A band, or a battleground?

She put on her headphones, clicked play, and stared blankly.

Now, she should be considered out of the game, right? Jufeng Company can no longer pose an obstacle to the Spring Shadow Band, and Sun Man has completely lost the right to continue being hostile.

Shouldn't we be able to simply enjoy it now?

I want a life in full bloom.

"Like standing atop a rainbow."

"Like traveling through a dazzling galaxy"

"Possessing power beyond the ordinary..."

As she listened, Sun Man unconsciously shed tears.

She murmured, "It's so nice..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The treatment of the 140 champion band

At the post-match press conference, reporters from thirty media outlets sat in front of the Spring Shadow Band. Besides the four band members, their manager Liu Weiting and the program's director Xue Hai were also present.

Everyone had a microphone in front of them and could speak, but Qi Yuan spoke the most.

Because most reporters' questions are like this...

"The two original songs in the final, 'Life is Like a Summer Flower' and 'Blooming Life,' have very different styles. Where did they come from to create these songs?"

"From the auditions to winning the championship, Chunri Ying has always insisted on writing entirely original songs. Your songwriting speed has shocked the industry. Are you worried about running out of creative material in the future?"

Qi Yuan's answer was: "My inspiration comes from my personal experiences, as well as what I have seen, heard, and thought. It is precisely because the styles are so different that they are not so easy to run out. If it were all a single style, it might run out."

Another reporter, fearing the song might not generate enough buzz, asked: "Is the song 'Blooming Life' a direct response to mentor Chen Jiashu's previous comments that the arrangement was 'simple and not rock enough'?"

Qi Yuan shook his head: "Teacher Chen's comments were made many days ago. Our performance today has nothing to do with that. We just felt that 'Blooming Life' was very suitable for the finals, that's all."

The reporter pressed further: "The Polar Day Band sang two of Chen Jiashu's songs in the finals. Didn't that mean they were competing against you on behalf of the mentors?"

Qi Yuan smiled and said, "Then you should ask the Polar Day Band, not us. We don't know what they're thinking. We're only focused on our own creations and performances."

Another reporter raised his hand and asked: "In the first round of the 'I Want to Fly' performance, the band arranged for two female lead singers. Was this a last-minute decision or a premeditated tactic?"

Qi Yuan: "As I just said, we only focus on our own creation and performance. After I finished writing the song 'I Want to Fly,' I felt that it was more suitable for girls to sing, and Mengxue and Yiyi are both very good at singing, so I gave it to them."

The reporter then asked, "So, will you continue to write songs suitable for female singers? Will we ever be able to hear them again...?"

Qi Yuan affirmed, "Of course. The internal roles of our band are not completely fixed. Some songs are more suitable for girls to sing, so they will be the lead singers."

At this moment, another reporter couldn't wait to ask: "During the finals, there were many rumors online about vote-rigging and behind-the-scenes manipulation. As the final champion, what is Kasuga Kage's view on this?"

Qi Yuan: "I'll sit and watch."

reporter:"?"

Qi Yuan laughed and said, "Actually, it doesn't matter how we see it; everyone has their own ideas. And as I just said, all we can do is focus on the music."

By this time, the reporters had realized that Qi Yuan was incredibly tight-lipped. It seemed unlikely they could get any bombshells out of him.

So someone passed the question on to the other band members, especially the most introverted one.

"Jiang Yi, is it stage fright for you to sing on such a big stage for the first time?"

The girl was taken aback for a moment, then looked at her teammates and replied, "I'm a little nervous, but I'm not going on stage alone, so it feels okay."

Another reporter asked, "Will this pink star makeup look become your personal signature?"

Jiang Yi paused for a moment, then said, "Probably not. It's just... well, a small suggestion from my teammates to make a small change."

At this point, the reporter finally asked the question he most wanted to know: "Luz, the guitarist of the Katz band, announced his withdrawal from the competition on stage. Are you aware of the inside story?"

"The inside story?" Jiang Yi looked bewildered. "We don't know anything about it."

Qi Yuan, Qiu Mengxue, and Ning Qianyu all secretly gave her a thumbs up. Despite her shy and introverted appearance, Yi Yi is quite the actress.

The reporters had no choice but to shift their focus again:

"Ning Qianyu, many netizens are amazed by your hand speed and stamina in the live chat. Do you have any special physical training techniques for playing drums?"

Ning Qianyu laughed and said, "Of course! I play games! I'm really fast at playing games."

The reporter's eyes lit up, sensing something amiss, and pressed on, "But you're still high school students. You have classes, homework, and music to do. Do you really have time to play games?"

Ning Qianyu replied matter-of-factly, "I study hard when I'm studying, and I play games seriously when I'm playing. The main thing is that my efficiency is always higher than others. Actually, you can ask our class teacher if you have the chance. Even if I don't do my homework, I still get in the top three in the class."

reporter:"……"

Ning Qianyu added, "Mengxue and Qi Yuan are about the same. Do you have any other questions?"

Reporter: "All four of you are still students. After winning the championship, your fame has increased significantly. How will you balance your studies and the demanding work in the entertainment industry?"

Ning Qianyu: "What's the point of balancing it? Just go to school when you're supposed to, and perform when you're supposed to."

The reporters then discovered that although Ning Qianyu was not as meticulous as Qi Yuan, she also wouldn't reveal the kind of information they wanted.

So they looked at Qiu Mengxue and asked:

"Fans are discussing how your band members get along. Qiu Mengxue, as a girl, how do you feel about Qi Yuan, the only male teammate?"

Qiu Mengxue smiled and asked in return, "Do you think there's any difference between boys and girls in a band?"

The reporter was speechless for a moment.

Another reporter asked, "So, what are the next steps for Spring Shadow? Will you launch a national tour? Or will you release a physical album?"

Qiu Mengxue smiled and said, "That's hard to say, we have to go back to school at the end of the month."

For a moment, the reporters felt that the Spring Shadow Band was like a pebble covered in moss in the water, so slippery and hard that they couldn't catch it!

They're all teenagers, how could this happen?

Shouldn't teenagers of this age be so self-conscious that they'd spontaneously reveal their secrets without being asked?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After the press conference ended, the four members of the Kasuga Kage group couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The reporters found it difficult, and they didn't find it easy either. Being relentlessly bombarded by so many reporters was something they'd never experienced before.

Jiang Yi muttered, "I have a feeling that none of them have good intentions..."

Qi Yuan laughed and said, "It's not exactly malicious, they just want to create a big news story, the kind of attitude that thrives on chaos. As long as we keep our composure, they can't really do anything to us."

At this moment, Liu Weiting came over to remind them: "The celebration party for this season of 'The Coming One' is coming up soon. In addition to the production team and mentors, there will also be representatives from sponsors and some executives from management companies attending. You are the main characters at the celebration party, are you ready?"

Qiu Mengxue was taken aback: "What do we need to prepare?"

Liu Weiting: "Be mentally prepared. You are minors, so you don't need to be toasted, but everyone will definitely chat with you. At least you can't be impolite in public."

Ning Qianyu looked up to the sky and sighed, "Heavens above! The finals are finally over, can't we at least get a break?!"

Liu Weiting looked at the short-haired girl and reminded her with a smile, "By the way, Qianyu, you also need to manage social media. As is customary, the champion team will post their victory speech on mainstream social media platforms that night, which needs to include pictures and the sponsor's brand hashtag. If you have time, you can also respond to some of the most frequently asked questions from fans."

Ning Qianyu looked helpless: "I don't have time, please spare me..."

Liu Weiting laughed and said, "This is the treatment a champion band gets."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

141 Do you still remember me?

Inside the banquet hall, under the crystal chandelier, many elegantly dressed men and women gathered. They chatted and drank, their faces bearing polite smiles.

The air was filled with the sweet scent of fame and fortune.

Then the heavy, ornate doors were pushed open, and four young men and women entered the banquet hall. Instantly, the previously noisy hall fell silent, and most eyes turned to them.

The four members of Kasuga Kage have finally arrived.

They had changed out of their stage costumes, but their banquet attire still shone brightly on them.

Qi Yuan, walking at the front, wore a dark casual suit without a tie. The collar of his shirt was slightly open, revealing the outline of his Adam's apple. His figure was accentuated by the well-tailored suit, making him appear tall and slender.

Beside Qi Yuan, Qiu Mengxue wore a pure white one-shoulder evening gown, revealing her graceful swan neck, but not exposing any more. The snow-white dress made her look as elegant as a tycoon's daughter, attracting many admiring glances.

On the other side, Jiang Yi changed into a light pink tulle dress, her long hair flowing smoothly over her shoulders. She had removed the pink stars and wig from the finals, looking understated yet elegant and refined.

As for Ning Qianyu, it wasn't just stunning, it was astonishing. She rejected the dress, opting instead for a black leather jacket, shorts, and combat boots. Despite being petite and adorable, she exuded rebelliousness, as if she were afraid of being approached.

"Youth is wonderful..."

"This is the biggest rising star of the year."

A murmur of admiration rippled through the crowd.

Xue Hai greeted them with a radiant smile, patted Qi Yuan on the shoulder, and led them into the center of the venue.

Liu Weiting followed behind them silently.

Soon, a group of people surrounded Qi Yuan. In this world of fame and fortune, everyone knew that this tall and handsome young man was the money-printing machine that could produce works like "Life is Like Summer Flowers" and "Blooming Life".

"Mr. Qi Yuan, I've long admired your name. I'm Wang Lei, the PR Director of Storm Sports Apparel," a portly middle-aged man said, handing over his business card with an overly enthusiastic manner. "Your performance of 'Blooming Life' tonight was absolutely stunning! It perfectly matches our brand's unyielding spirit! I wonder if Chunriying has any plans to sign a full-line endorsement deal soon?"

Qi Yuan politely accepted the business card: "Mr. Wang, you're too kind. Business collaborations are currently handled by our agents at Tianhua Entertainment."

Wang Lei glanced at Liu Weiting, smiled, and then lowered his voice to offer his bargaining chip: "If we can cooperate, we are willing to offer a yearly endorsement fee of 30 million. As long as you nod now, the contract will be on Tianhua's desk first thing tomorrow morning!"

Thirty million a year!

Upon hearing this number, several executives from second-tier entertainment companies who were listening intently nearly spilled their drinks.

For a band that just debuted from a talent show, what an insane premium this is.

For most talent show champions, they would be grateful if their team's endorsement fees reached ten million in their first year. This is three times that amount!

However, Qi Yuan said, "Thank you for your generosity and recognition, Mr. Wang. We will seriously consider it."

There were no surprises, no fervor, only an unusual calm.

Wang Lei was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting a teenager to be so calm in the face of such a huge temptation. He could only exchange a few awkward pleasantries before stepping away.

On the periphery of this circle, people were whispering among themselves.

"Ha, so eager to throw money away, didn't expect the other party wouldn't be tempted at all, huh?"

"In the past two years, Storm has almost become a professional OEM manufacturer. Do they still have their own production lines?"

"Tianhua must have taught him..."

However, Liu Weiting was still surprised. How come Qi Yuan already knew how to do Tai Chi before she even had a chance to tell him anything?

She quickly stood in front of Qi Yuan and emphasized, "Everyone, Chunriying's performance today was very tiring and she needs to rest. For business cooperation, please contact me directly."

Under Liu Weiting's cover, the four members of Chunriying grabbed some food and drinks and found a place to sit down.

After collecting all the business cards, Liu Weiting came over and praised, "You handled things very well just now! Qi Yuan, of all the artists I've managed, you're the most composed one."

Qi Yuan ate a thumb-sized piece of roasted beef and chuckled, "I don't think there's any need to rush. Even if we're going to sign an endorsement deal, it's better to delay it a bit so we can negotiate the price."

Liu Weiting nodded: "That's right, and the company that just contacted you doesn't have a good reputation. Thirty million a year, they'll only run it for one year because they've got the lifespan of talent shows figured out. After a year, once your exposure drops, they'll go looking for the next rising star. In the industry, this is a typical 'harvesting' contract."

Qi Yuan listened quietly and nodded slightly.

Qiu Mengxue asked, "We can't accept this kind of endorsement, right?"

Liu Weiting explained, "Yes, this kind of money can be made quickly, but it's very damaging to your reputation. Once you're covered in cheap labels and have squeezed out all of your fans' purchasing power in the first year, those truly classy brands will never consider you again."

Qi Yuan's eyes remained clear: "So our top priority right now is not to accept those ubiquitous advertisements, but to solidify the inflated traffic into a solid foundation."

Liu Weiting breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that working with intelligent people was a real pleasure. She said, "You guys should relax tonight. You're just here to get acquainted. You haven't had dinner, you must be hungry, right?"

"Of course..." Qi Yuan had a confident expression on his face, but when he tried to poke with his fork, he missed.

Then I looked down and saw that everything on my plate was gone!

At the same time, Ning Qianyu's cheeks puffed out, making her look like a little hamster.

Qi Yuan gritted his teeth: "If you want some, take it yourself. Why are you stealing mine?"

Ning Qianyu swallowed the food in her mouth in two gulps, and then said, "I've finished mine, and besides, I think yours tastes better. This is an acknowledgment of your taste."

Qi Yuan looked at the unrestrained girl, thought for a moment, and then called out another girl's name: "Yi Yi".

Jiang Yi: "What's wrong?"