"Thank you, Sister Lan."
A mechanical male voice came from behind the curtain. Although it had been processed by a voice changer, the sincerity in his tone was still clear.
"Brother Long, are you thanking me?"
Li Lan was stunned.
She'd actually been prepared to get roasted again. It wasn't the first time, after all. If she got roasted a few more times, she'd get used to it.
But she hadn't expected the master roaster Dawei Tianlong not to roast her this time.
And he'd even thanked her so sincerely!
Wow, that was so touching!
Li Lan suddenly felt that all the hardships of being a host had vanished in an instant.
Look at that—even Brother Long had been won over by me, and he'd thanked me.
I'm such a successful host!
Wang Xinzhe and Zhang Zheng, seated among the mentors, were stunned too. They'd both been ready to smooth things over for Li Lan after Brother Long roasted her.
They hadn't expected him to have a sudden change of heart.
"Brother Long is so gentle now. I'm not used to it."
"Maybe the song moved even him to tears. Sob, sob."
The audience was surprised too, and hurried to make excuses for Brother Long.
In fact, Lin Mu really was grateful to Li Lan.
Not because of her excellent hosting skills, or her ability to endure insults without talking back.
It was because the question she'd asked gave him the perfect chance to bring out what he'd prepared to say to Junior Feng.
This host was actually kind of useful.
While Li Lan was still feeling moved, Lin Mu continued:
"The reason I wrote this song was to speak up for ordinary people like me, people who look plain but still hold on to their dreams!
Why shouldn't I be allowed to pursue the girl I love just because I'm not handsome?
Why shouldn't I be allowed to pursue my ideals just because I'm not handsome?
Why should people ignore me and leave me standing in a corner just because I'm not handsome?
Why?!
I want this song to tell everyone that even an ugly monster like me has a reason to exist, and that I can have my moment to shine,
just like now!"
Lin Mu's voice was passionate and forceful, moving those who heard it and stirring their hearts.
Applause erupted!
The audience broke into thunderous applause. Many were moved to tears.
"Brother Long said exactly what I've been feeling!"
"Yeah! Do ugly people not have rights?"
"Ugly people can shine too!"
"Handsome men and beautiful women—do they think they were born superior?!"
In real life, handsome men and beautiful women were a minority. Most people looked perfectly ordinary.
Many of those with plain looks had suffered discrimination over their appearance, and struggled with deep insecurity about it.
But that was just the way things were. People with striking looks often had an advantage in all sorts of situations.
But...
Who had ever considered how ugly bastards felt?
Now someone had. He'd even written a song for all of us ugly people.
Wow!
How moving!
"Brother Long, you're not ugly! You're the most handsome!"
The audience began shouting in unison.
A moved voice came from behind the curtain. "Thank you, everyone. I'm ugly, but I'm gentle. I hope that one day, the girl I love will stop for me."
"Wow! So Brother Long is just like me. The girl he loves won't give him the time of day because he's ugly!"
"I feel so much better now!"
"Hang in there, Brother Long! I'll hang in there too!"
A number of average-looking male audience members felt an instant connection. Thinking of the girls they liked, who had turned them down because of their looks, some even choked up.
When would ugly people finally get to stand tall?
"Brother Long, I'm not shallow. Forget that girl and come to me!"
"Brother Long, I'd still have your children!"
The female audience members were deeply moved by Brother Long's devotion.
Sure, Brother Long was ugly, but he was talented!
And once the show aired, he might even be rich!
As the saying went, it was hard to have both wealth and good looks. If he had money, being a little ugly wasn't impossible to accept!
"Thank you for your encouragement. Ugly people, keep going! Long live ugly people!"
Behind the curtain, Lin Mu, with his strikingly handsome looks, sincerely thanked the audience.
That settled it!
The label "Dawei Tianlong is ugly" was now firmly in place.
Junior Feng, what were you going to do now?
Could you still connect Dawei Tianlong to me?
You're still too green to take me on.
Heh heh heh.
Sure enough, Feng Bingbing's expression on the screen had fallen into complete disarray.
Shock, confusion, fury, resentment, tears...
Her beautiful little face was a tangled mess, like a doll that had been played with until it broke.
"Mentor Feng Bingbing, I noticed you seemed pretty moved too. Did the song touch you? Teacher Feng? Teacher Feng?"
Li Lan passed the question to Feng Bingbing, but she was lost in thought. Li Lan had to call out twice before she came back to her senses.
"I'd like to ask contestant Dawei Tianlong a question."
Feng Bingbing bit her lip, unwilling to give up.
"Host."
An urgent mechanical male voice came from behind the curtain.
"I really have something to do tonight. Could we hurry it up?"
Li Lan was speechless. She turned to glare at the hateful curtain.
I'd just said you'd changed for the better, and now you're at it again?
Li Lan said patiently, "Brother Long, Mentor Feng Bingbing is so beautiful. Let her ask you one question, okay?"
The voice behind the curtain replied without mercy, "Sorry, that girl agreed to have dinner with me tonight. I can't be late. I sincerely ask the mentors to begin voting."
Wow!
The audience erupted.
"So Brother Long has a date tonight?"
"Brother Long is awesome! He's ignoring even Feng Bingbing for the girl he loves."
"Feng Bingbing is out of reach. A girl closer to home is a safer bet."
Li Lan couldn't do anything with this guy, so she looked toward the mentors.
"Then shall the four mentors vote?"
"Wait a moment."
As soon as Li Lan finished speaking, the guy behind the curtain spoke again.
"Brother Long, is there something else you want to say?" Li Lan was gritting her teeth by now.
Weren't you supposed to be going on a date?
What now?!
The voice behind the curtain asked unhurriedly, "Could I hear Teacher Zhou Yiyi's opinion on my instrumental performance?"
Zhang Zheng and Wang Xinzhe's eyes lit up at that. Zhang Zheng immediately sat up straight and pressed him for details.
"You mean all the instruments you played today?"
"All of them."
Wang Xinzhe asked, "Including the erhu?"
"Including the erhu."
Li Lan had a bad feeling, but she still had to turn to Zhou Yiyi.
"Then, Mentor Zhou Yiyi, what do you think of Brother Long's instrumental performance?"
Zhou Yiyi was a little dazed.
What the hell did I know about playing instruments?!
I'd spent three years practicing this face of mine!
Only an idiot would bother practicing an instrument!
And the erhu?
More like a damn fool!
A thousand curses raced through Zhou Yiyi's mind. He could barely keep up a polite smile.
If he opened his mouth, he'd give himself away.
He thought for a moment, sat up straight, and said in an incredibly serious tone,
"Contestant Dawei Tianlong's performance was very good. Yes, very good."
Wang Xinzhe and Zhang Zheng: "..."
The audience: "..."
Zhou Yiyi's brainless fans: "Wow, giegie said that so well! His voice is absolutely divine!"
Pfft.
A crisp laugh rang out. Feng Bingbing burst out laughing without trying to hide it.
The audience found it funny too. Zhou Yiyi had just said that Brother Long only knew how to play the piano and guitar, and that his playing was no good.
Was it really wise to slap himself in the face so earnestly now?
Zhang Zheng glanced at Feng Bingbing, smiling sweetly, then at the curtain onstage.
Hmm...
Why did he feel like Brother Long was standing up for Feng Bingbing?
He knew about Zhou Yiyi barging into Feng Bingbing's dressing room last episode, of course.
Before, Brother Long had only made passing jabs at Zhou Yiyi. But today, he was going after him so openly. It was a little too aggressive.
And Feng Bingbing had tried several times to question Brother Long...
Zhang Zheng furrowed his brows.
Could there be some secret between the two of them?
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