Chapter 68: "Lost Dreams"

"The new song 'Lost Dreams' is dedicated to all the regrets and dreams of our youth."

The solo stage did not have the gorgeous and magnificent choreography of a team performance. The quiet lights softly fell on Shen Xingzhi's shoulders. He was alone with a guitar. In the dim space in front of him were countless audiences, clapping and cheering enthusiastically. Shen Xingzhi smiled gently, his voice slightly hoarse after exhausting the emotions during the singing. Every note he plucked on the guitar seemed to contain unfinished emotions, slowly spreading in the air.

"In my lifetime!! Xingzhi actually sang a new song! Ahhhhh! Can there be such unexpected surprises every day?"

"Welcome Emperor Shen back to the music scene! After 448 days and nights, I've finally waited for you! It's so beautiful!"

"Extreme emotion! Xingzhi's songs seem to have a touch of sadness, and they touch my heart every time I sing them! (PS: I don't know if it's my illusion, but I feel that this song is not that emo)"

"I agree. The climax afterwards wasn't just about release, it seemed... it was filled with anticipation?"

"This song is a little different! Xingzhi debuted on 'Idol Signal'. In 'Idol Signal', dreams are a slogan that's been talked about too much. But after being a fan of Xingzhi for so many years, he's always been a doer. Even when canvassing for votes, he only talks about his creative plans. This is the first time I've heard him talk about dreams. Wow, Xingzhi, what dreams do you have that you regret?"

"Chen Xingzhi's words brought back my youth. It reminded me of so many things in college. I'm already 30. Time flies so fast. When I saw the news about Shen Xingzhi's debut, I was still staying up late in my college dormitory to work on my thesis."

"University? I have a bad feeling. Shen fans, don't look at it, I'm afraid you'll be upset..."

The content of the live broadcast barrage gradually diverged, but for Shen Xingzhi's new song "Legacy Dream", both passers-by and fans expressed their love. Shen Xingzhi stood on the side of the stage. The guest sent by Zheng Chuanbai's team was Zheng Chuanbai. He chose an emotional classic love song, but the barrage still couldn't help discussing Shen Xingzhi.

From the moment Chen Xingzhi said the title of the new song on the stage, Ren Limeng's mind was completely distracted. Even though she seemed to be sitting upright at the recording site, she actually didn't know where she was "floating" to.

Yimeng, Limeng, is the name of this new song a coincidence?

Could Shen Xingzhi please stop acting on his own? She had to go solo in her second team! She was afraid her heart wouldn't be able to handle being in the same team with Shen Xingzhi again...

More importantly, what do the regrets and dreams in Shen Xingzhi’s youth refer to? Could it be... the dream of being a host?

Even though she knew she might just be overthinking it, Ren Limeng still couldn't help but speculate. To some extent, she was also a "die-hard fan" of Shen Xingzhi when she was in college. If there was a fan club for Shen Xingzhi at that time, she would definitely be able to become the president.

The reason why she completely "turned from fan to hater" was that Chen Xingzhi gave up his dream, a dream he had once admitted to himself, a dream she thought she would pursue forever. He participated in "Idol Signal" and didn't do his best to be a host. What kind of idol was that? In her eyes, he was simply unqualified as an idol!

But after all, he was her ex-husband whom she loved with true feelings. Even the fact that she was able to pick up the microphone as a host was because of him. After many years, the feelings in Ren Limeng's heart were too complicated, like a ball of intricate colorful silk threads, intertwined and entangled. For a while, even she herself could not fully explain it.

What is Shen Xingzhi’s current dream?

Perhaps, the so-called regrets and dreams are nothing more than deliberate words in front of the camera. These days, if stars don’t talk about youth and feelings, what stories can they tell?

What on earth is she trying to correct? Why is she so twisted? She clearly tells herself not to pay attention, but she can't help it. Sure enough, sometimes hate lasts longer than love!

A hint of mockery flashed across Ren Limeng's eyes. She looked up at the broadcast screen. The solo performances of both parties had already been presented. Wu Yue was interviewing Shen Xingzhi and Zheng Chuanbai, also delaying time for the statistics of the results.

For such a grand live performance, the pressure to count the votes is huge, and only the four major platforms such as Orange have the software and hardware capabilities.

"Okay, the production team told me to pass on everyone's complaints so the audience can judge for themselves."

On stage, Wu Yue's lively voice was tinged with teasing, "Your new song's title is 'No Name', and even I was kept in the dark! Even if you wanted to surprise the audience, you couldn't tell the production team, but at least tell me first!"

Although it was clearly an accusation, Wu Yue said it in a relaxed and intimate manner, more like explaining for Shen Xingzhi. Even in the tense confrontation, the audience couldn't help but relax for a moment.

"Because I also wanted to give the program team a surprise."

Chen Xingzhi calmly raised the microphone and said, "I wrote the song 'Lost Dream' these days. It was inspired by what I've seen and heard these days. I'm grateful to the program team for allowing me to personally experience the intangible cultural heritage of Lin City, the banggu. I feel like my horizons have been too narrow over the years and I've missed out on many wonderful things."

Facing the camera, Shen Xingzhi raised a gentle smile on his cold face. His handsome appearance made it difficult for anyone to blame his "surprise", and some even couldn't help but sigh, "Shen Xingzhi is thoughtful."

"Our banggu teacher is Ms. Li, a banggu inheritor from Lin City. I admire her passion and dedication to the instrument. It's her lifelong dream, as it is for many other cultural inheritors, to make everyone aware of and appreciate banggu. I hope our team's performance today will help everyone remember banggu, and if possible, learn more about it!"

Shen Xingzhi was at ease on the stage, speaking fluently and clearly, his bright eyes full of sincerity. Even during the tense moments of his solo performance, he dared to use them to introduce the banggu, leaving more people with an impression of the banggu itself.

It was a very mature and dignified performance. Ren Limeng looked at Chen Xingzhi on the screen. The two seemed to be separated by a long distance, making her feel a little unfamiliar, as if they had just met on the first day of recording. Time had made them both grow a lot.

She didn't believe Chen Xingzhi's serious explanation at the moment. Perhaps Chen Xingzhi meant to promote traditional culture, but the emotions in his new song were not so majestic and grand. It was obviously "hidden with private goods". It was just that his handsome face added some credibility. Otherwise, she didn't believe he could fool the audience!

The result of the solo performance was as expected. When Zheng Chuanbai heard Wu Yue announce that Chen Xingzhi was the winner, he looked calm. Since he knew that his opponent was Chen Xingzhi during the rehearsal in the morning, he had not thought about winning. He was already very satisfied with his solo performance, which should also help him gain fans.

However, in front of the camera, Zheng Chuanbai's expression showed some more self-blame. As the captain, he couldn't help but feel regretful and blamed himself for not winning the game and saving the team from the elimination crisis.

As soon as they entered the waiting hall, Chen Xi and other members of Zheng Chuanbai's team had already rushed over, and in a harmonious atmosphere, they were comforting the defeated captain; and Ren Limeng, together with other members of the team, greeted the victorious Shen Xingzhi. Ren Limeng listened to Xu Chichi and others praising Shen Xingzhi, nodding from time to time, and tried her best to play the role of a variety show guest.

Variety shows are really never about momentary gains or losses. Although she is just a newcomer in the entertainment industry, after a week of recording and rehearsals, Ren Limeng felt more and more that the variety show camera is often like a blind spot. All she can do is not to seek truth from falsehood, but just go with the flow.

But she has to have her own persistence. She wants to be a host with her own voice, not a puppet in front of the camera.

Even though this road is too difficult and she is just a small and transparent person who is irrelevant to the overall situation, she believes that as long as she moves forward step by step, even the smallest power can shake the world over time.

What's more, she just wants to gain a foothold in the entertainment industry as a host.

After the solo performance, the live broadcast took an intermission. The production team adjusted the stage in an orderly manner. Ren Limeng looked at the other guests who were busy putting on makeup, silently took out her mobile phone, used the screen as a mirror, and quickly tidied up her appearance.

She silently took out her mobile phone and carefully read the real-time comments about herself. She silently used her second account to like all the comments that praised her business ability, and skipped all the discussions about CP.

Ren Limeng just wanted to see everyone's feedback on her personally, but the discussion about CP far outweighed other things. What made her unable to ignore it was that Shen Xingzhi sent a message at this time.

Ren Limeng subconsciously glanced at the guests on both sides. They were surrounded by several staff members, adjusting their makeup, tidying up their looks, handing them water... She quietly half-covered the screen. Even though she had spent a huge amount of money to put an anti-peeping screen on her phone before coming to the show, she still felt a little guilty watching Shen Xingzhi's news in public.

Of course, a mature professional’s guilt will never show on his face!

"Li Meng, did you forget to bring your makeup artist? If you need to touch up your makeup, my makeup artist can lend it to you!"

Xu Chi Chi, who was standing on the side, happened to see Ren Limeng's gaze. She asked enthusiastically, but Ren Limeng shook her head and said, "Thank you, Sister Chi Chi. No need!"

She looked calm and composed, with no sign of guilt in her eyes. After years of hard work, Ren Limeng, a seasoned worker, would not easily lose her composure in front of the camera.

Although her inner drama was a bit much sometimes, Ren Limeng noticed that new message pop-ups continued to pop up on the screen, and she tilted her head to glance at the center of the first row where they were. Shen Xingzhi was surrounded by not only staff from her own company, but also Dong Zhu and other program staff.

How on earth did he have the time to message her!

Aren’t you afraid of being exposed?!

Chen Xingzhi: Junior, do you like the name of the new song?

Chen Xingzhi: Forwarding the video link - "Help! A top entertainment industry couple reunites! From youthful campus to meeting at the top!"

Chen Xingzhi: This isn't some marketing tactic I'm posting. Which CP name do you prefer, "Ren Xing" or "Ren Wo Xing"? There seems to be a nomination for "Travel" on the super topic. Pick one, and I'll have the studio promote it.

Chen Xingzhi: Ren Limeng, why don’t you reply?

沈行之：我知道你看到了，偷偷摸摸望四周做什麽？放心，公演當先，我不會暴露的，我今天是不是很乖？