Chapter 140: How Much Farther...

Lin Ze drew a favorable number this time:
Number Six.
Old Shi and Xu Shenshen drew Number Three.
Meanwhile, Chen Nan was sitting on the stage, singing a piece of his from a long time ago titled *Stone*.
Unexpectedly, this song fit the theme of the current episode remarkably well.
Pity that it was neither a new song, nor was he still a contestant.
Having finished his song, Chen Nan bowed and expressed his gratitude to the audience in the hall.
His journey on this stage ended right here.
Though tinged with reluctance, it was only reasonable.
Chen Nan returned to the lounge without leaving the premises.
The one who drew Number One to perform was Panda.
Panda's song this time was likewise exceptional; such a prompt seemed uniquely suited to Panda's original musical circles.
The song featured a paper kite flying right onto a young maiden's desk.
The entire melody possessed a lingering classical charm, which, combined with Panda's vocal timbre, delivered yet another pleasant surprise to everyone.
The second performer was Li Xiyan, whose song showed a vastly improved level of completion compared to her previous one.
Watching the television screen inside the lounge, Lin Ze could not help feeling a sense of emotion.
It seemed everyone had adapted well to this high-intensity work rhythm.
Now, Xu Shenshen took the stage.
The song was titled *The Train That Never Stops*.
Xu Shenshen wore athletic wear whose color scheme closely matched that of the subway.
He then hauled a treadmill onto the stage.
Running slowly forward, Xu Shenshen began to sing.
At the very first note, Lin Ze froze in astonishment.
A rap piece?
Old Man Shi actually knew how to write this genre?
Lin Ze noticed that the treadmill beneath Xu Shenshen's feet started accelerating, and Xu Shenshen's mouth sped up in tandem with the machine.
The tempo of the rap grew increasingly rapid, while the screen behind him displayed pre-arranged imagery.
It felt like a subway train hurtling through bustling crowds and plunging into dark, lonely tunnels.
The pace behind him grew faster and faster. During the final half-minute, Xu Shenshen looked as though he were sprinting madly.
Even a complete song, under the velocity of a mad dash, became fragmented and incomplete.
After all, human physical limits existed; risking oxygen deprivation at extreme speeds, Xu Shenshen continued to spit out words relentlessly.
Like a train pushed to its absolute limits, shaking violently as it rushed toward freedom, risking disintegration at any second to break through safety and step into the wilderness.
This particular segment imbued the song with an extraordinary, unique allure.

"What the hell?" Lin Ze uttered an instinctive word of praise.
If one could write such a piece in a single day, then Shi Zhongyin truly deserved his reputation as the God of Songwriting.
In the other lounges, everyone was also voicing various expressions of awe over this song.
This time, Lin Ze was in for a tough challenge.
The audience members seated below stared at Xu Shenshen lying flat on the floor, their mouths hanging wide open.
What a delightful surprise!
Having rested just enough on the floor, Xu Shenshen managed to pull himself up, bowed weakly to the crowd, and then walked off the stage with trembling legs.
The staff hurriedly rushed up to clear away the props.
The next performer was Liang Xiang. Fortunately, the two artists had contrasting styles; Liang Xiang skipped and bounced onto the stage, looking thoroughly sweet and adorable, which effectively dispelled the powerful residual impact left behind by Old Shi and Xu Shenshen.
The fifth contestant was Zhou Qiao. Zhou Qiao's lyricist and composer adopted the perspective of a crow.
Coupled with Zhou Qiao's natural aptitude for melancholy ballads, the quality of this song could easily be ranked as top-tier.
Those audience members who had previously complained about the declining quality of current music were now listening with rapt fascination.
It turned out that everyone hadn't lost their touch; they were simply starting to unleash their true strength one after another...

Lin Ze had already arrived backstage.
Today, Lin Ze wore an outfit of pure black that felt somewhat oversized.
The host called out Lin Ze's name. The exact moment Lin Ze stepped onto the stage, the lights dimmed, leaving only a faint beam of light to guide him to the center.
Facing the cheers from the crowd below, Lin Ze remained silent, merely closing his eyes slightly as if searching for something.
The audience below gradually quieted down. Gazing at Lin Ze's face illuminated within the dim interplay of light and shadow, their hearts also settled into peace.
Lin Ze slowly opened his eyes, and at that very second, the accompaniment began to softly play.
The instrumental arrangement carried a sense of solitude, drifting out across the spectator seating.

"Mesmerized by your eyes, the Milky Way leaves traces behind."
"Crossing the gaps of time, it still truthfully..."
"Attracts my trajectory."
"In this fleeting scenery, the most intimate distance."
"Following the texture of your skin, walking across your curved arm."
"Let me dream for you, let me dream for you."
"Waiting until I see you filled with silver light, waiting until seasons indistinguishably alternate."
"Only then do I dare say I am drowning in it..."

Lin Ze's voice carried a hollow, desolate sensation that slowly rippled outward.
At this moment, inside the darkened broadcasting hall, everyone could only see Lin Ze's cheek cast in the faint glow of the spotlight.
He resembled a lone star, whispering tales of solitude to the world.
The accompaniment paused for a brief moment, and then a tiny speck of light emerged from Lin Ze's chest.
It was a circular sphere marked with mottled patches, yet all around this sphere, several smaller orbs faintly emanated radiance.
Subsequently, circular orbits appeared, one after another.
This...
This was the solar system!
Some audience members recognized it.

"How much further until I can enter your heart?"
"How much longer until I can draw close to you?"
"That person who is so near yet so far, unable to be approached."
"Is also waiting to meet you."
"A planet wandering in orbit."
"How could I possibly possess you?"

The stars on Lin Ze's body faded one by one, ultimately leaving only the sun at the very center and the single Mercury orbiting beside him.
On the screen behind Lin Ze, three characters slowly materialized:
*Mercury Record*.
The audience sat quietly in their seats. Few of them had ever delved into the mysteries of celestial bodies; looking at those three words on the screen, the majority felt a sense of bewilderment in their hearts.
Lin Ze's song gradually drew to its conclusion. On the background screen, an explosion suddenly occurred, followed by total silence.
The lights and shadows swiftly retracted. The screen displayed the Milky Way, then shifted to the solar system, until finally, only the sun and Mercury remained in view.

"When I can still fly with you once more."
"Wandering is meaningless."
"At the very least, I can accompany you."

On Lin Ze, the sun slowly faded away as well, leaving behind only the final Mercury.
Rong Zhengyu, who was scheduled last, parted his lips slightly.
I was still writing about a kite traveling afar, and you've already started writing about stars?
The crucial point was—even though I didn't quite catch the underlying meaning, I could still feel that this song...
Sounded truly wonderful.

Everyone in the large lounge exchanged glances in silence.
"Did you guys... understand it?" Chen Nan asked.
No one bothered to answer Chen Nan, because none of them knew what to say either.
Lin Ze pushed the door open and entered, raising his hand slightly toward everyone.
"Why is the atmosphere so oppressive? Weren't you all working quite hard today?"
Chen Nan looked around at everyone and voiced the question that was on everyone's mind.
"Well... Little Lin, even though not understanding it still evokes deep empathy, but... why Mercury? What is the meaning of it all?"