If Not for You, How Could I Have Endured the Obscurity

Zhou Yiguang gained millions of fans just from this one singing video, let alone the surge in Heartbeat Points.

Before the fan meeting even ended, the system's voice began to sound excited.

"The Heartbeat Points keep increasing, they're skyrocketing, host!"

At this, System 077 remarked with feeling, "I take back what I said about the entertainment industry being a double-edged sword. Host, you were born to be a star. You understand women so well."

Zhou Yi didn't have time to check the system panel yet; he had to finish the ongoing fan meeting first.

After singing, Zhou Yi said to the fans, "Many Little Feathers said before that they wanted my autograph. I've put them all in envelopes. You can open them to see."

Only then did the fans have time to look at the letters Zhou Yi had written.

"Holy crap, these autographs are all handwritten, and the letters too!?"

"It's true, the ink can even be smudged a little, my god... over ten thousand of them, how did he do it?"

"He must have stayed up all night writing them, otherwise there's no way he had enough time in such a short period."

"I really shouldn't cry anymore, my eyes are going to get swollen, but I can't help it."

"Even his handwriting is so beautiful. Who wouldn't love Li Yu?"

"This trip was so worth it. I even feel like dating is boring now; my partner isn't as thoughtful as Li Yu."

"After becoming a fan of Teacher Zhou, I'll probably have a hard time finding a partner in this lifetime. There's just no comparison; Teacher Zhou absolutely crushes it."

......

The final segment was taking photos.

At the fans' request, Zhou Yi didn't leave immediately but sat on the stage waiting for fans to come take photos with him.

Zhou Yi spent a full hour taking photos because there were so many fans.

Actually, many people still didn't get to take a group photo later on, but they could tell Zhou Yi was getting a bit tired, so they didn't insist.

Before leaving, Zhou Yi said some words reminding everyone to be safe on their way home, which again made the fans feel warm and touched.

Finally, before the crowd dispersed, several of the biggest fans handed the letters they had received to Zhou Yi. Several boxes were filled to the brim, almost overflowing.

Zhou Yi estimated it would take a very, very long time to open and read them all.

But he had the system; he could read anything quickly and even memorize it.

While Zhou Yi was reading the letters at home, 077 asked, "So many letters, you're going to read all of them?"

Zhou Yi nodded, "Yes."

The system was puzzled, "Why? Do you genuinely like your fans that much?"

Zhou Yi replied while opening a letter, "Liking them is one aspect. On the other hand, all of these are useful. You'll understand by tonight."

After the fan meeting ended, the fans didn't immediately leave Huaihai. Instead, they gathered for meals at different restaurants, discussing Zhou Yi and the day's events.

Among them, one person was surrounded by quite a few girls.

That was Zhang Wu.

Although there were also a few hundred male fans at this meeting, Zhang Wu was the most famous male fan among them. He wore a headband directly on his head with the words "Keyboard Immortal" written on it, so all the fans knew who he was.

Zhang Wu was experiencing this feeling of being the center of attention for the first time—surrounded by so many cute and pretty girls. He was absolutely loving it.

After the fans learned that Zhang Wu was Zhou Yi's deskmate, they all begged him to share more about Zhou Yi, asking many questions.

"Does Li Yu really not have a girlfriend?"

"No. The line of people chasing Brother Yi could stretch all the way to France. If he had one, wouldn't I know?"

"Is it true that a female CEO is pursuing Li Yu? And that she's very rich?"

"It's true. She offered millions just to have a meal with Brother Yi right off the bat. Brother Yi wasn't tempted at all. He only went later out of consideration for the female CEO's younger brother."

"Is Li Yu a top student?"

"Is that even a question? During that exam, I was still writing the first page, and he finished an entire test paper in just a few minutes. My brain almost crashed at the time."

......

In Zhang Wu's words, Zhou Yi was simply the best man in the world.

His words carried strong subjective bias, filled with gratitude and admiration for Zhou Yi.

However, this also aligned well with the fans' perception of Zhou Yi. Zhang Wu's words just strengthened the credibility of those rumors about Zhou Yi, making them seem more real.

If 077 heard this, it would probably say Zhang Wu has a crush on Zhou Yi again.

After reading letters for a while, Zhou Yi stopped to rest his eyes.

At that moment, he sent a video to You Man.

It was a video of him singing. Zhou Yi was holding a guitar, with the background being the fast-food restaurant You Man used to run.

Actually, the melody of this song was the same as the one Zhou Yi sang for the fans, but the lyrics had subtle differences.

Many of the lyrics for the fans were altered.

But the one for You Man was almost the original lyrics.

This was one of the birthday gifts Zhou Yi planned to give You Man.

On the other side, You Man was calculating accounts in her shop. Seeing Zhou Yi had sent her a message, her eyes lit up, and she quickly opened the video.

In the video, Zhou Yi smiled and said to her, "Sister Man, this is an early birthday gift for you."

Then Zhou Yi began to sing the song softly.

The lyrics were like this:

I show you those years of youth, however shabby and rough,

Yet they always held me captive.

By my side, there was only you,

Yet I dared to venture into sunless, mad dreams.

It was you who accompanied me through bleeding and skinning.

Accompanied me during sleepless nights, exchanging memories.

And it's because of you that I became who I am,

With anyone else, the ending would be lost.

In those days of struggling and ordinary youth,

If not for you, how could I have traversed the nameless obscurity.

.

I truly accompanied him through heavy rain,

Truly accompanied him through winter and summer,

Truly embraced him in the darkness,

Truly held his arm.

I flew tens of thousands of miles across the earth with him,

Also weathered dreams together, living hand to mouth.

Once hid in the quiet of long streets,

Promised to only head towards futures that had each other in them.

Those so-called gentle proofs that were glimpsed,

Are actually not even one ten-thousandth.

In unmanned corners,

There are more romantic secrets.

The world speculates, true or false, does not believe in fate.

But I have long arranged for him to be a part of all my remaining life.

I truly talked with him till dawn,

Truly shared the best chemistry with him.

Truly remember all his quirks,

Truly fear separation the most.

I too want to declare love aloud,

And often take chances about the future,

Hoping the world would permit,

To boldly call out his name once, then speak of love.

Regarding him, I have too much courage,

All truly are sweet dreams from which I don't wish to wake.

I truly have suffered from the illness of missing someone deeply.

Truly love watching his silhouette.

Truly grew armor-hard for him,

Truly kissed the side of his neck.

We once, amidst a full house of distinguished guests,

Spoke our hidden love to its most enjoyable extent.

But I only looked into his eyes,

And what the thousands cheered about, I didn't care.

.

I want to tell you that loving each other is too difficult,

But when a young man's heart is moved in an instant, it's moved forever.

Don't mind the rumors and gossip,

Please keep believing in this love.

......

Zhou Yi had specifically added the lyrics to the video, so You Man knew the latter part of the words described her inner feelings.

After listening to the song, You Man cried directly. She hugged her phone, started to choke up, yet her heart was also deeply moved.

"If not for you, how could I have traversed the nameless obscurity"—this line genuinely touched You Man's heart.

She recalled how they had walked step by step to today from that little shop, feeling a deep sense of emotion in her heart.

["Truly fear separation the most. I too want to declare love aloud, and often hope for luck regarding the future, hoping the world would permit me to openly call out his name, and then speak of love."]

This section of lyrics was simply a portrayal of You Man's inner world.