Sounding the Peak: The Music Variety Show Finals Night (I)
Chen Ze was also preparing his competition songs. He took out a loan from the system store to purchase the Top-Tier Singing Skill, Musical Instrument Mastery, and Dance Mastery skills, along with dozens of classic songs from his previous life. After he bought the songs, all the sheet music, accompaniment, and instruments he would need appeared in his mind. For more than twenty days, Chen Ze had been busy with preliminary work, including arranging the music for the songs.
"System, open my personal attribute panel." The attribute panel displayed:
Name: Chen Chen Age: 18 Height: 178 cm Figure: 70 Physique: 60 Bearing: 70 Charm: 80 (outstanding) Skills: View the Other Person's Information lv1, Top-Tier Singing Skill, Musical Instrument Mastery, Dance Mastery.
With everything ready, Chen Ze said goodbye to a reluctant Zheng Yanxi and entered the competition venue for The Voice of Great Xia with Lin Dan, the manager the company had temporarily assigned him. The competition would last sixteen days, with one round every four days. The first round would officially begin the day after tomorrow. During that time, the production team would arrange food and lodging for all contestants, who were not allowed to leave as they pleased.
Lin Dan was a woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six, with short, ear-length hair and a serious expression that always graced her pretty face. She wore gold-rimmed glasses, and her professional office suit made her look intellectual and mature. It was said that a shareholder of Tianmei Entertainment had arranged for her to join the company to burnish her résumé.
Lin Dan had been at Tianmei Entertainment for three years, yet she had never been given an important role. Because she had gotten in through the back door using connections, there were always discordant voices around her. As a result, despite her naturally lively and cheerful personality, she had to wear a serious expression all day. She firmly believed that, by relying on her own talent and hard work, she would one day earn everyone's recognition!
But things had gone against her wishes. Two days ago, the company had assigned her to be a newcomer's manager, a job she was extremely reluctant to take. But if she used her mother's connections to turn it down, those people would probably start gossiping again. Wouldn't that only further cement her reputation as a useless person who had gotten in through the back door using connections?
At that thought, she gritted her teeth and accepted. She believed that, with her own talent managing things, she could make the newcomer stand out even if he was mediocre.
"Hello, Mr. Chen. I'm Lin Dan, the manager the company has temporarily assigned to you," Lin Dan said with a cool expression.
"Hello, my name is Chen Ze. We'll be partners from now on, so I hope you'll give me plenty of guidance!" Chen Ze said politely.
"Mm, all right!" Lin Dan replied just as coolly, as though she really were there to give Chen Ze guidance.
Although Chen Ze didn't know why she was like that, he assumed it was simply her personality, so he said nothing more. Together, they headed to the lodging arranged by the production team.
After settling their accommodations, the two went to a room the production team had set aside specifically for contestants to practice singing. Each contestant had a room of their own, furnished with several common instruments and some equipment.
"Chen Ze, what song are you planning to sing the day after tomorrow?" Lin Dan skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point.
Chen Ze opened a suitcase, took out a folder, and handed it to Lin Dan. "I'm planning to sing an original song."
Lin Dan opened the folder to find a thick stack of papers inside. She took one out and saw that it was densely covered in musical notation.
"Secret Fragrance? This is the original song you're going to sing?" Although Lin Dan didn't know how to produce music, Secret Fragrance required so many instruments that she figured it couldn't be bad.
"Mm. Please help me register the copyright while you're at it," Chen Ze said.
"All right!" Lin Dan said nothing more and turned to make the arrangements. She had to hand the sheet music over to the production team's designated band and arrange the related performance matters.
In the blink of an eye, the day of the competition arrived. The venue was Capital Stadium.
As night spilled across the sky like ink, the city's lights came on one by one, like stars fallen to earth. A magnificent stadium stood quietly in the heart of the city, like a shining palace of music. It was about to host the finals of a music variety show that had captured everyone's attention. Countless music fans, carrying their love of music and their anticipation, gathered from all directions to attend this musical feast together.
Outside the stadium, enormous posters bore photographs of the contestants, their eyes gleaming with desire and determination to claim the championship. The posters glowed enchantingly under the lights, drawing the eyes of passersby. At the venue entrance, a crowd surged, tickets in hand and faces alight with excitement. Security personnel maintained order and guided the audience inside.
Inside the stadium, the first thing to catch the eye was the enormous stage. It spread out toward the audience in the shape of a fan, like a phoenix spreading its wings to take flight. The stage floor was made of transparent glass, with countless LED lights embedded inside. They flickered and danced to the rhythm of the music, forming an array of brilliant, colorful patterns. Behind the stage stood a giant LED screen, playing highlights of the contestants' performances and breathtaking visual effects, bringing the audience a feast for both the eyes and ears.
Dozens of professional stage lights hung above the stage, able to change color and brightness to match the emotion and rhythm of the music. At times they were bright and warm as sunlight, at others soft and tranquil as moonlight, and at still others dazzling as starlight. Under their glow, everything onstage looked more vivid and lifelike, as though it had been given life.
The seating rose in tiers around the stage, giving every spectator a clear view of the performance. Not a single seat remained empty. The audience was dressed in their finest, their faces bright with expectant smiles. They waved glow sticks and support signs bearing the names and slogans of the contestants they supported, turning the entire seating area into a multicolored ocean.
Amid the audience's enthusiastic cheers, the host walked onstage. Dressed in a gorgeous gown, Lin Jia beamed as she spoke in a clear, pleasant voice. "Dear audience members, good evening! Welcome to the finals of The Voice of Great Xia music variety show! After a long series of auditions, tonight we have finally reached the second stage of this pinnacle competition!"
After speaking, Lin Jia turned to the camera. "This program is sponsored by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery—if you love him, buy it for him—and Fruit Mobile Phone-love fruit, love freedom... and others!" The host listed a string of sponsors and their advertising slogans.
"Next, please give a round of applause to welcome our four hall-of-fame mentors to the stage!" the host said excitedly.
Passionate music began to play, and a person slowly emerged from a passageway at the side of the stage.
"First to appear is our mentor, Ms. Song Ying! As a traditional folk musician of our country, Ms. Song Ying has attained an exceptionally high level of mastery in folk music. Her representative works include Who Is the Most Lovable Person, Figure on the Grassland, and Dad in the Candlelight. She has made enormous contributions to our country's folk music!"
Dressed in traditional attire, Mentor Song Ying waved to the audience as the host introduced her, slowly making her way to her mentor's seat.
The music sounded again, and another person emerged from the passageway as the host's voice rang out once more.
"Now walking slowly toward us is our mentor, Mr. Ai Kun! As a domestic rapper, Mr. Ai Kun pioneered a uniquely distinctive style of rap. His representative works include My Tin Boots, My Mother Is Wealthy, and They Say I'm Too Bad. He has filled a gap in our country's rap music!"
Dressed in hip-hop style, Mentor Ai Kun slowly made his way to his seat while dancing irregular steps as though having a fit.
Deafening music sounded again, and another person emerged from the passageway.
"Next walking toward us is our mentor, Ms. Wang Feng! As a famous domestic rock musician, Ms. Wang Feng is widely recognized as the number one figure in rock music! Her representative works include Capital Capital, In the Summer, and Let's Travel Together. She has made enormous contributions to our country's rock music!"
Mentor Wang Feng had a distinctive head of long, slightly wavy hair, every strand distinct. He waved as he walked toward his mentor's seat.
The music sounded again, and another person emerged from the passageway.
"The last mentor to appear is Ms. Lin Qingxue. She is a leading figure in modern pop music and modern dance. Her representative works include A Different Me, The Season of Waiting for the Wind, and The Rain's Destination. Her songs are widely sung, and people vie to imitate her dances!" The host's voice grew even more excited. Clearly, this mentor was her idol.
Mentor Lin Qingxue was much younger than the previous mentors, looking only to be in her early twenties. Dressed in a purple bodycon skirt, she drew even wilder screams and cheers than the others the moment she appeared! By now, she too had taken her mentor's seat.
"On this stage filled with passion and dreams, every contestant has used their voice to express their love and dedication to music. Next, let's look forward to their wonderful performances together!"
As the host spoke, portraits of the one hundred contestants appeared one by one on the giant screen behind the stage. Chen Ze's portrait was among them.