The Music Reaches Its Peak: The Final Night of the Music Variety Show (10)
"In my peaceful life, your sudden arrival stirred my curiosity. I was deeply drawn to you. Please tell me your name. Without a trace of reluctance, you went away just like that. Please tell me your name, so I can quietly think of you..." Ling Xiaohong's mature, alluring voice rang out, making listeners' hearts itch and their imaginations run wild.
Mentor Song Ying said to Mentor Wang Feng beside her, "That sounds pretty good!"
Mentor Wang Feng nodded and said, "Her voice is very distinctive. I think she's better suited to suggestive songs, like 'The Temptation to Go Home' and 'My Dear, I, I Am Waiting for You.'"
The other two mentors nodded in agreement.
Comments from online viewers streamed across the screen.
"Ptooey, another little vixen!"
"The one above, you're jealous, aren't you?"
"Everyone, I'm done. Carry on."
"Something's wrong with the one above!"
"Stinking yuri..."
When the song ended, everyone in the audience stood up, and applause and cheers rang out without end!
Mentor Song Ying said, "Ling Xiaohong, your voice is very distinctive. It's delicate yet seductive, gentle without being trite. Very good! I give you a pass!" The green button sounded as it was pressed, and the venue erupted in cheers!
Mentor Wang Feng said, "Ling Xiaohong, you have a very good appearance. I suggest you add some body movements when you sing in the future. That would make the performance even better. I give you a pass!" Another mentor pressed the green button!
Lin Qingxue thought for a moment and said, "From a musical standpoint, although your singing was flawless, it lacked emotional investment. You need to work harder on that in the future. I give you a fail!" Lin Qingxue pressed the red button.
An uproar broke out in the venue. Wang Yan in particular felt a flicker of delight when she saw it, but at the same time, she grew even more nervous.
Mentor Ai Kun thought for a moment, said nothing, and pressed the green button.
Another wave of screams rose from the audience! With three passing votes, Wang Yan only needed four passing votes for her team to advance, and vice versa.
"Ding~ The system has issued a new mission. Please sing a song and successfully advance. Mission rewards: add 10 points to any attribute and gain 10,000 Empathy Points. There is no penalty for failure. Does the host accept?"
Chen Ze, who was watching the show backstage, heard the system notification.
"Accept!"
It seemed the system would issue a mission for every match. Once he completed this one, he could raise all his Attribute Points to 80. Chen Ze felt a surge of excitement!
"Next, please welcome Wang Yan to the stage. She'll be singing 'I Am Who I Am'!" the host announced.
Wang Yan took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. Yet despite her efforts, her body still trembled slightly. All the pressure was on her now, so it was impossible not to be nervous.
"You say I'm an arrogant person, you say I'm a boring person. I can't be bothered to explain. Explain it however you like. I am who I am, a firework unlike any other..."
Wang Yan's slightly trembling voice rose with the rhythm of the music. She too chose to dance while singing, though her dancing wasn't as sultry as Liu Zhimin's, and her movements weren't as exaggerated.
Mentor Ai Kun said to Lin Qingxue beside him, "She looks very nervous. Her voice is even starting to change."
Lin Qingxue nodded and said, "Her breath control is a little unsteady, and even her dance moves are getting a little distorted. Her mental fortitude isn't up to par!"
But what nobody expected was that, onstage, Wang Yan lost her balance while doing a high leg lift and slipped. She reacted quickly, however, covering it up with a sweeping leg move. Even so, many people frowned at the sight.
When the dance ended, Wang Yan seemed to know her fate as she waited for the judges' critiques with reddened eyes.
Mentor Song Ying said, "Wang Yan, judging from your movements just now, you must have had professional training. But your breathing was unsteady, and your movements were stiff. You'll need more practice in the future. I give you a fail!" The red button lit up.
Mentor Ai Kun said, "Wang Yan, I could tell you were very nervous. That's a serious mistake onstage. I hope you can overcome it in the future. I give you a fail!" Ai Kun pressed the red button as well.
An uproar broke out in the venue. Two failing votes meant their team had already lost its chance at the top four. Liu Zhimin was the most innocent of all. Her singing had been so outstanding, yet she had lost the match. It wasn't her fault!
But sometimes, luck was part of one's strength too!
Lin Qingxue said, "Wang Yan, your nerves made your breathing unsteady and your dance moves stiff, not to mention that major mistake in the middle. I give you a fail!"
Wang Yan was already crying aloud. She nodded and bowed, saying nothing in rebuttal.
Mentor Wang Feng glanced at her and said, "A thumbs-up to everyone working hard for their dreams!" With that, he pressed the green button!
"Clap, clap, clap..." Applause and cheers filled the venue!
"Thank you, Mentor Wang Feng..." After speaking, Wang Yan turned and walked off, her departing figure looking somewhat forlorn. When she reached Liu Zhimin, she bowed and apologized to her, and then the two returned backstage.
"The next match is Team Chen Ze versus Team Lin Hao. Let's give a round of applause to welcome Sun Yingsha to the stage. The song she'll be singing today is 'I Once,' and it's an original too!" the host said playfully.
"An original?" The mentors exchanged glances. Wang Feng asked in puzzlement, "Could Chen Ze have written it?"
"It's possible!"
"I once had countless cold winds blow straight through my chest
I once had a distant dream force me to gaze up at the starry sky
I once had countless jeers tell me to give up my dream of music
I once had endless yellow earth bury the surging passion within me
I once wanted my singing to move people to sink endlessly into it
I once took them for the rainbow after my wind and rain
I once threw all the reasons for my downfall to time
I once threw away the opportunities right before my eyes
I once shattered a perfect mirror
At night, my pillow was soaked with tears
How I wished I could start the past over
And have one more chance
I want to say that in the time gone by
I did it for no one
Apart from empty talk
There was nothing but rights and wrongs
I once wanted my singing
To move people to sink endlessly into it
I once took them for
After my wind and rain
That rainbow
I once took the reasons for my downfall
And threw them all to time
I once took the opportunities
And threw them away right before my eyes
..."
Sun Yingsha's weathered voice slowly rose to the sound of the guitar, and the audience fell silent!
At that moment, Sun Yingsha seemed to recall her own experiences. Tears streamed from her eyes as she became completely immersed in the lyrics.
"These lyrics really strike deep into the heart!" Lin Qingxue exclaimed.
Mentor Wang Feng said nothing. His unfocused eyes rested on Sun Yingsha onstage, and he seemed to be lost in some memory.
Mentor Ai Kun, usually the liveliest of them all, was silent too. Though he hadn't lived through the experiences in the lyrics, he could still empathize!
Mentor Song Ying said, "The lyrics are plain and unadorned, a true portrait of someone living at the bottom of society!"
"I once shattered a perfect mirror. At night, my pillow was soaked with tears..." Sun Yingsha continued singing, and some members of the audience were already in tears, reminded of themselves, still struggling desperately...
When the song ended, applause rang out and refused to die down for a long time!
Mentor Song Ying said, "Sun Yingsha, your singing is full of stories. You brought out that feeling of having weathered life's hardships while still holding on to hope. The progression and handling of the emotions were just right, drawing people in before they could help themselves. Quite good! I give you a pass!" Mentor Song Ying pressed the green button.
Lin Qingxue said, "Sun Yingsha, your voice isn't the most perfect, but you made up for all of that with your most sincere emotions. On this stage, technique is certainly important, but your sincerity and unique interpretation breathed life into this song. I give you a pass!" Lin Qingxue pressed the green button.
Mentor Ai Kun said, "Your singing was wonderful!" With that, he pressed the green button.
Mentor Wang Feng seemed to have only just come back to his senses. "Who wrote this song?" he asked.
"Chen Ze wrote it for me!" Sun Yingsha said.
Wang Feng nodded and pressed the green button!
His action drew a wave of screams from the audience!
Giant Loli was unusually excited. Hearing that Chen Ze had written the song excited her so much that she shouted herself hoarse.
The online comments, which had only just quieted down, covered the screen again in an instant.
"See? I said Chen Ze wrote it. He's the only one who could write this kind of song."
"Wow, my idol, you're amazing!"
"The song is important, sure, but my goddess sang it well too, didn't she?"
"Next, please welcome Guan Yue to the stage. The song she'll be singing today is 'That Hasty Day,'" the host announced.
The plump Guan Yue walked to the center of the stage. As the music started, she began to sing: "Under the parasol tree, you and I said goodbye. It was all too hasty. Before I was even ready, you had to leave..."
Contrary to her appearance, her voice was gentle, and the way she sang as though telling a story made people want to listen. Glow sticks waved through the venue, swaying steadily to the rhythm of the music.
When the song ended, three of the four mentors gave her a pass.
"Next, please welcome Chen Ze to the stage. What he's brought us today is his original song, 'Drowning Sorrows'!"
The host didn't leave after speaking. Instead, she turned to the camera and read out a string of advertising lines, drawing complaints from many people.
"Damn! Again!"
"Why is this host so long-winded?"
"Get off the stage already! Don't keep me from seeing my idol!"
"Yeah, exactly!"