Entertainment: A song that brought his deceased wife back to life.

Xu Qing has stepped down.

But the place he left behind was incredibly popular.

The contestants who came after them were in big trouble.

Following Xu Qing was a singing and dancing idol who usually seemed quite confident, but now, standing in the side of the stage, his calves were cramping.

I can't sing.

It's like having just finished a Manchu Han Imperial Feast, and then suddenly being served a plate of boiled vegetables in plain water. Who could eat that?

The idol jumped around on stage a couple of times, and before he could even sing two lines, someone in the audience shouted "Xu Qing".

I'm devastated.

The last high note cracked so badly it sounded like a rooster crowing.

Then came several more contestants, each one more disappointing than the last.

There was nothing that could be done; Xu Qing's emotions were just too intense, raising the audience's threshold to an atmospheric level.

Until Zhang Ye came on stage.

It must be said that the power of capital is indeed formidable.

The stage lights were all changed, and more than twenty dancers came on stage. The smoke machine made it look like a fire scene.

Zhang Ye was wearing a studded leather jacket, had smoky makeup on his face, and was holding an electric guitar, looking quite intimidating.

He chose a heavy metal rock song.

He screamed, knelt down, and finally smashed his guitar.

Normally, this performance could fool young girls.

But given Xu Qing's heartfelt performance earlier, Zhang Ye's performance just seemed incredibly awkward.

It's like a child throwing a tantrum while dressed in adult clothes.

The screen is already flooded with comments.

That's it?

[Don't smash the guitar! What did the guitar do wrong? Xu Qing didn't even smash his 20 million yuan guitar.]

What?! Xu Qing's zither is worth forty million?!?!

[Without comparison, there is no harm; Xu Qing is risking his life, while Zhang Ye is just putting on a show.]

That was rock and roll, this is noise.

Zhang Ye stepped off the stage, panting heavily, but felt quite good about himself.

He thought the action of smashing the piano was incredibly cool.

Until the vote count appeared on the big screen.

The host's voice was trembling slightly.

"First place, Xu Qing, votes... thirty-eight million!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

This number is terrifying.

Keep in mind that this was despite the fact that professional trolls were aggressively suppressing votes.

That "exposé king" shouted himself hoarse in the group, telling everyone not to vote and even to vote for someone else.

The results of it?

The number of casual observers is too large.

Those elderly people who don't usually watch talent shows, and those office workers who were moved to tears by that song, each one voted, directly flushing the haters' efforts down the drain.

This is a case of dimensional reduction attack.

And at the very bottom of the screen.

Zhang Ye's name is strikingly red.

"Eleventh place, Zhang Ye, votes... 2.1 million."

They've fallen out of the top ten.

Danger zone.

Zhang Ye was in the lounge, staring at that number, his smoky makeup contorted in pain.

He just smashed a guitar, and now he wants to smash the TV too.

"It's a cover-up! This is absolutely a cover-up!"

Zhang Ye pointed at the screen and roared.

The agent standing next to him huddled in the corner, not daring to speak.

I thought to myself, this isn't some kind of cover-up, it's the will of the people.

Your singing is really awful.

……

Front desk.

The host wiped the sweat from his forehead.

This show is giving me a heart attack.

"Alright, the first half of the competition is over!"

"Congratulations to Xu Qing for currently being in first place!"

"Our competition is very brutal. In half an hour, the second half—the group scrimmage—will begin!"

The host invited Xu Qing to the front of the stage.

Xu Qing changed back into her simple white shirt, with her guitar slung over her back.

His face betrayed no emotion, as if he weren't the one who had just screamed at the cost of his life.

"Xu Qing, that rock version of 'Thinking of You Tonight' was so amazing."

The host handed over the microphone.

"Everyone is curious: will you continue to create original content for the second half of the group stage?"

This is a trap.

With limited time in the group stage and the need to work on teamwork, most players choose classic old songs to play it safe.

Xu Qing took the microphone.

He only said one word.

"meeting."

The host paused for a moment, then asked, "It seems you have plenty of stock?"

Xu Qing nodded.

"a lot of."

"They were all written for her."

Another scream erupted from the audience.

The haters who were just trying to find fault have all shut up now.

This person isn't here to compete; they're here to hold a solo exhibition.

It's still the kind of exhibition that commemorates only one person's work.

……

Intermission.

The backstage area is in complete chaos.

The contestants were busy touching up their makeup, changing clothes, and inquiring about the grouping rules for the second half.

Xu Qing didn't join in the fun.

He felt it was too noisy inside and the air quality was bad.

He carried his guitar and walked down the corridor.

That direction is the smoking area, which is usually quiet and deserted.

The lights in the hallway were a bit dim.

Xu Qing walked to the end and was about to take out her phone.

Then I heard the sound of a lighter coming from around the corner.

A few people chuckled in hushed tones.

"President Zhao has really gone all out this time."

"That's right, it's because that guy surnamed Xu didn't know what was good for him."

Xu Qing stopped in her tracks.

He neither dodged nor made a sound.

There were four people standing around the corner.

The three are the judges for this round.

Apart from Liu Wei, who was scolded away by "Teacher Luo," the other three are all here.

There was also a man wearing a black suit.

Xu Qing recognized that face.

I saw her before at the Xinghuang Entertainment building; she's Zhao Tai's personal secretary.

The man in the suit was holding three thick envelopes.

The envelope was made of kraft paper and was bulging.

Judging by its thickness, what's inside is definitely not a thank-you letter.

"Thank you for your hard work, teachers."

The man in the suit smiled and slipped the envelopes into the hands of the three judges.

"I'll need your help with the group assignments for the second half."

One of the judges, who had long hair, weighed the envelope in his hand and beamed with joy.

"No problem, no problem."

"That Xu Qing is really too arrogant. If we don't suppress him, the show can't be filmed."

Another chubby judge stuffed the envelope into his inner pocket and patted his chest.

"Don't worry, we understand the rules."

"The grouping process is highly random."

"If I get a few tone-deaf teammates, even a god couldn't carry me."

The group exchanged a smile.

That greasy laughter echoed in the empty corridor, making people feel nauseous.

Just then.

Xu Qing walked out.

The leather shoes made a clattering sound as they stepped on the marble floor.

The group of people were startled.

Turning around, he saw Xu Qing and his expression froze for a moment.

The chubby judge instinctively covered the pocket where he had just stuffed the envelope.

Kind of embarrassing.

After all, it's a bit embarrassing to be caught accepting bribes by the person in charge.

But soon, this awkwardness turned into playful banter.

Who are they?

The judges are big shots in the industry, holding the power of life and death over the contestants.

Who is Xu Qing?

An orphan with some talent but no background, and an internet celebrity who gains traffic by playing the victim.

Even if you see it, so what?

Would he dare to tell anyone?

Who would believe that if I told them?

The man in the suit didn't even pull his hand back.

He straightened his tie, looked at Xu Qing with a condescending and disdainful gaze.

"Hey, isn't this our champion?"

The man in the suit gave a sarcastic greeting.

"What? Looking for inspiration here?"

"Excuse me," Xu Qing said, her voice low but clear.

The three judges were stunned for a moment, and subconsciously moved aside.

Xu Qing, without looking to the side, walked through them with her guitar slung over her shoulder.

The guitar case brushed against the man in the suit's shoulder.

The man in the suit's face darkened.

"Xu Qing."

He called out from behind.

Don't get too cocky.

"This industry is a deep and dangerous place; be careful not to drown."