Xia Qingtian was invited as a special guest to the first day of recording.
Considering Yu Yinyin would be covering "Ying Yue," Xia Qingtian deliberately avoided that song during the opening performance. Instead, she chose another song by Sui Sui. The lively style and her seasoned stage presence showcased a different side of her.
After the host’s introduction, the official competition began.
There were five contestants in this round. Later, these six contestants would be paired up based on their songs and styles for re-editing and broadcast as a mini-variety show on short video platforms.
The first two contestants were both male. They were competing for the roles of Male Lead One and Male Lead Two. Their styles and images differed, but both were equally outstanding, capturing the judges’ attention with their exceptional vocal skills and superior voice quality.
The three judges did not spare their praise: "Very good young men. Your image is great, and your vocals are excellent. You were captivating from the moment you stepped on stage, and even more so when you started singing. Your singing technique is very seasoned, and it’s evident your fundamentals are very solid. You have a bright future!"
"Indeed, very good. Just a small suggestion: I can tell you were nervous, which is normal. You're young, and it's perfectly normal to be nervous on stage. You can relax a bit more, open up your body language, and it will be more beneficial for your chest resonance. You don't need to be nervous; you are excellent, and your performance today was very successful. I'm very optimistic about you."
"Extremely outstanding. It's clear that this audition has gathered many talented individuals, and I'm very happy to see so much new strength in the Chinese music scene." The speaker was a veteran figure in the Chinese music industry, and he spoke with emotion: "I believe you have a great future ahead. If possible, I hope we can collaborate further."
"Thank you!" The male singer on stage, holding the microphone with trembling hands, was close to tears. He bowed deeply before leaving the stage.
As a special guest, Xia Qingtian basically didn't need to provide commentary. Clapping and showing appreciation were enough.
Hearing such beautiful music live, Xia Qingtian felt her happiness had returned.
She truly loved this feeling.
Due to the structure of the human brain, music, more so than literature and painting, easily stimulates the nerves responsible for emotions.
Therefore, the excitement, happiness, and感动 one feels when listening to music they like are so direct and intense.
It was wonderful to appreciate such pure music up close!
"Next, the contestant will present their audition piece, 'Ying Yue'," the host announced with a flourish.
Upon hearing this introduction, Xia Qingtian immediately straightened her back, ready to applaud Yu Yinyin with the warmest welcome.
To her surprise, the person who walked on stage was not Yu Yinyin.
"Mo Jianing?" Xia Qingtian murmured, her brow furrowing involuntarily. The hand she had raised froze mid-air before slowly lowering.
"Hello, everyone. Hello, host, esteemed judges, audiences, and staff here. I am Mo Jianing." Mo Jianing was wearing a Song Dynasty-style Hanfu with a half-sleeved long tunic and a pleated skirt. Her hair was styled in a bun at the back, adorned with a pair of white ribbon bows on either side of her head, giving her a truly ethereal appearance.
After a simple greeting, the formal performance commenced.
It was evident that Mo Jianing had put in considerable effort, even adding choreography. Her movements under the lights, amidst the swirling mist, looked quite impressive.
Until she opened her mouth.
From the very first word, Xia Qingtian felt as if her happiness was fading away.
What on earth was she singing?
The judges exchanged glances, their expressions conveying a sense of helplessness.
Once the song finally concluded, Mo Jianing turned to strike a final pose before bowing to everyone, ready to receive their comments.
She had overheard the performances backstage. The two male singers who performed earlier had received very positive reviews, and she expected similar treatment. After all, Wanyue Entertainment was never stingy when it came to "greasing the wheels."
"I think… the young lady's outfit today is quite lovely. Her hairstyle and dance are also well-rehearsed. Hmm, she's quite confident, and at least her attitude towards the competition is… quite good." The first judge, finding nothing more to praise, placed the microphone back, indicating she was finished.
Mo Jianing's smile faltered, but she managed to maintain it. After all, during the broadcast, they could just focus on the judges complimenting her appearance.
"If your fundamental skills aren't strong, don't sing and dance at the same time. It will expose your weakness of unstable breath control," the second judge said after a moment of hesitation. Then he asked, "Who helped you choose this song? Was there perhaps some personal grievance involved?"
Mo Jianing could no longer force a smile. She had chosen the song herself, and she didn't think her performance was that bad. Her costume, makeup, and even facial expressions were beautiful. Besides, autotune could fix anything; as long as she looked good, that was enough!
"You are so good-looking that you could be an actress, but please, stop singing. This is not the path for you, so don't waste your time." The music industry veteran was always straightforward. When he praised someone, it was heartfelt, and when he criticized, he was equally unsparing. "This song is not suitable for you at all. Just as the previous judges said, the person who chose this song for you likely had some personal grievance. It’s a complete failure."
After the comments from these three judges, not only Mo Jianing but even the host was stunned.
"Allow me to say a few words," Xia Qingtian said, reaching for the microphone. She looked at Mo Jianing and continued, "Firstly, although the three judges found your attire today to be beautiful, it is entirely unsuitable for the song 'Ying Yue.' Princess Ying Yue bore the weight of family revenge and national hatred, enduring hardship for the greater good. She evolved from innocence to secretly orchestrating events from behind the scenes. She should be grand and majestic. Your outfit… I'm not saying Hanfu is bad, I'm only talking about you. It was chosen with too little vision."
Seeing Mo Jianing's face darken completely, Xia Qingtian continued, "Furthermore, when this song was produced and licensed, the copyright was held by Gu Shi Entertainment and myself. At least so far, I have not received any notification or request for copyright usage from you or Wanyue Entertainment. I require Wanyue Entertainment to provide an explanation, otherwise, we will have to take this to court."
After saying this, Xia Qingtian returned the microphone directly and stared at Mo Jianing with a cold expression.
Mo Jianing didn't even remember how she got off stage. She had worked so hard to reach this position, only to be humiliated by Xia Qingtian in front of everyone!
Just wait! Once the broadcast with autotuned vocals aired, everyone would see that Xia Qingtian was targeting her out of jealousy!
Just wait!
Mo Jianing had intended to leave immediately but stopped when she heard the prelude to the next song.
Huh?
Why was someone else singing "Ying Yue"?