Even though the music and stage were still being tested, the simple performance still shocked him. The Chinese-style rap song is called "Jie A", which literally means a long sigh.
Li Yimao is indeed very talented. The song opens with the most emotionally charged climax, with lyrics that are grand and majestic, like Mount Tai holding up the moon, creating a first-class explosive effect. Just when the audience thought the song would continue at a fast pace, the emotions suddenly turn down, like the moon falling into a cold pool, revealing a tragic and tranquil sigh, turning desolate. At this moment, Cheng Jixue's cross-dressing old man singing style appears out of nowhere, diluting the sorrow and melancholy, like the sun rising in the east, full of rosy light. However, this emerald-like bright voice does not overshadow the main vocals. It slowly recedes as the other two singers catch up, and then gently dissipates like flowing clouds carrying the rhythm.
The teamwork was flawless, and everyone was an indispensable part of the stage. Under Li Yimao's design, which highlighted strengths and minimized weaknesses, everyone's advantages were brought to the fullest.
The staff present couldn't help but applaud them, and Zhang Chaohe, as the boss, was waiting for the three people on the stage to give their evaluation.
Zhang Chaohe stood up solemnly and gently joined the crowd in applauding them, praising, "This is far beyond my expectations." He thought for a moment, then realized that any encouragement or praise would be mediocre, so he could only say in the most straightforward way, "You are musicians, not puppets for a performance."
“Especially you, Li Yimao,” on this stage, even Cheng Jixue, the protagonist of the original story, could not overshadow Li Yimao’s brilliance. At this moment and in this place, he was the true protagonist: “One day I will see you standing rightfully on the mentor’s seat.”
"Waaaaah, Mr. Zhang, you praised me so well!" Li Yimao was deeply moved, and a surge of pride welled up in his chest. He excitedly shouted to the audience, "Can you praise me like this tomorrow too!"
“My script calls me a cool and impartial CEO.” Zhang Chaohe rejected him ruthlessly: “If you keep praising me, you’ll ruin your persona.”
Li Yimao then remembered that he also had to consider the show's entertainment value, and replied listlessly, "Oh."
Zhang Chaohe gasped for breath as he spoke, "But I can give you a chance to release a single."
The surprise came so suddenly that Li Yimao was so excited that he almost fainted. He was about to rush off the stage to hug his amazing boss when Cheng Jixue, who was behind him, caught him in time, thus preventing the tragedy of Li Yimao jumping off the nearly three-meter-high stage and breaking his bones.
Zhang Chaohe casually withdrew his hand, thinking to himself, "Thank you, Cheng Jixue, for saving the company a sum of money on medical expenses."
A note from the author:
Jiang, the assistant who was secretly watching Xiao Zhang's variety show, wrote furiously: This person is a contrarian (highlighted in red).
Hey everyone, I changed my profile picture today! Come on, give me some compliments (smug emoji);
Today's thank-you list! A huge thank you to everyone for your support!
I will keep writing!
Chapter 11
The recording started at 1 p.m., and Zhang Chaohe needed to get his makeup and styling done beforehand. At the request of the production team, he chose a smoky gray suit paired with bright and eye-catching Australian white cufflinks. The stylist pulled his hair up, leaving only a few wispy strands falling across his full forehead.
Finally, the stylist brought out those gold-framed, non-prescription glasses again, and Zhang Chaohe resignedly put them on. He examined himself in the mirror; the stylist had only lightly brushed a few strokes at the corners of his eyes to soften the sharpness of his gaze—Young Master Zhang would be going for a refined and aloof look for his stage debut today.
He also saw Cheng Jixue and the others being styled by other makeup artists backstage. Cheng Jixue was wearing a white long robe with a python pattern, and the hem was embroidered with layers of wave patterns. Her movements were graceful and dignified. Mei Jinghan and Li Yimao, on the other hand, were wearing black traditional Chinese jackets with red and white embroidery of some unknown design, depending on their singing group.
After holding it in for a long time, Zhang Chaohe finally asked, "What are you two wearing?"
Cheng Jixue's outfit looked like a high-fashion piece from a fashion show, while the two of them wore what looked like machine-embroidered ancient costumes that they could just buy on Taobao.
Li Yimao was unusually embarrassed: "Xiao Cheng's was made by his master. We bought these on short notice, so we can't have too high expectations."
Fortunately, the stylist worked wonders, and the two of them even looked a bit arrogant and unruly.
Zhang Chaohe grunted, straightened his tie in front of the mirror, and followed the production team to the stage to sit down.
Around 1 p.m., everyone was ready and the recording of the program officially began.
The 28 trainees in this episode will be divided into three groups based on the song selection results from the previous episode. Two groups will engage in internal battles, while the remaining group will battle against the guest challenger. Then, each group will voluntarily select two trainees to perform two solo stages with the guest challenger to earn extra points.
Zhang Chaohe made a dazzling entrance amidst the host's elaborate suspense. Although everyone had met him the day before, for the sake of the show, the trainees still had to pretend that they were meeting Mr. Zhang from Jiasheng Entertainment for the first time, and they exclaimed in a lively and natural manner, "Wow! He's so handsome!"
"My God, he's such a CEO! He looks like the kind of person who's destined for greatness!"
The trainees used all their skills to praise the contestants, because the more impactful the praise, the greater the chance of it being included in the final cut.
The camera faithfully captured the shower of compliments, and Zhang Chaohe calmly took his seat. The camera then cut to the female mentor, who feigned surprise, covered her mouth, and leaned over to chat with him: "Wow, Mr. Zhang, may I ask how old you are this year?"
“24.” Zhang Chaohe also looked at her.
The host chimed in at the opportune moment: "Mr. Zhang is truly young and promising, and incredibly handsome as well. God is so biased!"
Zhang Chaohe pushed up his glasses: "It should be my dad who is more capable."
"Wow!" Unexpectedly, Mr. Zhang was so burdened with his burdens, and the students' seats immediately erupted in cheers.
According to the procedure, the next step is to draw lots to determine the battle groups. After revealing the identity of the challenger, the camera will give a close-up of the students in the accepting group. Zhang Chaohe was invited to the stage to press the random button, and the big screen flashed to announce the team of students who accepted the challenge alone.
It happened to be the group Zhao Qin was in.
Zhang Chaohe felt there was no suspense; he had just seen Zhao Qin and the others pre-recording interview segments, so he calmly stepped off the stage to watch Cheng Jixue and the others make their dazzling entrance.
When he first came on stage, in order to highlight his unique sense of mystery as the CEO of a wealthy family, the production team specially chose retro warm lights and a lot of dry ice, and also asked him to walk out of "the sense of distance of traveling through time and space"; when it was the turn of the challenge guests, the entrance effect was exceptionally explosive - in order to match their current national trend rap style, the production team set up a lot of contrasting colors, intense and gloomy lights to create an atmosphere.
Li Yimao and Mei Jinghan went directly onto the stage, while Cheng Jixue went alone to the waiting area. The host, following the script, asked, "Oh, one of them has already taken their seat. Looks like a secret weapon! Let's welcome Li Yimao and Mei Jinghan from Jiasheng Entertainment!"
The camera cuts to Cheng Jixue, who is already seated in the waiting area. The post-production team will probably blur his face to leave the audience in suspense.
Li Yimao immediately announced that he was a mysterious guest performer and went on to say a lot of things, such as that he would do his best to challenge the trainees and bring a stage full of surprises to everyone.
The competition officially began shortly afterward.
First up were the trainees' internal competition performances. Both performances took place on large stages, with about twenty handsome men taking to the stage one after another like ducks being released from their coop. Their dances were energetic and their songs were explosive, drawing screams from the audience below. There was absolutely no need for post-production recording of the applause and atmosphere. Zhang Chaohe's heart was pounding from the surround sound, but seeing the mentors writing furiously on their feedback forms, he could only lower his head and haphazardly offer his own comments on his own feedback board.
He knew he was the mascot of the show, and as an outsider with a special status, he still kept to himself and carefully wrote down plain praise in every comment section to avoid accidentally hurting any truly talented contestant.
Cheng Jixue sat in the waiting area and watched the performance for a while, his gaze involuntarily drifting to the separate, luxurious seat next to the judges' table. Zhang Chaohe was diligently taking notes like a primary school student in class. After observing him for a while, Cheng Jixue noticed that Zhang Chaohe seemed to lack interest, rarely looking up, and when he held the pen still, his ring finger would lightly tap the table, as if he were happily keeping time.
Cheng Jixue smiled silently, and the red dot on the camera flashed, capturing the smile as well.
In the following solo performance, the folk song performed by the contestant currently ranked highest in points caught Zhang Chaohe's eye. The contestant had a rich, slightly husky voice, like a violin, with excellent texture and expressive emotion. Moreover, perhaps due to his Thai heritage, he was also strikingly handsome.
Zhang Chaohe immediately flipped through his file, which stated that he had recently returned to China and was currently an artist affiliated with a family-run studio. Zhang Chaohe secretly noted this down, planning to have his manager start recruiting him as soon as he got back, hoping to create another money-making machine for Jiasheng.
The first group of trainees' internal competition finally ended. During the competition, at the prompting of the directing team, the mentors repeatedly steered the conversation towards Zhang Chaohe, who provided constructive feedback on each contestant. The director quickly called for a break, and assistants and makeup artists swarmed in to touch up their artists' makeup and offer them water.
After returning the suggestion board, Zhang Chaohe sat idly in place. The CEO's seat was a separate cabin, and the entire chair was fixed in place, so he couldn't turn around. He could only maintain the aloof and upright posture of a CEO while secretly twirling his pen. After twirling it a couple of times, Zhang Xijing took the initiative to come over and chat, so Zhang Chaohe simply leaned back and looked up to talk to him. As soon as Zhang Xijing left, the female mentor also came over and chatted with him. When they talked about the eye-catching folk song they had just heard, they both smiled slightly.
The behind-the-scenes camera was working frantically, and the scene captured from this position inevitably included nearby power cords and camera arms. Zhang Chaohe had almost no makeup on his face, and the overhead fill light made his eyebrows and eyes appear pale and translucent, with only his lips standing out because of the little bit of reddish-brown lipstick he had applied.
Cheng Jixue inexplicably sensed a sense of vulnerability, as if Zhang Chaohe would dissipate like mist if the light were turned off.
The second half was about to begin, and it was the challengers' turn. First up were the show's trainees, who performed an English song often used in high-energy edited videos. Compared to the soulless stage performances of the first two groups, their performances had a deeper, more profound meaning. The mentors whispered among themselves, their expressions showing great satisfaction.
After the performance, Zhao Qin had beads of sweat on his forehead, still feeling the effects of the show. When the host asked how he felt about the performance, Zhao Qin humbly replied, "I'm very satisfied with our performance today. Hmm... bring it on!"
The trainees cheered. If everyone remembered correctly, Li Yimao was actually the rapper in the group back then, and his strength should not be underestimated. However, in the past two years, his appearances have suddenly decreased, and his works have disappeared from the public eye, which is why his popularity has dropped a bit.
Zhang Chaohe remained completely calm, even casually twirling his pen. The host, noticing this subtle movement, immediately joked, "Mr. Zhang, are you feeling anxious now?"
Zhang Chaohe leaned forward, cleared his throat, and leaned closer to the microphone: "If I hadn't seen their rehearsal stage yesterday, I would have panicked."
The audience heckled even more—what he meant was, "He performed well, but it's still not good enough!"
The stage lights dimmed, the set was in place, and dry ice was brought in. The audience held their breath, and two silhouettes gradually emerged from the mist. Suddenly, a powerful and deep drumbeat tore through the darkness, and the instant the lights came on, Li Yimao burst into song!
Cheers erupted from the audience—the traditional drums were powerful and majestic, but Li Yimao's singing was brighter and more fearless than the drumbeats, as if it could really part the clouds that obscured the moon! Mei Jinghan followed closely behind, perfectly catching up with Li Yimao's explosive opening. The drumbeats changed, and the symphony gradually took over, revealing a profound and tranquil atmosphere.
The audience thought that the next segment would still be Li Yimao's, but as soon as the string music started, a person slowly rose from the stage lift behind the two of them. He was tall and straight like an old pine tree or a crane, and suddenly opened his voice, which turned out to be a proper old man singing style!
Zhang Xijing, sitting on the mentor's seat, suddenly sat up straight, his eyes shining—he had once been an excellent Peking Opera actor specializing in old male roles, so he naturally knew that Cheng Jixue's singing of this passage was absolutely authentic! Moreover, in order to match the rhythm of the whole song, Cheng Jixue also made a small change. The rhythm, which might be criticized by picky opera enthusiasts as "the strings are being pulled so hard" in traditional repertoire, was just right here!
He hurriedly looked down to check Cheng Jixue's resume, then revealed a look of utter disbelief.
After this segment ended, Cheng Jixue strolled forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with his two teammates. He no longer focused on his own distinctive singing parts, but instead became a walking harmony library, steadily supporting his teammates' singing with his long, drawn-out chants.
Cheng Jixue looked towards the mentors' seats, where Zhang Chaohe was also looking at him intently, no longer looking down at his tattered notebook. The two of them silently gazed at each other across the stage.
As the song ended, a wave of enthusiastic cheers and exclamations erupted from the students' seats, as the audience responded to Zhang Chaohe's confident answer with applause.
Without this stage, Zhao Qin and his team could indeed be considered to have performed very well; but with "Alas" preceding them, Zhao Qin and his team were merely the brick that served as a catalyst!
A note from the author:
I've just thought about it and decided that before I become a paid user, I'll follow the rankings, and after I become a paid user, I'll update daily - all at 9 PM. If there are any update notifications, it's because I'm fixing bugs!
Writing a little more in advance gives me more time to revise the text, hehe;
Today's thank-you list!
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 12
"Cheng Jixue?" The female instructor repeatedly checked that she hadn't mispronounced the word. "Is this Peking Opera singing?"
In recent years, traditional Chinese opera singing has become increasingly popular with audiences due to its low barrier to entry and elegant charm. Ordinary audiences who are not familiar with this aspect may easily confuse opera with traditional Chinese singing.
“This is authentic Peking Opera old male role singing,” Zhang Xijing explained, his eyes shining as he looked down again to check Cheng Jixue’s information: “I see in your information that your specialty is Qingyi, so you’re playing an old male role today, right?”
"Oh, you've met someone knowledgeable today," the leading singer mentor in the music industry laughed. "Teacher Zhang used to sing old male roles. Teacher Zhang, please give us your evaluation!"
"Yes, I am a female impersonator, but this part is actually a cross-dressing performance to enhance the effect of the song."
In Peking Opera, cross-dressing refers to playing a role different from one's own specialty, regardless of the actor's gender. For example, Cheng Jixue, although a man, specializes in female roles, but in this performance he plays a male role. Even though the male role is the same gender as his own, it is still considered cross-dressing.
The audience reacted strongly – in the public's stereotype, men who sing female roles are usually effeminate, but Cheng Jixue looked handsome and dashing, and it was hard to imagine what he would look like singing in costume.
Li Yimao interjected, "So we've positioned Xiao Cheng as a guest performer. He's an actor from Jiasheng, and we specifically invited him for today's performance."
Zhang Xijing nodded: "As soon as you sang, I could tell you had a formal training, but your voice doesn't quite sound like that of an old male role singer. It lacks the vigor and strength of an old male role singer, but the flavor is quite right."
Cheng Jixue held the microphone and stood next to Li Yimao. His demeanor and bearing clearly indicated that he was a performer from a different stage: "I've shared the stage with my previous partners quite a bit, so I've learned a little bit from them through observation."
Zhang Xijing hadn't performed on stage in a long time. He was busy with appearances and interacting with fans; it seemed like ages since he'd last worn a full beard and headgear. A thought struck him, and he asked, "How about we act together?"
“Okay.” Cheng Jixue hadn’t performed on stage for more than two months, but she hadn’t stopped practicing every day, so she agreed readily.
Finally, the two decided to collaborate on a piece called "Wujiapo". This piece comes from the Peking Opera "Red Mane and Fierce Horse", also known as "Pinggui Teases His Wife". It tells the story of Xue Pinggui returning from Xiliang and trying to test Wang Baochuan's heart when they meet. Wang Baochuan scolds him for his chastity.
The two stood still, and although the audience below were all laymen, they cheered. Zhang Xijing's fans were very excited. They never expected to see him sing again today, and they all said that the ticket was worth it.
"With Su Long and Wei Hu as witnesses, and Prime Minister Wang as my officiant," Zhang Xijing sang, his voice deep and resonant. The audience immediately recognized that his voice was richer and more weathered than Cheng Jixue's earlier rendition, and couldn't help but shout "Bravo!"
“I don’t know about the others you’ve mentioned, but Su Long and Wei Hu are relatives. You and I will enter the Prime Minister’s residence together, and the three of us will speak clearly.” Cheng Jixue raised his voice, and his singing in a Qingyi style, which was completely different from when he was playing an old man, was clear and sweet, without any male tone. Even his demeanor was different from usual. His eyes were as flowing as the spring water of a long lake, and he was exactly like Wang Baochuan in front of the cold kiln.
The unassuming audience was taken aback for a moment, then shouted "Bravo!" again!
Although I don't know when to cheer, I just cheer when I hear something good!
“The three of them have a grudge against me, and they’re determined not to admit it!” Zhang Xijing waved to the audience—these were all etched in his memory, and although he was a little unfamiliar with them, his body reacted naturally as soon as he spoke.
“My father is an official in the court, and his mansion is piled high with gold and silver,” Cheng Jixue said, gesturing with his hand to gather the gold and silver. “If you calculate the principal and interest, you can have it sent to Xiliangchuan.”
Zhang Chaohe, who had become numb from the applause, was hearing Cheng Jixue sing for the first time and felt that he was like a jewel in a box, shining brightly. When he used his body language and expressions to depict a character of the other gender, he only felt a sense of awe and beauty, without the slightest feeling of desecration.