Chapter 61: Crushing Cheng Chen

After declining Wang Tianxiao's offer of a car and Gao Yuanyuan's request to tag along, Cheng Chen, wearing a fisherman's hat and sunglasses, took a cab alone to the audition site.

Are you kidding? Sitting in a luxury car with a long-legged beauty beside you — am I going to an audition or walking a red carpet?

Since it's a competition, keeping a low profile is never wrong.

After arriving at the audition site, he had thought his outfit would draw attention.

But he didn't expect the place to be even more chaotic, with every kind of bizarre outfit imaginable.

Those with hair loose and wild, carrying electric guitars, blue tattoos on their arms, strutting around the venue — no need to say more, rock bros, one and all.

Then there were the artsy youths cradling guitars, tilting their heads back at a 45° angle to gaze at the sky as if they existed apart from the venue — these must be folk singers, right?

To Cheng Chen's surprise, he also spotted several guys at the venue sporting dreadlocks, wearing oversized jackets, and sporting snapbacks worn backwards.

These are... rap artists?

Actually, since the eighties, the term and concept of rap music had slowly been seeping into the Mainland.

At the '97 Spring Festival Gala, Uncle Benshan had already dropped a verse in "Red Sorghum Modeling Team":

"The land is our mother, labor is our father; just sow the seeds and everything will grow."

And Teacher Lirong had also sung in "Packaged Like This":

"In spring the blossoms bloom fourteen-fifty-six, in June on the sixth we watch the grain sprout, in spring I beat the sixty-nine beat."

Seeing rap artists at a 2002 talent show still struck Cheng Chen as rather surprising.

But then... where was this intense sense of déjà vu coming from?

Cheng Chen really wanted to go up and ask a few of those rap bros:

"You got freestyle?"

The singers participating in the audition were unexpectedly numerous, chatting in little circles of three or five.

Some singers had brought their own fans, and whenever a singer they supported appeared at the venue, the fans would scream at the top of their lungs.

Cheng Chen had himself wrapped up tightly, and since he rarely appeared in public, no one recognized him.

"Guangfeng! Guangfeng! Boundless glory!"

"Guangfeng, fly without fear, we'll follow you forever!"

"Zhang Guangfeng, with every inch of my faint light, I'll shield your ten-thousand-zhang glory!!!"

Cheers suddenly erupted across the venue; a van pulled up outside, and a rather handsome-looking man stepped out.

The fans on both sides of the venue, the moment they saw him, immediately began shouting their slogans with fervor.

Watching this scene, Cheng Chen found it quite amusing — it had been a long time since he'd heard fan-chant slogans like these.

However...

Cheng Chen's brow furrowed slightly — why did the name Zhang Guangfeng sound so familiar?

Could it be some future music industry big shot's alt account?

Soon, Cheng Chen ran into this man called Zhang Guangfeng again in the restroom; he was puffing on a cigarette, taking a phone call while peeing.

But seeing his face, Cheng Chen suddenly realized — wasn't this the former "top dog" of Tianhai Records, the Zhang Guangfeng who had later been poached by a competitor?

His photo had once hung on the honor wall in the corridor of Tianhai Records.

Of course, it was later taken down and thrown in the trash on Wang Tianxiao's orders.

Who would have thought he'd actually come to the audition too.

"Ah, don't worry, Sister Wang, I know he'll be there, but so what? Overnight-sensation singers aren't anything new, but how did they end up? I climbed up here on my own merit.

Tianhai? Tianhai's a trash company, nothing to fear. Why would I hide from Cheng Chen? If I run into him, I'll absolutely crush him... ah, I mean crush him musically. It's been ages since I caused any trouble, alright? I gotta go, the audition's about to start..."

From the sound of it... he meant to defeat Cheng Chen with music?

Cheng Chen had been about to remind him that he was right there beside him, but the voice of the show's director came from outside, calling everyone to get ready to take the stage.

Zhang Guangfeng snubbed out his cigarette and ran outside in a hurry.

"Bro..."

Cheng Chen stepped out of the stall and called out to Zhang Guangfeng.

"What?"

"You didn't wash your hands..."

Zhang Guangfeng glanced at him, muttered "psycho," and headed out of the restroom.

Cheng Chen watched his retreating back and muttered:

"But you got pee on your hand..."

"What kind of demons and monsters are these!"

On the judges' panel, the three judges took advantage of the gap between contestants to switch off their mics and chat quietly.

The audition had been going on for about two hours; the three teachers' ears had been put through the wringer, and after listening to the contestants' songs, all three had begun to question their Renshen.

Forgetting lyrics, singing off-key — these were standard fare!

Seen someone sing-and-dance like an exorcist ritual? It's at the audition.

Seen a scruffy guy blow a flying kiss to the judges on the spot? It's at the audition!

Seen someone in a tight outfit twirling a pole like a Sun Wukong casting call? It's at the audition!

"But Teacher Zhang, don't you think this is kind of fun? These contestants are all so different — just put them on TV and you've got instant buzz. It also shows a different side of music."

Yang Hai, the arts channel's music host, said.

He was a music academy graduate and had released two lukewarm albums.

Since this was a music program, the station, seeing his experience releasing albums, had placed him on the judges' panel.

You always need someone with camera presence in the mix to liven things up and create a bit of showmanship.

As for the other two judges, one was a member of China Yinyuehui, the Teacher Zhang Yang Hai had mentioned—Zhang Zaifeng.

The other was a singer with a modest reputation in today's music scene, Li Zhifei.

All in all, these three judges represented three different levels: they covered China Yinyuehui, the television station, and could also take into account the opinions of singers themselves.

They might not necessarily be famous, but at this audition stage, they still had the ability to distinguish good songs from bad.

"What a mess this is, what kind of atmosphere is this for making music? If it's all like this, I think the Singer Competition might as well not be held."

Zhang Zaifeng of China Yinyuehui said dismissively.

"Heh, that's exactly why we need to pick from among them. Originally, the audition is the process of screening out quality singers."

Li Zhifei smiled and offered a different opinion.

"That's what you think! That's why young people today are so restless—they all want to become famous overnight, but how many of them have that kind of luck!"

Zhang Zaifeng argued back.

"Hahaha, you both make valid points. The next singer is ready too, let's begin. Oh, this one has quite the background—singer Zhang Guangfeng from Guangyu Media. Our ears finally don't have to suffer anymore."

Seeing the situation going south, Yang Hai laughed and played peacemaker in the middle.

"Mm."

……

When Zhang Guangfeng took the stage, the hundred fans below immediately erupted in cheers.

He had debuted early and already had a fan base; combined with the previous parade of monsters that had tormented the audience, they were finally seeing a "familiar-faced" singer.

Saved……

"Hello everyone, I'm Zhang Guangfeng. The song I'm about to sing is called 'Fairytale.' I hope you all like it."

At this moment, Cheng Chen, who was observing from backstage, was wearing a face full of question marks.

???

Weren't you the one who solemnly declared you'd blow me away with music?

……