I'm Really a Superstar

Back at home.

His mother couldn't stop laughing. "That rascal!"

His father was also pretty amused by the performance. "This song is not bad."

"He's really enjoying his singing," his mother said while munching on melon seeds.

However, when Wu Zeqing, who was sitting next to them, saw the seemingly happy Zhang Ye smiling on screen, she said with heartache, "He's actually not enjoying himself."

His mother was taken aback and turned to look at her. "Why?"

Wu Zeqing said, "Because this isn't a song he wants to sing."

…

In the studio.

"He's created a new genre!"

"That's pretty impressive of him then."

"But there's no chance of winning with this song."

"Yeah, he won't be able to get into the top three like this. Zhang Ye isn't fated to be the grand champion."

"Grand champion? I doubt he'll even break into the top five! But I do kinda like this song, it's pretty relaxing and funny. If it wasn't a competition today, I would've found it rather interesting to listen to."

"That's right, but aren't his other songs on this stage all like that too?"

"With the best matched duo of the crosstalk world singing together, I wonder if the viewership ratings will shoot through the roof again? Haha! He's really full of surprises! A song like that will surely become very popular in the karaokes. And then there's also 'The Hottest Ethnic Trend' and 'Small Apple.' Those are definitely songs that will get played a lot in the karaoke sessions of ordinary people."

"Pfft, did you guys see what they're calling Zhang Ye now?"

"I saw it, they're all saying that he's the King of Karaoke. Haha!"

"Karaoke won't be a problem for him for sure. He can certainly bring up the atmosphere during a session. But for a stage like this, it's still a place to compete on artistic value and singing abilities."

Zhang Ye and Yao Jiancai left the stage.

Quite a few audience members came rushing forward.

"Teacher Zhang!"

"I like you so much!"

"You're really funny!"

"Can I get a hug, Teacher Zhang?"

"Your song was so funny! But I still won't be voting for you."

"When it comes to singing, I still find that the other singers are doing better. However, I like your songs."

Zhang Ye gave them a hug one by one. "Thank you, thank you."

When Yao Jiancai heard that, he tried to pull in some votes for Zhang Ye. Their microphones were still on at the moment, but when Yao Jiancai was beginning to say, "Please vote for—"

Zhang Ye nudged him.

Yao Jiancai was startled and shut his mouth.

Zhang Ye didn't say anything and left with Old Yao from the wings.

There was no need to canvass for votes.

This was good enough.

This was all he needed.

Backstage.

In the singers' waiting rooms.

Zhang Xia specially came out to welcome them. "Old Yao, you're crossing over into our music industry too?"

Yao Jiancai laughed and said, "Me? How could I possibly join the music industry? I even had to force myself to come here today. I was so surprised when Zhang Ye called and asked me to be his celebrity guest partner. I said that I wouldn't go but he threatened to tear down my house. So I just thought that it'd be better to come since I just had my house renovated last year."

Zhang Xia said, "It was a very good song. I suppose only the two of you could sing something like that."

Yao Jiancai sighed. "I only came to support this kid."

Zhang Ye smiled and said, "Grandma Zhang, are you the third person to sing?"

"Yes, I picked the number three lot earlier." Zhang Xia had been through many big occasions before and was one of the singers here with strong mental fortitude. "Xiaodong is going second. I think she should've already gone up onstage?"

Zhang Ye said, "Alright then, I'll head back into my room to listen to her performance. I'll be cheering you on too. I'm optimistic about both you and Old Chen's chances to be crowned as the grand champion."

Zhang Xia smiled. "Sure, I'll do my best."

Yao Jiancai headed back to the celebrity guest partners' waiting room.

Meanwhile, Zhang Ye went into Room #1, which was his designated waiting room. On the television, Xiaodong had already started singing. Her celebrity guest partner was Li Xiaoxian, the other member of Spring Garden. The moment they started singing, the audience became very excited and seemingly forgot all about Zhang Ye and Yao Jiancai's musical crosstalk. Xiaodong and Li Xiaoxian were singing a love song that depicted the story of two women fighting over a man!

"Please leave him."

"No, you should leave."

"Don't hurt him anymore."

"It was you who hurt him."

Their singing was outstanding!

The song was very touching too!

The cameras panned to the audience and showed their amazed expressions.

Zhang Ye also found the performance to be quite good. However, he started clenching his fists tightly again for some reason.

Xiaodong finished singing.

Zhang Xia took to the stage.

Followed by Huang Cheng.

Followed by Chen Guang.

Then Amy.

And finally, He Huan.

Everyone gave their best and did great!

Their performances were either moving, touching, explosive, or sorrowful. It really felt like a feast of delicacies as the grand musical event touched countless of people!

On the Internet, an endless debate was going on.

"Zhang Xia must be the grand champion!

"Get lost, victory to Chen Guang!"

"I have a good feeling about Xiaodong!"

"Amy might just cause an upset."

"Huang Cheng's song selection wasn't that good."

"Well, anyone could become the champion but Zhang Ye, haha."

"Of course! Did you even have to say that? The songs he sang were utter garbage!"

"Yeah, they were really crap! They're all just catchy tunes!"

"Zhang Ye has lost his touch."

"After listening to everyone else perform and thinking back to Zhang Ye's song, they're indeed on a different level to his performance. He really can't write those touching songs he wrote in the past!"

"It's the decline of a hero."

"That 'Nonsense Has Its Nonsense Logic' of his left me so sleepy."

"What the hell happened to Zhang Ye?"

"Who knows! He lost his talent overnight. He's even so stubborn that he doesn't want to sing the songs that he's sung before, nor cover another singer's songs, so who can be blamed for that?"

The first round of performances ended.

Everyone was waiting for the results of the first round now. The singer in last place for the first round rankings would have to perform first in the second round, and so on and so forth. Every singer was waiting in their individual rooms and hoping they would not have to perform so early in the second round, because that would mean that their number of votes was not ideal.

Only Zhang Ye was not waiting for the results. Instead, he was browsing through his cell phone to see the reviews from the people.

Crap?

Lost his touch?

On the decline?

He showed no expression but felt a heavy weight in his heart. He couldn't get rid of this feeling and it felt unbearable.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open.

Dafei and Xiao Lu both came running in. "Director Zhang!"

Zhang Ye looked at them both. "What is it?"

Xiao Lu said pleasantly surprised, "We went past it! We went past it!"

Dafei also sounded extremely excited. "The viewership ratings have surpassed 4%! It just managed to pass that mark by a little! We've broken the record for the viewership ratings of variety shows! That ceiling of the variety world!"

Zhang Ye laughed. "Good, very good!"

All of a sudden, Dong Shanshan, who was in the studio, announced the rankings. She said, "The results are now in my hands. Regrettably, the first round's lowest ranked singer is—Zhang Ye. So then, could Teacher Zhang please get ready while we get ready to begin the second round of performances?"

The voice sounded from the television in the room loud and clear.

Dafei was stunned.

Xiao Lu did not say anything either.

Zhang Ye just smiled and said, "Alright, it's my turn soon. Both of you hurry up and get back to work."

Xiao Lu said, "Director Zhang!"

"Go on." Zhang Ye waved her away.

Dafei and Xiao Lu gave each other a look and walked away silently.

With only five minutes left to prepare, Zhang Ye sat in his waiting room for a bit before slowly getting up. He straightened his shirt and arranged his hair a little before lightly stepping out of the room.

Along the way, the staff all turned to look at Zhang Ye, not knowing what to say.

Director Zhang was in last place!

Many of the staff members didn't know how to feel about it!

"Director Zhang…"

"Director Zhang…"

"Director…"

Zhang Ye smiled and nodded at everyone.

The viewership ratings had broken 4%! I Am a Singer had created history! His mission was finally complete, and it was done so beautifully too. It was carried out perfectly without anything to nitpick!

I've done all that I was supposed to do!

Then for the last song, can I be a little headstrong?

I don't want any votes!

I really don't!

I just want to sing!

I just want to seriously sing something that I wish to sing!

Can I?

In the opposite direction, Hu Fei was walking over cheerfully. "It's time to go onstage, Director Zhang."

Zhang Ye stopped in his tracks and said, "Is there still time if I want to change my song?"

Hu Fei said, stunned, "Change songs?"

Zhang Ye shook his head. "No, it's nothing, I was just saying."

But Hu Fei pulled him back and said sternly, "Just what's going on?"

Zhang Ye laughed at himself. "Just pretend you didn't hear me."

The nearby staff and camera operators who heard him were also taken aback!

There are only two more minutes until the performance starts, and this is even a live broadcast, yet you're asking to change songs now? How would that be possible! How could there still be time! No one could agree to it!

No one understood what was with Zhang Ye!

Moreso, no one could understand what Zhang Ye was thinking!

Hu Fei fell silent. He did not say anything in response.

Zhang Ye continued making his way to the front.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Before him, the stage was getting closer and closer.

Suddenly, Hu Fei called out to him from behind, "Zhang'er!"

Zhang Ye looked back.

Hu Fei looked him in the eye. "…Just sing what you want to sing! Leave the rest to me!"

The people around them were frightened!

"Producer Hu!"

"Have you gone mad!"

"Fuck!"

"This—! This—!"

Zhang Ye looked at Old Hu. "Are you sure?"

Hu Fei laughed. "You're the executive director, and I'm the executive producer. Our words are law, so who would dare disobey?" He then turned to an employee nearby. "Inform Shanshan! Get her to stall for another five minutes no matter what!"

The employee was almost in tears. "Producer Hu…this—!"

Hu Fei said loudly, "Hurry up!"

The employee wiped his sweat away. "Understood!"