Chapter 167: 《full Firepower》
“Why has it suddenly become so serious?”
Chi Ye was puzzled and had a faint premonition—this time they had to change the song.
“This incident is just a trigger. This topic has been building up for many years and has just erupted now.”
Xiao Liu had been by Chi Ye’s side for almost a year and had become much more mature.
She looked at Chi Ye worriedly: “Chi Ge, do we still need to participate in Singer?”
“Participate.” Chi Ye was puzzled and asked back: “Why not participate?”
Xiao Liu hesitated to speak.
Although the topic now had little to do with the song or even the program, the “trigger” of this incident was ultimately caused by Chi Ge. Continuing to participate with such a sensitive topic…
“It’s fine, let’s change the song.”
“Change… change the song?”
Xiao Liu was stunned.
Chi Ye thought for a moment: “Call the film crew. I think I need to take leave… That song is only half written. I need to hurry back… and communicate with the program team.”
Xiao Liu was even more confused, but she had always been by Chi Ye’s side and knew that Chi Ye’s entire album was actually almost ready. If there was anything unfinished—
It seemed like only that one song.
Thinking of this, she suddenly realized in horror—that song actually fit the current environment so well…
No way, did Chi Ge realize this problem a year ago?!
She suddenly felt a chill down her spine.
Chi Ye didn’t notice her expression; he was just muttering to himself inwardly.
To be honest, Second Brother’s song had very high requirements for singing skill, and the technique was at the ceiling level.
Therefore, he had always been using the system to train his timbre and singing skill. Bridge of Fate was a perfect answer.
But the song they were going to sing this time was different in technique from Bridge of Fate; it emphasized high notes, slides, and even breath timbre more, to achieve that effect.
Whatever, let’s get serious and prepare properly.
……
At the same time.
Yue Na Headquarters.
Young President Liu frowned and asked the head of the propaganda department: “Can we turn public opinion around? Guide it toward Chi Ye not deserving to beat Xiang Tiamo, toward Chinese Style…”
“No, President Liu. Now it’s all bystanders arguing. The topic has completely expanded, and hardly anyone is paying attention to that. We spent too much money before, and we can’t recover it.”
On the other end, the person in charge was also sweating profusely: “If it’s really impossible, how about… how about reporting them?”
Young President Liu: “?”
The person in charge paused, then asked curiously: “Isn’t the higher-ups handling this?”
Young President Liu was silent for two seconds and sighed: “The so-called cultural collision, the first step is to let go. This topic isn’t some sensitive issue… At least they definitely won’t intervene now.”
“……How about we withdraw? I think the Singer program team is done for this time. Let’s not get involved with them.”
“You still don’t get it.”
Young President Liu’s gaze was complex: “Singer won’t fail because every episode after this will have viewers.”
“……”
……
“What I mean is questioning Chi Ye’s Chinese Style, but I absolutely didn’t deliberately guide public opinion on this topic!”
In the hotel.
Ying Zi said timidly: “This… no one wanted it to get this far. I’m dumbfounded.”
On the other end of the phone was the vice president of Harmony Image, who fell silent upon hearing this.
Actually, another reason for the outbreak of this incident was that Ying Zi had said straightforwardly in the post-performance interview for Singer: “I actually can’t appreciate Chi Ye’s so-called ‘Chinese Style’ much. And to be honest, the West has a deep influence on us…”
As a result, that one sentence ignited public opinion.
In other words, she was also one of the “culprits,” the focus of everyone’s attention.
But the fifty-something old lady didn’t want this kind of attention. Didn’t Chi Ye like stealing the spotlight? Please take this topic too!
“You… sigh, say less lately. Wait until the popularity dies down, then talk about Chi Ye’s personal issues… Keep a low profile.”
“Okay, I understand.”
Ying Zi nodded hurriedly.
After hanging up, Hua Yichen cursed dejectedly beside her: “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have said that… Damn, who knew something like this could happen?”
Right, he had discussed dissing Chi Ye with Ying Zi; he was also a “culprit.”
……
At a certain top-luxury activity site.
Yu Yan was in a good mood, scrolling his mobile phone.
His agent smiled beside him: “Good thing we didn’t go to Singer. Those people like Chi Ye are probably sweating bullets now.”
Yu Yan didn’t speak but glanced at her.
The agent was stunned, then smiled: “My bad, I shouldn’t mention his name.”
“Keep a low profile lately… Um… Have someone write a few songs for me… Style should be ‘ancient style,’ not ‘Chinese Style.’ This is an opportunity; I want to put it in the album.”
Yu Yan realized this was an opportunity.
……
At the same time.
In many places, many people, upon observing the recent “unscientific” public opinion storm, all felt inexplicable pressure and unease.
The “collision” of Eastern and Western culture and the “invasion” of Western culture had fermented into a must-debate topic among many netizens.
Many new generation audience members firmly believed that Chinese people should stand up, but similarly, more people felt that “standing up” should depend on the timing and not generalize.
Among them, Douyin was arguing the most fiercely, perhaps because it had the largest traffic, and the new generation of young people was indeed more confident.
「I didn’t expect that after so many years, the public intellectuals aren’t dead yet.」
「There are always some people who like to speak with a mask on, one thing on the surface and another behind the scenes.」
「Reminded me of the Korean Wave back then; look at Korean entertainment now, tsk tsk, the Korean ban was truly the greatest “invention.”」
「Ying Zi and Hua Yichen are lifelong blacks. I don’t support Chi Ye, but your kowtow and lick facial expression is really disgusting.」
「Generalizing is no good. I just ask you, how can domestic movies compare to Hollywood blockbusters?」
「Hollywood is rotten, and you’re still talking about blockbusters? Living in the past decade?」
「……」
Chi Ye returned to the Xiangnan TV Station Singer program team.
Shi Jinwei, who was absent-mindedly preparing for the next episode’s work, was very surprised.
Yes, surprised.
She looked Chi Ye up and down, feeling like she was seeing an alien: “What are you doing back?”
Chi Ye was even more surprised: “Preparing the work, or what, really let you clamp?”
Sister Qianzi: “……”
She ground her teeth, staring at Chi Ye: “You’d better keep a low profile lately. Look at the mess you’ve caused. Do you know…”
“You care about me?” Chi Ye interrupted curiously.
Sister Qianzi was choked, inexplicably annoyed: “I care about you? I care about when you’ll die. You’d better die soon!”
“That probably won’t fulfill your wish.”
This time, Chi Ye unusually didn’t mouth back at Qianzi because he did look a bit tired. He’d flown back and forth several times and had to rush over to work. It had been a long time since he’d been this busy.
“I’m going to the rehearsal room. See you later.”
Chi Ye waved and turned to head to the rehearsal room with his team.
Sister Qianzi watched him puzzled, a bit unaccustomed: “He didn’t say anything about me in the last sentence…”
The little assistant beside her: “???”
“He suddenly came back to prepare a new work… What new work? Wasn’t it just finished yesterday…”
Sister Qianzi continued to be puzzled, her heart feeling like it was clawed by a cat.
The little assistant couldn’t stand it and reminded her: “Sister Shi, if you’re really curious, go take a look. Anyway, even if you go, Chi Ge won’t chase you away…”
“Me go watch him train? Ha.”
Sister Qianzi seemed to hear the biggest joke, shaking her head, saying nothing.
……
Sister Qianzi could come but wouldn’t due to face.
Teacher Shi could come but was focused on preparing her work… She was probably the only singer in the Singer program team right now who could still focus seriously on preparing her work.
Even Xiang Tiamo and Fancia were now a bit absent-mindedly “watching the drama.”
Of course, on the fourth day, Teacher Shi still couldn’t rest assured. After silently rehearsing her opening lines many times, she unusually mustered the courage to come to Chi Ye’s training room.
But she didn’t get a chance to talk to Chi Ye before being drawn in by his singing.
Um… mainly the lyrics and the technique.
Then, she retreated from the training room with complex almond eyes, not knowing how to describe her mood.
“What’s wrong? Why’d you come out so soon? He ignored you?”
Agent Sister Wang was puzzled and curious: “By the way, what song is President Chi preparing for next episode? Still original?”
“Yes.”
Sister Wang was slightly stunned seeing Teacher Shi’s reaction.
Previously, Shi Daifu spoke briefly too, but this time she saw many different emotions in the other’s eyes.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.”
“What exactly is the song?”
“Um… a very cool song.”
Sister Wang opened her mouth: “Ah?”
A very cool song?
Can a song be described as very cool?!
……
“Here are the lyrics for that song. Take a look.”
Singer, program team office.
The assistant director handed over the lyrics for Chi Ye’s new work, his face still in a state of “shock” and dumbfounded.
Not just him; the chief director also fell silent after reading it.
“This… will this work? Won’t it be… not good?”
The assistant director hesitated to speak.
The “not good” he meant wasn’t that the song was bad; on the contrary, as an old team member of Singer, he had some music appreciation ability.
Chi Ye’s new work, whether in lyrics, melody, or especially technique, was much higher than Huo Yuanjia, with a showy technique feel like Bridge of Fate.
But, it was also because of the lyrics of this song… the lyrics were too “hard”!
He feared that matching the current external environment would directly explode public opinion.
—What was he doing? Was he going to be the first to resist cultural invasion?!
Audaciously bold!
But combined with the recent messages from above, it seemed… to have precisely seized the opportunity.
Yes, to date, no singer had the talent, courage, boldness, brain… to sing a song on this theme.
Um, mainly lacking that talent.
“You say he rushed back and produced this song in two or three days?!”
The chief director was dumbfounded for a second and asked.
“Yes.” The assistant director paused, shaking his head: “Exaggerated.”
He asked again: “What do you think of this song…”
The chief director was silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled: “You already know what above means, and you’re asking me? Have our team cooperate well with Chi Ye to make this song perfect.”
“Okay.”
The assistant director breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, then felt inexplicably excited.
—Chi Ye was going to explode.
……
Time came to October 30th, Friday.
Another “Internal Entertainment Singer day.”
But unlike the previous Friday, this Friday’s online environment and atmosphere were inexplicably oppressive, with a gunpowder scent hidden under the smoke.
The topic of Eastern and Western cultural collision had lasted a week, and the situation not only hadn’t stopped but was intensifying.
And by Friday, whether due to some big hand pushing behind the scenes, everything returned to the “source,” back to the origin before the initial incident erupted—Singer 2025.
Lin Yuan came to the live performance again.
He saw those two girls again.
But this time, they were having a conversation, a very “intense” one.
“You’re a Chi Ye fan?”
The silent girl frowned seeing the fan support item in Lin Yuan’s hand—they were sitting right next to them.
“Any problem?”
Lin Yuan asked back.
The silent girl didn’t speak but instinctively shifted her butt, moving a bit farther from him.
In the past week, she had seen no fewer than three fan groups once directly managed by Ji Hemming’s studio “defect”… As for what defection meant, in her view, constantly mentioning the “forbidden word” Chi Ye in the group, and occasionally praising Chi Ye, was defection.
She angrily quit those groups, then met other like-minded people, continuing to “resist Hu Ye.”
Despite this, under Ji Hemming’s seemingly overwhelming momentum, she could still feel that Chi Ye was “draining blood” from her brother every moment.
So, she felt increasingly pained and uncomfortable.
Even the cultural controversy that had been raging online for a week, she hadn’t paid much attention to… because, in an environment where friends around her were one after another turning to stan Chi Ye, she couldn’t help but doubt herself.
Just last night late, she even specifically searched for Chi Ye’s selfies… Um, upon close comparison, he seemed a tiny bit handsomer than her brother.
But just a tiny bit.
This tiny bit didn’t hinder her firm stance, let alone any cultural invasion… This wasn’t invasion; it was accepting others’ strengths.
“It’s starting. Don’t talk.”
Her friend beside her reminded her. She snapped back, withdrew her gaze, and didn’t exchange more with Lin Yuan.
She just looked toward the grand stage ahead, her gaze faintly dazed.
……
Chu Han Zhou arrived at the Singer program team backstage. He was the interlude host for this episode of Singer, but his face looked a bit bad right now.
Before, he would have been a hundred percent willing to come as this “interlude host,” but after last week’s events, he was a hundred percent unwilling now.
But the contract was signed, and the team had marketed it for so long. If he didn’t come now… if noticed by those with ulterior motives, wouldn’t it be disastrous?
So, he came gritting his teeth. Not only did he come, he had also gotten the cue cards for the works prepared by several singers this episode in advance.
Teacher Na had adapted one of her own works. Um… what was this character… not important.
Shi Jinwei… that stupid woman adapted Bridge of Fate… heh, that’s all the guts she had.
Right, and Chi Ye.
What was Chi Ye’s work again?
With this week’s phenomenal topic, as the “culprit,” if he didn’t perform well today, he should die miserably, haha.
Chu Han Zhou thought this, pulled out the cue card for Chi Ye’s new work, and saw the name of the work written on it.
—Full Firepower.
“Fire Knife Full Open?”
Chu Han Zhou was puzzled: “Is he playing a game? Game role opening fire knife or something…”
Teacher He nearby couldn’t hold back, coughed lightly, and reminded: “Zhouzhou, this is called Full Firepower.”
“Full Firepower?” Chu Han Zhou was stunned, then nodded quickly: “Right right, what font is your program team using for these cue cards… The strokes on ‘force’ aren’t clear! This song is called Full Firepower?”
“Yes, Full Firepower.” Teacher He nodded.
