Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1071 - 5292

"Brother Cheng... I... I feel like I want to throw up..."

Her lips were tightly pressed together, and her voice was muffled and slightly trembling.

Fang Cheng saw this, and without a word, pulled over a chair for Zhou Xiui to sit down.

Then he squatted in front of her, making eye contact with her.

His broad shoulders were like a solid wall, shielding her from the chaotic and noisy surroundings.

"It’s alright; this is a normal physiological reaction. Everyone gets nervous."

Fang Cheng said a few comforting words and, seeing Zhou Xiui’s gaze focused on him, continued:

"Do you rember the ditation Breathing thod I taught you in the car earlier?"

Zhou Xiui nodded.

"Good, let’s practice it together once more."

Fang Cheng gently guided her:

"First, close your eyes and inhale, filling your stomach with air, relax your shoulders, don’t move."

"Then hold your breath, count silently for three seconds, three, two, one..."

"Imagine a fla burning, expelling all the murky air from your lungs, clearing away all the bad emotions..."

Zhou Xiui obediently closed her eyes, inhaled deeply in rhythm with him, and exhaled slowly, her chest rising and falling slightly with her breaths.

After several repetitions, her once rigid body finally began to relax slightly.

At this mont, Wen Xin also ca over, reaching out with two warm little hands, wrapping Zhou Xiui’s hands tightly and rubbing them while exhaling:

"Sister Zhou, don’t be afraid, I’m using my superpower to send you energy!"

The warmth from her palms and the familiar voice at her ear finally helped Zhou Xiui’s heart, which felt like it was about to leap out of her throat, to calm down a little.

The preliminary rounds progressed quickly and were even sowhat brutal.

Most contestants were stopped by the judges within three lines of singing.

Only a very few could get a provisional qualification, and those who advanced directly were extrely rare.

After more than two hours of long tornt.

"Next, number 0527, Zhou Xiui."

The host’s sowhat weary voice spread throughout the venue via the microphone.

Zhou Xiui’s entire body stiffened suddenly, and she opened her eyes, standing up like a marionette.

"Go ahead."

Fang Cheng gently pushed her back and softly encouraged:

"Wen Xin and I are watching you from the audience, don’t be afraid."

"Sister Zhou, go for it! We support you from down here!"

Wen Xin also clenched her small fists, cheering her on.

Zhou Xiui nodded rigidly, picked up the sowhat old second-hand guitar on her back, and then, with heavy steps, walked towards the stage that was not very high but felt very long.

It wasn’t until she stood under the spotlight that she realized just how strong the pressure was.

Several high-powered spotlights shone directly at her, instantly blinding her vision, making it impossible to see the situation or the faces in the audience.

She could only feel several scrutinizing gazes on her and the suffocating silence.

Zhou Xiui had been sickly since a young age, having had to take a break from school in her teens due to illness.

A long, solitary life left her with almost no friends and never speaking before such a crowd.

Her low self-esteem, introversion, and social anxiety wrapped her in a thick cocoon, confining her in a safe yet tiny room.

And now, that cocoon was being forcibly torn apart, exposing her nakedly to hundreds of pairs of eyes.

Holding the microphone, she felt a slippery sensation from her sweat-drenched palms.

"Hello, teachers..."

Her voice, once spoken, was evidently trembling.

Amplified by the audio system, the timid tremor sounded especially jarring.

"I am... number 0527, Zhou Xiui."

In the judges’ seats below, two seasoned musicians furrowed their brows slightly and made a note on the form.

They seed to have lost interest, even picking up their water cups to moisten their throats.

Only Cheng Jiashu, sitting in the center, watched with interest, his hands crossed under his chin, at the pretty girl on stage who seed about to curl into a ball.

Zhou Xiui felt her throat dry and her mind blank.

The introduction she had morized by heart was now completely forgotten.

A whispering murmur ca from below the stage.

Although she couldn’t hear the details, in her extrely sensitive state, it was clear they were mocking her awkwardness.

Just as her ntal defenses were about to collapse and she wanted to turn and flee the stage.

"Xiui—look here!"

A not particularly loud, yet exceptionally clear man’s voice, penetrated the layers of noise and reached her ears.

Instinctively, Zhou Xiui turned towards the sound, squinting her eyes, looking to the shadow on the left side of the stage.

Though backlit, and through the crowd.

She spotted that familiar tall figure in one glance.

Unlike other contestants’ supportive friends and family who scread wildly.

Fang Cheng simply stood there quietly, raising his right hand high, showing her a big thumbs up.

And beside him, the small Wen Xin was hopping on her toes, waving her hands enthusiastically.

"Sister, go for it, you’re the best!"

Seeing this scene, Zhou Xiui’s pupils slightly contracted.

Perhaps from excessive nerves causing hallucinations.

In her eyes, the once dim and noisy world seed to fade and blur suddenly.

Only where Fang Cheng stood, it beca incredibly clear.

She saw a halo of pale gold light seeming to emanate from around Fang Cheng.

The glow wasn’t blinding but radiated incredible warmth, like a sun rising in the night.

It was so magnificent, even suppressing all the jarring background noise.

Like her anchor point in this world.

Like a lighthouse standing amid the turbulent sea of people.