A single question left Qi Dake and Gu Peng speechless. The former hadn't even thought about when to go on stage, while the latter wanted to be last, but choked before the words left his mouth.
An awkward silence filled the resting room, the air growing heavier by the second.
Chu Zhi broke the tension with a calm smile. "Third Brother wants to go last. As for me and Brother Qi, you're the team captain, Teacher Yuan. Just arrange it as you see fit, we have no objections."
Truthfully, Chu Zhi's respectful attitude caught Yuan He off guard. In his eyes, Chu Zhi was still a second-generation rich kid.
"I'll arrange things based on how it goes," Yuan He replied.
On the display screen, the live feed cut to the main host from CCTV, who began speaking.
"Today is June 11th, 2021. The Tri-Nation Friendship Music Festival, titled [Charming Asia], has officially begun..."
Yuan He got up and stepped out into the corridor to await his cue.
After a long opening speech, the host continued, "Let us welcome the three team leaders from China, South Korea, and Japan: Yuan He, Byeon Jaejung, and Toriyama Jirou."
The three stepped onto the stage. Yuan He was the youngest, followed by Toriyama Jirou. Byeon Jaejung's age made the generational gap obvious.
"Let's hear from the team leaders. Who's going up first?" the host asked.
Yuan He sent up Wang Dong, aiming to start strong. The song choice was solid, and Wang Dong himself was talented.
Japan sent up Kubo Todoren. South Korea's first performer was Nam Junmo.
Despite Nam Junmo's earlier request to face off with Chu Zhi, Byeon Jaejung instead pitted him against the lesser threat: Kubo Todoren.
Clearly, Byeon Jaejung considered Kubo less of a challenge than Chu Zhi. He planned to handle Chu Zhi personally.
"When I say I love you, why should it be torment?"
"When you turn your back and walk away…"🎵
Wang Dong's vocals were excellent, steadily building emotion through each verse. By the time he reached the chorus, the crowd joined in, creating a moment of soft harmony.
TV drama theme songs really do bury themselves deep in a listener's DNA.
"Perfect opener. Wang Dong did great," Yuan He said calmly, though his clenched fist betrayed his excitement.
Then came Kubo Todoren. With his signature sunglasses, he slammed out chords on his guitar, igniting the crowd with his heavy metal set. At least half the audience, ten thousand strong, raised their arms and moved with the beat.
Heavy metal has a way of setting outdoor events ablaze. Nam Junmo's K-pop dance track had flair, but following Kubo made it feel like a faint echo.
"Sorry, Senior Byeon…" Nam Junmo bowed his head upon returning to the resting room.
Scores hadn't been announced, but the audience's energy said it all—Wang Dong's "When I" had struck deeper than Nam Junmo's performance.
"Who's confident they can bring glory to the Republic of Korea in the next round?" Byeon Jaejung's voice remained mild, but he completely ignored Nam Junmo's apology.
In fact, no one in the room said a word. Nam Junmo sat awkwardly in the silence.
Meanwhile, the Japanese resting room erupted in applause as Kubo Todoren returned.
"A true rock genius!"
"Kubo-san's music can shake the soles off your shoes!"
"Ha ha! Teacher Toriyama's strategy was brilliant."
Kubo responded with modesty, though inwardly he was basking in his own brilliance.
These tofu-soft opponents were a waste of his talents. It was like decorating a shrine with Mt. Fuji—a gross misuse.
He had wanted to face Chu Zhi. To defeat the most popular competitor was to prove true worth. Unfortunately, the matchup never happened.
"Chu Zhi, luck's on your side today," he muttered.
In the Chinese resting room, Chu Zhi rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
He had to admit, for large outdoor festivals, rock or soaring vocals worked best to hype up the crowd. There's a reason music festivals invite rock bands.
His chosen song wasn't the most elegant in lyrics, but it let him unleash vocal acrobatics—and to top it off, he'd decided to bring out the secret weapon he'd never used before.
"The first set of performances brought us excitement from all three nations. Music knows no borders, and neither does art," the host said. "Who was your favorite?"
"Don't forget, the [Asia Token] you received at the gate is crucial. After the concert, cast your vote for your favorite act. The top three performances will be announced at the end."
The CCTV host's delivery was polished, managing both pace and tone expertly.
The Asia Token, in short, was a specially made ticket handed out during entry, used for post-performance voting.
Four years ago it was the "Kyoto Pass," eight years ago the "Victory Emblem." Regardless of name, it served the same purpose.
Round two featured Qi Dake, Lee Yongjun, and Izawa Koromo.
Qi Dake chose a personal favorite, "It's Not Too Late", but personal taste didn't always align with the crowd.
Lee Yongjun underperformed, possibly holding back his true strength.
The biggest response came from Izawa Iro. Her sugary vocals and catchy chorus—"Meow-meow love~" —sent the crowd into a frenzy.
"Meow-meow!"
"Meow-meow!"
Who says only guys like cute girls? Everyone loves a sweetheart with a voice like candy. The entire venue echoed the song.
"Why hasn't brother Jiu come on yet?" Huang Xi muttered. She was here for one person. The rest were just background.
"Definitely saving him for last," Qiqi replied.
Round three brought out Yuan He, Kim Ryuhak, and Fujiwara Kakei.
With Japan having taken the previous two rounds in terms of audience reaction, Yuan He couldn't sit still. He stepped up himself.
"China's team finally sends their captain. Looks like they're getting serious," Toriyama Jirou chuckled.
Byeon Jaejung didn't react—but the overconfidence cost them.
In round three, Yuan He crushed the others. He performed a rearranged version of the Japanese song "Quiet". Seven or eight thousand people sang along.
His flawless falsetto transitions left no doubt. Fujiwara and Kim Ryu-hak didn't stand a chance.
Returning to the green room, Yuan He wasn't smiling. His expression was grim.
"I thought Byeon and Toriyama would come out this round. But they really held back," he muttered.
He had a point—but he hadn't anticipated the host asking for the Chinese captain's pick first. The others could counterpick.
"Byeon, the throat monster, saving himself for last…" Yuan He didn't dare claim victory, but at least he could put up a fight.
"And for round four, who will the captains send?" the host asked. "Captain Yuan?"
"Chu Zhi."
"Captain Byeon?"
"I'll be going myself."
"And Captain Toriyama?"
"I'll be stepping onto the stage as well."
Next up: Chu Zhi, Byeon Jaejung, and Toriyama Jirou—an all-out clash!
===
"当我" (Dang Wo / "When I")
Original artist: 李健 (Li Jian)
"安静" (An Jing / "Quiet")
Original artist: 周杰伦 (Zhou Jielun / Jay Chou)