Chapter 222: The Day The Program 221 Aired
More than a week later, Wang Heng and Han Yixuan arrived at Pei Ningle’s rental room as promised, sitting down on the sofa in the living room.
Wang Heng sat on a separate single-person sofa, while Pei Ningle and Han Yixuan sat together. They turned on the dusty television in the living room, watching eagerly.
Finally, the advertisements ended, and the main show began.
The screen suddenly darkened, then slowly lit up. A young man wearing glasses held a pen, scribbling on paper. At the same time, his ‘inner voice’ sounded in voiceover: “I’ve always wanted to write a song, one that belongs to me.”
The scene switched, and Pei Ningle appeared playing the guitar. It was also a voiceover, but this voice was much sweeter than the previous boy’s: “No matter how many audience members, or if only I hear it myself…”
Wang Heng: “You even recorded the opening video for them?”
“After going on stage that day, the director asked me to record a segment in a few minutes.” Pei Ningle touched the ponytail at the back of her head somewhat embarrassedly.
Han Yixuan suddenly asked: “By the way, didn’t you say before that you wanted to give your parents a surprise? Have you told them yet?”
Pei Ningle was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly pulled out her mobile phone: “I’ll call them right now, I’ll tell them right now!”
After the opening video finished playing, the program officially began. A voiceover host introduced the program’s theme and format, while the entire stage lit up on screen, and the four mentors took their seats amid cheers.
Pei Ningle also dialed her mother’s mobile phone and said: “Mom, can you watch TV right now? CCTV Channel 3, quick quick quick! Oh… don’t worry about so much, just watch and you’ll know!”
The program’s opening remarks were very brief. By the time Pei Ningle finished and hung up the phone, the first contestant had already taken the stage.
About ten minutes later, the next contestant took the stage and sang《She Mom Hates Me》.
At this time, Mother Pei called over, asking: “Girl, what exactly do you want me to watch? A song you young people like, recommending it to me?”
Pei Ningle: “Oh, no!”
Mother Pei: “Don’t keep me in suspense, just tell me what you want to say.”
Pei Ningle: “You’ll know if you keep watching…”
Beside her, Han Yixuan scooted closer to Wang Heng and whispered: “Xiao Le’s mom still hasn’t guessed it?”
Wang Heng: “After all, it’s CCTV Channel 3. Even if ordinary people think of that possibility, they probably wouldn’t dare say it out loud?”
The second contestant also stepped down, and the third took the stage: Zhuo Zun and his《Beaded Curtain Roll》. But before starting to sing, there was an interview segment from the program group with his mom, nicely showcasing their deep mother-son bond.
On the other end of the phone, Mother Pei’s tone softened: “You just wanted me to watch this? Him and his mom…”
Pei Ningle was torn between laughter and tears: “Oh, no, keep watching further!”
Further on, Zhuo Zun sang《Beaded Curtain Roll》. As soon as that ancient-style tune came out, Mother Pei praised: “Not bad, this young man! He sings with real flavor!”
Pei Ningle said somewhat helplessly: “Yeah, keep watching…”
After Zhuo Zun finished singing, he chose Mentor Liu Jiang, then stepped down amid the audience’s cheers and applause. But the next contestant who took the stage made the person on the other end of the phone go completely silent.
“My name is Pei Ningle, I’m 19 years old this year. I’ve liked music since I was little. After finishing the Gaokao last year, I finally took the first step in pursuing my dreams and started writing songs…”
“Ahhh—” Mother Pei suddenly screamed.
Pei Ningle quickly moved the phone away a bit, but her eardrum still ached faintly. She rubbed her temple and complained: “Mom, what’s with the craziness?”
Mother Pei: “Girl, you’re on television!”
The young girl sighed: “I recorded it some days ago, of course…”
Mother Pei: “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Pei Ningle: “Isn’t telling you now the same?”
At this moment, Pei Ningle on the television also started singing. Mother Pei on the other end of the phone immediately fell silent, listening quietly to her daughter singing.
But as she listened, Mother Pei couldn’t help but say: “Push it, push the push lever quick! What are you hesitating for!”
Pei Ningle: “Mom, take it easy, no need to worry. I’ve already passed this round.”
Mother Pei hurriedly asked: “Then which mentor did you choose?”
“Peng Xiaoya.”
Right after Pei Ningle said the name of this mentor, she saw Mentor Peng Xiaoya on television push the lever, selecting Pei Ningle. But the young girl on stage was still singing with her eyes closed, completely unaware.
The camera switched to the family and friends group room. And Pei Ningle’s family and friends group had only Han Yixuan, who was cheering for the mentor’s push lever.
Mother Pei suddenly asked: “Who is this girl? The subtitles say she’s your friend?”
“Yeah, a good friend I met here in Rongdu.”
When saying the three words ‘good friend’, Pei Ningle emphasized them heavily. But the next moment, Mother Pei’s focus shifted, throwing out a question that stunned her daughter on the spot.
“What about little Wang? Didn’t he accompany you there?”
Pei Ningle: “…Oh, don’t worry about the extra stuff!”
Mother Pei wanted to ask more, but fortunately, at this time, the song on television reached its end, and the other three mentors all pushed their levers, making Mother Pei cry out in surprise again.
Fortunately, this time Pei Ningle was prepared and had moved her ear away early.
The young girl had a smile she couldn’t suppress on her face, but she pretended to sigh: “Mom, can you not make such a big fuss…”
————
Lu Qi had just returned home when she experienced her mother’s face-to-face nagging. Fortunately, the nagging had only just begun not long ago, and she found a way to shift the topic and attention.
It was a little girl sitting on the sofa watching television. White short socks, the slender little legs unique to a girl just starting middle school, a pink little skirt, a round and tender face, and those playful pigtails—without a doubt, Fu Jiu was a very cute little girl.
“I’ll chat with Xiao Jiu first, it’s been a while since we saw each other…” Lu Qi said this to her mother, sat down beside the girl, and touched the top of her head. “What are you watching?”
Fu Jiu pointed at the television and said: “Qi Qi Jie, listen!”
On the television, a man with a long braid was talking to the four star mentors.
Lu Qi laughed casually: “CCTV’s talent show, nothing interesting about it…”
Fu Jiu shook her head seriously: “It’s not an ordinary talent show. Every song here is original, sung on stage by the original creators! The previous song was extremely good!”
A middle school girl had only heard a few songs; no matter how well she evaluated it, how much reference value could it have?
Lu Qi didn’t take it seriously and just shrugged. But just as she was about to say something more, the words on the tip of her tongue suddenly vanished.
“My name is Pei Ningle, I’m 19 years old this year. I’ve liked music since I was little. After finishing the Gaokao last year, I finally took the first step in pursuing my dreams and started writing songs…”
In the picture, besides the girl who was speaking, there was a slightly older-looking young girl next to her. Lu Qi naturally wouldn’t fail to recognize her— that was Han Yixuan!
And this Pei Ningle, thinking back carefully, hadn’t she also appeared by Wang Heng’s side last year?
Lu Qi stared fixedly at the screen, unblinking.
————
PS: Seeking recommendation tickets!
