LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 74:
Chapter 74: The Long Night! The Third Daughter Conquered! The Three Sisters of the Xu Family:
For Wang Xueying, the night felt incredibly long. During this time, her mother called to ask why she hadn’t come home. Wang Xueying had no choice but to lie, saying that she was still working at school and hadn’t finished yet, so she had to stay late. She tried to sound serious, though it wasn’t easy.
Her mother didn’t think much of it. Since Wang Xueying often stayed in the school dormitory when she was busy with work, her mother simply reminded her to stay safe and hung up. Speaking of safety, Wang Xueying suddenly remembered—she hadn’t taken her birth control in the afternoon. A sense of panic washed over her. What if she got pregnant out of wedlock? She couldn’t imagine the scandal if her colleagues or students found out, especially if it spread online.
[Ding! Wang Xueying is in a good mood, her mood value +894]
When Xu Hao and Wang Xueying finally stepped out of the room, it was already the afternoon of the next day. Xu Hao arranged for a bodyguard to escort Wang Xueying home, ensuring she would be safe from now on.
Xu Hao then made his way to a quiet alley, where eight women knelt before him. His eyes fell on the one kneeling closest to him, who, despite her ordinary appearance, had a hidden power.
“Who are you?” Xu Hao asked calmly.
“My Lord, my name is Bai Ling,” she replied, her voice emotionless, though her eyes betrayed a spark of loyalty. Her devotion to him was absolute.
“From now on, you will stay by my side as my personal protector,” Xu Hao instructed, relieved to have someone with such formidable strength. At least now he wouldn’t need to worry about running into a protagonist determined to take him down.
When Xu Hao returned home, he found his family in high spirits. Curious, he asked, “What’s going on? Why is everyone so happy?”
“Dad, you’re back! I wanted to tell you, Third Sister just released her new songs,” Xu Huayi exclaimed, grabbing his arm excitedly. She then explained that since she and her sisters had no classes that day, they had accompanied Xu Hongjiao to the recording studio, where they had recorded three songs.
“Dad, listen! Third Sister’s songs sound amazing. She’s going to be famous!” Xu Huayi handed him her phone, and Xu Hao listened. He was impressed. The music was flawless, and any minor imperfections had already been corrected by his own talent in music production. These songs would undoubtedly be even more popular than before.
“Hmph, let’s see what those people who criticize Third Sister’s singing skills have to say now,” Xu Shiqing added with a smug expression. She was disgusted by the online trolls who had insulted Xu Hongjiao.
As the family celebrated, Xu Hongjiao sat nervously, though her sisters’ praise made her feel good about her work. However, she still worried about how the public would react once the songs were released.
Xu Hao, smiling, reassured her in his mind. There was no need to worry. He had already arranged for all the right channels to promote the songs, ensuring their success. This time, he was genuinely putting the full power of the Xu Hao Group behind her.
Not long after, the three songs began to dominate the charts on major music platforms.
Meanwhile, in a large company office, a tall, elegant woman entered, exuding grace and authority. After a long day dealing with company matters, she felt exhausted.
Sitting down at her desk, she opened her computer to find her group chat flooded with messages. Curious, she clicked in and saw that her third sister, Xu Hongjiao, had just released a new song. Everyone was talking about how great it sounded.
She clicked on the song “The Wind Rises.”
The twilight cloaks your wavering steps
As you enter the painting hidden by the bedside
In the painting, you lower your head and speak
I marvel still at the vastness of the world
Indulging in the sweet stories of childhood
No truth, no falsehood remains—no struggle, no empty jest
At last, I returned my youth to her
Together with the summer that blooms at your fingertips
Where the heart leads, it follows the wind
In the name of love, are you still willing?
After listening to the song, the woman sat in stunned silence. All her fatigue seemed to vanish, replaced by a renewed energy. Her heart felt alive again. Though she had never been in love and had no interest in romance, something about this song moved her deeply.
This woman was Xu Hao’s eldest daughter, the one most affected by his coldness. She admired her father’s ability to build a fortune, and she was determined to surpass him. After graduation, she had rejected a recommendation to become a graduate student, instead diving headfirst into the business world. She had a natural gift for spotting opportunities and had quickly earned her first million. But now, managing a company of hundreds, dealing with competitors, and constantly searching for new ventures had worn her down.
However, as she listened to “The Wind Rises,” she felt a sense of hope rekindled. Like the woman in the song, she, too, would persevere, no matter how hard things became.
In another part of the world, a beautiful woman sat in a research lab, listening to the song “Under the Sea,” also sung by Xu Hongjiao.
The moonlight filters through the clouds
Avoiding the crowd
The scales of the sea form
The waves dampen your white dress
Trying to pull you back
Waves washing away the blood
Deluding themselves they can warm you
Listen to the depths of the sea
Whose cry leads
The soul sinks into silence
No one wakes you
Too late, too late
You laughed and cried
Too late, too late
Your trembling arms
Too late, too late
No one will save you
Too late, too late
You, who hate suffocation
The somber lyrics and heavy tone pulled the woman into the depths of despair painted by the song. Her eyes reddened as she felt the helplessness and sadness echoing through the melody. Although the song left her emotionally drained, she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to listen again.
In an isolated mountain village, seemingly untouched by the outside world, the same song played, reaching more listeners with each passing moment.
…
In the antique room sat a classical beauty dressed in ancient attire, as if she had traveled through time from a thousand years ago to the present. With her eyes gently closed, she held her phone, listening to the song “Chi Ling.”
This woman is Xu Hao’s fourth daughter, who has loved classical literature and traditional culture since childhood.
One day, she witnessed a competition between Chinese and Western medicine, where Western medicine mocked Chinese medicine. This enraged her, as traditional Chinese medicine, a part of her beloved culture, was being ridiculed and was already in decline. At that moment, she made the decision to study medicine, vowing to revive traditional Chinese medicine.
Through her senior sister, she found a master who began teaching her. For two years, she had been studying in the mountains. Her third sister had recently been banned for rejecting a wealthy man’s proposal, which made her furious. She wished to return home to help her sister, but she hadn’t completed her studies yet. Her master had told her that once she mastered the Taiyi Divine Needle technique, she could leave the mountain. So, she focused on improving her skills.
After learning that her third sister had released a new song, she eagerly began listening. The songs “Under the Sea” and “The Wind Rises” were enjoyable, but her favorite was “Chi Ling,” a song that beautifully blended traditional opera tunes and ancient singing methods.
As she listened, the lyrics deeply moved her:
“Singing of joy and sorrow, separation and reunion,
All the world’s stories unfold on stage,
Yet the dramas of life are beyond the play.”
She was enchanted by the song, captivated by its traditional style. In an era dominated by shallow entertainment, such thought-provoking music was rare. She couldn’t help but admire her third sister, Xu Hongjiao, feeling proud as she imagined how the release of these songs would overturn the ban on her.
Suddenly, the door opened, and another woman, mature and dressed in traditional clothing, entered the room. Her voice was sweet as she spoke, “Qing Xue, today’s lessons are over. Why are you still here? Don’t you want to leave the mountain?”
“Master, you came just in time! My third sister released an amazing song. You should listen to it too,” Qing Xue replied enthusiastically. Under the massive influence of the Xu family, many people had already heard these songs and couldn’t stop talking about them.
“These songs are incredible, especially ‘The Wind Rises.’ It gives me chills and fills me with energy,” said her master.
“I agree, but ‘Under the Sea’ makes me cry every time. The more I cry, the more I want to listen,” Qing Xue added with a laugh.
“I love ‘Chi Ling’ the most. No one can compare to her in that genre!” Qing Xue proudly said.
Her master asked, “Do you know this singer and songwriter, Xu Hongjiao? She’s so talented, but I hadn’t heard of her before.”
“You don’t know her?” Qing Xue was surprised. “She’s been making waves recently, even though Zhao Media tried to ban her.”
“Ban her? Why?” the master asked in shock.
“It’s said that Zhao Media’s son-in-law failed to win her over, and in a fit of anger, he blocked her. But after her songs went viral, people demanded the ban be lifted,” Qing Xue explained.
Soon, the internet was filled with messages demanding justice for Xu Hongjiao. Many reposted the songs, and trending topics flooded social media:
– “Xu Hongjiao, youngest international pianist, releases three hit songs.”
– “Thousands protest the unjust ban on Xu Hongjiao.”
– “The song ‘Chi Ling’ ushers in a revival of traditional Chinese music.”
Back at the Xu family home, Xu Hongjiao eagerly monitored the growing success of her songs. She saw her name climbing the charts, and public support overwhelmed her. Her eyes filled with tears of joy as she realized her dream was coming true.
Her family was thrilled. “Third sister, you’ve done it! You’ll be crowned the queen of music this year,” her siblings cheered.
Xu Hongjiao’s heart swelled with pride. She turned to her father and said, “Thank you, Dad.”
[Ding! Xu Hongjiao was deeply moved, emotional value +888]
[Ding! Xu Hongjiao was thrilled, emotional value +999]
Her father, Xu Hao, smiled with satisfaction. He had nurtured his third daughter’s career, and now, seeing her success, he was filled with pride. Su Wanqiu, his wife, felt relieved too. After all, their daughter had finally achieved her dreams.
Yet, Xu Hao’s other daughters grew envious. “Dad, you wrote three songs for third sister. When will you write one for us?” Xu Huayi asked, pulling on her father’s arm playfully.
Her sister, Xu Shiqing, stared at their father with hopeful eyes, while Xiao Wanling, the youngest, glanced at him nervously, unsure of what she was thinking.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, Zheng Feifan emerged from a dark alley where two assassins lay dead. He overheard people talking about Xu Hongjiao’s song, realizing that she had defeated the ban imposed by Zhao Media.
Zheng Feifan had been tasked with lifting the ban on her, but public pressure had forced Zhao Media to relent before he could act. Now, he was stuck, his mission a failure. Killers came after him daily, and he lived in constant fear and frustration.
Gritting his teeth, his face darkened with rage. “Damn it… Whoever’s behind this, I’ll make you pay in blood.”