Chapter 41 - The End
Time is indeed a good remedy.
The exact time and the cause are unknown, but Chi Ran has indeed gradually recovered.
He not only emerged from the depths of despair, but went far beyond them. He gradually emerged from the trough of his life, stopped giving up on himself, and began to climb, reaching even higher peaks than before.
He reappeared in the public eye and became one of the top music producers in the industry.
When people mention his musical achievements, they can't help but forget that he was blind and that the music was born in the darkness.
"Teacher Chi!"
Hello, Teacher Chi!
"Teacher Chi!"
...
Chi Ran was walking backstage at a music variety show. As she passed the preparation room, the singers, whom the fans called the "King of Singers" and "Queen of Singers," greeted her respectfully.
He nodded in return as usual.
Qian Yu continued to work as his assistant, but his value also rose, and he was able to manage the assistants of other artists in the company.
He's married, his child has just been weaned, and he's living the ordinary life he's always dreamed of. When people are happy, they tend to get carried away and even have to think for a long time about what day of the week it is.
Qian Yu followed behind Ran Ge, looking at his crisp, wrinkle-free shirt and trousers, and a strange feeling welled up inside him.
In a sense, hatred saved Chi Ran; in other words, Song Yihuan saved Chi Ran.
The idea was strange and pretentious, so he quickly dismissed it.
"Tickets sold out in seconds! They're already fetching almost five figures on the secondary market." As soon as the door to the lounge opened, Sister Ying greeted us with this delighted remark.
"...These fans are really rich. It's not like they're in China, it's on the other side of the world, in a foreign country. You chose this location like crazy, Fiji, it's so far away that you even had to set up the stage on-site. Besides, you don't care about your fans' wallets at all." Qian Yu sighed, "They have to fly for more than ten hours, just for your music, just for you."
Sister Ying has been in the entertainment industry for many years and has never seen a multinational concert so grand, let alone a concert, which has a relatively narrow audience.
“When I first entered the industry, when I was managing those mediocre fourth or fifth-tier artists, I never imagined I would be where I am today. I’m not just managing stars anymore, I’m creating gods.” Sister Ying was genuinely excited. She is usually very rational and rarely says such emotional things. “God is with us, we are the throne of gods.”
Qian Yu grinned and said, "Let's change the company name to God's Throne."
Sister Ying laughed and said, "Then we'll have to consult a master, just in case this name doesn't bring us good fortune."
Chi Ran didn't say anything arrogant, but a smile played on his lips, carrying a hint of unrestrained pride.
"Teacher Chi!" A clear female voice rang out from outside the door, "My brother asked if you're going to the celebration party tonight. If you are, would you like to ride in our car?"
Her brother is a very popular singer in the entertainment industry. He has sung many theme songs and acted in TV dramas. Most of the people outside the studio are his fans. This person wanted to commission a song from him, and he declined several times, but the person still kept trying to strike up a conversation.
This girl is his agent; she's young, sweet-talking, and outspoken. She was sent by her brother to cause trouble.
"Ran-ge isn't going today," Qian Yu said. "No need to see us off."
The girl smiled and said, "Teacher Chi, there's another gathering tomorrow, at your favorite Wagyu BBQ restaurant."
Chi Ran was about to refuse when the girl interrupted him: "Teacher Chi, Teacher Chi!! I'll ask you about tomorrow's matter tomorrow."
Chi Ran wanted to speak again, but was interrupted once more.
"I'm a working-class person. If you refuse me today, I'll have to deliver two bad messages to my brother. Please forgive me for one day," the girl said with a grin.
This was her persistent tactic; she came every day, showing some courtesy each time, and maybe she could eventually win him over. Given Chi Ran's status and position, he couldn't say anything too harsh, so he remained noncommittal.
"Then it's settled," the girl said with a smile. "I'll come again tomorrow!"
Qian Yu felt that the words sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember where they came from.
Looking at Chi Ran again, his gray eyes suddenly became confused, as if he had been pulled into a deep valley of memories, glimpsing only fragments of light and shadow in the mist.
The confusion quickly disappeared, and he probably didn't remember it.
In the end, Chi Ran didn't agree to the offer from the popular singer. He was busy preparing for his solo concert, spending every day in the practice room. This was perfectly reasonable; he couldn't let down the fans' enthusiasm, and he had to put in a thousand times the effort to deserve such treatment.
On the day of his arrival at Nausoli Airport, many fans who had arrived early came to pick him up, making it extremely crowded. Qian Yu couldn't even see the whole airport clearly.
Fiji is four hours ahead in time, which isn't a huge difference, but Chi Ran still came with him two weeks in advance. He was extremely dedicated to this performance and threw himself into it wholeheartedly.
After all, this performance was unprecedented and could make history, so naturally, everything had to be given.
Ran Ge really did his best.
While Qian Yu was scuba diving to see sharks, lying on the beach watching the jelly-like sea, and skydiving, sea fishing, and eating fruit, his brother Ran was always in the music room.
The temperature here is pleasant, and the seawater is warmed comfortably by the sun. Despite all this beauty, Ran-ge remains oblivious and has never left the music room.
The concert will be held on a private white sand beach on Dananu Island.
The stage stands by the sea, the sea breeze carries the sound of the piano, and the setting sun is as gentle as melting, as if it were a painting.
Chi Ran, dressed in a pure white evening gown, sat amidst the sunset glow, embraced by the shimmering blue waves and the gradually changing hues of the sunset. He seemed to be the master of this world.
Below the stage were his devoted followers, countless eager eyes fixed on him, experiencing his music with all their senses. His music was so favored by nature that even the waves seemed to beat in rhythm with it.
His fingertips landed lightly on the antique piano—his most beloved antique piano.
This instrument cost them a hefty shipping fee to travel across the ocean to witness this moment.
Qian Yu still remembers the first time Chi Ran went on stage after he went blind. He hid behind a screen, unwilling to be watched. Later, he gradually adapted and stood on stages of all sizes, and was increasingly looked up to.
He wasn't born for the stage; he was born for music.
It was a very touching moment.
As the sun sets and its last rays fade, the stars are awakened by the music and begin to shine.
With just one last piece, this grand concert will come to an end.
Before the final piece, a bonfire was lit on stage, and the band played indigenous bamboo instruments with fervor and devotion. Fijians worship fire and sing praises to it, believing it to be a gift from God.
Chi Ran went backstage to prepare, his fingertips trembling slightly as he touched a bottle of water.
Qian Yu asked him, "Are you very tired? There are still two minutes left, should I put on an ice pack?"
Chi Ran let out a soft breath, his white tuxedo fluttering with his breath. He shook his head: "I'm nervous."
"You're almost done playing, what's the rush?" Qian Yu laughed at him.
Chi Ran didn't answer, but turned on the phone's camera, put the phone in his hand, and said, "Record this for me."
"...Who's watching? You?" Qian Yu asked deliberately.
Such a question wouldn't have offended Chi Ran in the first place, and he replied with a smile, "Mind your own business."
After speaking, he stepped onto the stairs and slowly walked up to the stage.
Qian Yu picked up his phone, but after fiddling with it for a few moments, he got a headache from the voice prompts and simply tossed it aside, taking out his own phone instead.
His phone vibrated twice; it was a push notification from a social media account, seemingly promoting tourism in Fiji, something he'd been receiving non-stop since arriving in Fiji.
Just before he turned off the notification, he saw the words on it, his hand trembled violently, and the phone fell to the ground with a thud.
Fiji: A Beautiful Cancer-Free Country
This is the concert venue that Chi Ran insisted on choosing.
It's just a coincidence.
It must be a coincidence.
Still shaken, Qian Yu bent down to pick up his phone. Not forgetting his mission, he turned on the camera and pointed it at the person who was already seated on the stage.
As the prelude to the final piece began, each note struck Qian Yu's chest, causing him to tremble uncontrollably and even pause in his breathing.
Qian Yu is tone-deaf and doesn't listen to music; this is the only song he can recognize just by the intro.
Icarus.
Shocked, he picked up Chi Ran's phone, which he had tossed aside, and amidst the noisy broadcast, clicked on the following list of one of his apps, which contained only one account.
The other party has cancelled their account.
The original factory-supplied resurrection armor has long been removed, and the default gray icon has been replaced.
Qian Yu's hands trembled as he recorded the video. He dared not think any further and desperately tried to convince himself that it was all a coincidence.
This must be a coincidence, otherwise... otherwise it would be too terrible.
Icarus's performance was nearing its end. Chi Ran tilted his head slightly, his tuxedo stretching and loosening with his movements.
He wore a gentle smile, as if he were playing music for a lover.
Behind the piano, a bonfire roared, its flames licking at the stars in the sky. The sounds of the flames and the waves were like two completely different drumbeats, which were incorporated into the music, like a heartbeat carrying love.
Qian Yu suddenly dared not watch any longer, but he also dared not put down his phone. He continued to diligently hold up his phone, filming the shaky video.
Chi Ran gently hooked the piano lock with her thin-soled leather shoes, then tiptoed forward.
The antique piano carried him toward the campfire, eliciting gasps of surprise from the crowd.
The flames instantly leaped up to the top edge of the piano, burning in his gray pupils.
The piano burned quietly yet passionately in the night.
He neither dodged nor avoided the gasps and exclamations from the audience, and continued playing the final passage with unwavering composure.
The burning piano illuminated his face, and from certain angles, the flames seemed to brush against his cheeks, yet he smiled faintly, as if oblivious, his fingertips continuing to dance.
At the end of the piece, he was almost engulfed in flames, and the music gradually changed tune.
The piano burned brightly, and he stood quietly to the side, his pupils reflecting the firelight, revealing a tender expression. He seemed to have packaged himself as a gift for his lover, a hopeful smile on his face.
No matter how unwilling Qian Yu was to accept it, he clearly realized that Chi Ran knew.
This is not a commemoration, but a grand declaration of love.
When the piano burned out, only ruins remained; when the crowd dispersed, only an empty beach remained.
Chi Ran stood silently beneath the starry sky, facing the sea breeze. He seemed to have immersed himself in an empty world, lingering there, unwilling to be distracted.
Qian Yu walked shakily behind him, his mind filled with countless questions that were driving him almost crazy.
He approached him slowly, and even the noisy waves seemed to fall silent.
The questions that weighed on his mind were all answered the moment he saw Chi Ran's expression.
—Brother Ran knows everything.
The salty sea breeze blew into his throat, the fishy smell churning inside, and he couldn't speak.
Chi Ran suddenly laughed.
"Today is her birthday, March 29th."
Qian Yu took out his phone to check the date. Distant, yellowed memories surfaced haltingly. He didn't remember the exact date, but he vaguely remembered celebrating her birthday with Ran Ge.
But apart from that, I can't remember any other details.
Qian Yu's lips trembled slightly: "You...how did you know?"
He recalled the days after Song Yihuan left without saying goodbye, when Chi Ran was sometimes depressed and sometimes angry. It was around that time that he vaguely guessed what had happened.
That's why I was so angry.
Chi Ran continued to smile, her gray-toned eyebrows curving, with a hint of indulgent mockery: "She's not good at lying, she's actually very easy to understand."
"As for you... you're a little better than her, but not by much."
Hearing his tone, Qian Yu paused in surprise. If he had realized it after Song Yihuan left... he wouldn't have said that, wouldn't have said she wouldn't lie.
A terrifying suspicion began to surface in Qian Yu's mind. His lips trembled as he asked, "When...when did you find out...when?"
Chi Ran tilted his head slightly to look at the sea. His tailcoat was crisp and clean, making him look like a happy groom.
"Anyway, it was earlier than yours."
He gazed blankly at the boundless sea, his eyes gentle.
"I knew everything before I fell in love with her."
As the last embers of the campfire dissipated, the sea breeze grew increasingly biting, and Qian Yu shivered.
"You...you never intended to find her. You were just putting on an act for me...you were lying to me?"
"Because she doesn't want me to know," Chi Ran said calmly. "Then I won't know."
“I already said, I know her very well.” Chi Ran laughed. “She’s not the kind of person who can be patient or wait. If she knows the gift is in the room, she’ll definitely look for it. If someone makes her angry, she’ll chase after them to argue, even if it’s just gossip that has nothing to do with her, she’ll still keep asking about it…”
Chi Ran touched her nose and smiled gently: "That's just the kind of person she is. She can't stand unresolved answers, and she'll definitely find a way to confirm them."
For a moment, Qian Yu suddenly wanted to shout and vent his emotions to the sea, but it felt like someone had poked a hole in his throat, letting out a lot of air, which was sour and cold, and he couldn't even utter a complete sentence.
Cellphone video recording, campfire, piano...
He put all the details together, and even the slowest person would understand that everything Chi Ran had prepared today was a romantic proposal to his lover.
"You...you're insane, you're crazy."
"It's good that I've talked to you about it." Chi Ran's smile carried a kind of satisfied satisfaction, revealing a cruel happiness.
"Now I can talk to you about her."
Qian Yu recalled the moment he unlocked the piano and slid it towards the campfire along with the antique piano, and felt a chill run down his spine. Chi Ran was extremely close to the flames at that instant, almost melting into the fire.
At that moment, did he... even for a single instant, want to just stay in the fire and let it go?
Qian Yu asked the question tremblingly.
Chi Ran's reply was swift and decisive, as if he had asked a stupid question.
"What are you thinking? How hard can it be to die?"
If dying isn't that hard, then what is?
Chi Ran bent down and sat down beside the ashes of the piano. Even while seated, her white evening gown was perfectly pressed, clearly having been carefully ironed.
Qian Yu couldn't help but say, "All this preparation will never get any feedback..."
He was too distressed to continue speaking.
Chi Ran shook her head very lightly, "It's okay. I had already thought it through when I fell in love with her."
After hesitating for a long time, Qian Yu finally spoke the words that had been on his mind: "Brother Ran, before she left, I asked her if she loved you."
"But she didn't tell me."
I should keep asking, he thought.
If I had pressed him further, perhaps Ran Ge would have received an answer by now, and there wouldn't have been no feedback.
"It's nothing." A look of regret finally appeared on his face, but then he smiled and said, "It's nothing, I know her, it's nothing."
So, do you understand that we don't need an answer to this question?
The ashes were blown up by the sea breeze and landed on the beach, the gray dust and white sand dancing together as they drifted into the distance.
The fire remained still, like a stubborn reef in the night.
I am timid, afraid of pain, I am prone to escaping, and I am good at keeping people at arm's length.
But then there's Song Yihuan.
Song Yihuan.
Falling in love with you has decided my future.
There is only one path left in the trajectory of fate.
I will love you alone, forever amidst the clamor of crowds.
Willing to.
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