Chapter 83

As for why Lu Yisheng was at "Cross-Border Singing Joy," others might not know the reason, but he himself was certainly the clearest, he came because he wanted to see Xia Xi.
Some netizens had guessed his intentions correctly, but even though they figured out his motives, no one expected he would choose to participate in the show as a singer. Given Lu Yisheng's status, it was truly unnecessary and meaningless.
But if it was all for the sake of Xia Xi now, then everything became necessary.
This is the initiative that comes with liking someone, everything done for her becomes meaningful.
Lu Yisheng looked at Xia Xi standing beside him and understood this saying for the first time.
Xia Xi was the little sister from his childhood memories and the girl he liked now.
That's right, Xia Xi and Lu Yisheng had known each other since they were children, and their relationship was especially close. Back then, the two of them were often together, practically inseparable. But later, Lu Yisheng moved away, and they lost contact for many years. When they met again afterward, it was merely a nod of acknowledgment.
No one would reminisce about the happy times of childhood because there was simply no need.
Actually, after Lu Yisheng left, the two of them had stayed in touch, but what happened later could only be described as fate.
When Xia Xi was ten years old, she experienced a kidnapping. Both she and her brother were taken to threaten their parents.
After a long standoff, the kidnappers, left with no choice, compromised and forced her parents to choose one child to take away and one to leave behind. Without hesitation, her parents chose her brother.
Everyone knew what kind of inhuman treatment the child left behind would suffer, but there was no other way, her parents still made that cruel decision.
If Xia Xi's life had been colorful before this, from that moment on, it turned gray.
Although she was eventually rescued, the impact of the incident was not easily erased. Her resentment toward her parents was unimaginable. Not only did it make her lose interest in life, but it also caused her to seal away her childhood memories.
All that remained was the pain and helplessness of being abandoned by her parents. Her heart could no longer hold anything else, and her connection with Lu Yisheng gradually faded.
At first, Lu Yisheng was deeply saddened because the little sister he had been so close to suddenly became very cold toward him. Not knowing the reason, he hoped to mend their relationship, so during that time, he frequently called Xia Xi, wanting to understand why she had become distant. But everyone remained tight-lipped.
Some things, over time, naturally wear away one’s patience.
Lu Yisheng eventually stopped contacting Xia Xi, and the bond between them gradually faded.
So much so that when Lu Yisheng first saw Xia Xi again, he didn’t even recognize her. It was only through their subsequent interactions that he slowly remembered, this was the little sister he had been so close to in their childhood.
But it wouldn’t be entirely accurate to say Xia Xi and Lu Yisheng had no connection. The reason Xia Xi entered the entertainment industry was because of Lu Yisheng. He had once starred in a film about love and redemption, a spark that rekindled Xia Xi’s will to live.
In that film, the female lead had been abandoned by her family as a child. She lived in constant pain, filled with hatred for her family, doubts about herself, and uncertainty about life. She felt her world had turned entirely gray. Just as she was about to give up on life, she encountered her redemption, the male lead played by Lu Yisheng.
That character shone like a beam of light into the female lead’s life, and it also illuminated the path ahead for Xia Xi.
In that moment, Xia Xi’s usually unshakable heart suddenly stirred with the thought that perhaps becoming an actress and playing roles she loved wouldn’t be so bad after all.
That was why she worked hard to get into film school and why she resolutely embarked on the path of acting.
It was also because of Xia Xi’s childhood experiences that she fell so deeply for Luo Chu’an just because he showed her a little kindness, leading to the outcome that followed.
But now, Xia Xi had arrived, and everything had changed. She was herself, yet not entirely herself. This allowed her to view things from a different perspective, to remain calm, to maintain an ordinary heart, to avoid risks, and to strive for a better future.
This was the hidden truth the system had revealed, the turning point it spoke of.
The system could see Xia Xi’s future, bright and full of promise. It had also seen her previous future, but that was the unchangeable rule, though it could foresee it, it was powerless to alter it, only able to let it unfold.
“Xia Xi, let’s be together.”
Just as the system was recalling the hidden truths of the past, Lu Yisheng’s words exploded like a bombshell, stunning everyone present.
This confession could be called a classic, after all, it was made during a live broadcast to the entire internet. It ensured that everyone watching would know the news instantly. It was irreversible and unretractable, a testament to the confessor’s resolve.
Hearing Lu Yisheng’s words, Xia Xi’s eyes widened involuntarily. She stared at him blankly, trying to detect something else in his gaze, but found nothing, only sincerity and seriousness.
“I-I…” Xia Xi, who had faced countless grand occasions without faltering, suddenly felt flustered and uneasy. Under Lu Yisheng’s gaze, her cheeks flushed, and her tone carried a hint of doubt. “Can I trust you?”
"Alright." Lu Yisheng took a few more steps toward Xia Xi, gradually closing the distance between them. Firmly and earnestly, he grasped her hand, his palm transferring a hint of sweat to hers. "Trust me, this is my first time confessing to someone. To be honest, I'm a bit nervous and not sure how to do it right."
"I know I should have prepared more formally, but I really can't wait any longer. I want to be with you right now, this very moment."
Xia Xi felt the warmth and dampness of his hand holding hers and noticed the faint trace of worry hidden in his resolute and sincere gaze. Yet, her own resolve had never been clearer. She let out a soft laugh and nodded, but tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes.
This was Xia Xi's redemption, and the redemption of the Xia Xi from before. In that moment, both she and her past self let go of all that had happened. In their hearts, as long as a single ray of light broke through, the entire sky would brighten.
As for how the online community might explode with reactions, it was no longer within Lu Yisheng's considerations. All he wanted now was to hold his little girlfriend tightly.