msmithbooks Chapter 518 Are you sure you've thought this through?
Chapter 518 Are you sure you've thought this through?
Upon closer examination, the public's reaction is entirely reasonable.
Given the immense popularity of "The Wind Rises," it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a phenomenal hit.
Whether on the streets, in shopping malls, or even on the phones casually tucked in people's pockets, the familiar melody of this song will suddenly drift out, having long been deeply embedded in people's daily lives.
The mother-in-law and Zhang Ye chatted back and forth, their voices echoing in the air.
Old Lin reached out and picked up a segment of a tempting red pomelo, then leaned back comfortably on the soft sofa, his gaze drifting casually to the television screen.
He broke off a piece of red pomelo and slowly put it in his mouth, chewing it carefully and enjoying this rare moment of leisure.
Suddenly, Lao Lin turned to the side and his gaze fell on Yu Huan, who had been keeping her head down and intently fiddling with her phone.
With a hint of concern, he asked, "Xiao Yu, why are you staring at your phone? Is something wrong at work?"
Yu Huan was scrolling through Weibo, her finger constantly swiping across the screen.
Upon hearing his father-in-law's question, he quickly moved his phone away from his eyes, a gentle smile instantly spreading across his face. He explained, "It's nothing, Dad. I just saw some discussions about the show and found it quite interesting, so I watched a bit longer."
This conversation between the father-in-law and son-in-law naturally attracted everyone's attention.
Ji Meng was slumped lazily on the sofa, holding her phone in her hand, her eyes never leaving the screen.
She immediately chimed in, "I've seen those comments too. Netizens are really meddling in other people's business. They said that as a replacement singer, Rongrong should sing 'The Wind Rises' in her first performance, instead of a bland, sentimental ballad like 'Time Thief'."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ye wore a gentle smile and shook his head slightly, clearly indicating his opposition.
She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and then slowly began to speak: "With such a good voice and delicate control over emotions, it would be perfect for You Rong to sing a song like 'Time Thief' live. 'Time Thief' is a song that unfolds gently and slowly, seemingly plain and without many ups and downs, but in fact it contains a wealth of emotions."
Yu Huan listened to Zhang Ye's clear and logical analysis, nodding repeatedly in agreement.
After she finished speaking, Yu Huan added, "That's right. Netizens have been saying that 'Time Thief' is not suitable for competitions, but the facts are clear: Rongrong sang this song and still achieved an excellent second place. This is enough to prove that whether a song is suitable for a competition depends on whether the singer can fully bring out the charm of the song."
The mother-in-law sat quietly to the side, listening to everyone's discussion.
At this moment, she nodded slightly, the movement light but full of approval, and then agreed, "Yes, if singers all choose songs to perform according to the public's expectations, then the stage will be monotonous, and there will be no freshness or surprise at all."
Ji Meng smiled gently, looked at Yu Huan, and deliberately drew out her tone as she continued, "Of course Rongrong can fully showcase the charm of this song, after all, it's a love song that Yu Huan wrote especially for her."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Yourong's face turned bright red, and she blushed deeply.
She quickly realized what was happening and reached out to slap Ji Meng.
However, Ji Meng reacted quickly, easily dodging to the side, and continued with a grin, "What's wrong? It's true! Rongrong, you're not going to be shy so easily, are you?"
Old Lin watched with a smile as the two best friends joked and played around.
He spoke up at the opportune moment, trying to smooth things over: "No wonder I felt so emotional when I listened to this song. That's what artistic creation is all about; it has to be infused with genuine feelings. Xiao Yu's song is truly wonderful! And You Rong's singing is also superb!"
"I've been looking forward to the show airing so I can see You Rong's amazing performance on stage. She must have been completely immersed in the song; otherwise, how could she have moved so many listeners and won second place?" Zhang Ye said softly, picking up his teacup and gently blowing on it to cool it down.
She casually changed the subject, half-jokingly continuing to Lin Yourong, "You wouldn't be so reluctant to shed 'little pearls' while singing, would you?"
Upon hearing this question, Lin Yourong immediately felt somewhat embarrassed.
Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but she really didn't know how to respond.
Yu Huan took in his wife's changing expressions and instantly understood that, given his wife's sentimental nature, she must have been moved to tears when she sang on stage.
He smiled slightly and quickly came to his wife's rescue: "It's just a genuine expression of emotion. Rongrong is naturally sensitive. When the stage lights come on and the music starts, it's perfectly normal for her to shed a few tears when she sings those touching parts."
"If you want to move your audience, you must first be moved yourself," Zhang Ye said softly, then picked up his teacup and took an elegant sip.
Upon hearing this, Old Lin clapped his hands and exclaimed with a smile, "No wonder you're a singer! What you said is spot on!"
Zhang Ye was bending down to put the teacup back on the coffee table when he heard this. He straightened up, clasped his hands in a fist salute to him, and said jokingly, "Brother Lin, you flatter me too much. You're too kind."
Just then, the TV program "Day Day Up" entered its commercial break, and the noisy commercials echoed throughout the living room.
Ji Meng, who was sprawled on the sofa, suddenly sat up and took a small bag of cucumber-flavored potato chips from the snack basket.
She glanced at the hour hand of the wall clock and saw that it was past 9:30, and her eyes lit up instantly.
She deftly tore open the packaging, popped a piece into her mouth, and exclaimed excitedly, "After all this talk, I've been eagerly anticipating Rongrong's performance on stage. In half an hour, 'I Am a Singer' will finally start airing! I've been waiting so long I'm practically wilting!"
Old Lin chuckled softly and then stood up slowly.
He stepped out from behind the coffee table and said to Yu Huan, who was standing nearby, "I'm going to the terrace for a smoke. Yu, come and keep me company for a bit."
"Okay." Yu Huan responded without hesitation, stood up, stretched out a big yawn as if to shake off all the laziness, and then followed Lao Lin.
He pondered his father-in-law's intentions, unconsciously slowing his pace and turning his head slightly to glance at the group of people in the living room who were engaged in a lively conversation.
Lin Yourong also happened to raise her head.
Their eyes met in the air.
In an instant, Lin Yourong's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
No one knows a father better than his daughter.
She knew perfectly well that her father was likely going to question Yu Huan about something, and the most likely question was about the job at the TV station that she had just mentioned.
Yu Huan remained completely calm, giving his wife a flirtatious wink before following Lao Lin out of the living room and onto the terrace. The night wind carried a slight chill, brushing against their faces.
The fresh air rushed into their nostrils and instantly reached their lungs, making the father-in-law and son-in-law feel refreshed all over.
Old Lin walked steadily to the edge of the terrace.
He rested his left hand on the railing, leaned slightly forward, and looked up into the deep, distant horizon.
The layers of night were like a giant curtain, and the bright neon lights in the distance shone on the curtain, making everything look like a dreamlike starry sky.
He took out a cigarette case from his pocket with his right hand, skillfully pulled out a cigarette, neatly put it in his mouth, and then took out a lighter. With a "snap," a pale blue flame instantly sprang up, swaying in the night wind, and lit the cigarette butt.
Old Lin took a deep breath, and white smoke slowly billowed from his mouth and nose. At first, it maintained its shape, but then it was quickly torn apart and blown away by the wind in the dim night.
Yu Huan took two quick steps and stood side by side with Lao Lin, casually and naturally placing his hands on the railing, quietly waiting for his father-in-law to speak first.
After a moment, Old Lin slowly turned his head and his gaze fell on Yu Huan.
With a faint smile on his face, he said, "Xiao Yu, your mother-in-law's attitude was quite unusual when we talked about the TV job today. Considering how much effort she put into getting you to participate in 'Day Day Up,' there must be a reason. I've been thinking about this for a long time... Tell me the truth, what are your thoughts on this?"
Yu Huan already had a plan in mind.
Meeting Old Lin's gaze frankly, with an extremely sincere expression, he said earnestly, "Dad, to be honest, I really have no interest in working at the TV station."
After hearing this, Lao Lin gave a soft "oh" and instantly understood Yu Huan's unspoken meaning.
A cigarette dangled from his lips, his brows furrowed slightly, and his intelligent yet sharp gaze, shining through his glasses like two searchlights, stared directly at Yu Huan as he pressed, "Since you have no interest in the TV station, what exactly are your plans?"
The dim, yellowish light on the terrace accentuated the rugged features of Old Lin's face.
His smile, which had been on his lips, now turned down slightly. Although his tone remained gentle, the aura he exuded made the surrounding air seem to freeze instantly.
As expected of a high-ranking leader, his powerful aura is impossible to ignore.
Yu Huan took a slight breath and unconsciously rubbed her hands lightly against the railing.
Feeling the cold metallic touch, he carefully chose his words and slowly said, "Dad, I want to go out and explore the world."
As soon as he finished speaking, Old Lin immediately understood and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Are you planning to go into business and start your own business?"
“Yes!” Yu Huan nodded lightly, then explained, “Dad, I didn’t do this on a whim, but after careful consideration. Society is developing rapidly these days, and there are opportunities everywhere, which is perfect for young people to work hard and make their way in the world.”
Old Lin frowned, took a deep drag on his cigarette, then held it between his fingers and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.
His gaze remained fixed on Yu Huan: "Starting a business is no joke; it's extremely risky and full of uncertainty. In comparison, I'm much more accepting of you telling me you plan to devote yourself entirely to music creation."
Hearing this, Yu Huan gently shook his head and said, "Dad, songwriting will always be something I insist on doing, that will never change, but it can only be a side job."
"Oh? I'd like to hear the details."
Old Lin raised his hand, brought the cigarette butt to his lips, took a long drag, and looked on with a probing gaze.
Yu Huan subconsciously pursed her lips, her brain racing as she tried to find the right words.
Then, in a calm and unhurried tone, he said:
“Dad, I have studied the policy carefully. As early as the 1980s, there were clear regulations restricting the business activities of the children and spouses of leading cadres. Recently, I have keenly sensed a trend that the regulations seem to be even stricter in the next few years. Even the business activities of relatives, including sons-in-law, will be restricted, and it will be completely forbidden to set up businesses locally.”
Upon hearing this, Old Lin's brows instantly furrowed into a deep frown.
A genuine look of doubt crossed his face as he stared intently at Yu Huan and asked, "Is that really true? You're not just making this up to fool me, are you?"
Upon seeing this, Yu Huan hurriedly waved his hand, his expression extremely serious, and said resolutely, "Dad, how could I dare to lie to you about something like this! I have checked a lot of documents and verified it from various sources."
Old Lin stared into Yu Huan's eyes, his gaze filled with sincerity.
He silently took a drag of his cigarette, not responding immediately, but slowly turning his head to gaze thoughtfully at the night sky, like a silent statue.
Seeing his father-in-law's expression, Yu Huan wisely shut his mouth and stood aside without making a sound.
On the terrace, a gentle breeze blew, ruffling the hair of the two people.
After a long while, the cigarette in Old Lin's hand burned to the end, and the ash fell down in a flurry.
He then came to his senses, casually threw the cigarette butt under his feet and stomped it out, then took out another cigarette from the pack.
After lighting it, he turned to look at Yu Huan and said in a deep, powerful voice, "Are you sure you've thought this through?"
"I've thought it through." Yu Huan paused slightly as memories of her past life surfaced in her mind.
Old Lin is in his prime, and his future looks very promising.
He spoke sincerely, saying, "Dad, you've always worked diligently and finally reached where you are today. If my marriage with You Rong is exposed, and we work in the same unit, there will inevitably be gossip and rumors about nepotism. As a high-ranking leader, you'll definitely face a lot of pressure from public opinion. I absolutely don't want my actions to have a negative impact on you, and I certainly don't want to hinder your career development."
Old Lin listened quietly, his brows furrowed the whole time, the cigarette in his hand half-burned, the ash teetering precariously as if it might fall at any moment.
After listening to Yu Huan's words, he slowly said, "Xiao Yu, what you said makes sense, and you've considered things very thoroughly for me and You Rong. But starting a business is far more difficult than you imagine, and there are many thorny problems that can't be solved by just talking about it. If any link goes wrong, you could lose all your previous efforts."
The voice just fell.
Old Lin casually tossed the cigarette butt under his foot and stomped it out, then turned and strode away, his leather shoes making a crisp sound on the ground. (End of Chapter)