Chapter 67

"The east glows with dawn, stars fade into the sky. In the morning, fishing boats return, as the mocking wind blows toward us,"
The melodious song continued to echo through the studio, and the audience felt as though it was gently soothing their restlessness and unease, healing wounds they had long kept hidden.
Though the song seemed simple at first listen, its melody was uniquely captivating, imbued with an enchanting charm. Through Xia Xi's performance, it was like the sirens lingering on sea reefs, using their distinctive songs to mesmerize passing sailors, making them lose themselves in the depths.
The song continued, and Xia Xi was dazzled by the stage lights. The smile on her lips gradually widened, at this moment, she was genuinely happy.
This was a song Xia Xi had always loved. She adored its soothing melody, yearned for the leisurely days of fishing depicted in the lyrics, and empathized with the hardships and struggles of the working people. She was also deeply moved by the spiritual strength this song had brought to the Chinese people during the War of Resistance Against Japan.
Xia Xi had once watched a war-themed film that depicted how the Chinese people, instead of surrendering when foreign forces invaded, rose up in resistance, showcasing their bravery and patriotic spirit.
One scene from that film had left a lasting impression on her.
It was a bright afternoon. The rural road, usually bustling with activity, was filled with people chatting, others working in the fields, and the occasional calls of street vendors, a scene of tranquility and ease.
"Woo-woo-woo-woo,"
But suddenly, the blaring of an alarm shattered this rare peace. Everyone looked up at the sky, spotting planes flying overhead. Though there was a hint of panic in their expressions, their actions remained relatively calm, and their faces soon regained composure. Clearly, they were accustomed to such situations.
"Don’t panic, everyone! Hurry into the air-raid shelters!" Soldiers in military uniforms quickly approached the crowd, guiding them to safety as swiftly as possible.
"Boom, boom, boom,"
Terrifying explosions echoed incessantly from outside. This bombing raid was more intense than previous ones, instilling fear in those who had thought the shelters would bring them peace. Bewildered expressions appeared on their faces as they looked at one another, searching for strength in each other’s eyes. But there was none to be found, only deepening confusion and fear.
Just then, a melodious song suddenly drifted in from outside: "Fishermen’s Song at Dusk."
It was this song that gradually replaced the confusion on their faces with determination, and their fear with calm.
Isn’t this the charm of music?
It can soothe restless souls, inspire those striving to press forward courageously in the face of adversity, and move others with its boundless power.
"Once again, the eastern sun rises red,
Grandpa’s old fishing boat,
Carefully, we’ll rely on it to survive the winter."
The accompaniment faded away, and the studio fell into a profound silence, just as it had after Xia Xi’s last performance. But this time, there was no trace of fear or anxiety in her. She stood calmly at the center of the stage, radiant and captivating, as she slowly closed her folding fan.
With a sharp "snap," like a clap of thunder, the sound jolted the audience awake. They erupted into thunderous applause, shouting Xia Xi’s name over and over, unable to stop.
Xia Xi let out a soft laugh, bowed to the audience, and then descended the stage step by step, her every movement exuding an enchanting grace that captivated everyone present.
"Xia Xi! Xia Xi!"
Xia Xi listened to the synchronized cheers in the studio, her eyes and expression brimming with delight. In that moment, she felt the difference between being a singer and an actor. Sometimes, songs were more direct than films, they could touch hearts faster, stir emotions, and drive the audience wild right there on the spot!
It was also at this moment that Xia Xi suddenly thought, "Being a singer doesn’t seem so bad after all."
Smiling, she waved to the audience below the stage and walked briskly toward the backstage. Yet, the studio continued to echo with loud chants of, "Xia Xi, Xia Xi, one more song!"
"Xia Xi, you did great just now." Just as Xia Xi, head lowered and in high spirits, reached a corner, a voice as deep as a cello suddenly spoke, startling her. She lifted her head toward the direction of the voice, but the bright lights ahead dazzled her eyes. Instinctively, she raised a hand to shield them slightly and peered through her fingers to see a familiar figure. As the figure drew closer, Xia Xi finally recognized who it was.
Lu Yisheng!
Xia Xi’s expression instantly lit up with surprise and joy. She let out a small shriek and hurried over to Lu Yisheng’s side, feeling her heartbeat slowly slipping out of her control. The happiness in her eyes was almost overflowing. "You, what are you doing here?"
"Ah." Seeing Xia Xi like this, the system sighed silently in her mind, helplessly letting things take their course.
"What, are you not happy to see me?" Lu Yisheng leisurely approached Xia Xi, looking at her with a light chuckle, and murmured softly by her ear, "I missed you, so I came to find you."
Missed me?
Hearing Lu Yisheng say this, Xia Xi blinked, feeling a bit flustered. She stared blankly at Lu Yisheng, unsure of what to say. She could only stand there, blushing, and awkwardly lowered her head. "Wh-what are you saying?"
"Xia Xi, I really missed you." Seeing Xia Xi’s flushed face, Lu Yisheng felt his mood lift considerably. He reached out, intending to gently stroke her hair, but noticing her nervous expression, he hesitated and let his hand hang in the air before awkwardly lowering it again. He continued, "Since 'Fate of Immortals' wrapped up, it’s been a long time since we last saw each other. I, I don’t even know how you’ve been doing all this time."
"But didn’t we chat online just yesterday?" Xia Xi blinked, looking innocently at Lu Yisheng, resembling a little white rabbit. "And didn’t you ask Da He about how I’ve been lately?"
“...” Lu Yisheng’s expression faltered for a moment as he looked at Xia Xi. He chuckled softly, unconsciously rubbing his nose, then shook his head. His expression suddenly turned very serious. "Xia Xi, it’s not the same. Unless I see with my own eyes that you’re doing well, I’ll never feel at ease."
"Ah?" Seeing the sincerity in Lu Yisheng’s eyes, Xia Xi couldn’t help but press her lips together. After a moment’s thought, she decided to follow her heart and share her feelings with him. "Actually, I missed you too."
"Is that so?" Lu Yisheng moved a bit closer to Xia Xi, the smile at the corner of his lips growing even more genuine. He raised his hand to stroke Xia Xi's hair, then tightly grasped her hand. "With those words from you, I feel like coming here was totally worth it."
[Oh my god, what am I seeing? Are the two of them acting in a drama?]
[This is fake, it must be fake. How could our Lu Yisheng possibly like Xia Xi? My heart is breaking.]
[Come on, everyone's missing the point. This is a singing competition, why is the show giving so much screen time to Xia Xi and Lu Yisheng? It makes me suspect this is actually a dating show.]
[To be honest, if I hadn’t just heard Xia Xi sing "Fisherman’s Song at Dusk" I’d probably really dislike her right now.]
[Yeah, yeah, Xia Xi’s performance of "Fisherman’s Song at Dusk" was absolutely amazing!]
[This is the first time I’ve heard "Fisherman’s Song at Dusk" but just this once, and I’ve already fallen in love with it.]
[Dating? No way! Lu Yisheng isn’t blind, why would he want someone Luo Chu’an didn’t want?]
[Are you blind? Didn’t you see the way Lu Yisheng was looking at Xia Xi just now?]
[You’re all missing the point, we should be watching the other contestants’ performances!]
[What’s so interesting about the others? They’re all amateurs. Director, can you switch the camera back? I want to see more of Xia Xi and Lu Yisheng feeding us dog food!]
[Actually… I want to see it too.]
[As a single person, why do I feel so happy seeing the two of them together? Am I a masochist?]
[You’re not alone!]
[Me too…]
While Xia Xi and Lu Yisheng were still connecting, the internet had already exploded. All the trending topics on Weibo were about Xia Xi, such as: #XiaXiSingsFisherman’sSongatDusk#, #Fisherman’sSongatDuskOriginalSinger#, #XiaXiAndLuShen#, #XiaXiAndLuoChuan#.
In short, it could be said that Xia Xi was once again in the spotlight, though because of Lu Yisheng’s presence, the number of people criticizing her was just as high as those praising her.
"You… you’re not leaving?" Xia Xi turned to look at Lu Yisheng, who was following behind her, and paused for a second in confusion. "And how did you get in? Did the program crew invite you?"
Lu Yisheng chuckled softly, his eyes clearly saying, "You finally asked."
"I was invited by Fruit TV to participate in another show. I came here with the program team’s permission, in fact, they asked me to visit. I wasn’t really interested at first, but then I suddenly remembered you were also in this show, so I decided to come."
He paused here, looking seriously at Xia Xi before continuing, "I missed your last performance because I was filming out of town, so this time, having the chance to watch you perform live made me really happy. And… you look really beautiful today."
Hearing this, Xia Xi’s ears involuntarily turned redder and redder. She lowered her head and smiled to herself, her mood growing increasingly joyful, as sweet as if she’d eaten candy.
She finally understood, this must be what it feels like to like someone.
Seeing him brings joy, and hearing him say he's doing well brings happiness. She was willing to walk down a path with him forever, wanting to be good to him, even better.
Xia Xi turned her head to glance at Lu Yisheng following behind her, feeling immensely grateful that after listening to Li Qi's words, she had bravely made a choice, no longer timid, no longer avoiding, but wanting to take his hand and slowly move forward together. No matter what they might encounter in the future, at least she would follow her heart and face it together with him.