48 Smile. (1/2)
NOTE: Please play ”Fact-Fiction” by Mads Langer to get the full effect of the chapter!
Something that was hard to notice was that even in the happiest songs, even the ones that seemed the most fun, Qiu Yue's eyes could never completely indulge in the performances.
Half way through the concert, she rushed backstage to change outfits and met Qiao Feng along the way. She smiled at Qiao Feng but it caused his heart to ache painfully. Why was it that he could feel that something was missing? But he never had a chance to say anything to her as she rushed back on stage with that same porcelain smile. So fragile as though a single wrong move could shatter it.
It wasn't that Qiu Yue was always sad. She wasn't. She did do her best and she had found somewhat of a solace in comforting others, and yet everyday she'd go back to thoughts of him, of Huo Zi Feng, and then it felt like she was drowning all over again.
Finally it was time for the last song of the day and this was one Qiu Yue needed Qiao Feng to sing with her.
”Alright, guys! The night is coming to an end. There's an unfortunate announcement... Mr. Yu Wang is unable to make it here today, so an anonymous singer will be filling in for him. I hope you guys can support us as this is the song I wrote with all my feelings.”
Even the audience could feel the shift in the air as Qiu Yue's voice seemed to carry weight when she spoke.
Qiao Feng stood behind the stage, fitted with a mic and clothing, where only his shadow was shown on the screen while Qiu Yue stood in the front.
It was meant to be in the image of a couple standing together, yet while one seemed real, and the other was a shadow.
There was nothing special about this performance, no effects, nothing.
Qiu Yue stood alone with a guitar and gently strummed the strings with a saddening and yet perhaps the most real emotion on her face.
It was Qiao Feng's voice that rang out in the quiet stadium.
”Imagine a world without me
Say you're falling apart
Let's pretend you've missed me for a while”
”Wouldn't you say you were lonely and love was breaking your heart
Put on your Sunday best and fake a smile”
Different from the original she'd heard, Qiu Yue had wanted to make her arrangement slower, with more impact.
Qiu Yue's voice took over as she sang from the next line. It was clear and sweet but her voice also held a deeper, wistful meaning, one only she knew about.
”I dream of dreaming dreams of him”
”In twilight he's a constant blur”
”The picture is clear and I'm still fact he's fiction”
”Remember the night you were with me”
”Fell asleep by my side”
”Strangers together - your hand in mine”
Qiu Yue's eyes were filled with reminiscence as she thought back to the days they'd just fallen asleep in the office. Just them. And how all the comfort in the world could never make her feel that way.
”How come we never came closer
When all the stars were aligned”
”I thought we had a moment”
Touching the wedding band around her neck, the heavy lump in her throat just started to get heavier with each verse.
”I dream of dreaming dreams of him”
”In twilight he's a constant blur”
Qiu Yue was scared that maybe she'd one day forget the memories they'd made, his appearance and his soul... That thought scared her so much and she'd barely been able to put it to words.
”The picture is clear and I'm still fact he's fiction”