IDEI Ch24

Tears gently flowed down, dripping from his chin, leaving behind a gleaming water mark. Lou Yuxing reached out and gently wiped it away.

He smiled vacantly. The stage lights suddenly dimmed, and in an instant, the endless darkness swallowed him up.

The quiet darkness lasted for an unknown amount of time, and the audience began to stir restlessly, with the bullet comments reflecting their confusion.

[Is that it?]

[Wait, where’s the master?]

[Yeah, the master didn’t appear at all.]

……

When the lights came on again, the audience was surprised to find two figures on stage.

One was Lou Yuxing, half of his face made up and the other half plain; the other was a woman fully dressed in traditional opera attire, presumably the master for this stage.

The two began to perform, raising their eyes and feet, their movements mirroring each other perfectly, as if they were copied.

One voice was bright and high-pitched while the other was low and steady, merging together and drifting into the ears of the audience.

“Hu’er Tieqi, the wolf bandit, where the horses drink blood from the Yellow River!”

The lines of the opera sounded like blood weeping, each sentence compelling. The audience was deeply moved by the scene. Despite the two not exchanging any words and their actions being restrained, a sense of sorrow washed over everyone.

It was the sorrow of a fallen nation and lost homes, where people were as insignificant as grass.

As the performance progressed to the latter half, Lou Yuxing’s movements became somewhat sluggish, and his once-clear voice turned hoarse.

In an instant, some bullet comments began to nitpick.

[Is this all? Just a few more lines and he’s exposed. How dare he perform with the master; it’s really like showing off one’s clumsiness.]

[As expected, comparisons must be made. Next to the master, Lou Yuxing is completely inadequate.]

Seeing these comments, the audience felt indignant. But before they could reply, the lyrics reached the final line.

Lou Yuxing was half a beat slower than Lin Zhiping.

“The moon over the homeland shines bright, on which continent…”

As the mournful lyrics concluded, Lou Yuxing’s final note was almost ethereal. With the last note dropping, he seemed to lose consciousness in an instant, swaying and collapsing onto the stage, disappearing into the darkness.

The audience erupted in chaos. Was this a stage accident?

But they quickly realized it was likely just a stage effect.

Because the position where he fell was right next to his teammates, five of them closely huddled together. Through the darkness, one could faintly see the sorrow and unwillingness on their faces.

At this point, only Lin Zhiping remained standing on stage. She gently bowed, her gaze lingering, turned around, glanced back, and then left without hesitation, leaving the audience with her graceful silhouette.

An inexplicable sense of melancholy swept over all the viewers.

There was silence in the audience for a few seconds before thunderous cheers erupted.

[Is this the end of an era, a total loss?]

[Ah? Did Lou Yuxing’s character die too?]

[No, dude, I came for entertainment, not for a funeral.]

[Oh, oh, oh, so the stage is going for a tragic ending, huh!]

[Hahaha, what a joyful stage… I’m not crazy, I really am not crazy…]

The bullet comments exploded, filled with dissatisfaction regarding the stage’s ending. They were deeply affected by the emotions conveyed by this performance and were even less able to accept this conclusion.

All dead! Director, how dare you!

Watching the viewership and bullet comments spike backstage, Director Lin grinned broadly.

This stage was truly the right choice for the opening!

He waved his hand and said, “Where’s the operation team? Contact Xingbo and get me a trending topic!”

However, before he could secure the trending topic, excited viewers had already uploaded the stage to various social media platforms, and Xingbo was no exception.

＠I’m from the Wutai Wind: Ahhh, an extraordinary stage! It was really spectacular, especially the ending, it made my heart surge with emotions!

This post was pinned as the top recommendation on the trending topic square tonight, and when casual viewers clicked on it, they eagerly entered the performance…

Then they angrily stormed into the live broadcast room.

Your star! You’ve done so many bad things! I order you to take down this stage and give them a good ending; do you hear me?

The newly arrived viewers angrily hammered the keyboard!

Meanwhile, on stage, accompanied by the audience’s enthusiastic applause and cheers, several trainees crawled up from the ground. The lights brightened, and they each waved to the audience.

The audience’s emotions hadn’t yet subsided, and each trainee received warm applause and cheers as they greeted the crowd. When Lou Yuxing introduced himself, the cheers grew even louder, even interrupting his self-introduction several times.

He opened his mouth but couldn’t continue, only clasping his hands together and shaking his head towards the ground, his eyes full of pleading.

Clear gasps could be heard from below, and soon, the audience fell completely silent.

Lou Yuxing was finally able to speak. He briefly introduced himself and then confidently handed the microphone to Lin Zhiping beside him.

Lin Zhiping smiled at the group of trainees. Although her makeup was heavy, the warmth and expectation in her eyes could not be concealed by the makeup.

She said, “All the kids in our group have worked very hard and are very creative. I see them practicing earnestly every day, and each time I see such scenes, I feel incredibly gratified.”

Lin Zhiping praised each trainee in turn, and when it came to Lou Yuxing, her tone lifted, clearly delighted. “Lou Yuxing is one of the most talented young performers in traditional opera I’ve seen. His fundamentals are solid, and he is excellent at making inferences. Seeing such a young person, I can finally feel some relief. Our culture still has young people who want to seriously carry it forward.”

Lin Zhiping’s words were significant, causing Lou Yuxing’s fans and some passersby in the bullet comments to perk up instantly. Earlier, Lou Yuxing had been criticized in the comments, sparking much dissatisfaction, and now those people quickly sprang into action.

[Look, who said that Yuxing was just showing off? The master said he’s talented!]

[He’s praised for his solid fundamentals! Does anyone else have an amazing teacher who praises them?]

[Go, little star!]

Hearing Lin Zhiping’s praise made Lou Yuxing feel a bit shy. He bit his lip and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. He hadn’t fully stepped out of character yet, and his movements still carried the grace of a traditional opera performer.

Those who disapproved of Lou Yuxing suddenly seemed to find some fault, flooding the screen with comments.

[He’s just a pretty boy.]

[Yeah, fixing his hair with his finger and raising his pinky, yikes—]

[He looks neither manly nor feminine and is trying to be a dan performer.]

Other audience members looked on in disgust, as if it were some old-fashioned era they were stuck in.

[Please, some people, stop acting like it’s the Qing Dynasty.]

[Right, right, you don’t raise your pinky; you comb your hair with an axe and wash your face with sulfuric acid!]

[How foul! Did you not brush your teeth before coming out, the ones in front?]

Those few trolling comments were overwhelmed and retreated in defeat, no longer posting bullet comments.

As the comments harmonized, the audience had the chance to praise Lou Yuxing.

[You look beautiful, little star!]

[I just realized traditional opera is really pleasant to listen to!]

[You sang so well! It would be even better if you could sit on my lap and sing! Hahaha.]

As the comments showered him with compliments, Lou Yuxing and his group exited the stage, and another group of trainees took their place.

Many audience members thought that such a stunning performance would lead to a downturn in quality, but they were surprised to find that the subsequent acts were equally impressive.

“Frosty Sword” seemed to transport them to a martial arts world, full of boldness with “ten steps to kill one, leaving no trace a thousand miles away.” “Joy and Sorrow” expressed the twisted oppression of feudal systems over the millennia.

“The Scholar” narrated the lamentable tale of a poor student who, after suffering under corrupt officials, eventually became one himself. Meanwhile, “Liangzhou Song” conveyed the grandeur and desolation of the battlefield in the desert.

Every stage was exquisitely crafted; whether it was the lighting, set design, makeup, or sound, everything came together perfectly, creating an astonishing performance with the trainees.

Thus, when the performance concluded and the live stream ended, the audience, still craving more, immediately rushed to Xingbo, passionately promoting the show while fiercely discussing various details.

Some speculated about the plot, others analyzed the levels of dance and vocal skills, while some shared their expertise…

Of course, there was also the essential beauty contest that comes with talent shows.

＠Just looking at beauties: ＃Your Star’s blend of tradition and modernity＃ Did you all watch tonight’s stage? Anyway, I, Xiao Mei, watched it! Let’s discuss, which trainee’s makeup and looks were more stunning?

＠Xing Xing Xiang Yin: Xiao Yingyi! What system does this guy have? How did he get so handsome? Today’s scholar’s long robe has really brought to life the image of a top scholar in my mind!

＠Such a big face: Mo Jinghai! He’s so cool! Especially when he was holding the knife, those veins, wow!

＠Biggest Face: Nominating An Zai, An Shaoyan. I can’t believe An Zai looks so delicate now; he seems like a little brother, completely different from his usual loud self.

……

The comments section was full of diverse opinions, but the most nominated were Lou Yuxing and—

Yan Zihao.

Yan Zihao’s previously rebellious and unruly image was deeply ingrained in people’s minds. His fans mostly supported him for his strength, not paying much attention to his looks.

But it was clear that Yan Zihao, who could pull off a messy hairstyle with no bangs, had his looks severely underestimated.

This time, his new hairstyle was truly eye-catching.

Gone were the heavy-looking dreadlocks; his hair now seemed light and airy, mostly gathered in a high ponytail on the crown of his head, with colorful threads and beads woven in, adding a touch of playfulness and exotic flair.

Several fine braids hung at the sides of his face, with small beads at the ends that seemed to tinkle with every movement.

Especially in his ending segment, he left a deep impression.

At that moment, a braid happened to fall over his eyes, blocking his view. He squinted and gently blew it away, then noticed the camera moving towards him, revealing a radiant smile.

His series of small expressions were full of vitality, like a young prince from a distant land, bringing an air of mysterious danger and unrestrained freedom to every audience member who witnessed it.

It made them involuntarily smile.

＊

Other companies in the industry were already tired of Your Star dominating the trending topics.

Ever since Your Star’s makeup and styling team found their groove, every live stage had at least half of the trending search terms occupied by Your Star-related entries.

Originally, Your Star hadn’t found a guest performer this time, which led the industry to mock them, secretly hoping Your Star’s divine status would be shattered.

But what they didn’t expect was that Director Lin, cunning and experienced, took an alternative route and invited teachers from the drama academy to create a stage that seamlessly blended tradition and modernity.

These two elements were not so easy to combine, and there had been numerous examples of failures in the past. Many stages either had a poor and disjointed performance or simply repackaged old concepts without any innovation.

However, Your Star’s stage was completely different. The stage design was spot on, the trainees worked hard enough, and their strength allowed them to present the stage perfectly. The costumes, makeup, and props did not hold them back but instead enhanced the performance. This was the fundamental reason why several top-tier stages emerged.

Other companies, in their analysis, also noticed this.

But… it was a matter of timing, location, and collaboration; they couldn’t even be jealous of it.

Your Star’s trending topic exploded overnight. The next day, the official media’s praise added more fuel to the fire.

In the official media’s blog post, several of Your Star’s performances were praised as “an organic combination of traditional arts and pop music, a resonance of the ancient and the modern, and a coexistence of artistry and entertainment.”

Such high praise caused the restless hands behind the scenes to quiet down, helplessly watching Your Star bask in glory and their traffic surge once again.

Director Lin, who had read all the reviews, couldn’t help but smile ear to ear that day.

However, he didn’t capitalize on the momentum to intensify marketing efforts; instead, he instructed the somewhat restless operations team to follow a steady plan.

“We are now in full bloom, riding a wave of success, so every step we take from now on must be stable. Don’t get carried away or complacent; we’ve seen what happens when you fall after climbing high,” Director Lin advised earnestly.

“The collaborative stage with the masters has ended, and our current task is—”

“The third public performance!”

However, before the third performance, the top-ranking trainees had a small task: they needed to go out and shoot a magazine cover.

Your Star was backed by Chenxing Entertainment, which had a very strong influence and had established long-term partnerships with numerous fashion companies.

This time, a mid-tier magazine invited Your Star’s top nine trainees to shoot for the cover.

The trainees excitedly boarded the bus, filled with anticipation, and arrived at the magazine shoot location.

But all their joyful emotions came to an abrupt halt once their makeup and styling were completed. They looked at themselves and their peers in the mirror, astonished by their appearances. This kind of styling…

“Xiao-ge…” Gong Jiayu looked to Xiao Yingyi for help.

Xiao Yingyi gritted his teeth and pulled the stylist aside. “Teacher, about this makeup and styling…”

The stylist rolled her eyes. “This is fashion; you’re just new to the industry and don’t understand.”

The trainees exchanged glances.

Such oversized, sloppy clothing, pale eyebrows and lips, and greasy hair plastered to their heads… you’re telling me this is fashion?

The trainees stood together, fists clenched, their expressions grim, but they dared not voice their thoughts.

The stylist rolled her eyes and walked away arrogantly.

Despair etched on their faces, the trainees felt hopeless.

Not far away, Qi Yu, who had come along with the team, discreetly slipped away. After making several unsuccessful calls to the director, she hid in a corner and called Qi Yanning.

“Help, A-Ning! The magazine’s styling is ridiculously difficult to look at! You have to tell the director that we’ve been set up!”