In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Yang Guangming wore a dark blue suit today, simple and elegant, with a very good texture. The makeup artist gave him a quick touch-up, making him look energetic but not overdone.

In the lounge, Yang Guangming sat alone, resting with his eyes closed.

The door was gently pushed open, and Aunt Peng walked in.

"Guangming, how are the preparations going?"

Yang Guangming opened his eyes and stood up: "Aunt Peng, I'm fine. How about you?"

“I’m fine too.” Aunt Peng sat down next to him. “I watched your rehearsal from the audience just now, and you sang so well. This song is absolutely moving.”

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Thank you, Aunt Peng."

Aunt Peng patted his hand and said, "Sing well, make your mother proud."

The sunlight nodded in approval.

Aunt Peng chatted for a few more minutes, then got up and left.

After a while, the door was pushed open again. This time, it was her mother, Chen Zhiyun, who came in.

"Mingming," Chen Zhiyun walked up to her son and straightened his tie, "Are you nervous?"

Yang Guangming shook his head: "I'm not nervous."

Chen Zhiyun smiled, her eyes full of pride: "Mom watched your rehearsal and thought you sang so well. You'll definitely sing even better in the actual performance tonight."

Yang Guangming held his mother's hand. Chen Zhiyun paused and said softly, "Your father is here too."

Yang Guangming was somewhat surprised: "Dad's here too? He's been really busy lately, isn't he still in Hong Kong Island?"

“He flew back specifically for this.” Chen Zhiyun’s tone was full of pride. “He said he had to be there for his son’s first performance on the Spring Festival Gala.”

The sunshine warmed my heart.

Yang Hongwen's business has grown bigger and bigger, and he has become increasingly busy in the past two years, often handling business on Hong Kong Island even during the Lunar New Year. But today, he made a special trip back to Beijing just to see his son sing live.

"Mom, please thank Dad for me," Yang Guangming said.

"No need to thank me, it's what a father should do." Chen Zhiyun patted her son's hand. "Alright, Mom won't bother you anymore. Get ready, see you tonight."

After she left, Yang Guangming sat alone for a while, then stood up and walked to the window.

It's Lunar New Year's Eve outside the window in Beijing. Under the gray sky, the distant buildings are indistinct. There are few people on the streets; most are probably at home preparing their New Year's Eve dinner.

In just a few hours, he will stand on the biggest stage in the country and sing a song he wrote for his parents.

A song written for my parents.

He thought of himself in the first timeline, of that ordinary person without a system or cheat codes, who stumbled and struggled his way up. His parents back then loved him just as much.

He thought of Chen Zhiyun and Yang Hongwen in this time and space; they gave him the best conditions, the warmest love, and the most unconditional support.

This song is written for them.

It is also written for all parents in the world.

At 8 PM, the countdown to the Spring Festival Gala begins.

Yang Guangming was already standing in the backstage waiting area. His performance was the ninth in line, and he was scheduled to go on stage around 8:30.

The waiting area was bustling with people; actors hurried by, and staff members moved back and forth with walkie-talkies. Yang Guangming stood quietly in a corner, watching it all.

Not far away, Aunt Peng was talking to several dancers. Her performance was sixth, and she was about to go on stage.

Seeing Yang Guangming, Aunt Peng came over and shook his hand: "Keep going, Guangming."

Yang Guangming nodded: "Aunt Peng, keep it up!"

After Aunt Peng took the stage, Yang Guangming continued to wait.

His performance was a solo, requiring little preparation. He simply walked onto the stage from the side after the host announced his name, stood in front of the white grand piano, and sang the song.

At 8:20, the host announced his name:
"Next, please welcome the famous director and actor Yang Guangming to bring us a song he composed himself - 'Where Has the Time Gone?'"

applause.

Yang Guangming took a deep breath and walked onto the stage.

The stage was large and the lights were bright. He walked to the piano and sat down on the piano bench.

The audience seats were packed with people. He couldn't see anyone's face clearly, but he knew that in some corner, his father, Yang Hongwen, was watching him.

He raised his hand and placed it on the piano keys.

The prelude begins.

The entire studio fell silent.

He began to sing:

"The old tree in front of the door sprouts new buds, and the withered tree in the yard blooms again. Half a lifetime has passed, and so many words are hidden in my full head of white hair..."

The voice was clear, warm, and carried a natural emotion.

It wasn't deliberate sentimentality, but a natural and heartfelt emotion. It was as if he had truly seen those scenes and truly felt those emotions.

"The little feet in my memory, the chubby little mouth. I gave him my whole life, just for that one word: Mom and Dad..."

As he sang this, Yang Guangming saw the face of his mother, Chen Zhiyun. From as far back as he could remember, his mother had been by his side. She taught him to speak, to walk, to sing, and to be a good person. Whatever choices he made, his mother supported him.

And then there's his father, Yang Hongwen. That man of few words expressed his love for his son through his actions. From the mainland to Hong Kong Island, from obscurity to becoming a business tycoon, he has always strived to provide a better life for his family.

"Where has the time gone? I haven't even had a chance to truly experience youth before I'm old. A lifetime spent raising children, my mind is filled with their cries and laughter..."

Some people in the audience started wiping away tears.

This song is so simple, so simple that everyone can find a reflection of themselves in it. The love of parents for their children, the gratitude of children for their parents, those overlooked daily moments, those forgotten details, are all in the lyrics.

"Where has the time gone? I haven't even had a chance to really look at you before my eyes start to blur. Half a lifetime spent on daily chores and household chores, and in the blink of an eye, all that's left is a face full of wrinkles..."

The last note fell.

The studio was silent for a few seconds.

Then applause broke out.

At first, the applause was sparse, then it grew louder and louder, finally culminating in thunderous applause. This applause was more enthusiastic than any program, more sincere than any performance.

Yang Guangming stood up and bowed deeply to the audience.

He turned and walked backstage.

When he walked to the side of the stage, he saw Aunt Peng standing there, her eyes red.

“Guangming…” Aunt Peng held his hand, her voice choked with emotion, “This song… is so beautiful…”

The actors and staff backstage were all watching him, many with tears in their eyes but smiles on their faces. Some gave him a thumbs up, some clapped, and some simply watched him quietly, their eyes full of admiration.

Yang Guangming didn't linger for long; he walked through the crowd and headed towards the lounge.

He pushed open the door and saw his mother, Chen Zhiyun, sitting on the sofa.

Seeing her son come in, Chen Zhiyun stood up and walked over to him.

She didn't speak, she just looked at him, her eyes red-rimmed, but with a smile on her face.

"Mom," Yang Guangming called softly.

Chen Zhiyun reached out and gently stroked her son's face. Her hand trembled slightly.

"Mingming. Mom's life... has been worthwhile."

Yang Guangming felt a warmth in his heart and hugged his mother.

The mother and son embraced each other in silence for a very long time.

The door was pushed open again, and Yang Hongwen walked in.

Seeing the mother and son embracing, he paused for a moment, then walked over, stretched out his arms, and hugged them both.

A family of three embraced each other backstage at the Spring Festival Gala on New Year's Eve.

"Son, you sang so well." Yang Hongwen's voice was a little hoarse. "Dad is so proud of you."

Yang Guangming looked up at his father. The man had wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and gray hair at his temples. He had always been busy and on the go, but he had never forgotten to love his family.

"Dad, you've worked so hard."

Yang Hongwen patted him on the shoulder and didn't say anything more.

After a while, the three of them let go. Chen Zhiyun wiped away her tears and said with a smile, "Alright, stop being so sentimental. There are so many people waiting outside."

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Dad, why don't you go back first? Mom and I have to wait until the party is over before we can leave."

“I’ll wait for you.” Yang Hongwen didn’t plan to go home alone first. “I’ll be alone anyway, so let’s go home together as a family of three.” Yang Guangming nodded: “Okay.”

Chen Zhiyun and Yang Hongwen left the lounge first. Yang Guangming sat alone for a while, then took out his phone and called Chen Hong.

The call was answered quickly.

"Guangming!" Chen Hong's voice came through the receiver, filled with excitement. "I watched it! We watched the live stream at the hotel! You sang so well!"

Yang Guangming heard Zuo Xiaoqing's voice on the other end of the phone: "Brother Guangming! That's awesome!"

Then came Fan Bingbing's chattering voice: "Director Yang is amazing! I cried!"

Gao Yuanyuan's voice came softly: "Director Yang, congratulations."

Yang Guangming smiled: "How are things over there?"

"Great!" Chen Hong's tone was cheerful. "The publicity here in Hong Kong is very effective. We're going to Taiwan tomorrow. Don't worry, we're all doing well."

Zuo Xiaoqing answered the phone: "Brother Guangming, you sang so well. I miss you."

Yang Guangming felt a warmth in his heart: "I miss you too. I'll wait for you to come back."

"Ok!"

After hanging up the phone, Yang Guangming leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes.

The sounds of the Spring Festival Gala could be faintly heard outside, filled with joyful songs and laughter, creating a lively atmosphere.

But at this moment, he just wanted to stay quiet for a while.

There were too many emotions to process that night.

After midnight, the Spring Festival Gala finally came to an end.

Yang Guangming changed his clothes and walked out of the CCTV building. Fireworks were already being set off outside, their vibrant colors illuminating the night sky and brightening Beijing's New Year's Eve.

Duan Yunfeng was waiting at the door in his car. Yang Hongwen and Chen Zhiyun were already in the car.

Yang Guangming got on the bus and sat in the middle of the back seat, with his mother on his left and his father on his right.

The car slowly drove away from CCTV and headed towards home.

Fireworks continued to light up the street outside the window, which was deserted except for the occasional car passing by.

“Mingming,” Chen Zhiyun suddenly spoke.

"Ok?"

"Mom has a question for you."

Yang Guangming turned to look at her.

Chen Zhiyun thought for a moment and asked, "When did you come up with the idea of ​​writing a song for me and your dad?"

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Actually, I had this idea a long time ago. Last year, I had a burst of inspiration and wrote this song."

Chen Zhiyun nodded, her eyes reddening again: "This song is so touching, the emotions are so sincere."

Yang Hongwen remained silent, but Yang Guangming noticed that his eyes were also a little moist.

There was a moment of silence in the car.

Then Yang Hongwen said, "Son, whatever you do in the future, Dad will support you."

Yang Guangming looked at his father and said earnestly, "Thank you, Dad."

The car continued its journey, passing through the quiet city of Beijing, heading towards that warm home.

It was almost 1 a.m. when I got home.

Wu Fang was still waiting; the dumplings were cooked. The family of three sat around the dining table, eating dumplings for New Year's Eve.

The dumplings were filled with chives and eggs, a flavor Yang Guangming had loved since he was little. He ate more than a dozen, and Chen Zhiyun kept putting more on his plate.

"Eat more, you've worked so hard this year," Chen Zhiyun said.

Yang Hongwen became unusually talkative, asking about the release of "Love Letter," its Asian promotion, and future plans.

Yang Guangming answered them one by one.

"What are the box office predictions?" Yang Hongwen asked.

"The opening day box office figures for Japan and South Korea are out," Yang Guangming said. "Japan's opening day box office reached 320 million yen, setting a new record for a romance film there. South Korea's opening day box office was also very good, also setting a record."

Yang Hongwen nodded: "What about Hong Kong Island?"

"Specific figures for Hong Kong Island haven't been released yet, but Mr. Shi said the first-day box office should break two million Hong Kong dollars. Based on this trend, the final box office is expected to exceed twenty million."

Yang Hongwen was somewhat surprised: "That's good?"

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Maybe I'm just lucky."

“It’s not luck,” Yang Hongwen shook his head. “It’s your skill.”

Chen Zhiyun listened from the side, her smile impossible to hide. Her son's success made her happier than anything else.

It was almost 2 o'clock when we finished eating dumplings.

Yang Guangming escorted his parents back to their room to rest, and then went back to his study.

He sat down at his desk, turned on the lamp, and took out paper and pen.

Starting tomorrow, he still has a lot to do. The promotion for "Love Letter" is still ongoing, and although he didn't go out of town, he still has some events to attend in Beijing.

He thought for a moment and made a simple plan on a piece of paper.

After listing the plans, he put down his pen and leaned back in his chair.

Outside the window, fireworks were still blooming sporadically. Faint laughter drifted from afar; people were celebrating the New Year.

February 19th, the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Yang Guangming slept until he naturally woke up. When he opened his eyes, sunlight was already streaming in through the gap in the curtains.

He glanced at the clock on the bedside table; it was 9:30 a.m.

I slept in late, which is rare for me.

After getting up and washing up, he went to the living room. Chen Zhiyun and Yang Hongwen were already sitting at the dining table, where a sumptuous breakfast was laid out.

Chen Zhiyun greeted him with a smile, "Come and eat."

Yang Guangming sat down and picked up his chopsticks. Breakfast was plentiful, mainly dumplings for the first day of the Lunar New Year.

"What's the schedule for today?" Yang Hongwen asked.

Yang Guangming thought for a moment and said, "It's nothing serious. I only have two promotional events to attend today. After that, I can rest."

"Working on the first day of the Lunar New Year?" Chen Zhiyun felt a little sorry for her. "Take a day off today."

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Mom, it's just two simple interviews, not tiring at all."

Chen Zhiyun wanted to say something, but Yang Hongwen waved his hand and said, "Let him go. He knows what he's doing."

After having breakfast, Yang Guangming changed his clothes and left home.

The streets were nearly deserted, most shops were closed, and the festive atmosphere was strong. Occasionally, a few cars would drive by, with the character "福" (fortune) pasted on their windows.

When Chen Zhiyun returned home in the afternoon, she found Yang Hongwen sitting in the living room drinking tea.

Seeing her son return, Chen Zhiyun asked, "How was it?"

"It went very well, the interview went smoothly." Yang Guangming sat down next to his mother.

Yang Hongwen put down his teacup and asked, "What are your plans next? Are you going to continue making movies?"

Yang Guangming thought for a moment: "We might be preparing for a new project. But there's no rush, we'll take it slow."

Yang Hongwen nodded: "As long as you know what's going on. You don't need to worry about things at home, just focus on your work."

The sunshine warmed my heart.

In the evening, the family had a simple dinner. Yang Hongwen was returning to Hong Kong Island the next day, while Chen Zhiyun was staying home to receive visiting guests.

At the dinner table, Yang Hongwen spoke a lot, asking Yang Guangming about his future plans, his views on the film market, and his interest in the Hong Kong film and television industry.

Yang Guangming answered each question directly, without being perfunctory or exaggerated.

"ATV is doing quite well in Hong Kong," Yang Hongwen said. "The plans you proposed are being implemented very well. Even the newly established film and record distribution companies have had a very good start thanks to your advice. I don't know much about these things, so you'll have to make the decisions yourself from now on."

Yang Guangming nodded: "I know. After I'm done with this busy period, I'll go to Hong Kong Island for a while to make some plans for this year."

Yang Hongwen nodded in satisfaction. (End of Chapter)