Chapter 184: The King of Singers Championship! (5k)

Seeing this message, Jin Li couldn't help but be stunned.

Jin Li: 【How did you know? Has it spread so quickly?】

Gu Cheng: 【Are you free?】

Jin Li: 【Yes.】

The next second, Gu Cheng initiated a video call.

Jin Li's weary, tired face appeared before Gu Cheng. He couldn't help but frown, his voice softening.

"Are you very sleepy? Why don't you rest first?"

Jin Li shook her head: "No need. I'm waiting for my flight; I can catch up on sleep on the plane. How did you know I ran into trouble?"

Gu Cheng: "It hit the trending searches at noon today. It said that at your shooting location last night, even the police were dispatched. The crowd that gathered was huge, and it almost ended in disaster."

He paused, then said: "Immediately after, Duomi came out to handle PR, explaining that the arrangements during the commercial shoot last night were inadequate, and that someone had violated professional ethics by leaking your shooting information, leading to it going viral across the entire internet."

Duomi apologized to you and Chenxi Entertainment, and also to the fans who came to the scene last night. Because the apology was considered sincere, many netizens accepted it.

After the fans found out, they praised your quick reaction. If you hadn't started that livestream later on, no one knows when the crowd would have dispersed.

Your livestream played a huge role."

After listening, Jin Li asked in return: "Is that all they said? Was anyone hurt last night?"

Gu Cheng shook his head: "No. If anyone had been hurt, it definitely would have spread."

Jin Li breathed a small sigh of relief, "It's good that no one was hurt."

"Yesterday, while I was shooting, I felt there were too many people coming, so I retreated temporarily. Starting the livestream was also a spur-of-the-moment idea."

"I figured the fans just wanted to come see me. Seeing that I had run off, they probably wouldn't want to join in the chaos anymore."

A hint of a smile flashed in her eyes: "Looking at it now, my response wasn't bad."

There was nothing left to say about the following events; Gu Cheng had already learned about them on the internet.

Jin Li remembered the *Assassination* script mentioned last time and asked: "What did the director say? Is he willing to change it?"

A smile tugged at the corners of Gu Cheng's mouth: "He didn't want to change it at first and was a bit reluctant, but when I said you also wanted to participate in the investment, the director immediately perked up. He thinks you have good luck, and that the scripts you set your eyes on will also have good luck."

Jin Li chuckled and said leisurely: "Feudal superstition is not allowed."

Gu Cheng was amused too.

"Not only that, I also mentioned to the company that I wanted to invest in the drama *Assassination*."

"The director said that if we want the internet movie to be released smoothly, we have to give up some interests, preferably by letting some capital get involved."

Brother Guang told me that at first, the company's senior management wouldn't invest, nor did they want me to invest, but later, when he said you also wanted to participate, the senior management immediately changed their minds and said they would consider it carefully."

Jin Li felt ashamed.

She stated in advance: "I will definitely invest, but I'm not sure if it will break even. Don't blame it on me if they invest and can't recoup their costs."

Gu Cheng said 'mm', "Rest assured, it won't fall on you."

"I'll tell you in advance: regarding your desire to invest, do you want to mention it to Chenxi Entertainment as well? If Chenxi Entertainment is also interested, Tianding Entertainment will definitely want a piece of the action."

Jin Li pondered for a while and understood.

This is probably a common problem for many large companies.

What I have, others may not.

But what others have, I must have.

If Chenxi Entertainment doesn't invest, then Tianding will deliberate on whether to invest.

But if Chenxi Entertainment wants to buy in, Tianding will definitely follow up at lightning speed.

It makes no sense for the company not to invest in a drama starring their own artist, while Chenxi Entertainment, which doesn't even have a lead actor, ends up taking the lion's share.

Jin Li said readily: "Alright, I'll ask later."

The two communicated a bit more about their shared study time, then hung up the video call.

Jin Li didn't put her phone down, but instead opened a video app to watch the livestream of tonight's *I Am a Singer* King of Singers battle.

It was still early.

The singers' livestream backstage hadn't opened yet; for now, one could only see the livestream of the stage.

Audience members were entering one after another, filling the venue bit by bit, just like putting together a puzzle.

"Jin Li, your dinner."

Sui Lingfang brought the boxed meal to Jin Li. Gong Jiajia and He Yixuan were not on the same flight as her; the two had already flown off first.

Fang Jie attached more importance to the announcements over at Fang Fei, so she went with her.

Sui Lingfang saw the livestream on her phone and asked curiously: "Is it tonight? Ji Qinglian and Xi Sister Meng Ze are going on stage to perform together."

Jin Li nodded: "Yes, it hasn't started yet. We have to wait until seven o'clock, by which time we'll already be on the plane."

Sui Lingfang asked: "Do you think Xi Sister Meng Ze has a chance to become the King of Singers?"

Come to think of it, Xi Sister Meng Ze also needed her on-site; originally, she was prioritizing that side.

After all, the King of Singers battle was more urgent than a commercial shoot.

But this week, Xi Sister Meng Ze suddenly told her that she didn't want people from the company to come over, not to make a big fuss, and took the initiative to suggest that she go take care of Jin Li instead.

This left Sui Lingfang a bit confused.

Later, she vaguely figured it out.

It might be that Xi Sister Meng Ze had no confidence in this competition, which is why she didn't want many people to go with her, so as to avoid losing face later.

Even if Xi Sister Meng Ze acted like she didn't care, she didn't want everyone to see her failing side.

Sure enough.

Jin Li shook her head with a solemn expression: "It's very difficult."

"It's not that I think Qinglian can't be a singer; even pop singers like Xiao Su can stay until the end, so Qinglian naturally can too."

"But the song they chose is very unsuitable for a competition, and another point has to do with Qinglian herself."

Jin Li sighed.

"She has stayed in the film crew for too long, and she has lost a lot of her basic singing skills. For this live broadcast, it will be considered good as long as she doesn't make any mistakes."

If it weren't for the fact that Meng Meng really couldn't find a singer to save the stage at the last minute, she wouldn't have recommended Qinglian to her.

This was a helpless, last-resort move.

Sui Lingfang also sighed.

She wasn't someone who liked to dwell on the past, but if it weren't for Tan Hong suddenly breaking her promise this time...

Tsk, when it comes down to it.

LP is truly heartless!!

Sui Lingfang cursed in her heart, hoping the police would hurry up and investigate the matter clearly, and seal off this company called LP!

"By the way, Fang Jie, I have something to tell you." Jin Li thought of something and said: "I want to invest in a movie, no, it should be two internet movies."

"Please have all contestants proceed to the livestream hall."

In the *I Am a Singer* waiting area, a soft female voice sounded over the broadcast, followed immediately by a foreign language version.

All competing singers gathered together to listen to Director Hong explain the rules.

As for the guest singers they invited, they were not here, but in each star's dressing room.

The guest singer segment was open and aboveboard; the production team didn't intend to hide the guest singers.

As early as yesterday, Friday.

The production team announced who each guest's guest singer was.

The big screen's livestream room was left for the livestream hall, and netizens entered the livestream rooms opened by their favorite guest singers respectively.

【Qinglian Qinglian Qinglian!】

【Haven't seen you in a long time, where did you go?】

【Qinglian, some people say you were pregnant, and that you disappeared during this time to have a baby!】

Ji Qinglian greeted everyone, and seeing the comments from netizens in the livestream room, she was left between laughter and tears.

Why do netizens nowadays think a star suddenly pops out a child at every turn?

She clearly didn't even have a boyfriend!

Ji Qinglian spoke bluntly: "I don't even have a boyfriend, how could I have a baby?"

"I disappeared these days to join a film crew. I'm shooting a drama by Director Mo Xiaosheng, and he has very strict requirements for actors."

"For the stars who disappeared during this period, if you count carefully, it's not just me, ha. There are others who are shooting with me, but I won't reveal who they are; they are all more famous than me."

Netizens sent barrages one after another, sparking a heated discussion.

Some netizens were looking forward to their stage, while others expressed concern, feeling that the song *Missing Remote* was too bland.

Ji Qinglian took these comments in but didn't answer.

Because she knew.

Meng Meng choosing the song *Missing Remote* was in itself a compromise.

She recalled the scene when Meng Meng called her to ask for help—

"Invite me to be a guest singer to help you out?"

Ji Qinglian was very surprised, first saying: "Of course I have no problem, but are you sure you want to choose me? Isn't this wronging yourself? I'm not a very professional singer."

She had.

quite a bit of self-awareness.

She had always been an idol, even back in Pink Girls, where she was called the all-around ACE by fans.

But an idol is an idol.

The shortcoming of an idol is that they can do everything, but aren't proficient in anything.

Before Xi Sister Meng Ze could answer, Ji Qinglian said again: "Meng Meng, other singers will definitely choose professional and popular singers to help them. If you choose me, you can only gain popularity, but it doesn't fit the professionalism of this stage."

Xi Sister Meng Ze was silent for a while, then said in a low voice: "Qinglian, choosing you is the best."

Ji Qinglian frowned.

Xi Sister Meng Ze said lightly: "I've made things so tense with the production team, they won't let me enter the King of Singers Championship."

Director Hong finished explaining the rules, and the other singers dispersed immediately.

Luo Yingying was still very nervous this time, constantly pulling other veteran singers to talk. Seeing Xi Sister Meng Ze about to leave, Sister Yingying called out to her.

"Sister Meng Ze, do you have time after the performance tonight? Let's form another group to go eat."

Xi Sister Meng Ze was a bit surprised.

After performing so many times, this was the first time she had been called out by Luo Yingying.

Meng Meng pondered for a while and shook her head: "Sister Yingying, I have to catch a flight to rush to an announcement tonight. It's a pity I can't join you all."

Luo Yingying was also a bit regretful, but still said: "You sing very well, have confidence in yourself. Let's collaborate next time."

Xi Sister Meng Ze smiled, "Okay, Sister Yingying!"

She turned around, the smile on her face fading, her eyes falling into deep thought.

Having been in the entertainment industry for so long.

Xi Sister Meng Ze was no fool.

Luo Yingying had never had any interaction with her, yet tonight she suddenly invited her to a small gathering, and it was her private little circle she was joining.

Was this to accept her, or to show off to her, or was it to convey some signal?

Upon returning to the dressing room, Xi Sister Meng Ze met up with Ji Qinglian, found a blind spot where the camera couldn't reach, and voiced her hidden worries.

Ji Qinglian suddenly thought of something.

She looked up the rankings of each contestant in the competition these past few days.

It wasn't just Xi Sister Meng Ze who had received a script for a comeback against the wind; Luo Yingying did too. Just like Meng Meng, she got the bottom ranking in the previous round, and then counterattacked to the top ranking in the next.

And Luo Yingying's guest singer this time was shocking—not a long-established singer, but a band that wasn't very famous.

That was a very euphemistic way of putting it.

Before the list was announced, this band was only known to niche enthusiasts.

But after the list was announced, the few songs the band sang instantly hit the hot song charts.

"What do you think of Luo Yingying as a person?" Ji Qinglian asked.

Xi Sister Meng Ze said hesitantly: "A pretty good senior, except for being a bit nervous."

Ji Qinglian: "Then do they have a habit of eating together after performing?"

Xi Sister Meng Ze shrugged, "Not on the surface, but I'm not sure about in private. This is the first time I've been invited by her."

But she knew she probably wouldn't make it into the King of Singers Championship. Rather than having to shake hands and make nice with her opponents after failing, she would rather eat and drink with her good friend and not have to 'work'.

Ji Qinglian pondered: "Maybe some accident will happen in tonight's competition, and she probably received some wind of it, so she laid out her plans in advance."

She changed the subject and smiled.

"However, since you're on a flight tonight, you don't have to get involved."

Time passed second by second, and soon it was time for the competition.

Perhaps it's that if heaven makes you lose something, it will give you something else.

The song Xi Sister Meng Ze chose wasn't great, but the performance order she drew tonight was very good—second to last, the finale.

This ranking invisibly gave *Missing Remote* a bit of an advantage.

Also because they performed quite late, the two of them watched almost every contestant's stage.

Compared to the domestic singers, the two foreign singers performed very excellently; they seemed born to handle big scenes.

Only one domestic singer could match them.

As for Luo Yingying's stage.

Because of her previous abnormality, both of them paid special attention to it, feeling that the rhythm at the beginning wasn't very good, and Luo Yingying made two mistakes in succession.

The first was that the key was set too low, and it didn't quite match the lead singer of the band.

The other was still the issue of the lyrics; she almost sang the wrong words again.

【?? But are those two words really that easy to slip out?】

【This tune is very strange!】

【Don't talk nonsense, the suppression in the early stage must be for the explosion in the later stage!】

Ji Qinglian and Xi Sister Meng Ze looked at each other.

Their expressions were a bit solemn.

When Luo Yingying's stage ended, they also stood up, preparing to go to the stage to wait.

While waiting, Ji Qinglian deliberately muted her mic and asked: "How many singers are being eliminated this round?"

Xi Sister Meng Ze: "4, leaving 3 to enter the championship."

Ji Qinglian raised her eyebrows, "Then it depends on luck. I have a feeling that you might be able to enter the King of Singers competition. Except for the foreign singers, the domestic singers' performances are all unstable."

She paused and said in a low voice: "The production team can't possibly let two foreign singers both enter the King of Singers competition."

Xi Sister Meng Ze took a deep breath, "Let's see the situation. If the production team insists on promoting someone, I'll definitely have to step aside."

As they spoke, a sound came through their earpieces, telling them to get ready.

The elevator rose slowly.

The scorching lights hit, a drum beat sounded heavily, and the voices of Xi Sister Meng Ze and Ji Qinglian followed—

"Birds fly to the sky, clouds hang on the treetops"

"We in the memories, our small hands have not yet grown up"

"Smoke from cooking fires comes from afar, streams jump under the sunset"

"We in the memories, looking at the hometown southeast, northwest..."

The song *Missing Remote* wasn't complicated to begin with; it was a standard girl group style song, with a relaxed and cheerful melody.

But because it was too simple, it was inevitable that people would feel that on such a professional stage, the chosen song lacked difficulty.

It's true that simple songs are not easy to mess up.

But it's also true that it can't set off the singer's professional level.

Coupled with the hurried rehearsal this time, Ji Qinglian and Xi Sister Meng Ze only had time to choreograph a simple dance, and the dance show fans were looking forward to didn't appear.

After the song was finished, Xi Sister Meng Ze and Ji Qinglian held hands to bow, and netizens were still a bit dazed.

【Just this?】 X10

【Too simple!】

【Xi Sister Meng Ze's stage makes me realize that *I Am a Singer* is actually just a makeshift crew~】

【This stage is too unrefined, the lighting isn't that good either, it doesn't quite match Meng Meng's level!】

【I have a friend who said that Xi Sister Meng Ze's originally scheduled guest singer wasn't Ji Qinglian. This was a last-minute emergency rescue by Qinglian. With only two days of rehearsal, reaching this point is already good!】

【One thing to say, although the stage is simple and the song is simple, they didn't make any mistakes!】

【Compared to other singers who made mistakes because they were too nervous, I'd rather vote for Xi Sister Meng Ze!】

When Ji Qinglian and Xi Sister Meng Ze returned to the dressing room, the last singer had also gone on stage to perform.

They didn't have to wait long to know the results.

The plane streaked a long tail across the sky, not very obvious in the night sky.

On the plane.

Sui Lingfang and Jin Li were communicating in low voices.

"Investing in an internet movie, are you sure?"

Jin Li smiled helplessly, "Fang Jie, you've already asked me many times. I don't think this is anything strange."

Sui Lingfang shook her head, "No, to me, it's quite strange."

She said: "Although you mentioned to me before that if there was a suitable investment, you could be pulled in to buy shares, you never asked again later. I thought you were just saying it on a whim."

In Sui Lingfang's mind.

Jin Li's image was completely that of someone who views money as dirt.

Scratch card win?

Donate it as soon as she says so!

Endorsement fee?

Refuse it as soon as she says so!

Pure as a chrysanthemum, calm and peaceful, Buddhist-like life, taking a break whenever there's a holiday... that's exactly Jin Li.

Of course, later on, after coming into contact with Xi Sister Meng Ze, Sui Lingfang found that she was also of this type.

But Xi Sister Meng Ze at least wasn't as...

indifferent to money as Jin Li.

If the announcement fee was a bit higher, Meng Meng would still consider it. Unlike Jin Li, who doesn't look at the money, only at whether it's suitable.

Unsuitable announcements are rejected as soon as she says so.

Now that Jin Li told her she liked a drama and wanted to invest, it was like a high-and-mighty, otherworldly immortal being pulled into the mortal world.

How could Sui Lingfang not be shocked?

She asked: "Tell me carefully, who recommended this *Assassination* to you, and how did you know about it?"

Jin Li kept telling her how amazing the plot of this drama was.

Sui Lingfang came back to her senses and instead valued the production team more. ===== CHAPTER 185 =====