And now, the program had reached a sensitive turning point.
The host repeated the question that Sophia once raised: what happens when a child grows up in a household that doesn't understand them, when their hobbies are taken away, when their studies are restricted, when they are forced to live in fear of mental illness, and when even in old age they are expected to provide money to satisfy others?
These questions were not easy to answer. They reflected real wounds and real struggles. The audience leaned forward, curious to see how the show would now explore the question of family education.
The show began to replay clips comparing the family upbringing of the guests. Until now, the comparisons had been about the most basic personality traits. But now, it was time for something more delicate: a direct comparison of how children were educated in different families.
The hostess of the program group stepped up and announced:
"Next, we will see the debut of Contestant Number 02's family. We will observe their approach to family education, compare it with Sophia's upbringing, and then provide scores."
---
Zhang Zhi's Family
Contestant Number 02 was a businessman named Mr. Zhang, whom we will call Charles. His story was typical of many who caught the economic wave at the right time. He had once made a fortune, rising rapidly in wealth. Even though his business eventually declined, by then his family already possessed tens of millions in assets.
Charles had a daughter named Shanshan. Unlike Sophia, Shanshan did not have striking beauty. Her looks were plain, but her figure was graceful. Yet her character carried a sharp flaw: she had grown up spoiled.
From a very young age, she had been surrounded by money and gifts. By the time she was five years old, extravagance had become a habit. If she saw something she liked, she demanded it. If she didn't get it, she threw tantrums.
At six years old, she had a babysitter solely because she refused to listen to her parents.
At seven, she even began hitting relatives if she was upset.
And Charles? He never corrected her. Instead, he laughed, comforted her, and became even more indulgent. He was proud of her confidence, blind to the arrogance forming in her heart.
The pattern only worsened. By the time Shanshan was nine years old, the school was hosting a fourth-grade performance evening. Because she had studied piano from an early age, she loved standing in the spotlight.
She played her piano piece well, receiving a strong round of applause. But instead of bowing and leaving gracefully, she stayed on stage. She began to play another piece, "Zong'erfei," and then tried to sing along.
The surprise was mixed. Some parents and teachers thought she was bold. Her piano was acceptable, her singing passable, though not unique. But in a school performance filled with nervous children, her confidence seemed like a thunderclap.
There was applause, yes. Some even roared with approval. Shanshan looked down at the audience proudly, her eyes full of disdain for the other children. She did not notice that her actions lacked the most basic respect.
Charles sat smiling at the footage, as if this was proof of his daughter's talent. "She was just a little naughty," he explained softly, "but there were no real problems."
---
Scoring Time
The program now turned to the panel for scoring.
This time, the panel had expanded. Along with the two presenters, there was the specially invited guest Charles, the elegant Clara White, and of course the core judge Sophia herself. Finally, there would also be a mobile phone vote from the public audience.
All eyes turned to Sophia. She had grown up in a household that deprived her of freedom, and her judgment carried the weight of experience.
"She did a terrible job," Sophia said firmly, without hesitation.
Charles, the invited guest judge, nodded in agreement.
The hostess sneered slightly. "She may shine in a small group of average children, but to truly excellent children, her performance is nothing. It is only empty showing off."
Indeed, the panel's remarks struck deep. They pointed out that her music lacked true artistry, her words carried no meaning, and her behavior ignored order and rules.
Most of the audience frowned and gave low ratings.
Charles, the father, wanted to defend his daughter. He opened his mouth to refute. But just then, the curtain shifted to a new video, and the hall grew quiet.
---
Sophia's First Stage
The screen now showed the year when Sophia's rise truly began.
She was still only five years old, in the first grade of Iron City Primary School. She was five years and ten months, delicate and beautiful. Her features had already sharpened into brilliance, her fair complexion shining. She stood out among the other children, many of whom still had runny noses and awkwardness.
It was an ordinary school party, meant to welcome a few local leaders. But several media outlets had also sent reporters to record the event.
The host announced in a clear voice:
"Next, please welcome Sophia from Iron City Hope Primary School, Grade 1, Class 1. She is only five years old and will sing a song she composed herself."
The hall was indifferent. How much could a five-year-old child really do? Surely this was nothing more than a cute filler act.
Then Sophia walked onto the stage.
She wore a simple blue dress. Her youthful beauty stunned the reporters in the front row. They raised their cameras instinctively.
Unlike the nervous children before her, she was calm. Graceful. She walked with poise, bowed slightly, and picked up the microphone.
Then she began to sing.
"Scattered moonlight… through the clouds…"
The voice was childish, yes, but ethereal, echoing through the entire hall like a clear stream cutting through silence.
There was no accompaniment. Only her voice. Pure, delicate, filled with unshakable stubbornness and longing.
Her song carried her thoughts of her absent mother. It was filled with sadness but also a kind of gentle strength.
The leaders, startled, stood with teacups in hand, eyes wide. The cameramen froze, realizing they were capturing something rare.
In a hall of messy, ordinary performances, Sophia's song exploded like a nuclear spark.
The music world had never heard such sorrow and hope blended in the voice of a child.
Principal Carter of Iron City Hope Primary School was stunned. He trembled with excitement. His school, usually overshadowed by elite private schools, had now produced a miracle.
When the final note faded, the hall was silent. No one dared to clap immediately, afraid to break the fragile beauty that lingered in the air.
Finally, one of the leaders exclaimed: "Is this really written by her?"
The principal nodded quickly, his eyes wet.
"Yes, only she could sing like that."
The leader sighed in awe: "This child… she should not be in Hope Primary School. She belongs in the finest schools."
Principal Carter agreed silently. All of his relatives' children attended private institutions with better facilities, better teachers. But none of them could compare to Sophia.
---
The Question
When Sophia returned to school afterward, Principal Carter circled her curiously. He could not hide his amazement.
"How did you grow up?" he asked. "What did you eat, what did you study, what kind of world shaped you?"
For she had not simply defeated her peers. She had leaped dimensions. She carried a deterrent, a weight of artistry, that ordinary education could never explain.
Sophia only smiled, like a flower blooming, unafraid of the attention.
And the audience of the program, watching this replay, was silent.
It was clear now. There were families that spoiled their children into arrogance. And then there were families, like Sophia's, that through pain and deprivation had somehow forged a brilliance that stunned the world.
The question remained: Which education was right? Which was wrong? And what price did each child pay?
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