Chapter 74: Flipping Off The Skullcap
On the first day of recording for Music Blind Box, Meng Han and the other two were still very restrained when chatting with the civilian contestant, but once they inquired, they found out Yu Wei and the female contestant were watching television at home…
Sigh, young people.
Such thoughts didn’t last long, as on the second day they saw the microfilm starring Yu Wei and the female contestant go viral online.
A quick search revealed that the two were old acquaintances, having collaborated previously in an MV.
They weren’t the type to obsess over shipping couples, but Yu Wei’s relationship with this female contestant was clearly not simple. For the most basic example, in all the time since his debut, had he ever had any cooperation experience with other members of the opposite sex?
None at all, whether during the four years in the doldrums or after his rise to prominence, he was accustomed to going solo. There were pitifully few male stars he collaborated with, let alone opposite sex.
To put it this way, he didn’t even have a female lead in the novels he wrote…
For a person like this to collaborate fully with a civilian girl twice— if there wasn’t something going on, they wouldn’t believe it. Even if it wasn’t that kind of relationship, it was far beyond what others could compare to.
The program team clearly wanted to make an article out of this, continuously guiding things intentionally or otherwise, but the two completely didn’t take the bait.
One’s talking points were all official nonsense, the other’s jokes started with digressions and quips— it would be a miracle if they could get any words out of them.
Still looking forward to the two’s chorus next. There’s a saying: language can lie, but actions won’t deceive. If there’s really something there, their gazes definitely won’t be able to hide it.
The performance order for the four teams was the same as the earlier interviews. Yu Wei’s group was third, and taking the stage first was Chinese Entertainment novel classic female lead Su Xinnan.
She chose a classic song “Angel.” Nursing workers have always been hailed as angels in white, and this song was quite fitting.
What surprised Yu Wei was that a segment in the middle of the song’s arrangement incorporated the heartbeat sound of a stethoscope, brightening everyone’s eyes.
They weren’t just doing a simple cover, but had adapted it according to the contestant’s identity. True mastery is seen in the details— this was a real music story.
The nurse older sister sang a bit off-pitch, but it was no big deal; the emotions were well laid out.
“Teacher Yu, I heard you’re a scoring master. How about taking this opportunity to score this performance?”
The host, not minding the drama, directly linked Yu Wei with his own novel. Don’t think that scoring in the novel was swift and decisive— if he really had to score, he’d definitely give it a 9.9.
The entertainment industry isn’t about fighting and killing; it’s about human relationships.
Actually, for a non-professional singer like Su Xinnan, managing a cover like this was already very good, and the adaptation was heartfelt too.
The second group of guests was Jiang Li and the neighborhood committee auntie. Perhaps due to the auntie’s listening to music habits, Jiang Li chose a song with a strong sense of era, “Home Harmony Brings Prosperity,” which was quite apt.
There wasn’t much adaptation, but the auntie sang surprisingly well— no technique, all emotion. If not for imprecise enunciation, she would have sung better than Jiang Li.
Yu Wei lost interest in listening to the latter half of the song, after all, the next group on stage was theirs.
Chorus is the art of cooperation, highly testing the tacit understanding between singers. Yu Wei and Qi Luo An had pretty good tacit understanding, at least during practice.
At least if they could spend more time together it would be good. With a bit more time, Qi Luo An was confident they could cooperate even better.
“What if I crack on the high note… What if I forget the lyrics…”
Thoughts like vines entwined, the dense crowd below the stage and the three guests’ scrutinizing gazes lingered in her mind. Qi Luo An felt every breath carrying a faint tremble.
The more people care about something, the more easily they’re troubled by it. She still wanted too much to sing this song well with Yu Wei.
“Relax, my novel will bless every reader.”
Yu Wei’s voice carried warmth piercing her bewilderment. He had already adjusted his in-ear monitors and was leaning against the props box with a certain smile on his lips.
What kind of blessing was this— being blessed by a failure novel not to stumble would be a miracle. Qi Luo An wanted to complain, but heard Yu Wei continue.
“I’m really not teasing you. Your timbre is very suitable.”
Yu Wei wasn’t being polite. The female vocal part of this “Under the Flying Clouds” had an ethereal, narrative-rich melody line that needed clarity and delicacy, not brute force.
“I’m the lark, you’re the bluebird— take them flying!”
Qi Luo An was stunned for a moment, but before she could react, the spotlight underfoot suddenly rose, pushing them to the center of the stage.
Dry ice mist billowed over their ankles, the stage turning into the clouds. The piano intro dripped like a spring, strings unfurled melodiously. Qi Luo An took a deep breath, the cool microphone touching her lips as the notes were about to break free.
“Wind
Makes clouds bloom with flowers, sky full of flowers
Silently opening under the dark cloud
Then drifting to where?
Oh~”
Her voice started like veiled in thin gauze, with a hint of imperceptible tension, even slightly floating.
A bit of a mistake, but before she could adjust, Yu Wei’s clear and warm male voice steadily cut in, like a boulder supporting flowing clouds.
“Wandering in the sea of people
Are you doing well?
Do you miss home again?
That burning dream in your heart.”
Yu Wei didn’t show off skills deliberately, but used rich resonance to support Qi Luo An, conveying silent encouragement.
At this moment, Qi Luo An’s mind had only one phrase.
What the hell is there to fear…
With such solid support, what did she have to fear.
Qi Luo An felt something frozen in her chest cavity quietly melting. As the chorus arrived, that high note which had kept her up at night burst forth effortlessly.
“Under the flying clouds
The home I thought I’d forgotten
Speaks in my ear
Telling me not to worry about the pain and fear.”
The singing was like a bluebird breaking free of constraints, with unprecedented clarity and strength rushing straight to the dome! Her timbre was no longer thin; full emotion poured like moonlight, singing the call of “home” with countless turns.
The three star guests were instantly thrown into disarray— your civilian, my civilian, they don’t seem the same…
Forget civilians— such stable, clear high notes, many singers couldn’t achieve. If they had to do it on the spot now, they might not sing better than Qi Luo An.
But their surprise wasn’t over. Qi Luo An’s aftertone hadn’t faded when Yu Wei immediately responded with even more supportive harmony, rhythm perfectly in sync.
“Oh
Me on the halfway road
Dressed in memories and wind and sand.”
One wave higher than the last— who was on the competition stage?
Yu Wei was the backup on this song, but his high note was even higher. This intertwining, ascending vocal line in the chorus gave everyone goosebumps, nearly blowing off the tops of their heads.
The most brilliant chapter arrived as their gazes met in the air, voices fully blending.
Qi Luo An’s “Loneliness is a windbreaker, it wraps up fear, but I’m very brave” was sung firmly and uplifting, every word carrying courage to break through self.
Yu Wei collided and sublimated with his textured high note “The future waits for me to take,” like wings resonating together, whipping up sound waves that struck the soul.
The siren-like chant at the climax rang out. Qi Luo An completely cast aside concerns, letting emotion drive her voice in mutual harmony with Yu Wei’s timbre.
The guests who had been holding a gossip mindset had unknowingly dropped their arms, just like the on-site audience, holding their breath in rapt attention, feeling the momentary sea of clouds woven by the singing.
This was a chorus hard to replicate, requiring not just singing skill and timbre, but also tacit understanding and compatibility. Without a doubt, Yu Wei and Qi Luo An did it the best.
A god-making moment worthy of being remembered in music variety shows.
As the outro faded, Qi Luo An’s chest heaved, fingertips still faintly numb, but her face bloomed with an incredulous smile of relief.
They really did it…
She looked toward Yu Wei, but found his gaze a bit odd— though it held no lack of comfort and appreciation, he still looked puzzled.
“Sing, just sing— why are you tugging me?”
Qi Luo An looked down upon hearing this and found she’d unknowingly gripped Yu Wei’s sleeve tightly, wrinkling and deforming the clothes.
“You know, singing high notes requires effort…”
