The Path Through the World

"Life's journey, dreams as long as the road..." She drew out the final syllable, her voice trailing into a lingering note, and as she spoke, she seemed to fall into a trance. After singing that one line, she returned to plucking her instrument alone.

Her slender fingers gently danced across the strings. After a long moment, a faint trace of sorrow surfaced on her face, as if she were remembering something distant. The melody continued to ripple softly, and yet, several minutes passed without Chu Lian making another sound.

Finally, as the tune softened once more, her slightly parted red lips opened, and the same line returned—not just a sigh this time:

Life,

Dreams as long as the road,

Let the wind and frost, the wind and frost, remain on the face…

A Chinese Ghost Story. This was a song from the only male celebrity she had liked in her previous life. It was a beautiful piece he left behind at the pinnacle of his career. Coupled with that emotionally sublime film based on Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, it evoked infinite nostalgia.

If only she had learned Cantonese—she truly wished to sing it in the original language. The Mandarin version was good, but still lacked that elusive essence. Perhaps it was the ethereal, dreamlike quality. After all, her first time hearing it had been in Cantonese, and that impression was hard to forget.

The reason she chose this song wasn't just her fondness for the singer. It also fit perfectly with the atmosphere of this performance. What she wanted to convey was that life is like a dream—no need to dwell on parting now, for they would meet again in the future.

The audience below listened once more. This was yet another song they had never heard before. The lyrics were so beautiful, yet the subtle melancholy seeped into their hearts, impossible to erase, unforgettable and irrepressible.

Life is,

The extension of a dream,

In the dream, faint tears shimmer…

The mortal world is too deep, longing too long, parting too hasty—when would they meet again, and with ease?

With this final piece, Lian'er offered a message to everyone: if one day you hear my song in the wind, don't mind it—it's merely a moment of whimsy. Afterward, I'll be gone.

The path through the world,

A happy young man,

Seeing sunlight amid the rugged terrain…

Youth is not about acting recklessly, but how many regrets you've left behind, how many memories remain worth cherishing, ones you won't forget even in the distant future.

This time, we part ways. The me that comes after is merely a passerby on your journey, just a fleeting guest in your hearts. Of course, if you don't mind, you may invite this guest aboard at some point, and we'll weather the storm together. Hopefully, no matter how lost you feel along the road ahead, you'll still see a light shining in the distance.

Lian'er will be at the end of the path, lighting a lantern, brewing a pot of tea, warming a bottle of wine, setting out a few small dishes—waiting for your arrival.

You could say this song was both a farewell, a thank-you, and a promise. As long as everyone remembers her, then there will always be a chance to meet again someday.

Should fate allow another meeting in the future, may it be with a shared smile. As you look back on today, at this very moment—do you still remember the promise made between Lian'er and all of you?

The person on stage had long since departed, but the people below remained rooted in place. Most of them could only appreciate the music, recognizing the song's sorrowful pull, but not fully grasping the message Chu Lian conveyed.

Yet those who understood the lyrics and felt the subtle emotion in Chu Lian's melody and voice yearned for that veiled promise.

What the future holds, no one can predict or control. But I believe—we will see you on that stage again, your elegance fully in bloom, captivating the entire world with your charm.

And thus, without even realizing it herself, Chu Lian had inspired the birth of a group of her most passionate fans. Among them were both men and women—students, teachers, and outsiders alike—including even some who once bore her ill will.

They had been completely captivated by Chu Lian's talent and presence. Even knowing she might disappear from the public eye for a few years, they were willing to wait. Once they returned home, they would follow her Weibo, her M Station ID, and her MySong account—anything and everything. They just hoped she would share glimpses of her life and new works, so they could see them the moment they appeared.

Of course, due to Chu Lian's age, this also transformed a large group of people into what could be considered a "world-ending" demographic—lolicons. But let's not delve too deeply into that. I certainly won't mention that in just a year or two, Chu Lian wouldn't be a loli anymore.

It was long after the music had faded and the song ended that the remaining audience began to disperse. Chu Lian had already left quite a while ago, and seeing no signs of her returning to the stage, they finally gave up—no matter how unwilling they were—and left, not wanting to hinder others.

There was still a ball and an awards ceremony to attend later tonight. After dinner, they could head over.

The school's voting system required each student, teacher, or guest to enter a unique identification number on their phone. Each number allowed up to three votes to different people via a special link. The total number of votes could not exceed three per ID. You could vote for one, two, or not vote at all.

This system helped prevent vote manipulation while also allowing for surprises. According to the school, by the time the independent performances on the side stage ended, over ten thousand people had obtained voting codes. That meant more than thirty thousand votes could be cast—possibly resulting in some dark horse victories.

In the practice room of Grade 7 Class 1, Chu Lian sat on the floor with two instrument cases beside her. She whispered, "Finally, it's over…" It was as if she were asking someone else, or perhaps asking herself.

"It's over, you can rest now… The result will surely be your victory. You've done what you set out to do. Sleep peacefully now…" Ayase suddenly appeared in front of her, catching her in her arms as she collapsed toward the floor. She whispered gently into her ear.

She knew Chu Lian had exhausted everything today to achieve this. With her current stamina, even an hour-long performance would be draining, let alone an entire afternoon.

But to push herself through, and to maintain a composed appearance, she had used the 100 Dream Points she had just saved up to exchange for a bottle of "Unlimited Stamina Potion (Type A)."

"Unlimited Stamina Potion (Type A): Grants unlimited stamina for a limited time to those with a total physical stat below 12. During this period, all activity consumes no stamina. Side effect: After the effect ends, the user will fall into a two-hour coma. Use with caution."

Fortunately, it was still not yet six o'clock. Even if she slept for two hours, she would still make it to the final awards ceremony. All the effort and pressure Chu Lian had endured these past few days had been for this very moment.

Ayase gently kissed Chu Lian on the forehead. Seeing the little girl clutching her sleeve tightly, as if afraid she would leave, she smiled softly. "You really do love to push yourself. Let's see if you dare use things like this again."

Though her words were chiding, her eyes were full of warmth and pride. She was proud that Chu Lian had come this far—adapting on the fly amid all the chaos, achieving an even better outcome than planned, and completing both tasks. She had laid a solid foundation for Chu Lian's growth.

"Just as you said, we don't know what the future holds. But as long as you're here, I'll walk with you. No matter the mountains of fire or blades of ice ahead, I'll never leave your side…"

In front of the unconscious Chu Lian, Ayase suddenly said these words. It seemed there were still things the girl in her comatose state had yet to know.

The setting sun cast a faint crimson glow across the ground. In this dusky twilight, everything fell silent. Birds returned to the forest.

But in this school, lights shone like stars, neon like dreams. The beauty normally only seen by boarding students at night bloomed freely tonight, eliciting gasps of wonder from passersby.

Pale white lights connected the school grounds, forming images crafted by the designer's hands. Scenes invisible by day transformed into enchanting sights under the brilliant glow of night—showcasing a unique kind of beauty.

Standing amidst it all felt more breathtaking than any view in the world…