lovenovelstory Chapter 88 A Song About Time
Chapter 88 A Song About Time
Qin Xiao stood in the waiting area, looking at Wang Bo and Xia Lizhi, but he didn't feel relaxed at all.
Only people at their level know that the "water content" beneath the halo of some overseas returnees may be greater than the Pacific Ocean.
But ordinary viewers don't think that way. "World's top music academies" are like a golden certification label, naturally carrying authority and a sense of superiority.
Unfortunately, Xia Lizhi doesn't fall into the "fake" category; like Qin Xiao, she's one of the truly talented ones.
For Wang Bo, this match was not only a contest of strength, but also a head-on collision between a "folk genius" and an "academic authority".
The natural filter subtly tilted the audience's expectations even before the show began.
"The showdown between Xia Lizhi and Wang Bo will take place in the final group!" the host announced. "Now, let's welcome the other five contestants to the stage one by one to perform their songs on the theme of 'time'!"
The stage lights changed, and music began.
The five contestants who were temporarily "safe" also brought out their best skills.
Lin Xiaoya was the first to go on stage, and she chose a classic old song, "Time Has Gone with the River".
She changed into an elegant white dress, played the piano and sang, her voice sweet and clear, trying her best to interpret the warmth and sadness in the song.
The performance was adequate, but the sincerity of the emotions earned it a lot of applause.
Bai Wei followed closely behind, bringing an original song called "Time Cabin," with a light and slightly retro melody and lyrics describing the beauty of preserving memories.
She sang and danced, demonstrating good stage presence and exuding youthful energy.
The audience responded enthusiastically, especially the young audience.
Ah Fei still maintains his signature rock style, and his rock song "Big Pendulum" electrifies the entire audience.
The intense drumbeats, distorted guitar, and screaming vocals express the struggle and rebellion amidst the passage of time.
Although some older audience members showed expressions of "it's too noisy," he completely ignited the atmosphere, and rock music fans screamed wildly.
This time, Li Xuan learned his lesson and didn't perform any more arrogant songs that suggested the outcome was already decided.
He chose a lyrical pop song called "Gift of Time," and added strings to the arrangement, making it sound much more "sophisticated."
During his performance, he tried his best to control himself and take a sentimental approach, even managing to squeeze out two "tears of memories".
Although it seemed a bit deliberate, the overall execution was good, and coupled with his fairly handsome face, he garnered a decent number of votes.
Qin Xiao was the last to appear.
When he stepped onto the stage, all the lights in the studio seemed to focus on him.
He wasn't wearing an expensive suit today, but rather a well-tailored dark gray casual outfit, which made him appear low-key and reserved.
There was a piano in the center of the stage, but he did not sit down immediately.
"Time," Qin Xiao began into the microphone, his voice carrying a calm, magnetic quality as it came through the speakers, "is like a silent river. Today, I bring you an original song—'River'."
The prelude begins with minimalist piano notes, clear and cool, like water droplets falling into a deep pool.
Qin Xiao's piano skills are beyond doubt. The melodies flowing from his fingertips are complex and beautiful, carrying the rigor of classical music and the smoothness of pop music.
Instead of flashy, fast-paced movements, he used precise control and delicate touch to create a sense of time flowing by, a tranquil and profound atmosphere.
It must be admitted that Qin Xiao's performance reached an extremely high level in terms of musicality, artistry, and stage appeal.
He successfully interpreted the grand theme of "time" in a sophisticated and moving way, using his own expertise.
When the performance ended, the entire audience stood up and applauded for nearly a minute.
Backstage, the slight sense of pride Li Xuan felt for his good performance was instantly extinguished.
Compared to Qin Xiao, his "deep affection" is like a primary school student's essay.
Lin Xiaoya and Bai Wei also showed admiration.
Afei, unusually, took off his headphones and nodded at Qin Xiao.
The pressure has quietly shifted once again.
"Next," the host's voice rang out again, tinged with barely perceptible excitement, "is the most anticipated match of the night! Challenger Xia Lizhi versus her personally chosen opponent—Wang Bo!"
The stands erupted in the loudest cheers and screams of the night.
Expectations have been raised to the max.
"First up is Wang Bo! What kind of song will he bring to meet the challenge from the academic school?"
As the lights dimmed, Wang Bo, carrying his old wooden guitar, walked onto the stage.
He was still wearing a simple white shirt and jeans, which contrasted sharply with the expensive and complicated stage equipment next to him.
He walked to the microphone and adjusted its height.
There was no introduction, no setup.
The spotlight fell.
He plucked the strings.
The intro begins, simple to the extreme.
A few clean chords, like the wind blowing across an early summer field, carrying the scent of sunshine and green grass.
The melody is soothing, gentle, and even somewhat... bland.
The audience fell silent, some looking puzzled.
This piece of music... doesn't seem to have much impact?
Compared to Qin Xiao's meticulously crafted "river" and Xia Lizhi's potential "academic shock," isn't it too "small"?
Wang Bo spoke softly, with a dazed, reminiscent quality.
When the first sentence was uttered, some people in the audience were stunned.
These lyrics... are so straightforward.
There are no fancy words, no profound metaphors, just a simple narrative.
Like an old friend whispering in your ear, telling those distant, faded stories.
The melody continued to flow, and Wang Bo's singing was devoid of any fancy techniques; it was simply a straightforward narration.
His voice has a unique texture, husky yet warm, with clear and natural enunciation, like gently caressing the outline of a memory.
As he sang softly, a vivid imagery quietly emerged.
For many, it's as if they see the tree by the playground during their school days, the bright smiles in their graduation photos, and the friends who were once inseparable but are now scattered to the ends of the earth.
During the chorus, Wang Bo's voice rose slightly, but remained restrained.
There were no shouts, no weeping, only a faint sense of melancholy and a deep longing.
Those few simple questions were like a soft needle, gently piercing the softest part of my heart.
The guitar sound was always clear, occasionally adding a harmonica-like overtone, which added a touch of timelessness.
In the audience, some people began to lower their heads.
A man in his thirties thought of his college buddies, whom he had only liked on social media ten years after graduation.
A woman in her forties thought of her best friend from her teenage years, whom she had gradually drifted apart from due to marrying far away and being busy.
A girl in her early twenties thought of her deskmate from high school with whom she could talk about anything. They had moved to different cities, and their chat history had stopped at a holiday greeting from six months ago.
Even the backstage waiting area was eerily quiet.
Lin Xiaoya's eyes were already red, and Bai Wei was biting her lip.
Li Xuan's expression was complicated. He wanted to find fault with it, but found that the song was so simple that there was no skill to criticize. However, the sincerity that came over him made him feel inexplicably choked up.
Afei took off his headphones and tapped his fingers lightly on his knees.
Qin Xiao leaned against the wall, his eyes closed, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was carefully savoring the power of "seeing the big picture in the small details" in this song.