From unemployment in crosstalk to top star in Chinese entertainment

Nayoung. With her signature short hair, she smiled and waved at the camera.

【Sister Na!!!】

You must have rushed over right after recording The Voice of China.

Is Hunan TV serious about this judging panel?

[Na-jie looks so festive today!]

After the applause subsided, Wang Han and the others continued to speak.

"Wash your clothes with Libai... This program is sponsored by Libai laundry detergent."

"Thanks to Douyin (TikTok) – watch exclusive behind-the-scenes footage on Douyin, don't miss out on the excitement."

His gaze swept across the camera, as if he were looking at everyone watching the live stream.

"Next, let's move on to the first competition segment of today—"

He paused.

"Immersive Sound Experience"

The stage lights slowly changed, gradually transforming from deep blue to a somber amber color.

"The Soundscape – a test of an actor's diction and voice acting skills. Seven contestants will take turns on stage to dub classic film and television clips."

Wang Han's voice was neither hurried nor slow.

"The score in this round accounts for 30% of the final total score. At the same time, it will determine the performance order of the next 'Crossover Singer' round. Those ranked lower will perform first; those ranked higher will perform last."

There was a moment of silence in the preparation area.

Yu Liang leaned back on the sofa and pondered the sentence.

Thirty percent of the weighting isn't high, but it's not low either. If you come in last place this round, you have to be the first to sing next round.

Singing first means the judges will be more cautious in their scoring, and the audience's memory will be diluted by those who perform later. But if you get a high score this time, being the last to perform in the next round means you'll receive final-level treatment.

In this competition format, each link is connected to the next.

"Now, the seven contestants will draw lots to determine their order of appearance in this match."

A staff member carried a black tray into the preparation area.

Seven gold envelopes were placed on the tray, with the program's logo, a microphone, and a silhouette of a mouth stacked together to resemble the shape of a sound.

Seven people surrounded them.

Zhou Xiao'ou reached out and took one, tore it open, and unfolded the card inside. He glanced at it, then turned the card over to face everyone.

"Number 1".

Zhai Tianlin whistled.

Jia Jialiang patted Zhou Xiao'ou on the shoulder: "Teacher Xiao'ou, great start!"

Zhou Xiao'ou smiled, put the card in her pocket, her expression unchanged. The composure of a veteran actor was evident in this.

Bai Baihe took the second one. She opened the envelope quickly and deftly, raising an eyebrow as she unfolded the card.

"Number 5".

Not too early, not too late. She nodded, as if she had received an acceptable answer.

Dilireba took the third one. She opened the envelope with a touch of careful ritual, closing her eyes briefly before opening them as she unfolded the card.

"Number 3".

She exhaled, right in the middle. Hua Chenyu said from the side, "It's fine," and she smiled politely.

Jia Jialiang drew number 4, and Zhai Tianlin drew number 2.

It was Yu Liang's turn. There were two envelopes left on the plate. He picked one up casually and tore it open.

6 number.

Second to last.

"Teacher Yu Liang, what's your ranking?" Dilireba asked, leaning closer.

Yu Liang made a six.

"That's great, Teacher Yu." Her tone carried a hint of envy. "The second to last one gets to hear everyone before you."

"Luck," Yu Liang said.

Hua Chenyu was the last one to take it. There was only one envelope left on the plate.

The answer is already revealed without needing to disassemble it.

His brow relaxed almost imperceptibly, then he flipped the card over and said in a flat tone, "Seventh."

The last to appear, the grand finale.

Yu Liang noticed that Hua Chenyu's fingers tightened slightly when she put the card back in the envelope. Not because she was nervous, but because she was relieved.

He recalled the homework he had done before the competition: Hua Chenyu was a professional singer who had only made cameo appearances in two TV series, and dubbing lines was not his forte.

Being the last to perform means he has the most time to prepare, and it also means the judges have the highest expectations for him to be the final performer.

It's a double-edged sword.

Hua Chenyu's gaze swept past the crowd and landed on Dilireba.

"Hey, what's your ranking?"

"Three," she replied politely, glancing back at him.

"I am the seventh."

"Um."

One word. The tone was exactly the same as when he said "three" earlier.

Zhou Xiao'ou stood up and straightened her collar.

"Keep it up, Teacher Xiao'ou," Yu Liang said.

Zhou Xiao'ou was stunned for a moment.

He glanced at Yu Liang, then smiled and nodded.

Thanks.

He walked toward the elevator leading to the stage. The doors opened, he stepped inside, and turned around.

Before the elevator doors closed, he saw Wang Han reading his opening remarks on the giant screen in the preparation area.

"Let's welcome our first contestant—"

The elevator began to descend.

"—Zhou Xiao'ou."

---

On the giant screen in the preparation area, Zhou Xiaogou walked out from the side of the stage.

The lights followed him. A beam of warm white light shone down from the dome, enveloping him completely. The stage stretched out beneath his feet, casting a circular patch of light on the dark gray floor.

He walked to the microphone in the center of the stage and stood there.

Then all the lights came on, and then went out instantly.

Only one lamp remained on the dome, hanging straight down from directly above, illuminating only Zhou Xiao'ou and the microphone in front of him.

Everything else—the stage, the audience seats, the judges' seats—was plunged into shadow.

This immersive performance,

One person,

A beam of light

A microphone.

Yu Liang sat up straight.

This stage design draws all attention to the performers. There are no stage features to hide behind, no props to conceal them.

The audience can't see anything else, they can only see you, they can only hear you.

A line of text appeared on the giant screen:

[Performance Excerpt: "Conquest" - Liu Huaqiang]

The preparation area fell silent. Everyone stopped what they were doing.

Jia Jialiang placed his phone screen face down on his lap, Bai Baihe put down her small mirror, and Zhai Tianlin leaned back on the sofa, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest.

Zhou Xiao'ou lowered her head.

He adjusted the microphone.

Three seconds, five seconds.

Suddenly, he looked up.

"Is this melon guaranteed to be ripe?"

The voice wasn't loud. It could even be described as calm. But it was precisely this calmness that made each word feel like the back of a knife striking bone.

A dull thud.

"I'm asking you, is this melon guaranteed to be ripe?"

This tone... it's not like they're asking about a melon.

It was clearly a question about the courage of the person in front of them.

No one spoke in the preparation area.

……

The clip is short, one minute and forty seconds.

After the last word was uttered, the beam of light slowly receded. The pillar of light hanging from the dome thinned inch by inch, finally shrinking into a single point of light and extinguishing above Zhou Xiao'ou's head.

The stage lights came on again.

Standing in the spotlight, Zhou Xiao'ou transformed back into that gentle middle-aged man. He bowed to the audience and turned to walk towards the side of the stage.

The applause followed him until he disappeared behind the curtain.

On the judges' panel, Na-young was the first to clap. Wu Yifan was a beat slower, but he followed suit. Yang Mi didn't clap; she kept her head down, writing something on the scoring board in front of her.

The three then revealed their scores one by one.

Na-young: 95

Wu Yifan: 91

Yang Mi: 93.

In the preparation area, Zhai Tianlin let out a long breath.

"Teacher Xiao Ou, stay calm."

Jia Jialiang picked up his phone and put it down again, as if he didn't know what to do. Bai Baihe stared at the giant screen, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Yu Liang leaned back on the sofa, looking somewhat nervous.

One minute and forty seconds. No background music, no other actors, no camera cuts. Just one person, one microphone, and one spotlight. Zhou Xiao'ou used one minute and forty seconds to set an example for them all.

A true actor needs no assistance. Give him a spotlight and a microphone, and he can become anyone.

On the giant screen, Wang Han walked back to the center of the stage.

"Thank you, Ms. Zhou Xiao'ou, for your wonderful performance. Next—"

He glanced down at his card.

"Let's welcome our second contestant – Zhai Tianlin."

In the preparation area, Zhai Tianlin stood up. He straightened his cuffs, and his expression was more serious than usual.

Yu Liang watched his retreating figure as he walked into the elevator.

The door closed.

On the giant screen, new lights are turning on.