Chapter One Hundred and Six: The End of the Fourth Stage

The audience erupted in a stir, utterly baffled by the contestant’s costume. This was a pop-song audition stage—was he planning to perform opera?

“What kind of act is he doing?”

“No clue. I’m moving my little stool and watching carefully!”

“Sounds like a traditional operatic style!”

The newcomer wore a stage robe, and a theatrical rhythm began to play.

At the judges’ desk, the four of them frowned.

Tian Zhen asked, “Is he doing Peking opera?”

Jiang Yun shook his head.

The music suddenly quickened. The young man swept his wide sleeves through the air, striking stylized opera poses, and sang in the deep, aged timbre of a male lead: “By the Orchid Pavilion, copying a calligraphy model; running script flows like drifting clouds and running water!”

“Wow,” Tian Zhen exclaimed. “It’s Zhou Lun’s Orchid Pavilion Preface—reworked into a Peking opera version!”

The audience listened in rapt silence.

The young man continued in the old male opera style:

“Under the moon, by the gate, you push it open; as delicate as your broken footsteps.”

Suddenly, his voice shifted, taking on the feminine lead style: “In haste, a thousand-year stele may be rubbed clean, yet your beauty is hard to imprint—what use is a true masterpiece, and to whom can true devotion be given?”

The female voice rang out, and the audience instantly exploded.

Thunderous applause filled the hall.

“So good! This Peking opera version of Orchid Pavilion Preface is amazing!”

With a snap, Wang Feng pressed his button and turned around first. “This time I was the first to turn!”

Turning to look at the contestant on stage, Wang Feng let out an excited cry.

Jiang Yun, Zhou Lun, and Tian Zhen were all left itching with curiosity, unable to bear it.

Onstage, the young man wore a yellow opera robe. He suddenly swept his sleeves wide and stepped in stylized opera footwork, his posture agile and firm, full of martial vigor.

Then his voice shifted again, into a male opera register: “The shepherd’s flute plays across the fields; with yellow wine and side dishes, how many plates more?”

Jiang Yun slapped the button at once.

His chair slowly rotated. Facing the stage, Jiang Yun shouted, “Wuhu!”

Seeing Jiang Yun and Wang Feng both reacting that way, Zhou Lun and Tian Zhen were practically bursting with curiosity.

“No, I can’t hold back—I’m turning too!”

With a snap, Zhou Lun pressed his button and spun around. “What is this? He’s only wearing an opera robe. Is that somehow more impressive than a chubby kid in a dress?”

He wore an expression of utter disappointment.

Tian Zhen frowned. Zhou Lun’s attitude was the exact opposite of Jiang Yun and Wang Feng’s. Whom should she believe? Forget it—turn first and think later.

With a snap, she pressed her button and turned around. “Wuhu! Not bad at all!”

“Zhou Lun, this young man is pretty original. Why do you look so disappointed?” Tian Zhen asked.

“Because he’s singing my song!”

The other three were speechless. What kind of reason was that?

“Zhou Lun, you’ve got quite the thick skin. This is clearly Jiang Yun’s song!” Tian Zhen shot back mercilessly.

“Either way, it’s mine now.”

Tian Zhen rolled her eyes.

After finishing his song, the young man onstage said, “Hello to everyone in the audience, and to those watching on television. Hello, judges. My name is Hu Wen, and I am a Peking opera performer!”

A Peking opera performer? No wonder!

Jiang Yun nodded and picked up the microphone. “Could you tell us how you came up with the idea of adapting this song into Peking opera?”

Hu Wen held the microphone and spoke at length. “Because the lyrics and melody are beautiful, like poetry. When I happened to hear it, I found that it fit Peking opera wonderfully, so I tried adapting it into a Peking opera version.”

Jiang Yun nodded. “You adapted it very well. As the original creator, I can say the adaptation is quite skillful.”

Wang Feng picked up the microphone. “Hu Wen, please choose your team!”

“I choose…”

“I choose Teacher Jiang Yun!”

The audience erupted into applause.

Yang Yang walked onto the stage. “Congratulations to Mentor Jiang Yun for gaining one more student. Mentor Jiang Yun now has six students!”

Jiang Yun stepped onto the stage and embraced Hu Wen.

Then he stepped back down.

“To all viewers watching on television, hello! That concludes today’s program! At present, the four mentors’ teams stand as follows: Mentor Jiang Yun has six students, Mentor Tian Zhen has six students, and Mentors Zhou Lun and Wang Feng each also have six students!”

Holding the microphone, Yang Yang spoke briskly. “Now all four mentors have six students each. The competition is fiercely deadlocked. Who will emerge as champion? Please join us next episode for the final blind audition round!”

“Now, let us invite the four mentors onto the stage to perform the theme song!”

The audience went wild.

The four of them stood and waved to the crowd.

They came to the stage, and the music began.

Jiang Yun sang, “For the dream in my heart, I fight through blood and fire like a furious storm.”

Tian Zhen sang, “Night will release the light.”

Zhou Lun sang, “An undefeated hero.”

Wang Feng sang, “Scars are the sparks of courage.”

The four sang together, “Spread wide your hands…”

With swift cadence, Yang Yang said, “Thank you for watching the fourth episode of Voice of Huaguo. Please visit AiYi, Sound Wave, Panda TT…”

Thus the fourth episode of Voice of Huaguo came to an end under Yang Yang’s announcement.

Behind the studio.

Jiang Yun was removing his makeup in the dressing room.

Stretching, he said, “I’ve been busy all week, and tomorrow I can finally rest! Sigh—only one day off a week!”

“What are you daydreaming about?”

“Miss Tian?”

Jiang Yun stood up and greeted Tian Zhen.

“Sit down, little brother Jiang Yun.”

The makeup artist behind Jiang Yun watched them nervously.

After Jiang Yun had finished removing his makeup, Tian Zhen said, “Jiang Yun, I’ve got a concert in Magic City tomorrow. How about coming as a guest performer?”

“This…” Jiang Yun felt somewhat helpless, but he could hardly refuse.

“What, you don’t want to?”

“No, no!” Jiang Yun hurried to explain.

Tian Zhen covered her mouth and laughed softly. “I thought you didn’t want to.”

“No—I was just thinking that now even my one and only day off this week is gone.”

“The concert is at night; it won’t affect your daytime rest.”

Jiang Yun rubbed his nose. “All right then.”

“Later, the four of us are going out to eat together. The guest performers include Zhou Lun and Wang Feng too.”

Jiang Yun’s eyes lit up. “Miss Tian, since you’re inviting guest performers, can I invite one too?”

“You want to borrow my concert to perform?” Tian Zhen saw straight through him.

Jiang Yun nodded.

“Sure. Who is it?”

“You come closer and I’ll tell you.”

Tian Zhen leaned in. Jiang Yun lowered his voice and said a name: “Li Mengya.”

Tian Zhen nodded. “Not bad, Jiang Yun—you’re using my concert to chase girls.”

He grinned shamelessly, neither admitting nor denying it.

Tian Zhen rolled her eyes. “Come on, let’s go eat.”

“Right away!” Jiang Yun picked up his suit jacket and followed Tian Zhen out of the dressing room.

It was already ten o’clock at night. Zhou Lun’s assistant, Zhu Yinling, drove the four of them to an upscale restaurant called Country Kitchen.

The restaurant specialized in private home-style cuisine.

Wearing masks and sunglasses, the four of them entered Country Kitchen.

“Welcome—Country Kitchen!”

A hostess came forward. “Do you have a reservation?”

“Tian Zhen,” Tian Zhen gave her name.

“Of course, please wait a moment.”

“Your room is called Purple Musk. Please follow me.”

The hostess led the four of them to a private room, opened the door, and said, “Please come in.”