Chapter 2224 - 2227: Desperate Uncertainty Before Hope

Watching Shen Qiang walk proudly back to his seat, everyone present had a solemn look in their eyes.

"Zhang Zhongjing mentioned in 'Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases' that advancing saves the world, retreating saves the people. This is probably the original version of 'If you can't be a good statesman, then be a good doctor.' But with the decline of traditional Chinese studies, few mention this now."

"Aspiring youth, this can be said as the highest ideal of life in Confucian thought—to benefit the world and the people."

"It's truly surprising, who would have thought this sunny young man seems quite complex."

People present, whether in cultivation or not, watched Shen Qiang's figure, and their eyes seemed to be lost in thought.

"Indeed, as Shen Qiang said, people nowadays are impatient, life's value and goals are nothing more than earning a bit more than others. There are too few with true foresight and great ambition."

"Alas, thinking back to the beginning, I was also someone with dreams, but listening to Shen Qiang now, I suddenly wonder, after being busy for so many years, what have I really been doing?"

"My dream is to pay off the mortgage quickly."

Amidst their conversations, the host looked nervously at Gong Ziyi.

Clearly aggravated, Gong Ziyi gestured to him.

The host, understanding immediately, said, "Now, let's invite Miss Qian Ning, tonight's final singer, to perform!"

Click!

The lights at the venue went out.

The entire broadcast hall plunged into darkness.

Soon, the large screen lit up.

"Darling, trust me, I will work hard, earnestly make money, and I will definitely buy a big house. Our future will be happy."

"Sorry, he already has all that now."

Everyone was stunned.

"A love song?"

Especially the musicians present furrowed their brows.

"This type of song, with dialogue at the beginning, usually has a slow rhythm, then tells a story like singing—the emotions typically low, belonging to the sad love song category. Such a melancholy song rarely wins the audience's favor, so hearing this, I knew Qian Ning lost."

"This style of a melancholy song's opening completely contradicts Qian Ning's ethereal voice; it's impossible to win."

"Those who haven't experienced painful love can't appreciate the beauty of a melancholy song."

Yet just as they were reconsidering.

No music sounded; instead, another piece of dialogue began.

"Loser, see clearly who my dad is, yet you dare fight me?"

Everyone was instantly bewildered.

"It's too amateurish; the air of the melancholy song is lost instantly!"

"Indeed, a doctor's song must be of such level, humph, with Qian Ning's singing skills, she could make even a casual tune popular, but following Shen Qiang, she really got played."

"So bad, such a mixed style, sung like this, is surely a pile of dung."

Almost at the same time as everyone frowned.

The lines changed again.

Male voice: "Sorry, you're a good girl, but her father is the chairman."

Piercing female voice: "Yo, a floral dress, dressed like this, where are you planning to party?"

Middle-aged female voice: "Denim jeans all year, dressed so ugly, no wonder you're not married."

Old man's voice: "Look at other people's kids, then look at you, sigh..."

Hearing these lines.

The people present frowned, inexplicably irritated.

And just at this moment.

Gentle music sounded.

Qian Ning's transparent, ethereal voice, like tinkling spring water, instantly quieted everyone present.

Not only that, they were shocked as almost instantly as the song rang out.

Everyone seemed to see a young, wronged, helpless little girl, looking at them, lost and helpless.

Wearing a floral dress is too flashy, wearing a school uniform is too dull, no makeup means ugly, with makeup is inappropriate, not interacting with boys is pretentious, and interacting with boys is promiscuous.

Good grades means a bookworm. Poor grades means a fool. Wealthy family means a rich second generation. Poor family means nerd.

Accompanied by the almost desperate music and Qian Ning's soul-piercing voice.

Almost in an instant.

Whether they were the people on site or those online, their hearts were gripped by Qian Ning's lost and helpless, yet almost desperate voice.

Everyone was silent.

Because it's the same for everyone.

No matter what you do, someone will always be dissatisfied.

Thin is criticized for being weak, fat for being obese, short for being low, tall still criticized, trying to genuinely gain everyone's approval is simply a dream.

The music gradually turned somber.

Qian Ning's voice also transitioned from lamentation, wandering, gradually towards despair.

Not only that.

With Qian Ning's singing.

Not only ordinary listeners, whose emotions gradually sank, but even professional musicians started to sigh along with the music.

"No song can truly please everyone, even Qian Ning's extremely ethereal nostalgia only ranked eighth."

"No matter how it's done, the director won't be satisfied because they feel that if no flaws are pointed out, their abilities won't be shown."

"It's impossible not to work overtime; the boss will always find reasons to criticize."

Compared to these musicians.

More ordinary people were tearful from being aggrieved.

"I diligently studied so hard, but still couldn't do well in exams."

"In smooth times, friends recognized me; in adversity, I recognized friends. I treated him sincerely, but he took me for a fool..."

"I loved her so much, promised her everything, but when she got into someone else's car, she didn't even look at me."

Not only ordinary people.

At this moment, those cultivators also felt desperate, as if about to explode.

"I've been cultivating since I was three, now I'm forty-five, practicing hard all my life, cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Stage, I've been trying, but even my wife calls me waste!"

"What else can be done? Is being a cultivator great? Still have to bow down before the strong, still have to use every means to survive in the cracks."

"Shouting all day about slaying demons and upholding justice, but what is truly done don't you still fight and kill for some money to spend."

In the broadcast hall, it was dark, even the light from the screen's image gradually sank into darkness.

Alongside, Qian Ning's singing seemed to lock everyone present into hell.

"Is it a dark-themed song? It makes me feel so hurt I can't breathe."

"Indeed, no matter how hard one tries, it's impossible to succeed?"

"Finally, still can't win over the sinister human heart?"

Just as everyone's heart sank to the bottom, and feelings were entirely despairing.

Click!

A small spotlight on the stage lit up.

Everyone involuntarily looked at the woman whose face was hidden in the darkness under the dim stage lights.

Almost simultaneously.

The music that had paused suddenly soared!

The despair buried inside everyone's heart exploded instantly with Qian Ning's voice penetrating the depths of their soul!