Picking Up Fragments

Jiang Siming's intro was unusually light and gentle.

Whether it was "Riding a Horse," "A Lonely Paris," or "Luzhou Moon,"

every one of Jiang Siming's songs, from the intro to the ending, had always been sorrowful, filled with a deep sense of heartache.

They were the kind of songs that could make listeners feel so downcast that even if they won the lottery that day, they'd still feel gloomy afterward.

So, people thought Jiang Siming was only good at writing sad love songs, and many were already thinking of crowning him with the title of "Prince of Heartache Ballads."

But unexpectedly, this song took a complete 180-degree turn—no more sorrow or heartbreak, all of that was pushed aside.

It was as if, after having a big argument with your partner and feeling devastated,

suddenly, your partner came over, admitted their mistake, and bought you all the things you love to eat and play with, completely changing their attitude.

Instantly, you would no longer be angry, but instead, you'd be smiling everywhere, feeling sweet and cheerful~

Jiang Siming's piano playing conveyed that same feeling of sweet romance, and there was even a warm smile on his face.

"The sky seems to be raining

I seem to live next door to you

Standing dumbly under your building

Counting the dark clouds as I look up

If a piano appears in this scene

I would sing to youNôv(el)B\\jnn

Even if buckets of water poured down..."

The lyrics of the first verse were like a simple narrative, plain enough for even a three-year-old to fully understand.

Normally, the simpler the lyrics of a song, the more unremarkable it sounds. A good song often needs well-crafted lyrics to highlight its beauty.

But this song was completely different. The lyrics and melody were so simple, so simple that even someone who had only learned guitar or piano for a few months could pick it up quickly.

And yet, this very simplicity—both in the lyrics and the melody—immersed everyone deeply in the ocean of music.

"Summer is almost over

Please buy less ice cream

When it's cold, don't wear short skirts

And don't be so mischievous

If sometimes you're feeling down

I'm willing to lend you Domino

You actually know how I feel..."

The cheerful atmosphere continued. The earlier part was the boy's brave confession, while this part was his warm reminders to the girl.

Eat less ice cream, don't wear short skirts when it's cold, don't be naughty, and don't be sad.

These are the everyday words spoken by countless couples, yet when they appeared in this song, they felt so fitting, as if listeners were hearing memories of their own past love.

Many single boys and girls also felt an unprecedented longing for love, wondering if having a partner would make life as beautiful as the song described.

"I'm singing this song for you, it has no particular style

It simply represents my hope that you will be happy

Tossing and turning for you, giving up the world for you, why not?

Amid the late summer and early autumn chill, there's still a bit of warmth, with the colors of the changing seasons..."

Then came the chorus, completely breaking open the unease in everyone's hearts...

"Hey~" the girl called out.

"What?" the boy asked.

"Do you like me?" the girl asked.

"Yes, so what? You're not saying yes anyway," the boy replied, dejected.

"Who said I wouldn't say yes?"

"Wait, so you're agreeing?" the boy asked in surprise.

"Not so fast, let's see how you behave first," the girl said, her face flushing as she quickly walked away.

The boy was left standing there, his once troubled mood suddenly lightened, as if the sky itself had drawn a heart in the clouds.

The beauty of love, in this song, was vividly brought to life by Jiang Siming's singing and playing.

Many single listeners couldn't wait to start a sweet romance like the one depicted in the song, thinking that if they could have such a love, it would surely be unforgettable...

It turns out that Ming Shen doesn't only sing sad love songs; he can also write something so sweet.

His previous three songs were all heart-wrenching, but this one seemed to "redeem" his image in the eyes of his fans (evil grin).

As soon as the song ended, gifts in the livestream piled up like mountains. There were over a hundred spaceships alone, and planes and rockets were being sent like they cost nothing.

"This song is called 'Why Not,' guys. I said what I'd do, so now it's your turn to keep your promise and let me go," Jiang Siming said with a smile.

The audience, however, felt conflicted, wanting to go back on their word and have him sing it a few more times, but they were too embarrassed to break their promise.

If they had known, they wouldn't have agreed; they should have made him sing it several more times before letting him go. Especially with a new song—how could just one listen be enough? It should have been at least seven or eight times!

"Sigh, let him go, let him go. I'll have to go to Bilibili later tonight to find an edited version."

"This song makes me want to fall in love. Forgive this restless 27-year-old auntie for being so unsettled."

"Could Ming Shen be in love? Writing such a sweet song, trying to drown us in sweetness?"

"This song perfectly captures the memories of every couple at the beginning of their relationship. It hits home. Thank you, Ming Shen."

"You can leave, but remember to make time to record the full version tomorrow, Master Ming!"

...

No matter what the audience said, Jiang Siming couldn't see it anymore. He ended the stream in a flash, went downstairs to grab his car, and headed to the Zhao family!

The next day, Jiang Siming recorded the song and uploaded it online. Having already released four songs, Jiang Siming had become a rising star in the Chinese music industry.

Even many established singers recognized Jiang Siming's talent—his speed and quality in songwriting were extraordinary.

Many music companies were eager to sign him, willing to offer large sums of money to bring Jiang Siming into their ranks.

But their hopes were always dashed, as Jiang Siming didn't agree to any of them.

After recording the song, he turned his attention to the stock market. He needed a studio, a talented team to manage everything, and a bunch of professional traders. Enjoy more content from empire

This was an area Jiang Siming knew nothing about, so he needed to find someone.

He immediately went to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the largest hub for stocks and securities in Shanghai. Here, you could often see billionaires lose everything overnight, or people go from penniless to wealthy in an instant.

The stock market was hundreds of times more terrifying and thrilling than gambling on jade stones. Those who knew how to play could use it to build their fortunes and become super-rich.

People like Buffett, Soros, and Nissen had used their stock knowledge to earn more than large corporations could in a lifetime.

But for every one success story, there were hundreds or thousands of failures. Many of them came from wealthy families, only to lose everything overnight.

The high risk and high reward of stocks attracted countless investors.

When Jiang Siming arrived at the exchange, he didn't understand anything that was going on. He only knew that red meant rising, and green meant falling.

There was a huge LED display in the exchange showing various stock information.

But most of the stocks on the display were green, with very few in red.

The place wasn't crowded either, unlike the bustling scene he remembered from a few years ago when he passed by.

Rumor had it that the stock market had been plummeting in recent years, with many people losing everything. It seemed true; otherwise, how could the largest stock exchange in Shanghai be so desolate?