And now, the question Yu Shuying had raised earlier echoed once more in everyone's minds. Yu Ye never truly understood her.
Her hobbies had been taken away. Her studies had been controlled. Years of emotional pressure had left scars that bordered on mental illness. Even in old age, he still constantly demanded money from her.
One painful question after another surfaced before the audience. Now, it was time for the program team to replay the family education stories of the guests.
Compared to Little Shuying's upbringing, the previous comparisons had only touched on basic character development. This time, however, they would compare something far more important, the very foundation of a child's growth.
The female Commentator of the program introduced the next segment. "Next, we will examine the family of Contestant No. 02. We will see how their style of family education differs from Little Shuying's upbringing and give it a score."
The footage of Contestant No. 02, Zhang Zhi's family, began to play.
Zhi came from a business family. In his younger years, he had seized a wave of opportunity and accumulated considerable wealth. Although the family later declined somewhat, they still possessed large assets.
His daughter was named Zhang Shanshan. Her appearance was ordinary, but she carried herself with confidence and elegance. Unfortunately, because she had been spoiled from childhood, she had completely lost any proper understanding of the value of money.
From the age of five, she had developed extravagant habits. Whenever she saw something she liked, she demanded it immediately. If she were refused, she would throw a tantrum.
At six years old, she began ordering babysitters around as if they were servants.
By seven, she had started hitting her younger relatives whenever she was unhappy.
Yet Zhi never corrected her. Instead, he merely smiled, comforted her, and indulged her even more. As a result, Shanshan became increasingly arrogant.
When she was nine years old, her school held a performance gala. As a fourth-grade student, Shanshan had long been the center of attention because of her piano skills. She enjoyed standing in the spotlight and loved being admired.
After completing her scheduled piano performance, she heard the audience applauding enthusiastically. Reluctant to leave the stage, she remained standing there. Then, without permission, she performed another piece and began singing as well. The audience was surprised.
Shanshan had received professional piano training and vocal lessons. Although her voice lacked distinctive charm, it was still considerably better than that of most children her age. In an elementary school performance, such talent was enough to draw thunderous applause.
The audience clapped loudly. Enjoying every second of it, Zhang Shanshan proudly looked around the hall and even cast disdainful glances toward the other student performers waiting backstage.
At that moment, she believed admiration and attention were things she naturally deserved. What she did not realize was that she had already forgotten the most basic respect for others.
Meanwhile, Zhi watched the recording with a smile and commented casually, "The little girl was a bit mischievous back then, but there wasn't really any problem."
The statement immediately caused many viewers to frown. Soon, the scoring session began. This time, in addition to the special guest Cheng, Sheng Yue was also allowed to score, along with the core evaluator Yu Shuying and the audience's votes.
Everyone's eyes turned toward Yu Shuying because what came next bore striking similarities to her own childhood.
"She performed terribly." Yu Shuying spoke without hesitation.
Cheng nodded in agreement. Even the female Commentator looked somewhat contemptuous. For ordinary children, Shanshan's performance might have seemed impressive. But in the eyes of truly exceptional educators, it revealed many flaws.
She was not expressing music; she was showing off. The song had become secondary to her desire for attention. There was no sense of order, no respect for rules, and no consideration for others. She behaved as though the entire venue existed solely for her.
As a result, most viewers gave very low scores. Contestant No. 02, Zhi, looked dissatisfied and wanted to argue. But before he could speak, a new image appeared on the giant screen, and the studio instantly fell silent.
Because this was the year Little Shuying first stunned the world. The footage came from her Primary School. At the time, Little Shuying was only five years and ten months old.
As she grew older, her appearance increasingly resembled her father's. Her facial features were exquisitely delicate, her skin was flawless, and she stood out sharply among the other children whose faces were still smeared with dirt and runny noses.
This was a school celebration organized to welcome several authorities from the city, and students were scheduled to perform a variety of programs. Several local media outlets had also arrived. Four or five cameras were set up around the venue, and nearly ten reporters were present.
Soon, the Commentator's pleasant voice echoed throughout the hall. "Next, please welcome Yu Shuying from Class One, Grade One. She is five years old and will perform an original song she composed herself."
After the introduction, few people paid much attention. After all, what kind of song could a five-year-old possibly write?
Then Little Shuying stepped onto the stage, and the moment she appeared in her blue dress, the entire atmosphere changed. Her youthful beauty was already astonishing.
Several reporters in the front row instinctively raised their cameras. This little girl was different. Unlike the nervous children before her, she was calm and composed. Her stage presence was so natural that it seemed even more refined than that of the adult Commentator.
Step by step, she walked to the center of the stage. She bowed gently, picked up the microphone, and began to sing. Her voice was youthful and tender, yet carried an ethereal quality that seemed to drift across the entire venue.
"Scattered moonlight... passes through the clouds..."
"Avoiding the crowds... spreading across the sea..."
There was no accompaniment. No instruments. Only pure a cappella singing.
The hall became completely silent.
Her voice carried loneliness, longing, stubbornness, and an indescribable yearning. Hidden within the melody was her longing for her mother. It was heartbreakingly beautiful.
Several authorities who had been casually drinking tea suddenly stood up, and their teacups remained frozen in their hands as they stared at the stage in disbelief. The cameramen were equally stunned. No one dared look away.
Among a series of ordinary children's performances, Little Shuying's appearance was like an explosion; it instantly illuminated the entire venue.
The song was sorrowful yet comforting. Gentle yet unforgettable. Many people had never heard anything like it before.
At the Primary School, the Principal Zhao Guochang sat frozen in his seat, and his face was flushed with excitement. For the first time, his school had become the center of attention.
When the song ended, silence filled the hall. Nobody spoke, and nobody moved. Several seconds later, a city official finally broke the silence. "Did she really write this herself?"
He looked toward Guochang in disbelief. But before the principal could answer, the official continued, "No matter who wrote it, her singing alone is extraordinary. This child is remarkable."
Guochang smiled bitterly. At that moment, only one thought remained in his mind. Why was a child like this studying at his Primary School? The city had several prestigious private schools with better facilities, better food, and stronger educational resources. A child of her caliber should have been attending one of those elite institutions.
It was no wonder he thought so. Even the children of his own relatives all attended expensive private schools.
After returning to campus, Guochang found himself circling Little Shuying repeatedly. The more he looked at her, the more amazed he became. She showed no nervousness whatsoever. Whenever she looked at him, she simply smiled brightly, as radiant as a blooming flower.
Finally, unable to hold back his curiosity, he asked, "How exactly did you grow up?"
He genuinely wanted to know. What had this child eaten? What had she learned? How had she been educated? Because she was not merely surpassing her peers, she was crushing them through an overwhelming difference in dimension. The gap was so vast that it left everyone speechless.