Sounding the Peak: The Night of the Music Variety Show Finals (Nine)

Onstage, the draw for the round of eight was underway. Contestants who drew matching numbers would pair up, dividing the eight contestants into four teams. The four teams would then draw lots again, and those who drew matching numbers would compete against each other. All eight contestants now held a slip of paper.

This segment was being prerecorded, not livestreamed, because each team needed time to get in sync. The actual competition would not begin for another three days.

"Contestants, please open the slips of paper in your hands!" the host, Lin Jia, said.

Chen Ze had drawn number three. The other contestants opened their slips one after another, then, as if by prior agreement, looked toward Chen Ze to see what number he had.

"Now, those with matching numbers, please stand together," the host said.

All the contestants showed their numbers. Chen Ze saw that Sun Yingsha, who was standing nearby, also had number three, so he walked over to her.

Sun Yingsha's eyes lit up, and she walked toward him as well. Before long, everyone had found their teammate.

Lin Hao was paired with Guan Yue, the owner of the matchmaking agency. There was something inexplicably comical about the petite Lin Hao standing beside the overweight Guan Yue.

Su Yao was paired with Ling Xiaohong, a long-legged mature beauty. Chen Ze was paired with Sun Yingsha, and Liu Zhimin with Wang Yan.

"Now we'll draw lots again. The teams that draw matching numbers will compete against each other," the host, Lin Jia, said.

The four each took another number from the box. Chen Ze and Sun Yingsha deferred to each other for a moment before Sun Yingsha gestured for him to draw. Chen Ze accepted without ceremony and drew a number. This time, he got number two.

The other three teams were all praying inwardly that they would not draw the same number as Chen Ze. If they could not be his teammates, they certainly did not want to be his opponents.

Lin Hao looked at the number in his hand, then at Chen Ze's, and his little face fell!

"All right, the draw is complete. The round of eight will take place in three days. The rules are that the two members of each team will compete separately against the two members of the opposing team. If both members of a team win, they advance. If each team wins one match, there will be an extra round, but both members will perform together in that round. In other words, you and your teammate will sing the same song as a duet. Does everyone understand?"

"We understand!" everyone replied.

"Good! Then go back and get ready!" the host said.

Chen Ze and Sun Yingsha did not go back right away. The two went to a singing practice room.

"Chen Ze, are you singing another original song this time?" Sun Yingsha asked.

"Yes. What about you?" Chen Ze asked.

Sun Yingsha shrugged. "I still haven't decided what to sing. I never even thought I'd make it into the top eight."

Chen Ze rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. "How about singing a song I wrote?"

Sun Yingsha's eyes shone brightly. "Can I really?"

"Of course. Wait here for me," Chen Ze said, then walked out.

Before long, Chen Ze came back with two folders and two USB drives. He handed them to Sun Yingsha and said, "There are two songs in these folders, and the USB drives have recordings of me singing them. One is for you, and the other is a duet for the two of us, just in case. First, take a look at the song you'll be singing."

The song Chen Ze had given her was "I Once," an internet song that had been very popular in his previous life. He thought it suited her temperament and experiences.

For the other song, a duet for a man and a woman, Chen Ze had originally selected three: "When Love Is a Thing of the Past," "Intimate Lover," and "Chilling." In the end, he chose "Chilling," a song in the ancient style.

Sun Yingsha opened the folder and read it carefully. When she saw the lyrics, her hands trembled slightly.

She turned around, grabbed Chen Ze's hand, and said excitedly, "Chen Ze, you really are a musical genius! This song might as well have been tailor-made for me! The lyrics speak straight to my heart!"

Chen Ze smiled and patted the back of her hand. "Since you like it, practice hard. Try to get it down over the next three days. We don't have much time. Also, take a look at this song." Chen Ze tugged at the hand she was holding, but it did not budge.

Sun Yingsha realized what she was doing, and her face turned crimson. She hurriedly let go of Chen Ze's hand and apologized. "Sorry, Chen Ze, I... I got too excited!" In her excitement, Sun Yingsha had forgotten that Chen Ze was a boy. If Chen Ze had slapped her then and there, she would have had to accept it without complaint. That was the law in this world.

"It's all right. Let's take a look at this song!" Chen Ze was naturally not as reserved as the men of this world. It was just holding hands; it wasn't as if he would lose a piece of flesh.

"Okay!" The blush faded from Sun Yingsha's face, and she returned to her professional singer's demeanor.

The two spent three straight days practicing their songs.

In the blink of an eye, competition day arrived again.

On the brilliantly lit stage, lights of every color shone together. At last, amid the audience's anticipation, the eagerly awaited round of eight began.

This time, Giant Loli had finally managed to buy a front-row seat. She was excitedly waving a light-up sign and shouting Chen Ze's name. No one thought it strange, because many people around her were doing the same, cheering on the contestants they supported.

The host was the first to step onstage. Smiling, the host said, "Welcome, everyone, to The Voice of Great Xia. On this stage, eight contestants have fought their way through round after round..."

At the same time, the online livestream was underway!

"Wow, the venue is so lively! It's just a shame I couldn't get a ticket. I really wanted to watch in person!"

"Yeah, I couldn't get a ticket either!"

"Wow, where's my idol?"

"Now, please welcome our four hall-of-fame mentors!" The host's voice grew excited.

Once the four mentors had taken their seats, the host said, "Now, please welcome our eight contestants!" Chen Ze and the others filed out and stood in a row onstage.

"This program is brought to you by..." The host launched into another advertisement.

"Damn, this host is rambling again!"

"Yeah, I really want to slap her!"

"Look, my idol's out!"

"The rules for this competition are..." The host was still rambling.

"All right, let's begin the first match! The first match will be between Su Yao's team and Liu Zhimin's team."

Su Yao walked slowly onto the stage with a guitar in her arms. The song she would sing today was "Missing You," a fairly popular song in this world.

"You quietly departed, on a night when I suddenly missed you. How I long to hold you and tell you just how much I miss you..." Her clear voice rang out, and the audience gradually began waving their glow sticks. The scene was warm and beautiful.

"I gave you all my love, gave you the world. From now on, I'll miss you no more, yet I still can't let you go. You're always so willful. You're like poison, and I can't break my addiction to you..."

When the song ended, many people in the audience were moved to tears and broke into applause.

Mentor Song Ying spoke up. "Su Yao, your voice was full of emotion. Your rendition made 'Missing You' even more deeply moving. Even I nearly cried! My verdict is pass!" With that, she pressed the green button.

Su Yao bowed deeply in thanks.

Lin Qingxue said, "Mentor Song Ying is right. You blended your emotions perfectly into this song, and your voice is very well suited to this type of music. I hope you can go even further! My verdict is pass!" Lin Qingxue also pressed the green button.

After offering their critiques, mentors Wang Feng and Ai Kun also pressed their green buttons.

The two members of the other team, standing at the edge of the stage, felt their hearts tighten. All four mentors had voted to pass Su Yao, which meant her team had already won one match. Even if one of their own members received a unanimous pass next, they would only just manage to draw level.

"Next, please welcome Liu Zhimin to the stage. She will be performing 'Moment of Passion'!" the host announced.

Liu Zhimin wore a black bodycon skirt, with her long legs wrapped in black stockings. She looked sexy and scorching hot!

"This is my stage, and I make the rules. My passion can no longer be held back. I've wanted to push you down for ages, but you run so fast that I can't catch you..." Accompanied by the deafening beat of heavy metal music, Liu Zhimin sang and danced. Her sizzling dance and stunning figure set the blood racing. Chen Ze watched, dumbfounded. A dance like this would certainly not have been allowed to air in his previous life, yet it was perfectly normal in this world.

The audience was stirred up as well. They stood and screamed, and for a time, screams and shouts rang out without end. The entire venue boiled over!

The online bullet comments also poured in.

"Wow! That dance is amazing!"

"Wow, I want to marry her!"

"Pah, what a vixen, seducing decent young men!"

Mentor Ai Kun also left his seat and began dancing along as if he were having a fit.

When the dance ended, Liu Zhimin panted as she tugged down her bodycon skirt, which had ridden up during her vigorous dancing, and waited for the mentors' critiques.

Lin Qingxue was the first to speak. "Liu Zhimin, you sang very well, and of course, you danced even better! Your body is extremely flexible. Whether it was your singing or your dance moves, you did an outstanding job. My verdict is pass!" Lin Qingxue pressed her green button.

Mentor Ai Kun said, "Liu Zhimin, your dancing was truly amazing. You completely fired up my enthusiasm. I hope I can dance with you one day. My verdict is pass!" Mentor Ai Kun pressed the green button as well.

After offering their critiques, the other two mentors also pressed their green buttons.

Both teams now had one member who had passed unanimously. What happened next depended on the performance of each team's other member.

Next, it was Su Yao's team's turn. Su Yao's teammate, Ling Xiaohong, would be singing "Your Name."