After all, one is a newly discovered rookie, and the other is an idol he has admired for many years. There is no need to worry about which is more important.
Even so, he was still a little uneasy as the competition approached. However, he couldn't break the rules, so he had to settle for second best and let his assistant go to watch the rehearsal.
Xia Fei was waiting at the hotel. When his assistant came in, he quickly asked, "How did it go?"
The assistant looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
Xia Fei couldn't help but feel annoyed: "Speak up!"
The assistant had worked for him for many years and knew he was always stubborn. Moreover, this matter involved his idol, Lu Yang, so it was practically a pipe dream to get him to make an exception. But when the assistant thought of the two radiant figures on stage, he hesitated for a long time before saying, "Boss, considering how many years I've worked for you, even if I haven't made any great contributions, I've still put in a lot of effort. Could you be a little gentler with this group?"
Xia Fei: "???"
Xia Fei could hardly believe his ears. This assistant had been with him for many years, honest and kind, and didn't like to talk. This was the first time he had made such an unreasonable request. He didn't know what the assistant had seen to have such a reaction.
No matter how Xia Fei asked, the assistant refused to say anything more.
Xia Fei not only didn't feel any better, but became even more anxious and restless.
This led to his first unprofessional performance; he seemed distracted throughout the match. As a result, both the contestants and the audience noticed that Teacher Xia, usually known for his sharp tongue and harsh criticism, was surprisingly gentle this time. Even Zheng Zhao, who made a mistake, wasn't severely reprimanded.
Zheng Zhao was disheartened after making a mistake, but Xia Fei seemed not to notice at all, casually offering a few comments before dismissing them.
Zheng Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. As he stepped off the stage, he saw Ye Cang and Li Zihang preparing to go on stage from the other side. Resentment rose in his heart again. He had originally wanted to perform well and suppress the two of them, but he did not expect to make such a low-level mistake.
But it's okay, he comforted himself, Xia Fei would never let them advance, he would still win!
When it was Ye Cang and Li Zihang's turn to perform, Xia Fei immediately perked up, becoming noticeably more focused than before. The audience and online chat buzzed with excitement; everyone knew the climax was coming.
[I thought Teacher Xia had changed her ways, but I didn't expect she was holding back a big surprise!]
[Brother, waaaaaah!]
[Countdown to being proven wrong...]
[I fucking refuse to believe that trash like Ye Cang can even make it to the top six! If he does, I'll eat shit on live stream!]
Is this the same guy from last time? Can you eat that shit you ate last time before we talk?
Ye Cang appeared relaxed, seemingly unaware of the chaotic situation he was about to face. Li Zihang, however, was unusually nervous. He had only learned this morning that his grandfather would be attending, and the difficulty of "Summer Insects" had left him uncertain. As he approached the stage, his throat tightened.
Ye Cang remembered that Shen Huai had promised to watch his match from the audience, but the audience was so crowded that he couldn't find Shen Huai's spot at all.
Ye Cang regretfully withdrew his gaze, only then noticing that his teammate seemed a bit off. He nudged Li Zihang's arm: "Are you nervous?"
Li Zihang choked for a moment, his idol image instantly kicking in, and said nonchalantly, "Who's nervous? Nothing's wrong."
Ye Cang raised an eyebrow, revealing a knowing smile.
Li Zihang: "..." My teammate is so annoying!
However, after this round of banter, his mood strangely calmed down.
Li Luan, sitting in the audience, frowned deeply and complained, "They haven't even gone on stage yet, what are they shouting about?!"
The assistant said helplessly, "Chairman, that's just how the fans are."
Li Luan snorted coldly: "Don't I know? Back then..."
"ah!!!"
Before Li Luan could finish speaking, he was almost startled by the shrill screams beside him. Only then did he realize that Li Zihang and Ye Cang had already gone on stage, and the screams from the fans immediately rose to another level.
The two men, dressed in retro striped suits, took to the stage amidst screams. Their hair was swept back, and only the top two buttons of their shirts were undone, revealing their Adam's apples and exuding a restrained yet sexy aura. This was a tribute to Lu Yang's outfit in "Summer Insects," which sparked a nationwide fashion craze back then, and its influence remains undiminished even thirty years later.
However, as the lights dimmed, the scene gradually quieted down.
The two stood back to back, with Li Zihang facing the audience and Ye Cang facing inwards.
As Li Zihang signaled to begin, a burst of intense drumming suddenly appeared. Li Zihang then picked up his guitar and played a smooth intro. His tone was of excellent quality, and his stage presence was strong. He immediately captivated the audience and created a wave of excitement right from the start.
This adaptation was very well done; even the picky Xia Fei had to admit it, and his brows gradually relaxed.
Li Zihang lived up to expectations, delivering a stable performance that brought the atmosphere to a climax.
Then the melody changed, and Li Zihang and Ye Cang switched places, causing a noticeable gasp from the audience.
Ye Cang had his hair slicked back, revealing his full forehead. He seemed to have eyeliner drawn on the corners of his eyes, making his dark pupils appear even deeper. He held the microphone in one hand, his eyes sweeping indifferently over the audience. Even before he started singing, he had already domineeringly captured everyone's attention.
When he sang the first line of lyrics, almost everyone felt goosebumps rise on their skin. The scene seemed to fall silent for a moment, and then applause broke out.
With just one sentence, the difference in quality is immediately apparent.
Xia Fei's eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard.
Li Luan's reaction in the audience was similar to his. Over the years, the two of them had listened to the song "Summer Insects" countless times and had a deep understanding of it. There have been many people who have imitated Lu Yang over the years, and there are some who have similar voices, but they are only similar in appearance but not in spirit. They lack Lu Yang's domineering presence on stage.
However, Ye Cang was different.
His voice was very different from Lu Yang's, and with the changes in the arrangement, it was completely different from the original song, yet they all thought of the same person.
—Lu Yang.
In terms of vocal timbre, Ye Cang is inferior to Li Zihang. In terms of skill, the previous elimination rounds have already proven that Li Zihang is stronger than Ye Cang. However, in this song, Li Zihang was completely overshadowed. This was not because Li Zihang underperformed, but because Ye Cang was too strong. The powerful explosiveness in his voice and the intense emotion he poured into his singing made his teammates appear particularly weak.
He was like the sun that suddenly appeared, irrationally overshadowing the light of other stars.
Such a person is not suitable for choral singing, because anyone standing on the stage with him, no matter who they are, will only become a supporting character.