Chapter 152: After the Rain Comes Clear Skies

The unlucky one everyone was talking about was Feng Liyan, the challenger from the third round, a young and pretty singer. Perhaps due to excessive pressure, her voice cracked during the performance, though she managed to complete the entire song relatively smoothly.

As she walked off the stage, her mood was evidently gloomy. Although she still politely waved goodbye to the audience, the broadcast clearly captured the frustration on her face and the glistening tears in her eyes.

All the competing singers realized just how cruel this stage could be. A single tiny mistake could ruin an entire performance, and their hearts instantly clenched. Even though they were in separate rooms, everyone could feel the tense atmosphere hanging thick in the air.

Su Jianhao cast a worried glance at Lin Qihua, only to see him sitting with his eyes closed in rest. Not daring to speak, he refrained from disturbing him.

The second performer was Yuan Xiaolai. A veteran of countless battles, he appeared far more mature than the first singer. This time, he chose a love song—his strongest forte—to enter the fray. Playing all his cards with deep emotion, he performed with effortless mastery. From the roar of the audience after his performance, it was clear that everyone recognized and approved of his act.

"Old Yuan is as steady as ever," Lu Zhixuan sighed.

"That goes without saying. He's a veteran; what kind of scenes hasn't he seen? Stage fright is naturally out of the question."

"Yet every time I go on stage, I feel terrified, dreading a mistake. This stage is truly something you both love and hate," Lu Zhixuan said. "But without a doubt, it forces us to make breakthroughs, to seek out new changes. After ten rounds like this, I feel I've improved quite a bit."

"I feel the same way," Wang Yanglin nodded. "Competition brings pressure and motivation. The logic is simple, yet very practical. It's completely different from holding your own concert."

"Yuxun probably has improved the most," Lu Zhixuan remarked, watching Zhang Yuxun intently as she focused on the performance on stage. "It's great to be young, fearless of anything."

"Doesn't Qihua count?"

"That kid Qihua has improved tremendously in vocal technique, but it's not as obvious as Yuxun's. Or rather, right from the beginning, he made us forget he was just a young singer. Aside from the fifth episode, which episode did he ever place lower than third? One second place and a couple of firsts—there's simply no comparison."

"Put that way, it really is true. Every time, it's a mix of anticipation and dread, utterly nerve-wracking." Wang Yanglin thought back to the previous episodes, and it was indeed just like that.

"Freak." The two concluded with that verdict.

Third, fourth... one singer after another completed their performances. Some withstood the pressure and delivered flawless renditions, while others failed to keep their composure, making minor mistakes that stood out glaringly on such an elite stage. Naturally, their spirits were deeply depressed when they walked off.

When the sixth singer took the stage, Su Jianhao woke Lin Qihua. "It's time to get ready."

"Mm." Lin Qihua opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and bright. He stood up and began straightening his clothes.

Today he had chosen to wear a royal blue casual suit, making him look full of energy.

As the seventh singer took the stage, the two of them walked out of the room and bumped fists.

"Let's do our best."

"Let's do our best."

The seventh to perform was Luo Ying, a second-tier singer who filled a spot in the fourth round. Possessing formidable strength and a naturally rock-oriented voice, she sang with a unique flavor of her own, and the atmosphere at the venue was exceptionally enthusiastic.

With the end of the song, applause filled the room.

"Next up is Qihua."

"I'm so excited."

At the Beijing Film Academy, Han Jiaqi, who hadn't chased after *The Singer* in a long time, once again pulled Gu Yuhan to sit in front of the television. Seeing Lin Qihua walk down the corridor toward backstage, she cried out happily, "He's finally coming on! He looks so handsome today."

Gu Yuhan held her white-jade-like teacup, her gaze fixed on the man on the screen, wondering what kind of performance he would bring this time.

"Anyway, he definitely won't disappoint everyone." Having watched Lin Qihua's rehearsals, He Li smiled and comforted Yu Fengqin. "With his strength and current popularity, as long as he doesn't make a mistake, there'll be no problem."

"Yeah, given his steady temperament, he probably won't even be nervous."

Su Zhitong looked dreamily at Lin Qihua, pressing her hands together in front of her chest as she prayed devoutly: "Please bless him to perform normally and break through successfully."

After all, she was eagerly looking forward to singing a duet with him in the grand finals.

"Lin Qihua is about to take the stage." At this moment, countless people focused their gaze on the screen, anticipating what kind of performance he would bring to everyone after being away from the stage for a while.

Tian Le smiled as she stepped onto the stage to announce the acts. "Thank you to that singer for the wonderful performance. For our next competing singer, I imagine many people are eagerly awaiting his appearance and the kind of performance he will bring us. I am, too."

"Haha." The audience chuckled in unison.

"Alright, let us welcome our next competing singer, Lin Qihua, to bring us his piece, *Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies*."

Amidst everyone's attention, Lin Qihua walked through the corridor and once again stepped onto the stage of *The Singer*.

"Clap, clap, clap." The entire audience rose to their feet, applauding to welcome his return.

"Look at this momentum." Lu Zhixuan clapped while looking in astonishment at the excited crowd around him. "There's really no one else like him."

"We're lucky we don't have to join this competition, otherwise who knows, we might just end up crushed beneath him," Wang Yanglin sighed. "There's a running joke that everyone owes him a recommendation vote; it's no joke—it might actually happen."

"Then let's look forward to seeing what kind of score he gets."

On stage, Lin Qihua smiled and greeted the audience, then tilted his head back and closed his eyes, adjusting his mental state into that of a performer while waiting for the music to begin.

Seeing this posture of his, the crowd gradually quieted down, waiting for the magnificent performance to unfold.

A cello began to play softly, full of pathos and yearning, gradually joined by other string instruments and the piano, reminiscent of a lone traveler walking through a vast sea of humanity.

Lin Qihua's slightly suppressed, bewildered voice accompanied the guitar, reaching everyone's ears.

"I once doubted I was walking through a desert,
Where no dreams ever bear fruit no matter what is sown.
Just as I spread my wings, the wind turned silent;
Can growing accustomed to pain be considered a harvest?"

I had once fallen into the lowest trough of my life, wondering if I would ever achieve my dreams. Every time I thought I could finally make the music I loved, I would find out it was merely a dream. Having experienced so much, I had long since grown numb. Perhaps the only harvest was simply growing accustomed to every single failure.

"The fortunate thing is I never looked back all this way,
And finally discovered an oasis truly exists.
Every drop of sweat shed made life heavier and deeper,
Only by walking out of depression does one see a new universe."

Fortunately, I gritted my teeth and persevered, caught sight of genuine hope, and gained the opportunity to realize my dreams. I worked hard and made myself stronger; when the opportunity arrived, a brand-new world would unfold before your eyes.

In the audience, people listened quietly as Lin Qihua used his singing to recount his own realizations, and everyone found reflections of their own experiences.

"Starting low and rising high, after wind and rain comes the rainbow—this must be writing about his own experiences."

"It creates a high degree of resonance, reminding me of things in the past." Quite a few audience members drifted back into their memories.

"When I first struck out on my own, I lived in a basement, ate five-yuan boxed meals consisting only of vegetables, and did heavy physical labor. It took me a full five years to finally escape those days and find an opportunity for success. Truly, it was so hard."

"Boundless oceans, vast skies, only after being brave
Must we use persistence to shatter the lock of fate.
Indifferent people,
Thank you for once looking down on me,
Allowing me to keep my head high and live a more splendid life."

The singing was no longer suppressed, bursting forth like sunlight breaking through the clouds, bathing people in its warmth and bringing infinite hope.

No matter what, I will persistently pursue my dreams and swear to shatter this fate that binds me. To those indifferent people who looked down on me and believed I would never succeed: I don't hate you. Instead, I thank you for letting me know how I differ from you, for making my confidence even firmer, for helping me grit my teeth and press on, keeping my head high and making my life more splendid.

"Indifferent people, thank you for once looking down on me." Countless audience members trembled all over. Yes, how much ridicule have we faced in our lives? How much condescension? How many indifferent gazes? Under those gazes, did we keep going? Did we grow angry? Did we hang our heads?

Countless viewers asked themselves this question. This song spoke of Lin Qihua's own spiritual journey, but wasn't it also the spiritual journey of everyone? With successes and failures, tumbles and triumphs, everyone was questioning themselves.

"Boundless oceans, vast skies, after the raging storm and rain,
Turning my head to smile past old heartbreaks.
The one who understands me best,
Thank you for accompanying me silently all the way,
Giving me a good story to tell,
As I watch the future approach step by step."

The singing pierced through the clouds, resembling a swift soaring freely amidst the violent storm and rain, finally breaking through the rain clouds to behold the sunlight above them. Bathed in the sunshine, their hearts instantly opened up.

If the first half was about speaking resolute words to those once indifferent, then the latter half was about gratitude—gratitude for one's experiences, gratitude for those who once helped, gratitude for the hardships bestowed by life that made one more mature. I now smile past those heartbreaking stories of the past, treating them instead as a good tale from my own life, ready to embrace a bright future with an even better state of mind.

Lin Qihua did not deliberately hit high notes; rather, it was a release following suppression, allowing past gloom, confusion, indecision, oppression, and anger to be swept clean away with the song. From then on, traveling light, he would make the music he loved, date the girlfriend he loved, and live the life he loved.

This song is sung for everyone. If you are at the lowest point of your life, if you are still doubting your destiny, if you are still lost in the sea of humanity, if the things you love are doubted and looked down upon by others, or if you still don't know how to go on—come listen to my song. Those who dare to challenge adversity will find their lives growing all the more robust because of it.

After the rain clears up, the oceans are boundless and the skies are vast!