Chinese Entertainment King: Starting as a Fat Boy and Becoming a Singing King

Chapter 5 Yang Kun's Group Division and Battle Songs

"Yao-ge, has your training camp started yet?"

"Starting tomorrow." Xu Yao leaned against the headboard, his weight causing the mattress to creak. "And you?"

"I just arrived at the hotel too. Qi Qin's team hasn't all arrived yet." Zhou Shen's voice was a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Brother Yao, I've wanted to call you several times, but the production team said the results can't be leaked... I'm in the bathroom right now..."

Xu Yao couldn't help but laugh, imagining the comical image of Zhou Shen secretly covering his mouth while squatting in the toilet: "Zhou Shen, listen to me. What you need to do most right now is not just to hone your singing skills."

"Huh?" Zhou Shen was taken aback. "Brother Yao, what do you mean?"

Xu Yao replied earnestly, "Your singing skills are already at the top among all the contestants."

"What you need now is for the audience to feel that your style and demeanor match your voice when they hear your voice and see you for the first time."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"I'm asking you, what are you wearing right now?"

"Just... a loose T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers," Zhou Shen thought for a moment. "I think it's simple and comfortable."

"That's the problem," Xu Yao said. "Your voice is ethereal. But you dress like a college student going to evening self-study. When the audience hears your voice, the image that comes to mind is a feeling of floating on clouds, but when they open their eyes, they see a rural boy wearing a loose T-shirt."

"After reaching the semi-finals, the drop in rankings will cost you points. You need to start training for typhoons now."

"Brother Yao," Zhou Shen finally spoke, his voice lower than before, "what you're saying... seems to be something I hadn't thought about. I've always felt that as long as you sing well, nothing else matters."

"Singing well is the foundation," Xu Yao said, "but on this stage, singing well alone is not enough."

"But..." Zhou Shen hesitated for a moment, "This is about having a good voice. Shouldn't the assessment be about singing ability? What you're saying about clothing, typhoons, and stuff... isn't that putting the cart before the horse?"

"After all, we're participating in a singing competition, not a singing performance."

Xu Yao wasn't angry; instead, he became even more patient.

He understood Zhou Shen's reaction.

A young man who comes from a music academy is taught from a young age that strength is paramount and singing ability is king.

It does take some time for him to accept suddenly becoming concerned about his clothing style and image.

"Then remember what I said today. With your current skills, getting into the top 8 from the top 16 is no problem at all. After the recording, everyone will have a few days off, and I'll come find you then. I'll help you change your image."

"Hehe, thanks, Brother Yao..." Zhou Shen said a little embarrassed.

Xu Yao smiled and said, "Why are we brothers being so polite? Just treat me to a meal when you make it to the semi-finals."

"The top four?" Zhou Shen's voice rose half an octave. "Brother Yao, you have that much confidence in me?"

"If you don't make it to the top four, I'll block you." Xu Yao didn't mince words.

After hanging up the phone, Xu Yao thought that the staff would be collecting the phones soon.

After much hesitation, I finally made a phone call.

"Hey, Xiao Yao."

The voice on the other end of the phone was gentle and friendly, but there was a hint of weariness hidden in the last syllable.

"cousin."

"I heard you went to participate in 'The Voice of China'?"

Xu Yao hummed in agreement.

"How did the blind auditions go? Did you pass?"

"Passed, two turns."

My cousin Yao Beina chuckled softly on the other end of the phone: "Not bad, as expected of someone from our Wuhan Conservatory of Music, you didn't let your cousin down. Which team did you choose?"

"Team of Teacher Yang Kun".

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Then, Yao Beina said softly, "...It's good that you didn't choose Na Ying."

Xu Yao's heart tightened, and he asked in a low voice, "Sister, how have you been lately? Are you feeling any better?"

Yao Beina sighed softly: "It's the same as always, just leave it like this. Don't tell my parents or your uncle and aunt too much, so they won't worry."

Xu Yao felt a lump in his throat.

He knew better than anyone what his cousin meant by "the same old thing".

"Xiao Yao," Yao Beina suddenly became serious, "sing well."

"……Um."

"If you can bring back a championship this season, it will make up for the regret of not winning it last year."

Xu Yao uttered only one word heavily: "Okay."

"Good luck. I have something to do, I'll hang up now."

"sister……"

The call has ended.

Xu Yao held his phone, his feelings complicated.

He knew better than anyone what his cousin Yao Beina meant by regret.

Last year, on the second season of "The Voice of China", my cousin appeared on stage as the champion of the CCTV Young Singers Competition and the original singer of "Empresses in the Palace". Her song "Maybe Tomorrow" stunned the audience, and she was eagerly sought after by everyone.

Everyone believed that my cousin was the one destined to win the national championship.

However, in the end, in the final of the Na Ying group, she was temporarily replaced with an English song "All By Myself" that was completely unsuitable for her. The media judges' votes plummeted inexplicably, and she lost to Xuanxuan by a large margin of 26 to 75, thus stopping her from winning the group championship.

The entire internet is talking about behind-the-scenes manipulation, capital control, and how she was suppressed and sacrificed.

That night, my cousin cried and shook off Na Ying's hand on stage.

That scene became the most unforgettable scar in the hearts of countless viewers.

Xu Yao's love for music and his admission to the Wuhan Conservatory of Music were largely due to his cousin's guidance and companionship during his school years.

The next morning, Xu Yao was woken up by his phone alarm.

He glanced at the time; it was 7:30 in the morning.

Wash up, change clothes, and go downstairs for breakfast.

The buffet restaurant on the second floor of the hotel was already quite full, with many people sitting there, all of them students from Yang Kun's team.

Some people were quietly eating in a corner with their plates, while others were chatting in small groups.

Xu Jianqiu, sitting by the window, waved to him: "Brother Yao, over here!"

Xu Yao carried the plate over and sat down opposite him.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Xu Jianqiu asked.

"It's alright." Xu Yao picked up a piece of bread and put it in his mouth. "How about you?"

"I'm so nervous I can't sleep." Xu Jianqiu gave a wry smile. "I heard we're being divided into groups today. I don't know who I'll be in a group with, or what song I'll be singing."

"You'll find out soon," Xu Yao said.

After a quick breakfast, all the members of Yang Kun's team gathered at the rehearsal center.

The walls of the rehearsal room were covered with sound-absorbing cotton, a grand piano stood in the corner, and opposite it was a whole wall of mirrors.

Several microphone stands stood in the center of the rehearsal hall, and the floor was covered with a dense network of cables.

Yang Kun was already standing in the rehearsal hall.

He was wearing a black jacket, a baseball cap, and holding a stack of A4 papers.

As the trainees walked in, he grinned, revealing his signature smile.

"Come, come, sit down."

Yang Kun clapped his hands, signaling everyone to sit down on the floor of the rehearsal hall.

Sixteen people formed a semicircle, like a group of elementary school students waiting for their teacher to call their names.

"First of all, congratulations on joining my team." Yang Kun's gaze swept across everyone's faces. "However, after congratulating you, I have some not-so-good news to share..."

He paused, then his tone became serious.

"Out of sixteen people, only eight can advance to the next round."

The atmosphere in the rehearsal hall instantly became heavy.

"Today, we'll be divided into groups." Yang Kun waved the stack of papers in his hand. "Two people per group, singing the same song. The winners advance to the top eight, and the losers are eliminated."

No one speaks.

"I know you're nervous," Yang Kun said, his voice softening slightly, "but this is a competition. On the stage of The Voice, no one succeeds easily."

He opened the list in his hand and began to read the names.

"Group 1: Su Qifan and Zhao Ke – 'Standing By'"

Xu Yao raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Group Two: Mo Haijing and Deng Xiaoqiao – 'The Fool'"

"Group 3: Qin Xiaolin and Rong Qi – Princess + Dangerous"

"Group 4: Robynn & Kendy, Apple Orchard Duo - 'Say You Love Me + I Swear'"

"Group 5: Xu Jianqiu, Kaikai – 'Bubble'."

Xu Yao turned his head and glanced at Xu Jianqiu.

Xu Jianqiu also looked at Xu Yao, his expression somewhat complicated. His partner was Kai Kai, a very strong singer, and he was a little flustered.

"Group Six: Chen Yongxin and Liu Ke – 'If Clouds Know'"