Chapter 56

"As a singing competition, talking too much won’t get us far, it’s the singing skills that truly matter. Now, let’s welcome our first contestant, Xia Xi, who will perform the well-known song 'Calming the Waves and Winds.'"
As soon as Fang Duoduo finished speaking, the starry, dazzling stage suddenly went dark. With the sound of light, rhythmic footsteps, a faintly visible figure emerged, moving step by step toward the center of the stage as if dancing to a pleasant melody. The single spotlight grew brighter as the figure approached, gradually revealing the once-blurred silhouette.
Xia Xi was beautiful, this was a consensus among everyone. If it weren’t for her looks, she wouldn’t have risen to fame so quickly. Even after numerous scandals and solid evidence exposing her flawed character and poor acting skills, a small group of appearance-obsessed fans had stubbornly stood by her.
But this time, Xia Xi’s beauty reached a whole new level. A pure white veil was loosely tied over her voluminous hair, and her originally straight, black hair had been temporarily styled into chestnut-colored waves that cascaded softly over her shoulders, giving off an alluring vibe.
Her makeup was exquisitely detailed and unique. Her slender, arched eyebrows had been meticulously groomed, accentuating her starry, captivating eyes. With her delicate nose, faintly blushed cheeks, cherry-red lips, and a flawless, shy oval face, she looked utterly enchanting. Her skin was incredibly smooth and fair, glowing under the lights, while the teardrop mole under her right eye seemed to captivate hearts, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who saw her.
Xia Xi wore a creamy white, strapless mermaid gown. The pristine, solid-colored dress highlighted her stunning figure perfectly, and her already radiantly fair arms and neck shimmered under the spotlight, embodying beauty at its peak.
Seeing Xia Xi like this, everyone was captivated, standing frozen in place, unable to utter a word as they stared mesmerized at her dazzling figure. The competition venue fell into an absolute silence, so quiet that one could almost hear a pin drop.
Even the barrage of comments, which had been continuously scrolling, went completely blank in that instant. It seemed everyone had silently agreed not to let a single comment obscure even a fraction of Xia Xi’s brilliance.
Just as everyone was lost in admiration of Xia Xi’s beauty, the stage lights suddenly went out. The audience snapped out of their trance, frowning as they strained to catch a glimpse of her faintly visible silhouette in the darkness. Even a few seconds of darkness felt unbearably long, making them impatient to see Xia Xi reappear.
Just as their restlessness began to grow, the lights finally brightened once more. Behind Xia Xi, a brilliant galaxy of stars lit up, shimmering even more radiantly against the darkness. The scene made her appear like a celestial moon fairy descending to the mortal world. Before long, a melodious accompaniment began to play softly.
"Ten miles of foreign settlements, a lifetime of achievements,
Tides rise and fall, inside and out, all dignified,
How many years have you accompanied me?
Through forests and storms, the journey tumultuous,
Flowers bloom and wither, a path of ups and downs,
Spring, summer, autumn, and winter fade and vanish,
The curtain has yet to fall,"
"Another year has passed with difficulty,
The one I long for still hasn’t appeared.
If success is right before my eyes,
Why are there promises I dare not fulfill?"
"A lifetime of loyalty and righteousness reaching the heavens,
Holding up the stormy, turbulent situation,
After countless trials and the passage of time,
You are the only one I can cherish in memory,"
"Who can live a life without debts or regrets?
In the long, endless nights, thinking of whose face,
Thinking of this weary mortal world,
No longer youthful,"
The song was melodious, the beauty stood before them, and every detail of the scene was enchanting and captivating.
"Calming the Storm" is the theme song of the movie The Last Tycoon, which tells the story of a gangster who, after enduring countless hardships and achieving great success, realizes he may have unknowingly lost the most important things in life, even as he gained so much.
Unlike the open-mindedness and boldness expressed by Su Shi in his poem "Calming the Storm," the protagonist of this film struggles to let go and move on. Yet, the movie’s theme song deliberately chooses "Calming the Storm," a seemingly contradictory but profoundly fitting choice, reflecting the filmmakers’ thoughtful deliberation.
In her performance, Xia Xi channeled the emotions of the film’s protagonist, the torment of unfulfilled desires, the helplessness, and the reluctance to let go, expressing them so vividly that the experience was unforgettable.
She felt as though fate had split her into two halves: one half regretting her inability to let go, the other urging her to release the past before it harmed both herself and others, and to cherish the present instead.
But as time passed, the voice urging her to let go grew fainter and fainter, until it became inaudible, until it could be completely ignored.
"A lifetime of loyalty and righteousness reaching the heavens,
Holding up the stormy, turbulent situation,
Time washes away all changes,
You are the only one I can cherish forever,
Having tasted the fleeting years,
You are the sole longing in my heart."
"Having tasted the fleeting years, you are the only one I miss in my heart."
As the song ended, the studio fell silent once more. Xia Xi slowly opened her eyes, a faint trace of tears still visible at the corners.
She froze for a moment, staring at the unresponsive audience below. The exhilaration she had felt just moments after finishing the song vanished instantly. Pressing her lips together, she couldn’t deny the pang of disappointment that surged within her.
It seemed things were still different from what she had hoped. In the end, she just wasn’t cut out for singing.
Just as Xia Xi was lost in these thoughts, the audience below suddenly erupted into thunderous applause, startling her and snapping her back to reality. She frowned slightly, still feeling a bit puzzled.
"Xia Xi, your singing was amazing!"
"Xia Xi, sing another one!"
"Xia Xi, Xia Xi, Xia Xi!"
She heard the audience below begin to chant her name loudly and spontaneously, and she froze again.
Does this mean they liked my singing just now?
Xia Xi wasn’t entirely sure, but hearing the enthusiastic shouts from the audience, she felt it was probably close to what she had hoped. A faint smile unconsciously touched her lips, and the joy in her eyes was unmistakable.
[To be honest, Xia Xi isn’t a professional singer. Her grasp of vocal techniques isn’t yet polished, but her voice carries a unique charm. The way she sang this song was captivating.]
[I think so too! Xia Xi sang this song beautifully.]
[If you ask me whether Xia Xi’s singing was good, I’d definitely say yes, especially good. But if you ask me what exactly was good about it, I might not be able to explain. Still, that doesn’t stop me from loving the way she sang this song.]
[Tears are streaming down my face right now. How can anyone call Xia Xi just a pretty face? This song alone proves she has talent in singing!]
[Xia Xi sang this song with so much emotion!]
[Exactly! And this song is really difficult to sing. When I first heard Xia Xi was going to perform it, I thought it would be a disaster. I was sure she’d ruin the song, but instead, it turned out to be an audio-visual feast! Xia Xi has reached new heights of beauty, and she brought a fresh uniqueness to this song!]
[I’m not just focused on her singing, her looks are stunning too. Xia Xi has a divine beauty. She’s so gorgeous it’s heart-stopping. Even as a girl, I’m completely captivated by her appearance. Her skin is flawless, so fair, and her figure is incredible. I think I might be falling for her!]
Unbeknownst to Xia Xi, the internet had already exploded with overwhelmingly positive reviews of her performance of "Calming the Wind and Waves." Even some professional music critics expressed high hopes for her.