The last day of October, Patriotic Month.
The Chinese music scene concluded with five patriotic songs from five music gods.
Online, a poll was initiated.
Not only netizens participated, but some singers also reposted the poll.
It had been many years since the five peak music producers of the Chinese music scene released songs simultaneously; such a grand occasion was rare.
#Music Gods Compose for Song Gods, This is True God-Level Combat!#
#Ting Yu and Fang Lingyu Collide on Theme!#
#Mo Yan's "Eastern Bright Sun" Praises the Motherland's Beautiful Rivers and Mountains.#
#Jiang Qian's "Medal of Honor" Pays Tribute to Revolutionary Comrades, Women are as Capable as Men#
#"Serve the Country Loyally," a Song Containing a Thousand Armies!#
As the program was live-streamed, many people rushed online to discuss after watching.
Moreover, this poll was not official but a grassroots initiative, fostering a strong sense of participation.
Among the discussions, the most talked-about topic wasn't Mo Yan's new song but the thematic collision between Ting Yu and Fang Lingyu.
Due to the thematic overlap, the two songs presented a stark contrast.
And because Ting Yu's "Serve the Country Loyally," performed with Qian Hongliang's kingly voice, was incredibly impactful, Fang Lingyu instantly became the next victim.
"Teacher Mo Yan's new song, as always, is top-quality. How can I not support it!"
"It's been a while since I heard Teacher Jiang Qian's new song. The theme of this song is truly excellent. Support!"
"Chen Shuhao's song this time is indeed quite skillful. It seems his condition is slowly returning."
"What's interesting is that Ting Yu and Fang Lingyu actually collided on the theme this time, and judging from the songs, Ting Yu's 'Serve the Country Loyally' is far superior in both concept and execution."
"Ting Yu, go! Get first place!"
"Support Ting Yu, 'Serve the Country Loyally' is truly a masterpiece!"
On the voting page, Ting Yu's votes soared.
Even Chen Shuhao saw a good increase.
Meanwhile, Fang Lingyu's original good concept became his biggest obstacle due to the comparison. If his song were the only one about heroic martyrs, it might have been eye-catching, but with two such songs, people would naturally vote for the better one.
As the voting progressed, the rankings were almost set.
Fang Lingyu was at the bottom.
Chen Shuhao was second to last.
Ting Yu, due to the song's theme and the singer's suitability, ranked first, though the gap between him and the second-place finisher, Mo Yan, wasn't large, it would be difficult for Mo Yan to catch up.
...
After Chen Shuhao finished his wash-up at the hotel.
He nervously picked up his phone.
Now, he was the bottom-ranked among the music gods.
Although Ting Yu had only recently achieved godhood, he had personally experienced Ting Yu's terrifying dominance, so he would rather face Fang Lingyu than Ting Yu.
This person was like a ghost, always delivering surprises.
Before opening his phone, Chen Shuhao had already assumed he was at the bottom.
As he opened the Weibo rankings with a complicated mood, he was suddenly stunned.
"I'm not at the bottom??"
He wasn't at the bottom at all!
This surprise came too suddenly!
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
The last place in the poll was, indeed, music god Fang Lingyu.
And he had actually surpassed Fang Lingyu, ranking second to last!
"How is that possible???"
Chen Shuhao was bewildered, opening Fang Lingyu's voting comment section.
"Teacher Fang, I'm sorry, your 'Loyal Heart' is very nice and inspiring, but I chose 'Serve the Country Loyally'..."
"Although I often listen to your drama theme songs and am your most loyal fan, I made a decision that goes against my fan loyalty this time. I voted for Ting Yu."
"Can't help it, 'Serve the Country Loyally' made me realize what true masculinity is. My blood was ignited, so I enthusiastically cast a vote for Ting Yu."
"The reason for voting for Ting Yu is simple: he made me realize that whether in ancient times or now, our Chinese people have unwavering pride and a spirit of self-improvement!"
"I am Teacher Fang's fan, but listening to 'Serve the Country Loyally' made me feel so passionate that I turned around and voted for Ting Yu. Brothers, did I do the right thing?"
"Charge! Go for first place!"
"..."
Looking at these comments, Chen Shuhao seemed to have found the reason.
His expression gradually became peculiar.
Then, he opened the voting system.
Behind Ting Yu's option, he clicked the voting option.
[Please enter your voting reason]
"Very nice, felt refreshed after listening!"
After typing the voting reason, Chen Shuhao clicked confirm.
Then he put down his phone, lay on the bed, and propped his legs up high.
"The smoke of war rises..."
He even started humming the song.
...
At the same moment.
Fang Lingyu refreshingly looked at the voting system with a bewildered expression.
"Hiss... exhale... what a precisely executed backstab!"
Seeing himself at the very bottom, he felt utterly dejected.
After discarding the cigarette butt in his hand, he leaned back on the sofa and began to question his life.
"Don't think too much about it, it's not an official ranking anyway," his wife Cai Ling patted his shoulder.
"I just feel it's a bit embarrassing to be at the bottom..." Fang Lingyu smiled helplessly.
Let it be embarrassing, who told him his luck was bad enough to clash themes with that monster, Ting Yu?
No, he shouldn't call him a monster, he should call him a Demon King!
This guy is a great Demon King!
"It is indeed a bit embarrassing," Cai Ling chuckled, seeing him like this.
"If it weren't for Ting Yu, I wouldn't be at the bottom," Cai Ling directly struck him down.
Then, seeing Fang Lingyu's increasingly mournful gaze, she quickly hugged him and comforted him, "Alright, alright, it's just being at the bottom. I'll go win the championship on 'Masked Singer' to cheer you up."
Cai Ling, nearing forty, was one of the best singers among the queens at Guangnian Entertainment, one of the four major entertainment companies in Kyoto.
Guangnian Entertainment was the company that sent her to participate in "Masked Singer."
Cai Ling's singing skills were not thanks to her music god husband; she had achieved the status of a queen through her own实力.
This time, participating in the "Singer" program, she was naturally aiming for the championship.
"Fine, one of us in our couple has to rise," Fang Lingyu was originally from Shuangqing, but after achieving career success, he settled in Kyoto.
He and Cai Ling were secretly married; the outside world was unaware because Cai Ling was at the peak of her career at the time. In that era, celebrities generally married secretly, as there was no concept of "shipping" or "CP."
Later, there was never an opportunity to reveal it. When Cai Ling was nominated as a queen, there was even less opportunity to disclose her marital status. Over time, they both got used to it. After all, they were older now, and no one paid attention to their marital status. Both husband and wife had achieved success and felt that this low-key life was quite good, so they didn't publicize it.
Previously, when their relationship was exposed, they neither denied nor confirmed it, and the heat naturally subsided.
...