Chapter Ten: The Key Is "Opportunity"

After spending a few days recuperating at home, Lin Qihua finally found an opportunity to sit down and talk things over with his parents. Both of them were perpetually busy, so most of the time, Lin Qihua was the only one at home.

“It seems you’ve made up your mind?” Lin Yilun sat on the sofa, a faint, knowing smile on his lips.

“Yes,” Lin Qihua replied with a determined nod.

“Alright, then. Go ahead, convince us.”

Looking at his parents, Lin Qihua gathered his thoughts and began, “Dad, Mom, I know you never insisted that I inherit your careers or anything like that. In today’s Huaxia, although traditional studies and music aren’t as popular as mainstream culture, they still hold their own place. There are many people working in these fields; my presence or absence hardly matters.”

“That’s reasonable. We agree.” Both parents nodded their assent.

“What you really want to know is how I plan my future—whether I have the confidence and perseverance to keep going, and whether I’m prepared for failure and have the strength to endure it. I can say that I’m aware of these things, and I’m ready to accept the possibility of failure on the path of a singer. So, I will persist, not for any lofty reasons I might have given in the past, but simply because I truly love it. I genuinely wish to keep going, to try using my voice to convey my thoughts and feelings, to move and influence others. It’s undeniable that pop music is the most widely accepted form today. I want to see just how far I can go.”

His parents exchanged a surprised glance. They hadn’t expected Lin Qihua to express himself with such sincerity and clarity. Had this been a few years ago, they would never have agreed. But it was obvious he had thought deeply about it; he had matured considerably.

“What I want is to devote myself to music, to singing, to learn how to use the rules of this industry to develop myself and influence others. My goals are clear: I won’t isolate myself, nor will I blindly follow the crowd. Of course, this all depends on my abilities, and in this I have great confidence.”

“As far as I know, ‘Huayi’ is one of the most influential companies in Huaxia. Being expelled from there has hurt you tremendously—not only are other companies reluctant to sign you, but it’s also hard to find support from songwriters. This lack of resources can be fatal.” His father frowned as he spoke.

“I’ve already considered this. That’s why I’ve prepared a song—an original composition. Please, allow me to perform it for you, Father and Mother.” Lin Qihua’s voice brimmed with confidence.

“Oh?” Lin Yilun raised his eyebrows, intrigued. “It seems you really have prepared well. Very well, we’re all ears.”

“A song called ‘Blue Lotus,’ dedicated to my beloved parents.” Lin Qihua settled into the corner of the living room, picked up the guitar by his side, strummed a chord, and smiled at his parents.

They clapped appropriately.

“Nothing can hold me back,” Lin Qihua began to sing, his magnetic voice filling the room, lingering on the final note. Only then did he let his fingers move across the guitar strings, the rhythmic melody blending in seamlessly.

“Your yearning for freedom
A life as untamed as a wild horse
Your heart is unburdened by care.”

“My, that’s quite a statement, but the lyrics are well written.” Lin Yilun, a master of classical studies, immediately grasped the song’s meaning.

“The melody is beautiful too—it has the flavor of folk rock.” His mother, immersed in traditional music all her life, instantly recognized the essence of the tune.

The two of them relaxed into the sofa, watching as Lin Qihua continued his performance.

“Through the shadowed years
I have felt lost
But as I glance down
I see the path beneath my feet
The world of freedom in my heart
Is so clear and vast
Forever blooming
Blue lotus…”

The song repeated, its lyrics free of grandiose declarations, the melody gentle and serene. Yet, it was imbued with a strong sense of Zen, a spirit of steadfastly pursuing one’s dreams. It wasn’t just about freedom, but the free world within one’s heart—a world everyone interprets differently. For Lin Qihua, it meant striving to reach the summit of the music world, to see the view from the top.

“Our child has grown up, his wings are strong now.” Lin Yilun could hear the determination and pursuit in the song, and sighed with a sense of acceptance.

“If he truly composed this himself, then we can be at ease. With such talent, he can go anywhere in the world.” His mother smiled, her eyes full of tenderness and pride.

When the song ended, Lin Qihua bowed with his guitar in his arms. This was probably his first time singing in front of his parents, and the first time a song from another world had been revealed through his own voice. To sing for his parents—it meant a great deal to him.

His parents applauded enthusiastically, even giving him a thumbs-up.

“That was an excellent song. You composed it yourself?”

“Yes. I’d been thinking a lot these past few days, and was inspired to write it,” Lin Qihua replied.

“In that case, I have nothing more to say. All I can do is support you. Even if you fail, it’s nothing to worry about. Youth is your greatest asset, and we don’t need you to support us in old age,” Lin Yilun stated plainly.

“I’m also curious to see how far you can go, now that you’ve been reborn from the ashes,” his mother agreed.

“Thank you, Mom and Dad. One thing is certain: I will do my best. Success or failure, I can accept both. What’s truly frightening is not even daring to try, only to be left with regret,” Lin Qihua said with conviction.

“So, do you have any plans for the future?”

“I do,” Lin Qihua smiled. “Two directions: First, to sign with a small company that has growth potential and is willing to support me, so I can have as much freedom and support as possible. Second, I want to return to Yanjing soon, to explore the city and seek inspiration for my music, and also to find a temporary singing job.”

“I can understand signing with a small company. Big companies can be overbearing, while smaller ones, though lacking in resources, are easier to get along with,” his father said, still frowning. “But why look for a temporary singing job? Are you planning to make appearances as an errand-runner, or work as a resident singer in a bar? Isn’t that beneath you?”

“Dad,” Lin Qihua shook his head, “you know I only debuted a year ago. If I hadn’t left the company, these years would be my period of rapid growth—both in popularity and in musical skill. That’s because these years involve lots of performances and live shows, the best way to improve through experience. Now that I’m no longer with a company, and can’t sign with a new one for a year, how can I make sure my skills don’t stagnate or even continue to improve? The answer is simple: seek out opportunities to perform. Whether it’s as a resident singer in a bar or something else, as long as I can sing and be on stage, it’s a good thing. I need performance opportunities—only by continuing to perform can I keep growing.”

“That does make sense.” Lin Yilun stroked his chin, pondering.

“Let’s use an analogy—your favorite athlete, Wu Shixiong. When he trained overseas, he honed his skills and became famous overnight at the World Youth Championship. Then, countless top clubs, not just from home but from abroad as well, tried to recruit him. Which team did he choose?”

“Athletic Bilbao,” Lin Yilun replied without hesitation.

“Yes, a mid-to-lower tier team in La Liga. Compared to powerhouses like Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Milan, it was hardly worth mentioning—not famous, not powerful. But why did he pick such a small team?”

“Because he could play as a starter, become the core of the team. It was a great stepping stone.” Lin Yilun understood what his son was getting at.

“Exactly. Being a starter and the team’s core meant he could develop his skills to the fullest. La Liga emphasizes technique, and isn’t as physically demanding as the Bundesliga, Serie A, or Premier League. Before his physique was fully developed, La Liga was the perfect fit. He could also face two super teams every year. Playing as a starter in such a competitive league was priceless experience. When he reached his prime, the whole world was open to him.”

“That’s true.” Lin Yilun agreed. “On the other hand, if he had chosen Real Madrid from the start, he would have had to begin as a substitute, and his growth would have been much slower.”

“It’s the same for me. Right now, the most important thing is to maintain my form and keep progressing. Sitting at home for a year, waiting for a comeback, would be a waste of precious experience. No matter how much I practice alone, the improvement wouldn’t be significant. Only by getting on stage can I discover my shortcomings and improve quickly. After a year, I’ll be able to take charge of my own destiny, without relying on anyone else,” Lin Qihua continued his analysis.

“Alright, your analogy is spot on. I support your decision. Just be careful—Yanjing is a complicated place,” his father said with concern.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. I won’t do anything foolish. I’ll choose a place that suits me; I won’t go anywhere too complicated.”

“Very well, you’ve convinced us. Let me look forward to the future you’ve described.” Lin Yilun stood up, his smile bright. “Go for it, superstar of our family.”

“Thank you, Mom and Dad. I’ll do my best.” Lin Qihua finally relaxed. Tonight’s conversation was the result of much preparation and reflection. Convincing his parents had not been easy, and having their support was his greatest happiness. He owed much to the way society now valued the entertainment world and artists—a huge step forward from the past.

A few days later, Lin Qihua boarded a train to Yanjing. As he stepped onto the train, his phone chimed with a notification. Opening it, he saw a transfer of fifty thousand yuan, along with a message from his mother: “Work hard. No matter what, your parents will always be your staunchest supporters.”

As he gazed out the window at the two receding figures, tears blurred Lin Qihua’s eyes.