CHAPTER 280: CHAPTER 280: WALKING THE PATH AGAIN, A BRAND NEW SELF

The concert is two hours long, starting at 7:00 pm and will end at 9:00 pm.

Serena Sterling is sweating profusely on stage but performing impressively.

The stage setup, rapid costume changes, live interaction.

The song selections were well-matched, with a mix of dynamic and soothing pieces, ensuring the best live effect while considering Serena’s physical capabilities.

Everything went according to plan.

Serena’s image varied greatly, as did her musical styles, covering a variety of genres.

There were lyrical, intense, gentle acoustic songs, as well as full-on dance music — all present.

She put her heart into it.

She hopes everyone who came here, everyone who likes her, finds joy in this concert.

She interacted with the audience throughout, but from start to finish, she never looked at those sitting in the VIP seats.

Especially Julian Lawson.

She didn’t want to affect her state of mind.

Finally, after singing once more, Serena stood up on stage.

This time, the stage didn’t immediately go dark; she stood in the center of the stage, holding a microphone.

Because of singing continuously for over an hour, her makeup was slightly dampened by sweat, but the imperfect makeup made her even more beautiful.

She smiled as she looked at the sea of stars in the venue, her voice spreading through the microphone.

She said, "Thank you all for coming to watch my concert."

Many below responded in unison.

"These days, I’ve been through many things," she said softly, her eyes slightly lowered, her eyelashes particularly long on the big screen, "but today, here, it is you who make me feel empowered again."

The audience cheered back.

"I know many people know me, or say like me, starting with those songs from ’Heavenly Sound’.

Many came to the concert for those songs."

She smiled, "Then next, let us, together— ’Yesterday Once More’!"

The whole venue erupted in cheers.

Louder than any previous cheers.

Serena smiled, as the stage lights dimmed, then brightened again, revealing her in a striking red dress to everyone.

Just like in the first live broadcast of ’Heavenly Sound’, when Serena wore the flaming rose performance outfit.

Only this time the red dress was different from back then.

Now, Serena was not wearing a mask.

She is Irene, Irene is Serena.

As she began to sing, it seemed everyone was transported back to the past.

The turmoil from back then.

Irene was forcibly oppressed, the true live effect downgraded, yet still broke through the siege with great strength scene by scene.

Back then many people used ’Micro Love’ to counter ’Yesterday Once More’ which had downgraded sound and picture quality, thinking about it now, it’s truly laughable.

Serena sang.

Everything seemed to return to the past.

She recalled the original intention of singing this song.

Remembered everything from the past.

Her eyes slightly moist, but luckily under the cover of sweat, it wasn’t visible.

In different times, people’s moods vary, sensations differ.

The depth of life is different, so too the feelings evoked by singing.

What’s more, Serena had made some changes.

Not a complete copy of ’Yesterday Once More’ from ’Heavenly Sound’, but with some alterations.

Trying to ensure both those who’ve and haven’t heard ’Yesterday Once More’ have a great listening experience.

Serena sang, in her eyes appeared scenes of when she created the song.

Her past with Julian Lawson.

Her child, her despair.

But eventually putting everything down, she decided to embark on a new journey in life.

From ’Yesterday Once More’ to ’We’, then to ’Deep Sea’, ’Travel’, and finally ’Sculpture’.

One song after another.

She seemed to go through that segment of life once again.

From destruction to rebirth from ashes, and amidst numerous dissenting voices, sculpting another self anew.

Below the stage, many fans were already in tears, each experiencing rebirth amidst life’s trials just like her.

The songs weren’t very sad, they were even powerful and resonant.

But inexplicably moved people to tears.

They seemed to have accompanied Serena all this way.

Just because they were recalling their own pasts, at this moment, they also seemed to have found the strength to start anew.

The moment was filled with enormous emotion and resonance.

It wasn’t easy.

Serena was, as was everyone else.

Truly not easy.

Serena sang, as the feedback from the audience shook the shell confining her even more.

The last phrase of ’Sculpture’ ended, the venue remained silent for several seconds.

Serena looked to the audience below.

Below were pairs of teary eyes.

She smiled, her eyes were red too.

It wasn’t until then that belated cheers reached them.

The night breeze gently blew.

It was a summer night’s eve.

Serena looked up at the dark night sky; the concert was coming to an end.

She slightly calmed her emotions.

Then, she said, "Next is the last song."

"An original new song, ’I’."

As the stage dimmed and brightened again, Serena appeared on stage once more.

She held the microphone, word by word, slowly from chanting to building to a climax.

’I’ follows the significance of ’Sculpture’.

The song unfolds the pains experienced as ’I’, the joys experienced.

The love and hate for "I".

The repeated setbacks I faced, knocked down and then reinvented.

The drone soared again.

Faintly, the enlarged butterfly opening from the start reappeared.

But this time, it flickered intermittently, full of cracks.

Like the once proud unyielding butterfly, now shattered and torn, wings broken, scarred, barely alive.

Once so proud and unyielding, yet still defeated.

Life isn’t smooth sailing, nor does one only experience one hardship.

Life is about healing from the fractures.

Time and again, giving birth to a stronger self.

Just like the broken butterfly in this moment.

Serena’s voice resonates deeply, steering emotions.

Slowly guiding everyone.

And herself too.

The broken her, the one imprisoned by the heart.

As the song advanced, pushing to a climax.

"I am me."

Only "I" can lead "me" to break through and carve out new horizons!

With the song’s passion, the intense beats, and Serena’s high notes.

"Bang!"

It seems something shattered.

And in the sky, at that moment, the giant butterfly burst into flames.

The edges of the butterfly’s wings glowed with a circle of flames, as if to consume it.

On the stage, was all flames.

Real fire.

As if in this moment, everything was consumed.

Yet Serena still stood center stage.

Immediately someone feared for Serena, stood up abruptly.

Amidst the venue came a chorus of startled cries.

But Serena remained standing in the center of the stage.

The flames blazed, heat rising, her face flickering in the firelight.

At that moment, she was like a butterfly struggling and fluttering fiercely in the flames.

The song continued, her voice soaring, under the stage lights, wings seemed to slowly sprout anew behind her.

And in the sky, captured by the drone, the giant butterfly flapped vigorously.

A pair of brand-new wings gradually emerged!

This time, the wings compared to last time, forged through fire, were exceptionally magnificent.

And, even more resilient.

Just like Serena on the stage at this moment.

Is a butterfly.

Is Serena.

Is "I".

Every individual’s inner "I".