On their way back to their lounge, the stars in the other lounges were similarly restless.
Because the cameras were continuously filming, even though the audience couldn't see, the footage needed to be included in the final cut; therefore, the singers remained relatively restrained.
Even so, when faced with Xu Qingqiu's song, many people still couldn't stay calm.
As the most senior and oldest contestant singer, Guan Che believed his skills were definitely among the top. The only uncertainty was that his popularity might not be as high as others.
But after he had listened to Xu Qingqiu's performance, his expression turned particularly serious.
His dedicated assistant, noticing his expression, astutely caught on and casually asked,
"Teacher Guan, what did you think of Teacher Xu's performance?"
Guan Che glanced at him and, after thinking a moment, said,
"The song is good; it was probably tailor-made for her and suits her very well. As for the singing, in terms of performance effect, it was quite good. But I think her talent is what's truly best. If she keeps it up, her potential is limitless."
Initially, seeing his stern face, the dedicated assistant thought he disapproved or something. He was even hoping for some explosive comments to create conflict for the show.
He hadn't expected someone of Teacher Guan's age to suddenly change his tune and start praising her. How unexpected!
The dedicated assistant was startled for a moment before he quickly agreed,
"Yes, indeed! I was completely immersed while listening just now. The song was incredibly moving."
It was unclear whether it was because the assistant's intentions were too obvious or because Guan Che was old and shrewd, but Guan Che simply didn't pick up the conversation.
In another lounge, Hua Ruyue watched with a smile as the host interacted with the audience onstage.
The dedicated assistant arranged by the production team also reminded her to express her opinions for use in post-production editing.
"Teacher Hua, I heard Teacher Xu initially wanted to sing one of your songs, right? Why did she suddenly change?"
Hua Ruyue smiled faintly and said,
"She was lucky; a friend wrote two songs for her, so mine naturally weren't needed. You saw it too, didn't you? This song of hers is much better than mine."
"Not at all, Teacher Hua, please don't say that! I grew up listening to your songs. I think they're wonderful; I still have them on repeat!"
"Is that so? Thank you. But my songs are old now; they haven't kept up with the times."
"That's not true! You're still so young, and many people still listen to your songs from ten or twenty years ago."
In just a few exchanges, the dedicated assistant was nearly backed into a corner by Hua Ruyue.
Don't be fooled by her early retirement to focus on her husband and children; anyone who took her for a fool would be the real fool. Her decision to retire at the height of her fame showed more wisdom than many possess. Did they really think that just because she was no longer active in the industry, she wouldn't see through the production team's little schemes?
Compared to these clearly astute individuals, there were, naturally, also those who were less discerning.
"Sister Zhu, what do you think of this song?"
In the veteran Zhu Yan's lounge, her dedicated assistant, following the director's instructions, similarly began prompting the singer for her opinion.
Zhu Yan popped a grape into her mouth, and after eating it, she remarked nonchalantly,
"I didn't think much of it. It's not my style—too sad, no energy. I prefer something more upbeat."
As a renowned 'big sister' figure in the industry, second in seniority only to Guan Che, and famous for her blunt and fiery personality, getting a kind word out of her was a rarity. And this was precisely the effect the production team wanted. How could there be a show without conflict? No conflict meant no talking points, and no talking points meant no buzz.
If Zhu Yan was direct and unpretentious, then Qin Xiao was the epitome of passive-aggressive sarcasm.
"Oh my, Sister Qingqiu's song was performed so well! Where did she find such a great new song? I've been wanting to release a new album for ages and haven't found anything suitable for me," Qin Xiao began, her voice dripping with affectation.
"Sister Qingqiu is truly impressive. She sang a new song last time, and now, just a few days later, another new one, and it's so beautiful! I'm so envious.
"But this song is too sad, and it doesn't really suit Sister Qingqiu's temperament. I remember her being a very cheerful person."
Her dedicated assistant didn't even need to prompt her; Qin Xiao couldn't stop herself.
Her pretentious act was enough to make those who knew her want to gag. Those unfamiliar with her, however, might actually think she and Xu Qingqiu were close. But were the paparazzi's hit pieces trending online just a few days ago fake? How thick-skinned did someone have to be to act so utterly unaffected? Believe it or not, Qin Xiao managed it. But if you listened closely, her words were riddled with hidden barbs and sarcasm. What was she implying by saying she couldn't get a song while Xu Qingqiu performed two new ones in a row? And what did she mean by saying the song didn't suit Xu Qingqiu? Was she suggesting Xu Qingqiu was faking a persona? Or was she insinuating that Xu Qingqiu was using the song to gain sympathy due to the recent online rumors? This woman didn't even dare to be openly sarcastic, but sometimes, such insidious methods were even more effective. It had to be said, some people were just born to play dirty; she was a prime example of a manipulative schemer, a master of petty tricks.
"This song is fantastic! Is it an original? It must be an original, right?"
As a rock singer from a previous era, Huang Dongjun, though in his forties, still possessed an energetic and lively disposition. He was straightforward and honest, always speaking his mind without hesitation.
The moment he finished listening to the song, he couldn't resist slapping his thigh in excitement.
His dedicated assistant glanced at the latest program list and nodded.
"It's an original. Today is its debut performance."
"I remember her last performance in the exhibition match was also an original, right? The writer was Anonymous, wasn't it? Is it the same Anonymous this time?"
"Uh... no, this time it's by a writer named Youmeng."
"Where? Let me see."
Huang Dongjun snatched the program list from his assistant's hand and scrutinized it.
"First Performer: Xu Qingqiu. Song Title: 'In the World'. Lyrics/Composition/Arrangement: Youmeng."
After reading the program, Huang Dongjun asked curiously,
"Aren't our arrangements usually handled by Teacher Jiang Shangqiu? How come this one is also by Youmeng? Oh, right, she changed songs at the last minute, didn't she? Does that mean Youmeng handled everything for this song from start to finish?"
Realizing this, Huang Dongjun slapped his thigh again in excitement.
"Amazing! Isn't this just too incredible? To handle the composition, lyrics, and arrangement all by oneself, and for the song to be this good—who is this maestro?"
His dedicated assistant was also looking on curiously, the format seeming more and more familiar.
"Do you think this Youmeng and the previous Anonymous could be the same person?" the assistant mused.
"Huh? Wait a minute!"
Hearing his assistant's words, Huang Dongjun froze.
"Hmm, now that you mention it... the last song was also entirely self-produced, wasn't it? This one too. And 'Anonymous' means unknown, right? So, could 'Youmeng' be a name she just came up with?"
"But that doesn't add up," Huang Dongjun pondered aloud. "If a senior figure was really helping her, why would Xu Qingqiu change songs so suddenly?"
"This feels more like she received the song unexpectedly, right?"
Thinking about the recent online incidents, something seemed to click in his mind.
Could it be that a senior figure, angered by the online rumors, specifically tailored this song for her? ...
Once this idea took root, it was impossible to shake. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed, and yet, the more daunting the implication became.
She wouldn't have changed both songs, would she?