Huayu: Traffic is king

Chapter 8 Self-Strategy Mentor

There was silence in the hall.

Even the trainees in the audience were completely impressed by Gu Jingyi's performance.

They did not react in various ways to attract attention, but looked at Gu Jingyi with admiration.

At the mentors' table, Zhang Yixing picked up the microphone, signaling the start of the mentors' critique session.

Zhang Yixing wanted to pick up the microphone and comment first, but after noticing Li Ronghao's restless expression next to him, he made a joke:

"Let's let Brother Ronghao comment on Gu Jingyi's performance first. He's been a little restless since the show started. I was a little worried that if I didn't let the vocal instructor speak first, Brother Ronghao would get restless."

Zhang PD's teasing also made the atmosphere begin to lighten up.

Li Ronghao smiled and turned sideways to adjust the microphone in front of him without refusing.

He looked at Gu Jingyi, his expression full of admiration. But before he began to comment, he paused.

Li Ronghao slowly and solemnly gave his evaluation: "Gu Jingyi, your performance was very accomplished. But I think more importantly, your foundation is very solid. For example, vocalization, pitch, and breath—these are the most basic skills, and you have mastered them very well. You also have a very good sense of emotional expression. Your performance is also the most eye-catching of all the contestants I have seen."

Gu Jingyi smiled shyly, seemingly flattered by the praise from this rising musical talent: "Thank you for your affirmation."

Li Ronghao had a gentle smile on his face, and his small eyes narrowed into slits again.

"And what delights me most is that your original songs, Gu Jingyi, are also very well done. You don't blindly pursue flowery rhetoric. Your simple phrases bring listeners unimaginable beauty of imagery. Your ability to convey emotions is also very strong, ranking in the top ten among singers I've met. This may also be an advantage brought by your acting skills, you are more experienced in capturing and conveying emotions."

"Today's performance, in my opinion, is far superior to that of talent shows. It would be no less impressive even if it appeared on 'I Am a Singer'."

This is already a very high evaluation. The high evaluation given by mentor Li Ronghao, who is usually slow to warm up and speaks little, made everyone present a little excited.

Gu Jingyi, however, remained calm and composed, always with a proper smile on his face.

"Slowly Falling in Love with You" was originally published in May 2018. It was composed by Li Ronghao and sung by Karen Mok.

Using "Future Li Ronghao's works" to guide the current Li Ronghao will naturally have significant effects.

Zhang Yixing also spoke and began to express his opinion.

"So far, Gu Jingyi's performance has been the most satisfying to me."

With just two simple sentences, the trainees present instantly realized that Gu Jingyi's rating must be "A".

"Actually, long before your first performance, the production team had already given me all the information forms you filled out in the studio."

Zhang Yixing pointed to the instructors' seats and the thick stack of information in front of each person.

"The trainees' self-assessments were quite conservative, with few A's and few F's. Gu Jingyi was the first contestant to give himself an A. His reasoning was also very simple: he said he was the standard for an A."

The behind-the-scenes information revealed by Zhang Yixing excited all the trainees.

Wang Jiaer was a little worried that this kind of flattery would make enemies for Gu Jingyi, and when he wanted to interrupt, Ouyang Jing pulled his sleeve behind the camera and made a gesture of "don't worry".

As expected, Zhang Yixing changed the subject. The seriousness on his face gradually faded.

"After watching your performance, I suddenly had this realization: A, this is how it should be. Strength speaks for itself on stage, and Gu Jingyi, you have every reason to be proud."

"Thank you, PD."

Gu Jingyi pursed the corners of his mouth, then raised them quietly.

Because Gu Jingyi did not perform a rap, Wang Jiaer and Ouyang Jing did not comment.

The program crew may know that Gu Jingyi knows them, and Zhou Jieqiong and Cheng Xiao’s reactions are indeed very interesting.

After Zhang Yixing finished his review, he quietly reminded him in his earphone: "Yixing, let Xiaoxiao and Jieqiong also review it before giving a rating."

Zhang Yixing nodded barely audibly, and then he told Cheng Xiao, who was standing beside him, about the process. Cheng Xiao was still staring at Gu Jingyi, not reacting for a moment.

Time passed quietly, and Zhang Yixing looked at Cheng Xiao with a half-smile: "It seems that Xiao Xiao is still immersed in the song. Jing Yi's stage charm is really great."

For talent shows, stage charm is very important.

An outstanding performance can make a person whose appearance score is only 7 points be raised to 9 points through the stage filter.

This is what fans often call, "a handsome guy with an atmosphere."

As for Gu Jingyi, his appearance alone is enough to get him full marks.

After singing "Slowly Falling in Love with You," Gu Jingyi stood on the stage. He was like the boy on a bicycle in a campus drama, the faint scent of laundry detergent on his school uniform. Like a butterfly, he could linger in every girl's heart for a long time.

Just relying on this face and this great vocal ability, he can go very far in the show.

Cheng Xiao's absent-mindedness was also simply understood by Zhang Yixing as the instinctive reaction of a young girl seeing a handsome guy.

No one knew that Cheng Xiao was still brainstorming.

She recalled the time when she and Gu Jingyi had a private meeting in Hunan Province to attend a speech at their alma mater.

Gu Jingyi was wearing a clean white school uniform shirt after the speech.

Instead of changing into his regular uniform, he simply pulled the thick curtains shut in the empty classroom, dressed in his cleanest attire, doing something completely inappropriate for his school uniform.

There were footsteps in the corridor, and Cheng Xiao was a little nervous: "Someone is there."

Gu Jingyi's fingertips lingered gently near her throat. "Don't be nervous. The senior students are all at the oath-taking ceremony."

"I must have been blinded to come to this kind of place with you. If we were seen..."

Gu Jingyi grabbed Cheng Xiao's neck right in front of her somewhat surprised eyes.

Although it was a somewhat rough action, she smiled tenderly and affectionately: "Yes, our Xiaoxiao, it will be a bit hard~"

The ultimate contrast.

So, when I saw Gu Jingyi appearing in the clothes of a campus hero.

Cheng Xiao couldn't help but think of everything that happened that day.

I can't help it, but I can't control it.

After being teased by Zhang Yixing, she finally woke up from her dream.

Cheng Xiao also showed a slight panic.

"I love this song, and your emotional expression is excellent, Gu Jingyi. It's a perfect stage, and a great performance."

Cheng Xiao's voice was a little awkward at first, like a wheel that had not been running for a long time suddenly starting to work.

As her words progressed, she gradually regained her confidence. She acted calm and composed, commenting on Gu Jingyi with the air of a mentor.

"Okay, thank you, Teacher Cheng Xiao~"

Gu Jingyi's sudden words made Cheng Xiao tremble slightly.

They all know that the title of mentor has different meanings in different situations.

　I'm afraid the performances might be a bit tiring, so I've added some things you might like. That's how I write about talent shows: stage domination and everything you might enjoy. I want to avoid over-exposing the male lead and causing readers to become aesthetically fatigued.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)