"My child—I don't know if I've done enough?—This is my first time being a mother..."
The last syllable of the word "mother" had a very slight vibrato, and when it landed on the word "mother," it almost turned into water vapor.
And this simple phrase, "first time being a mother," is like a gentle key that instantly breaks down the defenses of countless people.
A mother in the front row, holding her child, instinctively hugged the little one tighter; in a corner of the stands, several middle-aged women stared blankly at the stage, their light sticks already suspended in mid-air.
The older a mother is, the more she understands the awkwardness and anxiety of this "first time".
The exhaustion from staying up all night breastfeeding, the anxiety of teaching to walk, and the reluctance to send her off to school—all these were evoked by this lyric. The bittersweet taste of life swirled on her tongue, and only she could truly understand.
Below the stage, Luo Liang suddenly tightened her grip on Gu Feng's hand, her knuckles turning white and trembling slightly.
The singing continued, and Tang Qi's voice, like warm needles, pierced her heart again and again.
"Although the years have turned my hair white—I cried when I sent you off to school on your first day, telling you to be brave—and every time you left home afterward—waving goodbye and saying goodbye became easy—my heart still feels empty."
"Sending you off on your first day of school"—these words struck Luo Liang's heart like a heavy hammer.
Watching Tang Qi sing gently on stage, images of Luo Shuhe, Luo Shuling, and Luo Shuning as children flashed through my mind.
When they first started school, she deliberately went abroad to do business; every time they left home for school, she never saw them off, only letting the driver take care of it for them.
Back then, Luo Liang always felt that out of sight, out of mind, but now, hearing "the heart can still be empty," she realized that those concerns she had deliberately ignored and remained indifferent to had long been deeply rooted in her heart.
This is who I am...
This is who I am...
This is who I am...
Gu Feng noticed her trembling and quickly pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back, but he didn't know how to comfort her.
Not far away, Tang's mother was already in tears. She gripped Tang's father's arm and choked out, "Back then, when I sent Xiaoxiao to kindergarten, I...I...and later she...she..."
Tang's father patted her hand, his eyes reddening, but he didn't say a word—the tenderness hidden in his heart was now fully revealed by the song.
Just then, from the other side of the stage, a clear and elegant voice suddenly rang out, perfectly echoing Tang Qi's voice, like a clear spring flowing into a warm current:
“Dear Mom—I don’t know if I’ve done a good enough job—this is my first time being a daughter—but it’s also my first time being myself—”
The spotlight then shone brightly, growing stronger as it enveloped Luo Shuning.
Standing in front of the microphone, the pleated skirt of Guangya School uniform swayed gently in the breeze, and her tie at the neckline was loosened a little, revealing her slender neck. She looked as youthful as the morning light just stepping out of the campus.
Her singing voice lacked Tang Qi's deepness, but it carried a unique sincerity unique to young girls.
"Being a daughter for the first time"—this lyric acted like a precise resonator, instantly striking a chord with all the children in the audience.
Yang Huihui leaned on Lin Han's shoulder, sniffling, and said, "I was arguing with my mom this morning, I'll apologize when I get home..."
Lin Han pursed her lips, recalling how her mother would lovingly bring her a cup of hot milk every time she stayed up late studying. All the unspoken worries were expressed through the song.
For those who are both mothers and daughters, these two echoing lyrics are even more "killer," allowing them to empathize with their mothers' hardships one second and then remember their own shortcomings towards their mothers the next.
The live stream chat was already flooded with tears—[I couldn't help but hug my mom just now, and she patted me and said, "Being a mom for the first time, I'm so sorry to have made you suffer."]
[She's both a daughter and a mother; hearing just a few words from her really broke my defenses.]
[Ningning's voice is so clear, it reminds me so much of myself when I used to argue with my mom and then secretly cry.]
"Children will walk through the heavy rain—to understand the ways of the world—"
Just then, the climax suddenly broke out, and Tang Qi's voice rose sharply, yet remained gentle.
She first faced the audience, her gaze sweeping over the people below who were lost in memories, then slowly turned around and looked at Luo Shuning on the other side of the stage.
She slowly extended her right hand, palm facing forward, her fingertips trembling slightly.
It's as if she wanted to cross the distance of the stage to embrace her "daughter," but her steps stopped in place, her eyes filled with reluctance and anticipation, just like every mother who watches her child grow up, wanting to protect her but having to watch her move forward alone.
Luo Shuning looked at Tang Qi's outstretched hand, her eyes gradually welling up with tears.
She took a small step forward and slowly reached out her hand towards Tang Qi—the two figures faced each other at opposite ends of the stage, their palms touching but not touching. Yet, the mother-daughter bond that transcended blood ties was conveyed through the song, reaching every corner of the stadium.
Luo Liang leaned against Gu Feng's chest and closed her eyes tightly. This time, she simply couldn't suppress the guilt and longing that had been belated for so many years.
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