A melancholic prelude.
At first, it's about shedding worries and finding stillness within.
Then, when the lyrics begin,
The journey of empathy with music truly starts.
"It's been so long, what kind of role is this?
Dressed with care, in a white shirt,
The cuffs are a gift from you..."
The song starts.
The chatter in the bar gradually quiets.
The entire establishment falls silent.
Everyone inclines their ears, attentively listening to this song they've never heard before.
Qi Shenghua leans back in his seat, eyes closed, savoring the lyrics and melody.
He gently sways the cocktail in his hand.
This song is good.
As the CEO of an entertainment company, judging a song's quality is a basic skill.
From the intro to the first verse,
He knew this song was excellent!
"Trying to act as if I don't care,
Frequent exposure reveals the self-deceiver,
The more I conceal, the deeper it gets.
You say, I say, I hear,
Enduring the insincere passages,
I've decided to suffer alone anyway..."
Following the verse, there's an emotional transition.
A scene begins to form in Qi Shenghua's mind.
In the image, a man in a suit and tie, his demeanor impeccably proper.
He feigns indifference towards the woman before him, yet inadvertently reveals a hint of sadness.
The deep vocalizations, coupled with the accompaniment,
Not only Qi Shenghua but all the patrons in the bar feel a tightness in their chests.
That heart-shattering emotion erupts from the depths of their souls.
Meekness!
Yes, it's meekness!
"I want to touch your hair,
Just a simple touch, you see.
I want to give you a hug,
Can I do it like before?
Is your stepping back serious?
Such a small movement, yet it hurts so much,
I can only play the gentleman,
To be able to talk to you..."
The imagery is incredibly vivid!
That cautious affection, that meekness, that powerlessness.
And the bewilderment after the girl takes a step back.
Instantly drawing the listeners into the narrative!
Hiss!
A collective intake of breath echoes through the bar.
The chorus melody soars,
The vocals, resonating with chest resonance, strike directly into everyone's hearts.
Combined with the melodious, deep accompaniment and the slightly urgent piano, the melancholic emotion is extended infinitely.
A baseless pang of sadness washes over them.
Their eyes involuntarily well up with tears.
"What is this song!"
"Damn, these lyrics are hitting me right in the heart!"
"My scalp is tingling!"
"Meekness! Meekness to the extreme!"
"Be quiet, listen to the song!"
In the previously silent bar, bursts of exclamation arise.
Qi Shenghua's brow furrows, then relaxes.
He automatically tunes out the noise, engrossed in appreciating this rare love song.
"Can I walk you home?
It looks like it might rain outside.
Can I give you a hug?
Just like friends, is that okay?
I couldn't resist hugging you from behind,
Keeping the boundary so I don't say I miss you.
Just pretend it was a joke by a newly met gentleman,
A silly mistake you made..."
The calm, storytelling vocal delivery,
Carrying a hint of helplessness and resentment.
The repeated "Can I" fully expresses the bone-deep meekness.
Each line sends shivers down their spines.
That numbing sensation and heartache bring tears to their eyes, leaving their hands and feet feeling cold.
To what extent of meekness must one reach to write such heart-piercing lyrics?
How I wish it would rain outside! Then I could walk you home.
How I wish we were still friends! A friend's hug might feel more natural.
Even if I couldn't help but hug you.
I must humbly label myself as a gentleman.
Just pretend it was a joke by a gentleman.
"Wuwuwu... I can't hold it anymore!"
"My heart feels so heavy!"
"I'm suffocating, what is this song!"
"..."
Those who enjoy drinking often have stories.
And bars are gathering places for stories.
Making them more receptive to the song's emotions.
At this moment, someone can't help but sob softly.
"Trying to act as if I'm understanding.
...
Enduring the insincere passages.
I am destined to remain in the corner..."
The second chorus.
The low, gentle vocals gradually gain a resilient tone.
The emotion in the voice intensifies.
"I want to touch your hair,
Just a simple touch, you see...
...
Just pretend it was a joke by a newly met gentleman,
A silly mistake you made..."
The emotions have been built to their absolute peak.
When the drums kick in,
The heartache and meekness reach their climax.
At the entrance of the bar,
The man hasn't left.
His eyes are bloodshot as he gazes at the distant traffic.
No one present understands the song's emotions better than he does.
If not for deep love, who would willingly be a devoted follower?
To outsiders, such devotion seems meek and pathetic.
But who can comprehend the pain they endure, willing to give everything for that minuscule sliver of hope?
"Can you give me your left hand, to walk you to the other side of the road?
I'll look at the passing cars, just like before.
Our distance wrinkled your brow!
You quickly returned to the look of a stranger!
The more polite you are, the more I fear,
A gentleman must be able to let go..."
This final section is the most tear-jerking part of the entire song.
The desperate cries, the powerless pleas.
The suppressed emotions erupting to the extreme!
It makes everyone's scalp tingle!
The past scene of holding hands while crossing the road has become a distant dream...
The more beautiful the memory, the harder it is to forget, and the more it stings the heart.
And that sudden frown signals the end of the story.
Letting go.
Perhaps it's the best choice.
The song has ended.
Yet, the bar remains silent.
Except for the occasional sound of sobbing, the gulping of drinks, and the choking coughs.
...
Qi Shenghua's eyes remain closed.
The wine glass in his hand is empty, but his mind is filled with memories.
It was when he had just achieved success in his career.
Exhausted from work every day.
Online chatting was popular back then.
Qi Shenghua, during his breaks, was no exception.
The story began when a stranger with the online handle "Dream Girl" added him as a friend.
It was a beautiful misunderstanding; "Dream Girl" had typed the wrong account.
During their first chat, they got to know each other simply and found they had much in common.
From then on,
She would send him "Good morning" and "Good night" every day.
She was very thoughtful.
When he was busy, she wouldn't bother him, and when he had free time, she would patiently chat with him.
She often shared details of her life.
And she was very considerate, often comforting and encouraging him.
This deeply moved Qi Shenghua, who was busy with his career.
As their interactions continued, they naturally developed an online relationship.
Later, "Dream Girl" sent Qi Shenghua her photo.
She was pure and beautiful.
She was in a tea plantation filled with tea bushes.
Like a spirit of nature.
Qi Shenghua was captivated by her.
Moreover, from her social media, Qi Shenghua learned that
She was a kind-hearted girl.
Despite her low salary, she would donate a portion to poverty-stricken areas.
Her grandfather was unwell, and she would return to help manage the tea plantation.
He felt that such an excellent and filial girl was the girlfriend of his dreams!
However, good times didn't last.
Not long after, "Dream Girl" told him that her grandfather was ill and needed a lot of money, and that a typhoon had damaged the tea crops.
With no other option, she had to help her grandfather sell tea to raise money for his treatment.
Upon hearing this, Qi Shenghua was deeply moved and immediately offered to buy tea!
One thousand, two thousand, five thousand.
Qi Shenghua didn't know how much tea he had bought.
He only knew that he had to help this girl who had a difficult fate.
Eventually, the girl seemed to become busier and busier.
"Sorry, Huahua, I have to take care of my sick grandfather and don't have time to chat with you anymore."
This was the last message "Dream Girl" sent him.
From then on, her account was never logged in again.
Qi Shenghua waited for many years.
"I wonder how she is now, perhaps she's already married with children..."
Qi Shenghua opened his eyes, his eyes already moist...