Chapter 83, Side Story 13 (Continuing from the Normal World Ending)
Several months later.
Ling Wei and her team quietly released a single without any prior announcement or promotion. It simply appeared on various music platforms at midnight.
The song title is simple: "Letter from a Sunny Day".
This is a crisp and lively piano melody, like sunlight jumping through a windowpane, carrying a touch of lazy warmth.
When Ling Wei's voice rang out, it was no longer the powerful voice she used on stage, but a softer one, like a whisper in someone's ear, singing the simplest of lyrics.
This is a pure, straightforward, and sweet love song.
The fan community instantly exploded.
The comment section is refreshing at an astonishing rate:
"What?! My sister's account got hacked?! This is so sweet... it's killing me!!"
"Ughhhhh, this overwhelming stench of romance! Ling Wei, you better confess, did you leave the group to secretly get married?!"
"Waaaaah... Why has my Queen turned into a sweet girl...? My feelings are mixed, but... it actually sounds pretty good? (whispering)"
"Sis! We'll pretend we don't know if you talk about it secretly, but please, just come back and sing occasionally! We love you even when you're being sweet!!!"
"Holy crap, these lyrics... Who is 'you'?! Who exactly are 'you'?! Microscope girl, ready to pounce!"
"Although... the melody is catchy, the lyrics are so sweet, and I've listened to it on repeat for the third time... Sis, you're really great as a composer, waaaaah..."
During the interlude, subtle ambient sounds were deliberately added, such as the rustling of papers turning over, the light clinking of cups and saucers, and a low, masculine chuckle. The chuckle was brief, carrying a hint of helplessness and indulgence, before disappearing into the melody that resumed.
That soft laugh suddenly transformed the entire song's mood into one of delicate sweetness.
"Letter from a Sunny Day" made a stunning debut on the new song charts and quickly climbed the ranks. Without any chart promotion or marketing, it relied entirely on word-of-mouth and its genuinely touching sweetness to firmly secure its place.
Another morning, at the Qu Family Restaurant.
Qu Mingyuan and Qu Chen were having breakfast quietly. Morning light streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Suddenly, a series of light yet slightly hurried footsteps approached from afar.
Almost the instant the sound rang out, the two people at the table, who had been making quiet eating noises, simultaneously stopped.
Ling Wei appeared at the restaurant entrance. Today she was wearing an oversized black leather jacket over a simple white T-shirt, paired with slim black jeans and ankle boots. Her sunglasses were pushed up to her head, covering her slightly tousled, wavy long hair.
"Good morning." Her voice was crisp and cheerful, with a smile on her face, and her gaze naturally swept across the dining table.
She walked straight to Qu Mingyuan's side, naturally bent down, put her arm around his shoulder, and picked up a pre-packed paper bag that was next to him.
"I'm leaving now. I have an appointment with Zhenzhen and Aunt Wen today to discuss the selection plan for the new batch of trainees, and I also need to discuss music collaborations for two film and television projects." She spoke quickly but clearly, and casually pulled down her sunglasses to put them on. "I might be back late, so don't wait for me for dinner."
Qu Mingyuan put down his chopsticks and turned to look at her.
The morning light fell on his profile, outlining soft lines. His eyes were gentle as he gazed intently at her, and he softly replied, "Okay, be careful on the road."
Ling Wei hummed in agreement, then pushed her sunglasses back over her head, revealing bright, smiling eyes.
She turned to the side and leaned down, this time giving him a kiss on the lips. Her long hair cascaded down with her movement, brushing against Qu Mingyuan's arm.
Across from him, Qu Chen paused in his hand holding the spoon, then lowered his eyes and continued drinking his porridge expressionlessly, though his chewing movements appeared very mechanical.
After the kiss ended, Ling Wei straightened up, her gaze sweeping over Qu Mingyuan. Suddenly, she exclaimed "Huh?" and raised an eyebrow slightly: "The weather forecast said it would get warmer today, why are you still wearing a turtleneck sweater? Aren't you hot?"
She was referring to the finely crafted light gray cashmere turtleneck sweater Qu Mingyuan was wearing, which completely covered his chin.
Upon hearing this, Qu Mingyuan's ear tips turned a faint red at a visible speed. He looked up and glanced at Ling Wei with a hint of helplessness in his eyes, which contained a silent reproach and a trace of embarrassment.
Ling Wei instantly realized what was happening, bit her lower lip sharply, coughed awkwardly, and looked away, "Um... well, I... I have to go now! I'm really going to be late!"
She remembered, last night... cough, last night she enthusiastically put on a skit about a rigid, serious male teacher versus a female student who never learned her lesson.
Perhaps I was a little too invested, and the teaching process... left behind some rather noticeable teaching results.
It seems he does have a research trip today that requires him to meet with quite a few people...
Ling Wei's face also felt a little hot, so she quickly went over and kissed Qu Mingyuan's cheek twice, with a hint of flattery.
"Let's go, let's go!" She grabbed her breakfast bag and practically fled.
The restaurant returned to silence.
Qu Mingyuan raised his hand, somewhat uncomfortably tugged at the edge of his collar, and picked up his coffee cup as a cover-up.
Qu Chen quietly finished his breakfast, put down his utensils, wiped his mouth, and stood up, saying without much emotion, "I'm done eating, I'm going to the company now."
Several years later, at the Qinghe TV New Year's Eve concert.
With less than half an hour to go before midnight, television ratings began to surge dramatically, a rare occurrence, while the number of online viewers on live streaming platforms grew exponentially.
Countless people stayed glued to their screens, switching to this channel, eagerly awaiting the moment.
Social media is already buzzing:
"Are they here? Are they here? Aren't they the final act?"
"The original fusion! Ahhhhhhh!!"
"Back in high school I would sneak my phone to watch live streams, now I watch them with my husband... Time flies!"
"Original fans are moved to tears, my youth..."
Finally, amidst great anticipation, the penultimate program ended, and the host, with a slightly trembling voice, announced loudly:
"Next, let's welcome back to where this dream began with the warmest applause and cheers!"
"They are the first champions of the 'Dream of Qinghe Idol Open Competition,' the epitome of 'girls chasing the light' in the hearts of countless people, and a unique and legendary girl group in the Chinese music scene—"
"Let's welcome—Zoothys!!!"
"Aaaaaaahh ...
The enormous sound waves almost burst through the screen, and whether at the scene or in countless brightly lit living rooms and bedrooms across the country, excited screams and cheers erupted instantly.
The stage lights suddenly dimmed, and then a spotlight shone down.
Five familiar figures stood quietly in the center of the stage. Ling Wei stood at the very front, holding the microphone. Looking at the sea of stars shining for them below the stage, her eyes welled up slightly. She smiled brightly at the camera and at everyone who had been waiting, and softly began to speak:
"haven't seen you for a long time."
.
.
.
Qu Mingyuan's 1V1 storyline ends here.
The following is an "what if" scenario where Qu Chen from the future transmigrates into his own body at the very beginning of the story. You can choose whether to skip it.
The fifth world is matriarchal. Someone mentioned matriarchal systems with dual lineages, which inspired me (thank you! I didn't reply at the time because I wasn't sure I'd write about it; you can claim it yourself). One of the male protagonists is from "A Few Things About How I Inherited My Deceased Sister's Fiancé".
I'm currently planning to write both the post-apocalyptic and cultivation-themed stories as long-running series, so I'm running out of ideas for what to write next. If you guys have any suggestions, let me know! If I get inspiration, I'll continue writing; otherwise, I'll end it after the fifth world and switch to a long-running series! Mwah!
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