Chapter 164: Chinese Style Talent, Young Actor In His Twenties Guards The Nation’s Gate
“What are you doing?”
Chi Ye frowned and asked.
“What do you mean what am I doing? I didn’t do anything.”
Shi Jinwei replied guiltily.
“Does it make your butt look big? You’re pushing against people like that, why not give way to our international friend at all?”
Shi Jinwei’s face flushed red with shame. It was so subtle, did he keep staring at me?
What intentions does he have toward me?!
Fancia, who was “accidentally” squeezed aside by Shi Jinwei, blinked her eyes, a bit at a loss.
Hmm… her strength is indeed quite strong.
Rustling sounds.
Teacher Shi’s voice accepting Sheng Ning’s interview came from ahead: “Thanks to Teacher Chi… for writing this song for me. Without him, there wouldn’t be this work. I hope everyone likes it.”
Sheng Ning’s sarcastic voice: “Teacher Chi, you really have ‘talent,’ huh.”
“Mm.”
“You sang really well too, no need to be too modest.”
“Uh… the composition is good.”
“…”
Sheng Ning: ???
Damn, I’m done. Can’t you respond? Otherwise, it makes me look like I’m targeting Chi Ye!
Though, I am indeed targeting him.
“Mm…”
Shi Jinwei listened sideways to the words on stage. Teacher Shi was about to return. She frowned in dilemma, feeling it was abrupt and embarrassing to ask Chi Ye for a song right now, but not asking made her heart itch a bit.
What to do.
“If you don’t sign, I won’t give you the song.”
At that moment, Chi Ye spoke up bluntly: “Sign it. Once you sign, I’ll give you the song.”
“Sign?!”
Shi Jinwei was dumbfounded for two seconds upon hearing it.
You won’t give it to me if I don’t sign?
You insist on me signing?!
She got furious: “I won’t sign! I don’t want your song anymore! You’re too insulting, Chi Ye!”
Not satisfied after saying that, she looked at Chi Ye with a face full of incomprehension: “No… I don’t get it. What kind of special fetish is this? You just like hearing me sign that much?”
“Chi Ye, don’t go too far! You’re bullying me!”
Chi Ye: “?”
He frowned at Sister Qianzi: “Are you sick in the head? I said sign! Sign the contract, not pliers. Why should I give you a song if you don’t sign? Are you my mom?”
Shi Jinwei: If I really had a rebellious son like you, I’d probably die of anger in the delivery room.
“Go go go, farther away, don’t block me from interacting with the international friend.”
Chi Ye found her an eyesore, delaying his smooth lottery draws.
Yes, he’d been touching the two international friends all along, mainly using beginner and intermediate scrolls, trying to get their English skills… but as expected, no matter how he refreshed, he only got useless junk skills. Either entertainment-related, but nothing on language or physical functions.
Damn, is the probability really that low?
While he frowned in thought, Fancia had already stood up to go on stage, leaving only Xiang Tiamo as the remaining “target.”
Chi Ye suddenly had an idea and experimentally started using advanced scrolls.
【You obtained Xiang Tiamo’s『Divorce Manual』（Advanced）】
【Xiang Tiamo has four divorce experiences, extremely proficient in emotional life and divorce tactics.】
【You obtained…】
【You obtained Xiang Tiamo’s『English Lyrics Rhythm and Types』（Advanced）】
【Summary of various English lyrics textbooks, essential reserve for learning English songs.】
It actually worked!
Chi Ye’s eyes lit up. As long as he didn’t try for language directly but for song-related skills, it was indeed easy to hit.
Having found the “BUG” pattern, Chi Ye stopped being stingy and started kuku-outputting on Xiang Tiamo.
By the time Fancia came off stage, he had basically mastered techniques and skills for various English music creation, including English.
Felt good.
At this point, with the last singer taking the stage, 《King of Singers 2025》 episode five was nearing its end.
Entering this episode’s, also 《King of Singers》’s most suffocating ranking segment since the start.
—Especially Chi Ye and Xiang Tiamo: one a newly joined challenger singer, the other previously seen as 《King of Singers》’s NO1 big boss.
The competition originally had no suspense, but after 《Huo Yuanjia》 came out, everything became questionable.
Can Chi Ye succeed in the challenge?
If successful, doesn’t that mean Xiang Tiamo has to “temporarily leave” the King of Singers stage?
This is too absurd.
This was everyone’s thought at the moment, and the program team’s too.
…
“What to do? How exactly to handle it?”
Backstage.
The program team’s assistant director looked at the chief director with a pained face: “Before inviting Chi Ye, we didn’t expect him to draw Xiang Tiamo right away, let alone… he… he actually made that kind of composition.”
“《Huo Yuanjia》’s stage effect is too explosive; feels like Xiang Tiamo has no hope.”
Yes, Huo Yuanjia’s song and stage effect met expectations. When Chi Ye finished singing, Weibo hot search already had #In ancient times Huo Yuanjia punched foreign powers, now Chi Ye solos Tiamo#.
Very high popularity, currently at hot search first place, the one below is #Shi Daifu《Devil from Heaven》#.
Third is #Chi Ye Talent#.
—All related to Chi Ye; his personal popularity exploded today.
“…Can we see the vote results now?”
Compared to the assistant director, the chief director was much calmer—he… was once 《Jian Ni》’s chief director.
So Chi Ye doing anything bizarre wouldn’t surprise him.
Used to it.
“Can’t see, but can estimate roughly… mainly Xiang Tiamo’s performance today was just okay, not particularly great; her signature whistle tone didn’t shine. Feels like she’ll shift positions this episode.”
“Shift if she shifts.” The chief director grinned: “Not real elimination anyway; she can come back in the revival match.”
Assistant director: “…”
“You’re right.”
《King of Singers》 program team follows the “ancestral” tradition; rules are truly “Schrödinger”-style, not to mention they anticipated race format “cruelty” and accidents this episode.
Breakthrough match, aka revival match, prepared exactly for these accidents.
So Xiang Tiamo “eliminated,” but not fully eliminated, as expected.
“Inviting Chi Ye was the right call.”
Chief director shook his head with emotion: “How did I not see before? He hid so deep.”
Assistant director: “…Goujian style, normal.”
“Alright, I gotta go in; time to reveal the answers.”
Chief director checked his watch, saw time was about up, waited for staff’s stats data, then strode into backstage.
And at this moment.
Inside backstage.
Atmosphere tense and oppressive.
Of course, tension not just from Chi Ye vs Xiang Tiamo showdown, but other singer groups too, awaiting answers.
—After 《King of Singers》 enters challenge/attack phase, singer rankings shift from simple votes to points system.
The so-called points system rewards winners of each matchup.
And… honestly, losing a 1v1 solo on this stage is very embarrassing, even without elimination.
If many rivals/enemies, off-stage it’ll be nagged about forever.
“Teacher Na, Hua Yichen group—Teacher Na 302 votes, Hua Yichen 201 votes.”
“Teacher Na wins one point.”
Teacher Na’s expression unsurprised, dignified and poised, even said to Hua Yichen: “Little Flower, don’t rush; you performed really well today too. My song had the advantage.”
Hua Yichen squeezed out a smile: “Sister Ying, you’re so modest.”
Sister Ying, why don’t you go die!
Damn you, picking on me specifically?!
If you dare, go challenge Xiang Tiamo and Fancia!
Truly infuriating!
Hua Yichen cursed inwardly, but hearing the next group’s votes made his mood worse.
“Shi Jinwei, Shi Daifu group: Shi Jinwei 310 votes, Shi Daifu 399 votes.”
Chief director looked at Teacher Shi: “Teacher Shi gains one point.”
“…Thanks.” Teacher Shi nodded.
Sister Qianzi gritted her teeth.
Though she expected it, knowing she couldn’t beat 《Devil from Heaven》, the reveal still deflated her a bit.
All Chi Ye’s fault!!
She glared fiercely at Chi Ye, who was spacing out.
Chi Ye: “?”
Crazy? Why glare at me.
He was thinking what snacks to bring back for Empress Dowager… Xiangnan’s most famous local foods are spicy… can Empress Dowager eat spicy?
Then, other groups were announced one by one.
Sole bye Fancia automatically gets one point.
But program team chief director also said: “Next episode enters second round matchup; hope everyone prepares.”
Everyone silent.
Next “challenge/attack” in episode seven, so episode six… next one, exactly eight singers; someone must pick Fancia. They really need to prepare.
Thinking this, everyone’s gazes uniformly fell on Chi Ye and Xiang Tiamo.
These two different from them: win gets point, lose means revival match restart…
“Announce it; why look at me?”
Chi Ye noticed chief director’s gaze, “got it” and looked at the shot: “Oh… alright, commercial break first. Back after ads, even more exciting!”
“Haha.”
Everyone laughed, atmosphere slightly eased.
But then, chief director seriously looked at them: “You two… votes very close.”
Xiang Tiamo and Chi Ye both silent.
Latter had expectations inside, due to 《Huo Yuanjia》’s explosive effect and god-level song; insiders and outsiders could hear/see the level.
Honestly, even without Chi Ye, she wouldn’t claim sure win over today’s Shi Daifu performance.
Chief director built tension until everyone nearly impatient, then cleared throat: “From last digit to first, revealing numbers.”
“Ah!”
“Don’t play like this.”
“Director, too much.”
“Every time?!”
Everyone protested.
Second Hand Brother grinned wide, bluntly: “Don’t make me send you off!”
Chief director silent, focused on ratings issue; after headset confirmed standard, smiled and nodded: “First, Teacher Chi’s third digit: 5.”
“Xiang Tiamo third digit: 9.”
Everyone unmoved; third digit least valuable.
Chief director continued: “Chi Ye, second digit: 8.”
“Xiang Tiamo second digit: 7.”
“…!!”
Everyone’s heartbeats instantly sped up.
85, 79…
Need to continue?
Given their performances today, first digit unlikely differ by one; probably both max 4.
In other words…
Xiang Tiamo regretfully shook head early.
Chief director announced: “Teacher Chi first digit 4, Xiang Tiamo, 4.”
“Your votes: Chi Ye 485, 15 abstentions; Xiang Tiamo 479, 21 abstentions.”
“6-vote gap; congrats Chi Ye, challenge success!”
“Wow!!”
“Congrats, congrats.”
“New style awesome, that arrangement… how’d you make it? Too ruthless, bro!”
Room filled with applause from other singers and guests; some asked Chi Ye how he made that arrangement.
Song’s fusion and innovation of Chinese traditional classical instruments and Western instruments was “visible to the ear,” let alone that singing style—truly gripping.
“Prepared for a while, experimental creation, experimental.”
Chi Ye stayed calm, surprising Sister Qianzi and Hua Yichen who expected his smug face again.
But then they reacted.
Yeah, Chi Ye seems to only go hard on those who targeted him…
Damn, that makes you principled?
Xiang Tiamo side, fake-hugged Teacher Na, who mock-“sadly” said ambiguous: “We all get it.”
Xiang Tiamo: “?”
What do you get?
Venue’s other foreigner Fancia sincerely hugged senior Xiang Tiamo, then inwardly raised vigilance.
—Can’t slack in this show anymore; if she ends up in breakthrough match too, too embarrassing.
“Xiang Tiamo enters breakthrough match phase; hope you keep going, we await your return.”
Chief director said solemnly, but everyone knew, per King of Singers nature, Xiang Tiamo’d “revive” soon.
At least, finals King of Singers battle’s seven spots surely include her seat.
Thus, this episode 《King of Singers》 ended, but 《King of Singers》’s hottest always off-stage topics extension.
Like this time.
Chi Ye actually “eliminated” Xiang Tiamo?!
Initial non-viewers saw hot search utterly dumbfounded, but after watching live, even more dumbfounded.
Because… this Chi Ye… this performance… he has this “strength”?!
A singer in 《King of Singers》, singing skill, creation, even stage all bonuses; besides live, “original” bonus actually highest.
Freshness key; why so many singers wildly rearrange on show? For freshness.
Can’t write good originals, don’t want sing overplayed covers, so arrangements best path.
But Chi Ye different: delivered explosive quality original + explosive live + 《Huo Yuanjia》 pioneering Chinese Style song.
Yes, song too excellent, live too steady, live atmosphere too explosive, so he beat normal-level Xiang Tiamo.
#Young Actor Truly Held the National Gate#
#Recap of Chi Ye’s Lyric Writing and Composition Songs#
#Talent#
#Chinese Music Scene New Generation#
#Chinese Style#
Related hot words topped hot search; more bystanders drawn in, discussing/debating various hot topics.
Similarly, after 《King of Singers》 first four episodes’ tragic “no one guarding national gate” background, amid exploding hot words decrying Chinese Music Scene, Chi Ye first episode slayed “culprit big boss” Xiang Tiamo. Though votes close, seemed reluctant.
But he still won favor from countless prior non-fans.
Including Ji Hemming’s left massive market gap.
Second round meat feast begins.
