Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

Chapter 88: I'll Give You a Song, Surpassing Tang Yingxue

At 6:40 pm, Jiang Fan arrived at Xu Qingya's door carrying a bottle of red wine.

He skillfully opened the combination lock.

Xu Qingya was wearing a white knitted dress and was serving dishes to the dining table.

"You've come at the perfect time."

Jiang Fan peeked into the kitchen and saw a pot of chicken soup simmering on the stove, and several dishes already plated on the table.

The chicken soup was bubbling away, with goji berries and red dates in it.

"Is this for me?"

Xu Qingya snatched the pot lid back from his hand and put it on.

"You talk too much nonsense. Sit there and wait."

Jiang Fan was ushered to sit down at the dining table.

Dinner consisted of four dishes and a soup, and the quality was much better than last time.

"His skills have improved."

Xu Qingya ladled him a bowl of chicken soup and pushed it towards him.

"Talk less and eat more vegetables."

Just as Jiang Fan was about to open the wine bottle, Xu Qingya waved her hand.

"Wait a minute, Sister Lan gave me a bottle of medicinal wine, saying it works well, you should try it."

She took a dark porcelain bottle from the wine cabinet and poured a small half-glass.

Jiang Fan picked it up and took a sip. It was warm as it went down his throat, with a sweet aftertaste and a faint medicinal fragrance.

"The taste is alright."

"Don't drink too much. Sister Lan said that half a cup is enough each time."

The two of them finished their meal quietly.

While Jiang Fan was clearing away the dishes, Xu Qingya had already settled into the living room sofa, flipping through channels with the remote control.

Hunan TV is currently rebroadcasting "The Voice of China".

Jiang Fan wiped his hands and walked over. Xu Qingya pulled her legs up to make room for him on the sofa.

He had barely sat down when her feet were placed on his thighs.

Jiang Fan placed his hand on her ankle, his thumb pressing it intermittently.

Xu Qingya watched the performances of the first few singers with indifference, occasionally offering a few comments.

"There's a problem with the pitch."

"Who did this arrangement? It's a mess."

When it was Chen Hao's turn, she sat up a little straighter.

"This person has a good bass voice."

"Yes, the on-site stability is very strong."

"It's a problem for Shen Nian."

Jiang Fan glanced at her.

The diva's critique of her peers is sharp and incisive.

After Zhang Yihan finished singing, Xu Qingya's comment was even more concise: "Tea."

When the prelude to "The Wind Rises" started playing, Xu Qingya pulled her feet off Jiang Fan's legs, sat cross-legged, and became serious.

Shen Nian stood in the center of the stage, wearing a white shirt dress. Under the spotlight, she looked clean and pure.

After the final chorus was sung, the entire audience stood up and applauded.

Xu Qingya picked up the water glass on the coffee table and took a sip.

"This girl has a really good voice."

"Um."

"The song you chose for her is also suitable. No one else could sing it with the same feeling."

The scene cuts to a close-up of Tang Yingxue.

The 31-year-old woman's skin shimmered under the camera lens, and she spoke with an air of superior elegance.

"Shen Nian's song is indeed moving, but I'd like to raise a question—when the jury voted, were they moved by the song itself, or by her personal experiences?"

Xu Qingya slammed the water glass down on the coffee table.

"What the hell?"

Jiang Fan looked at her.

"How can a mentor say something like that?" Xu Qingya's tone was fiery. "Shen Nian had her song stolen, was hospitalized for depression, and was criticized by the entire internet for a year. She finally managed to stand on stage again and sing a good song, and she says that she relied on playing the victim?"

"She has a close relationship with Hua Xingyu."

Xu Qingya snorted coldly.

On TV, Jay Chou was speaking up for Shen Nian, which calmed Xu Qingya down a little, but her expression was still not good.

Jiang Fan looked at Tang Yingxue's face on the screen.

He looked away and asked, "Among the four Heavenly Queens, where do you rank?"

Xu Qingya turned to look at him, her expression somewhat surprised.

"Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"curious."

Xu Qingya leaned back on the sofa, hugged the cushion to her chest, and thought for a moment.

"First is Sister Ye."

"Ye Anran?"

"Yes." Xu Qingya nodded. "She's now a triple threat in film, television, and music. She's won two Golden Rooster Awards for Best Actress, five Golden Melody Awards for Best Female Singer, and her movie at the end of last year grossed 3.2 billion. In terms of overall strength and popularity, the three of us combined can't shake her."

Jiang Fan hummed in agreement.

He knew that name. In the Chinese entertainment industry in 2014, Ye Anran was the person standing at the very top.

"And the second one?"

Xu Qingya pointed to the television screen.

"It's her. Tang Yingxue."

"A three-time Golden Melody Award winner for Best Female Singer, two albums that have sold over 100 million copies, and a sold-out 28-show tour last year. Backed by Universal Entertainment, her resources are unparalleled."

"And you?"

Xu Qingya remained silent for two seconds.

"I'm on par with that guy surnamed Su."

He said it reluctantly, but it was the truth.

"My strengths lie in record sales and fan loyalty, while hers lie in variety show exposure and commercial endorsements. In terms of music awards, I've won the Golden Melody Award twice, and so has she."

Xu Qingya stretched out her legs and touched the edge of the coffee table with her toes.

"To put it bluntly, Su Yuyan and I have always been vying for third place. Tang Yingxue has been in second place for four years, and no one can touch her."

Jiang Fan didn't speak; his mind was racing.

The hierarchy among the four top female divas is clear—Ye Anran is unshakeable, Tang Yingxue is firmly in second place, and Xu Qingya and Su Yuyan are vying for third.

Xu Qingya's album "Red Bean" has sold over 100 million copies and is gaining momentum, but Tang Yingxue's foundation is there, and it's not something that can be matched by just one album.

"What's the difference between you and Tang Yingxue?"

Xu Qingya glanced at him.

Why are you talking so much today?

"I asked seriously."

Xu Qingya hugged the cushion and thought for a while.

"It's just one song that's missing."

"What do you mean?"

"Tang Yingxue has a song called 'Light Years,' which was released in 2011 and is still among the top three most requested songs in karaoke. That song turned her from a top-tier singer into a national diva, and everyone's first thought when they mention Tang Yingxue is that song."

Xu Qingya's tone was calm, but Jiang Fan could hear the resentment beneath it.

"I don't. I have a lot of good songs, but none of them can define a person like that—a song that defines a person."

Jiang Fan leaned back on the sofa and tapped his fingers twice on his knee.

A song defines a person.

He understands this statement.

There are too many such examples in past lives.

Some singers achieve legendary status with just one song; that song is inextricably linked to their names, and no one can break it off.

This is exactly what Xu Qingya lacks.

"Red Bean" is good, but not enough.

It's the title track of an excellent album, not the kind of thing that can transcend time and be etched into everyone's memory.

The replay on TV was still going on, and Teacher He was announcing the rankings.

Xu Qingya's attention was no longer on the screen; she turned her head to look at Jiang Fan, waiting for him to speak.

Jiang Fan turned his head and met her gaze.

"Let's put the film and television part on hold for now."

Xu Qingya blinked. "What do you mean?"

"You just said you were missing one song," Jiang Fan said casually. "Then I'll give you one. It'll let you surpass that guy surnamed Tang."

Xu Qingya stared at him for three seconds.

The only sound in the living room was the television. Teacher He was calling Shen Nian's name. 504 votes, first place.

"Are you serious?"

"When have I ever joked with you?"

Xu Qingya did not respond immediately.

She understood the weight of this man's words—

If someone else had said that, Xu Qingya would have taken it as a joke.

But coming out of his mouth—

Xu Qingya threw the cushion aside, turned around to face him, and her crossed legs touched his thigh.

"What song?"

"I haven't decided yet," Jiang Fan said, "but I know what kind of song you need."

"A melody that everyone will never forget after hearing it once. It can't be a love song; it has to be the kind that—no matter who it is, as soon as the intro starts, everyone only has one name in their mind."

Xu Qingya's breath hitched for a second.

Tang Yingxue's "Light Years" is this kind of song.

"Can you write it down?"

Jiang Fan reached out and pulled Xu Qingya's foot back onto his lap, his palm holding her ankle.

Give me three days. Next week will be just in time for your concert.

Xu Qingya's eyes lit up.

Concert.

If this song could premiere at a concert—broadcast nationwide, to tens of thousands of people, a brand new song that has never been revealed before, sung by her personally.

Just thinking about that scene gives me goosebumps.

"Jiang Fan".

"Um?"

Xu Qingya got up from the sofa, straddled his lap, and put her hands on his shoulders.

The hem of the knitted skirt spread out, covering the two people's legs that were intertwined.

"If you could actually write it down—"

"How about writing it down?"

Xu Qingya didn't answer, but lowered her head and kissed him.

The television was still on, and the flickering light from the screen shone on the two people.

Xu Qingya bit his lower lip and mumbled something.

"I have a surprise for you."

Jiang Fan paused for a moment.