Chapter 129: Nothing Is More Beautiful Than "Common Jasmine Orange"

7:00 PM.

Everything was ready. Zheng Tao, the chief director of *The Voice*, announced that the second round of competition had officially begun.

He Hao walked onto the stage, bathed in light. Raising his energy, he spoke with enthusiasm: "Welcome, singers, guests, and our 500 audience judges, to the stage of *The Voice*.

"Tonight is the second round of competition, and it will determine the fate of two, or perhaps even three, singers.

"In addition to our seven original singers, there is a mysterious challenger waiting in one of the preparation rooms.

"As we all know, in the last round, two singers were selected as targets for the challenge.

"One was Fang Xing, and the other was Chen Lizhu.

"Since Chen Lizhu has already faced a challenge, she will not face a second one tonight.

"According to the rules, this mysterious challenger can reselect their target.

"Will they choose the same target again?

"My dear audience, are you curious?

"I am curious too, but I won't keep you in suspense tonight. I will reveal the target chosen by the mysterious challenger directly.

"And that is... Fang Xing!

"That's right, it's Fang Xing again. The challenger has chosen the same target for both rounds of the competition.

"Whether the challenge will be successful, let us wait and see."

The audience began to stir with excitement.

"This is exactly why this show is so good."

"Choosing the same target twice—now things are getting interesting."

"Who exactly is this challenger? Why are they so stubborn?"

The 500 audience judges present were all avid followers of the news surrounding *The Voice* online. Fang Xing’s post on Weibo had trended, and many of the judges had seen it.

"I feel like this challenger is going to have a rough time. That guy Fang Xing even posted on Weibo asking if he should be 'a little ruthless' or 'a billion times more ruthless'."

"All the trolls on Weibo were saying 'a billion times more ruthless.' I've never seen someone so outrageous."

...

On stage, He Hao continued his hosting duties: "And now, it’s time for the first singer of the night. Who will it be?"

He paused, scanning the audience to engage with them: "In the last round, the first singer to perform was Fang Xing. Do you think he will go first again tonight?"

"Let him go!" a few audience members shouted loudly.

He Hao didn't tease them any further and said directly: "That's right, the first singer to perform is, just like last time, Fang Xing.

"Actually, Fang Xing originally drew the seventh spot, but he swapped it with Chen Lizhu.

"I understand you all—by the time the last singer finishes, you’ll surely have forgotten what the first one sang."

The audience shouted back, "We won't!"

"Are you really sure?"

He Hao smiled and continued: "Then let's see if he can leave an indelible impression on the audience. Please welcome our first singer."

Fang Xing stepped out from behind the stage, walking through the backlight until he reached the center, standing next to He Hao.

He Hao began his questions: "First to perform again. Any thoughts?"

Fang Xing shrugged and replied, "It's alright."

He Hao continued: "The challenger's target has just been announced. You're aware of it now, right?"

Fang Xing nodded: "I am. They chose me again."

"Do you have anything to say about the challenger's choice?"

"Nothing to say. I'll just sigh. *Sigh*..."

The audience erupted in noise.

"That's a bit much. What's with that sigh?"

"Is he sighing for the challenger? If he gets kicked off later, that sigh is going to be legendary."

"I don't know why, but I really want to see him get kicked off, yet I also want to vote for him."

Amidst the chatter, He Hao asked: "I heard you didn't come alone tonight, but brought a large group with you."

Fang Xing nodded: "Yes, I invited the symphony orchestra from my alma mater to help with the accompaniment. The team is led by Professor Li Xiuqin from the Donghai Conservatory of Music."

The camera panned over to Li Xiuqin and the Donghai Conservatory of Music’s First Symphony Orchestra.

He Hao greeted them: "Welcome, Professor Li."

He immediately followed up: "With such a grand setup tonight, what song are you planning to sing? You remember the theme of tonight's competition, right? The theme is 'The Taste of First Love'."

"I remember. I’ve woven the taste of first love into every note of the song," Fang Xing replied fluently, as if reading from a script.

"And whose taste is it?" He Hao asked with a curious expression.

"Does this show really need such explosive headlines?" Fang Xing joked.

"Ha! I'm just asking, don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously. Let's get back to the song. If you had to describe this song in one word, what would it be?" He Hao chuckled to keep the flow going.

"Beautiful."

Fang Xing’s answer was concise.

"The more you say, the more I look forward to it. Then tell the audience, what is the title of this song?" He Hao asked his final question.

"The title is *Common Jasmine Orange*," Fang Xing said slowly.

"Let’s leave the stage to Fang Xing." With those final words, He Hao turned and walked off stage.

*Common Jasmine Orange* features lyrics by Vincent Fang, music and vocals by Jay Chou, and arrangement by Chung Hsing-min. It was included on Jay Chou’s album of the same name.

The song won three major awards at the Hong Kong TVB Top Ten Gold Songs for Best Composition, Producer, and Arrangement. It also received the Top Ten Gold Songs Award at the 27th Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs and the Annual Best Song award at the 11th Global Chinese Music Awards.

There is a saying in the music industry: "Nothing is sweeter than *Garden Party*, and nothing is more beautiful than *Common Jasmine Orange*."

The lyrics and melody of *Common Jasmine Orange* are both exquisite, capturing the very essence of what it feels like to love someone. Moreover, the arrangement by Chung Hsing-min—one of the "Big Three" of musical arrangement—is masterful. For the orchestral parts, he utilized a powerful lineup of violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.

...

On stage, the lights swiveled, and a dozen spotlights focused on Fang Xing.

He turned toward the orchestra and gave a thumbs up, signaling that he was ready.

Professor Li Xiuqin raised her baton and looked at the musicians of the Donghai Conservatory First Symphony Orchestra.

Everyone was prepared.

Lu Xiang'er stood among the first violins, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. She was quite anxious; after all, this was her first time performing on such a massive stage. She looked up at the person beneath the spotlight and felt a surge of joy. Back when she watched him on TV, she had wondered if she would ever have the chance to stand on the same stage as him. Especially during the performance of *Red Actor*, she had been so envious of Li Caiwei. But she played the violin, and her singing was only at a karaoke level; she couldn't stand on stage and duet like Li Caiwei.

She had thought such an opportunity would never come, yet here she was, on *The Voice*, providing accompaniment for him. She wanted to perform perfectly, but the more she wanted that, the more nervous she became.

She took another breath and told herself, "I've practiced this so many times. The melody is etched in my mind, in my fingers, in my muscle memory. I can do this."

Once all the musicians were ready, Professor Li signaled the control room.

The director played the backing track.

A gust of wind echoed through the studio, as if a gentle breeze were blowing, carrying a trail of notes. This sound of wind was the opening of *Common Jasmine Orange*, sampled from an open field to create the atmospheric backdrop.

As the wind blew, Professor Li swept her baton downward. The crisp, clear sound of a vibraphone chimed in, blending with the wind, instantly creating the sensation of a breeze brushing against one's face.

Immediately after, the guitar, drums, and other instruments joined in. The intro suddenly surged with the passion and joy of summer, while the cool, refreshing chill of the breeze remained perfectly balanced.

Just by hearing the intro, the other six original singers in the viewing room raised their eyebrows in unison.

The intro was simply breathtaking. Unlike *Nocturne*, which hits you with the melody immediately, the intro of *Common Jasmine Orange* progressed gradually—starting with the wind, then the vibraphone, and finally adding the rhythm section. Even in just the intro, it established a sense of depth, with each bar pushing the emotional resonance of the melody to its peak.

In the challenger's lounge, Shen Xiyin couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, nearly blurting out, "Another killer intro!" She held her tongue, instead stealing a glance at Li Siqi beside her. She whispered to herself, "This intro sounds pretty ruthless. I wonder what the verses will be like. If the whole song is at this level, Li Siqi is finished."

The audience was also transported back to that summer in their memories. They listened in silence, waiting for the verse.

Fang Xing picked up the microphone and sang with a voice full of summer nostalgia:

"The sparrows outside the window are chirping on the utility pole.
You said this line feels so much like summer.
The pencil in my hand moves back and forth on the paper.
I use a few lines of text to describe who you are to me.
The taste of saury, the cat and you both want to know.
The scent of first love is thus recovered by us.
That warm sunshine is like a freshly picked, bright red strawberry.
You say you can't bear to eat up this feeling..."

As the verse began, the listeners were pulled into a fresh, sweet story. It wasn't about pain or tragedy; it was just that summer, that sweet and innocent emotion. Sparrows, pencils, cats, saury, strawberries—various images converged in the song, telling a summer story so vividly. That beautiful memory was like a strawberry, so wonderful one couldn't bear to eat it.

Then, the melody of the chorus rose. Fang Xing, filled with memories and emotion, continued to sing in a seemingly gentle melody:

"Rain falls all night, my love overflows like rainwater.
Leaves fall in the courtyard, piling up thick with my longing.
A few words of right and wrong cannot cool my passion.
You appear on every page of my poetry.
Rain falls all night, my love overflows like rainwater.
The butterfly on the windowsill is like a beautiful chapter flying through the poem.
I keep writing, writing 'I will love you forever' into the end of the poem.
You are the only one I want to understand..."

The chorus used a gentle melody to express deep emotions. After listening, one felt a lingering, intense passion, left behind in that sweet summer. The melody of this song was not as fierce as the previous ones, but the summer it depicted was so beautiful that it could only exist in memories.

After the chorus, Shen Xiyin sighed imperceptibly. Although it was only the first chorus, she could already determine the standard of the song. Unless the following singers brought out their absolute best, this song was likely to take first place. As for Li Siqi, there wasn't much hope left.

In the original singers' lounge, the six singers had varying expressions. Some wanted to compete for first place, while others just wanted to keep their spot and avoid elimination. Those who only wanted to stay were doing okay; after hearing the first chorus, they had basically given up on competing with *Common Jasmine Orange*. As for those who wanted to win, their expressions were more complex. This song was completely different in style from *The Brightest Star in the Night Sky*, but it portrayed the "taste of first love" so perfectly that it made it a hellish nightmare for the singers following him. With such a gem ahead, whatever they sang would look like a fish-eye bead in comparison.

In the audience, people began to murmur, "It really wasn't 'a little ruthless,' it was 'a billion times more ruthless'!"

However, the chorus was not the most brilliant part of the song.

After the chorus ended, the interlude began. The melody suddenly modulated from E-flat major to C minor. The sound became soft. The wind and the vibraphone intertwined like a breeze blowing over a clear spring, with the sound of falling water droplets echoing throughout. The wind and water conveyed a different flavor, carrying a trace of melancholy and sorrow, just as the sweetness of first love always lacks that little bit of uncertainty.

Then, a magnificent string section erupted, instantly lifting the melody and leaving the audience stunned. The Donghai Conservatory First Symphony Orchestra played with abandon, showcasing their musical talent in just a short interlude. Lu Xiang'er half-closed her eyes, playing along with the melody, as if drifting on a river of notes. This river was filled with shimmering, golden notes—grand and majestic.

The performance was incredibly shocking. It elevated the song from "very strong" to "outrageously powerful." When Shen Xiyin had finished listening to the first chorus, she thought the song was strong enough to compete for first place. But when this interlude emerged and the orchestra swept through the arena, her eyes widened. She sighed in her heart: "It's not just Li Siqi who's done for; the other original singers are finished too."

She couldn't help but peek at Li Siqi again. If he were just a typical boy-band member, he might not have understood how powerful this was. But Li Siqi actually had a bit of vocal talent. He might not be a master, but he had the ability to distinguish the quality of a song. As she looked at him, she saw his expression was incredibly grim.

...

The music continued. As the interlude reached its end, dense drumbeats kicked in. The arrangement shifted back from C minor to E-flat major. Fang Xing raised the microphone and sang the second chorus:

"Rain falls all night, my love overflows like rainwater.
Leaves fall in the courtyard, piling up thick with my longing.
A few words of right and wrong cannot cool my passion.
You appear on every page of my poetry.
The plump rice ears make this season happy.
And your cheeks are like ripe tomatoes in the field.
You suddenly tell me that the name 'Common Jasmine Orange' is beautiful.
Right now, I just want to kiss your stubborn lips..."

The lyrics of the chorus continued to enrich the story and emotion. Rain, leaves, rice ears, tomatoes, common jasmine orange... and finally, the stubborn lips. Fang Xing poured all his emotions into this section. Memories surfaced: the sweet yet regretful relationship from his past life, and a girl playing the violin in the dark. The regrets of the past and the sweetness of the present blended together. These were memories that belonged to him.

By the end, his voice carried a hint of hope. As he sang, "Right now, I just want to kiss your stubborn lips," the past and present merged into the image of a girl—like her, yet not quite her. This emotion could only be expressed in song; no matter how much courage one might have in reality, it remained unspoken.

Fang Xing took a deep breath, the melody climbed higher, and he sang the final chorus:

"Rain falls all night, my love overflows like rainwater.
Leaves fall in the courtyard, piling up thick with my longing.
A few words of right and wrong cannot cool my passion.
You appear on every page of my poetry.
All night, my love overflows like rainwater.
The butterfly on the windowsill is like a beautiful chapter flying through the poem.
I keep writing, writing 'I will love you forever' into the end of the poem.
You are the only one I want to understand."

He performed the entire song in one breath. Though the song seemed gentle, Fang Xing had given his all, venting his inner emotions, and suddenly felt much lighter. To the audience, the song was smooth, but the more they understood the emotion within, the more they could feel its intensity. This version by Fang Xing sounded like the beauty of first love, but it was filled with so much more—a simple emotion that was difficult to truly fathom.

When the last note faded, it took a moment before thunderous applause erupted in the hall. Fang Xing stood on stage, taking a few deep breaths, then turned toward the orchestra and bowed with his hand over his heart to thank them. Li Xiuqin and the orchestra returned the gesture.

The applause from the audience never stopped. Some were even wiping away tears; the more life experience the listeners had, the more they were touched by the sentiment in the song.

Meanwhile, in the challenger's lounge, the director said, "Li Siqi, you have ten seconds to decide whether to challenge. Because this is the second round, if you choose to give up, you will have no further opportunities."

Li Siqi's expression was grave. He had been very confident when he arrived, but after hearing Fang Xing’s performance, he felt terrible. This song was emotionally more intense than anything in the first round.

But he had no choice. If he had listened to his agent and chosen a different target, things wouldn't be this bad. But it was too late. He could either give up—as if he had never been on the show—or he could bite the bullet and go on.

He gritted his teeth and reached out to press the challenge button.