Educators, scholars, and academic mentors flooded the platform with their conclusions. Almost unanimously, they wrote:
"Yu Ye's era of educating his daughter ended long ago. Everything he did before was simply an attempt to leave her with something before his death."
"Sure enough, Yu Shuying's transformation after the age of seven had nothing to do with growing up in a poor family."
"The birth of a genius has nothing to do with family education; it has now been completely proven. How could someone suffering from Alzheimer's disease possibly teach a child?"
Another theory quickly gained traction, and many people believed the answer lay with Liu Shi. After all, from the time Shuying reached the age of seven, everything about her changed.
Her piano performances.
Her reading and debating skills.
Her achievements in competitions.
Her animation character designs.
Her scriptwriting.
Her original song compositions.
Her opera costume designs.
Even her refined speech, graceful manners, and elegant temperament.
Everything about her resembled someone who had been raised by an aristocratic family under the guidance of elite tutors.
Combined with Shuying's astonishing natural talent, the picture appeared flawless. This became one of the strongest arguments within educational circles. In their eyes, Shuying's rise was no miracle at all; it was simply the result of perfect education combined with extraordinary talent.
Yet at this very moment, on the stage of the program, only one thought remained in Shuying's mind.
"Ever since that man's mind began to fail... I never leaned on anyone again. No one. I walked out of the darkness alone... I became my own light."
That... Was the source of her confidence. And now... Almost everyone believed Yu Ye's influence on her life had completely vanished. Because a man trapped by Alzheimer's... No longer possessed the qualifications to educate anyone.
The replay continued.
A full week had passed since she had started learning piano at the music shop. Every morning she ate breakfast at home, and she returned home for dinner every evening.
During the day, she attended school.
During lunch break, after school, and throughout weekends, every spare moment was devoted to practicing the piano.
On a Friday night, Ye finished cooking, and the two quietly ate dinner together.
While eating, the man sitting across from Little Shuying suddenly asked in a calm voice, "What time do you practice the piano?"
"From Monday to Friday, I arrive an hour early before school. I also practice during lunch break. On Saturdays and Sundays, I practice all day." Shuying looked at him curiously. "Why are you asking?"
"I'll pick you up." Ye continued eating, his face completely expressionless. After a long silence, he slowly added, "Learning the piano is enough. On Saturdays and Sundays, you still need to study your other subjects. You have to do well in school and get good grades. Don't compete with other children only in piano."
He took another sip of rice porridge as he spoke, his tone carrying the awkward sternness of a father giving advice.
The words instantly ignited Shuying's anger, and she could no longer hold herself back. "You burned my piano exercise book before! Because of that, I've already fallen behind everyone else's progress!"
Ye remained indifferent. "Then that only proves you don't have enough talent. If you were truly talented... Would something like that matter?"
Shuying's face flushed red with anger. Without another word, she rushed back into her room and slammed the door shut.
To everyone watching, this was already the second time Ye's mediocrity had been displayed so plainly. It almost seemed... completely ordinary. Many of those who had once secretly admired Yu Ye could only sigh helplessly. Perhaps... He really was just an ordinary man after all.
The audience also felt a wave of disappointment, and comments poured across the screen.
"This confirms it. Shuying's achievements really have nothing to do with Ye. Alzheimer's completely turned him into a tragic figure."
"In his current condition, he can't teach his daughter anymore. If anything, he's constantly delaying her progress."
"But that only makes me even more curious. Under these circumstances, how did Shuying become so outstanding? Was it pure talent... or someone connected to Shi? Didn't Shuying once mention that several women appeared around her when she was about eight years old? Could that have been the turning point?"
In the living room.
Ye quietly washed the dishes when, halfway through, he suddenly froze and his eyes became vacant. He stared blankly at his own hands before murmuring in confusion, "What... was I doing?"
Instinctively, he reached into his pocket and pulled out another small note. He hurriedly wrote down the meal schedule before accidentally dropping it onto the floor, where it scattered among dozens of other notes. Each note was written with painstaking detail.
[Monday to Friday: 6:30 a.m.–7:30 a.m. Shuying practices piano for one hour at Piano Shop.]
[12:40 p.m.–1:50 p.m. Shuying practices piano for another seventy minutes.]
[Saturday: 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Full-day piano practice.]
There were many more.
[Your name is Yu Ye. You have a daughter named Yu Shuying. You live in Apartment 034, Building 12. She is in Class 1, Grade 4, at Hope Primary School...]
One note after another, hundreds of tiny reminders. The handwriting varied from neat to shaky, as though they had been written on countless different days.
The moment he finished reading them, his cloudy eyes gradually regained focus. Only then did he remember, and he quietly walked toward the door. Even as he left, confusion still lingered across his face.
Yet he continued whispering to himself over and over again, "It's still not enough... It's still not enough... As long as my belief is strong enough... I can do it. I definitely can."
Now, he truly looked like an old man whose mind was slowly falling apart. Yet he continued reminding himself, "I can't forget... I can't forget to cook. I can't forget Shuying. I have to pick her up from school on time. It's dangerous outside. There are so many illegal factories... And piano... If she practices like this... Who can keep up with her? Who has that much time? Most children won't have an advantage over her."
At this moment, Ye no longer looked mediocre; he looked heartbreaking. An old father suffering from Alzheimer's disease... Clutched those notes as though they were more precious than his own life. Again and again, he reminded himself.
Remember.
You must remember.
Don't forget.
At that moment, Xu Hong quietly rubbed the corners of her eyes. Only now... Did she finally understand why Ye's poems from years ago were even more moving than the ones later written by Shuying. Because every poem he wrote... Contained his love. His emotions. His soul. Everything he had.
It was the instinctive love of a father. The instinctive desire to protect his child. Even after disease had devoured his memories... Even after parts of his brain had stopped functioning... His instincts... His very genes... His deepest consciousness... Were still desperately screaming at him.
Don't forget.
Never forget.
Remember her.
Hong lowered her head. Then, in an almost inaudible voice that only the guests beside her could hear, she asked, "...Could anyone truly stand against him?"
Silence answered her. Because this was the first time she had ever witnessed someone like him. He had been an excellent father, but illness had shattered him. Even if he could no longer fulfill every responsibility of being a father... He deserved forgiveness. Because... He had never once chosen to give up. Even while losing himself... He never stopped thinking about his daughter.
Only now did she finally understand why he had been able to write those unforgettable words. "God is dead. The stars have vanished. Therefore... you must stand here."
Even until today... No one had truly understood him. Only someone who carried such immeasurable love... Could write words so ethereal... So profound... So piercing that they left behind nothing but silent tears.
Yet... No matter how unyielding a father's love might be... Disease would eventually erode even the greatest pride he possessed.