Chapter 168: Direct Attack! Holy Crap, What A Handsome Guy
“Both sides are really going full firepower now.”
Inside a certain set.
Sheng Ning had just finished filming. Normally, she would be very picky and have the makeup and styling teacher help her remove her makeup, then beautifully apply a face mask, and rest at set times—getting older, not like before, needing proper maintenance to have a longer career.
But today, she dragged her on-set makeup and styling, hurriedly returned to the hotel, and turned on the Xiangnan TV Station television live broadcast.
Yes, she was a bit impatient, impatient to see Chi Ye’s “predicament” in this episode.
Outside was so heated now; if he didn’t perform well this episode, “West Wind” would instantly overpower “East Wind.”
“You say, in this current environment, could it be something he deliberately stirred up?”
Sheng Ning lit a cigarette, casually asking the attendant beside her.
The attendant was stunned for a moment, hesitating: “Probably… not? This kind of public opinion isn’t something just anyone or any team can stir up casually.”
“……That may not be certain.”
Sheng Ning’s mouth curled in disdain.
The old Chi Ye naturally didn’t have this ability, but now…
Hard to say.
Perhaps most likely not intentionally done by the opponent, but that didn’t stop him from already being “backed” into a dead end.
What could you do?
……
“Teacher Chi has a tough hurdle ahead; everyone’s watching him now, the pressure is too great.”
Inside the hotel.
Shang Youshu stripped naked, drew the curtains alone, burrowed into the warm bedding; the bed was also laid out with various fancy snacks. She waited for Singer to start while having at least three mobile phones + two tablet computers beside her.
Participate in real-time discussion!
Of course, she was a firm “East” advocate, so soon she was arguing with other netizens until sweating profusely, gnashing her teeth.
“You you you… you’re all not good people!”
“Teacher Chi, take them out for me!”
……
Chi Ye did.
Seven-thirty in the evening.
Singer program team, backstage.
The new episode of singers aired; eight heavyweight singers took their seats backstage one after another. The atmosphere compared to last time had more tension and anxiety.
—Today’s competition content perhaps wasn’t concerning; what they cared more about was, after this episode aired, what impression and evaluation the internet would have of Singer and the many singers participating in Singer…
Anyway, hope it’s a good evaluation.
This public opinion storm was too big; they didn’t want to get caught in it.
Second Hand Brother and Little Tan Wang had even started closing their eyes and muttering to themselves, thinking: play as many episodes as possible, best if I’m eliminated this episode!
Stay away from Singer this “flood beast”; popularity is important, but “life” is more important.
Among the crowd, only Chi Ye, Teacher Na, and Teacher Shi remained composed.
Chi Ye aside, Teacher Na was because, through connections, she already knew Singer wouldn’t have issues, and since the higher-ups hadn’t addressed this public opinion for so long, it meant no “settling accounts” with her.
Did she, of the Yehe Nara clan, not have any background?
Not panicking.
Teacher Shi was seriously preparing her work, while occasionally glancing at Chi Ye, her gaze odd.
Shi Jinwei, who had been secretly observing them, felt her heart jump— what work had Chi Ye prepared?
A new song?
Why did even Shi Daifu have this expression?
Sigh, should have gone to the doorway to “eavesdrop”… openly listen for a bit back then.
This feels so uncomfortable!
Sister Qianzi grumbled inwardly, but soon, she and everyone’s attention was drawn and shifted elsewhere.
—Singer’s opponent selection segment for this episode began.
Since the draw had just ended, those who could pick opponents this episode were Chi Ye, Teacher Na, Shi Jinwei, and finally Little Tan Wang.
But because someone won last episode, like Teacher Shi, they had song selection rights; losing singers could only select songs according to the program team’s specified theme.
So, in this case, picking an opponent with restrictions was best.
Shi Jinwei thought so, so she directly picked Hua Yichen.
Hua Yichen: Fuck, pinching me again?! Pinching me again!?
This shitty program, I’m not coming back next episode!
But according to the rules, if he lost again this episode, next episode it would really be “do or die.”
On the other side, Little Tan Wang saw Shi Jinwei pick Hua Yichen and immediately snatched Second Hand Brother like grabbing.
Second Hand Brother grinned upon seeing: Fuck, self-respect gone on this program.
“Um… cough cough… next, please select your opponents for this episode.”
The chief director coughed lightly, reminding the two, his gaze lingering on Chi Ye for a moment.
Teacher Na glanced over the remaining Chi Ye and Fancia.
Fancia blinked her eyes, looking toward her.
“？!”
Teacher Na instinctively leaned back, gaze drifting, not daring to look at Fancia, just like a elementary student afraid of being called on by the teacher.
“I… I’ll pick Shi Shi; Shi Shi won last time too… we can exchange ideas.”
She paused, without any hesitation, “snatched” ahead of Chi Ye, and chose Shi Daifu.
Teacher Shi showed no expression; others had faces of “as expected.”
Bullet comments exploded.
「Ying Zi, have some dignity.」
「Didn’t expect you to fear a 00 post-er this much.」
「Ying Zi, as expected, ancestor-passed down fear of your foreign dad?」
「Hu Ye only has Fancia left, nice.」
「Won’t there be another 《Huo Yuanjia》 this episode?」
This episode’s Singer popularity exploded; seeing Ying Zi’s timid appearance in bullet comments, furious netizens cursed outright, while many “Western faction” cheered and cried with joy.
Pop the champagne, Hu Ye is done!
Live performance.
Fancia saw Ying Zi finish picking, stunned, then indifferently looked toward Chi Ye.
Chi Ye also said nothing.
“……Good, opponent allocation complete.”
The chief director nodded.
Internally a bit surprised; this… alright, this is fine too.
The singers exchanged glances, moods varied, mindsets varied.
Chi Ye remained expressionless.
Anyway, today’s song wasn’t sung for the people present; who he faced didn’t matter, of course… Ying Zi just now really looked like a clown.
Process ended; at eight o’clock, the sixth episode Singer stage officially opened.
First group on stage: Little Tan Wang, Second Hand Brother.
The two “suona” opened, first livening up the tense anxious atmosphere.
They wanted to send everyone packing, but unfortunately, didn’t succeed.
After the venue heated up, Shi Jinwei and Hua Yichen took the stage one after another.
Then came Fancia and Chi Ye.
……
“Chi Ye’s turn?”
At home.
Jin Zhao walked into the living room holding a thermos cup, saw the television already on, his wife cracking sunflower seeds, watching with great interest.
“Soon, what’s up?”
Jin Mu looked up, smiling: “Caring about him?”
Jin Zhao chuckled twice, meaning unclear, walked over, sat beside his wife: “Not quite.”
“Not quite and you specially come over? Normally after news simulcast, you don’t watch television at night.”
Jin Mu teased, then said: “This kid’s actually not bad, but he has a lot of pressure this time.”
“Oh? A lot of pressure?” Jin Zhao was stunned, shook his head with a laugh: “He has ghost pressure; I didn’t see it.”
Jin Mu: “?”
“You even inquired about his recent situation?”
“No.”
Jin Zhao waved, explaining: “From personality, though not met, can tell this kid isn’t the type with poor mentality.”
He paused, then said: “But he should indeed have pressure.”
Jin Mu looked at him.
Jin Zhao muttered softly: “Several big bosses are watching this program tonight.”
Jin Mu understood.
“Also, this foreign female singer sings really well; um… not as noisy as rumored outside.”
Jin Zhao looked at the television live broadcast.
……
Fancia sang very seriously today; she didn’t follow the original plan to sing a Chinese song, but picked a work she was good at, overall style high-pitched, technical.
Live reaction was very good.
After Chu Han Zhou mispronounced her work name twice in a row, Fancia exited; everyone’s gazes instantly turned to the backstage live feed.
There, Chi Ye had stood up, fake-greeted the crowd, and headed to the stage.
“……Why isn’t he nervous at all.”
Sister Qianzi wondered inwardly; meanwhile, on stage, Chu Han Zhou had taken the stage again.
Just now, he lost face… because he hadn’t mastered Chinese, let alone English; though memorized several times before, in the interview, he still flipped the car accidentally.
So, upon taking the stage now, his expression wasn’t great.
Only hurriedly said: “Next is the original song brought to us by Chi Ye—《Full Firepower》.”
Original?!
Another original?!
Hearing this, everyone was stunned.
Under the stage, the silent girl beside Lin Yuan roasted: “Won’t be another Chinese Style, right?”
“Original… indeed another original… how is his brain structured…”
Backstage Sister Qianzi surprised but not surprised, involuntarily looked toward the expectant Shi Daifu… she wouldn’t also be doing an original this time, right?
“Can’t appreciate Chinese Style; no use even if original.”
Teacher Na chuckled.
At that moment.
A thud.
Ten-second countdown hit zero; stage lights data suddenly all went out.
The entire studio plunged into darkness.
Noise rose from the audience seats, but with the darkness, gradually quieted, finally leaving only intermittent breathing sounds.
Bang, bang, bang.
Several muffled sounds appeared; suddenly, a piercing white light like a sword split the darkness, shining on Chi Ye already standing center stage.
He wore red clothes, still that familiar face, but under red and lights, had an indescribable aura.
Close-up shot hit; the live performance instantly buzzed.
Fuck, such a badass face!
Thud.
Immediately after, before the sound faded, highly rhythmic music rose, first heavy beat slamming down.
Flames “ring-shaped” sprayed instantly around the stage; Chi Ye’s highly personal metalcore advanced sound rang out.
Yes, highly personal; Chi Ye’s two singing styles now most talked about: one like Confession Balloon’s unique enunciation, the other more praised by insiders, “metalcore.”
Bridge of Fate’s singing style.
But this time, this singing style was clearly more refined than before, and from the first note, everyone was instantly stunned.
“Defeat Imperialism”
“Unwilling to be slaves anymore”
“My home gate invaded”
Highly rhythmic metalcore advanced sound, enunciation extremely clear, pitch control max, but what shocked everyone was… the lyrics!
Backstage, live broadcast room, television fronts, and all netizens still watching the competition while arguing online, instantly dazed.
Unbelievably watching Chi Ye.
This… these lyrics?!
Chi Ye, what are you doing?!
Direct Attack?!
No time for reactions, Chi Ye turned, facing the side camera toward backstage, raising a finger:
“You say Vral kaka, I say why fear her”
“Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh”
“Don’t kowtow to them”
Teacher Na: “？!”
She gaped, face visibly flushing red—confused.
Chi Ye faced the audience, emotion and metalcore advanced sound rising continuously, layering roar:
“Culture is the weapon”
“Buried in every nerve”
“Awakened by Yu Ren Shen Gu”
“Absolutely no failure allowed”
“Victory needs no wait”
“Because Music Man’s arrival”
Whoosh!!
Live broadcast room bullet comments instantly exploded, screen full of question marks and exclamation marks.
Shang Youshu “flopped” upright, sheet sliding off, revealing a flawless snowy tender body; she gaped, dazedly watching Chi Ye in the shot.
Chi Ye entered first chorus, strong mixed voice, instantly pulling up the range:
“Suddenly the whole world starts swaying”
“Rhythm and music invade the blood”
“This strategy is full firepower”
“Full firepower full firepower”
“Full firepower~”
“Fire~”
“Fire~~”
Mechanism push high, strong bounce!
Instantly, everyone on site gaped, scalps tingling.
Because they realized this song’s chorus was exactly like the post-produced version, but obviously Chi Ye was full mic now, using bounce on top!
The last three “fire,” kept bouncing, higher and higher, rhythm pitch extremely precise, and at such height, no swallowing or break pitch.
Plus previous chest voice strong mix, true-false switch, staccato off-beat control, various vibrato, roar, glissando…
Familiar taste, Bridge of Fate same flashy technique! Purely showing off technique!
“Fuck! This buddy too strong?! This episode’s the big move?!”
Second Hand Brother was dumbfounded, somewhat at a loss looking at others.
But found others’ faces shocked and complex; Fancia also covered her mouth.
She first discovered male singers here had this “technique”!
Of course, she actually couldn’t understand the lyrics—though subtitles below, sung too fast to follow.
At that moment.
First chorus ended; Chi Ye seamlessly continued, opening again:
“So many accusations”
“Of an asian invasion”
“Here they come a point’n fingers at me”
“…”
—Asian threat theory so rampant.
—They point fingers at me, baseless accusations.
—Toy with public emotions, stir world chaos.
“Ahhh!!”
Site audience stunned one second, instantly went mad!
English, and “English version translation”; Chi Ye so “thoughtful”?!
Lin Yuan excitedly flushed red, shouting loudly: “Chi Ye! Chi Ye!”
Beside, the silent girl gaped, scalp faintly tingling.
Hearing countless screams around, her face suddenly felt inexplicably hot—not much shame, but… seeing the whole site go crazy from Chi Ye’s explosive performance, instantly detonated by lyrics… right, lyrics!
—Don’t kowtow to them.
Did I kowtow?
She was lost.
“Preyin on a mass emotion”
“Stirrin up a big commotion”
“Trying to assign responsibilities”
At home.
Jin Zhao surprised at Chi Ye on stage, quickly regained calm, corner of mouth a smile.
“How is it?”
“Sings really well; I said this kid’s singing skill is good.”
Jin Mu replied.
“These lyrics are sensitive; singing them in English… hey, this kid, really.”
Jin Zhao inexplicably smiled.
Chi Ye indeed praised himself in Chinese, scourged “enemies” in English.
“But even if they blame us”
“Try to frame us nobody can shame us”
“I’m sing this next verse in Chinese”
—After scourging enemies, gonna sing next verse in Chinese!
“Suddenly the whole world starts swaying”
“Rhythm and music invade the blood”
“This strategy is full firepower”
“Full firepower full firepower”
“Full firepower fire fire fire!!”
Emotion on point, Chi Ye’s top mechanism started hard pushing!
Site kept detonating.
Inside the hotel.
Sheng Ning watched this finale scene; hotel’s advanced stereo blared deafening yet pleasing high notes.
She was silent a long time, reached out, turned off the television.
“Full firepower!!”
On stage.
Chi Ye high note finale, finished last line; site surprisingly fell into eerie silence.
Backstage all guests also silent.
“……These lyrics, this melody.” Shi Jinwei’s expression complex.
Didn’t you consider consequences?
After this song ends, what public opinion outside?
Whoosh!!
On stage, Chi Ye finished singing, bowed to audience seats.
Site audience came back to senses; applause instantly thundered, cheers endless.
“Chi Ye! Chi Ye!!”
“Full firepower! Full firepower!!”
“Our strategy this time is full firepower!”
“…”
Meanwhile, online, live broadcast room bullet comments, instantly like hacker screen-flood, bullet comments slaughtering the board.
Not just program team; whole net exploded at that moment.
