Chapter 50 Darwin

Xu Shujian's descriptions of each person were quite balanced, incorporating both their strengths and weaknesses.

For instance, he said Pan Yun and Chen Linye were self-centered, described Yu Hui as being consistent both inside and out, called Zhang Qidong condescending, and remarked that Lin Xiaoxian was weak-willed, and so on.

Every description contained both merits and flaws. Zhang Qidong certainly carried a strong air of patriarchal condescension, but he indeed acted as a pillar of support for Lin Xiaoxian, much like a father figure.

Digging further back, Lin Xiaoxian had been embroiled in a dispute within the industry before Zhang Qidong stepped in to resolve her problems, which led to the two of them getting together.

Lin Xiaoxian's weakness also served to preserve the dignity and appearances of both herself and Zhang Qidong.

Zhuo Hui would engage with everyone based on their own self-perceptions, bringing each person's true nature out into the open.

However, she deliberately left Xu Shujian for last.

After going around the circle discussing everyone else, Zhuo Hui looked at Xu Shujian and smiled, saying, "Alright, it's Shujian's turn. He didn't hold back when describing you all, so now it's your turn to talk about him."

They started with Yu Hui again.

Yu Hui flashed a wicked grin at Xu Shujian, rubbed his hands together as if preparing to go on a rampage, and asked, "Are you nervous? Hahaha, though I suppose there's no need. How should I put it, Brother Xu? Looking back at everyone I've ever met, he is probably the person I respect the most, both in terms of character and talent."

Xu Shujian smiled and said, "Cut the flattery."

Yu Hui chuckled as well and continued, "Seriously though, if I had to name a flaw, it's that he likes to play the pig to eat the tiger, though to be fair, he really does keep a very low profile."

Zhuo Hui looked at Yu Hui and chimed in, "This seems to be the first time you've ever described someone without using your trademark sharp tongue."

Yu Hui stared wide-eyed in mock offense. "I wouldn't dare. Besides, I think what I said was quite objective."

The more Zhuo Hui listened, the more surprised she became. She had learned of Yu Hui's favorable attitude toward Xu Shujian just yesterday. Even when targeting Zhuo Hui herself, Yu Hui remained true to his consistent nature, yet Zhuo Hui had also detected a streak of vulnerability within him.

His tendency to snap at others did not stem from true strength or toughness; rather, it only served to highlight Yu Hui's inner fragility, revealing that he lacked the courage to face his conflicts with Huang Miomiao. Previously, she had also explored his character through the lens of how others evaluated him.

He genuinely possessed the capacity to admit when he was wrong, something Huang Miomiao had also felt. However, upon failing to receive the feedback he desired, he would retreat into his cynical, sharp-tongued persona once more, acting as though he could simply ignore the rift between himself and Huang Miomiao—perhaps out of a sense of helplessness, which, from another perspective, was simply weakness.

Yet Yu Hui's vulnerability only drove him to put on a tougher exterior, as if lashing out at others brought him a greater sense of security.

Yet, under Zhuo Hui's careful observation, that sharp-tongued defense had never once been directed at Xu Shujian.

Zhuo Hui had expected Pan Yun and Zhang Qidong to offer somewhat critical assessments of Xu Shujian. To her surprise, after going around the circle, neither Pan Yun nor Zhang Qidong had anything truly negative to say about him.

Pan Yun's perception of Xu Shujian was rooted in his extraordinary talent—pure praise. She even urged Chen Linye to learn from Xu Shujian, declaring that Xu Shujian's music was the direction Chen Linye ought to strive toward.

Zhang Qidong viewed Xu Shujian as someone who looked handsome and harmless on the surface, but was actually acutely perceptive underneath. Although he didn't comment on his musical talent, he still praised Xu Shujian's social adeptness and character.

As for Song Yue, who logically should have known Xu Shujian best given the vast amount of time they had spent together, she didn't offer complaints. Instead, she fell into deep self-reflection, admitting that she truly had held Xu Shujian back.

This only deepened Zhuo Hui's curiosity.

Why had she deliberately saved Xu Shujian for last?

For one thing, she was genuinely curious about him. She shared a similar intuition with Zhang Qidong—that beneath his harmless exterior, Xu Shujian possessed an intensely sharp and discerning mind.

For another, the production team had specifically spoken with her beforehand, suspecting that Xu Shujian harbored untapped talents and hoping Zhuo Hui could help bring them to light.

Once Pan Yun finished sharing her thoughts on Xu Shujian, Zhuo Hui looked directly at him and said, "Personally, I don't think Xiao Song held you back at all. The ten years you spent married to her feel more like a period of quiet accumulation, followed by a profound transformation."

"I've actually been very curious. You all mentioned yesterday that it took him only two days to write a song that perfectly captured the marital conflicts between Yu Hui and Miomiao. I really want to hear that song and see just how impressive it actually is."

Yu Hui let out a sigh. "It seems I'm about to get hurt all over again."

Chen Linye immediately stood up to fetch his guitar.

Pan Yun might harbor lingering grievances toward Xu Shujian, but Chen Linye certainly didn't. To this day, he still hadn't fully figured out why making himself cry at Xu Shujian's behest had successfully resolved the tension between him and Pan Yun.

In truth, he desperately wanted a lengthy, private conversation with Xu Shujian, but simply hadn't found the right opportunity yet.

Deep down inside, Chen Linye currently identified with and respected Xu Shujian far more than anyone else present.

The atmosphere in the room instantly livened up as everyone began clamoring for Xu Shujian to sing. Huang Miomiao even insisted that he perform that song, "He Doesn't Love Me," once more.

Xu Shujian took the guitar from Chen Linye's hands, lightly plucked the strings a couple of times, and looked over at Zhuo Hui. "Sister Hui, how about this? I'll sing a completely new song instead, to make up for teasing Sister Yun earlier."

Zhuo Hui was momentarily stunned. What did that mean? A surprise? Had he written another new song?

She immediately turned her gaze to Chen Linye and Pan Yun. "What did he do today?"

Yu Hui began explaining to Zhuo Hui, recounting how Xu Shujian had advised Chen Linye to cry and how, while they were up in the mountains, he had suggested distributing the collective funds directly to the respective households.

Distributing the shared funds was one thing, but hearing that Xu Shujian had instructed Chen Linye to openly weep in order to coax Pan Yun left Zhuo Hui quite surprised.

Zhuo Hui also had a clear read on Pan Yun, who was constantly demanding emotional validation; weeping was undoubtedly a form of intense emotional currency.

Moreover, Zhuo Hui felt that Pan Yun's love was somewhat distorted, though she had kept those thoughts to herself. To truly unravel that issue would require digging deep into Pan Yun's past and understanding why such a warped perception of love had taken root in the first place.

The gentle strains of the guitar rang out, and Xu Shujian's voice softly began:

"My youth was not entirely without scars,
It was learning that love is the extension of a belief.
What specific traits, what kind of charm or gaze?
Could never let us pre-predict the possibility of love..."

As soon as Xu Shujian started singing, everyone looked on in quiet astonishment. This song seemed even more melodious than "He Doesn't Love Me," boasting a far richer and catchier melody.

Zhuo Hui listened with rapt attention, deeply absorbing the lyrics.

After just a single verse, she understood why Xu Shujian had claimed this song was tailored specifically for Pan Yun and Chen Linye.

At its core, it was an exploration of the very nature of love—hence the title, *Darwin*, a nod to the author of the theory of evolution.

A spark of realization lit up Zhuo Hui's eyes. The angle of the song was brilliantly clever; no wonder so many people around the table had been singing praises of Xu Shujian's talent.

"Remaining single, yet unable to resist falling again and again,
Going in circles, sometimes waiting through bitter times in vain.
In a person's life, romance is nothing more than a revolving door,
Spinning until, in the end, true sincerity separates from the rest.
Through competition and sacrifice,
Filtered by the trials of love,
Learning to be earnest, learning to be loyal,
Only the fittest can survive..."

As Xu Shujian reached this part of the song, he directed his gaze straight toward Pan Yun and Chen Linye.

To Xu Shujian, these lines carried the absolute crux of the song: to achieve eternity, they needed to evolve into better versions of themselves.

In his evaluation, both Pan Yun and Chen Linye were deeply self-absorbed individuals. Neither was capable of putting themselves in the other's shoes; they merely operated under the simplistic premise of *I love you, we cannot separate, and we must grow old together*.

The problem was that their self-absorption lacked true self-awareness, preventing them from forming a constructive feedback loop for one another.

Pan Yun did not realize that her love demanded reciprocation; she not only expected affection from Chen Linye, but also projected her own unfulfilled ambitions onto him, acting much like an overbearing mother desperate for her son to succeed.

Similarly, Chen Linye had no inkling of the emotional validation Pan Yun truly craved. He merely assumed that because Pan Yun had compromised parts of her own identity, he was obligated to treat her well, even when she was in the wrong.

"My youth was sometimes rather innocent,
Believing that happiness depended on how deeply one loved.
Reading books on evolution, I agree with Darwin—
Those without strength run the risk of being eliminated.
Through competition and sacrifice, filtered by the trials of love,
Learning to be earnest, learning to be loyal,
Only the fittest can survive.
To understand eternity, we must first evolve into better people..."

Zhuo Hui's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Not only was the perspective exquisite, but the artistic conception was profound.

Listening intently, she realized that while Xu Shujian had initially sung the song with Pan Yun and Chen Linye in mind—highlighting their respective flaws and emphasizing that if they truly wished to stay together, they both had to evolve—he had successfully broadened its scope.

Much like her own analysis of the couple from the previous day, they were only a single step away from a breakthrough; it wasn't a matter of failing to understand one another, but rather a mutual failure to understand themselves.

Then, with a subtle shift in tone, Xu Shujian expanded the song's meaning to encompass everyone at the table.

Reading books on evolution, agreeing with Darwin, and the warning that those without strength risked elimination—wasn't that a direct reflection of the eight people sitting right here in this room?

Crucially, he had also provided a definitive conclusion: only the fittest survive, and if they wished to find lasting eternity, they all needed to transform into better versions of themselves.

Almost involuntarily, Zhuo Hui began to clap, and instantly, applause rippled across the entire table.

Yu Hui let out a sharp whistle and exclaimed, "Brilliant! Absolutely masterclass."

Zhang Qidong sat frozen, a stunned expression lingering on his face. He had assumed Xu Shujian had merely prepared "He Doesn't Love Me" in advance.

Yet even if this new song had been written beforehand, it was more than brilliant enough—it was a flawless interpretation of the very reason all of them had come on this show in the first place.

Whether they ultimately chose divorce or reconciliation, weren't they all striving toward something better?

After finishing the song, Xu Shujian glanced toward the surrounding cameras, as if silently communicating: *I may have disrupted your plan to have everyone pool their money for the show's segment, but offering up some actual artistic works as alternative content should more than make up for it, right?*