But Lin Chen didn't give up. In the limited time he had for independent practice, he meticulously refined his adaptation ideas again and again. His dancing was still clumsy, but he strived to imbue each movement with emotion, rather than mechanically executing them. He practiced in front of the mirror, no longer focusing on whether the movements were perfect, but on whether his eyes conveyed the suppressed cry of the song.
He knew this could very well be a suicidal performance. But he also knew that if he didn't even have the courage to try, he had truly lost. He wouldn't lose the competition, but rather his belief in his own music.
On the day of the third elimination round recording, the atmosphere backstage was more tense than usual. Lin Chen could feel the increased scrutiny from the staff and other contestants, gazes filled with scrutiny, curiosity, and perhaps even a hint of anticipation to see him fail.
When he stepped onto the stage and announced the name of the electronic dance track, so incongruous with his style, a slight commotion arose from the audience. On the judges' panel, Zhang Zhe raised an eyebrow slightly, Li Wei's eyes revealed worry, and Zhou Mufan wore an expression of anticipation.
The music started, the intense electronic beats instantly filling the entire studio. Lin Chen took a deep breath, abandoning all thoughts of imitation, completely immersing himself in his own understanding of the song.
His dancing was still awkward, even noticeably slow in some parts, but his eyes were unusually focused, with an almost obsessive seriousness. When he began to sing, he didn't use the original singer's flashy vibrato and explosive notes, but instead used his signature, story-laden voice to sing the fast-paced lyrics with a unique sense of desolation and confusion, belonging to an urban wanderer.
During the interlude, just when everyone thought he would stand there awkwardly waiting for the rhythm to pass, he suddenly picked up the electric guitar provided by the production team in the corner of the stage (he had repeatedly pleaded with the props team beforehand to allow it on stage) and strummed the strings.
An impromptu solo, completely different from his previous style, yet distinctly personal, blending rock and folk elements, began! The solo wasn't complex, even somewhat rough, but the intense emotion and the stark contrast with the electronic rhythms of the first half created a strange, tearing tension!
The audience was stunned, and so were the judges.
After the performance, the venue was silent. Lin Chen put down his guitar, slightly out of breath, awaiting judgment.
Li Wei was the first to pick up the microphone, her expression extremely complex: "Lin Chen… I… I don't know what to say. Your arrangement was very bold, even… a bit reckless. The dance part was indeed… not entirely satisfactory. But," she emphasized, "I have to admit, I was moved by your completely immersed, unrestrained emotion in the second half. You were deconstructing this song in your own way, which was interesting, and also… dangerous."
Zhou Mufan stroked his chin, unusually refraining from teasing: "I agree with Teacher Li Wei's assessment. This wasn't a qualified performance, but it was… a soulful adventure. I saw your struggle, and I saw your unwillingness to give up. This authenticity is precious."
The pressure returned to Zhang Zhe. He stared at Lin Chen for a long time, so long that the air almost froze.