Volume One, Chapter 11: A Song by the Diva—Why Won't You Share It with My Mother?

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Li Huange’s heart trembled, as if something had pierced deep within her. Did Shen Qi truly think that way? Was he really willing to silently sacrifice behind the scenes so that she could bask in the glory of being a star? Li Huange snorted softly. Saying it so nobly almost made her believe it. The entertainment industry wasn’t that easy to navigate. Everyone only saw the dazzling surface of a celebrity, unaware of the countless others struggling and clawing their way but never breaking through. Giving someone two hundred thousand yuan a month in pocket money already surpassed many struggling in the industry. If he wanted to take it easy and had no grand ambitions, that wasn’t a flaw. His talent for taking care of the family was why she chose him; there was no need to dress it up as something so lofty.

For the first time, Li Huange noticed that Shen Qi’s personality was different from the composed and gentle demeanor he showed her—he actually had a playful side, revealing that his previous intellectual and mild manner was just a facade.

“Queen Huange, do you think Shen Qi can really sing and play guitar?” Lin Xiaolu asked with a hint of innuendo. Li Huange smiled and shook her head, determined not to spoil it herself.

“Then what do you think, Actress Lin?”

“I think he probably can’t. He was just tapping away on the computer earlier to find some theory to fool Xiao Kun.”

“I agree, Shen Qi can’t. If he really could, he wouldn’t have said ‘Chasing the Moon’ was awful.”

“My Brother Qi is versatile; he definitely can!”

“Your Brother Qi is already married, a stay-at-home husband living off his wife’s earnings, and you women still fangirl over him?”

“Looks like the lady of this house is a star in the entertainment industry, haven’t you noticed?”

“Could this really be Li Huange’s family?”

The number of viewers in the live stream surged, now reaching nine million. On the scrolling comments, some even typed “Li Huange’s family.”

...

“So... you really are that noble? Deliberately giving the glory to my mom?” Though Shen Xiaokun was mature for his age, he was still a child and couldn’t help but believe it a little. Shen Qi nodded and reached out to stroke Shen Xiaokun’s head.

“That’s why I don’t want your mom to know how amazing I am, or else she would feel ashamed.”

“Pfft... what a boast!” Shen Xiaokun frowned and pushed Shen Qi’s hand away. “Then play and sing for me. I won’t tell my mom.”

Shen Qi sighed helplessly. “Then our men’s pact is sealed.”

He rose to the bedside and picked up the guitar. A familiar feeling spread through him as he closed his eyes gently.

Heh... this feeling... how nostalgic!

Afternoon sunlight poured in, casting a glow over Shen Qi’s tall figure and gentle face, highlighting a radiant aura. The scene felt even more serene and peaceful.

“Wow... feeling it now.”

“I don’t believe he can. If he really could, I’d eat every hole in the village’s outhouse.”

“So handsome, making this old girl’s heart flutter.”

“I don’t mind that Shen Qi is remarried.”

Buzz...

Shen Qi opened his eyes as he strummed a simple chord.

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A simple prelude flowed forth, and Shen Qi began to sing with deep feeling.

“Finally found an excuse, taking advantage of the drunkenness to speak from the heart,”

“To express all my feelings...”

Shen Xiaokun’s pupils suddenly dilated as he stared blankly at Shen Qi. The mature man’s voice was slightly hoarse, his faint stubble adding to his maturity, yet Shen Qi’s face still carried a hint of youthful innocence. Although the melody’s rise and fall were subtle, it was clearly a beautiful tune, and Shen Qi’s guitar skills were evident.

Watching the screen, Fu Qing’s expression was dazed as she murmured, “He... he really can sing. That looks... that voice... he really could become famous!”

“Huange’s doubts have been proven right!”

Li Huange’s mind briefly went blank, a numbness spreading through her body. He... he was really hiding it!

As professionals, Li Huange, Zhuo Yiyi, and Bai Qinghe all recognized it. This song was clearly a well-crafted ballad that perfectly catered to popular taste. Paired with Shen Qi’s handsome and passionate face, it was visually and aurally striking. Yet no one had heard this song before. Could it really be an original?

At this moment, the entire studio was silent, immersed in Shen Qi’s voice, except for the barrage of comments flooding the screen. When Shen Qi reached the chorus, the comments grew even more fervent.

“I envy your love, mighty and unstoppable,”

“Like a diva whose popularity never fades,”

“What you want isn’t me, but a kind of vanity,”

“Being cared for makes you stand out so much...”

“So good, my ears are blessed.”

“He really can! How come? He...”

“The lyrics are killer too. I strongly suspect Shen Qi is Li Huange’s husband, and Li Huange is the diva who never loses popularity.”

“Nonsense! Li Huange is mine! Didn’t you hear it was ‘like a diva whose popularity never fades’?”

Li Huange’s lips trembled slightly. Was this song written for me? We only have a contract marriage. Could it be that he... loves me? If not, why could he write such heartfelt and piercing lyrics and melody?

Zhuo Yiyi’s eyes sparkled, while Bai Qinghe and Lin Xiaolu’s jealousy showed without restraint. Such a tender man, singing such a beautiful and enchanting song—too bad he belonged to someone else. What right did Li Huange have?

...

“If one day love no longer confuses,”

“Enough to see clearly all right and wrong,”

“Until that time, you in my heart,”

“Will no longer be praised, nor treated as a diva...”

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“...will no longer be me...”

As the final lines ended, Li Huange’s heart trembled once more. To be the diva... and then no longer be you... When was it that I stopped being the diva in your heart when we were together?

At this moment, a truth solidified in Li Huange’s heart—Shen Qi loved her! For some reason, a wave of sweetness rose within her, yet at the same time, a trace of anger.

Kid, you think too much. You just want to live off me forever.

The thunderous applause in the studio pulled Li Huange out of her thoughts, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit angry again. Except for not sharing a bed, Li Huange and Shen Qi had gotten along harmoniously for three years, like close friends. Shen Qi was very considerate, often noticing when Li Huange came home upset from work and soothing her with his warmth, making her feel utterly relaxed at home.

The company needed works, and Shen Qi knew it, yet despite having this song, why hadn’t he released it? Was taking it easy really that important?

...

As Shen Qi strummed the last chord, the song concluded.

Shen Xiaokun asked eagerly, “What’s the name of this song? Did you write it?”

“The song is called ‘Diva.’ As for whether I wrote it...” Shen Qi chuckled, “You tell me.”

“You...”

The good image he’d just built instantly collapsed.

“Which do you think sounds better, ‘Diva’ or ‘Chasing the Moon’?” Shen Qi asked.

Shen Xiaokun scowled, silent. Being young didn’t mean he didn’t understand. Professionally speaking, ‘Diva’ was indeed far superior to ‘Chasing the Moon,’ and that was despite ‘Chasing the Moon’ having a mature arrangement while ‘Diva’ was just an impromptu performance.

Shen Qi stood and patted Shen Xiaokun’s shoulder.

“Xiaokun, don’t forget our men’s pact—you can’t tell your mom, okay?”

Watching Shen Qi’s back, Shen Xiaokun shouted,

“Shen Qi! Why won’t you show a song like this to my mom? Is it easy for her to run Huange Entertainment alone? Do you really deserve to be her husband?”

Shen Qi’s body trembled slightly.

“Holy crap!”

“Holy crap!”

“Holy crap, holy crap!”

“Totally blown away!”