Chapter 43

"Yes." Zhang Lixin nodded, explaining cheerfully to Xia Xi, "I've waited and worked hard for so long, and finally, I've seen such a variety show. It has shown me more possibilities for the future of Chinese music. At first glance, this program might seem ordinary, but the open, inclusive, and communicative attitude it embodies will surely bring us great rewards. It can not only help Chinese culture go global, allowing foreigners to better understand China, but also bring foreign music culture into China. We can take the essence and discard the dross, learning from their strengths to improve our own Chinese music."
Could there really be such a goal?
Xia Xi was deeply moved by Zhang Lixin's words. She stared at her teacher in a daze, as if seeing him for the first time.
At that moment, the patriotic spirit buried deep in her bones was ignited.
Although she had dreams and goals as an actress before, those were merely about winning nationally renowned Best Actress awards. None of them tied her fate to that of the country, and she had never imagined that as a young actress in youth idol dramas, she could contribute to the nation or to art. She had only focused on acting well and earning her rightful income.
But after hearing Zhang Lixin's words today, a seed of national sentiment was planted in Xia Xi's heart. She suddenly felt that although she was insignificant, through relentless effort, she might be able to do something for film culture in the future.
And at that time, it wouldn't just be about her own honor; it would also allow more people to see Chinese culture and experience the continuous innovation in Chinese cinema.
A huge tree grows from a tiny sprout; a nine-story tower rises from a pile of earth; a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step.
Today, Xia Xi opened the door to a new era, as if she had suddenly found a new direction.
And Zhang Lixin's image in her mind had also changed significantly.
After that conversation with Zhang Lixin, Xia Xi seemed to have found her direction. She practiced singing with even greater effort, to an extent that surprised both Zhang Lixin and Zhang Xuanrui. Both of them scoffed at the online claims that Xia Xi was just a pretty face with no talent or diligence.
If such a hardworking and talented girl were merely a vase as described online, then the future of Chinese music would be bleak, and there would basically be no female artists in China who could sing well.
Zhang Lixin held Xia Xi in high regard, and the more he interacted with her, the more he felt this young woman was extraordinary, with limitless future achievements. He discovered that Xia Xi possessed a maturity beyond her years. While others were still lost about their futures, she could remarkably calm herself to ponder her direction and understand her goals. She neither blindly followed others nor aimed unrealistically high.
Xia Xi finished dancing to a song, panting heavily, and walked over to Zhang Lixin and Zhang Xuanrui. She repeatedly watched the playback from the recording, identifying areas where her performance fell short, and diligently noted them down in a small notebook to make improvements.
"Teacher Zhang, what do you think of my performance just now?" After jotting down a few obvious flaws, Xia Xi shifted her gaze from the screen and turned to look at Zhang Lixin with sincere eyes, hoping he could point out some of her issues to help her improve further.
Upon hearing her question, Zhang Lixin looked at her meaningfully and said quietly, "Xia Xi, to be honest, you are the fastest-improving newcomer I have ever coached in singing. Even Fang Zichen back in the day couldn't compare to you. In terms of singing, you are a once-in-a-century talent."
"At first, I thought I might grow tired of your voice over time, but now I realize that as time passes, the charm of your voice has only grown stronger and more captivating. Your voice has developed its own unique character, which is an exceptionally rare gift."
Pausing briefly, Zhang Lixin observed Xia Xi's humble and composed expression, silently giving her a big thumbs-up in his heart before continuing, "And the speed at which you've improved your singing techniques has exceeded my expectations. I didn't think you would progress this quickly, but your hard work and dedication have reshaped my perception of you. Your singing skills are improving almost daily. You were once a complete novice, but now you barely meet my standards for a singer."
"To put it simply, your progress has astonished me. As for pointing out flaws in your recent performance, I can only say this: in my eyes, you are full of shortcomings. But as the saying goes, everything has its limits, going too far is as bad as not going far enough. Improvement can't be rushed. Take it slow, identify your issues step by step, and you will keep getting better."
Xia Xi nodded, feeling slightly disappointed that she hadn't gotten the specific answers she wanted. Still, she understood that such things couldn't be forced. Teacher Zhang Lixin hadn't given her direct answers for her own good, to prevent her from becoming dependent and to foster her ability to think independently. After all, the long road ahead would ultimately be one she had to walk on her own.
After some thought, she copied the recently recorded video to her phone, planning to review it carefully in her spare time. Seeing this, Zhang Lixin couldn't help but nod approvingly in his heart, feeling even more satisfied with his apprentice.

Days of hard work always pass by quickly. Unknowingly, only one day remained before the first recording session.
On this final day, Zhang Lixin gave Xia Xi a day off, advising her to rest well, balance work and relaxation, and avoid overexertion.
However, as everyone knows, after a long period of intense effort, suddenly having free time can feel unsettling. Xia Xi was no exception. Although she was supposed to sleep in, her body clock woke her up early. Frustrated, she lay in bed with her eyes open, staring at the white ceiling, unable to fall back asleep no matter how hard she tried, a truly agonizing experience.
Xia Xi got dressed, picked up her phone from the bedside, and walked over to the desk. She grabbed a pen and some paper, then opened a dance video she had recorded recently. As she watched the video, she jotted down her thoughts and reflections. In no time, she had filled two full pages. By reviewing what she had learned, she quickly identified several new issues in her performance.
"Host."
The system, which had been absent for a long time, suddenly spoke up just as Xia Xi was deeply engrossed in her note-taking, startling her. She narrowed her eyes, placed the pen on the desk, and said calmly, "So you’ve decided to stop playing dead?"