She debuted after having a child with a celestial being.

Thirty seconds before the clock struck midnight, the six hosts stood side by side in the center of the main stage, with a golden clock spread out across the entire LED screen behind them.

Zhu Jun, Dong Qing, Kang Hui, Zhu Xun, Ren Luyu, and Li Sisi.

Everyone held a microphone in their hand, and their faces wore the most standard smiles of New Year's Eve.

"Ten, nine, eight..."

The entire audience chanted in unison along with the countdown on the big screen, the sound rolling from the inner field all the way to the top of the stands.

"Three, two, one! Happy New Year!"

Golden ribbons burst open on the studio dome, and cheers and applause from the audience mingled together, welcoming the arrival of the New Year.

The hosts exchanged New Year's greetings, and Ren Luyu bowed to the audience.

"Dear viewers, this is the live broadcast of the 2019 CCTV Spring Festival Gala. The bell just rang, bidding farewell to 2018 and welcoming 2019. The next song is a blessing for the new year."

Dong Qing took over the conversation, her tone gentle yet powerful: "Not long ago, we solemnly celebrated the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up. Today, the spring breeze has awakened new vitality and energy. Here, we would like to say to our motherland, 'Good morning.'"

Kang Hui continued reading from his prepared statement: "Speaking of 'Good Morning,' I think many of you may have heard of the HF group. In the past year, they have won the hearts of countless fans with their original music. Tonight, they bring you a song specially created for the midnight stage of the Spring Festival Gala, using their voices to bless our motherland. The song is called 'Good Morning, Motherland,' sung by Xiao He and Liu Yifei."

"Let me gaze at you with deep affection once more, good morning, my motherland."

Xiao He opened his mouth, and his voice came out clean and clear, more stable than any take in the recording studio.

It's not that my singing skills have improved, but rather that the weight I carry on this stage makes every word feel heavy and resonant.

I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of awe.

The piano and strings provided a solid foundation for his voice.

Liu Yifei then sang the next verse.

She raised her eyes, shifting her gaze from the camera to Xiao He: "You accompanied me to greet the brilliant dawn, to welcome the new day."

Her voice slowly unfolded in the mid-range, and she no longer sang with the same carefree breath control as in the recording studio; she sang with ease.

Those past controversies, those movies that were criticized, those moments when her singing skills were questioned, have all become part of the spotlight today.

"You give me boundless strength to move forward bravely. I want to say thank you, good morning my motherland."

In the chorus, the two voices intertwine in the bridge section.

Xiao He's high notes steadily supported the melody, while Liu Yifei's harmonies filled the space below, their clear and deep tones intertwining and pushing upwards.

The glow sticks below the stage formed a flowing galaxy, stretching from the inner field to the top of the stands, and some people began to gently wave their light boards to the melody.

"You are the most beautiful star in the night sky, lighting my way forward..."

When this lyric came out, Liu Yifei turned her head slightly and met Xiao He's gaze.

He was looking at her too.

The moment the two made eye contact, the camera cut to a close-up.

The entire venue fell silent for a moment, then applause and cheers erupted, becoming the first echo of the new year.

"You are the most beautiful encounter in my life; your well-being is my sunshine..."

Xiao He took a step forward, shortening the distance between them from half a step to within an arm's length.

Liu Yifei's eyelashes trembled slightly, but she did not look away.

"You are the most beautiful star in the night sky, accompanying me on my journey. You are the most beautiful encounter in my life. Good morning, my motherland..."

As the last line of lyrics fell, the piano and strings simultaneously ceased, and the entire studio fell into a brief silence.

Then applause surged up like a tidal wave... The front row audience stood up, then the back row, and then the very top of the stands.

Some people were shouting "HF", some were clapping, and some were waving their glow sticks above their heads.

The two spotlights slowly converged, enveloping the two people in the same beam of light.

The two bowed slightly to the audience and then turned and walked off the stage.

The cheers that had followed midnight still echoed in the aisle of the side stage, as lights streamed in from the edge of the stage.

The live chat during the Spring Festival Gala broadcast went completely wild at that moment.

"Oh my god! That eye contact! That duet! I'm going to cry!"

"From 'Crossing the Boundary' to 'Good Morning, Motherland,' HF took a year to reach the Spring Festival Gala's midnight stage... This is not just a group, it's a legend."

"In all the years of the Spring Festival Gala, there haven't been many songs that could get the whole audience to stand up and applaud after midnight. 'Good Morning, Motherland' did just that."

"Just for your information, Xiao He was both the lyricist and composer of this song. He sang it on the Spring Festival Gala stage tonight. That's a true singer-songwriter."

"Liu Yifei's vocal performance tonight was the best of her career, incredibly stable."

"Where are the people who used to criticize her singing? Listen to the live Spring Festival Gala with her microphone fully micged."

The HF group dominated Weibo's trending topics after midnight.

The first entry to top the list was "HF Good Morning Motherland".

A few minutes later, another entry appeared: "Liu Yifei's gaze at Xiao He".

Less than half an hour later, a third entry followed... "HF Godhood".

Three of the top ten trending topics belonged to the same two people. One post, which received countless likes, read: "Some people said she couldn't sing, but she stood on the Spring Festival Gala stage and sang live. Some people said she was washed up, but she brought a new song and made the whole audience stand up and applaud after midnight. From box office poison to Spring Festival Gala legend, Liu Yifei is not just making a comeback... she has never faded away."

Another comment that received over 100,000 likes simply said, "The moment these two looked at each other, the whole nation witnessed what love looks like."

Music blogger Erdi posted a long Weibo post at 12:40 AM, with a title of only a few words...

"HF's 'Good Morning, Motherland' has become a legend on the Spring Festival Gala."

The article states: "Before the Spring Festival Gala, many people worried whether HF could handle a live performance with all vocals. Today, they answered all the doubts with a song. Xiao He's voice was as steady as ever, but the most amazing performance tonight was by Liu Yifei... Her breath control, switching between her true and falsetto voices, and the emotional outburst in the chorus were all significantly improved compared to when she recorded 'Insomnia Flight' a year ago. More importantly, the relaxed feeling she had when she stood in the spotlight... that wasn't acting; she genuinely treated the stage as her own home. These two deserve all the applause tonight."

Zhang Liangying then reposted the Weibo post, adding a short but weighty caption: "After the clock struck midnight, you were the first song of the new year to be heard by the entire nation. Yifei, He Ge, Happy New Year."

Tang Yan followed closely with a repost: "Princess Sissi, isn't that amazing? You're on the Spring Festival Gala! My mom asked me why I was crying, and I said it was my favorite best friend singing 'Good Morning, Motherland.' Happy New Year, the best Zhao Pan'er. Happy New Year, the best HF."

Shu Chang also posted on Weibo, just a few words, but every word carried the warmth of time: "From 'The Story of a Noble Family' to 'Dream of the Red Chamber,' from 'The Only One' to 'Good Morning, Motherland,' the Xixi I know has never changed... Gentle yet powerful, quiet yet always moving forward. Tonight, the whole nation heard your voice. Happy New Year, the best you."

Taihe Music Group's official Weibo account posted a long infographic with only one sentence: "From zero to the Spring Festival Gala, from being questioned to achieving legendary status. The HF group has proven their legend and glory through their actions."

In the lounge, Liu Yifei nestled on the sofa, reading through all the reposts from various parties.

She leaned back on the sofa, her lips curving upwards, but her eyes were slightly red.

Xiao He brought in two cups of hot tea from outside and placed one of them on the coffee table in front of her. The bottom of the cup made a soft, crisp sound as it hit the glass.

"I never imagined that I, Liu Yifei, would one day be able to perform on the Spring Festival Gala, and as a singer at that, and even receive recognition and praise from industry professionals."

"Sister, we're on the Spring Festival Gala not to prove anything to others. It's to let the whole nation hear... Good morning, my motherland. And..."

Xiao He paused for a moment, then extended his hand: "Happy New Year, my darling sister Liu Yifei."

"Happy New Year……"

Liu Yifei extended her hand, then softly uttered two words: "Husband..."

Xiao He immediately pressed, "What did you say?"

"If you didn't hear it, then forget it."

Liu Yifei smiled sweetly and happily, took a sip of hot tea, and felt so comfortable.