Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Fruits of Sharing

“Ding, ding, ding…”

In the recording studio, just as Yang Qing and the others were resting, chatting and laughing, a knock sounded at the door.

Fang Du, who was nearest, casually opened the door, revealing Xiao Min standing there with Bai Lingyue and the two little ones, Chunxia.

As the door opened, Xiao Min stepped aside with a smile, and Bai Lingyue immediately poked her head in, curiosity written all over her face, meeting the gaze of everyone inside.

“Lingyue, Chun’er, Xia’er, what brings you here?” Yang Qing asked with a smile.

“Hehe… Well, Chun’er and Xia’er wanted to bring you all some water,” Bai Lingyue replied a little shyly. She certainly wasn’t going to admit she wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with her idols too.

As Bai Lingyue spoke, she moved from the doorway, and little Xia’er and Chun’er, beaming with delight, ran in hugging bottles of water.

“Big brother, have some water!” Xia’er said sweetly.

“Good girl,” Yang Qing replied, ruffling the little one’s hair affectionately, but he didn’t take the water she handed him. Instead, he smiled and said, “First give the water to your sisters and brothers, then to big brother last. That’s polite.”

“Okay!” Xia’er nodded, understanding a little, and together with Chun’er, obediently handed out water to everyone.

Each person who received a bottle thanked them, praising how well-behaved and beautiful they were, making the two little girls giggle with delight.

But soon, the smile on Xia’er’s face faded away. She looked at Yang Qing and Qin Xue, who hadn’t gotten any water, and said with a hint of grievance:

“Big brother, Sister Qin, there’s no more water. Xia’er didn’t bring enough…”

Seeing that her favorite big brother and beloved Sister Qin hadn’t received water personally brought by her, Xia’er grew disheartened, almost to the point of tears.

But it wasn’t really that she and Chun’er hadn’t brought enough water—it was that they hadn’t known there were two more staff members in the studio.

Upon hearing her, the two staffers who hadn’t gotten water hastened to hand theirs over, but Yang Qing shook his head, stopping them.

He walked over to the sorrowful little Xia’er, knelt down, gently stroked her hair, and spoke softly:

“Just now, our Xia’er was smiling so brightly—do you know why?”

“Because… because…” Xia’er wanted to answer, but didn’t know how.

Yang Qing prompted kindly, “Because you gave water to your brothers and sisters, and they thanked you and praised you, isn’t that right?”

“Yes… yes!”

“So why are you unhappy now? Is it because big brother and Sister Qin didn’t get water?”

“Yes!”

Yang Qing took her small hand tenderly and said, “Big brother is very grateful you brought him water, Xia’er. I am a little sad I didn’t get a drink delivered by my precious girl, but even more than that, I’m happy. Do you know why?”

“Why?” Xia’er asked, confused.

“Because you gained even more,” Yang Qing answered earnestly. “You received thanks from your sisters and brothers, and with that, you gained their affection. That makes big brother so happy.”

Yang Qing continued, “And your happy smile just now was actually the joy of sharing. Sharing is a simple and happy harvest—do you understand?”

“Mm… mm!” Xia’er nodded somewhat uncertainly.

She might not have fully comprehended what her brother meant, but his words made her feel much better, and her smile returned.

“Good girl,” Yang Qing said, patting her head. Then he asked with a smile, “Where are Qiu’er and the others?”

Xia’er replied with a giggle, “Xi’er said she wanted to play the drums, so she dragged Qiu’er and Bai along. Sister Jin’er carried Dong’er and followed them out too.”

“The drums? Does Xi’er even know how to play?” Yang Qing was taken aback.

Before he could finish, Wang Ying chimed in, laughing, “She does! Why don’t you go see?”

“Uh…” Yang Qing was speechless for a moment, then waved his hand, smiling, “Don’t tease. She’s probably just banging away for fun.”

“If you know, why did you ask?” Wang Ying gave him a look, then turned to Chun’er and Xia’er. “But since you two are here, why don’t we use this break to record your song?”

Upon hearing this, Yang Qing pondered for a moment, then agreed, “Alright, it’ll give me a chance to relax too.”

He smiled a bit self-deprecatingly. “I was thinking of finishing the accompaniment recording first, but… well…”

“No rush,” Qin Xue said with a smile. “An ensemble is all about chemistry. It’s your first time working with Brother Li. Once you get used to it, it’ll be much easier.”

“Mm,” Yang Qing nodded, then turned to the two little girls with a smile. “So, who wants to go first?”

“Sister should go first!” Xia’er piped up cheerfully.

“Alright, Chun’er, you want to go first?” he asked.

“I… Big brother, I’m a little nervous,” Chun’er admitted, a mix of anticipation and anxiety in her eyes.

“It’s alright. Look, apart from the two brothers working here, you know everyone else. No need to be nervous.”

“Okay, but… big brother, will you play the piano and stay with me?” Chun’er asked, clenching her little fists in determination.

“Of course,” Yang Qing replied with a gentle smile. “Do you still remember how to sing your song?”

“Yes, I do!”

“Great, let’s get started then.”

He took Chun’er by the hand and led her into the isolation booth. He sat down at the piano, while the staff had already set up the vocal mic and adjusted its height. Chun’er stood before the microphone.

“Hey, big brother, I can’t see Xia’er, Sister Qin, or the others!” Chun’er said, peering through the glass partition and not spotting anyone. She grinned at this.

Yang Qing reassured her, “It’s just you and me here. Still nervous?”

“Not nervous at all!”

…

“Go for it, big brother and sister!” Xia’er cheered excitedly, able to see them from her vantage point.

“Xia’er, here, put on these headphones and you’ll be able to hear Chun’er singing,” Qin Xue said, placing a pair of headphones gently on Xia’er’s little head.

“Thank you, sister!” Xia’er responded cheerfully, then watched with anticipation through the glass.

“Are you ready, Chun’er?”

“Yes, I’m ready.”

“Here we go, then.”

Seated at the piano, Yang Qing nodded gently to Chun’er, and a tight, rhythmic chord rang out, the piano’s heavy notes erupting sharply.

A moment later, the melody shifted, growing deeper and more solemn. Chun’er’s singing voice rose in that instant:

“You are brave, defending our homeland—”

“Every inch of mountain and river!”

“It is you who stand firm in your belief…”

Through the professional microphone, Chun’er’s voice sounded even more powerful, piercing straight to the heart.

Listening to her clear yet forceful voice, Qin Xue and the others couldn’t help but recall the scenes from the short film Yang Qing had once edited. A solemn feeling settled over each of them.

“So wonderful! Sister is amazing!” Xia’er’s little face was flushed with excitement, her mouth babbling nonstop. Thinking that soon she’d get to record her song too, she grew even more eager.

While Xia’er was thrilled by Chun’er’s singing in the studio, little Xi’er in the instrument room was equally excited hearing her sister’s voice.

“No! Sister, don’t say Xi’er can’t have Teddy anymore!”

Hearing her sister say she’d never let her have Teddy again, Xi’er’s little body froze. She tossed aside her drumsticks and ran over on her tiny legs, calling out anxiously.

Tan Jin’er watched her little sister run to her side, a small smile tugging at her lips.

As if. As if she couldn’t handle such a little mischief-maker. Cut off your Teddy, let’s see how you panic. Hmph~

“Will you be naughty again?”

Xi’er widened her eyes. “Xi’er isn’t naughty, Bai is the naughty one!”

Tan Jin’er: …

Was it the way she’d phrased it, or was it this little one’s understanding that was off?