Mei Ran held her breath and clicked on the topic that looked extremely sensational. The page jumped, and the top Weibo post slammed harshly into her line of sight.
Mei Mengran MrV: Everyone, long time no wait, I'm back.
Eight simple words, a double meaning. This return was not just that of Mei Mengran, but also of the legendary singer MR who had burst onto the music scene like a flash in the pan seven years ago yet stunned the industry.
Directly below was a detailed, emotionally-charged long Weibo post roughly explaining the psychological journey of transforming from Mei Mengran into MR, and then back to Mei Mengran. The content was sentimental, enough to earn the sympathy and tears of fans.
"It's good that you're back. As long as you're okay, nothing else matters…"
"Of all words, only this: MR, I finally waited for you!"
"Cried like an idiot on the street! MR, I'm warning you! No matter what happens in the future, you are not allowed to van-ish-without-a-trace!"
"Waited for you for seven years, never willing to believe you had truly left. Every time I hear your 'Encounter', tears always flow. God must have heard my prayers, thank you for still being here!"
The hot comments section was almost entirely occupied by crazy MR fans. Most of the comments below were also in support of MR—no, more precisely, in support of Mei Mengran.
Of course, there were exceptions. For example, a fan named "MR's Top Fanatic Fan" only left a comment saying, "Heh heh," and was mocked by fans as the number one dissociative identity disorder case of the year. Everyone rose up to attack her, practically making her a human pincushion.
Mei Ran deeply exhaled the stuffy breath pent up in her heart and continued by clicking on the video attached to the second Weibo. It was an exclusive interview of MR (Mei Mengran) by the entertainment channel of a famous, highly-rated satellite TV station.
The host was also one of the key pillars of the station. She claimed she had also once liked MR's songs and used this to lead into the topic, "Seven years ago, the song 'Encounter' made the music world and many people remember your name MR. I just have a question: why was there a seven-year silence after your explosive fame? And why choose this moment to announce your true identity?"
Dressed in a purple silk gown, elegant as a princess, Mei Mengran faced the camera confidently and calmly, slowly revealing a sweet smile. "I can only say it was a beautiful accident."
"Oh?" The host was very skilled at hooking the audience's emotions. The audience below practically all pricked up their ears, faces showing excitement.
"I've loved singing since I was very young," Mei Mengran said. "For me, it's like eating and drinking, something indispensable to life. Back then, when this song caused such a huge stir, besides being overwhelmed by the favor, the sixteen-year-old me mostly felt fear."
"Fear of what?" the host asked with exaggerated "surprise."
"Perhaps I was just young and ignorant back then," Mei Mengran laughed self-deprecatingly. "I always felt music should be pure. As the saying goes, 'the face reflects the heart,' I feel music also springs from the heart. Only a clean soul can sing songs that touch people's hearts."
The moment her words fell, the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.
Mei Mengran continued, "My grandfather often told me, 'Climb high, fall heavy.' Little me couldn't bear such great honor, so I chose the most pessimistic way—leaving without a word. However, when I found out people still remembered me, this emotion supported me in returning to the path of music. That's the reason for the singer Mei Mengran you see now."
"If it weren't for experiencing it firsthand, I wouldn't believe a voice could make so many people remember for seven years. Thank you!" By now, her eyes shimmered with tears, her voice choked. "I didn't want to be enveloped by the halo of MR from the start. That always gave me a feeling of 'reaping without sowing.' What I wanted was a fresh start. As for later why I changed my Weibo name to Mei Mengran MrV… it's also a thread of hope I left for those MR fans who persisted for seven years with unwavering affection. I wanted to tell them, I haven't left. In fact, I've always been here…"
This speech had already caused some female audience members to cover their faces and weep. The host also fell silent for a moment. "I never imagined there was such a tortuous reason behind it…"
"Before recording, your fans sent many messages through our text platform, asking me to tell their goddess one thing," The host stood up, solemnly extending her hand. "Welcome back, MR."
The audience's emotions had clearly reached their peak. Someone even tried to rush onto the stage to hug Mei Mengran, but was stopped by staff.
Mei Mengran's eyes reddened slightly. "I'm very sorry for making everyone wait so long. I am MR, and I have returned."
"To thank everyone for their many years of waiting, I will now perform this song, 'You Are the Best Encounter in the World.' Also, a single of the same name will be released soon. I hope everyone will come support it then!"
The lights were adjusted to a soft, light orange. Familiar melody began. "When I was at my most beautiful…"
When the song ended, Mei Mengran faced the camera and deeply bowed to the audience. "In the past, I've made some mistakes. In recent times, I've deeply reflected on myself and felt great remorse. I heard it said that everyone deserves one chance to be forgiven for their mistakes. I hope everyone can give me this chance!"
An audience member shouted, "You are MR; whatever you say is right!"
A chorus of others echoed the sentiment…
Such a clever move. Not only easily winning back the fans' favor and firmly cementing the title of MR, but even using the light phrase "mistakes" to gloss over those unspeakable deeds. It wasn't hard to imagine the glorious future Mei Mengran would enjoy in the industry, following the script she and her team had directed and performed themselves.
At the same time, on the way back to the studio, Mei Mengran was also watching this interview, even softly humming along, visibly in high spirits.
Cen Chen, sitting in the passenger seat, hung up a phone call and turned around, also beaming with joy. "The progress is going even more smoothly than expected. The hired water army took the hot comments and led the public opinion. Also, I've just contacted the main organizer of the previous MR memorial gathering. They expressed great willingness to provide any help for MR."
To be honest, she also found it somewhat unbelievable how easily it had succeeded. All that could be said was that after a period of professional training, Mei Mengran's imitation of MR had become perfect. Even veteran MR fans were deceived.
Well, it was just a voice. Leaving a blank space to keep hearts dangling was MR's advantage, but also her weakness. They had exactly taken advantage of the latter. Combined with that flawless press release—when the false is seen as real, the real becomes false—how could those foolish, follower-minded fans tell the difference?
She paused, then continued. "Mengran, your comeback victory is a beautiful one. Several major entertainment platforms and Weibo marketing accounts have also started positive coverage and promotion. Your single…"
Mei Mengran smiled, but then her phone suddenly rang. She squinted at the three characters dancing on the screen, secretly gritting her teeth.
The ringing ended, but a few seconds later started again cheerfully. Cen Chen looked over in confusion. "Who is it? Why aren't you answering?"
"Hello?" An impatient tone.
"Ranran, it's Mom. I saw you on TV…"
Back on the other side, Mei Ran, having finished watching the entire video, clenched her phone tightly. Her gaze swept inadvertently to the side at the "Most Wanted to Hear" music chart. Mei Mengran's newly announced upcoming single "Encounter" already had a voting rate far exceeding the new album that Yu Sheng was scheduled to release next month. Mei Ran's breath seemed to be pinched off out of nowhere; she suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe.
Yu Sheng had been preparing for this album for over a year, pouring in countless efforts…
Just as she thought this, Yu Sheng's call came through. Mei Ran answered. "Sheng-sheng."
"Utterly intolerable! Utterly intolerable!" On the other end, the voice gnashed through these four words over and over again, each syllable thick with fury. "That Mei Mengran is absolutely un-bear-a-ble!"
"How dare they think up such a vile trick? Do they truly believe that the real MR is gone from this world so they can wantonly insult and replace her? Just how thick-skinned is Mei Mengran?! I thought she'd have learned her lesson a bit after the last incident, but instead she's gotten even worse... Mei Ran, I'm telling you! I cannot swallow this grievance!!"
"Mhm." Mei Ran nodded. "Neither can I."
Yu Sheng sounded incredulous, raising her volume sharply. "Say that again!"
Mei Ran repeated, "I can't swallow this grievance either. More than MR, what I care about is 'Encounter,' because it was the song my mother wrote for me. I cannot let anyone tarnish it."
"Also, I cannot let those fans who have loved MR for so many years be deceived in such a manner, left unable to tell who they truly like in the end. Perhaps in this world, the lines between right and wrong, true and false, aren't always clear, but Mei Mengran is not worth their affection in this way…"
Having achieved her goal, Yu Sheng hung up, satisfied. The man beside her promptly handed over a cup of snow pear sweet soup. "Calm your anger."
She took it, drank a few sips, then nestled comfortably into the sofa, stretching out a leg to kick him lightly. "Get ready; we can begin the battle now."
Ye Qihan asked in surprise, "You convinced her over there so quickly?!" Mei Ran's temper was so soft, and she took many things lightly. He had thought convincing her would take a fair bit of time.
"You don't understand Mei Ran," Yu Sheng's gaze drifted through the window into the vast night. "Her nature resembles my teacher Mu Rong's, yet it's different. She doesn't haggle with people because no one has touched her bottom line."
She turned her head back. "How are things on your end?"
Ye Qihan sat down, pressing close to her leg, one long arm resting on the sofa back as if holding her. "Shijin knows now too."
He felt like he had lit a fire, an indescribable sense of pleasure and excitement in his heart. When it came to anything related to Mei Ran, that man absolutely would not stand by idly.
The two words 'Mei Ran' were Fu Shijin's bottom line.
Yu Sheng pushed at him but didn't manage to shove him away; instead, he embraced her. Ye Qihan breathed warmly by her ear. "How about I stay the night tonight?"
They were mature adults who had already been intimate. How could she not understand the hint?
"Get lost!" She giggled. "Hurry back to your own home!"
He adopted a wounded expression. "Use and discard?"
Yu Sheng directly threw a soft pillow at him.
"Alright then, I'm leaving." Ye Qihan sighed dramatically, stood up, and walked towards the door. But at the threshold, he circled around and came back. "I'm home."
He leaned in obsequiously to embrace her. "Baby, wherever you are is my home."
Yu Sheng exaggeratedly hugged her own arms. "Ye Qihan, you're so corny! I'm getting goosebumps!"
He picked her up, kicked open the bedroom door, and grinned mischievously. "There are even cornier things I can say, let's go to the bed and I'll tell you."
While the young couple grew intimate, Mei Ran had re-read the online public opinion and generally understood the situation. As she was pondering her countermeasures, her phone began vibrating continuously. Unexpectedly, it was Fu Shijin calling. She froze in momentary surprise.
Weren't they both in the same room?
"Ran Ran, there's a box on the nightstand. Open it."
Mei Ran obeyed.
"See what's inside?"
She softly hummed an "Mhm."
The man's voice was gentle. "Change into it, then come find me in the music room."
A moon-white silk gown, its fabric as if dyed in a layer of luster, emitted a soft, gentle glow. To the touch, it was soft and comfortable. Its unique and novel design traced a slender waist that one could nearly encircle with a hand. There, at the waistline, a branch of interweaving plum blossoms lay upon itself in full bloom. At the bust area, a single red plum blossom was even more cleverly embroidered, precisely covering her tattoo there, uniting the two into one.
Such a pure and elegant base color, such innovative plum blossom design. And, he must be intimately familiar with every part of her body. This gown fit like a second skin, as if born for her… Mei Ran moved as if treading on flowers, ethereal as an immortal.
She stood before the music room door, straining her ear to listen for any movement inside.
As the door slowly opened, she only saw a back. She was just about to call out when he turned around, pressing a finger to his lips in a "hush" gesture.
Puzzled, Mei Ran walked in.
The sounds of the piano gradually rose—first gentle and twisting like whispers, then vast and distant like the long sky, then again like oblique, dense rain, each descent seeming to strike the softest corner of her heart, finally like a tide quietly receding, silence more powerful than sound.
It was a piece Mei Ran had never heard before. She felt countless indescribable emotions lodging in her lips and heart, with no outlet to be found. Somehow, her eye sockets also began to grow warm.
Just then, the man finished the last note and abruptly stood up. Through her blurred vision, she now saw he wore formal black attire, dark blue cufflinks glowing faintly, snowy-white shirt impeccably neat. The whole man appeared majestic and handsome, profoundly stirring her heart.
Mei Ran watched him kneel slowly on one knee before her…
Set against the earnestness and devoutness in the deep pools of the man's eyes, the lights in the room seemed pale enough to almost ignore. Her heart, like a lake surface shining under the spring sun, instantly melted into warm softness.
"Your appearance seven years ago was an unexpected surprise in my life. Nor did I ever imagine liking a person for so many years over a single voice. Thinking about it now, it still feels incredible," There was a faint light dancing in his eyes, thin lips lightly pressed. "The mention in that email of wanting to spend the rest of my life with you might have been just a passing fancy, but I've never regretted it. Until truly meeting you, I firmly believed and was a hundred percent certain about the notion I had before. Now, it only grows stronger."
"If I hadn't met you, perhaps someday in the future I'd have another Mrs. Fu. But I definitely would not love her wholeheartedly, like I love you."
"Ran Ran, I've thought about it. If the person I ended up waiting for wasn't you, no matter which woman in this world it was, my life would never be complete."
"Ran Ran, will you marry me?"
She bent down to kiss his lips. "I do." Tears fell "plop" onto his face, into his eyes. "Shijin, I do."
I am also very happy to walk the rest of life hand in hand with you.
The man responded to her intensely, as if wanting to swallow her up, plundering all her sweetness and breath. Only after a long time did the storm gradually subside, but his presence lingered densely around her lips.
Mei Ran fell limply into his arms, panting slightly as she watched him push a delicate pink diamond onto her ring finger. He then lowered his head to kiss her palm gently. "Caught. You are mine now."
The two smiled at each other, the brilliance of the corners of their eyes outshining the moonlight beyond the window.
A winter night, thick with the scent of spring.
"What is this?"
"The sheet music for the piece I just played."
Mei Ran stared steadily at the paper in his hand. "'If Missing Had a Sound'?!"
This… wasn't this the song he wrote for Yu Sheng?
"I wrote this for you." Fu Shijin picked her up and placed her on the piano bench, then sat beside her. Entrancing piano music began again.
"Your hands cannot play. Then from now on, I will play for you."
His tone was as light as plain water. "Whether as your man, or as Ansel, I cannot accept the fact of MR being disgraced."
That which he cherished beyond compare—how could he allow others even a half-glimpse of coveting? Especially such a brazen impersonation…
"Ran Ran," Fu Shijin stopped his movements, turning his head towards her. "I have sharpened the sword for you. Now, what you need to do is lift it, and join me in defending MR's honor."
Mei Ran clasped his hand. "Yes."