As the erhu piece concluded, the audience finally accepted the truth—they realized her calm and leisurely demeanor wasn't just because she was confident in a particular song.
It was simply because her mastery over the erhu had reached a profound level. Just like when Chu Lian played the guzheng in a video, her skill was nearly that of a grandmaster.
"After listening to two erhu pieces, you all must be getting tired, right? Then let Lian'er perform another instrument," Chu Lian said with a smile. Her words said one thing, but her hand still drew the bow across the erhu strings for a few lingering, sorrowful notes, as if reluctant to part with it.
Without waiting for anyone's response, she turned around, gently placed the erhu back into its case, and after fiddling for a moment, took out a nine-section bamboo xiao. Sitting back in her place, she brought the long flute to her lips and began to play slowly.
Just like earlier with the erhu, the notes she played were disjointed and unstructured—clearly, she was adjusting her feel for the instrument. Of course, she was already immersed in the musical world. "White Blossom" was still active.
She didn't begin performing immediately—she was simply savoring a moment of peace. And more importantly, she was waiting for more people to arrive.
Her erhu performance had already caused quite a stir. Her supporters were sharing videos of her erhu skills across different circles.
Many neutrals and fans who hadn't yet found her stage were now slowly gathering.
Their arrival caused the previously quiet corner, which had fewer than thirty spectators, to swell to over a hundred. The space reserved by the stage designer for the audience was now packed at the front.
Some curious onlookers, seeing the commotion, came over to check out what kind of performance was drawing such a crowd.
As a result, the nearby performers on other small stages saw their audiences quickly dwindle. After all, not everyone had Chu Lian's kind of seemingly overpowered strength. Even in a talent-packed academy like this one, it was rare to find someone at this age whose skills in any domain reached a grandmaster level.
But Chu Lian had precisely that ability. The "Master-Level Classical Huaxia Music" she exchanged from the system was the real deal. Although she hadn't had much time or opportunity to fully showcase it, that didn't mean her serious effort would fall short of that level.
When the time was right, she would let them see what a true master's performance looked like.
Setting down the xiao, Chu Lian looked out at the audience and gave a gentle smile. "Thank you all for watching Lian'er's performance. I'm truly grateful and will use my best state to bring you the most beautiful music."
"For Lian'er, this school anniversary isn't just a chance to challenge myself—it's also a chance to prove myself. So seeing all this support makes me genuinely happy. For the next few hours, let Lian'er take you into her world of music."
In public settings, she always maintained an impeccable image. This wasn't just because she didn't want to reveal her true self—it was also because she needed to shape the persona of a true goddess. Only then could she build a strong foundation for future development.
She chose to refer to herself as "Lian'er" for three reasons: her young age, her attire—a pure white Hanfu in the traditional quju style—and, admittedly, a bit of deliberate cuteness to attract fans. Clearly, it worked…
Seeing the number of onlookers approach 150, Chu Lian knew it was time to deliver a truly breathtaking performance.
She once again brought the nine-section bamboo xiao to her cherry-red lips, closed her eyes, and began to play. The piece was a famous classical composition from this world—"Moonlit Ripples on the Jade Lake"—the music that had once moved her most deeply. Its notes slowly flowed from the xiao...
This was a song of ultimate stillness. Whether it was the lyrics, the melody, the imagery, or even the behavior of the performer—everything emphasized serenity.
And the stillness would be mirrored by the listeners depending on the performer's skill. A truly skilled artist could play this piece with so much emotional control that the audience would barely make a sound.
She chose this piece because it was a soul-soothing song that calmed restless hearts and carried away excess worries. In fact, she wasn't the only one to choose it. Since its release, perhaps due to this unique effect, it became a standard for singers to use during concerts to settle overexcited audiences.
"This is a song with magic." — Time Music, 2008 Edition.
Even Americans who weren't particularly fond of Chinese music gave it rave reviews after its debut.
"It doesn't inspire passion, nor does it elevate emotions. Rather, it dispels all anxiety, like sitting in the depths of a mountain, quietly listening to a spring."
"It treats everyone equally—the troubled, the heartbroken, the suffering, and the sorrowful all feel the same effect. It is a spiritual tranquilizer. Its emergence redefined music as a form of mental therapy. This is truly a song for the soul—divine, as if played by the gods themselves."
These words came from a world-renowned musician writing for Time Music. He even researched Huaxia classical literature to find the right expressions. His review helped propel the song to global acclaim.
The song's origins are legendary.
"Moonlit Ripples on the Jade Lake" was composed, written, and performed by a single person—Chu Yan. She was a stunning woman known as the "Jade Wave Fairy," a fleeting beauty who appeared to the world for only a brief moment.
She emerged and vanished in just three days. Aside from this song, she left behind no other works. Only one photo exists of her—wearing a white quju Hanfu with a light veil over her face.
Yet, this otherworldly being, like a celestial goddess who appeared then disappeared without warning, had her name forever etched into the highest halls of Huaxia and global music. This song won Huaxia's top music award and the World Music Achievement Award of 2008.
As time passed, "Moonlit Ripples on the Jade Lake" became a beloved classic both domestically and internationally. Nearly every renowned musician was a fan. In a recent poll, it was even ranked as one of "The Ten Most Beautiful Songs of the 21st Century."
Her appearance prompted global attention toward the once-neglected music of Huaxia. Thanks to her, the rapid decline of classical Huaxia music slowed. Hanfu enthusiasts, who were a minority, suddenly found themselves embraced by the public.
But for reasons unknown, aside from Chu Yan's original recording, no one else has ever fully captured the song's essence.
No one could recreate her ability to make a crowd of thousands fall completely silent. Even so, it's a fact that any performance of this piece leaves the audience hushed by the end.
For evaluation, the song is categorized as follows: "Those who can replicate even 30% of the original are first-class musicians. Reaching 50% is world-class. Achieving 70% mastery makes one a musical treasure. But reaching 90% of the original's spirit? That person would be a once-in-a-century genius."
The greatest pity was how little time Chu Yan had in the public eye. If she had stayed longer, she might have single-handedly reshaped both Huaxia and world music.
But now, another young woman—also surnamed Chu—had reawakened that power. From the very first note Chu Lian played, the crowd below fell completely silent.
"Ripples in twilight breeze, moonlight tender in secret grief, so many illusions pass the eyes, a thousand years awaited for a moment's belief…"
Not a single person in the audience hadn't heard of "Moonlit Ripples on the Jade Lake." As soon as Chu Lian began to play, many closed their eyes, transported into a paradise-like world.
In their hearts, they could suddenly envision a woman gently parting her lips, softly reciting that poetic line…
No one had ever publicly performed this piece solo on the xiao—not just because of its incredible difficulty (even a piano rendition is barely passable), but also due to the decline of classical Huaxia music, which left fewer and fewer people studying traditional instruments. With so few learners, how could there be many gifted ones?
Among classical instruments, the guzheng has the most solo versions of this song. But it's also the most widely studied. The xiao? Perhaps only a tenth as many students. With such small numbers, where could new interpretations and arrangements come from?
Yet Chu Lian instantly recognized this hidden gem. Her xiao solo of "Moonlit Ripples on the Jade Lake" marked the true beginning of her solo music showcase.
"It's not that the world forgot—it's that no one reminded them. Once someone uses an extraordinary method to show how beautiful Huaxia's classical instruments truly are, the world will eventually remember this genre. And that performer will surely spark a new musical storm." — Time Music: Memory, 2015 Edition