Chapter Nineteen: Championship Battle, Essence of China
"Welcome back to 'You're the Most Talented!'” Ville stood at the center of the stage, microphone in hand. “I’m sure everyone is eager for the next performance, aren’t you?”
“The question of who will take the championship will be settled in the coming showdown!”
Li Meng’s voice rang out: “Without further ado, let’s welcome Zhou Ziqian to the stage!”
The spotlight swept over the entrance. Zhou Ziqian’s figure appeared, walking steadily onto the stage.
“I’ll be performing a signature song by Ms. Wang Fei tonight. I think you all know what it is! That’s right—it’s ‘Legend’!”
“Enough talk—please enjoy the male-female duet, ‘Legend!’” Li Meng announced.
On the set of 'You're the Most Talented,' the studio filled with the vast, tranquil sound of flowing water. From behind the curtain, Wang Fei emerged, her voice gentle as she sang, “Simply because, amidst the crowd, I glanced at you once more, and from then on, could never forget your face.”
“Hoping that, by chance, we might meet again one day,
From then I began this lonely yearning.
When I miss you, you are at the sky’s edge,
When I miss you, you are right before my eyes;
When I miss you, you linger in my mind,
When I miss you, you reside in my heart.”
In the lounge, Jiang Yun listened to the opening notes and knew at once that it was over. Not for any other reason, but because the standard of this song was simply too high.
He had the system, capable of exchanging for countless songs, classics and masterpieces of every genre. But he lacked popularity! As a third-rate singer, he simply couldn’t stir up any waves.
Though he’d been trending often lately, those drawn in were mostly casual fans, people following the crowd—true diehard supporters were few and far between.
It was just a fleeting novelty—once the heat died down, he’d be forgotten. Jiang Yun was well aware of this.
“Mr. Jiang?”
“Hmm?” Jiang Yun snapped back to reality. “What is it?”
“Someone’s here to see you!”
“Oh…”
I’d rather believe we had a promise in a previous life,
That this love story in this life will never change.
I’d rather wait a lifetime for you to notice,
I’ve always been by your side, never far away—
The tempo quickened, a lively rhythm rising. Zhou Ziqian’s male voice sang, “Simply because, amidst the crowd, I glanced at you once more, and from then on, could never forget your face.”
“Hoping that, by chance, we might meet again one day,
From then I began this lonely yearning.”
...
Simply because, amidst the crowd, I glanced at you once more—
As the final note faded, the audience remained enraptured, unable to react immediately.
After two or three seconds of silence, they returned to themselves, and thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall.
In Zhang Tie’s livestream, the comments scrolled by in a frenzy.
“Wang Fei and Zhou Ziqian’s duet is incredible!”
“You’re wrong—Wang Fei’s standard is incredible. Zhou Ziqian can’t compare!”
“When this episode of ‘You’re the Most Talented’ airs, I’ll definitely be watching!”
“+1”
“+10086”
The host returned to the stage. Li Meng announced, “Now the live audience will begin voting. You have one minute! The three judges will also cast their deciding votes. That means, once a judge votes for Zhou Ziqian, they can’t vote for Jiang Yun.”
Guo Fei didn’t hesitate at all, voting immediately for Zhou Ziqian. Huang Kang paused a moment, then also chose Zhou Ziqian.
Only Wang Lan held onto her deciding vote, believing Jiang Yun would still surprise her.
The LED screen displayed the vote tally.
“Three hundred votes!”
“Five hundred! Five hundred, everyone!”
“Seven hundred!”
“Stop! Seven hundred and seven!” Ville’s excited announcement felt like a roller coaster ride.
“Our contestant Zhou Ziqian has received 707 votes. With two judges’ deciding votes, that’s a total of 907!”
“Let’s congratulate Zhou Ziqian on this remarkable achievement!”
“Zhou Ziqian, please take a short break.”
Zhou Ziqian left the stage and returned to the lounge.
“Next, let’s invite Jiang Yun to the stage.”
The spotlight illuminated the entrance as Jiang Yun stepped out, dressed in white attire reminiscent of ink-wash paintings, holding a folding fan.
On stage, Jiang Yun handed a USB drive to the sound engineer.
Ville, seeing the USB in Jiang Yun’s hand, joked, “It seems our contestant Jiang Yun is about to perform another original!”
Taking the microphone, Jiang Yun announced, “I’d like to present my song, ‘Porcelain Blue’!”
The music began, the notes of a guzheng filling the studio.
“Zheng zheng!”
“Ding ding dong dong!”
A guzheng prelude? Last time it was Beijing opera, now a guzheng introduction! What style of music was this going to be?
The audience listened in bafflement—the style was completely unfamiliar.
Looking at Jiang Yun’s traditional garb, the audience and the three judges were equally puzzled.
Jiang Yun spoke, “This is a new genre of music I call…”
“Hua! Xia! Style!”
A stir swept the audience. A new genre? Hua Xia Style? What on earth was that?
Zhang Tie’s livestream exploded with comments.
“Hua Xia Style? The name sounds nice! I wonder how it’ll actually sound?”
“Jiang Yun always manages to surprise us!”
As the prelude ended, Jiang Yun began to sing softly, “A plain base sketches out blue-and-white, the brush’s stroke dark to light. Peonies painted on the vase, just like your first makeup.”
“Wow!”
“Jiang Yun is amazing!”
The audience was in an uproar—his singing left them awestruck, ready to kneel in admiration.
Zhang Tie’s livestream was overwhelmed; the comments flew so fast, it almost crashed.
“Jiang Yun, please accept my respect!”
“I’ll be your fan for life, no regrets!”
“+1”
“+10086”
Fragrant sandalwood wafts through the window, and my heart is clear within. The brush halts halfway across the rice paper.
“The glaze colors a portrait of a lady, her charm kept secret. And your gentle smile, like a flower about to bloom.” Jiang Yun’s voice was pure, singing gently to the rhythm.
Your beauty drifts like a wisp, to places I cannot reach.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from behind the curtain: “Sky blue waits for the rain, as I wait for you.
Smoke curls rise, stretching across a thousand miles.
On the base, Han script is written, echoing elegance of dynasties past,
As if I had long prepared for our meeting.”
A gasp swept through the crowd.
“My god, am I seeing things? Is that really the superstar, Zhou Lun?”
The audience was stunned.
Applause erupted, thunderous and unceasing, lasting a full minute.
In Zhang Tie’s livestream, the viewers were numb with shock—just a talent show, yet their emotions had been thrown into turmoil, up and down like a roller coaster.
Sky blue waits for the rain, as I wait for you.
The moonlight is fished from the river, blurring the ending.
Like a timeless piece of porcelain, beautiful on its own,
Your eyes are full of laughter.
...
Twenty minutes earlier…
“Brother Zhou, what are you doing here?”
“Jiang Yun, I’ve come to help! I heard for the final, contestants can invite guest performers.”
“That’s true!” Jiang Yun replied.
“I only found out this afternoon! I rushed over as fast as I could!”
“Ah…” Jiang Yun sighed.
“What’s with the sigh?” Zhou Lun asked.
“I received the news too late—unfortunately, I couldn’t invite a guest performer.”
“What do you mean? I’m right here, aren’t I?”
Jiang Yun was stunned. “But… we haven’t even rehearsed!”
Zhou Lun, decisive as ever, said, “Then let’s rehearse now!”
“But there’s less than twenty minutes left.”
“So what if it’s only twenty minutes? Don’t underestimate my professionalism!”