Chapter 112: Fanaticism

The next morning, as soon as he woke up, Lin Qihua locked himself in his room and began to create with a feverish intensity. His mind was flooded with a kaleidoscope of images, making him feel as if he were on the verge of exploding. He suspected that if he did not organize these inspirations promptly, he would lose his mind.

He busied himself with composing melodies, writing lyrics, and contemplating the choreography, musical arrangement, stage design, and special effects for the performance, demanding nothing less than perfection for every detail.

His mother once pushed the door open, but seeing his state, she wisely chose not to disturb him, allowing him to remain immersed in his creative world.

It was not until noon that Lin Qihua finally cleared his thoughts. Though papers were scattered everywhere, he smiled broadly; he had finally found what he was looking for.

Walking out of the room, he found his parents sitting quietly in the living room. Seeing him emerge, his mother pointed to the dining table and said, "It’s been freshly heated. Eat quickly."

"Right away!" Lin Qihua grinned, picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and began to eat heartily.

"Is this your creative state? It’s a bit frightening."

"Don't worry about him. Without madness, there is no mastery. It’s common for many of my friends to go days without food when working on a project," his father said, offering his firm support. "Of course, find a girl to take care of you soon so you don't ruin your health."

"How did we get back to that topic?" Lin Qihua asked, stunned.

His mother sat down beside him and smiled. "Your career is important, but don't miss out if you meet a girl you like. Love and career are not in conflict; they should complement each other. Love that is painful or melodramatic isn't true love; the feeling of being perfectly attuned, like water and milk, can only be found in a true partner. If you meet such a girl, never let her go, for she might just be the most suitable companion for your life."

Lin Qihua paused, savoring his mother's words. It seemed true, yet in reality, how could it be so simple? His only past relationship was perhaps with Zhao Wanting, but looking back, it wasn't even a true romance—just two talented individuals drawn to each other, seeking warmth and support to endure the hardships of training camp. When she left, he felt sad, but not devastated, and eventually, the memory faded.

Did Ma Xiaoqian count? Undoubtedly, she was a fine girl, deeply devoted to him, but the sense of being perfectly attuned that his mother spoke of was missing.

If there was any girl who had stunned him, stirred his heart, and with whom he felt a certain resonance, it might be Gu Yuhan. But that possibility was even slimmer; she was like the moon in the sky, far beyond his reach.

Lin Qihua shook his head, chasing away these daunting thoughts. He finished his meal in a few gulps, set down his chopsticks, and smiled. "Mom, this time, I need you to step in and help your son."

"What kind of help do you need?" He Yunyue asked with interest.

"Well, I’ve just written a song for next week's competition. It requires a variety of instruments, including the pipa, drums, bamboo flute, dongxiao, guzheng, castanets, cymbals, and bells. I also need a high-caliber Chinese dance performer. Who else would I ask if not you?" Lin Qihua pleaded with a grin.

"Oh? Sounds interesting," his father added, leaning in. "Let us see your work."

"Sure." Lin Qihua returned to his room to retrieve the sheet music he had just composed to show his parents.

As experts themselves, they understood its brilliance at a glance.

"Chinese-style?" his father asked.

"Yes, Chinese-style." Lin Qihua knew what his father meant. In the music industry, many predecessors had tried to combine traditional instruments with modern pop to form a new genre. While some masterpieces were hailed as "Chinese-style," most attempts were failures that felt neither one thing nor the other.

"Don't worry, this song is excellent," his mother said. "I love it. Although the story is heartbreaking, that is exactly what makes it moving."

"Exactly, Mom hit the nail on the head." Lin Qihua gave her a thumbs-up.

"To achieve this effect, you certainly need the right instruments. You came to the right person; if needed, she can assemble an entire orchestra for you," his father laughed.

"No need to remind me," his mother replied with a smile. "I’ve already planned to do so. While Qihua needs my help, isn't he also helping us? We have a duty to showcase the beauty of our traditional music on the stage of *The Singer*."

"Good, good, good! When mother and son are of one mind, they can cut through metal," his father praised.

"Ignore your father," his mother said, turning to Lin Qihua. "I’ll take care of this. I’ll gather everyone today. You need a Chinese dancer, right? I’ve already found one for you. Your Aunt Zhao Xuelan is a top-tier Chinese dancer in China. I’ll ask her to send you a young, beautiful, and highly skilled girl."

"That would be perfect!" Lin Qihua laughed happily. "I’ll fly back to Xiangzhou tomorrow. My team needs time to rehearse, and I need to coordinate with the production crew."

"No problem. We’ll have everyone ready by tonight and head over tomorrow," his mother said, full of enthusiasm. "I guarantee they will be the best."

"Thank you, Mom."

...

Lian Yuling had grown accustomed to Lin Qihua's occasional shifts in direction. When she received his call and listened to his plan, there was no anger at the disruption of her schedule, only a decisive agreement. "Very well, the team members will fly over tomorrow. I am very interested in your plan."

"Don't you think I'm being too willful? Always making unreasonable demands?"

"You are a singer; you have the right to be willful," Lian Yuling replied simply.

"Alright, then let us be willful once more. Thank you!"

"You're welcome." Lian Yuling hung up the phone with a faint smile. She was looking forward to the surprise Lin Qihua was brewing, confident that the audience would be amazed as well.

The next day, Lin Qihua met all the participants, and even he was left speechless by the sheer magnitude of the lineup.

Ding Yi, a master of the Chinese big drum, capable of evoking countless emotions with his percussion.

Fu Ziwen, a pipa virtuoso, often mentioned alongside his mother as one of the "Twin Gems of Traditional Music"—a testament to her fame and strength, and a woman of graceful, captivating beauty.

Dai Lingxuan, a world-renowned master of the bamboo flute.

The other performers for the bells, castanets, and cymbals were all leaders in their respective fields. Just as his father had said, his mother had utilized her resources to the fullest. With his mother, a guzheng master, this lineup was truly a galaxy of stars in the traditional music world.

Aunt Zhao Xuelan arrived in person with her most prized protégé, Peng Bingyu. Lin Qihua knew her; she was about his age and already a famous Chinese dancer. When he was a child visiting Aunt Zhao’s home with his mother, she was already an apprentice there. Now, she had grown into a stunning beauty, possessing a unique temperament honed by years of dance.

"Let me see, which child is bold enough to propose such a massive plan?" Zhao Xuelan beamed when she saw Lin Qihua. "If the traditional music world knew about this, they’d be shocked! Look who we have here. If nothing else, seeing the 'Twin Gems' collaborating is an incredible event in itself."

"Aunt Xuelan," Lin Qihua said bashfully, "Mom is making a big deal out of it."

"No, no," said Ding Yi, a burly, strong man. He wagged his finger and smiled. "Your mother showed us the score, and we loved it. To be part of this is a wonderful thing. Chinese-style music exists, but this is the first time it will be presented on a stage like *The Singer*. We are used to performing, even at the Spring Festival Gala, but *The Singer* is a new experience for us all, and we are quite looking forward to it."

"The beauty of traditional music, the sound of China," Lin Qihua said, bowing with respect. "How could I not showcase such beautiful music to the national audience? Though I am inexperienced, I humbly ask for your assistance."

"Very well." The group bowed in return.

That afternoon, the group flew to Xiangzhou. Lin Yilun tagged along, happy to help with the chores.

Upon reaching the hotel, Lian Yuling and the others were already there. They were stunned by the lineup, especially the musicians on the team, who were shocked to see such masters assembled by Lin Qihua.

"Stop staring! Get organized. We’ll meet soon to discuss the details. This song looks beautiful on paper, but in a live broadcast, one slip in coordination will turn it into a disaster." Seeing their astonishment, Ding Yi took charge, directing them to move their luggage into their rooms before leading the massive entourage to the hotel's conference room to begin discussing the logistics.

The score Lin Qihua provided was merely a foundation. Coordinating all those instruments required extensive breakdown and analysis. Fortunately, everyone present was an expert, and they quickly divided the work, with everyone knowing their specific responsibilities.

After a while, Wei Hongzhang, Gao Rui, and the executive director in charge of stage design arrived. They attached great importance to Lin Qihua's last-minute proposal, as he had already proven his strength and earned their respect.

"Good heavens, look at this lineup!" Gao Rui, being a musician himself, recognized every master present. Even with his status, he had to greet each one respectfully.

"What a massive surprise." Wei Hongzhang patted Lin Qihua on the shoulder, his expression vibrant. The third episode had caused a huge stir, pushing *The Singer* to the status of a phenomenal variety show, but it needed to be further consolidated. Lin Qihua's approach was exactly what Wei Hongzhang wanted to see. He knew that, at the very least, this episode was a guaranteed success.