Too Arrogant

Whether it was Song Dao writing a song in a little over ten minutes or Lin Fei openly slacking off, both conveyed the message that Song Dao wrote songs quickly and was a musical prodigy.

If anything went wrong in that regard afterward, people would easily seize on it and refuse to let it go.

The production crew did not offer any reminder. In their view, even if Song Dao did not understand, Lin Fei certainly did.

Since she had not said anything, it meant there was no problem with Song Dao's creative ability.

This discovery also greatly excited Zhu Shao and the rest of the production crew.

In this day and age, audiences were becoming harder and harder to please, and variety shows were getting increasingly difficult to produce.

Shows like Singer-Songwriter, which required exceptionally strong talent, were especially difficult to make.

Often, coming up with an idea was not hard, but actually bringing it to life came with endless difficulties.

People with powerful creative abilities were simply too hard to find.

Those who also had a knack for variety shows were even rarer.

But once a show like this was successfully produced, its ratings definitely would not be bad!

Especially with a diva like Lin Fei joining, there was already a basic guarantee.

Then there was Little Heavenly Queen Sun Meiqi, renowned Singer-Songwriter Ma Shen, and heavyweight veteran composer Li Jun. There were simply too many highlights!

Zhu Shao was already starting to worry that they had too much footage.

Lin Fei and Song Dao's group in particular had taken the laid-back vibe to the absolute extreme.

Other than spending ten minutes writing a song, they either loafed around in their room or ran out at mealtimes to hunt for food.

After following them around for two days straight, they even successfully "lured away" the Sister Flower Combination of Sun Meiqi and Xue Lin.

The four of them ate, drank, strolled, and played through Huazhou's old alleys, never refusing when passersby asked for autographs or photos.

By the third night, even Ma Shen was finding it hard to bear.

At that moment, the large living room on the first floor of the villa was filled with instruments such as a piano, guitars, and a drum kit.

All four groups of contestants had successfully completed their first songs, and tonight was the time for their "debut."

"Sister Fei, Meiqi, you two have really been having a blast these past couple of days, huh?" Ma Shen looked at them with some resentment. "Say, could you bring me along tomorrow?"

He had heard from the staff that Lin Fei and Song Dao, that ultra-relaxed slacker duo, had been producing excellent variety-show material!

He quickly understood why.

Audiences nowadays did not actually like staged, artificial scenes.

How to present one's most genuine side without damaging one's image was also a skill many artists desperately sought to master.

"Come along, then."

One did not slap a smiling face, and besides, they were filming a show. Naturally, Lin Fei would not give him the cold shoulder.

"Brother Shen, do you know how many beautiful places we visited and how much delicious food we ate these past two days?" Sun Meiqi gestured exaggeratedly with her body. "Sister Fei is absolutely an expert at this stuff. She really knows how to eat and have fun!"

Lin Fei smiled. "I've come here whenever I had time over the past few years. After enough visits, I got familiar with the place."

Ma Shen looked at Lin Fei. "Can I ask how you managed to wander through Greater Huazhou's streets and alleys without ever trending even once?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm curious about that too. If Little Lin comes here often, how could no one have noticed her?" Li Jun asked from the side.

They were all smart variety-show people.

If Lin Fei had not risen to fame again, they definitely would not have asked such an offensive question.

If they did, the answer would simply be that she had faded into obscurity and no one paid attention to her.

But now, the question came at just the right time.

Lin Fei said, "Just put on makeup."

Everyone paused slightly.

Ma Shen could not help muttering, "Is it really that magical? Can makeup really make people unable to recognize you?"

An old-timer like Li Jun understood even less about this sort of thing.

"Wow!" Sun Meiqi's eyes immediately widened. "Sis, Sister Fei, teach me, teach me! I want to learn this!"

This was not for the show at all. She genuinely wanted to learn!

For a popular artist, being watched was both a blessing and a nuisance.

Even going out shopping meant having to sneak around.

Why did so many people like vacationing abroad?

Because only in a foreign country could they get a little peace and quiet.

Lin Fei smiled and nodded in agreement.

While the four mentors chatted casually, the contestants sat quietly nearby.

Zhao Qi glanced at Song Dao with some envy, feeling that this guy had simply stepped in dog shit.

A diva who had risen to fame once again had taken a liking to him, brought him into her company, and promoted him so heavily. From the way the two interacted, they also seemed completely equal.

Lin Fei had none of a boss's or big shot's airs.

Unlike Brother Shen.

Ma Shen took good care of him too, but he had a short temper and would snap at him over the slightest thing.

Even if part of it was for the show, he still wished he could be like Song Dao, eating, drinking, and having fun under the guidance of a National Goddess mentor.

It was simply every man's dream!

Still, it was no big deal. This wasn't a travel-and-food show.

In the end, everyone would have to prove themselves with their creative ability!

He had heard that Song Dao was incredibly pretentious, writing a song in just over ten minutes right in front of the production crew's cameras.

All he could say to that was, yeah, right. A minor internet celebrity with only two songs actually dared to build himself up as some gifted songwriter?

He really didn't know his place.

Even if your songs really were created on the spot, did you dare guarantee that you could be that smooth every single time?

If you failed even once, there would be no need to hire trolls to stir things up and drag you down—the spontaneous online haters alone would tear you to pieces!

Compared to him, Xue Lin and Zhong Yutong had far fewer thoughts.

Xue Lin had already become familiar with Song Dao over the past two days. Though she still blushed whenever she spoke, normal conversation was no longer a problem.

As for Zhong Yutong, a genuine major internet celebrity, the persona she had chosen for this show was that of a diligent hard worker.

Following a highly experienced professional mentor like Li Jun, she remained unmoved by the Slacker Duo and the Sister Flower Combination going out to have fun.

Studious and earnest, she humbly sought Li Jun's advice every day.

Whether it was real or not, once the show aired, her title as "Diligent Sis" would immediately be cemented.

Once the venue had been fully arranged, Zhu Shao came out with a smile. He first clapped his hands and delivered an advertising spiel to the camera.

Then he said happily, "The speed at which the four groups completed their first songs was somewhat beyond my expectations. I watched the creative process, and I have to admit that you're all very talented. I'm proud of you!"

"Now that the works have been successfully created, whether they're mules or horses, they have to be taken out for a run. Tonight is the time to put them to the test."

Smiling, he looked first at Song Dao.

Just as everyone thought he was about to ask Song Dao a question, Zhu Shao turned instead to Zhong Yutong, who was seated beside him.

"Yutong, are you confident in the work you created?"

Zhong Yutong was caught off guard and hesitated for half a second before answering with an open smile, "Of course. Teacher Li gave me many valuable suggestions regarding the arrangement. I think this song should be much better than anything I've written before!"

The latest was always the best—a very standard answer.

Zhu Shao nodded, then looked at Zhao Qi. "I heard that you had a small disagreement with Teacher Ma Shen during the creative process?"

That was practically handing him a moment for the cameras.

Zhao Qi immediately revealed an embarrassed smile. He first stood and gave Ma Shen a slight bow.

Only then did he face the camera with a sincere expression. "It was my fault. I can be a little stubborn. Ever since I was young, my mom always said I got hung up on things, but she can rest easy now—Teacher Ma has cured me of that bad habit!"

Ma Shen immediately smiled and gave a light round of applause.

Everyone else cooperatively clapped as well.

The kid was sharp and had a strong instinct for variety shows. He knew very well how to present himself.

Zhu Shao then looked at Xue Lin.

Before he could say anything, Xue Lin's face quickly reddened.

Zhu Shao smiled. "I heard our shy little princess wrote a song that broke through her usual style?"

Xue Lin nodded. "Yes. Before, I always wrote sweet youthful love songs. For this new song, I tried writing folk music."

"I'm looking forward to it!"

Zhu Shao nodded with a smile before finally turning to Song Dao.

"Teacher Song, there's something I'm very curious about."

At this point, everyone's gaze focused on Song Dao.

Song Dao wore the expression of someone being forced to work, as though he had only put on a hint of surprise to cooperate with Zhu Shao.

"If you don't want to look too surprised, you don't have to make it so difficult for yourself," Zhu Shao said.

Everyone immediately burst out laughing.

Song Dao was tall, upright, and handsome, but the lazy air about him was simply too strong.

"I'm curious—don't you know what it means to write a song in just over ten minutes under the cameras, once that footage airs?" Zhu Shao asked.

"Was that too slow?" Song Dao asked seriously. "Should I be faster next time? Try my best to make it look like I'm really talented?"

Pfft...

Everyone couldn't help laughing.

Sun Meiqi laughed exaggeratedly, her "hahaha" sounding almost hypnotic.

Even Ma Shen, who had always thought Song Dao's creative standards were mediocre, could not help but laugh and shake his head.

Though he did not show any obvious disdain, people could still sense that he did not approve of this young man.

Zhu Shao said speechlessly, "At this rate, you might have a hard time when we get to the themed songwriting segment. I can let you in on something early—the three songs for that segment will be created on the spot after the draw!"

The other contestants could not help letting out a chorus of startled cries.

"It's fine if you can't finish the whole thing, but you at least need to come up with a rough draft. The cameras will be recording it all."

He was actually giving Song Dao a subtle reminder out of consideration for Lin Fei. It would be best if he said something modest.

That way, even if his creative process was slower later on, he would not get torn apart too badly online.

He did not quite understand why a seasoned veteran like Lin Fei had not warned Song Dao at all.

Could this young man really have such formidable creative ability?

Song Dao nodded at that moment. "I understand, Director. When we get to the themed songwriting segment, I'll try to finish it within ten minutes..."

Zhu Shao: "..."

Forget it. Let it all burn.

Ma Shen wore a smiling expression, but inwardly, he found himself disliking the young man more and more.

He was far too arrogant!

Songs were also an art form.

And artistic creation was sacred. It deserved reverence!

Even cheesy pop songs like "See Through" and "Sad City," which he did not think much of, could not be written anytime, anywhere.

In his view, Song Dao had definitely written these five original songs beforehand and was trying to show off in front of the audience.

Just wait until it came time for the three themed songs. Then he would be the one crying!

In fact, it was not just him. Even Li Jun could not help taking a few extra looks at the young man.

He had done this sort of thing himself back in the day.

When you were young, you were supposed to be full of fire. It was no big deal.

He rather liked it.

At his age, he could at most crack jokes with people slowly and cheerfully. Even if he wanted to put on an overbearing air, he no longer had that kind of energy.

As for Zhao Qi, the involuntary contempt that flashed in his eyes was captured perfectly by the cameras.

"Alright, enough nonsense. For the first song, who wants to go first?"

Everyone looked at one another.

Wasn't the order supposed to be decided by drawing lots?

Going first came with a lot of pressure.

Unless you were very confident in your song.

Otherwise, if any of the songs afterward were even slightly better, the audience would instinctively forget the earlier one.

These people, even mentors like Ma Shen, had subconsciously treated this as a competition.

After all, they had never taken part in a music variety show where they could just slack off and coast.

Song Dao stood up. "I'll go first."

The PK was outside the venue anyway. What difference did it make who went first or last?

Zhu Shao nodded and said solemnly, "Alright. Next, we'll begin drawing lots."