembered.
When she first read Shuying's poetry, she had desperately wanted to meet its author. When she discovered the author was merely a child... She had been utterly stunned. She had praised Shuying as an unprecedented genius.
But today... She suddenly realized something. There had always been someone hidden in the darkness. A man who buried every bit of his own brilliance beneath the night... Leaving every ray of light for that little girl. Without these replay recordings... No one would ever have known. In an era overflowing with so-called cosmic poetry... Ye's work appeared. And with a single poem... It overwhelmed everyone.
Hong slowly picked up the microphone. "I'm sorry, everyone. This time... I'm standing with Yu Ye. Because what I respect... is poetry itself."
Unfortunately, her voice alone could not overturn public opinion.
Cheng immediately raised his hand. "Do you know how shocking Shuying's poetry was back then? She single-handedly overturned an entire era of shallow, formulaic poetry!"
Guochang also shook his head. "One poem alone isn't enough for Ye to reverse everything."
The audience erupted into cheers. One after another, they shouted out Shuying's famous works.
"Across the boundless universe and endless space, I will share a single planet with you."
"Separation isn't nearly as frightening... After sixty-five hours..."
"The law of the tides... Whenever you gaze upon the moon, it is already gazing back at you."
Her fans defended with overwhelming conviction.
On stage, Shuying remained perfectly calm as she simply raised one hand. Instantly, the entire venue fell silent.
She looked toward the audience with gratitude. Every supporter before her... Had been earned through years of effort.
"Without everyone's encouragement... I wouldn't have defeated so many opponents. And today... I'll defeat this man as well. Because from the day I entered the poetry competition... I knew I didn't want to become someone who merely shone. I wanted to become the light itself, so I took the next step.
"I learned the piano, but the lessons were difficult. I was always ranked last, and that man did nothing except mock me. But I still persevered and in the end... I became the best pianist. And from that moment... I knew I was destined to overcome everything."
Shuying's greatest strength was never merely her unparalleled talent. It was that, despite becoming a national star for so many years, she had never once been involved in a scandal, controversy, or public downfall. She remained as pure as drifting white clouds.
She never became arrogant and never complacent. No matter how high she climbed... She always remained calm. Calm enough to defeat every opponent. Calm enough to continue winning. That... Was her greatest charm.
It was also the mystery that fascinated countless educators and scholars. For this reason, ever since the replay reached Shuying at the age of seven, countless researchers had eagerly anticipated witnessing the true origin of her rise.
Now, the replay that would determine the course of Shuying's entire future finally began.
That day, she was preparing to participate in the poetry competition, and Ye drove her to school on an electric scooter. As soon as they reached the intersection near the school gates, he frowned impatiently. "You're definitely going to fail. I'm too lazy to watch you embarrass yourself. Walk the rest of the way. And even if you win... So what? Learning the piano costs money, and our family isn't rich. Can you even master that?"
Little Shuying looked at him quietly, but there was no sadness in her eyes, only stubborn determination. She said nothing, yet countless words echoed silently within her heart.
Back in the studio.
Shuying spoke on behalf of the young Shuying. "I remember thinking... You really don't deserve to be my father. I'll prove it. I'll master poetry. I'll master the piano. And one day... I'll defeat you completely."
Those had been the thoughts of the young Shuying. Years later, she finally spoke them aloud.
The audience fell silent. Many people felt their hearts ache as they watched that tiny figure walking alone toward the school. From that very moment, she was no longer simply trying to shine. She had decided to become the light itself. Just as everyone was moved by Little Shuying's transformation...
The replay continued.
Outside the school, after watching Little Shuying disappear through the gates, Ye finally relaxed. Then, his expression suddenly changed as a violent wave of nausea surged through his body. His vision blurred and his eyes rolled upward because an overwhelming dizziness consumed him. He collapsed onto the pavement and blood slowly streamed down the side of his face while the fallen electric scooter pinned one of his legs beneath it.
As darkness swallowed his vision, he could hear startled pedestrians screaming around him. Yet only one thought remained inside his mind. "Don't die!"
"She's only just found her conviction! She hasn't truly become the light yet! I haven't seen her reach that future! You can't die! No! Pull yourself together! You irresponsible bastard! If you die now... Will you make her fall from the altar she hasn't even climbed yet?! Do you want her future to become just like yours?! His consciousness roared uncontrollably."
He admitted it. For the first time... He was terrified. He had spent years accompanying Shuying through every stage of her growth. But none of those were his true goal; he wanted to witness the day... She became the light itself.
Only then... Could he die without regret.
Only then... Would she possess unshakable confidence.
Only then... Would she become a true genius.
As consciousness continued slipping away, his final thoughts still raged at himself. "Fight! Fight against fate itself! For her! Even if I die, I'll struggle until my very last breath!"
Two scenes appeared on the screen simultaneously.
In one, Shuying stepped onto the stage inside the school auditorium, and reporters surrounded her. She was about to astonish the world. About to begin an entirely new era.
In the other, on a lonely street corner, officers rushed Ye into an ambulance. Blood stained his face, and his fists remained tightly clenched. Even while unconscious... His heart continued pounding violently... Driven by nothing more than an indomitable will.