Chapter 198: Chapter 85: Top Star of the 1960s Cultural Troupe (24)

Her features were beautiful and delicate, complemented perfectly by the red, making her look all the more striking and brilliant!

Huo Tianhao squinted as he watched her. When no one was looking, he leaned in and said, "Sweetheart, you look gorgeous in this outfit. Why don’t you wear this when we go register our marriage?"

Xia Zhaoyun, however, wasn’t nearly as brazen as him. She simply turned her head, pretending she hadn’t heard.

Huo Tianhao chuckled softly, as if amused by how this little pretense of hers was nothing more than a paper tiger.

He Qingran, on the other hand, wore a rare, vintage-style shirt in a vibrant ginger-yellow, paired with a black skirt. Her hair was done in a French braid, with playful curls framing her temples—an effect Xia Zhaoyun had created with a heated spoon handle. Complemented by her subtle makeup, she exuded a youthful energy that was eye-catching in its own right.

Their outfits created a clear visual contrast. Their brightly colored clothes were sure to make an immediate visual impact, aiming to score high marks in the impression and appearance categories.

That evening, all the contestants were dressed to the nines. Though their outfits varied in color and style, they all had the same idea in mind.

Xia Zhaoyun and He Qingran had carefully studied past Golden Microphone finals. They knew that clothing style options were limited, and with the audience so far away, the contestants were just shimmering figures under the stage lights.

At that distance, no one would pay close attention to the style of their clothes; instead, it was the color that would leave a lasting impression.

Those who dared to wear red were typically contenders for the top three spots. It was a bold move to don the national color of Xiahua Country, putting immense, unspoken pressure on the other contestants.

In past competitions, there had never been more than two contestants wearing red in the entire field!

This time, besides Xia Zhaoyun, Yu Huanxin and another secretary from the municipal office also wore red dresses.

The moment the contestants gathered, an unspoken battle began, the air crackling with tension.

The finals went just as Huo Tianhao had predicted; there wasn’t a single hiccup. However, Yu Huanxin had switched her script and was also taking the sentimental route.

She paid tribute to the families of martyrs who had sacrificed their lives for the country. "If labor is glorious, then the women behind this glory must be strong enough to support their own small families..."

"Faced with their children’s innocent questions, again and again—’Mommy, when is Daddy coming home? We miss him. Why do other kids have a daddy, but mine never comes home?’—where are these women supposed to place their own longing?"

"The children may still hold on to hope and anticipation, but the light in the women’s hearts has gone out, for there is no one left for whom they need to light the way home..."

"The foundation of our great nation is built upon the misfortunes of so many small families. But do they have any regrets?"

"No. Never. Because they know it was their loved ones’ conviction, the very direction in which the dove of peace takes flight..."

Speaking of heroes always managed to soften the hearts of the audience and bring tears to their eyes.

Thunderous applause pushed the atmosphere of the first half of the competition to its peak!

Coming offstage, Yu Huanxin couldn’t resist walking up to Xia Zhaoyun. "My apologies, Comrade Xia Zhaoyun. I was inspired by your speech and rewrote my script."

"It seems everyone quite liked it. I hope it doesn’t put any pressure on you or cause you any trouble for your upcoming performance."

To uphold the competition’s rules, purpose, and entertainment value, and to encourage diversity, the judges would only choose one of two performances if they were of the same type and on the same level.

In other words, if both her performance and Xia Zhaoyun’s were outstanding, they could have easily taken both first and second place.

But because their performances were similar in type and quality, only one of them would likely make it into the top three.

Although they were both speeches, there were significant differences upon closer inspection.

It was like at a variety show. There are many types of acts—sketches, comic dialogues, songs, dances, and so on. When selecting the best acts, you wouldn’t give all the awards to sketches just because they were all brilliant, and leave every other category off the list, right?

Xia Zhaoyun chuckled softly and sighed. "Comrade Yu Huanxin, why are you making things so difficult for the runner-up and third-place winners?"

Yu Huanxin took a deep breath and smiled back. "It seems Comrade Xia Zhaoyun is very confident in herself. Well then, we shall wait and see."

’Usually, the best acts are saved for last, but a competition is different. Contestants who perform in the middle have an advantage. I was the first one to take the sentimental route, so it felt fresh and new. By the time Xia Zhaoyun performs, the effect will be greatly diminished!’

’No one else had the guts to risk preparing a new script in just one day.’

Xia Zhaoyun’s lips curved into a smile, her expression completely untroubled.

He Qingran’s performance was commendable. While not the most outstanding, it was a sure bet to land her in the top ten.

Soon, it was Xia Zhaoyun’s turn. She took a deep breath, sticking to the same format she had used during the power outage the day before.

But under the flickering stage lights, she lit a row of red candles on the piano’s black iron frame.

As the lead dancer of the Zhaoyang Art Troupe, Xia Zhaoyun possessed a rhythmic grace in every movement. She turned even the simple act of lighting candles into a silent stage drama.

A sense of sorrowful, resilient waiting silently drifted into the heart of every person in the audience.

She sat at the piano, her fair hands resting on the black and white keys that gleamed with a cold, metallic light. Suddenly, a stirring piece of music began, and she started to sing along with it. Her voice was so flawless it sounded like a studio recording, stunning the audience.

Everyone immediately forgot this was a speech competition and burst into applause. Backstage, Yu Huanxin, who was peeking through the curtain, dug her nails into her palms so hard they snapped.

Just as the music reached its crescendo, it stopped abruptly. After about half a minute of silence, she leaned into the microphone. With a sob, she struggled to speak, her voice trembling but clear: "Comrades of the Zhaoyang Clothing Factory, it is with a heavy heart that I report a piece of news to you all..."

"In order to save the factory’s future and the livelihoods of its many employees, while protecting ten truckloads of materials, Mr. Huo fought with bandits and fell from a cliff to his death..."

At that moment, sorrowful music began to play. She used several different voices to portray the old and young people of the factory, expressing their grief, gratitude, and remembrance for the hero.

Each voice spoke only a single line. Finally, it was her own voice that said:

"Brother Hao... I’m sorry. I miss you..."

Her voice, filled with longing and grief, suddenly shifted. She continued, "Hello, everyone. I am Xia Zhaoyun from the Zhaoyang Clothing Factory’s art troupe. The title of the speech I am presenting today is..."

Xia Zhaoyun reined in all her emotions, put on a brave smile, and began her broadcast.

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