Chapter 64

Since that night’s conversation, the relationship between Xia Xi and Lu Yisheng had progressed by leaps and bounds. Xia Xi, once dubbed a "single-for-life" woman by her own efforts, finally experienced her first awakening to love and developed a romantic mindset.
Although her top priority was still preparing for the second episode of "Cross-Border Singing Joy," she no longer brushed off Lu Yisheng’s messages as she had before. During breaks from practice, she would often glance at her phone and giggle foolishly, a stark contrast to her previous habit of frowning at her screen. Sometimes, her uncontrollable laughter even gave Zhang Xuanrui goosebumps, deepening the confusion in his heart.
Xia Xi, what's going on with you?
Could it be that the online praise has gone to your head? But Xia Xi doesn’t seem like that kind of person.
Zhang Xuanrui was a little worried. He glanced at Xia Xi, who was holding her phone and grinning like a lovable fool, and sighed inwardly.
He was always afraid that Xia Xi would be dazzled by the fleeting glamour before her eyes.
Even an outsider to the entertainment industry like him knew that sometimes, the more promising the future appeared, the more likely it was a bottomless abyss. At times like this, it was even more important to stay calm, avoid arrogance and impatience, and carefully assess the situation. Could it be that Xia Xi, who had been in the entertainment industry for so long, didn’t understand this?
Was it because she had been criticized by netizens for too long and had finally turned things around, only to lose her sense of perspective?
Thinking this, Zhang Xuanrui gave Xia Xi, who was sitting in the corner laughing carefreely, a thoughtful look. A wave of helplessness washed over him, and he resolved to find a time to talk to her properly, to help her view her current situation calmly and not be blinded by temporary praise. Perhaps everything before her was nothing but a fleeting illusion, a momentary shimmer. If Xia Xi lost her usual composure by then, it would be a problem.
Of course, it was only because Zhang Xuanrui and Xia Xi had gotten along well recently that he genuinely cared about her well-being.
But he needed to think carefully about how to approach this.
Just as he was struggling with how to broach the subject with Xia Xi and in what capacity, he happened to pass by his uncle’s office. Suddenly, he felt all his problems were solved. He narrowed his eyes, looked at the nameplate on the door, thought for a few seconds, and then, as if struck by inspiration, stepped inside.
Let his uncle deal with such complicated matters.
"Xia Xi, I watched your performance from the day before yesterday. To be honest, it was excellent. Your singing on stage was even better than I imagined." Zhang Lixin paused here, carefully observing Xia Xi’s expression. Seeing no trace of the pride or complacency he had expected, he relaxed a little and continued, "Although your performance was outstanding and many well-known musicians have praised your singing online, when it comes to singing, you can’t rush to reach the next level. If you let yourself be dazzled by accolades and fail to settle down and practice, it will be difficult to make further progress."
Hearing this, Xia Xi was momentarily taken aback. After thinking for a moment, she realized her teacher was likely cautioning her, hoping she would continue to practice her singing fundamentals with a calm and focused mind, rather than becoming smug over a small achievement. She immediately nodded and said, "Teacher, I understand."
"I’m glad you understand." Zhang Lixin was extremely pleased to see no trace of dissatisfaction in Xia Xi’s expression and no hint of arrogance when he praised her. He nodded at her kindly and said, "Alright, I have nothing else to discuss with you. Go back and continue practicing the song you’ll perform in the next episode of Cross-Border Singing Joy. Strive to win another championship."
Xia Xi nodded and left Zhang Lixin’s office, heading toward the practice room. Although she was a bit puzzled by her teacher’s sudden reminder, she didn’t dwell on the reason, thinking that Zhang Lixin was probably just worried about her youth and wanted to caution her against losing sight of her priorities.
At this thought, Xia Xi felt a warmth in her heart and believed she should practice even harder to achieve a better ranking and make her teacher happy.
However, what Xia Xi didn't know was that compared to Zhang Lixin, Zhang Xuanrui was more concerned about her lack of steadiness.
Although Zhang Lixin had spoken to Zhang Xuanrui after understanding Xia Xi's attitude, reassuring him that there was no need to worry excessively and that Xia Xi's condition was perfectly fine, Zhang Xuanrui remained skeptical and even more perplexed.
This was because Xia Xi's habit of grinning foolishly at her phone hadn't changed. She still held her phone with a radiant face, happily lost in her own world after finishing her singing practice.
Time flew by quickly, and before they knew it, it was time for the second recording of Cross-Border Singing Joy. Xia Xi and Da He arrived at the entrance of Fruit TV Station half an hour early as usual.
They spotted Li Qi and his classmates, who were holding up a support sign with "Xia Xi" on it, waiting there eagerly. When Li Qi saw Xia Xi, he excitedly waved at her, his youthful energy making Xia Xi chuckle involuntarily. She smiled and waved back.
As Xia Xi walked onto the red carpet specially laid out by the TV station, Da He noticed Li Qi straining to hold the support sign high so everyone could clearly see the words "Xia Xi, You're the Best!" printed on it. A flicker of surprise crossed Da He's eyes, and he couldn't help but remark, "Xia Xi, your little fan is quite devoted. I didn't expect him to be waiting here so early again. I thought his support was just a passing whim, but it seems there's some genuine sincerity here."
Just as Xia Xi was about to nod in agreement, she saw those mischievous boys swiftly unfurl another banner, which was particularly eye-catching. It bore a unique support slogan: "Sister Xia Xi, obsessed with you, crazy for you, smashing walls for you!" At the bottom corner, there was an abstract drawing of a person, impossible to tell if it was male or female.
Moreover, they were banging a gong they had procured from who-knows-where while loudly chanting their support slogan.
Xia Xi's smile instantly froze on her face. She silently lowered her head, pretending she hadn't seen anything, grabbed Da He's arm, and hurried inside. Their unconventional way of showing support made Xia Xi want to get away from the scene as quickly as possible.
"Sister Xia Xi, go for it, you're the best!"
"Sister Xia Xi, we support you!"
"Sister Xia Xi, win another championship!"
"…"
As Xia Xi moved farther away, the voices of those boisterous boys gradually faded, and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She felt that this was the first time in her life she had experienced such a high-profile moment. Her previous fans were mostly older individuals who, even if they loved her movies, supported her in a very rational manner, never with such exaggerated fanfare.
It was awkward, amusing, and yet somewhat touching all at once.
When she and Da He hurried into the television station, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. They exchanged a glance, both seeing the mix of amusement and exasperation in each other's eyes.
These kids!
"Teacher Xia Xi, you're still here so early," said the staff member who had been in charge of Xia Xi. Not long after Xia Xi and Da He entered the station, the staff member approached them with a smile. "Do you have any other plans? If not, why don't I take you to the singers' lounge to meet up with the other contestants?"
Xia Xi glanced up at the surveillance camera directly above her, realizing that the production team of Cross-Border Singing Joy had spotted her arrival on the monitor and immediately sent someone to greet her. She had to admit, their service was truly meticulous.
Thinking this, Xia Xi looked at the smiling staff member in front of her and said slowly, "I don't have any other arrangements. But I have a question for you."
"Please go ahead," the staff member replied, her expression as unflappable as ever, the smile on her lips unwavering.
"This time, does the live broadcast start as soon as we enter the lounge?" Xia Xi's bright eyes fixed on the staff member, making her inwardly marvel at how stunning Xia Xi looked.
"Ah, yes," the staff member snapped out of her admiration for Xia Xi's beauty. She lowered her head slightly, the smile on her lips fading. Closing her eyes briefly to collect herself, she said, "Actually, the live broadcast started the moment you walked through the doors of our station. It's clearly stated in the newly signed contract."
Hearing this, Xia Xi's expression stiffened. She pursed her lips and asked, not particularly kindly, "So, was the banner just now broadcast live too?"
"It was."
At the staff member's words, Xia Xi's face instantly took on a peculiar expression. She awkwardly rubbed her nose and pretended as if nothing had happened, while the staff member maintained a composed demeanor.
Of course, Xia Xi, unable to access the internet at the moment, had no idea that her actions had once again stirred up a storm online, with opinions sharply divided.
[Honestly, Xia Xi's panicked escape after seeing her fan club's banner was kind of adorable.]
[Adorable? Have you lost your mind? What's adorable about it? Her fans worked so hard on that banner, and she didn't even glance at it before turning and leaving. It's utterly disheartening.]
[I made a Xia Xi meme. #EscapeFromDanger]
[So, does no one know the live broadcast has already started? No wonder the earlier contestants didn't seem to be putting on an act.]
[Isn't Xia Xi's fan club getting a bit ahead of themselves? Her last win was just a fluke, pure luck. How could she possibly win again?]
[Let them dream a little, everyone needs something to hope for.]
[I'm not a fan of Xia Xi, but I have to say this fairly: her last win was based on skill.]
[Am I the only one who thinks the guys in Xia Xi's fan club are really handsome?]
[You're not alone, I think they're super handsome and cute too!]
[You guys are totally missing the point.]
[Hmph, Xia Xi is just a pretty face. She has no real talent and can't sing well at all. I'm waiting for her to be exposed, she definitely won't make it into the top three this time!]
[How can you be so sure?"
[I just am! Because Xia Xi sings terribly. It's impossible and shouldn't be possible for her to win. If she still manages to win this time, I can't help but suspect there's something fishy going on.]
[Are you implying Xia Xi is lip-syncing?]
[Absolutely. I know Xia Xi, she used to sing horribly. How could her singing suddenly improve so dramatically?]
[You need evidence for such claims. You can't just accuse someone without proof.]
[I'd bet my life on it, Xia Xi is definitely lip-syncing. If she isn't eliminated this time, I'll file a complaint against the show's production team!]