Chapter 61

“Director Ishimura, here are the lyrics and melody for the song I want to add.” Luo Quan arrived at the company early in the morning and handed over her overnight-prepared manuscript to Director Ishimura.

“This is the song you want to add?” Director Ishimura looked in good spirits; the series of troubles from the earthquake had not greatly affected Sony Records, at most delaying the printing of “Coming of Age” by a few days.

Fortunately, no albums had been printed yet, so adding a song now was manageable—if printing had already begun, the workload and losses would have been enormous.

“Why did you suddenly decide to add a song?” Director Ishimura asked, flipping through the manuscript.

Luo Quan smiled: “The online atmosphere has been terrible lately, as if the world were ending. As a singer, I can’t do much, but I still felt I should do something—so I wrote this song.”

“That’s a wonderful attitude!” Director Ishimura didn’t offer empty praise; she genuinely believed Luo Quan had done something remarkable.

“‘Makenaide (Don’t Give Up)’…” Director Ishimura murmured the song title—it was a motivational anthem.

After reading for half a minute, Director Ishimura looked up, her eyes gleaming: “The lyrics are excellent—perfect for lifting spirits right now. Go straight to the studio and record it. Let’s hear the full effect!”

“No problem.” Luo Quan nodded. She had come here specifically for this.

“By the way, Director Ishimura, I have another matter to discuss with you.” Luo Quan turned around.

“What is it?”

“Regarding the album’s earnings, I’d like to donate twenty percent of my personal share to aid and support victims in the earthquake-stricken areas. Could you help me arrange it?”

Director Ishimura fell silent for a moment, then spoke clearly: “Of course, no problem!”

“Thank you so much.” Luo Quan clasped her hands together, as if in gratitude, or perhaps in prayer for the deceased.

In that moment, Director Ishimura saw the purest, most beautiful light of humanity on Luo Quan’s face.

She then walked toward the recording studio. Director Ishimura watched her slender figure recede and sighed softly: “If only she were Japanese…”

The recording went smoothly. The song’s style was simple—a pop track with rock elements, under four minutes long.

Yet after listening, every staff member involved felt, deep down, that this was a song worthy of being etched into Japanese music history.

There was no exaggeration—it was everyone’s first, instinctive reaction.

As Luo Quan, wearing headphones, sang with a gentle yet passionate voice: “Don’t give up, keep going, push through to the end,” everyone felt a fire ignite within them, sweeping away the gloom that had lingered for days.

To maximize the song’s impact, footage of Luo Quan recording in the studio was fully captured and would be uploaded online alongside the song in a few hours.

The video ended with a special message Luo Quan added: she clenched her fists toward the camera, urging, “After the storm comes sunshine—believe in the rainbow. Don’t give up, keep going. Sadness and hardship will pass!”

After finishing the video, the remaining staff added the song to the already completed “Coming of Age” album, while Luo Quan exported the video to her phone and went home.

Soon, Sony’s official Twitter posted:

“Luo Quan has temporarily added a new song to her album ‘Coming of Age’—titled ‘Makenaide (Don’t Give Up).’ The full studio recording will be released tonight at 8 PM. We hope this song brings light and warmth during this difficult time—let’s stand together!”

“Additionally, Miss Luo Quan will donate twenty percent of her personal earnings from this album to aid and support earthquake victims!”

This was likely the only entertainment news in days to make Twitter’s trending list. Initially, netizens had reacted with annoyance, thinking it was inappropriate to promote new music during such a crisis.

But once they saw the song title, they understood—it was an uplifting, positive anthem. And when they learned Luo Quan would donate twenty percent of her earnings, the public was deeply moved.

Though seven days had passed since the first earthquake, not a single celebrity had announced any donation—not even a whisper.

Now, a Chinese person was the first to speak up, stirring complex emotions.

Regardless of everything, the song’s intent was noble, and Luo Quan’s donation brought warmth to a populace shrouded in despair.

With evening TV programs lately dull and uninspiring, many people waited anxiously for the song’s release.

At 8 PM, the final track of “Coming of Age” went live—over one hundred thousand people clicked play simultaneously across platforms.

Unlike before, this version was the full recording, complete with video.

In the video, Luo Quan wore a simple white T-shirt with bold red letters: “Ganbatte! (Keep Going!)”—playful and endearing.

A powerful percussion beat shook every listener’s eardrums. This time, Luo Quan’s voice, no longer its usual languid and soft tone, was fierce and energized.

The melody and lyrics radiated vibrant, uplifting energy.

No one had expected their days of gloom to lift because of a single song—Luo Quan’s voice seemed to possess a magical power, quietly healing inner wounds and dispelling the lingering shadows.

The song was catchy, the lyrics simple and clear—after hearing the chorus once, anyone could sing along.

Finally, the image of Luo Quan raising her fists to cheer the nation was the video’s crowning moment. Seeing that angelic face on screen, countless viewers felt tears well up, cheeks dampened.

Tonight’s wind must have been loud, for balconies across Japan blared the same song at maximum volume.

Beyond phones and computers, many people went out onto their balconies, singing aloud to the sky, releasing the accumulated despair of recent days—and soon, neighbors above and below joined in chorus.

Music became a bridge between neighbors, a force reviving hope and vitality.

Netizens rapidly shared and promoted the song online; its repost and like ratio surpassed even the lead single “Firstlove,” reaching a staggering 9:10.

Finally, the entire internet’s discussion shifted from the looming Tokyo earthquake to Luo Quan’s new song—and the pervasive gloom that had blanketed the web finally gave way to clarity.