Entertainment News: I'm Not a Scumbag After Rebirth!

May 2nd, 7:50 PM.

Changsha, Hunan Broadcasting Center studio.

The dome lights illuminated the stage as if it were daytime, casting varying shades of shadow in the audience.

The air was heated to a viscous temperature, mixed with perfume, sweat, and the plastic smell of glow sticks.

The venue, which can accommodate nearly a thousand people, was packed to capacity, with colorful light boards and banners creating a restless sea of ​​light.

"Corn", "Pen Brothers", "Liangfen" (a type of cold noodle dish) and "Boxed Lunch" are clearly divided into camps with strong barriers.

The cheers grew louder and louder, never stopping even during the host's warm-up.

The backstage area is a different kind of silence.

The narrow passageway now acts like a taut string, separating the five girls, whose fates are about to be decided, into different lounges.

He Jie closed her eyes as the makeup artist did her final touch-up, her body trembling slightly with the frenetic rhythm of the music playing in her headphones.

Zhou Bichang stood in front of the mirror, silently practicing the mouth shape of a certain tone over and over again, his fingertips unconsciously tapping a precise rhythm on the seam of his pants.

Li Yuchun leaned against the wall, her baseball cap pulled low, blocking out most of the light and sound, as if everything around her was irrelevant to her.

In Zhang Liangying's dressing room, Fang Zhi even held her breath as she looked at Zhang Liangying, who was already dressed and made up perfectly.

She wore a simple pearl-white long dress with minimal embellishments, featuring only a flowing silver chain at the waist, which accentuated her tall and elegant figure and gave her a refined and graceful air.

She wasn't wearing headphones, nor was she looking at the lyrics; she simply stood quietly in the center of the room.

Fang Zhi followed her gaze and saw only a smooth wall.

"Sister Liangying..."

Fang Zhi couldn't help but speak in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

Zhang Liangying turned her head and smiled at her, a smile that conveyed a sense of purity and tranquility.

"Don't be afraid."

She said her voice was perfectly steady, without a single ripple.

Meanwhile, in front of the television sets of hundreds of millions of households, the remote control is locked on Hunan TV.

In the living rooms of countless homes, the sofas are crowded with family and friends;

In the university dormitory, computer screens were displaying live streams, and heads were crowded together.

Crowds gathered in front of shops that still had televisions on the streets and alleys.

Some of them were die-hard fans, some were just bystanders watching the spectacle, and some were intrigued by the rumors of the three new songs released during the day.

This was a night belonging to the golden age of television, an entertainment focus that captivated the entire nation.

In the shadowy world of the internet, countless forum posts are refreshing rapidly, chat windows are popping up like crazy, and all the predictions, arguments, and expectations are waiting for a final tipping point.

8:00 PM.

The stirring opening theme music resounded throughout the studio, and the dazzling light show ignited the first wave of cheers that had been building up for a long time.

Host He Jiong, dressed in formal attire, made his entrance and kicked off this ultimate battle with his professional and passionate voice.

The competition proceeded according to the order drawn, with He Jie being the first to take the stage.

She unleashed her long-practiced, high-difficulty singing and dancing routine.

The stage was instantly engulfed by fiery red light and rapid drumbeats. She screamed with all her might amidst complex movements and powerful dance steps, giving her all to every high note and exuding a fierce aura in every pose.

After the performance, she was drenched in sweat and panting, waving her arms at the audience, which elicited a thunderous response from her fans.

Zhou Bichang was the second to perform, and he chose a classic ballad.

Dressed in a black dress, she stood alone in front of the microphone stand, singing a familiar song with a delicate and poignant touch.

The scene quieted down considerably, with many people immersed in the somber atmosphere she had created.

The judges praised the performance as a mature singer's rendition.

Li Yuchun was the third to appear.

Instead of choosing a high-energy dance track, she adapted a lesser-known piece with a psychedelic electronic vibe.

Her performance was more like a piece of performance art, showcasing her personal style to the fullest.

The screams of the corn cobs nearly lifted the roof off; it was a kind of almost religious fanaticism.

The judges' comments were full of appreciation; this style is loved by those who like it, and vice versa.

When the host announced, "Next, please welcome Jane Zhang," the entire audience fell silent for a moment.

All eyes, whether on-site or in front of television, were focused on the entrance to the stage where the performer was about to appear.

The lights at the entrance of the passageway were dimmed first.

Then, a beam of pure, almost pale light, like moonlight, quietly fell on the center of the stage.

There were no backup dancers, no elaborate set design, just a black grand piano and a simple standing microphone.

Zhang Liangying emerged from the darkness and stepped into the light.

Her pearl-white dress shimmered softly in the cool light, and her face held an almost transparent calmness.

She first nodded slightly to the teacher playing the piano behind her, then walked to the microphone stand and took the microphone.

The prelude begins. It's not ornate strings, nor a rousing rhythm, but simply a clear, slightly melancholic single-note melody from the piano:

"We traveled and stopped along the way"

Following the trail of the boy's drifting journey

It's not a high note showing off skills, nor is it a deliberately low one, but a story told with a touch of nostalgia, instantly pulling people into a long corridor of memories about growth and travel.

"The moment before stepping out of the station"

He hesitated somewhat.

I can't help but laugh at this feeling of trepidation as I approach my hometown.

"Still unavoidable"

A slight tremor began to appear in her voice.

In front of the television, countless viewers who were experiencing or had experienced separation and homecoming felt as if their hearts had been gently struck.

As the chorus approaches, the piano melody becomes slightly more upbeat:

I was once overwhelmed by the vastness of the world.

Also indulging in sleep talking

"Unable to distinguish between truth and falsehood, not struggling, and unafraid of being ridiculed."

Her voice suddenly opened up, rising upwards as if carried by a rising wind, carrying the unique confusion of youth.

It was a longing for the vast and beautiful world.

"I once turned my youth into her"

I've also played the summer tune with my fingertips.

Let your heart guide you as it will.

When she sang "summer is played out with fingertips," her fingers unconsciously curled slightly, as if she were really touching that bygone, sunny season.

In the second verse, her voice gained a more husky, story-telling quality:

Now, having traversed all the myriad lingering experiences of this world...

Turning the pages of time, each a different facet

"Caught off guard by your smile"

The camera zooms in for a close-up; she closes her eyes, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her cheeks.

That unexpected flutter was conveyed with unparalleled clarity through his tightened jawline.

The final chorus is the emotional climax of the entire song:

I am still amazed by the vastness of the world.

Also intoxicated by childhood sweet nothings

"Nothing remains but truth and falsehood, no struggle, just a pointless joke."

The world of the highest notes is vast, and she sang it without the slightest strain, packing away all regrets.

"Walking against the light, braving the wind and rain."

The last note faded slowly, returning to the calm final notes of the piano.

She put down the microphone and stood quietly in the light, her chest rising and falling slightly, as if she had just completed a long journey.

The scene was deathly silent.

Three full seconds later, the applause erupted like a flood bursting its banks!

It wasn't just cheers; it was also mixed with countless gasps, exclamations, and even faint sobs.

On the judging panel, even the most knowledgeable judges looked shocked, exchanging incredulous glances.

The song's completeness, artistry, and emotional impact far exceeded their expectations for a competition song!

The audience in front of the television erupted in a frenzy.

In countless families, parents stopped eating sunflower seeds, children forgot to change the channel, and young people were frantically scrolling through the internet:

"My God! Is this a song that can be heard during a competition?!"

"The lyrics touched my heart; I once poured my youth into her."

"Zhang Liangying's voice is killer! The narrative quality is amazing!"

"Just who is Li Jun? His lyrics and music are incredible!"

"Oh no, I used to be a big fan of XX, but now I'm starting to have second thoughts..."

Before the applause had completely subsided, the stage lights suddenly changed.

The cool white light went out, replaced by a warm, ambiguous orange-red hue.

The piano was removed, replaced by a solitary high stool and a tiny halo of light that closely followed Zhang Liangying.

She didn't even move; she simply raised her hand and gently untied her long, coiled hair.

Her long, flowing black hair cascaded down, instantly softening her features and adding a touch of languid charm.

She sat on a high stool, adjusted the height of the microphone stand, and moved as casually as if she were in her own room.

The prelude begins.

This time it's a simple guitar arpeggio, with a soothing rhythm, one note after another.

When Zhang Liangying opened her mouth, her voice was completely different from the clear and bright one she had just sung in "The Wind Rises".

With a hint of nonchalant decadence and a piercing clarity:

The rain outside has stopped, but the lights inside are still off.

"Counting how many of your indifferences there are."

The exhaustion of silently counting the damage in a stalemate in a relationship comes rushing in.

A horse walked past my window.

"Da da da da da da da da da da"

When inner pain has nowhere to go, even the unrelated sound of horses' hooves outside the window becomes the focus.

In the chorus, the melody rises slightly, and her voice also rises a bit, yet it's still enveloped in that husky quality:

After a long time, I finally looked up.

You're walking so slowly on the other side.

I am left alone to struggle between sleep and reality.

"They're moving so slowly on the other side."

What was once an intimate bond has turned into a state of detached observation, with the other party remaining calm and unperturbed while one is repeatedly torn between feigning sleep and reality.

When Zhang Liangying sang about the dilemma, her throaty voice became slightly heavier, as if she was really being choked by that suffocating feeling.

In the middle of the song, the guitar adds a slight distortion effect, and the melody takes on a slightly discordant, trembling quality.

When she sang "Nothing is better than being with you," her voice suddenly weakened, turning into an almost inaudible sigh, as if she had used up all her strength, but in the end, she still succumbed to this helpless emotion.

In the final chorus, her voice was both more tired and more clear-headed.

When the last line, "Leaving me alone torn between sleep and reality," is sung again, the word "dilemma" no longer carries the struggle of before, but only a resigned emptiness.

As the last note of the guitar faded away, she remained seated in that small halo of light, her head slightly bowed, her long hair obscuring her profile.

Without movement or expression, it conveys a profound loneliness more effectively than any weeping or wailing.

This time, the silence lasted even longer.

Many people are still immersed in the gloomy atmosphere created by "Zouma" and cannot extricate themselves from it.

When the applause rang out again, it became more complex, mixed with more amazement, contemplation, and an indescribable resonance.

Judge Xia Qing even took off her glasses and gently pressed the corner of her eye with her finger.

The internet has gone completely mad.

"The song 'Walking Horse' is so depressing, but I love it so much!"

"Is Li Jun a devil? How can he write such a painful yet beautiful song?"

"Zhang Liangying's performance was divine; I could feel that loneliness even through the screen!"

"Now I believe Li Jun is a time traveler; his abilities are ten years ahead of his time!"

"What kind of trashy love stories do Huayi Brothers films portray? Let's see what true emotional depth is!"

Just when everyone thought Zhang Liangying would end with this extremely sad love song route, the stage changed for the third time!

The dim orange-red lights suddenly disappeared, replaced by countless cold blue laser beams, crisscrossing each other.

The bar stool disappeared, and Zhang Liangying stood up. Sometime later, she took off the outer layer of her pearl-white long dress, revealing a silver short skirt shimmering with metallic luster, paired with matching long boots.

Her makeup seemed to change under the lights; her eyeshadow was darker, her lip color was lighter, and her entire demeanor instantly shifted from calm and sorrowful to aggressive.

The background music no longer features traditional musical instruments, but rather spacious electronic synthesizer sounds that resonate with the listener's eardrums and heart.

Zhang Liangying picked up the microphone, and this time, her voice was no longer concealed.

Direct and calm:

"Stubbornly rhyming parallelism"

Stubborn and childish rhyming

The factions were pieced together piece by piece.

The meaning of stubborn beauty

Stubborn and empty beauty

I met you floating in the air.

The opening was like a burst of cold bullets, sweeping across those clichéd emotional expressions.

Her pronunciation was clear and forceful, with a hint of indifference.

You are an intimacy I have never possessed and cannot capture.

But I have your kiss, your soul, your heart.

It carried me, flying and flying, beyond meaning.

Zhang Liangying's singing here showcases versatility; her voice is sometimes ethereal, like a whisper, and her transitions between true and falsetto are incredibly smooth, demonstrating complete mastery of this experimental musical style.

As the song progresses into its middle section, the rhythm becomes more intense and rapid.

You are my virtual companion, within my reach, day and night.

Accompanying me is like paper and pen, like myself, like raindrops.

Watching me fall and fall and fall into the clouds.

While singing this part, Zhang Liangying made several highly designed body movements, including extending her arms, in time with the rhythm.

In the final explosive section, all the electronic sound effects converged into a surging wave of sound, and Zhang Liangying's voice also climbed to a powerful high note.

Then, all sound abruptly stopped at the highest point!

The stage lights were all off.

Only a single, pure spotlight remained, like a judgment, enveloping Zhang Liangying, who stood in the center of the stage, slightly out of breath.

The coldness and aloofness on her face slowly faded, and she returned to her initial calm. However, beneath that calm, there seemed to be an extra layer of hardness after being tempered.

silence.