Chapter 26: The Courage Bestowed by "Courage"

If one were to ask who understands the essence of a song best, many would likely say the original singer, but that’s not necessarily true. The one who truly comprehends a song is its creator; only the original author can fully grasp its subtleties.

That was why Zhang Fuyu intended to have Su Chen supervise her interpretation of this song. Su Chen, however, was initially inclined to refuse. Singing is a personal expression—each individual has their own understanding, and there’s no absolute right or wrong. Moreover, even if you point out someone’s flaws, they may not be willing to accept your criticism, and even if they do, it may still leave a trace of resentment.

Thus, the closer two people are, the more they should avoid such situations.

But...

“Come on, just listen to it for me, won’t you? Please?” Zhang Fuyu pleaded sweetly, shaking Su Chen’s arm.

There was no way Su Chen could withstand such a deadly move; he surrendered instantly.

“All right, all right... How about you sing the whole song through once, Sister Fuyu?” Su Chen said helplessly.

“Okay!”

With that, Zhang Fuyu took her lyric sheet and entered the soundproof recording booth. After a brief preparation, she began to sing a cappella.

Wearing headphones, Su Chen listened as Zhang Fuyu sang with abandon behind the glass wall, his brow slowly furrowing...

Beside him, Wang Bingling was also holding a page of “Courage” lyrics, studying them intently.

The melody had already filled her with anticipation, and she’d worried that high expectations for the lyrics might cloud her judgment of the song. But now, she realized the lyrics in her hands far surpassed anything she could have imagined—they were on an entirely different level.

“Love truly takes courage to face rumors and gossip; as long as you give me a look of affirmation, my love has meaning...” Wang Bingling tried singing a line of the chorus, and goosebumps instantly prickled across her skin.

The lyrics were straightforward, yet the attitude of bravely pursuing love was deeply moving. In a way, such honesty was courage itself.

Though the song was a ballad of heartbreak, it conveyed a profound message: to dare to love and express oneself without caring for the opinions of others, and to hold a steadfast attitude toward love.

These lyrics were the perfect match for the melody—a flawless combination!

After a quick read-through, Wang Bingling couldn’t help but listen attentively to Zhang Fuyu’s singing.

The song’s gentle and winding melody suited Zhang Fuyu’s vocal timbre perfectly; their union was truly harmonious.

This only deepened Wang Bingling’s sense of awe.

He really was a musical genius!

She wondered if Su Chen might one day write a song just for her...

Casting a glance at Su Chen, Wang Bingling was about to offer him a word of praise when she noticed the deep furrow in his brow.

He... he’s frowning? Does Su Chen think Zhang Fuyu didn’t sing well enough?

Wang Bingling’s mouth fell open in astonishment.

To her, Zhang Fuyu had already interpreted “Courage” to perfection! She couldn’t imagine how the song could sound any better.

When Zhang Fuyu had finished the song, she returned with a beaming smile.

“How was it? Can I pass this time? I thought I did pretty well just now,” Zhang Fuyu said.

But looking at the two of them, she saw Su Chen frowning, and Wang Bingling about to speak but holding back.

“...Bingling, what did you think?”

“I actually thought it was great... but Su Chen seems to...” Wang Bingling began, but Su Chen interrupted her.

“Your perspective is off,” Su Chen said.

Su Chen was scrupulously precise when it came to music. He either kept quiet, or he spoke only in objective facts.

Zhang Fuyu was stunned. “...Perspective?”

“Yes, perspective. When I wrote this song, I meant to convey a brave attitude toward love. The lyrics are about not caring about others’ opinions and being bold in confessing to the one you love.”

“So, when singing this song, you need to stand in the girl’s shoes, with courage and impulse, singing with that reckless abandon.”

“But just now, Sister Fuyu, you sang from the stance of an observer, as if advising the girl to be brave. That is the message we want to communicate, but... it was too clear-cut.”

Listening to Su Chen’s words, Zhang Fuyu’s brows furrowed as well; she seemed to understand his point.

Su Chen continued, striving to make his explanation as clear as possible.

“Simply put, we should tell a story, not preach a lesson. We need to relate our own story to others and let them comprehend it themselves, not draw a conclusion and then admonish them.”

“These two approaches may express similar ideas, but listeners empathize with the former. Just now, Sister Fuyu, you sang in the latter way.”

At this, Zhang Fuyu felt as though a veil had been lifted; she suddenly saw things clearly. But soon, she fell silent again.

She had no idea what kind of courage it took to fall in love!

Seeing this, Su Chen guessed her worry.

He sighed. “How about this: I’ll go in and sing it once. Sister Fuyu, listen and see if you can catch the feeling.”

“Great!” Zhang Fuyu’s face lit up.

Su Chen entered the recording booth, adjusted the microphone, and began searching for the right emotion.

In truth, Su Chen had never been that brave either—but he had heard the original singer’s performance.

As he searched for the right feeling, for some reason, Han Jiangxue’s face suddenly appeared in his mind!

In that instant, emotions welled up within him, and Su Chen began singing at just the right moment.

“At last, I made this decision, not caring what others say about me, as long as you’re just as certain.”

“I’m willing to go to the ends of the earth with you—I know it won’t be easy.”

“……”

The moment Su Chen opened his mouth, Zhang Fuyu realized that his rendition was on another level.

It wasn’t about vocal technique, but about the soul of the song and the empathy it conjured.

“We all need courage to believe we’ll end up together. Amid the crowd, I can feel you—your true heart resting in my palm.”

When the song ended, Zhang Fuyu had a much clearer idea of how she should sing it. Now, it was just a matter of trying again and again.

“Why... do I feel like he sings even better than you, Sister Fuyu?” Wang Bingling said, utterly bewildered.

Zhang Fuyu looked at the girl beside her, stunned by shock, and shook her head helplessly.

How should I know?

Time flew by. Under Su Chen’s strict guidance, Zhang Fuyu sang for two whole hours before finally passing the take.

Her throat felt utterly spent; she couldn’t manage another word.

“Sadist...” she muttered weakly, shooting Su Chen a fierce glare.

“Ahem... Sister Fuyu, we’re doing this for the sake of the work. No taking revenge!” Su Chen averted his gaze, not daring to meet hers.

“...Hmph!”

Su Chen chuckled awkwardly, loaded all the tracks onto a USB drive, and prepared to take them to the producer for mixing.

But just as he was about to leave, he saw Wang Bingling standing bashfully by the door.

“Uh... Sister Bingling, what’s going on?” Su Chen asked, puzzled.

Perhaps after listening to “Courage” for two hours, Wang Bingling had found her own courage. She looked at Su Chen and said,

“Su Chen, could I... could I also commission a song from you?”