Chapter 157: The Eighth Competition - "Traveling Across the Ocean to See You"

"So what should I do then?"

After listening to Ning Xiaoyun's analysis, Lu Xiang'er also felt that she had been a bit slow-witted.

Ning Xiaoyun made a V-shape with her index finger and thumb on her chin, assuming an experienced look as she said, "Next, leave it to me. Isn't the next episode of *Voice* themed around love? You'll go to the live recording to watch his competition."

Lu Xiang'er nodded and said, "That actually sounds like a good idea. Should I text him and ask him to bring me along?"

"No, no, no..."

Ning Xiaoyun wagged her finger and said, "That ruins the surprise, *surprise*, understand? You need to appear suddenly at the recording site while he's singing, so he sees you out of nowhere. That's the only way to achieve the best effect."

"But *Voice* is a closed recording. Without him bringing me, how am I supposed to get in?" Lu Xiang'er's mind failed to turn the corner for a moment.

"That's why you're asking the right person. Last time, when we went with the symphony orchestra to provide accompaniment for *Voice*, didn't you make any connections with the production crew?" Ning Xiaoyun asked.

"No," Lu Xiang'er answered matter-of-factly.

"Fine, that's not important. I have the WeChat of their directing team. I'll handle it." Ning Xiaoyun patted her chest, taking full responsibility for the task.

***

Friday came around again.

It was the day for the broadcast of the sixth episode of *Voice*.

Lu Xiang'er and Ning Xiaoyun were preparing their plan, having bought plane tickets to Xiangjiang for Saturday.

On Friday night, the two stayed in the dorm and began packing their luggage.

Halfway through packing, Lu Xiang'er remembered that the sixth episode of *Voice* was airing tonight.

So she opened her laptop, connected the speakers, played *Voice*, and continued packing her luggage.

When girls travel, they want to bring everything—a huge mess of random items—and packing takes a lot of time.

Lu Xiang'er carefully folded her clothes, put them into sorting bags, and stacked them neatly inside the suitcase.

Toiletries and skincare products were also sorted into different boxes and arranged neatly.

Ning Xiaoyun was much more casual. She just stuffed everything into her suitcase, closed it, sat on top of it to compress it, and zipped it shut. Done.

Seeing how she packed her suitcase, Lu Xiang'er remarked, "The moment you open that suitcase, everything inside is definitely going to burst out."

"I don't care, I'll just stuff it back in if it bursts."

Ning Xiaoyun waved her hand dismissively.

However, three minutes later, she realized she had forgotten something, opened the suitcase again, and continued cramming things inside.

Just as the two of them were packing, *Voice* reached the segment for "A Prose Poem Written by My Father."

That deep, resonant voice, singing a melody like poetry, instantly made Lu Xiang'er halt her movements.

She turned around, stared at the laptop screen, and her expression froze.

Ning Xiaoyun was also gradually drawn in by the singing and walked over to stand in front of the desk.

After Fang Xing finished singing "A Prose Poem Written by My Father," both of them were deeply moved.

"No wonder he looked so exhausted. Digging emotions out like this must really take a toll."

Lu Xiang'er studied the violin; she had once poured her longing for her grandfather into the sound of her strings.

Therefore, she understood that feeling—after playing the violin, all one wants to do is quietly rest for a couple of days.

This kind of fatigue wasn't physical; it was in the heart.

***

After the broadcast of the sixth episode of *Voice*, both "A Prose Poem Written by My Father" and "Dawn" surged onto the hot searches simultaneously.

They began spreading across major online platforms at a very rapid pace.

Many viewers expressed that after listening to these two songs, their eyes were red.

When the show first started broadcasting, cynical netizens and mischief-makers were still teasing Liu Hongsheng for being the eternal runner-up.

As a result, after "A Prose Poem Written by My Father" and "Dawn" were sung, the tone of the cynical netizens' bullet comments began to shift:

【These two damn songs just robbed me of a wave of tears.】

【It's over, it's over. The runner-up's position is clearly not secure anymore.】

【This is too much, dropping two nuclear bombs at once. They're about to squeeze Liu Hongsheng down to third place.】

【This guy Fang Xing is just impossible. He hits so hard every time; it's simply unfair.】

After the rankings were announced, Liu Hongsheng was indeed pushed down to third place.

Shortly after, related topics rapidly surged to the trending list.

【Liu Hongsheng breaks the curse of the eternal runner-up.】

【Heavenly King achieves a reverse breakthrough, shedding the title of eternal runner-up.】

【Feeling heartbroken for Liu Hongsheng.】

The songs themselves didn't make it to the top of the hot search list, but because his ranking dropped to third, several trending topics blew up instead.

Coupled with the promotion by mischief-makers, the popularity of this topic even surged into the top three of the trending list.

Many well-known music critics also began to analyze and comment on "A Prose Poem Written by My Father" and "Dawn."

Their viewpoints were surprisingly unanimous, offering high praise for both songs.

Following the broadcast of this episode, Fang Xing's studio was bombarded with phone calls as numerous commercial partnership offers came pouring in.

Especially manufacturers of family-oriented products—massaging chairs, elderly apparel, and the like—all expressed a desire to collaborate.

***

The next day.

The official social media accounts of official youth departments shared the two songs, "A Prose Poem Written by My Father" and "Dawn."

Just this year alone, songs sung by Fang Xing had been shared by major official accounts three times.

This was something many singers wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Being reposted by such official accounts practically meant securing an entry ticket to the Spring Festival Gala.

At this time, Lu Xiang'er and Ning Xiaoyun had already boarded a passenger plane bound for Xiangjiang. Seeing the post shared by the official account at the airport, both of them were extremely surprised and gave it a few likes.

***

Today is Saturday.

It was time for the recording of *Voice* once again.

Just like before, rehearsal in the morning.

At 4:00 PM, the recording of the singers' entrance segment began.

When drawing lots to determine the performance order, Fang Xing got number 3, and Li Caiwei got number 2.

Liu Hongsheng was number 5, and Zhong Yuanxun was number 6.

Since no one was going to be eliminated tonight, everyone was not as nervous.

However, tonight's competition would determine who could advance to the "King of Singers Battle" in advance.

Therefore, even without elimination, all the singers wanted to go all out, secure a good ranking, and fight for a spot in the finals.

After the entrance segment recording concluded, there was a one-hour break.

At 7:00 PM, the recording of the eighth episode of *Voice* officially began.

He Hao wore a silver suit with a rose pinned to his lapel, his tone excited as he delivered the opening remarks:

"Welcome, esteemed guests, singers, and our audience friends here tonight. Welcome to the stage of *Voice*.

"Tonight is the eighth episode, and also a battle to secure spots in the final 'King of Singers Battle.'

"Just who will be able to advance into the finals early? Let us wait and see...

"Tonight's competition theme is 'Love.' Whose love will be the most touching?

"Let us invite our very first competing singer of the night. Who could it be?"

After finishing the opening remarks, Xie Yuwen was the first to perform.

His luck was fairly average this time, as he drew number 1.

After Xie Yuwen finished singing, it was Li Caiwei's turn.

Li Caiwei walked onto the stage with her usual elegant, straight-line stride. High heels, an evening gown, and her alluring figure displayed the beauty of a mature woman in every way.

He Hao praised admiringly, "Caiwei is far too beautiful tonight. Why is she so stunning?"

Li Caiwei smiled and replied, "We are singing about love tonight, so naturally, I have to sing it looking my absolute best."

He Hao continued with his questions, "Then, does the love Caiwei is interpreting tonight lean more towards joy? Or more towards sadness?"

Li Caiwei considered it for a moment and answered, "It should lean a bit more towards joy. However, love inherently encompasses all the flavors of sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy."

"Spot on."

He Hao changed the subject and said, "The next question is practically becoming a program tradition. Caiwei, is tonight's song still produced by that other singer?"

Li Caiwei nodded and replied, "Yes, it's still produced by him."

He Hao continued to press, "Then, are you satisfied with tonight's song?"

"Of course. It expresses the feeling of longing to see someone to the absolute fullest." Li Caiwei nodded, giving an affirmative reply.

"Speaking of which, I'm looking forward to it more and more. Then let us listen to this song. First, tell the audience, what is this song called?" He Hao asked the final question.

Li Caiwei slowly uttered the name of the song: " 'Crossing the Ocean to See You'."

When pronouncing the word "You," she reached out and made a circle towards the audience seating.

The live audience cheered loudly.

"Crossing the Ocean to See You" is a song written, composed, and originally performed by the Taiwanese musician Jonathan Lee, included in his album *Rational and Sensible Works Concert*.

Actually, Jonathan Lee originally wrote this song for the singer娃娃 (娃娃 / Jin Zhijuan), so the original singer should be Jin Zhijuan.

Later, Jonathan Lee included it in his own album.

The version that has circulated more widely is undoubtedly the one performed by Jonathan Lee.

There are a great many professional singers who have covered this song.

Fish Leong, Liu Mingxiang, and Li Xingliang have all covered it.

Mentioning Jonathan Lee, one must acknowledge that this gold-medal music producer has created far too many catchy and widely circulated songs.

The songs created by Jonathan Lee usually do not pile up flowery diction, nor do they deliberately mystify or write obscure and difficult lyrics.

Most of his songs take life as their starting point, entrusting emotions through concise, unadorned, and approachable words, hiding deep feelings within rational texts.

From an artistic perspective, Jonathan Lee's creations are much closer to the essence of life.

The seemingly ordinary lyrics often contain life insights that make one suddenly see the light.

On the stage.

The lights dimmed, and twelve spotlights focused on the center of the stage.

Li Caiwei stood in the spotlight, signaling to the band that they could begin.

A melodious melody drifted out.

Li Caiwei swayed her body slightly along with the prelude, slowly entering the artistic conception of the song.

After the prelude ended, she raised her microphone and began singing the concise and unadorned verse:

"For you, I used up half a year of savings,

"Crossing the ocean to see you.

"For this reunion,

"I even practiced my breathing when we meet over and over again..."

The first two lines of the verse, through a simple little detail, vividly and exhaustively expressed the feeling of loving someone.

Anyone who has experienced passionate love and has tossed and turned, longing so much to see someone that sleep eludes them, can resonate with the underlying meaning.

When longing to see someone, you want your absolute best self to appear before them.

Even the tone of your voice is paid extra attention.

The line in the song, "I even practiced my breathing when we meet over and over again," expressed this state of mind indescribably well.

There were no flashy words, no high-profile emotional manipulation—just the depiction of a small detail, yet it was enough to evoke resonance among the audience.

***

Down in the audience seating, two girls were listening intently to the song.

Listening to the meaning of the lyrics.

When Lu Xiang'er heard the first two lines, her heart started pounding wildly.

Because she discovered that her recent state of mind was exactly as written in the lyrics.

She was very worried about what the outcome would be if she suddenly appeared in front of Fang Xing tonight.

She worried whether she looked her absolute best.

She also worried whether Fang Xing would be surprised, pleasantly surprised, or startled when he saw her.

Ning Xiaoyun's thought process was much simpler. She tilted her head and whispered, "This song is quite nice. What's wrong with you? You've been absent-minded all day."

"I'm fine, I also think this song is very nice." Lu Xiang'er hurriedly shook her head.

On the stage.

Li Caiwei continued to sing, and when she reached the chorus, she poured out the emotions in her heart:

"Amidst the sandstorms filling the sky, watching you depart,

"I actually grew so sad I couldn't control myself.

"How I hope to send you off for a thousand miles, until the mountains and rivers end,

"To depend on you for a lifetime..."

The concise and unadorned lyrics exhausted all feelings of loving someone.

The final line, "To depend on you for a lifetime," exhausted the heartfelt wish of lovers.

Lu Xiang'er listened in a daze, emotions surging in her heart, desperately wanting to see Fang Xing.

However, she was now sitting in the audience while the show was recording, so she could only wait quietly for him to take the stage.

After Li Caiwei finished singing, warm applause erupted from the venue.

The audience felt deeply moved in their hearts.

Those who had experienced the emotions portrayed in the song were touched by it.

In the hearts of many viewers, the same thought arose: loving someone is just like this.

Some viewers also sighed: "Loving someone really is like this, but not every love can receive a response."

Therefore, this song merely depicted the mood of "crossing the ocean to see you," but what kind of scene would ensue after meeting was uncertain.

After all, love is a matter between two people.

If it truly is a mutual affection, even gazes alone convey longing when meeting.

After finishing her song, Li Caiwei thanked the audience and the band, then returned to the backstage to rest.

Immediately following that,

He Hao began introducing the next competing singer:

"The next singer has a bit of a connection with Caiwei."

Upon hearing these words, the audience didn't wait for He Hao to continue before shouting loudly: "Fang Xing! Fang Xing! Fang Xing..."

He Hao smiled and said, "Who told you it was Fang Xing? I only said the next singer has a connection with Caiwei.

"There are all sorts of connections—they could be friends, colleagues, or even fellow hometown folks.

"Look, among all these initial singers, there are fellow folks from Caiwei's hometown, former colleagues, not to mention friends."

The audience refused to buy it and responded loudly: "No need to explain, hurry up and call Fang Xing out."

He Hao continued joking with the audience: "You want me to call him out, so I just call him out? Do I not have any pride?

"Alright, in front of our audience friends, I'll drop my pride.

"Next, let's welcome our next competing singer.

"That's right, he is the very singer who produced the competition song for Caiwei. Let's welcome him!"