Chapter 123: Striving to Seize the Crown

"...When the sky grows dark, I am reminded of that song again, and suddenly I long for a quiet rain. It turns out my grandmother’s wisdom had been sung to me all along: even when the rain begins to fall, one must press forward with courage. I believe that everything will eventually subside. Right now, I just want to go home..."

"...The sky is dark, the rain is coming; the sky is dark, so dark..."

The way Zhang Qiyang concluded this piece was enough to break one’s heart. Yet, what surfaced in the wake of that heartbreak was an endless sense of warmth.

Chen Ke had been worried that Zhang Qiyang might write an unreliable song for Li Xuan, but after hearing this new version of "Dark Skies," the heavy weight in her heart not only lifted, but shattered into a shower of surprise. In Chen Ke’s estimation, this "Dark Skies" was no less powerful than his previous "At Least There Is You." This was absolute chart-topping material.

This young master was defying the heavens! Every casual stroke of his pen was a display of stunning, brilliant talent. Was he truly a peerless, once-in-a-generation genius? Chen Ke grew increasingly bewildered, yet she felt she was getting closer to the truth hidden in her heart. Even at this moment, she could not be entirely certain that all of Zhang Qiyang’s songs were written by him, but she found it increasingly difficult to convince herself that they weren't.

"Dark Skies," in particular, sounded to Chen Ke like a confession of Zhang Qiyang’s own soul. He claimed it was tailor-made for Li Xuan, but Chen Ke could feel his own deep, yearning nostalgia for home woven into the melody. While she wasn't exactly an insider in the elite circles, she knew a little about his family background. She knew that Zhang Qiyang’s relationship with the billionaire Zhang family was in shambles, and she knew—having heard a little from Zhang Qiyuan—that he shared a profound bond with his mother.

Facing the hostility and pressure of the entire world, even a "madman" as arrogant and cynical as Zhang Qiyang must have a vulnerable side. And when people are vulnerable, they miss home the most. Zhang Qiyang must surely miss home, too. The emotion he poured into this song made that clear. However, she believed the home he longed for was not the billionaire Zhang household, but his grandmother’s house. His intense focus on this nursery rhyme suggested that perhaps his grandmother had sung it to him when he was a child. Chen Ke didn't know much about his mother’s side of the family, but she had heard Zhang Qiyuan mention that Zhang Qiyang had spent a long time being raised by his maternal grandparents.

Today, facing a world of turmoil and strife, he must deeply miss that warm, peaceful home from his childhood. Just as he sang at the end, one must press forward bravely against the wind and rain, trusting that it will all pass, but in doing so, he had also revealed his own inner plea: he wanted to go home.

Savoring the sentiments in his song, Chen Ke suddenly felt a surge of sympathy for this young man who was staking his life on fighting the entire world single-handedly. She didn't know why things had reached such a point with his family, but she could sense that he would not rest until he had turned the world upside down. The streak of ruthlessness and stubbornness in his bones earned her genuine admiration. This man was truly extraordinary. Perhaps, in the future, he would achieve a career even more magnificent than his father’s. Thinking this, Chen Ke felt a strange urge to grow closer to Zhang Qiyang, rather than just helping him to curry favor with his sister. Perhaps this young master was a genius more worthy of her devotion than Zhang Qiyuan.

After hearing the song, Xiao Wa was completely won over, praising, "This is too beautiful! Boss Pao, is this just a rough draft? I feel like it doesn't need any changes, not even a new arrangement. Just use a pure piano accompaniment to highlight the atmosphere and Li Xuan’s warm voice. The subtle interweaving of the nursery rhyme is a stroke of genius! The atmosphere is a bit melancholy, but the core is warm. If Li Xuan sings this on the stage of 'I Am a Singer,' she’s going to melt the whole audience! This is yet another single with championship potential. Boss Pao, I don’t know what Li Xuan thinks, but I am officially your die-hard fan! You are truly incredible when it comes to songwriting!"

Li Xuan nodded in admiration, her eyes turning exceptionally gentle as she looked at Zhang Qiyang. She, too, had been conquered by his song. She had never seen such a brilliant "cobbler" before! He was like a humble craftsman in an obscure old street; no one knew the depth of his skill, yet every pair of shoes he crafted was a priceless treasure. In the midst of her rising career, to have encountered such a master, Li Xuan felt incredibly fortunate. The heavens were truly kind to her.

Zhang Qiyang composed himself, stood up from the piano, and said, "I also think this song doesn't need a complex arrangement; a simple piano accompaniment is enough. My voice isn't warm enough for this, but if you sing it, Li Xuan, you will definitely make this song a hit."

Li Xuan smiled sweetly, "I can already see the triple crown beckoning to me."

Chen Ke agreed with her outlook. Thrilled by such a masterful work, she uncharacteristically boasted, "Only Young Master Yang has achieved a triple crown in these two seasons of 'I Am a Singer.' If Xuan takes another one this week, our East Entertainment will have monopolized the show! Haha, it’ll drive everyone else crazy."

But Zhang Qiyang suddenly poured cold water on her enthusiasm: "It won't be easy for Li Xuan to win a triple crown this week."

As Li Xuan froze in surprise, a strange smile flickered in Zhang Qiyang’s eyes. "Because I, too, will be going all out to win the crown this week."

This statement immediately electrified Xiao Wa. He knew full well how formidable Zhang Qiyang’s strength was! When Boss Pao went all out, he emanated a superhuman aura. Watching his live performances was like watching a demonic sermon. His style was the polar opposite of Li Xuan’s. Even though Li Xuan had a soul-warming masterpiece like "Dark Skies" to weave a heavenly experience for the audience, Boss Pao’s hellish tsunami was nothing to scoff at. Watching them compete—one moment in heaven, the next in hell—was a clash of fire and water. It was truly impossible to say who would emerge victorious. This was going to be interesting!

With eyes gleaming, Xiao Wa asked, "Just how hard are you planning to go this week?"

"With everything I've got, of course." Zhang Qiyang instructed Li Xuan, "You should do the same. Let’s have a proper showdown this week and see who has the last laugh."

"Alright! I can’t wait to compete with you." Li Xuan felt her competitive spirit ignited. Although it felt a bit unfair to battle him while wearing the new shoes he had made for her, since he insisted, why not?

Xiao Wa, always eager to stir up excitement, proposed, "How about you two make a bet? The loser treats the winner to dinner or something?"

Chen Ke scolded him, "Don’t you go stirring up trouble, you brat. We’re all on the same side; why make bets?"

But Zhang Qiyang replied, "I think a bet sounds good. It makes things more exciting and helps bring out the best in us."

"What do you want to bet?" Li Xuan asked with interest.