Gu Xingyi couldn’t figure it out—Lin Guodong had clearly said the lead vocals would be performed by children, so why did his own voice appear in the trailer?

Still, that didn’t affect how insanely popular the teaser was online.

Just a short clip, a single lyric, and a simple narration.

Brief, but it cut deep. Within just two hours of being posted, the teaser had already rocketed to #10 on the trending charts.

Much of that was thanks to major media outlets picking it up and promoting it with eye-catching headlines. Influential creators and bloggers quickly noticed it as well.

Anyone with a bit of insight could tell how much heat the full video was going to bring. So naturally, they all started resharing it.

With big-name bloggers reposting, the trailer’s momentum kept climbing. Comments flooded in from every corner of the internet like a rocket barrage.

    “Salute to the heroes! One lyric gave me goosebumps! So moving in its simplicity—this is the passion that runs through the blood of every Huaguo citizen!”
    “Can’t wait for the full version! I’ll be there the moment it drops! Sharing now to support our unsung heroes and show the world Huaguo’s unique kind of romance!”
    “I swear I’ve heard that singing voice before—why does it sound so familiar? I can’t place it, but whatever! Liked and saved!”
    “Seeing those three young firefighters made me cry. My son is a firefighter. Every time he goes on a mission, our whole family is scared to death. They give everything to everyone—except themselves and their loved ones.”
    “Auntie, I get you. It’s not just firefighters. I’m a nurse, and every time I collapse outside the OR, my mom cries alone at home.”
    “Big hugs to you, nurse jiejie!”
    “Wait, are you serious about that hug? Nurse jiejie, don’t fall for him—let me do it! I mean it!”
    “Damn it, I was about to cry, and you two trolls made me laugh again. Now I’m crying and laughing at the same time!”

The comments came in all types, but every single one expressed eager anticipation for the full video. The raw, honest passion that lives in the bones of the people was awakening as they turned their attention to the nameless heroes who give silently.

As Gu Xingyi scrolled through the comments, he felt deeply gratified. This song, this video—the old man’s effort hadn’t been in vain. People saw it. People felt it.

The emotions and meaning they wanted to convey hadn’t been buried. Countless touching stories that had never been known to the world were now unfolding one after another in the comment section. That alone made it all worth it.

Just then, the front door opened.

Gu Xingyi looked up from his phone.

Xia Xiyao had returned from the salon with Xiao Nainai in tow. When he saw Xiao Nainai’s new haircut, his eyes lit up instantly.

Her once twin braids had been tied into two cute buns, each adorned with a bright red ribbon. Her bangs had been trimmed neatly to her brows, and the wispy strands near her ears had been tucked behind them.

She looked just like a little fairy who had stepped out of a fairytale. Gu Xingyi’s heart nearly melted on the spot.

He immediately reached out his arms.

“Who’s this little fairy? Come here—give Papa a hug!”

The little one grinned from ear to ear but shyly ducked behind Xia Xiyao, hugging her leg and burying her face.

Even Xia Xiyao was amused by Nainai’s rare display of bashfulness as she watched the interaction between father and daughter.

Aw, the little one was actually shy!

But Gu Xingyi wasn’t having it. All he wanted right now was to hug his adorable daughter.

He stood up, walked over to Xia Xiyao, crouched down, and pretended to be surprised. “Oh wow! This little fairy is actually my sweet Xiao Nainai?!”

Without waiting for permission, he scooped her up. Her slightly flushed cheeks came into close view.

Her big, lively eyes and pink little face had filled out a bit more lately, making her even cuter. The more he looked at her, the more he adored her.

Unconsciously, he reached out and gently tapped her smooth little nose.

“Nainai doesn’t want Papa to hug her anymore? Papa’s going to be heartbroken!”

“I do! Papa can’t be sad!”

She immediately clung tightly to his neck and nuzzled into his chest, afraid her earlier refusal had hurt his feelings.

Gu Xingyi happily planted a kiss on her soft cheek.

(๑ơ ₃ ơ)ﻌﻌﻌ

Her adorable affection completely overwhelmed him. It was like eating candy straight into his heart.

People were right—daughters are like little cotton-padded jackets for their fathers. No truer words.

“Alright, alright! Enough of this lovey-dovey stuff at the door—get inside already!”

Xia Xiyao chuckled, shut the door, and gently pushed the overly sweet pair back into the living room.

Grinning ear to ear, Gu Xingyi plopped down on the sofa with Xiao Nainai in his arms, scooped a piece of watermelon, and fed it to her. Then he turned to Xia Xiyao.

“By the way, you’re reporting to Yin Hai Entertainment at the beginning of August, right?”

Hearing that, Xia Xiyao also sat down on the sofa and blinked her beautiful eyes.

“Mm. Before that, I’m going to bring Lele back home, and then visit Sister Yun. If they find out I’m making a comeback, they’ll be thrilled!”

She smiled sincerely as she spoke. The two people she felt most guilty toward when she abruptly left the industry were them. Even if not for her own dream, she had to work hard for their sakes.

“Mm.”

Gu Xingyi nodded, still gently stroking Nainai’s hair. In the back of his mind, he was already thinking about what song he should write for Xia Xiyao. This comeback would be her first big moment, and it had to be flawless.

She had a great voice—capable of delivering both sweet tunes and emotional ballads—so the options were endless. That actually made it harder to decide.

After thinking about it for a bit with no conclusion, another thought crossed his mind.

“Right—we should go buy a car soon. Actually, let’s get two. Nainai’s starting kindergarten next month, and it’ll be more convenient to drop her off and pick her up. Also, even though Yin Hai will provide you with a company van, you’ll still need a personal car for everyday stuff.”

Xia Xiyao considered it and agreed. In the past, she rarely left the house, so not having a car didn’t matter. But now that she’d be going out frequently, not having one would be a hassle.

Still, she was worried that Gu Xingyi might not have enough money left. He’d already used a good chunk of earnings from the last two videos to buy furniture, and he’d just been on a trip—who knew how much was left?

Even though Gu Xingyi had linked his bank card to her WeChat before he left last time, she never checked the balance.

And with Nainai about to start school, there’d be more expenses soon.

After thinking it over, Xia Xiyao looked up, her brows slightly furrowed with concern.

“Let’s just get one for now. You’ll need it to pick up and drop off Nainai. I already have a company car, so I probably won’t need another right away. Once I start earning again, we can think about a second one.”

She figured once her singles and albums came out and revenue started flowing in, then they could talk about cars again.

That thought made her feel a bit anxious. She wasn’t even sure when she’d get to release a song. Even though the Yin Hai contract promised top-tier resources, it came with one catch—the songs had to be self-provided.

She had no idea how Gu Xingyi managed to negotiate that. The company had given her premium resources, but no in-house songs? That was strange. She didn’t even know that many composers.

Speaking of composers, Xia Xiyao suddenly froze, then turned to look at the calm, composed Gu Xingyi.

Wait—he could write songs.

She didn’t know when he learned, but those two tracks on Douyin? One of them he’d even taught to Xiao Nainai on the spot.

Gu Xingyi already knew what she was worried about. With a relaxed wave of his hand, he said:

“Relax. You don’t need to worry about money. Just let the bullets fly a bit—there’ll be plenty in a few days!”