A band, or a battleground?

The bar chart representing the shadow of spring crossed the position of the polar day and continued to climb... until it emitted a warning sound and froze completely.

"The results are in! The highest number of votes in the first round still belongs to the Haruhi Shadow Band! 14,368,500 votes!"

The moment this number was announced, the entire audience erupted in uproar once again.

He Dong continued, "The top three bands in terms of votes, please come down from the stage to rest and prepare for the competition later. Reverse Gear and Katz, please stay on stage for now. What would you like to say about your journey in this competition, about this stage, and about the millions of audience members?"

Qi Yuan and the three girls walked off the stage. As they walked down the aisle, they heard the lead singer of the Reverse Gear band giving a thank-you speech, thanking the audience, the manager, and Jufeng Music... After all, reaching the finals was no easy achievement.

But when it was the turn of the Katz band after Reverse Gear finished speaking, it caused a commotion.

The one speaking wasn't the band's lead singer, Nika, but the guitarist, Luz. It's unclear whether He Dong handed him the microphone or if he snatched it from Nika.

The guy's opening line was: "I hereby announce that I am leaving the Katz band."

He Dong asked in astonishment, "Why? Can Lutz tell us the reason?"

Guitarist Lutz: "The reason is simple: a difference in philosophy. Today's performance mishap was not entirely accidental. We had disagreements when we were preparing for the performance, big disagreements."

"Uh, well..." He Dong was momentarily at a loss for words.

There was a commotion outside, and the audience was talking amongst themselves.

Kasuga and the other three stood in the passageway, unable to hear the discussions, but Lutz's words just now made them stop in their tracks, all showing surprised expressions.

Jiang Yi: "Is this the first time since the show started that someone has said they want to break up on the final stage?"

Qiu Mengxue: "Why are you suddenly quitting?"

Ning Qianyu: "Is this related to us?"

Qi Yuan analyzed, "There might be a connection, because Nika from their band approached each of us before. Now it seems that the three of them don't agree on doing things for Jufeng."

Just then, the guitarist Lutz walked over quickly.

He walked past Qi Yuan, then suddenly stopped and gave a thumbs up: "The song is great, I really like it."

Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow: "You mean 'I Want to Fly'? So you're going solo too, right?"

"Going solo?" Lutz shook his head self-deprecatingly. "No band will want me anymore, which is fine. I don't want to hang out with these people in the entertainment industry anymore. Opening a music store back in my hometown would be more comfortable than this."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

133 I am this dazzling moment

When you wrote this song, did you ever imagine that you would be performing it for so many people today?

At this moment, the Paper Wind Chimes Band had finished performing their second song and left the stage, the Polar Day Band had just come on stage and the intro to their song had just begun, while the Spring Shadow Band was already standing next to the rising platform.

Faced with Qiu Mengxue's question, Qi Yuan thought for a moment and then replied, "This song was written when we passed the audition. At that time, of course I thought I would make it to the finals."

"Huh?" Qiu Mengxue was taken aback.

She had originally thought that Qi Yuan would sigh and say something like "unexpected".

Ning Qianyu asked, "Have you always been this confident?"

Qi Yuan nodded: "I remember saying back then that if we didn't make it to the finals, it would be a loss for the show. I still say that now. Even if we don't make it this time, if we keep going, sooner or later we'll be facing tens of thousands of live audience members like we are today."

As they were talking, the Polar Day Band on stage had already moved on to the chorus.

Qi Yuan listened intently and said, "Polar Day's skills are pretty good, and this song is also quite nice."

Qiu Mengxue said, "Didn't you recognize it? It's an old song by Chen Jiashu, and they've covered it."

Ning Qianyu laughed and said, "Luckily, that Teacher Chen isn't here, otherwise, he definitely wouldn't be happy to hear you say that. This song is his signature piece, the one that earned him his first Golden Melody Award."

Qi Yuan: "I was ignorant."

Jiang Yi said, "It's okay. With Qi Yuan's song, the performance of Polar Day seems a bit ordinary."

Ning Qianyu complained, "Hey, we haven't even gone on stage yet."

Jiang Yi raised her face slightly: "After so many songs, haven't you experienced Qi Yuan's magic yet?"

Ning Qianyu looked at her, especially at the pink stars on her fair cheeks, and suddenly shut her mouth.

Jiang Yi: "Why are you staring at me?"

Ning Qianyu said slowly, "I was thinking I should also come up with some new looks, so you don't steal the spotlight from me. Even just wearing a pimple patch gets you compliments, tsk tsk..."

Jiang Yi was taken aback when she heard this: "How did you know someone praised you?"

Ning Qianyu: "I saw it. When you and Mengxue were singing earlier, there were comments from the audience... Hey, Yiyi, why do you look like you've breathed a sigh of relief? Who do you think was praising you?"

Jiang Yi lowered her head, resisting the urge to look in Qi Yuan's direction, and simply replied in a low voice, "It's nothing. I just didn't expect you to be reading the audience comments, having so much free time."

Ning Qianyu patted his chest: "Just kidding, I'm the chief operating officer of our band!"

Qiu Mengxue laughed and said, "Then the operations manager should post an update to remind fans to watch our performance and vote for us."

"Oh right, there's that too!" Ning Qianyu quickly took out her phone and started working on it.

Seeing the topic shift away from her, Jiang Yi finally relaxed. Then, she noticed Qiu Mengxue leaning close to Ning Qianyu, looking at her phone. The two were whispering, discussing whether, besides posting the announcement in the fan group, they should also post it on platforms like blogs and Dida…

Jiang Yimo silently took two steps to Qi Yuan's side and whispered, "I think I'm getting a little nervous again, what should I do?"

Qi Yuan was immediately shocked: "You wouldn't be thinking of..."

Although Jiang Yi had never said she liked him, Qi Yuan could obviously guess what she was thinking. The problem was, Qiu Mengxue and Ning Qianyu were right there! Even though there weren't any cameras pointed at them, there were other staff members a little further away. How did Yi Yi become so bold?

However, Jiang Yi did not hold his hand; she simply extended her little finger and gently touched the back of his hand.

Then the girl chuckled and said, "Okay, thank you for your energy."

Qi Yuan: "..."

For a moment, he really didn't know whether to say this girl was bold or cowardly.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Thank you to the Polar Day Band for their wonderful performance. Next up is the band with the youngest average age, yet they garnered the most audience support. Yes, let me hear your cheers!"

The host, He Dong, paused deliberately for a moment when he got to this point.

Inside the huge stadium, many people shouted, though the shouts were chaotic, they were all saying the same three words.

"Haruhi Kage!"

"Haruhi Kage! Haruhi Kage!"

"Spring! Sun! Shadow!"

Then, host He Dong announced with even louder voice and great enthusiasm: "Let's welcome the Spring Shadow Band to bring us their second original work tonight, 'Life is Like Summer Flowers'!"

Those audience members closer to the stage could see it directly, while those further away could only see the silhouettes of the performers. Fortunately, the cameras were focused on the stage, and the footage was projected in real-time onto a giant screen behind them. Through that screen, everyone could also see…

"Qi Yuan seems to be smiling?"

"What kind of mental fortitude does he have? Not only is he not nervous, but he's also smiling so easily and comfortably!"

Qi Yuan couldn't hear the audience's chatter. But he heard them shouting the band's name clearly.

No matter how many times he heard it, Qi Yuan still found it hard to keep a straight face when tens of thousands of audience members chanted "Spring Shadow" again. But now it was the final stage, so if he couldn't keep it up, he shouldn't force it; a smile wouldn't hurt.

The performance began with Qiu Mengxue playing an African drum sound effect on a MIDI keyboard.

Qi Yuan, with a smile on his face, sang syllables that no one had ever heard before:

“SI WO LA QIU MU”

“SI WO LA QIU MOA”

“O AI LA I YE”

“E WO LA I YA…”

This exotic combination was refreshing for the audience.

Then Qi Yuan picked up his guitar and strummed the strings. A few bars later, Jiang Yi's bass and Ning Qianyu's drums followed.

The version of "Life is Like Summer Flowers" that is heard in this world is a band performance version, which is naturally different from the studio version in the parallel world. It has a slightly more rock and roll feel and is more suitable for this kind of big stage.

Of course, like the other songs in the semi-finals and finals, its arrangement also owes a debt to Mr. Zhou Taishan.

"I wonder how long they slept in the darkness."

"I wonder how difficult it will be to open my eyes."

"I've come from afar, and it just so happens that you're here too."

"Obsessed with wandering the world, I am wild for her."

As Qi Yuan sang this part, he quickly strummed the strings twice. Ning Qianyu didn't need to be reminded; the dense drumbeats immediately followed, drawing the audience's attention even closer.

Then Qi Yuan's tone rose:

"I am this dazzling moment."

"It's a fleeting flame streaking across the sky."

I risked everything to come see you.

"I will be extinguished and never return."

"I'm here, right here..."

Inside the stadium, apart from the musical instruments and Qi Yuan's singing, there was no other noise.

No one shouted anymore; everyone listened quietly.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

134, that must be so fake!

The first chorus ends with the line, "As fleeting as a glimpse of beauty, as splendid as summer flowers."

As is customary, the next part is naturally the instrumental accompaniment.

But this time, just as Qi Yuan finished singing and the instruments were continuing, Qiu Mengxue began to chant, and it was that unfamiliar syllable "SI WO LA QIU MU" again.

Offstage, Zhang Yanyan couldn't help but whisper, "What language is this? It's definitely not English, I've never heard it before..."

Lin Yan, standing next to her, whispered, "Is it French or German?"

Zhang Yanyan quickly shook her head: "I've heard French songs, so it shouldn't be. German doesn't sound like it either. If you ask me, it sounds more like Tibetan."

Lin Yan pondered, "It does have that feeling, very detached..."

However, she quickly ran out of ideas, because after the interlude, the next verse began.

Qi Yuan sang:

"What a beautiful yet regrettable world this is."

We hugged each other, laughing and crying at the same time.

I have traveled from afar to keep my appointment with you.

"Obsessed with wandering the world, I am wild for her."

No one knows whether the lyrics refer to "she" or "he," but Lin Yan feels that the song seems to express her own feelings at that moment.

Wasn't it precisely to see the stage of Haruhi Kage and to fulfill this promise that I flew all the way to the capital?

Looking around, who isn't going wild for Qi Yuan's songs?

Even the uncle in the back row who felt it was a waste, who was Ning Qianyu's father, was listening intently.

Ning Xiaoyu even pulled out a glowing light stick from somewhere and waved it incessantly to the rhythm of the song. On stage, the little girl controlled the rhythm with the drumbeats. Offstage, the little girl followed the rhythm with her light stick, creating a strange kind of echo.

Then, when Qi Yuan sang "I am this dazzling moment, a fleeting flame streaking across the sky" again, Lin Yan looked at the young man's face on the big screen and suddenly remembered the emotion she felt when she first heard "Blue Lotus" a few months ago.

It's as if a poem unfolds before your eyes and flows into your ears.

For me personally, it's still just as moving. But how do other viewers feel?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sun Man stood in front of the computer room, listening to her colleague's introduction.

"This is our ultimate weapon, the machine specifically designed for vote-buying is right here. It can easily generate tens of thousands, even millions of votes!"

As the male colleague from the Special Operations Department said this, he opened the door.