Chapter 150: Li Caiwei - "Dawn Has Come"

After spending a night at her hometown, she only returned to Donghai after dinner the next day. When she arrived, she hadn’t brought anything with her; upon leaving, she carried a large heap of bags filled with various food and daily necessities.

Back in Donghai, Fang Xing placed the pickled vegetables and meat sauce his mother had made into the refrigerator. Then he stayed quietly at his residence, alone, composing and arranging music. He produced accompaniment tracks for two songs, sending one to Li Caiwei.

In the days that followed, Fang Xing practiced singing at home. After two days, the property management knocked on his door, informing him that neighbors had complained about noise disturbance. Reluctantly, Fang Xing went to the company to find a rehearsal room to practice.

The song he chose this time was not difficult in terms of pitch or technique, but its emotional demands were very high. Although singing it was not hard, performing it well was the most challenging among all the songs he had tackled so far. This song required expressing deep emotion through a calm and understated melody—the more tranquil the tune, the harder it was to move the audience. It had to be like an elegant poem, revealing true feelings through simplicity.

Therefore, Fang Xing practiced repeatedly, as if he were trying to merge the song into his very soul.

During this time, Lu Xianger sent him a message once, asking, “What are you doing?” Fang Xing replied, “Practicing singing.” She asked, “Are you very busy?” He answered, “A little.” She encouraged him, “Then keep it up.” The conversation ended there.

Fang Xing put down his phone and immersed himself back into the emotional landscape of the song, savoring the sincere feelings beneath its simplicity.

In fact, when Lu Xianger sent the message, it was already Friday evening—the night the fourth episode of “The Voice” was airing. When the third episode was broadcast, Fang Xing was already in Xiangjiang preparing to record the show, so they hadn’t watched it together. A week had passed without Fang Xing reaching out or meeting her.

Ning Xiaoyun was attending a family dinner tonight and couldn’t accompany Lu Xianger to watch the program. Suddenly, Lu Xianger felt quite lonely.

After dinner, her mother went out. From 6:30 p.m., Lu Xianger sat in front of the TV, staring blankly. Her mind was filled with thoughts, most of which involved Fang Xing. She was unsure of his true feelings toward her.

From the moment they met, she had assumed Fang Xing was making an effort to get close to her. At first, this closeness made her uneasy. However, as they became more familiar, she grew used to it—only to find that he might not contact her for a week or two. When she reached out, his replies felt somewhat distant. Still, she comforted herself by thinking, “He must be under a lot of pressure practicing for ‘The Voice.’ It’s normal that he doesn’t have much time.”

As eight o’clock approached, her phone chimed.

“Ping!”

She hurriedly checked it; it was a message from Ning Xiaoyun: “Are you watching the show?”

Lu Xianger replied, “Aren’t you at the family dinner? How do you have time to text?”

Ning Xiaoyun said, “Family dinners are the most boring, you know? The elders are just bragging and chatting, and I can’t get a word in. Besides playing with my phone, what else can I do?”

Lu Xianger: “I’m watching the show. It’s about to start.”

Ning Xiaoyun sent a mischievous cat emoji: “Are you watching it with Fang Xing?”

Lu Xianger: “No, he’s very busy.”

Ning Xiaoyun: “Busy my foot! He never takes commercial gigs; even the laziest donkey on the production team isn’t as slack as him.”

Lu Xianger: “Really, we haven’t been in touch for over a week. Today I messaged him to ask if he wanted to watch together, and he said he was busy practicing.”

Ning Xiaoyun sent a pensive cat emoji: “No way! Over a week without contact? What’s going on between you two? Lu Xianger, have you been single all your life that you don’t even know how to date?”

Lu Xianger: “We’re not even dating, and maybe he really is busy.”

Ning Xiaoyun: “Come on, what era is this? How can modern people not even find time to chat over messages?”

Lu Xianger: “I don’t know either.”

Ning Xiaoyun: “Tell me about the things you’ve done together recently. Let me analyze it for you.”

Lu Xianger sent a rolling-eyes emoji: “Forget it. You’ve never been in love, what can you analyze?”

Ning Xiaoyun: “Never been in love, but I’ve definitely seen pigs fly. Besides, I have a solid theoretical foundation.”

Ning Xiaoyun: “According to my analysis, there are two possibilities for your current situation with Fang Xing.”

Ning Xiaoyun: “First, Fang Xing is a player with many fish in his pond, and you’re just one little fish. This push-and-pull style of interaction has a technical term in the player world. If that’s the case, Lu Xianger, you should be careful—you might get completely used up.”

Lu Xianger: “It can’t be that bad, right?”

Ning Xiaoyun: “From what I’ve observed, Fang Xing doesn’t quite fit the first type. At his level, he wouldn’t waste time on a little innocent flower like you; it’s not worth the effort.”

Lu Xianger sent an angry emoji: “Ning Xiaoyun, what do you mean by that?”

Ning Xiaoyun: “Don’t worry, listen to the second possibility. Fang Xing might have an avoidant attachment style.”

Ning Xiaoyun: “Such people tend to get close when the relationship is new, but once it becomes intimate, their fear makes them withdraw.”

Lu Xianger: “It’s not as mystical as you say, is it?”

Ning Xiaoyun: “Believe it or not, I’ve studied it. Avoidant attachment really exists. The more they care for someone, the more afraid they are to get close, so they choose to avoid.”

Ning Xiaoyun: “This type is especially suited for secret crushes. They’re content just admiring from afar, but once the other person shows affection and the relationship tightens, they start to pull away.”

Ning Xiaoyun: “I’m serious. If you don’t believe me, look it up online.”

Lu Xianger: “You’re overthinking it. Maybe he’s just busy.”

Ning Xiaoyun sent a shrug emoji: “Alright, alright. So you’re watching the show alone now?”

Lu Xianger: “Yeah, watching alone is fine, I can quietly enjoy the music.”

Ning Xiaoyun: “My dinner is almost over. Should I leave early and come keep you company?”

Lu Xianger: “No, you should stay at the dinner.”

Ning Xiaoyun: “Fine, fine. I’m lying on the sofa with my cousins, scrolling on my phone. My nephew just came to borrow the phone. It’s so boring.”

Lu Xianger: “Keep being bored then.”

Ning Xiaoyun: “What do you want to eat? I’ll bring you some. How about crayfish?”

Lu Xianger: “No, the heads have heavy metals.”

Ning Xiaoyun: “You don’t have to eat the heads. I ordered takeout with your number. You can pick it up at the door later.”

Lu Xianger: “What!?”

...

At eight o’clock sharp, the fourth episode of “The Voice” began.

Lu Xianger sat cross-legged on the sofa, quietly watching the show. Ever since appearing in an episode, she had become increasingly attentive to audience feedback. Although she only played accompaniment and appeared briefly in two or three fleeting shots, the sense of participation was real, so she cared deeply about the reviews.

While watching, she also opened the Xianguo Video app to read the live comments.

The first contestant to perform was Liu Hongsheng, singing the classic TV theme “True Nature.” This film series depicted the world of gangs and societies. Lu Xianger hadn’t watched it thoroughly but had seen some clips, which she didn’t like because the stories centered on fighting, stabbing, turf wars, smuggling, and drug trafficking.

For some viewers of that era, “True Nature” was nostalgic. Since Lu Xianger hadn’t seen much of the series, she didn’t share that sentiment. Her feeling about the song was that Liu Hongsheng’s vocal skills were excellent and the song was decent, but something was missing—something to truly move the heart.

After Liu Hongsheng’s performance, the audience applauded warmly. The on-screen comments flooded in:

“Nostalgia!”

“Not bad.”

“With this kind of true nature, he should definitely be first.”

“Being in this world means loyalty.”

“As expected of a top singer, it just sounds good.”

Some without nostalgia expressed:

“Okay, but the song lacks feeling.”

“Can’t understand the lyrics; reading subtitles, the meaning seems okay. Vocals are fine, but it’s not quite first place material.”

“What are you talking about? Liu Hongsheng sings about true nature and loyalty. Anyone who criticizes it clearly doesn’t understand those concepts!”

After Liu Hongsheng finished, Fang Xing took the stage. As soon as he appeared, the chat exploded:

“Alright, the battle for first and second place is about to be revealed.”

“Will the perennial runner-up finally take the crown, or will the three-time champion suppress the king?”

“So soon, the ‘King’s Mountain’ battle? What about the singers coming later?”

Amid the barrage of comments, Fang Xing began singing “Wedding Invitation Street.”

At the first verse, Lu Xianger was stunned. The song’s story closely resembled the movie “Memories of the Years” they had watched together, both depicting the changing times of an old street in Hong Kong, sung in Cantonese with a strong flavor of the golden era of Hong Kong music.

She listened in a daze until the song ended, not even noticing Ning Xiaoyun knocking outside the door.

When the song finished, her phone rang. Upon answering, she heard Ning Xiaoyun’s loud voice: “Open the door! I can hear singing inside, stop pretending you’re not there.”

Lu Xianger went to open the door and then returned to the sofa to continue watching.

Ning Xiaoyun placed the crayfish on the coffee table and asked, “What part of the show is it now?”

“Liu Hongsheng and Fang Xing have finished singing,” Lu Xianger replied.

“What!?” Ning Xiaoyun’s eyes widened in disbelief. “I’m only half an hour late, and all the highlights are already done? How does this show work? Don’t they put the best performances at the end?”

After sitting down, she asked, “How did Fang Xing sing?”

“Pretty well,” Lu Xianger answered.

“Why do you look so calm about it?” Ning Xiaoyun reached out to touch her forehead.

“No, it’s just that the last song moved me a bit,” Lu Xianger said.

“That’s all? You cry at everything. You’re such a softie,” Ning Xiaoyun said with a knowing smile.

Lu Xianger pouted and ignored her, returning to read the live comments.

Responses to “Wedding Invitation Street” varied:

“A Cantonese song, kind of calm.”

“From the Cantonese audience’s perspective, this song is the best Cantonese song in the past decade. But that’s because the golden era of Hong Kong music has passed. At this time, a song like this is satisfying.”

“It’s a pity this song can’t fully showcase its power on ‘The Voice’ stage. If it had been released in Hong Kong last year, it might have dominated the charts all year.”

“Cantonese song playlist +1, this one can be on repeat.”

“The theme this episode is ‘dialects,’ so all singers either sing in Cantonese or other dialects. I feel tonight’s song is going to sweep the board.”

Ning Xiaoyun leaned over to look and asked, “What did Fang Xing sing? I’ll look it up.”

“‘Wedding Invitation Street,’” Lu Xianger answered.

Ning Xiaoyun searched on Weibo, laughing: “Sure enough, it’s trending again. This guy is scary—every song hits the trending list.”

“And Cantonese-speaking audiences rate this song highly.”

“What do you think? How do you feel about the song?”

“It’s very similar to a movie we watched,” Lu Xianger said.

“You two went to the movies?” Ning Xiaoyun frowned, then widened her eyes. “And you say there’s nothing going on?”

Lu Xianger rolled her eyes: “We just watched a movie.”

“No kissing, hugging, or lifting you up?” Ning Xiaoyun teased with a sly smile, leaning close.

“No,” Lu Xianger said.

“So you just watched the movie for nothing?”

“We just went to watch the movie. Unlike you, who thinks about all that nonsense every day,” Lu Xianger said, knowing her friend well.

...

By the Xiangjiang River, Fang Xing and Li Caiwei arrived at the hotel on the same flight and each prepared themselves mentally. The next day’s competition demanded intense emotional expression, so both needed time to settle their feelings.

That evening, “Wedding Invitation Street” surged to the top of the trending charts, especially popular in Cantonese-speaking regions. Many radio stations in Hong Kong played the song that night, praising it highly.

The next day, after the singers finished rehearsals, they gathered in the lounge at 4 p.m. to wait for recording. Since there was no new substitute singer for the sixth episode and Li Caiwei’s identity no longer needed secrecy, all the singers chatted casually in the hall.

Fang Xing sat beside Xie Yuwen, saying, “Thanks for the gift you sent to my parents. Our company’s new CEO brought several boxes of tea. I don’t drink much, so after the recording, I’ll bring some back for you.”

Xie Yuwen quickly replied, “No need to be so formal. Actually, a friend of mine has relatives in Baitang Town, and I heard your hometown is there too, so I asked them to look after your elders. It’s reassuring to have more care for family when we’re working away, right?”

Fang Xing nodded. “Reciprocity is important; that’s how friendships grow.”

Xie Yuwen agreed. “Right, then I won’t be polite next time. If I find good stuff, I’ll bring you some.”

“Thanks a lot,” Fang Xing said.

“By the way, how did you find out about this? Did you go back home recently?” Xie Yuwen asked.

“Yes, I went back for a visit,” Fang Xing answered.

Xie Yuwen nodded. “Makes sense. This episode’s theme is ‘family affection.’ It’s right to visit parents. When technical skills can’t decide the winner, emotion makes the difference. The more genuine, the more moving.”

Fang Xing asked, “What about you, Boss Xie? What will you be singing?”

Xie Yuwen smiled. “Can’t say. It’s already the sixth episode. I’ve never made the top two before, so this time I’m going to unleash a big move.”

Hearing this, Fang Xing recalled what his mother had said: Xie Yuwen always ranked third or fourth in competitions.

Indeed, Xie Yuwen always performed well, but because others always pulled out big moves, he oscillated between third and fourth, sometimes dropping to fifth.

Speaking of big moves, Xie Yuwen sighed, “I was just chatting with other singers. It seems everyone plans to bring their A-game this time. The competition is getting fiercer.”

The segment for singers entering the stage began, involving a milk-drinking contest to choose positions.

This time, Li Caiwei drew fourth, Fang Xing fifth, and Liu Hongsheng was lucky to get sixth.

At seven o’clock, the competition recording officially began.

First to perform were Xu Xinzhen, Chen Xiyin, and Xie Yuwen.

Since Xu Xinzhen’s strength lay in ancient-style songs, her emotional expression of family affection was average. Among the three, Xie Yuwen sang the best and had a chance to place in the top three.

After Xie Yuwen’s performance, Li Caiwei took the stage. The audience applauded as she appeared.

Host He Hao began the pre-performance interaction: “Caiwei, last time you secured a safe rank. Are you nervous tonight?”

Li Caiwei took a deep breath. “A little.”

“What’s your goal tonight?”

“Of course, as high as possible,” Li Caiwei admitted her ambition.

“I’ve heard some insider news: the song you’ll sing tonight was produced by one of the singers performing later,” He Hao said.

Li Caiwei nodded. “Yes, and the production impressed me greatly.”

“That makes me even more excited. But since you’re competitors, does that singer worry you might outrank him?” He Hao teased.

Li Caiwei smiled and shook her head. “Last time, I worried that after he sang ‘Life Like Summer Flowers,’ it might affect his own performance. But as everyone saw, it didn’t.”

“Wow! That’s warming up for the next singer. But now we want to hear you sing…” He Hao shifted to the final question.

“We know you’re already a mother with a lovely little princess. Has becoming a mom changed your understanding of family affection?”

Li Caiwei nodded. “Yes, so I’m very confident about tonight’s song.”

“Wow! Then tell the audience loudly—what’s the song you’ll be performing tonight?”

“’Daybreak,’” she said, then lowered her head, releasing the emotions hidden in her heart and fully immersing herself in the song’s mood, ready to perform.