On stage.
Su Yu looked at the audience quietly.
His heart was very calm.
After sensing Mo Yan's gaze, the corner of his mouth under the mask curved into a wry smile.
He knew that Mo Yan had been affected because he had defended him. They wouldn't even spare a highly respected old artist.
"So, by discarding my identity as Ting Yu, you think you can just find fault with me?"
Su Yu took a deep breath.
Since that was the case, he would make them all shut up.
He nodded at the production team.
The prelude began.
For his first song, he planned to sing "Qi Qiu" (Balloons).
He was saving "Mei Li Kai Guo" (Never Left) for the final battle for the Song King title.
As the show progressed, the other singers were all very strong. To win the Song King title, he would need songs that leaned more towards technical skill.
However, this was normal. The further along one got, the closer they were to the championship, and the champion would be directly recognized as a "Song God" by the authorities.
This was too tempting for any singer. Even those who might have held back earlier would now have to show their true skills.
"A love song?" Mo Yan's eyes flashed with surprise upon hearing the piano prelude.
"Does he not want to respond, or did Ting Yu not write him a song with flashy techniques?" Yin Na asked, a little disappointed.
Liu Huan and Han Qi remained silent.
Meanwhile, a commotion erupted in the audience.
"Is this an admission?"
"Does Dark Night Rabbit seem like he's giving up?"
"Admission of what? They haven't even sung yet, and you're already making a judgment?"
"Exactly! Even if Dark Night Rabbit's breathing isn't good, his high notes and emotion are enough to blow away many Song Kings. These haters just latch onto one point and won't let go!"
"Damn it, spraying insults online is one thing, but do you dare to do it in person? Do you think no one will dare to lay hands on you?"
"Just listen to the song and stop talking nonsense. It's affecting my enjoyment of Dark Night Rabbit's singing."
Many hot-tempered individuals, having been thoroughly angered by online trolls, were surprised to hear such mockery from people even at the show they paid to watch.
Who could tolerate that?
After being retorted, those individuals quickly shut their mouths.
After all, they knew that while one could speak freely online, words spoken in person had consequences.
And at this moment.
The prelude had ended.
Su Yu took a deep breath.
The sound of his inhale was very clear.
"Here we go again?"
"Is he doing it on purpose?"
"It looks like he's really giving up..."
In the audience, someone couldn't help but comment, but after the previous incident, they only dared to whisper.
They felt that Su Yu was deliberately taking such a large breath at the beginning, viewing it as him giving up due to mental breakdown from online pressure.
Those who supported Dark Night Rabbit remained silent, their expressions tinged with disappointment.
Was he giving up already?
At this moment.
Dark Night Rabbit finally opened his mouth.
"Black ones, white ones, red ones, yellow ones,
Purple ones, green ones, blue ones, grey ones,
Yours, mine, his, hers,
Big ones, small ones, round ones, flat ones,
Good ones, bad ones, beautiful ones, ugly ones,
New ones, old ones, various styles, various colors,
Take your pick..."
When he finished this long passage.
Everyone in the venue was stunned.
What kind of song was this?
"Holy shit!" Liu Huan, usually gentle, suddenly let out a curse.
"Hahaha..." Mo Yan laughed, a deep, hearty laugh!
The wrinkles on his face deepened with his laughter. He let out a long sigh and patted the table in front of the judges with both hands.
So, Ting Yu had responded after all.
Good!
He himself had been misled by those trolls and lost his train of thought.
Given Ting Yu's personality, how could he let others speak of him like that? It seemed he had worried for nothing!
Who could strike back with a more resounding slap than Ting Yu?
"Black ones, white ones, red ones, yellow ones,
Purple ones, green ones, blue ones, grey ones,
Yours, mine, his, hers..."
As everyone was still in shock.
Another series of unbroken sounds rang out.
Su Yu was using a female voice this time, but everyone was already used to it, as it was his unique skill.
So, the audience wasn't surprised by his voice, but by his ability to sing such a long string of lyrics in one go.
This lung capacity was simply outrageous!
"Hiss... I'm already feeling suffocated just listening to this!"
"Hiss... Me too, I suddenly have difficulty breathing."
"I feel like doing deep breaths just listening."
"This is too absurd, singing for so long in one breath!"
"Damn it, with just these few lines, won't the trolls be thoroughly embarrassed after this episode airs?"
"That's the vibe! It's the same feeling as when Ting Yu performed in the city qualifiers. This ability to slap faces is why Ting Yu kept writing songs for Dark Night Rabbit."
Many audience members unconsciously took deep breaths.
This song, even without singing, created a feeling of breathlessness.
And those who had commented on Dark Night Rabbit's deep inhale earlier now shrank their necks, looking at the grumpy, displeased individuals beside them, smiling awkwardly and waving their hands repeatedly.
"Fly high, fly far away,
Cut the string and it will die,
Short lifespan, but happy as long as it lasts,
As long as you like, it's no big deal,
Getting smaller and smaller,
Proud even as it's about to die..."
It was too stifling!
Still a long string of words.
Although this song didn't have much emotional fluctuation, there was a special sense of oppression in the accompaniment and the performance, like a neurotic self-muttering.
It made people feel suffocated not only physically but also emotionally.
Emotional expression was what Dark Night Rabbit had shown the most.
And it was what he was most recognized for.
And now, with another song, he showed everyone that his emotional expression wasn't just powerful, but his breath control was also incredible!
"Ahhh! I can't take it anymore, give me an oxygen tank!"
"I'm cracking up, this is the first time I've felt suffocated listening to a song!"
"Dark Night Rabbit is awesome!"
"Slap in the face, resounding!"
"Haha, a resounding slap!"
The audience felt like they were holding their breath, and it was unbearable not to release it.
Many people shared a common expression.
Their faces were scrunched up, their chests clutched, as they stared intently at Dark Night Rabbit, who was quietly singing under the spotlight.
"Balloons,
Floating into the clouds,
Floating into the wind,
Ending their lives..."
Finally.
After a series of verses.
The song entered a brief pause.
Only then did the audience feel a sense of relief.
The piano melody remained calm.
There was no heart-wrenching cry, no grand dramatic expression.
In fact, the style of this song was very simple, just one style: very melancholic, so much so that it made people uncomfortable to listen to.
The melody and lyrics were not as outstanding as Ting Yu's previous songs, but its distinctive feature was its technical display, showcasing lung capacity, emotional control, and singing techniques. While it might not have scored highly in city qualifiers, it was very suitable for a show like "Masked Singer," which focused on vocal ability.
Moreover, everyone knew about the public opinion surrounding Dark Night Rabbit. For those who supported him, hearing this song was undoubtedly incredibly satisfying.
...
"Qi Qiu" Original Artist: Xu Zhe Pei, Lyrics: Xu Zhe Pei, Music: Xu Zhe Pei