["Brother! Why?! Isn't standing on stage your favorite feeling? You said that was your dream! Let's think of a way, okay? There must be a way!"
"Mengxi, don't cry... Dreams... they are good things, but they are just my personal future... and I should be responsible for the lives and futures of more people."
"Then... then I'll study desperately from now on! I'll manage the company for you! You go be a star! Or... or we do it secretly, don't tell Mom and Dad, do it in spare time? I'll cover for you! I'll give you all my pocket money as startup capital!"
"Heh... silly girl, a company isn't playing house, it requires full devotion... Besides, I don't mean to blame anyone. This is my choice... Walking this path is a decision I made after seeing reality clearly."
"But... but..."]
But then that brother would disappear...
The brother I like is the kind that shines. I don't want you to become like Dad and the others, frowning all day looking at documents, talking about business I don't understand...
The cowardly rabbit was cornered at this moment.
All of Yun Mengxi's words had no aggression, no blame, only surging panic, reluctance, and clumsy efforts trying desperately to salvage the situation.
She was afraid of the demise of that "shining" brother image, and tried to use everything she could think of, even sacrificing her future possibilities to stop it.
Her outburst stemmed from the impact on extreme pure emotion, not anger.
And Yun Feng?
He had become a mature guardian in the rice field.
He understood his sister's sadness, and even... deep in his own heart, there was a trace of regret for his own dream.
But he used the gentlest tone to tell the cruelest and firmest reality choice.
His stance allowed no wavering because he had placed "responsibility" above "preference" and clearly knew which path he must shoulder.
Yun Feng's words, like the gentlest rain, washed away all the vines Yun Mengxi tried to cling to.
He was right.
She couldn't refute.
She knew she lacked talent, had average ability, and knew nothing about the complexity and coldness of the business world.
She knew she was just an ordinary girl who grew up in love, was well protected, and might even be considered a bit "spoiled" in many people's eyes.
The family business, those cold numbers, intricate interpersonal relationships, and heavy responsibilities were a mountain she couldn't even imagine climbing, let alone carrying.
And this mountain, her brother was preparing to carry alone.
A huge sense of powerlessness almost drowned her.
She watched her brother prepare to speak again, probably those gentle words comforting her "don't be sad," "Brother is fine."
Those words used to be what she enjoyed most, but at this moment they would only make her more painful.
Because that meant her brother even had to hide his right to sadness for the sake of "correctness."
What should I do?
What can I do?
I...
Seem to...
...Can do something!
I indeed can't carry the future of so many people.
But even as small and incompetent as I am, can't I even afford "one person's" future?
"One person's future"
When this thought emerged, it even carried an almost ridiculous narrowness.
Compared to the "future of a group of people" her brother would shoulder, concerning the livelihood of countless employees' families in the family enterprise, the continuation of parents' half-life effort, and the trust of partners, how insignificant and... selfish this "one person's future" was.
But in Yun Mengxi's eyes, that light on the verge of extinguishing jumped again because of this "narrow" thought, and became brighter and brighter.
If her world was very small, small enough to only hold the most important thing; if her strength was very weak, weak enough to only barely carry the weight of one person...
Then, she decided to choose this future—
Choose Yun Feng.
Not Yun Feng as the corporate heir, but that Yun Feng whose eyes were like stars when talking about dreams.
She raised her head abruptly. Tear stains were not dry on her face, but her eyes were unprecedentedly clear and firm, looking straight at her brother who was preparing to comfort her, and said word by word in a solemn tone almost like swearing an oath:
"The future Brother wants to see... definitely exists."
Yun Feng was slightly stunned.
"If Brother can't go see it with your own eyes..." Yun Mengxi's voice was not loud, but carried a resolute stubbornness, as if using all her strength and courage.
"Then I will replace Brother, fulfill the dream, and see that future you want to see!"
As her voice fell, the small room was silent.
Yun Feng was completely stunned. The usual gentleness and steadiness on his face were broken, replaced by a complex expression mixed with astonishment, disbelief, and deeper throbbing.
He opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something, but ultimately couldn't make a sound, just staring blankly at his sister in front of him who seemed to have shed all cowardice in an instant, her eyes surprisingly bright.
The picture of memory froze in this rare, surprised look of her brother, then gradually faded.
Back to reality, reception room.
Yun Mengxi's narration came to an end. She exhaled lightly, as if unloading part of the burden, and also like re-experiencing that resolute impulse at that time.
She completely failed to realize that her initially "tentative" expression had unknowingly revealed her core life trajectory completely.
Her eyes drifted a bit far, falling into subsequent memories.
"That quarrel... no, after that conversation, I seemed to suddenly find direction." Her voice calmed down, carrying a certainty like fulfilling a promise.
"I started to desperately learn vocal music and dance, participating in various selections.
"Although I indeed have some talent in this area, my start was ultimately later than others...
"Whenever I felt tired and felt I couldn't hold on, I would think of Brother's look at that time, and the words I said myself.
"I want to stand on the stage he once dreamed of, I want to achieve everything he once fantasized about."
Her tone became specific and detailed, as if counting precious treasures one by one.
"Brother said before, if he held a concert, he wanted a main stage that could lift like a star, with extended stages around it, so he could see the faces of people supporting him at the closest distance... My first large-scale tour after debut, the stage design was like this.
"He said his favorite songs are those that can convey strength, making people muster courage even if only one person listens... So I insisted on participating in creation, and the lyrics always hide such intentions.
"He also fantasized that if he became a superstar, he would design a set of exclusive, gorgeous performance costumes with personal logos that would sparkle under the lights... Every set of my main stage costumes has a dedicated team designing according to the concept of 'shining like stars' I proposed.
"Even what he mentioned casually, wanting to try that particularly impactful performance style of singing and dancing, wanting to challenge writing songs himself... I learned and did these things bit by bit... Although... I didn't do well..."
Yun Mengxi gently scratched her face, somewhat embarrassed. "And, because I did really poorly, I could only do it secretly. It seems... Brother misunderstood it as... this is my hobby..."