Volume One, Chapter 72: An Ostentatious Song That Stuns the Crowd

As soon as the words were spoken, a trace of doubt flickered in the eyes of Song Changying and Chen Tong. Xu Kun’s expression grew somewhat unnatural. “Of course I wrote it. I composed it specifically for tonight’s opening.”

“Is that so?” Su Muyu’s gaze was icy.

Xu Kun collected himself and forced a smile. “I’ve tossed out my stone—now, let the contestants bring forth their jade.”

The host walked onto the stage.

Because Jiang Yu hadn’t participated in the previous episode, tonight he would be the first to perform.

“Jiang Yu, I told you—I’m waiting for you to fall into the abyss,” Wang Linkai jeered, his arrogance reaching new heights.

Jiang Yu hadn’t spoken yet, but Liu Bin stood up abruptly, clenching his fists. “Wang Linkai, must you be so shameless?”

Jiang Yu stopped him. “Ignore him.”

“But, Yu—” Liu Bin’s concern was written all over his face as he heard the host announce Jiang Yu’s name from the stage.

Guo Qiang also stood up. “If it’s too much, we’ll just withdraw together. I won’t let you suffer this humiliation alone!”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” Jiang Yu smiled, heading toward the contestant passage.

As he passed the swaggering Wang Linkai, he shot him a sidelong glance. “Idiot.”

Without waiting for a response, Jiang Yu strode onto the stage, leaving Wang Linkai fuming alone.

Jiang Yu ascended the stage.

The audience below erupted in boos.

“Get off!”

“Jiang Yu, leave the entertainment industry!”

“Scandal! Jiang Yu didn’t even compete but has a spot!”

“Talent without integrity—ban him!”

Jiang Yu paid no heed, instead smiling calmly at Xu Kun.

“Before I sing, I have a question for Teacher Xu Kun.”

Xu Kun looked at Jiang Yu’s smiling face, a sense of foreboding rising within him, even a pang of guilt.

But he quickly composed himself.

“I wonder, what do you want to ask?”

“The song you just performed—was it truly written by you?” Jiang Yu’s tone was teasing.

Xu Kun’s heart gave a jolt. When Li Gang handed him the song, it had been on a piece of draft paper, clearly just written, with no traces of previous use.

“Yes, I wrote it. What are you trying to say?”

Su Muyu’s expression grew even colder at these words.

Jiang Yu sent her a reassuring glance—a silent promise that he had everything in hand.

“I have nothing to say, except that it seems Teacher Xu Kun sang the song incorrectly. The melody and lyrics don’t quite match. I have another version here—I invite the teachers to judge.”

At these words, the audience exploded.

“Who are you to say someone’s song was sung wrong? How dare you criticize my idol’s new song?”

“As expected, I always felt there was something off about Jiang Yu’s public feud with Sun Tao online. Jiang Yu just doesn’t respect his seniors—his character is terrible!”

“How dare you speak to him like that? Who do you think you are? Get out of the entertainment industry!”

“Do you think only you can write good songs? Are you so special? Ban him!”

…

The atmosphere was vicious.

The other two mentors chose to keep silent—not because they didn’t want to speak up for Jiang Yu, but because they were powerless. Their companies had warned them before coming.

Su Muyu looked at the figure on stage, her heart aching.

The darker side of this industry was laid bare before him. To have his song stolen—how could he withstand such a blow?

Yet Jiang Yu ignored the jeers entirely.

He gripped the microphone with both hands.

He paid no attention to anyone.

For reasons unknown, a sudden aura emanated from him, quieting the hostile crowd.

In the broadcast control room:

“Five million viewers—still rising! Six million, ten million! Now, ten million people are watching the live stream!” The assistant was jubilant.

Yan Ming’s face was complicated; he hadn’t expected that Jiang Yu’s popularity would still be number one, though most were cursing him.

He pitied the boy from the bottom of his heart. So talented, yet about to be crushed by the filth of this world.

Finally, the accompaniment began.

Anyone with musical training could tell: this was the sound of an electric guitar and bass together.

The tension in the intro was overwhelming!

As the prelude ended, Jiang Yu finally began to sing.

“When someone asks me, I’ll answer—but no one comes.

I wait in anticipation until I’m helpless, with words I want to say but nowhere to put them.

My mood is like the lid of a trout waiting to be lifted, yet my mouth grows moss.

In the midst of the crowd, the calmer I am, the more I’m ignored—I must make something happen…”

The audience was stunned—how were the lyrics identical to the ones Xu Kun had sung?

But he was singing in Cantonese.

And somehow, this melody matched the lyrics far better than the version Xu Kun had performed.

Song Changying and Chen Tong exchanged glances.

Both veterans of the entertainment industry, they had begun to guess the real truth, and couldn’t help but look toward Xu Kun.

Xu Kun’s face slowly turned pale, his gaze toward Jiang Yu increasingly guilty. Suddenly, he realized that this was the real melody of the song.

Backstage, Yan Ming finally allowed a smile to appear.

Earlier, Li Gang had called him, insisting that this episode be broadcast live. When Yan Ming refused, Li Gang went directly to the station leaders to pressure him.

He’d been confused about the reason—now he understood. Li Gang, what a beast, capable of such things.

“Like a sudden solo, everywhere seems like a stage.

Wearing the brightest shirt, pretending to be deeply moved.

Someone snaps a photo—to remember, put your hands in your pockets!”

These lyrics, paired with this melody, made everyone’s scalp tingle.

Jiang Yu’s current situation was exactly as described.

But he was so carefree—even when photographed, he simply put his hands in his pockets.

The audience was even more astonished by Jiang Yu’s vocal prowess.

“My God, how can he sing every style so well?”

“Though I don’t like Jiang Yu now, I have to admit, I loved listening to his ‘You’ and ‘Borrow Five Hundred Years from Heaven’!”

“That’s true, but his character really is questionable.”

“A passerby here—he sings beautifully. Why is everyone in the chat cursing him?”

“This song at least made me switch from hating to neutral—I don’t like Jiang Yu, but I enjoy his singing!”

The barrage of comments rolled by.

And Jiang Yu’s singing continued!

“You think I’m flamboyant.

Exaggeration is just because I’m afraid!

Like wood, like stone—will that attract attention?

In truth, I fear being forgotten, so I magnify my performance.

So uneasy—how does one stay elegant?

Does the world praise silence? It’s not explosive enough.

How can I create topics to make myself boast—become a superstar entertainer~”

As the first half ended, the boos and jeers in the venue transformed into enthusiastic applause.