Chapter 34: Pretension Struck by Lightning

“The distant chimes are ringing,
Frogs sing a lullaby,
A crescent moon over white sands,
In your sweet-scented dreams, I love you…”

Qin Haiyu’s voice was as sweet as honey, and when she sang a love song like this, it was as if an extra spoonful of honey was added to already sweet water. At this moment, everyone present, listening to her rendition of “Sakura Grass,” felt as if they were immersed in the gentle sweetness of young love…

“The flowing water passes by,
The changing seasons of spring and summer,
Happiness spreads,
Loving you is eternal and never lonely…”

With her head lowered, Qin Haiyu took two small steps forward. Dressed in a blue pleated skirt, she looked under the dim stage lights like a fairy stepping out from the moonlight—beautiful, sensual, enchanting…

She loosened her grip on the microphone just slightly, took a breath, and continued singing this sweet and melodious song:

“In the hands of lovers, sakura grass,
Spring walks by with a smile,
Planting blossom after blossom,
Brilliant youth shining bright,
In the arms of lovers, sakura grass,
Listening to the heartbeat in the chest,
Secretly longing,
That’s the taste of our love!”

…

The gentle, pleasant accompaniment and Qin Haiyu’s sweet, captivating singing drew everyone into silent agreement; they instinctively quieted down, fully engrossed in this song they were hearing for the first time.

Most of them did not know, not even Qin Haiyu herself, the flower language that sakura grass symbolized. So, they simply enjoyed the sweetness and beauty of the melody, unaware of what this song truly meant to Qin Haiyu and Yu Zhile.

“La la la la la la la…”
“La la la la la…”
“La la la la la la la la…”

Even the humming at the end of the song was so enchanting that it made people swoon.

Many people like to say that a beautiful voice makes their ears pregnant; at this moment, many in the audience truly felt that way.

When the song ended, Qin Haiyu thanked the audience, exhaled softly, and basked in the applause. She had been a bit nervous this time—mainly because she was the first to perform in the finals, and she had promised to bring home the championship trophy for her husband. The pressure was not small. Fortunately, she held it together, quickly adjusted her mindset and breath, and delivered a perfect performance of “Sakura Grass.”

At this moment, the host, Ni Qiqin, walked toward Qin Haiyu with a microphone. From the judges’ table, a male judge could not contain his curiosity: “Is this the debut of this song? I just searched online and couldn’t find it!”

Qin Haiyu nodded, replying, “Yes, this is the first public performance. My husband wrote this song for me.”

Ni Qiqin, who had just reached Qin Haiyu, was caught off guard by this public display of affection. She continued hosting, “The song Qin Haiyu just performed, ‘Sakura Grass,’ was incredibly sweet and refreshing. Now, does anyone in the audience know the flower language of sakura grass?”

A female musician judge picked up her microphone and said, “The flower language of sakura grass is: ‘No love but yours!’”

Qin Haiyu was momentarily stunned. So, this was what the song meant? The flower language of sakura grass is her husband’s vow and confession to her?

She suddenly felt a bit foolish… She hadn’t realized the profound meaning behind the song her husband wrote for her!

“That’s right, the flower language of sakura grass is: ‘No love but yours!’” Ni Qiqin smiled. “In every girl’s heart, there may be a sakura grass like this. It represents happiness, but it also implies the pain of missing out on true love.”

Hearing this, Qin Haiyu was startled again. What did that mean? How could it represent happiness and yet also hint at the sorrow of missing true love?

She really wanted to pick up the microphone and say, “I haven’t missed out on true love! My first love and my true love are both my husband!”

Ni Qiqin, well-prepared, continued hosting off-script, “In fairy tales of love, people always focus on the romance between the prince and the princess, often overlooking the white knight who always stayed by the princess’s side.

So, on the road of love, when you are troubled by unrequited affection, perhaps you should pause and look back. Maybe, after searching for him thousands of times in the crowd, he is right there, illuminated by the lanterns!”

Upon hearing this, Qin Haiyu thought Ni Qiqin’s words were wonderful!

Prince, princess, white knight…

She picked up the microphone and smiled gently, “Yes, my husband is the white knight who has always protected me. In his heart, I am his princess, and he is also the prince in mine.”

Ni Qiqin sighed enviously, “So, your ‘Sakura Grass’ sings of a sweet love where, besides each other, there is no one else. Such a love, I believe, will be the envy, blessing, and yearning of many.”

“Thank you,” Qin Haiyu replied, her sweet smile unwavering.

Ni Qiqin then called on the judges for their comments on Qin Haiyu’s performance.

“When you stepped onto the stage, I was still immersed in the bittersweet nostalgia of ‘Little Happiness.’ I didn’t expect this sudden shift in style—a complete surprise that pulled me straight into a world of sweet romance! This song is especially fresh and sweet, and your genuine emotion gave it a soul. All I can say is: thumbs up!”

Qin Haiyu thanked the judge, and the next judge spoke.

“I won’t comment on the lyrics, which left me a bit bewildered for the sake of rhyme. Instead, I want to praise the arrangement! Did you arrange the song yourself?”

Qin Haiyu replied, “No, my husband wrote both the lyrics and the music.”

The male judge—short and unremarkable, named Zhang Dahua—frowned and asked, “Isn’t your husband a novelist?”

Qin Haiyu introduced proudly, “My husband majored in music at university. His musical talent and skill far surpass mine! I studied broadcasting in college, and I became a singer because he said I sang beautifully. He encouraged and taught me, and that’s how I am where I am today. As for his fame as a novelist, it started because he wrote about his confession and pursuit of me during college, turned it into a novel, and unexpectedly it became popular after publication. So he kept on writing.”

At this, everyone was dumbfounded!

How could this be?

Zhang Dahua pressed the “like” button on his panel and said, acting important, “So, a music major—no wonder you can write and arrange songs! But when you go home, remind your husband not to just fill in lyrics for the sake of rhyme! That line, ‘Coins dancing in the mountains,’ I really can’t understand. Is he flaunting wealth, or just clueless? Is it simply filling in words for rhyme, regardless of meaning? If it were me, I’d change ‘coins’ to ‘petals’ for better imagery and clarity!”

Filling in lyrics at random? Flaunting wealth? Clueless?

Qin Haiyu was not pleased! Say what you want about me, but you can’t say a bad word about my husband!

She picked up the microphone and explained, dissatisfied, “That’s not a random lyric, nor is it about flaunting wealth! ‘Fireflies flicker, coins dancing in the mountains!’ These two lines together use the glittering fireflies at night as a metaphor for gold coins! It expresses my husband’s hopes and dreams for the future, to work hard and provide for the family!”

At this, Zhang Dahua was left awkward and speechless!

Many in the audience had long disliked Zhang Dahua; he was the most criticized member of the judging panel. Now, after hearing Qin Haiyu’s explanation and rebuttal, they liked him even less!

With this level, he’s a judge? He should just go back and raise pigs! If he can’t even understand a metaphor, how dare he claim someone’s just rhyming at random? And to suggest changing “coins” to “petals”? Ridiculous!

Pretending to know, he only made a fool of himself!

This time, his attempt at showing off really backfired!