Chapter 17: Curtain Rises!

The comment section exploded. Popularity soared. In no time, the C-Position Girl Group's live stream broke through one million views, with five hundred and fifty thousand viewers online! In the real-time variety show rankings, the C-Position Girl Group finally made an appearance, climbing up to the 80th spot.

Yet, Zhang Zhichang, who watched all this unfold, wore a deep frown despite the audience's fervor; concern and displeasure clouded his face. The "Iron Maiden" girl group—infamous in the industry for being unwelcome—were like wild horses running free. Wherever they went, chaos followed, and in serious cases, even physical altercations could break out. That was why, at first sight, he had immediately ruled them out.

But who could have guessed that at the last meeting, Lu Yiqing had insisted on bringing them in, assigning them a spot in the very first live show. It was obvious his intention was for the girl group to target Su Yunjin. However, as a producer, Zhang Zhichang knew all too well that this group was uncontrollable; they wouldn’t simply target whomever they were told. Their leader was Tan Linfang, head of the Naxi Folk Song Clan and chief of the Tujia Twenty-Eight Villages. The two young girls who followed her, though only eighteen or nineteen, were the strongest among the twenty-eight villages—Tan Linfang’s right and left hands.

The three of them together might make things lively now, but once the show began, who knew how much trouble awaited?

“What’s wrong, Producer Zhang? Not pleased? With such high popularity, isn’t this exactly what you wanted?” Lu Yiqing, who had been watching Zhang Zhichang, sneered from the side. His taunt wasn’t truly aimed at Zhang Zhichang, but since he couldn’t vent his frustration on his own father, he had to settle for tormenting a subordinate.

Having spent years in the entertainment industry, Zhang Zhichang was no stranger to Lu Yiqing’s games. He chuckled and replied, “President Lu, let’s be frank. I couldn’t care less about what you’re plotting; we’re just in a business relationship. Frankly, your approach is unnecessary. When the Iron Maiden group appears, they don’t just target one person—they’ll go after the entire panel of mentors. Sure, I’ve put a lot of heart into this show, but you don’t want it to go down in flames either, do you?”

Even a clay figure has a temper.

After being summoned by Su Yunjin to deal with Luo Zizhen and Zhang Chuchu, Zhang Zhichang felt utterly stifled. Now, with Lu Yiqing coming to provoke him, he didn’t hold back, snapping right back. So what if they were targeting someone?

What did it matter if Su Yunjin was targeted? She wasn’t his fiancée. Damn it, life and death be damned—if you won’t yield, then fight! He would not swallow this indignity any longer!

Lu Yiqing’s eyes turned cold, but Zhang Zhichang, unphased, picked up the intercom and announced, “All departments prepare, mentor showcase begins!”

With Zhang Zhichang’s order, Su Yunjin and the others, ready for the final step, took to the stage. As both Luo Zizhen and Zhang Chuchu were amateurs, the mentor showcase was divided into two phases. The first featured Wang Tao’s explosive street dance. The second was a duet between Shao Xinghui and Su Yunjin. The third and final phase was a group model walk tableau.

All of this had been meticulously rehearsed. As the lights dimmed, Wang Tao took the stage; his world-champion-level street dance instantly ignited the atmosphere. The audience in the live stream was in an uproar.

“Wow, that was amazing!”

“No wonder he’s our Brother Tao!”

“Damn, seeing Wang Tao and Su Yunjin on the same stage is nauseating.”

“Su Yunjin, get out of the C-Position Girl Group!!”

The jeers began anew. But while the insults raged online, the live audience and contestants were stunned by Wang Tao’s electrifying performance. Even the members of the Iron Maiden girl group, seated at the highest row, shrieked with excitement—especially the two young girls beside Tan Linfang, both only eighteen or nineteen, easily smitten by a handsome man. Wang Tao’s moves were a dazzling light before their eyes, their gaze filled with starry-eyed adoration.

Next came Shao Xinghui’s dance and song. While his dancing was merely passable, his singing won over a legion of fans the moment his voice rang out. Halfway through his song, Su Yunjin joined in.

“Ah—yo yo—”

She sang the chorus, starting with a high octave. As her voice soared, the atmosphere reached an unprecedented climax. Her resounding voice seemed to possess a magical quality, piercing the skies, like an eagle surveying the earth—noble, rich, and untamable, all blended together.

“Hiss—”

“Is Su Yunjin’s voice really this beautiful?”

“Wait, wasn’t she just a pretty face? Is this what they call a pretty face?”

“Damn, why did I ever believe those online rumors? This voice is incredible—I can barely breathe!”

“Same here, my scalp is tingling.”

In the live chat, every viewer who had previously mocked Su Yunjin now knelt in awe, desperate to call her their queen. They had heard countless voices, but never one like hers—it gripped their hearts with raw power.

The comment section erupted. The audience was left in shock.

The camera panned from the stage to the contestant seats, and the faces of the three Iron Maiden members at the top row changed visibly. In high definition, the viewers caught every detail. So did Zhang Zhichang backstage; he glanced sidelong at Lu Yiqing, feeling a surge of triumph. While Lu Yiqing had been all smiles moments before, he now looked as if he had swallowed a fly, his eyes icy, barely concealing his fury.

A smirk tugged at Zhang Zhichang’s lips. Earlier, he hadn’t quite believed Su Yunjin’s claim of being the inheritor of the Yue Folk Song tradition. But now—her vocal prowess was simply astonishing. Without years of relentless practice, such skill was impossible. Of course, this wasn’t even a true mountain folksong, just the show’s theme. When the real competition began, Su Yunjin’s true strength would shine.

This thought made Zhang Zhichang even more pleased. He had defended Su Yunjin only because of an assignment from the Lu family patriarch, but now—

He wanted to broadcast Su Yunjin’s talent to the world, if for no other reason than to see Lu Yiqing eat his words. Try to vex him? He wouldn’t take it lying down!

On stage, the atmosphere surged in wave after wave. At last, as Su Yunjin’s harmony ended and the background music shifted, the third phase began—the group’s model walk tableau exploded into life.