I'm Really a Superstar

In the waiting area.

Dafei quickly said, "Teacher, it's your turn."

The Clown nodded. "OK."

Xiao Lu asked Wild Rose, "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Wild Rose answered plainly.

As per procedure, Xiao Lu reminded them, "Teachers, you must not get nervous later no matter what. Cameras 2 and 3 are located at the front and the two of you must face the cameras at all times, although you shouldn't look into them. Eh, where are the in-ear monitors?" The program team staff and she were treating Wild Rose like she was a real newcomer.

The Clown said, "I don't need it."

Wild Rose said, "I don't need it either."

Xiao Lu gasped. "All, alright then."

Singers who usually sang in a recording studio would be used to wearing an in-ear monitor. A lot of singers who performed live were also used to wearing them as they were still very effective for listening to their own voices and the music. This gave a better effect and also prevented a desynchronization in the singing with the rhythm of the song. After all, the propagation of sound in such a large venue was usually delayed, so if their awareness of it was not that sharp, a problem would arise where the singing and music were not in sync. Only those singers who were especially professional and adept at live performances would not require such earpieces.

Wild Rose was clearly the latter.

While Zhang Ye was an exception—because this fellow did not know how to use a earpiece at all. Whether it was in the past or right now, he had never worn one in the first place.

It was almost time to take the stage.

The Clown's tally was still at the very bottom with only 200,000 votes. This was because the others had finished performing. He was the only one who had not gone onstage to perform, so his tally was naturally in last place.

Dong Shanshan's voice sounded.

"Next up, let's welcome the last pair of contestants."

"The Clown!"

"Wild Rose!"

Cheers erupted!

Many people were waiting for this last pair of contestants!

"It's time for The Clown's performance!"

"It's finally his turn!"

"Both Sunset Glow and Petal Shower have revealed themselves. There's only him left now!"

"Yeah, it's only The Clown's identity that we don't know!"

"Hurry up and show yourself!"

"I'd also like to see who on earth his partner is!"

"Is it really a newcomer?"

"Even if they're not a newcomer, they shouldn't be a very well-known celebrity, right?"

His mother sat up straight. "It's The Clown's turn!"

His third sister's eyes were glimmering. "I was waiting for him."

Ha Qiqi said, "I've always liked The Clown."

Zhang Zuo said, "Haha, I also like him quite a bit."

There were also countless viewers staring fixedly at their televisions!

After Fan Wenli and Li Xiaoxian finished performing, they returned to their seats offstage and were looking up in wait for the start of The Clown's performance. They were also anticipating the reveal of his identity as no one could guess who The Clown was all this while! As all the others had revealed themselves, their guess was that The Clown was also likely reveal himself to increase his tally in the first round. If he did not put in more effort in the first round to help close the gap, then it would definitely be very difficult to catch up later!

The fog machine was turned on

The stage was covered in fog. Nothing on it could be seen.

At the same time, the music started playing. It was a little sad and ethereal.

After the fog dissipated, The Clown was standing at center stage. He was by himself.

Listening to the melody, Zhang Ye closed his eyes and reminisced about the times with Old Zhang. He experienced a rather complex mix of emotions. The first time he met Old Zhang was two years ago. He could still remember with great clarity how Sister Zhang looked very cheerful and friendly on television back then. She was kind and pleasant to everyone and never put on any airs. Zhang Ye believed it to be real at the time. In the end, someone pressed his doorbell that night. When he opened the door and took a look, Zhang Yuanqi was standing right there at his apartment's door. She spoke in a cold manner and was even drunk. Thinking of it, Zhang Ye found it hilarious and his impression of Old Zhang as a female goddess was shattered on the spot. Since then, the two of them had become good friends. Whenever Old Zhang had time, she would come over to drink wine with him and tell him about things she could not tell others.

Sometimes, Zhang Ye questioned himself as to whether or not he liked Old Zhang.

He didn't know.

He probably did like her, right?

If Old Wu had not agreed to be his girlfriend or if Old Wu had not appeared in his life, he was unsure if he would've tried to woo Old Zhang. Sometimes, fate was really unpredictable. So when he learned that Zhang Yuanqi was going to sing a duet with him, the first song that came mind was this song. Zhang Ye wanted to sing this song with her even though she did not know that The Clown was him. He just really wanted to sing it!

He opened his eyes and raised his microphone 1 .

"The past has passed and won't return to now.

"Scarlet leaves long buried in the dirt."

Wild Rose was the first person to be taken aback. When the two of them were rehearsing earlier, The Clown did not sound like he did now!

Zhang Xia was also shocked by his voice. Why did she feel that The Clown's singing was even better than before?!

A Cantonese song?

He chose a Cantonese song?

Those two lines pulled the audience into the music!

The audience could feel inexplicable sorrow and seemed to see an image of life and death!

"The start and end can't be changed, anyhow.

"My faraway lover drifting beyond the clouds."

He jumped an octave up.

"The sea of woes rolls with love and hate.

"It's hard to escape this world's fate."

Zhang Ye reached into the distance to grasp at something but was unable to grab anything.

"In love, but each other we must avert.

"Perhaps I should believe this is fate."

There was no applause!

There were no cheers!

Everyone in the audience was carefully controlling their breathing lest they affected him and the song!

Zhang Xia sighed, "This is what you call singing!"

When Wang Zhuishu heard Zhang Xia's comment and realized it implied something more, he could not help but glance at her.

Yes, this was what singing was about. The King of Oddity's and Flowing Time's performances could only be called performances, while The Clown's performance was what one would call real singing!

It was overwhelming!

This was a real singer who did not need to add any gimmicks into his performance!

All of a sudden, a woman's voice sounded from afar.

"Ahhh, ahhh."

The audience turned their heads in surprise!

Wild Rose had appeared behind the audience and was standing on an elevated platform. As she sang, her eyes stayed on the stage while she walked over to it step by step.

Her voice was amazing!

A single vocalization covered countless people in goosebumps!

Some of the audience members probably thought that it sounded nice but did not feel anything more. However, there were many professionals present here today and a lot of them were stunned by this singing!

Zhang Xia got quite the fright. "Who is she?"

Fan Wenli broke out in a cold sweat. "Th-This is…"

Chen Guang, Xiaodong, Li Xiaoxian, Amy, and the others were also shocked. This voice, this singing, this breathing technique! Even the fluctuation of the intensity in her emotions was successfully conveyed within her vocalization!

This was good beyond measure!

Just who did The Clown invite?

Their fellow peers in the music industry were also dumbfounded watching their televisions!

Just The Clown alone was astonishing enough!

And now, there was another person like that in Wild Rose?

These two were fucking exceptional singers!

How could the others have a chance with these two singing together?

The Clown looked toward Wild Rose. "Lovers, once gone, never shall come back."

Wild Rose sang softly, "Disappearing love."

The Clown closed his eyes. "Sitting alone, I stare past this world all slack."

Wild Rose was nearing the stage. "Hope to see you again."

"Though the flower may wither."

Wild Rose sang sadly, "Wishing only…"

"It will bloom back."

Wild Rose looked at The Clown. "For you."

"The love of my life seems to be…"

"Waiting…"

"Beyond the clouds."

Wild Rose sang, "I hope."

Wild Rose walked onto the stage!

The two of them were facing each other, no more than five meters apart!

Their voices suddenly harmonized.

"The sea of woes rolls with love and hate!

"It's hard to escape this world's fate!"

The two of them walked toward each other slowly and reached their hands out at the same time. It was like they were trying to grab hold of each other's hands, yet when their fingertips came within touching distance, Wild Rose's hand trembled with hesitation as she withdrew it.

The Clown reached further out toward her, then clenched his fist as he started withdrawing his hand as well.

Despite being at such close proximity!

They couldn't close the distance between them!

These few centimeters felt like the furthest distance in the world!

Now they closed their eyes.

"In love, but each other we must avert.

"Perhaps I should believe this is fate.

"The sea of woes rolls with love and hate.

"It's hard to escape this world's fate.

"In love, but each other we must avert.

"Perhaps I should believe this is fate."

A lot of people were deeply engrossed in the song!

This was the charm of music. The song had given many people a vivid experience of a life and death romance in just three minutes, hooking them in and never letting go!

Yao Jiancai asked anxiously, "Who the heck is she!"

Beside him, Zhang Xia said in astonishment, "This voice sounds really familiar!"

Fan Wenli looked over and said, "I also find her voice very familiar!"

Xiaodong exclaimed, "It can't be, it can't be her, right?"

Chen Guang could guess who Xiaodong was referring to. "That's impossible. Who here is qualified enough to invite her? With her status, would she come and compete?"

Fan Wenli said, "The song's too short! I can't truly identify who she is by her voice!"

Amy yelled, "Why are they still not showing themselves? The suspense is killing me!"

The audience suddenly shouted.

"Ah!"

"She's going to take off her mask!"

"She's about to take it off!"

"Who could it be?"

"Who is this woman?"

A lot of people opened their eyes wide in curiosity!

Because at the final moment when the song was coming to an end, Wild Rose placed her hand on her mask and was very close to revealing her mysterious identity!

But unfortunately, her hand stopped right there.

Because The Clown had walked up to her and given her a slight shake of his head.

Wild Rose did not say anything but dropped her hand.

The audience regretted this deeply.

"Aiyo!"

"Take your mask off already!"

"Why isn't she taking it off anymore?"

"What's going on?"

"She was about to take off her mask!"

"Why is she not taking off her mask? Everyone else has revealed themselves!"

"What is The Clown thinking?"

"Does he really intend to wear the mask for the entire duration of the competition?"

"Damn, isn't he overdoing it by a little too much?"

"They're still not going to reveal themselves? I'm just afraid that when they get eliminated after the first round, they won't even have a chance to show who they are even if they want to! This is the best time to show themselves and ask for votes!"