Feng Bingbing's Mood Was Off

"Director Chen, we're good!"

"Great, let's get started!"

At Jiangrong Satellite TV's No. 2 recording hall, filming officially began for the first episode of Pure Voice Season Two's national top 100 competition, where 100 contestants would be whittled down to 80.

The four mentors were already seated in the four chairs closest to the stage.

Zhang Zheng and Wang Xinzhe sat in the middle, with Feng Bingbing and Zhou Yiyi on either side.

The production team had originally planned to seat Zhang Zheng and Feng Bingbing—the two most popular mentors—in the middle,

but Director Chen Xin was worried Feng Bingbing and Zhou Yiyi would clash again, so she seated them at opposite ends, farther apart.

Feng Bingbing understood what Director Chen meant, and hadn't spoken to Zhou Yiyi since earlier.

Zhou Yiyi, however, hadn't caught on at all. Before filming even began, he'd actually gone over to Feng Bingbing to chat her up.

If Zhang Zheng hadn't pulled the fool away in time, they might have had a scene of "Feng Yidao tearing into a pretty boy" before the show even started.

Now that filming had begun, a beautiful host in an elegant long dress took the stage. The audience burst into enthusiastic applause.

Some of the audience members had signed up online, while many others were extras hired by the production team.

Whenever the crowd fell quiet, the extras would help liven things up.

As the applause continued, the host first read out a long list of sponsors' names, then began introducing the four mentors.

Feng Bingbing was the most popular of them all. When she was introduced, the crowd erupted in deafening cheers.

Quite a few people shouted:

"My heart belongs to Bingbing!"

"Don't be sad, Bingbing! We love you!"

They were Feng Bingbing's fans, trying to comfort her after her confession at the concert had gone unanswered.

Zhou Yiyi was the second most popular. He might not have much going on upstairs, but his gentle, handsome face was certainly popular with young women.

When he was introduced, the audience was filled with girls' shrieks.

Leather Pants Zhang and Hairline Wang weren't as popular as the two younger idols, but they still had the poise of seasoned veterans.

Zhang Zheng in particular, dressed head to toe in a black sequined leather jacket, drew cheerful laughter and applause from the audience.

Quite a few people even shouted Fang Yue's name.

The mentors' entrance quickly got the crowd fired up.

The host didn't waste time and announced the first contestant:

"Please welcome 'I Am Just Playing' with her song, 'Beachside Lovers.'"

Everyone instinctively looked toward Feng Bingbing. It was her song.

Zhang Zheng grinned at her. "Our first contestant is one of Xiao Feng's fans!"

Wang Xinzhe smiled too. "I like this song."

Even from the other side of the stage, Zhou Yiyi wouldn't give up. "Great song—and an even better singer."

Feng Bingbing ignored that loser. She only smiled at Zhang Zheng and Wang Xinzhe, then turned to look at the stage.

The stage lights dimmed. A moment later, when they came back on, a curtain had been drawn across the stage.

Viewers familiar with Pure Voice knew that meant the contestant had taken the stage.

Whenever a contestant performed, the curtain concealed them from both the mentors and the audience.

That was the show's biggest draw.

Soon, music began playing onstage.

The contestant known as "I Am Just Playing" began to sing.

Dozens of cameras in the recording hall captured the scene from different angles, sending footage in real time to the monitors in the director's control room.

"Director Chen, Feng Bingbing seems a little off," the assistant director said.

"Mm."

Chen Xin stared at the monitor, watching the footage from the camera trained on Feng Bingbing.

She'd noticed it much earlier. Even when the host was introducing the mentors, Feng Bingbing had been smiling and looking graceful and composed.

But that wasn't the effect Chen Xin wanted, nor was it Feng Bingbing's usual style.

Feng Bingbing was young and beautiful, bright and vivacious—the kind of person who'd openly confessed her feelings at a concert.

She should naturally have been more lively, but right now she seemed somewhat subdued.

Chen Xin frowned slightly. Was it because of that earlier clash with Zhou Yiyi?

Those pretty-boy idols really were all a piece of work. If she'd known Zhou Yiyi was such a lech, she never would've invited him!

Feeling uneasy, Chen Xin watched the stage intently.

She'd only guessed half the reason.

Feng Bingbing's mood had indeed been affected, but not by Zhou Yiyi. It was because she'd heard the song "Quiet" that Dawei Tianlong had performed in the preliminary round.

That voice sounds so much like Senior Lin.

But Senior Lin can't sing, can he?

No. I couldn't mistake it. This Dawei Tianlong is Senior Lin!

Why didn't he tell me he was coming on the show?

Could it be that he wants to get into the entertainment industry so he can be with me? He doesn't have to do that, Senior. I can support you!

Feng Bingbing sat at the mentors' table, her mind racing through one thought after another.

Before long, the performance ended. The audience applauded enthusiastically, even though the thick curtain still hid the singer from view.

Though they couldn't see her, the sweetness of "I Am Just Playing's" voice made it clear that she was probably quite beautiful.

"Xiao Feng, since you're the original singer, why don't you give your thoughts?" Zhang Zheng asked with a smile.

Feng Bingbing answered calmly, "I'm glad this contestant chose to sing my song. Your voice suits it very well, and I was almost swept up in your performance. But..."

After that classic "but," Feng Bingbing continued:

"You didn't quite find the right pitch in the first two lines. You may have been nervous. It's a shame, because that mistake kept your performance from being perfect."

Before Zhang Zheng and Wang Xinzhe could say anything, Zhou Yiyi cut in from the side.

"I completely agree with Bingbing. No wonder she's a mentor—just like me, she noticed even such a subtle mistake!"

Feng Bingbing rolled her eyes. Who gave you permission to call me Bingbing?

Zhang Zheng and Wang Xinzhe were both a little speechless. She'd gone off-key in the first two lines. Anyone could hear that, couldn't they?

Zhou Yiyi, that was a pretty clumsy way to praise yourself, while sneaking in some flattery for Xiao Feng.

Hadn't he noticed she'd nearly beaten him up?

Young idols these days—plenty of people fawning over them, and no one teaching them a thing!

The two old hands cursed inwardly, though they kept smiling on the outside.

"Contestant I Am Just Playing, do you have a dream?"

A mechanical female voice, altered by a voice changer, sounded from behind the curtain.

"I want to kiss Feng Bingbing. Is that okay?"

In the end, "I Am Just Playing" didn't get her wish.

All four mentors pressed the red buttons, eliminating her on the spot.

More contestants came on one after another. Feng Bingbing remained calm throughout, nothing like her usual outgoing, cheerful self.

Zhou Yiyi kept trying to talk to her, but got no response at all.

Zhang Zheng and Wang Xinzhe stepped in now and then to smooth things over. All things considered, the show continued without a hitch.

"People say Feng Bingbing is a force of nature, but it seems the rumors were wrong. She's actually quite a quiet young woman," Zhang Zheng thought, seated beside her.

Just then, the host took the stage.

"The next contestant is named Dawei Tianlong. He'll be performing an original song, 'Hill.'"

Here's the third update! I've been working so hard, so please vote, tip, and keep reading!