The banquet hall.
Li Yajun stood on the stage, a triumphant smile gracing his lips. The deafening applause from below was the greatest affirmation of his talent. He was blessed with a naturally gifted voice, further honed through diligent practice. At such a young age, his singing prowess far surpassed his peers. Coupled with the extensive cultivation and resources provided by Ding Sheng Entertainment, few among the younger generation could truly rival him.
"He's truly remarkable!"
"Give him a few more years, and this Li Yajun can challenge for the title of King of Singers!"
"We're getting old; it's the young generation's era now."
"The leader of the new generation; I didn't believe it before, but after hearing his live performance, I think that title fits him perfectly."
"Indeed, he's exceptional. However, compared to him, Nie Hongyu from Huang Chao Entertainment seems to pale in comparison."
"Ding Sheng Entertainment sending out a strong junior performer to Lin Zhaoyang's birthday banquet must have ulterior motives."
"More than just ulterior motives. Given Ding Sheng Entertainment's reputation, it's likely we'll soon see a wave of trending topics online, all designed to promote Huang Chao as inferior to Ding Sheng."
"Keep your voices down. Be careful not to let Qi Shenghua hear; you might bring trouble upon yourselves."
"Precisely. Ding Sheng's paid commenters are notorious in the industry. If they set out to tarnish someone's reputation, even a Heavenly King or Queen could suffer significant damage."
"What can we do? They've mastered the rules of the traffic era."
The guests murmured amongst themselves. Ding Sheng Entertainment did not have the best reputation in the industry. Their methods were perfectly suited for the era of traffic, using it to create stars and reign supreme. For traditional entertainment companies that relied on genuine talent, they were merely companies capitalizing on the times.
"Next, we invite Mr. Su Yu to bring us the final closing song!"
Just as everyone thought the evening was over, the host suddenly announced. The hall fell silent, followed by a collective uproar.
"Su Yu is going to sing?"
"Su Yu can sing?"
"Holy crap, could this kid be Huang Chao Entertainment's trump card?"
"If that's the case, Ding Sheng Entertainment might have miscalculated. I'm suddenly feeling a strange sense of anticipation."
"Su Yu is only in his teens, right? At that age, no matter how good his singing, it's still limited."
"Could he be another naturally gifted talent like Li Yajun?"
Among the audience, Shen Qingfeng and Shen Qingling were the most excited. Others might not know Su Yu's capabilities, but as his disciples, they were keenly aware of his musical achievements. To put it without false modesty, even the company's Heavenly Kings and Queens might not be Su Yu's match in terms of vocal talent.
Amidst the cheers, Su Yu handed a USB drive to the teacher preparing the backing track and walked onto the stage. Under the spotlight, he held the microphone, his gaze fixed forward. The surrounding lights flickered, casting a scattering of starlight onto the stage. The lights pulsed rhythmically, like a shimmering sea of stars. Su Yu stood at the center of this star-filled expanse, enveloped by its glow. A faint smile played on his handsome features.
"Let's begin," he said, taking a deep breath and nodding to the accompanying musician. This was his first time on a major stage since arriving in this world. Below him sat Heavenly Kings and Queens, along with the industry's biggest names. Unlike the general audience, Su Yu showed no sign of nervousness in the presence of so many influential figures.
The intro began. The piano notes were crisp yet filled with a sense of suppression. The underlying strings amplified this feeling of loneliness and oppression. Onstage, the audience gradually quieted their conversations, their attention fixed on Su Yu.
"The face of a vulture in mid-air,
A lifetime of memories circling,
The day-night line on the fifty-third."
When Su Yu began to sing, the audience members exchanged surprised glances. He actually sang quite well? Su Yu had indeed gained some popularity online twice before. The first time, he wore a mask, and his identity was unknown. The second time, at a school anniversary, his duet with Lin Yanyu caused quite a stir. Many netizens even flooded Lin Yanyu's Weibo, begging for official versions of their songs. However, few in the current audience paid attention to such matters, so for most, it was their first time hearing Su Yu sing.
"Waiting for the night to ask the day,
If it can pardon this gray world.
Let's not exchange day for night,
Frozen tears,
A single drop is already salty.
A postcard from twilight,
It is silent, colorless, wordless,
Peeking over the mountain peak with a playful grimace."
Li Yajun's brow furrowed, then smoothed out, then furrowed again in a continuous cycle. The song sounded good to him, but it didn't seem overly difficult. At least, he felt he could sing it. There was also something peculiar about it: the verse only had three lines, and after the three-line verse, it directly transitioned into the chorus. This meant, according to typical songwriting structures, it should be a song that exploded with energy from start to finish. However, Su Yu's rendition at the beginning was soft, using only a subtle vocal mix.
"But the night hates the day,
Pushing forward desperately,
Hearing no rescue.
Destiny is too wild, every blink, so mysterious.
Those two wild geese against the light,
Have also flown far away,
Better to say goodbye than wait to meet again,
Pick a day..."
The interlude began. The audience's initial surprise gradually transformed into amazement. So far, the song was challenging, but not exceptionally so. Some in the audience hummed along; though it was somewhat difficult, with practice, they could manage. While it drew listeners into the song's emotion, compared to Li Yajun's performance, it lacked that explosive, heart-pounding energy.
"Hmph, that's it?" Li Yajun sneered. After listening to the first section, he had a basic grasp of the song's style: an emotional journey. It used a subdued melody to draw the audience into the mood. It was indeed skillful, but it lacked the impact to set the entire venue ablaze. If this was all the song had to offer, then he had victory in the bag!
"The bruises beneath the skin seep blood,
The despair within the cells cries injustice,
Whipped by fifty-three days of solitude!"
Something was wrong! After Su Yu sang these lines a second time, everyone jolted. The arrangement elements were gradually increasing, the emotion transitioning from helplessness to a struggle born from that helplessness. Su Yu's vocal delivery also shifted from the previous gentle, subtle mix to a more solid tone. Especially the final word, "whip," which was sung with a powerful mix, striking everyone's chest like a punch. It made the audience's hearts tighten, and a shiver ran down their spines.
"Waiting for the night to ask the day,
If it can pardon,
This gray world.
...
A postcard from twilight,
It is silent, colorless, wordless,
Peeking over the mountain peak with a playful grimace..."
Goosebumps! This section sent shivers down everyone's spines! The lyrics were the same, but the technique and emotion were different. If the first part was about lonely oppression, then this later section was the explosion that followed that oppression. The catharsis of emotion directly sent the listeners into a state of goosebumps!