Chapter 4: After I Leave

Shen Xian was completely unfazed by the barrage of criticism from the trolls and addressed the people in the livestream, “I know some of you aren’t convinced, so I’ll sing a song as well—‘After I Leave.’”

"If we part ways,
What will remain?
Is it sorrow, is it loneliness..."

At first, the fans didn’t think much of it. But as the chorus began, the livestream gradually fell silent. Everyone listened quietly, even Wanwan didn’t say a word, focusing intently. Shen Xian continued to sing with deep emotion.

"You said you were tired, could you let me go?
When I’m gone, don’t be sad anymore.
There’s nothing left to say,
No matter how much I’m reluctant to leave.
This freedom you wanted, I’m giving it back to you..."

"...The embrace is gone and now uncertain,
No need to choose, we were merely acquaintances.
What happens without me? In the end, we were only passersby.
From strangers to familiarity, then to separation—
The reason I can’t let go is you."

“Damn, this song is so emotional!”

“I apologize for my earlier rudeness. This mailman is a true master!”

“He made me cry. How does a mailman who hasn’t run off with three wives write and sing something so heart-wrenching?”

“This song brings back all my memories of love.”

"Love that could not be, so much regret."

"This mailman has something special!"

"I can’t be emo alone—I have to share this livestream with all my friends and family!"

“Monkey King’s Crimson Posterior has shared the stream.”

“Level Eight Gale has shared the stream.”

“Turkey Flavored Chips has shared the stream.”

The number of people in Shen Xian’s livestream soared, surpassing 100,000!

Chen Feng was also watching. At first, he didn’t think much of it, but as he listened, amazement flashed in his eyes!

“After I Leave” was an absolute hit back on Earth, known as the anthem of heartbreak. While some mocked it as a shallow pop song, no one could deny it had been the monthly chart-topper in its time, with immense popularity. Criticize it all you want, but you can’t ignore its influence.

Liu Ruyun and Ye Chen were both lost in Shen Xian’s voice, especially at the line, “You said you were tired, could you let me go?” Scenes from the past replayed in their minds.

Regret—how could there not be regret?

Zhou Wan also seemed moved by Shen Xian’s singing, remaining silent for a long time.

“Mr. Mailman, your singing is wonderful!” When Zhou Wan finally spoke, her voice trembled, clearly moved. “Your vocal skills, in my opinion, are of an extremely high professional standard!”

The number of viewers kept growing, and soon the backstage showed over 500,000 people watching!

“Mailman, sing ‘After I Leave’ again!”

“Yes! We just joined and missed it—please sing it once more!”

“I apologize for what I said before—please sing it again, Mr. Mailman!”

“All right, I’ll sing it again,” Shen Xian responded readily.

As Shen Xian’s gentle rhythm built up, the livestream erupted once more, and the viewership skyrocketed.

At least a dozen agents from the four major entertainment companies flooded into the room, sending virtual gifts in hopes of catching Shen Xian’s attention.

Liu Ruyun also joined the stream, scrolling through Shen Xian’s information. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that this person was strangely familiar.

“Can you get in touch with this mailman?” Chen Feng started making calls.

“He’s verified with real-name registration, but the platform won’t disclose his details. What I can confirm is, he hasn’t signed with any company.”

“Find a way to contact him—sign him immediately!”

Almost simultaneously, all four entertainment giants sprang into action.

Their goal was singular: sign the mailman.

Moved by the fans’ enthusiasm, Shen Xian quickly thanked everyone after his performance: “Thank you all for your support and for enjoying my music. I’ll post a full audio version on my personal account later. If you like my songs, please follow me.”

“Mailman, sing another song!”

“You must have more than one prepared, right?”

“Yes, one more!”

Now, the trolls had all but disappeared, and the chat was filled with requests for Shen Xian to sing again.

Zhou Wan also made her request, her tone pleading, “Mr. Mailman, could you sing another one? It would add so much to my concert!”

With such overwhelming traffic, Shen Xian wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip by.

“Very well,” he said, “I’ll sing another of my original songs, ‘Falling.’”

“Falling” was a song performed by Wang Jingwen. When it was released, it received over 140,000 comments on a popular music platform and was shared over ten million times. Dubbed the anthem of regret, it resonated with countless people’s feelings of frustration and unresolved emotions.

Shen Xian typed on the public screen:

Song: Falling
Lyrics: Mailman
Composition: Mailman
Arrangement: Mailman
Mixing: Mailman

As he poured his heart into the song, the lyrics scrolled across the screen.

“After you left, the whole world
Felt like a night waiting for dawn.
I locked myself away,
In a fifth season that doesn’t exist.
A butterfly with clipped wings
Can only choose to say goodbye to the rose.
I never thought of the consequences—
I believed you were everything I loved.
Scenes from novels and films replay,
On-screen embraces and partings,
Memories overlapping, the past growing blurry.
My love, scattered and broken like a snapped string.
You once vowed with all your heart,
But time has changed yesterday, so
Love can vanish without a trace.
My heart, flickering and scattered,
Stranded, starved of air...

You took my breath away, caring not at all,
Love stranded on the edge, waiting to be rescued..."

“Wow, this is absolutely beautiful!”

“How many wives has this mailman lost to sing so heartbreakingly?”

“And he wrote the lyrics, composed, arranged, and mixed it all himself!”

The four big entertainment companies could not sit still; they had a feeling Shen Xian was destined to explode in popularity.

“Hurry and look him up—don’t let Red Queen Entertainment beat us to it!”

“We have to sign him—no matter what!”

“At any cost, this mailman’s talent is overwhelming!”

After finishing, Shen Xian said, “If you like my songs, please follow my account. I’ll be posting new music regularly. Now I won’t take up more of Wanwan’s singing time.”

With that, Shen Xian exited the stream, and his follower count soared while he received countless direct messages.

Zhou Wan resumed her performance rhythm, “Thank you, Mr. Mailman, for sharing these classic songs with us. Next, I’ll sing a new song.”

“This one is called ‘Can’t Let Go,’ and the lyrics, composition, arrangement, and mixing are all by Mr. Mailman!”

The fans were stunned.

“One person did everything—words, music, arrangement, and mixing. What kind of genius is this?”

“A true all-rounder!”

“Where did such a legend suddenly come from?”

Zhou Wan began to sing “Can’t Let Go.”

“The first time you sat with me,
My palms were empty and bare.
I knew you were hiding those message notifications,
Afraid I’d be hurt...”

When the song ended, the livestream erupted into frenzy.

“My god, I’ve got goosebumps!”

“It’s so sad, but so beautiful!”

“This song fits Wanwan perfectly!”

“Mr. Mailman really outdid himself—this song showcases Wanwan’s strengths flawlessly!”

Even Zhou Wan herself was exhilarated after the performance. In all her years since debut, she’d sifted through countless songs, but none had ever struck her as powerfully as “Can’t Let Go” did today.

Almost instantly, the trending topics exploded:

#Queen of Ballads Stuns: Online Concert Draws Over 30 Million Viewers!#
#The Mystery Behind the Lyricist and Composer of ‘Can’t Let Go’#
#Mailman’s Unmatched Talent Stuns the Entertainment Industry at First Appearance#
#‘After I Leave’, ‘Falling’, and ‘Can’t Let Go’—Unquestionable Hits and Unstoppable Popularity#

The Mailman—an overnight sensation!