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

"Hello Xu Yao, I'm Deng Ziqi. Let's get to know each other formally."

Deng Ziqi stretched out her hand. She was not tall, and her whole body was petite and delicate, especially her bright eyes.

This 23-year-old Hong Kong girl captivated mainland audiences in January 2014 with her song "Bubble," and her name became the number one trending search term, with the search index soaring from several thousand to 270,000.

She is the first post-90s generation artist to hold a tour in 30 cities within a year.

Xu Yao involuntarily straightened his back and reached out to shake her hand: "Hello, Sister Ziqi."

"Don't call me 'Sister,' we're about the same age. Just call me Ziqi."

Deng Ziqi withdrew his hand, smiled, and continued, "Actually, I've wanted to get to know you for a long time, but I haven't had the chance. It just so happens that we've met today, so please give me your guidance."

Xu Yao quickly reviewed the information about her singing ability in his mind.

He knew that Deng Ziqi's strong mixed voice had a high-pitched penetrating quality, capable of piercing the eardrums like nails under immense air pressure, while at the same time retaining the delicacy and subtlety of a weak mixed voice. He was the kind of all-around singer who could blast through the dome with a strong voice and also linger for three days with a weak voice.

Xu Yao knew, of course, that her unique accent was due to the physiological characteristic of her left jawbone atrophy.

Xu Yao chuckled: "G.M., you can sing F5 like it's water to you, and you're asking me for help?"

"Then singing F5 is as easy for you as drinking water, isn't it?"

The two singers admired each other, and Deng Ziqi put his hands in his hoodie pockets: "And you can also produce that explosive, angry sound, I really can't do that. Is it some secret trick you're not going to teach me?"

Xu Yao smiled helplessly at her expression that said, "You're not leaving until you teach me today."

This straightforward personality is completely different from Zhang Liangying's.

At the family dinner at Liu Yifei's house, Zhang Liangying also asked him a similar question, but Zhang Liangying asked it by holding a wine glass and leaning against the armrest of the sofa, using an implied meaning of "listen to your praise" to get Xu Yao to comment on her album.

Deng Ziqi rushed over and said, "Teach me!" His eyes were full of urgency, "I want to learn."

To use a term from martial arts novels, this is a martial arts fanatic.

"Since you've really asked," Xu Yao began to speak seriously, "then I'll dare to say a few words?"

Deng Ziqi was overjoyed: "You said it! I've really been looking for you for days!"

Xu Yao organized his thoughts and began, "Objectively speaking, your singing skills have reached a very high level. Whether it's the penetrating power of your strong mixed voice or the delicacy of your weak mixed voice, you are outstanding among female singers of this generation in China. However, when you transition from the low to the high register, sometimes it feels like there's a layer in between. It's not that you can't reach the notes, but the transition in breath control and resonance isn't smooth enough."

He paused here, preparing that she would frown.

After all, it's quite a feat for a newly debuted talent show contestant to teach a "little diva with a powerful voice" how to sing backstage at the Spring Festival Gala.

If someone takes a picture of this and posts it online, they'll definitely get roasted.

If it were Zhang Liangying, she would probably remain silent for a few seconds and then change the subject, or even consider blocking Xu Yao.

Moreover, since Deng Ziqi became a sensation after "I Am a Singer", she has been surrounded by praise.

However, Deng Ziqi stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly clapped his hands: "You really are amazing!"

"You know what? When I sing, I always feel like something's not quite right, but I can't quite put my finger on it. I keep telling my vocal coach, 'Something feels off,' but he can't figure it out either. And you actually noticed it!"

She poked Xu Yao's arm with her finger, the gesture as natural as if she were poking her senior brother: "Then teach me, how should I practice to correct this problem?"

This reaction momentarily stunned Xu Yao.

Deng Ziqi is so easy to get along with!

Xu Yao suddenly had an idea, so he said, "There's a song on my new album that's a duet between a man and a woman. Are you interested?"

"Really?" Deng Ziqi's eyes lit up immediately. "That's so interesting! It's a deal!"

"You're not even going to ask what song it is?"

"I acknowledge you, Xu Yao." Deng Ziqi smiled and spread his hands. "I think you can sing any song well. This is a rare opportunity for me to collaborate and learn from you."

Xu Yao looked down at the female singer in front of him, who was even more excited than he was.

"Aren't you afraid I'll leech off your data?" Xu Yao asked half-jokingly.

"Feel free to join me. I don't care what you think. I'm getting to know you as a good friend on our musical journey."

Deng Ziqi pronounced the words "good friend" very seriously, with a crispness that carried a hint of Cantonese accent, but his face still had a gentle smile.

"I hope we can communicate more often. I think music is something that comes from communication. If you practice alone in isolation, you'll only go astray."

Xu Yao straightened up and extended his hand to Deng Ziqi.

This time it was proactive and extremely solemn.

Deng Ziqi grasped his hand and shook it vigorously twice.

It's a deal.

After the rehearsal, Xu Yao returned to the hotel.

The elevator doors opened, and the corridor lights shone brightly. He took out his room key, then suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Sister Lin stood at the door of his room, leaning against the door frame, clutching a file folder in her hand.

She was wearing a dark gray wool coat, and her hair, instead of being neatly pinned up as usual, had a few loose strands falling over her shoulders.

His eyes were very dark and bluish-black, with bloodshot streaks in the whites of his eyes, and his lips were dry and chapped.

It's as if they haven't slept all night, having rushed here.

"Xu Yao".

Sister Lin's voice was incredibly hoarse.

"Sister Lin." Xu Yao stopped and nodded politely.

Looking at his calm demeanor, Sister Lin thought of how badly she had been scolded by her boss, and her anger flared up instantly.

"Xu Yao, you despicable scoundrel! You actually secretly recorded me? You...you've ruined me!"

Xu Yao looked at her: "Sister Lin, those recordings are evidence of the company bullying me, right? From beginning to end, I'm the victim, okay?"

Sister Lin's face was ashen, and the file folder in her hand was crumpled from being gripped so tightly.

She neither refuted nor responded.

The corridor was quiet for a few seconds.

Sister Lin suddenly raised her head, her tone softening, carrying a weary, almost pleading tone.

"Xiao Yao, stop making a scene. Let's make peace. Do we really have to make things unpleasant? What good will that do you?"

She held up the file folder and patted it on Xu Yao's chest.

"A lawsuit could take three to five years, meaning you wouldn't be able to release a single song or do any commercial performances for three to five years. By then, your popularity would have completely faded. Even if you successfully terminate the contract by then, what then?"

Sister Lin paused, pulled a stack of papers out of the file bag, and spread them out in front of him.

At the top is a title printed in bold: "Supplementary Terms to the Performance Brokerage Contract".

The first page contains several key clauses.

"From the effective date of this supplementary agreement, Article 23 of the original contract is amended as follows: Party A (the artist) has the right to submit a written leave application to Party B (the company) 48 hours in advance based on their physical condition and academic needs, and Party B shall not refuse without reason."

Article 2: "The profit distribution ratio in Article 41 of the original contract is adjusted from 'Party A 20%, Party B 80%' to 'Party A 25%, Party B 75%'."

The bottom of the page was stamped with the official seal of Canxing Culture, and the signature field was empty, waiting for him to write.

Sister Lin continued to persuade him: "The company has made concessions. Regarding the leave policy, as long as you're not feeling well, you can take leave two days in advance. The profit sharing has been changed from 20/80 to 30/70. Xiao Yao, these conditions are not applicable to anyone else except you."

Sister Lin pulled out the last document that was at the bottom and placed it on top of all the papers.

It was a document titled "Settlement Agreement," with few clauses, but the core points were only a few: Xu Yao withdrew all accusations against the company, and both parties would continue to fulfill the original contract.

The company restored all of Xu Yao's promotional resources and adjusted the revenue sharing ratio according to the supplementary agreement.

The last page also bears an official seal, but the signature field is empty.

"Let's continue the tour," Sister Lin said, with a hint of pleading. "I'll handle everything at the company for you. Just sign the contract first, and we can discuss any terms."

(P.S.: This adorable Deng Ziqi has such low vote count, should we write more about her, brothers?)