"Now, please welcome the next contestant, Lin Chen! His song is his original composition, 'Mountain Question'!"
The host announced.
Lin Chen took a deep breath, guitar strapped to his back, and walked towards the center of the bright light. Every step felt like stepping on the beat of his heartbeat. The lights were focused, and he could feel the hundreds of eyes on him from the audience, as well as the scrutiny from the judges.
He adjusted the height of the microphone stand, a simple gesture that elicited a few good-natured chuckles from the audience. His performance was a bit clumsy, a stark contrast to the seasoned contestants before him. He paid no mind, simply bowing earnestly to the judges and the audience.
"Hello, judges! I'm Lin Chen."
His voice, carried through the microphone, carried a natural magnetism and a subtle hint of nervousness that made it seem genuine.
His fingers plucked the strings, and the prelude began. It was the same familiar melody, but this time, he infused it with a power unlike that of the auditions. It was the more stable control that training brought, and even more so, the resolute determination to "be myself" after a week of "polishing."
"I ask the mountains, but they remain silent. Only the wind blows through the pines, stirring the waves...
I ask the water, but it flows ever, carrying time away without looking back..."
The moment he opened his mouth, the noisy studio fell strangely silent. His voice was like a clear spring, washing over the room filled with the dazzling virtuosity, high notes, and electronic arrangements that preceded him. There was no complex display of technique, only a sincere outpouring of emotion. He saw no judges, no audience, only the landscape of his memory.
When he reached the chorus:
"The song in my heart, to whom do I sing? The road beneath my feet, to where do I go...
The echoing mountains are my answer, the glittering stars are the other side of my dream..."
He rejected the "more refined" approach his vocal teacher had suggested. Instead, he let loose the explosive force that sprang from his life's instincts. His voice was clear and passionate, carrying an almost stubborn defense and questioning of pure dreams. The guitar accompaniment erupted with a powerful rhythm from his fingertips, no longer a low murmur of a mountain stream, but more like a cry in dialogue with fate.
In the judges' booth, Zhang Zhe narrowed his eyes slightly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. Li Wei smiled appreciatively and nodded gently. Zhou Mufan looked at the young man on the stage, completely immersed in his musical world, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
The performance ended, the sound lingering in the air. After a brief silence, the audience erupted in the warmest and most sustained applause since the recording. Many in the audience rose spontaneously and clapped vigorously. That reaction wasn't one of admiration for technique; it was more like a resonance and excitement that came from being struck by sincerity.
Lin Chen breathed lightly, pulling himself out of the world of music and once again taking in the dazzling lights and the bustling crowd. He bowed in thanks.
"Wow!" Li Wei took the microphone first, unable to conceal her excitement. "Lin Chen, I have to say, you've improved tremendously since the auditions! It's not about technique, but... you've become more determined. You've found your own way of expression and bravely showcased it. This song and you are one and the same. I'm deeply moved!"
Zhou Mufan continued, "Your stage has a strange magic that makes people quiet down and listen to you sing. This kind of purity and sincerity is extremely rare on the stage today. And I have to admit, your final outburst, while perhaps not technically perfect, was 100% emotionally impactful."