Chapter 67: So, Bring It On

Inside the villa, Li Fengshan leaned back, half his body resting against the sofa, and rubbed his somewhat throbbing temples.

The female secretary, wearing black silk stockings and stepping in high heels, stood up obediently, walked behind the sofa, and then bent over halfway to massage Li Fengshan's temples.

Li Fengshan tilted his head slightly backward.

"Boss Li, should I go run some hot water so we can take a bath?" She noticed Li Fengshan was in a bad mood and suggested not watching this program.

Li Fengshan shook his head; he wanted to see just how far this Luo Mo's public performance stage could actually go!

……..

……..

On the other side, Shen Yinuo returned home.

She had nothing that needed recording today, and there were no schedule arrangements from the company, so she made a special trip home.

The recording location for *Creating Idols* was in the suburbs of Shanghai, which was actually very far from her home located at the Bund, so she basically wouldn't go home to rest on purpose.

To be precise, she came home today mainly because she had something to discuss with her dad.

Hmm, about the matter of signing Luo Mo.

The helmsman of Xinyu was named Shen Shaoqiu, a man whose left foot had a slight limp.

This man controlled a first-tier talent agency that was second only to the four major companies in the industry; his status and position in the circle were not at all inferior to Li Fengshan's, and were even slightly superior.

Unlike Li Fengshan, a man who viewed women as playthings, Shen Shaoqiu, despite being in the decadent entertainment industry, had an excellent relationship with his wife and was even a bit afraid of her.

He used to be half a matrilocal son-in-law.

At the same time, he was a daughter-doting father who viewed Shen Yinuo as the apple of his eye and followed her wishes in everything.

And so, after Shen Yinuo got home, she pulled him over and wanted him to watch the third episode of *Creating Idols*. Shen Shaoqiu actually had some small matters to attend to, but he chose to accompany his daughter to watch an episode of the variety show first.

Before the program started, he even ran to the kitchen to cut a fruit platter; he wouldn't even let the nanny do it, wanting to cut it himself to please his daughter.

"Nuo Nuo, eat some fruit." The limping man handed the fruit platter to his daughter.

"Dad, stop running around, sit down, sit down, it's starting soon." Shen Yinuo turned on the home screen and said to Shen Shaoqiu.

"Eh, let me get a good look at my Nuo Nuo's performance on the show." Shen Shaoqiu said.

As the program continued to air, reaching the point where Luo Mo entered the room to make a video call to Tong Qinglin and his parents, Shen Shaoqiu said with slight surprise: "I didn't expect to see Old Master Tong on this program."

"Dad, you know him?" Shen Yinuo was somewhat surprised.

Shen Shaoqiu nodded and said: "Many years ago, I watched his plays."

After finishing, he gave a thumbs up and said: "He's the real deal."

"Is that so? Then you should pay attention to his Closing Disciple." Shen Yinuo hugged a cushion, her fair, tender thighs crossed as she sat on the sofa, and pointed at Luo Mo on the screen.

Shen Shaoqiu glanced at Luo Mo and nodded, saying: "I know him; he's that middle school deskmate of Xiao Jiang you mentioned to me on the phone last time, right?"

Shen Yinuo nodded and said: "That's right, that's right, he's been very popular lately."

Shen Shaoqiu looked at his daughter, then at Luo Mo on the screen, and asked a question very seriously: "How old is he this year, and what is his zodiac sign?"

How could Shen Yinuo not hear the meaning behind her dad's words? She said, laughing and crying: "What are you thinking, Comrade Shen Shaoqiu! I want to sign him into the company!"

"I see." Shen Shaoqiu's gaze softened, and he no longer looked at Luo Mo on the screen with a scrutinizing eye.

Shen Yinuo said with high spirits: "Dad, let me tell you, I saw he was a potential stock before he even got popular, and I wanted to sign him, but the terms weren't negotiated."

"Oh? Is that so." Shen Shaoqiu didn't ask in detail, only saying: "So when you said you missed me and your mom before coming home today, that was a lie too?"

"Aiya, why is your focus always so off!" Shen Yinuo pouted, used a fork to stab a piece of watermelon, and then stuffed it into her mouth with force.

"Alright, alright, then I will watch his stage performance as the boss of Xinyu from now on." Shen Shaoqiu didn't dare to make his daughter unhappy.

"Mm-hmm, you have to be strict, because the terms he asked for are a bit high." Shen Yinuo said half and hid half.

"Hahaha, Old Master Tong's Closing Disciple is still worth looking forward to." After watching the previous *Ancient Teachings of Learning Art*, Shen Shaoqiu, who loved listening to Opera, had a slight favorable impression of Luo Mo.

At this moment, the program finally aired the Anonymous Team taking the stage.

After they took the stage, Shadow Puppetry began to play on the big screen.

Watching the content in the Shadow Puppetry, Shen Shaoqiu's attention was quickly captured.

"Nuo Nuo, you just said the exam question Xu Chujing gave was 【Righteousness】. Judging from the Shadow Puppetry at the beginning, this Luo Mo's angle for writing the song is likely national righteousness, right?" Shen Shaoqiu said.

"Yes, it is." Shen Yinuo said.

Shen Shaoqiu nodded slightly, noncommittal.

If it were Xinyu trainees participating in *Creating Idols* and wanting to write a song about national righteousness, Shen Shaoqiu would definitely reject it outright.

This subject matter is too big, the scope is too high, and it's very easy to lose control.

For songs like this, most of them give people the feeling that they are lacking something.

The entry point must be chosen well.

After a portion of the Shadow Puppetry aired, the song title appeared on the screen—*Red Actor*.

Immediately after, several of Luo Mo's teammates began to sing on stage, while he himself stood behind the curtain the whole time, his figure unseen.

"【A fold of the play, the water sleeves rise and fall.......】"

While listening to the song and watching the content of the Shadow Puppetry, Shen Shaoqiu's interest grew stronger and stronger.

And when the flames on the stage began Burning, Shen Shaoqiu's eyes immediately lit up.

The curtain in front of Luo Mo was swallowed clean by the flames as if by magic, and he, dressed in red, danced gracefully on the stage, his Opera Singing resounding throughout the venue.

"【The people under the stage pass by, the old colors are no longer seen........】"

A short line was enough to make Shen Shaoqiu nod involuntarily.

Surprise, a special Surprise!

The Opera Element in this song was integrated very well, very comfortably, and didn't feel abrupt at all.

At the same time, he felt that as expected of Old Master Tong's Closing Disciple, this Opera foundation was very solid, not something a layman would just play around with.

Seeing her dad completely intoxicated, Shen Yinuo hurriedly asked: "Dad, give an evaluation, how is Luo Mo's level of Opera?"

Shen Shaoqiu was still in the shock brought about by the fire on that stage, but upon hearing his daughter's question, he immediately said: "Nuo Nuo, I can tell you clearly that if his level were placed in the past, he would be able to be a 'Jiao'r' (star performer)."

Shen Yinuo asked curiously: "I can understand what this 'Jiao'r' means, but just like how stars are divided into first-tier and second-tier, to what extent does one have to reach to be considered a 'Jiao'r'?"

Shen Shaoqiu smiled and said: "The so-called 'Jiao'r' means that if your name is written on a play, it can sell tickets, and you won't have to worry about the seats not being full. You have a troupe of people following you, dozens or even over a hundred people, all counting on you to make a living."

"The past is different from now. To be regarded as a 'Jiao'r', having popularity alone is not enough; you must also have strength. Only then will everyone be willing to follow you, feeling that this is long-lasting rather than a flash in the pan," said Shen Shaoqiu.

Shen Yinuo nodded, having understood the meaning.

This, in fact, also highlights the core of this song.

It is precisely because of everyone's pursuit and love that a 'Jiao'r' can be born. And so, now that the invaders have attacked, it is time to repay the kindness of the common people.

What's more, how can national essence be insulted?

The father and daughter's gazes refocused on the screen; at this moment, "Red Actor" was almost over.

Luo Mo's figure appeared slightly hunched, his whole person frozen on the stage, the beam of light hitting him grew dimmer and dimmer, and the Shadow Puppetry on the screen was also completely swallowed by the fire.

——Though lowly in position, one dares not forget to worry about the country; perhaps the person whose name is not left in history has already repaid the country's grace!

Large, blood-red characters formed by firelight appeared on the screen: "Red Actor"!

Shen Shaoqiu couldn't help but exclaim: "Good, this song is done really well!"

He rubbed his arms and said: "Look, what great storms and waves has Dad not seen, yet I still got goosebumps."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yinuo immediately gave a mischievous smile and said: "Dad, then remember to watch the next public performance too. I'm going on stage with him, I guarantee you'll get even more goosebumps."

Truly filial to death.

"Is that so? Then I shall look forward to our Nuo Nuo's performance," Shen Shaoqiu said with a chuckle.

Then, he asked about the serious business: "Tell me, what kind of signing conditions did this Luo Mo offer?"

He said to himself: "Since he is the first person Nuo Nuo wants to sign, and his popularity is very high right now, then an A Ji contract is also OK. I can give you all these permissions; you look at it and negotiate with him yourself, and exercise yourself a bit, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yinuo pouted slightly and said: "But he wants an S-level one! And he wants to open his own personal studio!"

"What?" Shen Shaoqiu was even stunned for a moment.

Good fellow, what a lion's share he's asking for!

Why don't I just give you the company's shares too?

………

………

The third episode of "Creating Idols" finished airing tonight just like this.

Inside a certain Siheyuan in Kyoto, an old man over eighty years old rarely opened a bottle of wine and had a few small sips.

Old Master Tong's tolerance for alcohol was as poor as ever; after drinking only two small cups, he was already somewhat drunk.

Just like during his eightieth birthday, he had only drunk a little before his eyes became blurry with intoxication.

At that time, he had called his Closing Disciple to his side, patted his shoulder gently, and said to him:

"Master wants you to stand on a big stage and sing opera."

"Master wants to see you be a 'Jiao'r' for once."

Luo Mo's sixth senior brother, Liu Gongming, who loved to show off the most, was currently serving the old man.

He could tell that Master was happy tonight!

Since his eightieth birthday, Master was happiest tonight!

However, the old man was old, so even so, Liu Gongming did not dare to let Master drink too much.

Taking advantage of the alcohol, the old man stood up and sang a few lines of lyrics from "Red Actor".

His memory was not good due to his age, and he only remembered a few lines, yet he sang with quite a bit of vigor.

Later on, the alcohol surged again, and the old man, unable to hold his liquor, staggered a bit; the sixth senior brother Liu Gongming hurriedly stepped forward to support him.

Although Old Master Tong Qinglin's entire face was flushed red from drinking, his eyes were becoming brighter and brighter.

He glanced at his sixth disciple and said: "Gongming, Master is old, can't keep up with the times, and my news is not well-informed."

"Master knows that you love to fiddle with your phone to film things now, and you often post things online."

"You are someone who can accept new things, and you are clever, so Master is assigning you a task."

Upon hearing this, Liu Gongming asked puzzledly: "Master, what task?"

Tong Qinglin stretched out his bony hand and braced it on the tabletop, not letting his sixth disciple support him.

He looked at Liu Gongming and said: "Master wants you to keep an eye out; if... Master means if, among those who sing opera, there are any blind ones who jump out to scold little Luo, you must tell Master the name of every single one of them."

"Yes!" Liu Gongming replied.

That night, Tong Qinglin, who rarely sang in Opera Singing style after retiring, stood in the courtyard of his home, blowing in the night breeze, looking at the bright moon, and sang opera for a long while more.

………

………

That night, "Red Actor" became completely popular.

Relying on the super high exposure of "Creating Idols", this song became an overnight sensation!

Great righteousness for the country, sacrificing one's life for the nation.

Red clothes fluttering, stunning Opera Singing.

In the hearts of countless viewers, Luo Mo was equivalent to having presented another god-level stage!

The theme of this song was too grand, but if the answer sheet handed in was excellent enough, then... the overall vision would be opened up!

This significance is different.

At least before the heat fades, this young man named Luo Mo is not so easy to smear!

He is an inheritor and promoter of opera culture. He has practiced opera diligently for nearly twenty years as if it were one day, never slacking off.

His song's vision is also grand, and it stunned the audience.

And so pleasing to the eye, so good-looking.

The popularity of "Red Actor" is not just Burning on the stage!

It has ignited a prairie fire across all major platforms!

Among so many groups of trainees' public performances, only "Red Actor" has heaven-defying popularity.

To what extent is it excellent?

——【Standing alone in its excellence】.

Yes, the power of capital is indeed terrifying.

A group of capital's power is, of course, even more terrifying.

But, so what?

This young man, sitting all alone in the very Corner of the card table, threw his cards onto the gambling table right in front of the capital tycoons surrounding him.

——"Please take the cards."

…………

(PS: It's officially launched, 13,000 words updated first, begging for subscriptions! Begging for monthly tickets!)

(End of this chapter)