Chapter 34 - 31: Everyone Must Die_i
Nothing is new under the sun.
Starlight Entertainment is naturally unable to conceal the siege by Dazzling Silver Glow and Sand Sea from the eyes of those in the industry.
As for the reason?
Everyone knows it’s because of Zhao Ying Ge – you could figure that out with your ass.
Previously, when all three companies were competing for Zhao Ying Ge, they tried everything they could. After Zhao Ying Ge chose Starlight, how could Silver Glow and Sand Sea possibly swallow that bitter pill?
So, the counterattack has begun.
In this industry, many people have noses like dogs.
The slightest ripple in the industry, and they can sniff out the aroma of gunpowder hidden within.
But let’s get back to the point.
Watching the power struggle among the three major entertainment companies in Qin Continent has long become a staple of many insiders.
If the three are living harmoniously, then that would be abnormal.
November is for the rising star charts.
December is for the siege of Zhao Ying Ge.
With formidable proof, these juggernauts of the industry never let down the movie-goers.
Let’s get this show on the road!
As for the alliance between Silver Glow and Sand Sea, it’s nothing new – it frequently happens among these big three.
Sometimes, Silver Glow and Sand Sea team-up.
Sometimes, it’s Sand Sea and Starlight.
In short, if any one of the big three dares to make waves, the other two will certainly band together in a coup.
In light of this, insiders have been voicing their opinions:
“This alliance between Silver Glow and Sand Sea has surely hit Starlight where it hurts.”
“The timing is indeed impeccable.”
“Zhao Ying Ge is in a pickle. She can’t change the schedule. If she insists, it’ll be pushed to March next year.”
“March is a long way off.”
“Exactly. Zhao Ying Ge can’t ride the popularity from winning ‘Bloom’ all the way until March. She’s left with no choice but to go all out.”
“Zhao Ying Ge is facing grim prospects.”
“Silver Glow and Sand Sea have sent out two premier singers. They certainly value Zhao Ying Ge.”
H 11
The media are also involved.
Many news outlets have covered this, all focusing on the same issue: ‘In January, who will win the crown of the championship song between Silver Glow and Sand Sea?'”
Starlight is now seen as cannon fodder in the industry.
Not many have faith in a turnaround for Zhao Ying Ge. The influence of a top-tier singer paired with a hit-maker is no joke.
At this moment…
Inside Silver Glow…
Chen Zhiyu is somewhat upset, complaining to his agent, “I planned to release a new song in March. The company unexpectedly changed my schedule to next month, to suppress a newcomer. Did they even consider my feelings?”
Chen Zhiyu.
He is the top-tier singer tasked by Silver Glow to target Zhao Ying Ge.
His agent pacifies him, “It’s the company’s decision. We can’t refute them. But Queen Xi said you won’t be at a loss, there will be a concert for you in Qin Continent Theater next year.”
“I understand that, but I’m still annoyed.”
Chen Zhiyu grumbles, “After all, Zhao Ying Ge is the winner of ‘Bloom’. Suppressing her is humiliating and her fans will resent me.”
The agent chuckles, “Her fans are nothing compared to yours.”
Chen Zhiyu smirks, “In any case, this won’t happen again. Also, the company needs to promote my material well. Zheng Liang of Sand Sea is also releasing a song in January, and 1 don’t want to lose to him.”
The agent hurriedly adds, “Of course.”
With Silver Glow and Sand Sea sending out top-tier singers, the battle for the championship song next month is now nothing to do with Starlight.
In response to this…
Other than Zhao Ying Ge herself, her fans are likely the most aggrieved.
Many supporters of Zhao Ying Ge vent their anger at Sand Sea and Silver Glow, criticizing them online for ganging up on a newcomer. However, the two companies, having weathered numerous storms, shrug off her fans’ attacks with a nonchalant response – citing it all as a “coincidence”.
Amid the controversy, as time marches on, January finally arrives, accompanied by the start of a fierce battle for the championship song.
On the first day of the month…
The top-tier singers from Sand Sea and Silver Glow both release their songs.
“Easy to Ignite and Explode,” sung by Zhao Ying Ge, also arrived as scheduled.
It was in the morning.
Chen Zhiyu, inside a hotel room, opened his usual music app for the first time to search for the new song of Sand Sea’s competitor, Zheng Liang.
To Chen Zhiyu, as long as he could beat Sand Sea’s Zheng Liang, the championship song title for January would virtually be his.
Zheng Liang’s new song is called “Caramel”.
Like his song, its promotion could be spotted right on the main page of the player.
After listening to Zheng Liang’s song with his earphones on, Chen Zhiyu’s mood grew unexpectedly nervous.
He thought his rival’s song was not bad.
Considering comparable popularity between him and Zheng Liang, the determinant of the victory in this battle would actually be the audience’s taste alongside the promotional cast of the two songs.
Preparing to exit from the player.
Chen Zhiyu suddenly saw the recommended “Easy to Ignite and Explode” on the home page, and he burst into laughter: “They even put it on the home page, it seems Starlight has not given up yet, they even gave such a conspicuous promotional resource.”
While his earphones were still on.
He casually clicked on “Easy to Ignite and Explode”.
The prelude to the song is a series of violin ensemble, instantly creating a desolate and lonely atmosphere, which is then followed by a series of off-key singing conveying a sense of laziness and helplessness:
“Do they wish me to go crazy or wish me to live alone
Do they want me to be coldly glamorous or want me to be fickle and contemptible
Do they need me to be sunny or need me not to sway with emotion
Do they play with my directionless laughter and tears or play with my heart like withered wood
Chen Zhiyu’s feelings inexplicably became tense, and his previously relaxed expression gradually disappeared.
Why do 1 feel something is off?
The singing in his earphones continues at that moment, still that off-key tune seemingly reaching from a distance, progressively amplifying with the resonance of the musical instruments:
“Do they grant me dreams or grant me quick awakenings
Do they sleep with me or waste time with me, both without mercy
Do they love me purely or love me nakedly without being decadent
Do they watch me sing for myself or watch me heartbroken
The feeling of something being off only became stronger.
Chen Zhiyu was staring blankly at the song he was listening to, his body gradually tensing up. Suddenly, the off-key tune in his earphones disappeared, replaced by a clear yet husky voice that reached right into the heart:
“Do they wish me to be like smoke or wish me to be gorgeous and lazy
Do they watch me act crazy or watch me be witty and dignified
Do they need me to be beautiful or need me to kill without blinking an eye
Do they wish me to have eternal happiness or wish me to wilt without ever crossing
Do they want me to be flirtatious or want me to lose the spirit in my eyes
Do they plan for my sincerity or plan for my bewitching gaze
Do they elope with me or do they want to be my loyal servant
Do they compliment me for being ready to bloom or compliment me for covering up more than revealing
Chen Zhiyu was as if startled, jolting up; he clenched his fist tightly, tried to relax it, and clenched it again.
At that moment, he felt an uncomfortable pins-and-needles sensation.
Lyrics, composition, performance, everything seemed impeccably perfect, violin ensemble, piano solo, sorrowful yet splendid. The entire style of the song was shockingly brilliant!
“It’s over.”
As if he had experienced a long suffocation, the thought flashed through Chen Zhiyu’s mind, and he involuntarily took a deep breath.
The last dozen or so seconds of the song.
That hoarse voice seemed to have found resolution: “Do they please me by being charming or please me by being passionately transparent, like me in full bloom or like me gasping for air in obedience, depend on my beauty or depend on my lustful confusion, blame me for having a worry-free lifetime or blame me for shedding vain tears.”
The song ended.
Chen Zhiyu sat in front of the computer.
At this time, his manager happened to walk in. Seeing Chen Zhiyu’s disoriented state, he asked with some confusion: “What’s wrong with you?”
H ii
Chen Zhiyu, as if he had not heard, gave a stunned laugh. He looked at Sand Sea’s song as if some strange emotional resonance had been sparked within him out of the blue, his face suddenly twisted as he said:
“They all must die!!!”