Chapter 7: The First Stage (Part II)

To be precise, Cheng Xiao was simply too focused. Her eyes were locked onto Gu Jingyi, without the slightest attempt to look away.

"How strange, is this song really hitting her this hard?" Zhou Jieqiong watched her friend, who seemed different from her usual self, and felt a flicker of confusion. She had never seen Cheng Xiao show any interest in love songs before; could this girl even understand the meaning of romance?

Zhou Jieqiong’s bewilderment was practically written on her forehead. She had no idea that if anyone in this world felt the weight of Gu Jingyi singing "Slowly Loving You," Cheng Xiao would claim the top spot, and no one would dare argue otherwise. For Gu Jingyi to sing this song was, for Cheng Xiao, nothing short of a direct, point-blank emotional strike.

As Li Ronghao often said, "Singing is just another way of speaking." Gu Jingyi possessed an innate advantage in emotional layering; as an actor, he naturally understood how to build intensity in a way that was deeply compelling. "Slowly Loving You," a slow-tempo ballad, was his home turf. As the melodic accompaniment swelled again, the emotion began to brew once more.

"I just kissed you a moment ago, and you liked it too, didn't you? Otherwise, why would you keep holding my hand and never let go? You said you really wanted to take me back to your hometown, the green tiles and red bricks. The willows and the moss, the past and the present are just the same."

Gu Jingyi’s bass was rich and mellow, telling a story as he sang. The second verse shifted directly into a male perspective, showcasing the trivialities of a passionate romance. Every line of the lyrics radiated the vividness of being in love.

After laying the emotional groundwork, Gu Jingyi opened his eyes, which had been closed until now. His gaze met the camera in front of the mentors' desk for a fleeting moment before shifting away. In the next second, he effortlessly launched into the chorus, stringing together the series of parallel phrases in one breath.

"Slowly loving you, slowly growing intimate, slowly talking about ourselves, slowly walking along with you, slowly I want to accommodate you, slowly giving myself to you."

There was no build-up; the high notes flowed from him with ease. As the lyrics progressed, the pitch climbed abruptly, only to drop back down for the final line, "slowly giving myself to you." It was like a rollercoaster—after reaching the peak, it plummeted, creating an incredibly satisfying listening experience. Before the audience could even catch their breath, Gu Jingyi launched forward again without pause.

"Slowly loving you, slowly remembering, slowly accompanying you, slowly growing old."

The high notes returned, climbing once more. As he hit the final word, "old," the melody cascaded down like a falling blanket. The audience felt a tingle in their scalps; goosebumps broke out across their skin.

Gu Jingyi’s facial expression remained perfect. Unlike most singers, he didn't strain his neck with bulging veins. Instead, he stood firmly in place, delivering the high notes with effortless grace. To the untrained eye, the song might have seemed simple, but in reality, it was anything but. With its extreme range—spanning twelve notes from the lowest to the highest in the chorus—and the difficulty of singing it entirely in chest voice with almost no time to breathe, it was a technical nightmare. Yet, Gu Jingyi remained as composed as if he were sitting in his own living room, navigating the high notes with masterful ease. His vocal range was truly remarkable.

Even under such variations, Gu Jingyi’s voice remained perfectly steady. The other trainees were completely won over. The youngest among them, Justin, stood with his mouth wide open—wide enough to fit an orange—as he looked at Fan Chengcheng and said proudly, "See that? That is Brother Jingyi’s strength. He is incredibly strong, a 'hexagonal warrior' with no weaknesses."

In another shot, the production team focused on Cai Xukun, who watched Gu Jingyi with a dazed expression, his eyes filled with admiration and envy.

At the mentors' desk, Li Ronghao watched Gu Jingyi with total concentration. He was waiting; he knew there had to be more to this performance. While Gu Jingyi had just shown off his impressive range like a display of sheer skill, Li Ronghao’s professional intuition told him the true uniqueness of the song lay elsewhere.

"Because 'slowly' is the best reason~"

Gu Jingyi looked up at the camera, a faint smile gracing his lips. As the chorus ended, the melodic accompaniment played on. The audience closed their eyes, as if seeing a young couple in love stepping into their wedding hall. The camphor trees outside swayed, their lush leaves witnessing the sweetness of their union. It was beautiful—everything aligned with the most wonderful dreams of love.

The camera cut to the reactions of the trainees. Among the many exaggerated responses, Qian Zhenghao and You Changjing, both talented vocalists in their own right, sat with their eyes closed, deeply immersed in the music. This was their recognition as fellow vocalists; the strength Gu Jingyi displayed had earned their profound respect.

In a later interview, when asked what he was thinking at that moment, You Changjing smiled, a bit sheepishly, and said: "Actually, I always thought my vocal ability was quite strong, but after watching Gu Jingyi’s stage, I realized that beyond technical solidity, I’m still lacking in so many areas. Especially in emotional expression. I am nowhere near Gu Jingyi. He truly deserves his reputation as a graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music."

This praise from other vocalists only served to attract a new wave of fans who admired true talent. On stage, as the melody neared its end, Gu Jingyi timed his entry perfectly, a gentle smile on his face. He looked into the camera with a tender, lingering gaze, like the "white moonlight" of a youthful school memory brought to life.

"Let’s order your favorite dessert after dinner; tonight, you can sleep on the right side of the bed. For this trip, I still want to go to the same beach as last time. The sneakers, the watch, the socks, and the shirt... you’ve already ironed them, just like before. Put them in the suitcase, and we’ll wake up together in the morning."

They were simple, mundane images, but as Gu Jingyi sang them, they carried the texture of a film, tugging at the heartstrings once more.

Li Ronghao slapped his thigh in excitement, unable to hold back his praise. He turned to Zhang Yixing beside him and said, "The finishing touch! 'Slowly Loving You' is the most perfect performance I’ve heard today! Little Yi didn’t force the lyrics or pile up flowery words. He wove the intimate, day-to-day details of every couple’s life into the song. That is the power of 'Slowly Loving You'—the emotional resonance is just too strong!"

"Slowly loving you, slowly growing intimate, slowly talking about ourselves, slowly walking along with you, slowly I want to accommodate you, slowly giving myself to you. Slowly loving you, slowly remembering, slowly accompanying you, slowly growing old."

Gu Jingyi sang the chorus again. The difference was that this time, he didn't focus on the high notes as he had before. Although the pitch remained high, every word landed with a grounded, lower-register weight. Ten "slowlys" in a row, driving the theme home once more.

Finally, Gu Jingyi lowered his lashes and sang the last line with sincere earnestness:

"Because 'slowly' is the best reason~"

Gu Jingyi curled his lips into a gentle smile, looked up to catch the camera one last time, and completed his final bow. The debut stage ended at that moment, and Gu Jingyi stood in the center of the stage, waiting for the mentors' critique.