Chapter 49: Pen and Blade (New Book Seeks Monthly Votes)

"I swear, no wonder she's the champion—she's incredible."
"I'm a fan now, totally a fan."
"It feels like He Xier is holding back when she sings, like she wants to let her voice soar but keeps it restrained. She must be even more talented than this."
"I bet there are others like me who teared up listening to this again."
"Honestly, 'Bubble' only has that special flavor when Jiang Qi sings it. He Xier isn't suited for this song."

After their duet, the comments flooded in non-stop.

He Xier’s eyes were red, the corners wet, but her youthful face radiated confidence.

Truthfully, He Xier wasn’t very suited for this song—she’d never experienced love, and that kind of heart-wrenching pain couldn’t be faked.

During the performance, He Xier had noticed her best friend Jiang Qi’s hands trembling, as if haunted by some painful memory.

It was a kind of emotional depth she herself had never known.

Jiang Qi twisted open a water bottle and took a sip to moisten her throat. “June is almost over, everyone, please support ‘Bubble’ as much as you can.”

The barrage of comments was a uniform chorus of "Support," "Support"...

After a brief pause, Jiang Qi asked He Xier, “Xier, which song from my album is your favorite?”

This was the friend-chat segment, where anything could happen.

“I’ve downloaded every song from your album—they’re all so good, I don’t even know where to start in my playlist,” He Xier replied with a textbook answer.

Fans of Jiang Qi cheered loudly at this diplomatic response.

But Jiang Qi wasn’t satisfied. She pressed further: “But if you could only pick one?”

Their friendship was close enough that digging pitfalls for each other was fair game—just like when Chen Xueling had dragged her into the ‘Dissolve Sorrow’ trap last time.

And with that, the chat blew up again.

"I’m starting to think Qiqi has a knack for hosting."
"Poor He Xier looks so innocent and helpless."
"Let He Xier go, Qiqi! If you’ve got questions, ask me instead."

The entertainment value was at its peak.

He Xier bit her lip, looking genuinely torn. After more than ten seconds, she said, “I think ‘Glaze’ is really good.”

Jiang Qi was stunned by this answer.

‘Glaze’ was the worst-selling song on her entire album—she never expected her best friend to choose that one.

"Is there even a song called ‘Glaze’ on Jiang Qi’s album?"
"I’ll go listen to it now."
"Everyone’s been focused on ‘Bubble’ and missed the other tracks. If He Xier says it’s good, I’ll give it a listen."

Seeing the comments, Jiang Qi finally realized: her best friend was helping to promote the rest of her album.

A true friend, indeed.

Before Jiang Qi could say anything, He Xier grinned mischievously. “So, my favorite is ‘Bubble.’”

Jiang Qi: ????

What on earth…

Jiang Qi was left frozen, thinking her bestie was trying to help, maybe throw her a few compliments—and then she got hit with this.

He Xier’s antics left the entire chat momentarily speechless.

The fans were at a loss.

“‘Glaze’ is really good, so my favorite is ‘Bubble.’”

Is there any logic here?

The next instant—

A deluge of comments rolled in.

"He Xier is great, so I like Jiang Qi."
"Math is easy, so I aced my PE test."
"Holding it in is tough, so I’m going to eat roast duck."
"Please, I beg you all, stop—I’m out of witty lines."
"He Xier is just too smooth."
"This is the ultimate universally applicable response—classic heartbreaker formula."
"You’re wonderful, but I choose him."
"Lolis and queens are great, so I prefer rich women."

He Xier was dumbfounded.

Your imagination is just too wild.

Especially that one about ‘lolis and queens are great, so I prefer rich women.’

As if rich women would like you.

What even is this logic?

At that moment—

Behind the streaming computer, a staff member from Splendor motioned at his wrist, signaling Jiang Qi to mind the time; the two had gotten a bit carried away.

Picking up on the cue, Jiang Qi steered the conversation back on track. “So, Xier, why is ‘Bubble’ your favorite?”

Because it was written by Li He… A glint of sly triumph flashed in He Xier’s eyes.

She mused, “I think the lyrics of ‘Bubble’ are deeply moving. It’s like a parasite in your belly, always hitting the softest spot inside you.”

Jiang Qi sensed trouble and tried to intervene, but it was too late.

He Xier went on, “I’ve always loved Mr. Jia Bei’s writing and composing—from ‘Dissolve Sorrow’ to ‘Bubble.’”

That’s it.

She’s fangirling again.

Jiang Qi was exasperated.

She’d been so vigilant, but nothing could guard against a friend’s betrayal.

Protect your home, your valuables, and above all—your best friend. The saying was painfully true… Jiang Qi regretted ever asking that question.

She could only hope Mr. Jia Bei wasn’t watching the stream.

He Xier, full of pride, nudged her friend’s arm, basking in her victory.

“I’ll deal with you after the stream…” Jiang Qi silently vowed, biting her lip.

“Looks like everyone loves you, Xier. Do you have any special talent you’d like to share?” she asked, eager to wrap up and already plotting a three-hundred-round duel with her bestie later that night.

Tian Sisi stretched lazily, her loose pajamas still outlining her alluring curves.

“She’ll probably sing ‘Dissolve Sorrow’ or ‘Bubble,’” Tian Sisi guessed, resting her pointed chin on her hand.

In the stream, He Xier smiled radiantly, making all the viewers’ eyes light up and making Jiang Qi’s little chest deflate with envy.

“Then I’ll sing a song,” He Xier said confidently.

Jiang Qi opened her music library. There were four tracks: the full and instrumental versions of both ‘Bubble’ and ‘Dissolve Sorrow.’

Since her best friend had spoken, it had to be one of these two.

He Xier waved to her manager Deng Qin. “Qin, do you have a guitar?”

Though she didn’t know what He Xier was planning, Deng Qin had the staff bring a guitar over.

He Xier cradled the guitar, tuning it for a moment.

Jiang Qi, full of curiosity, moved to the back, giving her friend the stage.

"Is she going to sing and play herself? This stream is so worth it."
"Could it be an original song?"
"Very possible—otherwise, why insist on playing guitar?"
"Wait, she just said she loved ‘Dissolve Sorrow’ and ‘Bubble,’ but now she’s not singing either?"
"He Xier looks so beautiful when she’s serious."

Soon enough—

He Xier finished tuning.

She gave the camera a confident smile, then lowered her head and gently strummed the guitar strings.

"The moon of Qin, the frontier of Han,
A thousand miles of expedition, yet none return.
If only the flying general still guarded Dragon City,
No barbarian horse would dare cross the Yin Mountains..."

Tian Sisi watched He Xier on the screen, her heart thrumming with every note of her voice.

For some reason—

Hearing those opening lines, Tian Sisi thought of her recently filmed movie, ‘Guardian.’

In it, she played a female general fighting evil creatures.

To protect the countless people behind her, she led her army of women to battle at the front.

Though the monsters were nearly impossible to slay and her soldiers fell in droves, not one took a step back.

Because behind them were ordinary people—behind them lay the empire’s vast lands.

If only the flying general still guarded Dragon City,
No barbarian horse would dare cross the Yin Mountains.

The lyrics fit perfectly.

As long as even one defender remained, the evil creatures could never breach the empire.

Tian Sisi straightened, listening intently.

Behind He Xier, even Jiang Qi was stunned.

This was... a new song.

Who wrote it? Could it be Mr. Jia Bei? Jiang Qi had unwavering faith in the ever-capable Jia Bei.

The whole room was silent; not a single staff member from Splendor dared make a sound.

Manager Deng Qin’s mouth hung open, unable to believe He Xier had found such an exceptional song.

Just a few lines, just a guitar accompaniment—yet it was clear this was an extraordinary piece.

Had high-quality songs become so common now? Some singer must be crying online.

Why do all the great songs go to someone else? Another singer was weeping on the spot.

He Xier’s eyes narrowed; her voice was grand and majestic, as if she stood on a battlefield a thousand miles away, witnessing the bloody struggle against invading foes.

"Smoke of war for miles, the burial mounds in chaos,
Lonely graves in turbulent times, none come to mourn..."

This—

Tian Sisi hurriedly grabbed her phone and messaged Director Wen Shan: "Jiang Qi’s livestream—come quick."

Then she tossed her phone aside, immersing herself again in the northern frontier.

Her previous drowsiness vanished, replaced by a surge of hot blood—she wanted nothing more than to take up a blade and charge into battle against the evil creatures.

"Silent heavens, the ink turns cold,
The pen becomes a blade, and spring and autumn are repaid with blood."

Tian Sisi was electrified.

The sudden, plaintive cry of “the pen becomes a blade” sent a chill through her, striking her soul.

Manager Deng Qin, too, was so shaken by that cry that she stepped back involuntarily.

It was overwhelming. Terrifying.

And in the next moment—

Something incredible happened.

——
(To be continued)