Chapter Seventy-Seven: Murong Xue Murong Xue

Murong Xue stood tall and slender, dressed today in a flawless white gown. The moment she stepped onto the stage, she offered a breathtaking visual shock—beauty so overwhelming it stole one's breath. The men in the audience all stared, their gazes aligned and unwavering, longing to admire Murong Xue without restraint. Yet, they feared appearing ungentlemanly, anxious not to disrupt the aura of purity and nobility she radiated.

Under the photographer's lens, all the men seemed frozen in place—a curious phenomenon indeed.

The prelude was like the faint glow of a fisherman's lantern, diffusing on a boat drifting over a river, its light swaying gently and sinking into the depths, into the dreams of weary fish.

The song Ren Qian prepared for Murong carried a sense of fate. It shared her name—“Murong Xue.” Yet, in the song, Murong was not a compound surname but a poetic reference to the city of Suzhou.

Legend has it that after Qin conquered the Yan kingdom, the Murong clan suffered mass slaughter at the hands of Qin. The family fled south, which is why in Jin Yong’s novels there is mention of “Southern Murong.” Notably, there is also a Mandarin version of the song called “Suzhou River,” suggesting that the Murong in the title refers specifically to the city of Suzhou and the famed Hanshan Temple outside its walls. And “Xue”—snow—stands for a state of mind.

The whole song tells the story of a young woman, steadfast in her belief that nothing compares to her beloved, longing for him yet unable to attain him—a delicate and poignant yearning. The concept is strikingly beautiful.

This song suits a poetic beauty, who, after her toilette, stands alone at the riverside pavilion, with three parts sorrow and seven parts hope, softly singing like a mermaid mourning the moon, swaying with the lanterns and fisherman’s lights on the canal.

The story’s backdrop is lovely, yet not blissful. The heroine’s mood is obscure: waiting from “the moon rising over willow branches” until “the low lattice window,” from “grass growing, orioles flying” to “the secret fragrance of winter plum filling her sleeves.” Yet, “after a thousand sails, none is right.”

“On the eve of departure, I bid you farewell, still not enough to admire you...
I divide a plate of longing beans, play with a light boat on the winter solstice...”

As Murong Xue’s crimson lips parted, the five hundred members of the judging panel in the audience all paused, a line of poetry echoing in their minds: Such heavenly music should only exist above; how seldom does it reach mortal ears! Divine music—truly divine! Tonight’s experience would surely be recounted to friends; her voice, though it did not linger in the rafters, danced ceaselessly in the mind and heart, impossible to dispel.

“The rosy clouds melt away from you, white snow surrounds me...
Suzhou’s famed silk covers my slender frame...”

At this point, Murong Xue’s voice became utterly steady, free from any tremor. Her diction was crisp and precise, reaching the pinnacle of her usual rehearsal standards.

Ren Qian smiled faintly.

The first time she heard the name Murong Xue, her heart skipped slightly, recalling this very song.

Who in the world could interpret this song with more charm than Murong Xue herself? No one!

After this performance, Murong Xue’s worth would surely multiply two or threefold, winning her a legion of male fans.

“Looking back clearly, I’ve had much joy...
But without you, what do I truly possess?”

A brief question, posed to herself and to him. The lovesick maiden gazes into the distance, yet her beloved never appears, not breaking the waves or arriving beneath the setting sun.

He has already departed, while she remains lost in unending affection.

“I am not myself; when you turn and leave Suzhou, I am no longer me...
Yet the scenery masks me, still beautifully passing by...
But, but, none compare to holding your misty waves~
Who else can move me as you do?
You stir the mountains and rivers, but the blue waves no longer reflect me...
Floating behind you, the river’s shadows, one after another...
…………”

The song ended abruptly! The sound of the piano snapped the enchanted audience awake. Listening to this song felt like enduring years of waiting; the willows by the riverside had been broken by lovers time and again, yet she had never been among those who gave away the parting willow branch.

“Thank you to the band, thank you to Brother Ren Qian, thank you to the five hundred members of the judging panel.”

Murong Xue gathered her gown and thanked everyone. Then, amid the audience’s cheers, she exited via the performers’ passage.

This performance left her utterly drained.

“We have now heard all our singers. First, thanks to all the band members and backstage staff. Next, thank you to the seven singers for their wonderful performances.

If any singer has moved you, please cast your vote for them.

You may vote for up to three favorite singers.

The program team will tally and announce the votes. The singer with the lowest number of votes will be eliminated.

So please be sure to vote with fairness and impartiality!”

With that, the main portion of the first episode was complete.

As for other interludes—such as singers’ private lives, their reflections before going on stage, or music teachers’ critiques—these could all be handled by the production team.

Another key segment was to record the singers’ mutual rankings and the panel’s rankings, then decide which singer would be eliminated.

Once again, Ren Qian reminded the audience about voting and then walked backstage through the performers’ passage. The seven singers were already waiting, exchanging handshakes and pleasantries.

Of course, Cai Chengyu was an exception. He lounged on the sofa with his legs crossed, looking disdainful as if everyone else was beneath him—during the other singers’ performances, he’d kept his head down, scrolling through Weibo on his phone.

Only when Murong Xue began to sing did he suddenly look up, utterly stunned; he wore a goofy expression, and even two drops of saliva fell from his lips.

“Brother Ren Qian, would you like some water? You’ve been hosting for so long, you must be tired,” Sun Munan put aside his elder’s airs and handed him a bottle of mineral water from the fridge.

Ren Qian accepted it with a smile; he was indeed thirsty and took a generous gulp.

“The first episode can be called a resounding success. Where’s Director Hong? Why isn’t he here to manage the scene?”

“Director Hong Tao? Hahaha... He was so happy earlier his mouth was practically crooked; he’s probably gone to the filming team to review the footage now.”

“The tracking cameraman, turn on your equipment. We’re starting to record some material here. Now, each singer, please share your strengths and weaknesses from tonight’s performance,” Ren Qian clapped his hands, and everyone fell silent. Then, in order of appearance, the singers reflected on themselves. Sun Munan and Sha Pulian focused on their shortcomings and future goals. Xu Zhixian and Hu Yanbin were more balanced in their assessments.

When it was Murong Xue’s turn, everyone laughed and said she didn’t need to comment—just one word: “Perfect!”

Murong Xue’s cheeks flushed, embarrassed. “Please, seniors, don’t say that—I still have many flaws. For instance, my breath was unstable at the start. The worst is that I can’t control my breathing when changing phrases. Brother Qian has scolded me countless times for it, but I still haven’t improved…”

She glanced shyly at Ren Qian.

At that moment, Xu Zhixian laughed to the cameraman and explained, “Xiao Xue is really afraid of Brother Qian during rehearsals. Because of her breath control, he’s scolded her countless times. Apparently, after rehearsal two days ago, Xiao Xue was so exhausted she actually threw up… Let’s have a moment of silence for her.”

He made a funny face.

“That’s right, Brother Ren Qian is so strict—even my old bones can’t stand being scolded by him,” Sun Munan chimed in for fun.

The cameraman realized this was excellent material and quickly turned the lens on Ren Qian.

Unexpectedly, Ren Qian was staring at the ceiling, his expression utterly indifferent.