The regional finals of "Super New Voice" were originally scheduled for Friday. Pushing it back two days would move it to Sunday night. While the ratings would inevitably take a hit, on one hand, this was only a regional final with relatively low viewership, and on the other, the video streaming sites could offer repeated replays. After much discussion, the show's producers ultimately agreed.
The regional division's planner was not happy, complaining that the promotional materials had already been released and changing them would be a hassle.
The producer retorted irritably, "If you can come up with thirty million, we could change it to your birthday."
There was no choice but to agree. After all, that was the sponsor, the daddy, the big shot—money talks.
Once the finals date was settled, the producer respectfully reported the matter to the secretary and subtly probed for the reason behind the schedule change.
The secretary didn't know the reason either and could only reply mysteriously, "It's the higher-ups' intention. Who can fathom it?"
If they had known the date was changed simply to avoid conflicting with Qiu Qiu's exams, everyone probably would have been furious.
Whether it was overconfidence or just a great attitude, both Qiu Qiu and Fu Ruien were convinced he would smoothly advance through the semi-finals. With his looks and talent, if he didn't make it, it would only be due to foul play.
...
Due to budget constraints, the program provided makeup and styling but not performance outfits.
When Qiu Qiu left home today, he randomly picked a printed white T-shirt from his wardrobe and paired it with dark blue jeans—fresh, clean, and simple. He looked more like he was heading to school than taking the stage.
His roommate Da Xiong grew anxious, stopping him to ask, "Can't you dress a bit more maturely? You look too much like a student in that."
Qiu Qiu was nonchalant. "But my selling point is being the scholarly heartthrob."
"... Don't you feel any shame saying words like 'scholarly' and 'heartthrob' yourself?"
Qiu Qiu was baffled. "No? Isn't that just stating facts?"
Da Xiong didn't know whether to be jealous or admire him.
Finally, due to Da Xiong's insistence, Qiu Qiu was forced to swap his loose-fitting jeans for a pair of skinny leather pants.
These black leather pants were Da Xiong's personal treasure. Despite being chubby, he harbored a desire to be slim. So, since his freshman year, he had bought a pair two sizes too small and hung them in his closet, a constant reminder to lose weight.
Now, three years later, the pants were eight sizes too small.
The skinny leather pants accentuated Qiu Qiu's slender waist, long legs, and pert backside. Though they covered everything, they exuded a subtle sensuality. Qiu Qiu found them a bit troublesome, as he noticed the outline of his underwear was particularly obvious when he bent over.
Da Xiong sighed with admiration. "Look at my taste! Before wearing these, you were a killer for schoolgirls; after putting them on, you've become the nemesis of... lonely housewives."
He added, "You can wear these for anyone to see, but don't let your godfather see them. I'm afraid if he does, your chastity won't be safe."
Qiu Qiu heard but didn't quite understand. "... So my godfather is a lonely housewife?"
"... Just go to your competition. Go quickly and come back soon."
The semi-finals venue was City A's television station. Fu Ruien had funded the rental of the largest studio. He had been there before for an interview program—it had new facilities and excellent lighting, guaranteed to make his precious son look handsome on camera.
Fu Ruien couldn't attend the competition in person. He had to fly to Singapore for business that day and only sent his driver to take Qiu Qiu to the venue.
The car taking Qiu Qiu today was the business sedan Fu Ruien usually used for work. It was understated and elegant on the outside but lavishly decorated inside, spacious enough to even have a table where Qiu Qiu could do his homework.
But Qiu Qiu had no time for homework; he was video-calling his godfather.
Fu Ruien was in Singapore that day negotiating a collaboration with a local fast-fashion brand. During a tea break in the meetings, he snatched a moment to exchange a couple of words with Qiu Qiu—literally just two sentences, one from Fu Ruien and one from Qiu Qiu.
Fu Ruien said, "Perform well in today's competition. Don't be nervous, but also don't be not nervous."
Qiu Qiu said, "Singapore is super hot. Be careful not to get heatstroke. Drink lots of water and... pee a lot."
The driver couldn't help but snort with laughter.
To maintain a low profile, the car didn't head for the parking lot but stopped outside the back entrance of the TV station. Qiu Qiu, carrying his schoolbag in one hand and his laptop in the other, hurried towards the reception hall. He had only taken a few steps when someone called out to him.
"Qiu Qiu!"
Turning around, Qiu Qiu saw his "schoolmate," the dreadlocked youth Hua Xiang, peeking out from behind a tree, waving at him with a grin.
Hua Xiang was dressed as flamboyantly as ever today. He had tied his dreadlocks into a ponytail, transforming from a fluttering mop into a more restrained one. He wore limited-edition Yeezy sneakers, jeans with holes bigger than bowls, and a baggy T-shirt with an image of the Virgin Mary—the epitome of hip-hop and punk.
Qiu Qiu asked him, "What are you doing out here?"
"It's too noisy inside. I came out to do my vocal warm-ups."
"... So singing hip-hop requires vocal warm-ups too?"
Qiu Qiu was shocked. Hua Xiang was even more shocked. "Qiu Qiu, even if you advanced directly, don't tell me you haven't studied the other contestants' singing videos before the competition?"
"Uh..."
"Do I look like a rapper?"
Qiu Qiu silently pointed at Hua Xiang's hair, gold chain, and ripped jeans.
With that outfit, if not hip-hop, it had to be heavy metal or rap.
Hua Xiang stomped his foot in anger. "That's an insult to my personal fashion sense!"
Qiu Qiu quickly apologized and humbly asked what kind of music he actually sang. Although Hua Xiang was already twenty, he was still a high school student at heart and clearly took offense, insisting on keeping it a secret until he took the stage.
Qiu Qiu: "... But what's the point of keeping it secret? I can just ask any staff member later and find out."
So, Hua Xiang stormed off, annoyed.
...
Although the competition was in the evening, all contestants were required to report by 2 PM. There was makeup, stage blocking, process introductions, and more—all very complicated.
Qiu Qiu arrived fairly early and was fifth in line for makeup. This time, ahead of him was Qi Qiqi, and the makeup artist was the same as last time.
Qi Qiqi pouted, demanding the makeup artist apply several more layers of lipstick because his mother wouldn't let him eat chocolate, so he could only satisfy his craving by eating lipstick.
His father stood to the side, facepalming. "So that's why you dug out all your mom's lipsticks and took a bite out of each. Behave yourself; your backside hasn't even healed from the last spanking."
Because Qiqi always said the lipstick tasted like chocolate, after Qiu Qiu finished his makeup, he tentatively licked his lips and found an intensely sweet flavor. He kept licking, again and again, and before he knew it, he had licked all the lipstick off.
The overwhelmed makeup artist, desperate, shoved a lipstick at him and told him to go touch up his makeup elsewhere. So, Qiu Qiu slipped away from Qiqi and went over by the ventilation duct to reapply his lipstick.
Looking out through the glass of the air vent, the audience waiting area was not far off. Within the narrow field of view, it was possible to see that some spectators had already arrived. It was still early, so not many people were present yet. The audience members, wearing support shirts and holding light-up signs in various colors, were gathered in small groups.
Among these spectators, several dozen were wearing T-shirts printed with a player's portrait, holding fans also printed with the player's image, and carrying LED signs bearing the player's name. They were listening intently to a girl who was leading them.
Qiu Qiu would have found this quite interesting, if the photo on these people's chests wasn't his own official two-inch headshot (clearly downloaded from the official website).
The lead girl was carrying two large plastic bags in one hand while using the other to distribute light sticks, small fans, and other items to those spectators. She seemed to be an ardent fan of Qiu Qiu.
Suddenly, one of the girl's plastic bags tore, spilling the small fans inside all over the ground. She quickly bent down to pick them up. As she straightened up, her gaze happened to meet Qiu Qiu's.
Qiu Qiu realized... that girl was actually Little Li.
Little Li realized... her ex-boyfriend was actually wearing leather pants and applying lipstick.
