The first stage of filming for "I Live Alone" has finally concluded. Over the next two weeks, the production team will invite Mu Li's family or friends to the observation room to watch clips of his life.
The production team had asked Mu Li about this, but his parents were traveling abroad and couldn't appear on camera, so they had to settle for inviting one of Mu Li's friends.
"I Live Alone" is broadcast on Mango TV, and the observation room recording takes place in Star City. Mu Li doesn't have many friends in Star City, but this particular friend happens to be one of his best.
"Third Brother, I'm entrusting this to you," Mu Li said earnestly, "You are my family forever."
As a new host at Mango TV, Xu Ming knew that such an on-camera opportunity would be a great Helping Hand for him, so he naturally had no reason to refuse.
What's more, Mu Li is currently the biggest draw for the production team, and as Mu Li's roommate, the production team naturally hoped to get more revelations from Xu Ming, ensuring he would get plenty of screen time.
At this moment, Mu Li was diligently working to complete the theme song for Idol Plan 1075.
Before 7 AM, Mu Li arrived at the Idol Plan 1075 audition site with Xu Yunyi's car.
The production team wouldn't record too much material about the auditions, only broadcasting some clips before the main show began.
But when Mu Li arrived at the audition site, he finally understood what 'a sea of people' meant.
The production team's audition venue was in a factory building, where hundreds of trainees were packed together, holding their respective numbers, waiting for the auditions to begin.
Among them were girls who looked around 15 years old, and women who appeared to be over 30 and dressed maturely. These individuals, carrying the same dream, gathered here.
While the auditions hadn't started yet, Mu Li found a girl who looked to be about his age. She had a sign on her chest with her name—Chen Yue.
Mu Li quickly found Chen Yue's information in the database.
Chen Yue, individual trainee, 24 years old, followed by some of her past achievements.
At 24, for a girl, this is still the beginning of life, but for a girl group idol, this age is already a bit old.
Mu Li briefly explained his purpose: "I'm a staff member from the production team, and I want to understand your mindset."
Facing the sudden appearance of Mu Li, Chen Yue did not show resistance; instead, she greeted Mu Li generously.
Mu Li also didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "At 24, you no longer have an advantage in the competition for girl group idols. Why do you still want to participate in this show?"
Mu Li's words seemed to hit Chen Yue's heart. Her smile gradually faded, and after a long silence, she finally answered Mu Li's question.
"I've been trying to form a group since I was a teenager, but I've never succeeded. Coming here this time, I actually don't have much confidence either," Chen Yue chuckled self-deprecatingly and continued, "But knowing is one thing, if I knew there was this opportunity but gave up, I would be unwilling."
"I don't want to wait until I'm seventy or eighty to regret not having tried."
Mu Li asked with some confusion, "Then why must it be forming a group? Aren't other methods possible?"
Chen Yue paused, a hint of confusion in her eyes: "I don't know either, but besides singing and dancing, I can't think of any other way to change my current situation."
"What about your family? Do they support you?" Mu Li continued to ask.
"Family?" Chen Yue gave a bitter laugh, "They probably all wish I'd go back and get married soon. But I won't! I'm going to do what I want to do."
When Chen Yue expressed her thoughts, Mu Li felt her mood change; she became very happy and confident.
"You really are stubborn," Mu Li couldn't help but smile.
"Perhaps," Chen Yue also smiled, "My mom always said I had a stubborn temper since I was little, and it's still true now that I'm grown up."
Mu Li didn't disturb Chen Yue further. He encouraged her and then left.
Zhang Qiong, 31 years old, individual trainee, was Mu Li's second interviewee.
Like Chen Yue, Zhang Qiong had gone through countless auditions. She had even successfully formed a group, sold many albums, but ultimately faced the disbandment of her group, and her career plummeted.
"I've seen your profile. You should be the oldest contestant among all participants. You've succeeded before, but also faced failure. I want to know what kind of courage it takes to support you to stand in this position now?"
Zhang Qiong also remained silent for a long time before answering, "Courage? I don't know where my courage comes from."
"I've succeeded before, performed on stage. I just feel that I really love that feeling of being on stage, so I want that feeling to continue."
"My coming here is less about forming a group and more about competing for a performance opportunity. Perhaps it's this opportunity that will allow others to see me, like me, and give me more performance opportunities."
Mu Li asked, "What if you fail?"
Hearing this question, Zhang Qiong smiled instead: "Failure is normal, isn't it? I seem to have been experiencing failure all along! But if you fail, you fail. Isn't it fine to just get back up? I think I can still go further."
Mu Li suddenly felt a little dazed. This wasn't the first time he had heard these words. Five or six years ago, many people had told him similar things.
At that time, he hadn't yet represented the National Team, but he had met many veteran Heavenly King Level players within the National Team.
In his opinion, these veteran Elite players seemed unlikely to win medals in world-class competitions. Not only did he think so, but it was almost common knowledge at the time; almost everyone understood this.
But what he didn't understand was why these veteran Elite players still trained day after day, trying to improve themselves further.
He once asked one of the players named Gu Nan why he continued to work so hard when he clearly knew it would be difficult to advance further?
Gu Nan, however, smiled and said, "Is that so? Why do I feel like I haven't reached my limit yet?"
Later, Mu Li witnessed Gu Nan's Pokémon in a match, suffering incurable injuries just to contend for a chance to enter the top 16. After that, Gu Nan retired.
At that time, he thought he had seen Gu Nan's limit.
Gu Nan must have seen it too.
Soon after, Mu Li saw Gu Nan again among the National Team coaches. He asked the question once more: "Has the answer to that question from back then changed?"
Gu Nan still smiled and said, "My answer is still the same: my life hasn't reached its limit yet."
Mu Li didn't understand why this man, who had been defeated and retired, who could no longer represent the National Team in any competition, still felt that his life hadn't reached its limit?
Mu Li didn't know what Gu Nan meant by the so-called 'limit,' nor did he know if he himself had a limit.
However, when he first entered the Olympics, fought his way into the semifinals, and faced that seemingly invincible Champion, when he watched his last Pokémon, Dragonite, almost exhaust all its strength while the opponent's last Pokémon still had most of its stamina, when he faced that nearly desperate situation, Mu Li remembered that phrase.
And so, he gave the final command of that match, the first time he shouted his heart out to the world without reservation: "Dragonite! Our lives haven't reached their limit yet!"
It was this non-command command that allowed Dragonite to unleash its last bit of power, Helping Hand him turn the tide and win that bronze medal which astonished the world.
Just as he had said back then, the lives of these girls before him haven't reached their limit either!
Precisely because they haven't reached their limit, they gather here.
Precisely because they haven't reached their limit, they will give their all, wanting to secure one of those hundred audition qualification spots.
Precisely because they haven't reached their limit, they want to become famous in one fell swoop, to become the better version of themselves in their hearts!
Mu Li finally understood what supported them, and what supported his past self.
He didn't continue his interviews, leaving the audition site directly to find Xu Yunyi.
"How was it? Did you get any inspiration?" Xu Yunyi asked curiously.
Mu Li nodded, then shook his head: "It's not really inspiration, but I saw myself in them."
"Oh?" Xu Yunyi raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised, "Sounds like you're someone with a story too."
Mu Li smiled and replied, "Who doesn't have a story?"
Xu Yunyi also smiled and agreed, "Indeed, who doesn't have a story?"
His story was also very exciting.
Xu Yunyi looked at the young man in his early twenties before him. There was a maturity in the young man's eyes that seemed to not belong to his age group.
In that instant, many images floated through his mind.
Images of this young man in the recording studio, images of this young man at his graduation ceremony, and images of this young man with his amazing Pokémon.
The young man formed by these combined images was so unique, so mysterious, making one Can't help it want to understand his story, his inner world.
"If there's a chance, would you be willing to share your story with me?" Xu Yunyi smiled.
Mu Li nodded, not refusing: "If there's a chance."
Mu Li left the audition site alone and went to a nameless river.
He sat on the grass by the river for a long time.
He took out a folder and a pen from his shadow, and began to write many words on the paper, also drawing some simple musical notation.
...
The direction against the wind is more suitable for flying
I'm not afraid of thousands of people blocking me, only afraid of myself surrendering
...
The most beautiful wish must be the craziest
I am my own God, wherever I live
...
Whether the next stop is heaven, even if there's disappointment, there can be no despair
...
After an unknown amount of time, the young man finally stopped writing. He casually placed the paper and pen beside him and lay on the grass, enjoying the sunshine, the river breeze, and all the beauty of this world.
The river breeze gently blew through the young man's bangs, lifted the hem of his clothes, and also lifted the white paper beside him.
At the very top of the white paper, two large characters were written—stubborn.