Chapter Eighty-Three: The Honey Girl

Jiang Yun walked onto the stage and embraced Zhang Yang, easing Zhang Yang's nerves. Jiang Yun returned to his seat as Yang Yang stepped onto the stage.

Tian Zhen teased, "Both of your names have the character 'Yang' in them! What a coincidence!"

Yang Yang smiled. "Let us congratulate Mentor Jiang Yun on gaining another student. Mentor Jiang Yun now has five students!"

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.

"Alright, Zhang Yang, you may go backstage and rest," Yang Yang said.

Zhang Yang left the stage, and the four mentors' chairs turned back around. Yang Yang continued, "Let's welcome our next contestant!"

Xiao He ascended the stage as gentle music began to play. Holding the microphone, she sang with deep emotion, as if softly telling a story: "In every heart, there is a place where memories linger and cannot be swept away."

"Wow! It's a girl! Her voice is so gentle!"

"And she's singing an old song!"

...

"In the countless changes of the world, love separates those who care for each other."

Click!

Jiang Yun was the first to turn around.

Seeing Xiao He on the stage, Jiang Yun was momentarily stunned. Xiao He even made a funny face at him.

"...Even if we cannot always be together."

As the chorus arrived, Xiao He's voice grew even softer and more tender.

"The city moonlight brightens dreams,
May it warm his heart,
After seeing through all the partings in this world,
Can there be a few more moments of happiness?"

Click!

Tian Zhen hit her button and turned.

"The city moonlight brightens dreams, may it protect him by his side." Xiao He's voice was as soft as flowing water.

Click!

Zhou Lun turned as well.

"If one day we meet again."

Click!

Wang Feng turned too.

"Let happiness fill the entire night."

Xiao He finished singing.

The audience burst into applause.

"This sister's voice is so gentle, I'm in love!"

"She looks as sweet as honey—wonder if I can have a taste!"

"Wow, so gentle and so sweet, my old heart is melting!"

"Count me in, my old heart has been warmed!"

"My heart is overflowing with warmth!"

"I'm going to be sweetened to death!"

"+1"

"+10086"

Zhou Lun said, "Miss, please introduce yourself!"

"My name is Lin Xiaohe, I'm twenty-two years old, a high school graduate, and now I work as a waitress in a restaurant!"

Zhou Lun teased, "Young lady, why do you seem so world-weary? As if you've seen through all the hardships of life!"

Lin Xiaohe was embarrassed, her cheeks turning red.

Jiang Yun sighed inwardly. This was a girl who had once been a thief—how could she not have tasted the bitterness of the world?

Nevertheless, Jiang Yun did not judge Lin Xiaohe with prejudice. He believed she was a kind person.

Tian Zhen, in a big-sisterly tone, said, "Young lady, please choose your team!"

"I choose..."

"I choose Mr. Jiang Yun's team!"

The audience in the studio and in front of their screens froze for a moment.

Crash!

It was as if the sound of shattering glass could be heard.

"Hey, Jiang Yun, let go of my honey girl!"

"Heavens! Such a sweet and gentle girl—Jiang Yun must not be allowed to ruin her!"

"Jiang Yun, if you dare accept my honey girl, I swear I'll be your hater forever! As long as you live, I'll be your black fan every day!"

"I'm already walking the lonely road of a black fan!"

"I'm joining too!"

"+1"

"+10086"

The audience wailed in anguish, feeling as if their hearts were breaking.

Jiang Yun was taken aback but soon understood and accepted it.

He picked up the microphone. "Welcome!"

"Mr. Jiang Yun, everyone else got a hug. Don't I get one?" Lin Xiaohe asked.

"Uh..." Jiang Yun was at a loss for words. This girl was bold. He walked onto the stage and gave Lin Xiaohe a hug.

This act was like poking a hornet's nest—the audience exploded.

"Hey, Jiang Yun, you actually hugged my honey girl!"

"Let go of my honey girl!"

"No one can hug my honey girl!"

"Heavens, earth, oh my sweet honey girl! Please, strike Jiang Yun down with a bolt of lightning!"

The audience was filled with indignation!

"Young lady, may I ask you something?" Tian Zhen inquired.

Lin Xiaohe held the microphone. "Please go ahead, Mentor Tian Zhen!"

"Why do you call Jiang Yun 'Mr. Jiang Yun'?"

"Uh..." Lin Xiaohe was mortified.

Her expression sent another ripple through the crowd.

"My honey girl is so adorable!"

"Sweet and cute!"

"Her embarrassed look is melting me!"

"Absolutely sweet!"

After thinking for a moment, Lin Xiaohe replied, "Because Mr. Jiang Yun is my idol!"

Tian Zhen nodded.

Online, a barrage of insults was hurled—every comment targeting Jiang Yun.

"Jiang Yun, I am forever your enemy!"

"Jiang Yun, you can't be the idol of my honey girl!"

...

If Jiang Yun knew about the insults online, he would surely feel helpless. He was being cursed for no reason at all—trouble landing out of nowhere.

Most of the insults, however, were in jest. Of course, there were probably a few true haters joining in.

Yang Yang returned to the stage. "Let us congratulate Mentor Jiang Yun for gaining yet another student. The Jiang Yun team now has six members."

"Contestant Lin Xiaohe, please take a short rest!"

"Let's welcome our next contestant..."

After a few more performances, the recording of the third episode of "The Voice of China" came to an end.

Jiang Yun had six students, Tian Zhen had four, while Zhou Lun and Wang Feng also had four each.

Yang Yang, holding the microphone, announced with passion, "This concludes the third episode of 'The Voice.' Let’s invite our four mentors and the contestants who passed to sing our theme song—'The Undefeated Hero!'"

Zhou Lun stepped onto the stage. "For the dream in my heart."

Wang Feng took the mic. "Battling through blood and fire, like a raging wind."

Tian Zhen, valiant and spirited. "The night will give way to light."

Xu Wei: "The undefeated hero."

Lin Xiaohe's voice, gentle at first, then bursting with strength: "Scars are the sparks of courage."

Zhang Yang sang, "To soar to a farther sky."

Jiang Yun sang slowly, "Open your arms, let your heart blaze on this journey, the future is right ahead—in the land of love!"

...

The third episode of "The Voice" concluded.

Though the episode had ended, everyone's enthusiasm remained high. Discussions broke out about favorite contestants.

"I think the final champion might come from Jiang Yun's team!"

"Nonsense! It’ll be Zhou Lun, the king!"

"Zhou Lun has a massive fanbase."

"Hey, this is a fair talent show—fan clubs don’t matter here."

"I love the honey girl!"

"Me too!"

"I like Zhang Yang—his original songs are the best!"

"Zhang Yang fans +1!"

"Zhang Yang fans +10086!"

"Did you all forget about my brother Dai Quan? Team Dai, gather!"

"The Dai Army reporting in!"

"The Dai Army, present and accounted for!"

...

The show’s broadcast had made several contestants instant celebrities. Record companies were already reaching out to sign them.

Lin Xiaohe had earned the nickname "Honey Girl," while Zhang Yang was dubbed the "Rock Prince."

But as fame grew, so did trouble. Despite their newfound popularity, challenges were quick to follow.

PS: Thanks to "H. Rascal" for two monthly tickets!
Thanks to "Always Love You" for one monthly ticket!