For someone else, it would be impossible to understand such deep feelings.
However, Ye Cang was different. Perhaps no one in this world understood Li Jun better than him. His soul had been in the world for more than thirty years. During these thirty years, he was unable to leave his old home, no one could see him, no one could communicate with him, and everything in this world had nothing to do with him.
He remains in this world because of his strong obsession and his unwavering love for music; if he were to give it up, he could disappear from the world at any moment.
Sometimes, in the face of extreme loneliness, Ye Cang wavered, and he didn't even know what he was holding on to.
But once it disappears, it can never sing again.
No, he didn't want to. He hadn't sung enough yet, and he wanted to stand on that stage again.
The desolation and determination in his music are his answer to the world.
Ye Cang bent down and almost roared out the lyrics.
He was that dying traveler, yet he would never, ever regret it, and never, ever give up.
The radiance he exuded was something that no amount of suffering in this world could diminish, moving everyone on and off the stage.
After the performance, Ye Cang was soaked in sweat, looking as if he had been pulled out of the water.
When he finished singing, not only did the audience applaud enthusiastically, but the band behind him also put down their instruments and applauded for him. The guitarist even unconsciously wiped the corner of his eye.
They are also travelers on this road, and no one understands the meaning of this song better than them. They may not be as extreme as Li Jun, but they have experienced the kind of courage to forge ahead and never regret in the song.
Ye Cang gripped the microphone stand, panting heavily.
The host walked over and asked with some concern, "Ye Cang, are you alright?"
Ye Cang straightened up, roughly wiped the sweat from his face, and said with a relaxed smile, "It's alright."
"I heard you were sick before the competition, but you still gave us such a wonderful performance, which really impressed me."
Hearing the host ask this question, Ye Cang just smiled. He knew what the host meant, but he didn't follow up on what he said: "You said it yourself, you got sick before the competition. This has nothing to do with my performance on stage. Good is good, and bad is bad. When a singer goes on stage, it's like a soldier going to the battlefield. The performance on stage is the key to life and death."
He said it casually, not as a gimmick, but because that's what he really thought and what he really did.
The host initially thought the man was ungrateful, but seeing his sweat and slight trembling, she was speechless, yet she still had to continue speaking.
The host asked, "I haven't heard this song before. Is it your original composition?"
Ye Cang shook his head: "No, the author of this song is named Li Jun, and perhaps no one knows him."
"Is he a freelance musician?" the host asked curiously. "You two must be very close. He would be very happy to hear that you chose to sing your friend's song at such an important competition."
“We’re not friends. He doesn’t even know me,” Ye Cang said calmly. “As for whether he’ll be happy, I don’t know. Because he’s no longer alive.”
The scene erupted in uproar.
The host already knew the inside story, but still looked surprised and prompted Ye Cang to tell the rest of the story.
Such a tragic backstory made everyone present feel somewhat heavy-hearted.
Ye Cang slowly said, "Actually, there are many people like Li Jun in the world, and I can't comment on his choices. But this is a good song, and it shouldn't only be heard by me, nor should it only exist on that one evening."
After Ye Cang finished speaking, he bowed to the audience and left the stage.
For them, this stage is both their initial dream and their final destination.
-
Once off the stage, Ye Cang's composure vanished completely. He stumbled and almost fell, quickly grabbing onto a nearby support.
Shen Huai rushed over and helped the person up.
Ye Cang coughed heavily, as if he were coughing up his lungs. He was barely holding on on stage, and once he stepped off, he couldn't hold on any longer.
Shen Huai didn't know what to say, so he could only help him into the lounge. He hadn't noticed it before because of the dim lighting, but now that they were in the lounge, he saw that Shen Huai's face was as pale as paper and his lips were deathly white. It was as if he was exhausting his life force by singing that song.
Shen Huai sighed and helped him sit down. He then brought over the thermos and medicine, saying, "Drink some hot water first, and take your medicine."
Ye Cang reached out to take it, and Shen Huai noticed that his hand was trembling. He was not well to begin with, and his health was worse than expected. On stage, he sang with all his might, without holding back any energy. He was relying entirely on willpower to keep going. It was a miracle that he was able to keep going until he got off the stage.
Normally, Shen Huai would have scolded him for his lack of care for his health, but at this moment, he couldn't utter a single word.
Because he understood better than anyone else present what the stage meant to Ye Cang.
Shen Huai held the water glass to his lips and whispered, "Don't move, take your medicine first."
Ye Cang, unusually, refrained from making any flirtatious remarks. He obediently drank the water and leaned back in the recliner to rest. Shen Huai took a blanket from the side and covered him with it, then took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the sweat from his face.
The makeup artist stood to the side, picked up a powder puff, but eventually put it down. Seeing Ye Cang sweating profusely, even if she touched up her makeup, it would probably be washed away by the sweat in a moment.
The other contestants and staff remained silent. Seeing Ye Cang's appearance on stage earlier, no one truly believed that he was so seriously ill.
The on-site director came over and asked Shen Huai with concern, "Can you still hold on? There's another match later."
Shen Huai glanced at Ye Cang, who was now fast asleep from exhaustion. But Shen Huai knew that he would not choose to desert his post at this moment.
He nodded: "Sure." He paused, then added, "But could you please call a car for us so we can get to the hospital right after the race?"
The director moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just sighed and left.
At this moment, Ye Cang's final score was already displayed on the broadcast screen in the lounge.
—9.2 points.
Shen Huai was somewhat surprised.