Just then, they heard a clear and gentle voice coming from behind them, "I can give it a try."
The contestants turned around in a daze, looking at Su Huaiming standing behind them, all quite surprised.
Su Huaiming has participated in talent shows and his performance is evident to all; everyone is well aware of Su Huaiming's abilities.
Their choice of Su Huaiming was actually a last resort.
Qi Xingzhou is the most popular contestant and the backbone of the group. After a week of getting to know each other, everyone treats him like a younger brother. Seeing how much Qi Xingzhou likes Su Huaiming, everyone is willing to support him.
Furthermore, they were well aware that Group D was the weakest, and the three mentors would definitely not choose them. Rather than that, they might as well choose Su Huaiming directly.
Although Su Huaiming is weak, he is famous, so they might be able to ride his coattails. Moreover, if they choose Su Huaiming directly, they won't be ridiculed for wishful thinking, and the scene will be more interesting.
Unexpectedly, Su Huaiming also chose them. This mutual selection became a topic of discussion, and the players felt comforted, at least they weren't ignored.
But everyone also knew that with Su Huaiming's abilities, he couldn't help them at all. They could only humbly beg him not to hold them back. So when they returned to rehearsals, they didn't take Su Huaiming into consideration. Su Huaiming sat in the corner without any presence. The contestants were immersed in training and quickly forgot about him.
Looking at Su Huaiming, the contestants, despite their efforts to restrain themselves, still revealed a hint of distrust.
Su Huaiming had no desire to be fawned over and didn't care about their attitude. He walked up to the round-faced contestant and said with a smile, "May I see the lyrics?"
The round-faced trainee stared intently at Su Huaiming, his ears suddenly turning red for some reason. He hurriedly handed over the lyrics, saying, "Y-yes."
Su Huaiming had just listened to the original song about seven or eight times, tried it out in his mind, and only said those words after confirming that he could do it.
He doesn't sing much normally and hasn't formally studied songs. His criteria for judging songs are simply "good" and "bad," so he can't provide professional guidance to the contestants. However, his grandfather is a big fan of Peking Opera and used to make him practice his singing. To make his grandfather happy, Su Huaiming has also learned some basics, though not professionally, but better than the contestants present.
Su Huaiming took a deep breath, looked at the lyrics, and began to sing in the style of traditional opera. Because it was the first time he had sung it in public, he was a little rusty and stumbled once in the middle.
Only after he finished singing did he look up at the other contestants.
The other contestants stared blankly at him, their expressions unreadable.
Su Huaiming waited three seconds, then scratched his head sheepishly. "This is my first time singing. With more practice, it will definitely be better than it is now."
Before he could finish speaking, Qi Xingzhou rushed over with shining eyes, his nose trembling slightly, and his eyes reddening. "Su Huaiming, you're amazing! Not only do you know so many things, but you also sing opera so beautifully! You're truly Unforgettable! Being your fan is my greatest honor... and to hear you sing for me in person is the pinnacle of my life! I... I'm so excited I won't be able to sleep tonight! When I'm old, I'll definitely tell my grandchildren about this!"
Su Huaiming: "..."
Although he didn't say it, the slight twitching of his lips and the terror in his eyes Mingming said, "Guards! Save the Emperor! Drag this man away immediately!!"
Su Huaiming didn't know how other celebrities felt, but when he heard Qi Xingzhou showering him with compliments, he was so ashamed that he just wanted to dig a hole in the ground and disappear, or kneel down and beg Qi Xingzhou to stop.
A round-faced contestant came over and rescued Su Huaiming, saying, "Teacher Su's opera singing is miles ahead of mine! This is only the first time you've sung it; once you've mastered it, how amazing it will be!!"
The other contestants also gathered around, looking quite excited.
"Teacher Su, thank you so much! With your participation, our performance is sure to be even better!"
"The moment you opened your mouth, you breathed life into this song."
"I don't know how to praise it, but it's absolutely amazing! I could never sing like that again in my next life!"
Su Huaiming was overwhelmed by the flattery from the contestants, his smile froze, and he put his hand in front of his chest, trying to block the enthusiastic young men.
"No, my skill level is really just average. I only had some exposure to music when I was little. If you had similar experience, you would definitely sing better than me."
Su Huaiming couldn't take it anymore and hurriedly tried to explain, but the contestants wouldn't listen at all. They kept exaggerating and praising him, almost making him a god, as if he were the next singing superstar.
Su Huaiming never expected that hearing flattery face-to-face would be such torture. All the blood in his body rushed to his head, and his face was so hot that he dared not touch it. Even in this state, Qi Xingzhou, the flattery machine, was still rushing forward, chattering on and on about cheesy things like "You are my god, I will remember you Unforgettable."
Viewers in the live stream made fun of this scene.
[Hilarious! These people must have all attended a "rainbow fart" class, and graduated with honors!]
[While I also think Su Huaiming's opera singing is very pleasant to listen to, you guys are exaggerating a bit too much, haha]
I used to feel embarrassed by the excessive praise from fans, but I never imagined that the celebrities themselves would feel even more embarrassed than I did!
[My invincible wife blushed so much, ahh, so cute!]
[Hehe, wife... hehe, wife's blushing face is so pretty, hehe, wife is so cute, hehe, wife, come into my arms, drooling JPG]
The contestants were overjoyed to finally solve the problem that had been bothering them for days. Su Huaiming finally managed to persuade the group of excited boys to go back to their senses.
While they were training diligently, Su Huaiming sat in a corner wearing headphones, listening attentively to the music, wanting to improve his opera singing.
In the training room on the other side, after Xiao Kaicheng finished instructing the players, he suddenly thought of Su Huaiming, so he made an excuse to take a stroll. When he passed by the training room of Group D, he secretly peeked inside.
When he saw Su Huaiming sitting alone in the corner, he curled his lips in schadenfreude and felt extremely pleased.
He knew that Group D had only chosen Su Huaiming out of desperation. Someone like Su Huaiming, who was useless at singing and dancing, could not help them at all and would only drag them down. No wonder the contestants would like him!
With only three days left until the performance, the D group's strained relationships are bound to cause a major disaster. The fans of these contestants will definitely not let Su Huaiming off the hook.
If his old audition clips resurface, he can use his sympathy to gain another wave of fans.
Xiao Kaicheng Yangyang, his mind racing with plans. He had originally intended to return to the training room, but seeing how badly Su Huaiming was doing, he couldn't help but feel a little smug. He walked downstairs with light steps, wanting to find a place to relax.
On the other side, Su Huaiming suddenly received a call from Zhou Hanyan.
Zhou Hanyan's voice was so loud it sounded like he was on speakerphone, causing Su Huaiming's eardrums to ache. He frowned and moved the phone further away, waiting for Zhou Hanyan to finish his outburst before asking, "Why are you so agitated?"
"How could I not be excited!" Zhou Hanyan was so anxious after seeing the news that she was practically slamming her fist on the table. "You're actually going to be on the same variety show as Xiao Kaicheng, and it's a talent show at that! Have you thought about the consequences?!"
Su Huaiming had read the materials sent by the production team and knew that Xiao Kaicheng was a mentor. He was also aware of the conflict between the original owner and Xiao Kaicheng. During the recording of this talent show, he wanted to find an opportunity to help the original owner clear his name. To achieve this goal, he needed Xiao Kaicheng to be present.
Zhou Hanyan, unaware of Su Huaiming's thoughts, assumed he underestimated Xiao Kaicheng and earnestly advised, "Xiao Kaicheng may seem sunny on the surface, but he's incredibly cunning. I only recently learned that some of his fans are attacking you, and that this was at his and his studio's behest. They've even formed a dedicated anti-fan group, using all sorts of methods to smear you—it's quite terrifying and impossible to guard against. You're seeing Xiao Kaicheng every day now; you'll definitely suffer!"
Seeing how worried Zhou Hanyan was about him, Su Huaiming politely thanked him, "It's alright, I'll take good care of myself."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Hanyan was so anxious that he jumped up and down.
He knew Su Huaiming's character well. Su Huaiming was very smart and quick to understand, but he was too lazy and carefree. He didn't want to care about anything or cause trouble. But in the entertainment industry, a place of fame and fortune, no one can remain unscathed. Trouble will inevitably come knocking. Only by actively fighting can one carve out a way to survive.
Zhou Hanyan was extremely worried and was about to continue trying to persuade him when she heard Su Huaiming ask in a light tone, "How do you know so much?"
Zhou Hanyan was taken aback. "Know what?"
"You know about Xiao Kaicheng, the studio's operations, and the fan base." Su Huaiming was very curious, since these were things only insiders would know.
"..." Zhou Hanyan's ears buzzed, feeling like he was on the verge of being exposed, but he couldn't bring himself to say that he had once been one of them. After hesitating for a while, he finally said, "I... I'm your fan now, so of course I have to help you find out some things, otherwise someone like you will easily get taken advantage of."
Su Huaiming didn't think much of it and was very moved, thanking Zhou Hanyan repeatedly for her efforts.
Zhou Hanyan felt a lump in her throat as she listened, realizing she was a terrible person and almost slapping herself across the face.
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Hanyan remained silent for a long time, his hands silently clenching into fists.
He was used as a pawn by Xiao Kaicheng and did many foolish things, but he also has some evidence in his hands. If it is exposed, it will definitely make Xiao Kaicheng suffer a heavy blow.
Su Huaiming doesn't understand these things, that's alright, he'll keep an eye on things for Su Huaiming. If Xiao Kaicheng dares to harm Su Huaiming, then don't blame him for going all out!!
Zhou Hanyan didn't want to be too passive, so he immediately started to sort out what Xiao Kaicheng had done and look for evidence, hoping to help Su Huaiming at a critical moment.
*****
Su Huaiming didn't care about that, because he had more important things to do.
His initial choice of Group D was similar to Qi Xingzhou's; both of them liked the piece and wanted to showcase their talents.
He knows nothing about singing and dancing and can't help these contestants, but he can make up for other shortcomings: such as the contestants' costumes and stage effects.
Songs that combine the gentleness of ancient style with the strength of modern style are the most difficult to create an atmosphere for, and the resulting effect is often disappointing.
The contestants all work very hard, and in order to allow them to perform at their best, they need good outfits and stage accompaniment to enhance their performance.
Su Huaiming had many ideas in his mind that could become reality, but three days was a bit short. He had to speed things up to catch up with the first performance.
Su Huaiming didn't want to distract the contestants from this incident, so he didn't tell anyone and just quietly prepared behind the scenes.
He had to practice opera singing, modify his costumes, and adjust the stage effects with the production team. He was so busy that he was practically spinning like a top, and he got a lot of exercise every day.
During lunch, Su Huaiming stared blankly at the rice in his bowl and let out a long sigh.
This was the first time in his life he had worked so hard, and it was all for someone else!
Before Su Huaiming could finish his reflection, another set of tableware appeared in Yu Guangzhong's mind. He looked up blankly and saw Qi Xingzhou smiling with his eyes narrowed.
"Su Huaiming, you're eating too?" Qi Xingzhou said with a smile.
Su Huaiming felt a chill run down his spine at the thought of Qi Xingzhou's flattery, but he couldn't bear to refuse this sunny, lovable guy, so he could only nod stiffly, "Yes, you're coming to eat too."
After a couple of meaningless exchanges, Qi Xingzhou's eyes lit up like searchlights when he saw the rice on Su Huaiming's plate.
Su Huaiming suddenly had a sense of foreboding.
Sure enough, Qi Xingzhou immediately launched into a barrage of compliments, his praise so outrageous it was almost unbelievable, "Idol, you're not picky about food at all! That's amazing! No wonder you're so good-looking, it's because of your balanced nutrition... By the way, I saw someone online say you're extremely picky, so I'm going to post on Weibo right now to tell the whole world that my idol isn't picky about food at all, that's awesome!"
Su Huaiming: "..."
Upon hearing this, he suddenly realized that 99% of the world's people are picky eaters, and that not being picky about food is a rare virtue.
Su Huaiming felt a chill run down his spine and quickly stopped him. "Don't post this on Weibo. It's not that important, and you don't have a phone right now."
Qi Xingzhou was put on pause, and only then did he realize that his phone had been handed in long ago. Looking at Su Huaiming with guilt in his eyes, he said, "I'm sorry, I'll definitely post on Weibo after I finish recording the show."
Su Huaiming: "..."That's not what I meant!
Just when Su Huaiming was feeling utterly exhausted, his phone rang and saved him. Without even glancing at the caller ID, Su Huaiming immediately answered the call.
"Hey, what do you need me for?" Su Huaiming asked.
Upon hearing that familiar voice, Fu Jingfan remained silent for a full three seconds.
The phone was answered after only one ring, and some inexplicable emotions in Fu Jingfan's heart were suddenly soothed.
"Nothing, I just wanted to ask if you're adjusting well."
"I'm getting used to it." To avoid being bombarded with Qi Xingzhou's flattery, Su Huaiming tried to stall for time and get through the mealtime. "Many of the contestants here are quite interesting, and everyone has been very considerate of me."
Fu Jingfan's voice remained deep and magnetic, as if speaking into Su Huaiming's ear, "I see, you're very popular, there's even a fan of yours among the contestants."
Upon hearing this, Su Huaiming subconsciously glanced at Qi Xingzhou across from him, meeting Qi Xingzhou's round, puppy-like eyes.
He paused for a moment before continuing, "Yes, there is one. He's a very nice person, and we get along well."
Upon hearing this, the invisible tail behind Qi Xingzhou flicked out a phantom.
Fu Jingfan remained silent for a few seconds, and just when Su Huaiming thought the call had been disconnected, he suddenly spoke up, "It seems you like him quite a bit."
Su Huaiming found this statement strange, but couldn't quite put his finger on it. He could only brace himself and say, under Qi Xingzhou's gaze, "Qi Xingzhou is incredibly popular, and has a wonderful personality. No wonder he has so many fans. I admire him too, and I'm having dinner with him right now."
Fu Jingfan chuckled softly, sounding quite pleased. "I could tell; you've been praising him the whole time."
At this point, Fu Jingfan abruptly changed the subject, saying out of the blue, "So that's why you secretly went to record a variety show without saying a word, and these past few days you've been unusually busy running around for their stage? I've never seen you so diligent."