Chapter 296: A Toast to Freedom, A Toast to Death

"Xiao Chou," a song that allowed Mao Buyi to shine brilliantly in the variety show "The Coming One."

Before singing this song, he was just a marginal character, or perhaps even... a comedian in that program?

The first time he went on stage, he was so nervous that he drank quite a bit of white liquor backstage, performing his debut stage show while reeking of alcohol.

Songs like "If One Day I Become Very Rich" and "Feeling Like a Superstar" both give people a witty and humorous feeling.

The lyrics within them make one unable to help but smile.

At first, everyone thought this male nurse was just there to be funny; other contestants were either good-looking, wealthy, or unconventional. He, on the other hand, looked like he was there for variety show effects, holding a script for a comedian.

But in reality, while these two songs might sound like catchy pop tunes and the lyrics are even a bit silly, they carry deep thought within them.

Therefore, Xue Zhiqian, who served as his track mentor, felt that this person's songwriting was truly difficult to evaluate.

You say it's superficial, yet it actually has depth.

You say it has substance, yet it reveals silliness everywhere.

If not for Xue Zhiqian's persistent protection along the way, Mao Buyi would have likely been eliminated long ago.

Including the round before he sang "Xiao Chou," because Xue Zhiqian still felt he was a piece of gold, he protected Mao Buyi, which also triggered massive controversy on the internet and invited a lot of abuse.

Under such circumstances, a phenomenal work was born!

Don't you think it feels quite like a novel's plot?

It has a flavor of playing the pig to eat the tiger in the early stages, while being favored by a big shot who supports him all the way. Then, the remaining supporting characters are like dragons and phoenixes among men, forming a sharp contrast. The onlookers around even have to throw in some mockery and various slanders.

Finally—Showing Off!

The most absurd part is that in the song "Feeling Like a Superstar," this person even sang a line: "A superstar is just playing the role of a commoner."

Yes, reality is often even more bizarre than a novel!

If Luo Mo remembers correctly, in that competition where "Xiao Chou" was performed, Mao Buyi actually lost.

Doesn't that feel even more like a novel trope?

In the end, because the masses liked this song so much, its popularity was absurdly high, and Mao Buyi's popularity also soared directly.

In the next episode, Xue Zhiqian directly chose the same opponent for him, letting him win back his dignity.

And then that song "A Person Like Me" appeared.

But regardless, in this plot full of ups and downs, "Xiao Chou" is definitely the biggest climax!

At this moment, on the stage of "Masked Singer," the 【Superstar】 wearing a mask is already prepared to shine!

………

………

After the simple prelude ends, 【Superstar】 picks up the microphone, lowers his head slightly, and begins to sing.

His singing voice still gives people a sense of storytelling.

"【When you walk into this joyful arena, carrying all your dreams and desires.】"

"【On faces of all colors are makeups of all colors; no one remembers what you look like.】"

These opening lines are equivalent to a true portrayal of Li Junyi.

The entertainment industry is a huge, extravagant, and decadent joyful arena.

Some people squander their youth here, some chase their dreams here, some fish for fame and compliments here, and some pay everything, betray everything, and sell everything here...

There are all kinds of people here.

Some focus on the "forms," having different faces in front of people and behind their backs.

Of course, there are also those who focus on the "colors."

Li Junyi does not have any prominent features, and his appearance is very ordinary; he is just more hardworking than most people.

There is a saying specifically used to describe some failed talent show contestants: "Half a life in talent shows, returning still a nobody."

It refers to that group of people who have been on all sorts of messy programs, but the audience just can't remember them and just doesn't recognize them.

In "Creating Idols," because Li Junyi was a member of the Anonymous Team, everyone, based on their partiality for Luo Mo and Tong Shu, even had many people voting for him with their extra votes.

But now that the program has been over for more than half a year, how many people still remember him?

He was born with a face for the Masses, and if thrown into a crowd, people might not even recognize him.

After Luo Mo determined Li Junyi's development path, he had prepared "Xiao Chou" early on.

The reason he threw Li Junyi into the entertainment industry to struggle and crawl was to deepen his experience and insights.

Perhaps only in this way could he generate more resonance?

Li Junyi continues to sing:

"【After three rounds of drinks, you are in the Corner,】"

"【Stubbornly singing a bitter song,】"

"【Listening to it being drowned out in the noise,】"

"【You pick up your glass and say to yourself—】"

The part before the chorus of the song actually carries the narrative sense of 【Folk】.

But why is it said that this is more of a song with a folk style?

Because it only has a narrative sense in the front; from the chorus part onwards, the narrative sense is not strong.

Many audience members hearing it now only feel that this song is not bad and the lyrics are written quite interestingly, but they always feel it is missing something.

It feels like it is just one step away from that kind of top-tier work that everyone loves immensely.

But when the camera sweeps across the professional jury, the audience sees many judges lowering their heads, looking at something.

They are looking at the printed lyrics in their hands!

Several Lyricists cannot help but look up at this moment; they look at Li Junyi in astonishment, then look down at the lyrics, and then look at Li Junyi again, as if they have discovered something strange.

Lv Yi is even whispering and talking to the Lyricist beside him.

His voice wasn't recorded, but from his lip movements, the audience could tell at a glance what he was saying.

——"Holy shit! Awesome!"

This piqued the interest of Xu Chujing, who was watching the program.

"What is it that makes their expressions so strange?" the Heavenly Queen Xu thought to herself.

She didn't get the answer until she heard the chorus of the song.

In the center of the stage, Li Junyi held a microphone in both hands.

His singing voice spread throughout the entire venue.

"【One cup to the Morning Sun, one cup to the moonlight.

Awakening my Yearning, making the Cold Window Gentle.

So I can fly against the wind without looking back,

Not afraid of the rain in my heart, or the frost in my eyes.】"

Only "two cups of wine" had been sung so far, but it was enough to capture everyone's attention.

The lyrics rhymed perfectly, yet they weren't the type to use flowery language just for the sake of rhyming.

【Morning Sun】 and 【moonlight】, paired with the following 【Yearning】 and 【Cold Window】... absolutely brilliant!

The warmth and upward spirit of the morning, the coldness and coolness of the night.

Paired with the content that followed, it really resonated with many young dreamers and strivers!

Yes, the song "Xiao Chou" features the classic 【Eight Cups of Wine】; the first two cups are a toast to youth!

The barrage comments began to multiply at this moment, with many people entering "repeat mode," echoing the lip movements Lv Yi had just made.

"Holy shit! Awesome!"

Many people were puzzled: what exactly had this 【Superstar】 experienced to be able to sing with such feeling?

The singing continued, moving on to the third and fourth cups of wine.

"【One cup to my Hometown, one cup to the Distance.

Guarding my Kindness, urging me to grow.

So the road from north to south is no longer long,

And my soul is no longer left with nowhere to rest.】"

These two cups are a toast to the 【Youth】!

For those wanderers working and studying away from home, the resonance and emotional impact were simply too strong.

Hometown guards my Kindness, the Distance urges me to grow.

Another perfect rhyme, yet carrying a perfect echo!

Both the words and the meaning are top-tier!

Young people are striving, forever... On the Road!

The lyrics of this song have completely written themselves into people's hearts!

The four cups of wine were finished, and the interlude began to play.

Then, everyone heard the familiar whistling.

Just like in "A Person Like Me," a simple yet melodious whistle was added to the middle of the interlude.

However, the theme of "Xiao Chou" lies in wine.

Drinking wine combined with whistling—the feeling is completely different!

It has quite a sense of being tipsy.

It is precisely because of this that many listeners on Earth actually prefer the live version from "The Coming One" rather than the studio version produced by Li Jian for Mao Buyi.

Because the studio version removed the whistle from the interlude, making many who had grown accustomed to it feel that the whole song had lost its soul, the finishing touch.

At this moment, the audience's barrage comments immediately followed: "The feeling is here now!"

Once the whistling started, the feeling was instantly on point!

"Interlude kill! It's this kind of alternative interlude kill again!" many songwriters on the professional judging panel thought to themselves.

"It's clearly the second time hearing the whistle, so why don't I feel bored, but instead feel the impact is even stronger?"

"Is it because of the wine?"

But they had no time to think at this moment.

Because this song, full of golden lines, was very extravagant and didn't give people much of a gap.

As soon as the whistling stopped, the wine continued!

After a rest, then have a few more cups!

The 【Superstar】 held the microphone and continued to sing:

"【One cup to tomorrow, one cup to the past,

My body has grown heavy, my shoulders have thickened.

Although I never believe in so-called eternal mountains and rivers,

Life is short, why must I keep dwelling on it—】"

These two cups are a toast to the 【Middle-aged Person】.

You have experienced more, and your memories have become heavier.

Perhaps up until now, you have gained a lot.

But how much have you lost?

Reaching middle age, life is already half over; life is short.

Yet there are some things that one truly cannot let go of.

By the time you realize time is a thief, it has already stolen all your choices.

"Layer upon layer, layer upon layer!" Lv Yi was so excited listening to it.

In his heart, the lyrics of this song could be crowned god-tier!

Whether it was the accompaniment or the overall melody, there was a slight upward lift at this moment.

——The last two cups of wine.

The Superstar raised his head and looked into the camera.

"A cup for freedom, a cup for death.

Forgive my ordinariness for dispelling the confusion.

Fine, after daybreak, one always leaves in a rush,

The sober are the most absurd."

"A cup for freedom! A cup for death!" Many in the audience were stunned by what they heard.

It has such a vibe, these lyrics have such a vibe!

It was very clear that this was singing about Old Age.

When you are old, perhaps you will see many things in a different light.

You begin to accept your ordinary life, and begin to accept everything you have lost.

Life is like a journey, and I am but a traveler!

What is being drunk is Eight Cups of Wine, but what is being sung is a whole life.

There is the worry-free Youth, the ambitious Youth, the hesitant Middle Age, and the retrospective Old Age.

This masked Superstar lowered his head again, his voice becoming a little softer:

"Fine, after daybreak, one always leaves in a rush,

The sober... are the most absurd."

Perhaps—in this life, it is hard to be muddled?

The song "Xiao Chou" ends here.

The song title and those three lines appeared on the big screen once again.

"Lyricist: Earth."

"Composer: Earth."

"Arranger: Earth."

It was strange; many in the audience actually had a thought pop into their minds that surprised even themselves.

"He is not some second Luo Mo; he is himself!"

(PS: Second update, asking for monthly votes!)

(End of this chapter)