Chapter 81

Just as the audience assumed Xia Xi would choose a quiet, slow ballad like her previous two performances, the melody of "Once Again We Met" began to play, strikingly different from before.
When the lights brightened again, casting their glow upon Xia Xi, they noticed she was dressed in an unexpectedly sharp and dashing outfit, once again capturing everyone’s attention.
It wasn’t a fairy-tale gown, yet it was so captivating that no one could look away.
Xia Xi was different today.
That was the audience’s immediate thought.
But if asked to elaborate on this feeling, they couldn’t quite articulate it, they just knew that this time, Xia Xi was not the same as before.
Why was that? Was it just because the musical intro was different this time?
It seemed like more than that.
It was a difference that radiated from within. In that moment, the audience sensed the brightness in her eyes on that stage.
Her sharp, precise dance moves on stage shone like a brilliant star, glowing with a unique radiance, like a rising nova, a brilliance they had never seen before. It was captivating, mesmerizing.
"I want to express the moments of past sorrow,
Even if, after they fade, only echoes remain.
I want to close my eyes and feel
My trembling heart.
…"
It was under these circumstances that Lu Yisheng watched the person dancing with all her might on stage. He observed her quietly. Though the venue was loud and chaotic, with a large audience, in Lu Yisheng’s eyes and ears, the only one he could see was Xia Xi.
He watched her dance with clean, precise movements on stage. He listened to her slightly husky singing voice. He could almost see the sweat trickling down her cheeks and feel her passion for that stage.
Lu Yisheng realized that Xia Xi was increasingly able to stir his heartstrings. Even watching her from such a distance filled him with an indescribable joy and pride.
Seeing her work hard made him ache with tenderness and pride. Seeing her maliciously slandered ignited his anger, he wanted to bundle up those who spoke irresponsibly and make them disappear, leaving only those who loved her in the world. And when he saw her receive praise, it made him happier than if he had received it himself.
In that moment, Lu Yisheng knew he was done for, he could never escape the temptation named Xia Xi.
She was his little princess, and he would cherish her for a lifetime.
Just as Lu Yisheng was lost in thought watching Xia Xi, her performance was nearing its end. After striking her final pose, only one thought crossed her mind:
Being a singer-dancer is really not easy.
Amidst the thunderous applause, she bowed breathlessly to the audience below the stage. She saw their encouragement for her performance and also caught Zhang Lixin’s affirmation of her efforts. Standing closest to the stage, he gave her a thumbs-up, expressing his approval of Xia Xi’s choices.
Originally, in Zhang Lixin’s plan, the song "Once Again We Met" was meant to be a slow ballad, performed with a gentle melody. It was supposed to be the first song Xia Xi performed on Cross-Border Singing Joy, intended to make a striking impression. However, Xia Xi had always felt that the song shouldn’t be interpreted with a soft melody, it wouldn’t convey the strength and resilience within the lyrics. Instead, she believed it needed a strong, rhythmic arrangement.
Xia Xi still remembered the resigned expression on Zhang Lixin’s face when she took it upon herself to replace the first episode’s song with "Calming the Storm."
At the time, she had no other choice. She didn’t know where this conviction came from, but she firmly believed that "Once Again We Met" had to be sung with a powerful, rhythmic style. During the first episode, time was too tight, Xia Xi couldn’t change the style in time, and rearranging the choreography would have taken too long. So, the song was postponed again and again, finally making its debut in the third episode in this form.
To be honest, Xia Xi herself felt quite uncertain about making such a decision. She always lacked confidence in singing, but at the same time, she knew that while others could offer suggestions for the songs she would perform in the future, the final decision had to be hers. She had to take a brave step forward, singing every one of her songs in her own style, rather than blindly following others and losing her own ideas and convictions.
As Xia Xi listened to the enthusiastic cheers of the audience and saw Zhang Lixin continuously giving her a thumbs-up, her heart swelled with satisfaction. Looking back now, she felt that her choice had been the right one, and that was the most gratifying thing. It also boosted her confidence in singing.
She smiled, bowed to the audience, and walked off the stage at a steady pace, her eyes brimming with joy. It was clear that she was very pleased with her own performance.
This was the first time Xia Xi had felt so satisfied with her singing. Perhaps it was because she had trained so hard for the dance, and now, receiving recognition from others made her especially happy.
While Xia Xi was reveling in her own performance, she had no idea that the live-stream audience was equally impressed. The moment they saw her performance, they erupted in excitement. The song "Once Again We Met” was nothing short of astonishing for everyone. Xia Xi’s performance won over countless fans, as the song was so intense and surprising, leaving a deep impression on every viewer.
[Honestly, I never thought Xia Xi had such strong singing abilities before, but my opinion has changed after today. Her vocal technique might not be exceptionally advanced, after all, that requires systematic training and can’t be achieved overnight, but today, I clearly sensed something different about her. I genuinely felt her passion for singing, and that’s the rarest quality. I believe she truly deserves first place in the 'Cross-Border Singing Joy' competition. Her win is well-earned.]
[How is Xia Xi’s win well-earned? And who are you to decide whether she deserves it or not?
[Xia Xi’s performance this time was absolutely amazing!]
[What’s the name of this song? I’ve already added it to my playlist!]
[Xia Xi’s dance was incredible too!]
[Of course, whether Xia Xi deserves first place isn’t just up to me, but in my eyes, she absolutely does. And if you ask me why I hold her singing and dancing in such high regard, I’ll tell you: because the most challenging aspect of performing is singing while dancing. For a beginner, it’s incredibly difficult to sing and dance at the same time. If they choose this approach, the effort and dedication required aren’t as simple as typing out a few words on a keyboard like we do. She had to practice that dance routine day after day, ensuring she could deliver her best on stage.]