I am Really a Superstar

One day.

Two days.

Time went by very quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the competition again.

But on this morning, there was a subtle change in the atmosphere. Zhang Ye’s past deeds and “dirt” were suddenly dug out again by someone.

The Japanese hotel incident.

The flying kick to the Korean star.

Being held at the police station.

The scolding battles.

The comics getting castrated.

One after another, some people were listing the incidents.

Someone was clearly instigating them.

Soon after, some male idols Zhang Ye did not know stepped forward.

Yan Han’s Weibo openly declared: “Brother Qi Liang, you can do it. We’re at the final stage, so, everyone, please show your support. Thank you.”

Little Xuan’s Weibo: “This is the final push in I Am a Singer’s climactic battle. Everyone, don’t forget to give your votes to Ququ, my little godbrother.”

Big Ci’s Weibo: “The battle is about to begin, and this is going to be the final one. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s support for Qiqi and Ququ in the live broadcast. These two youngsters haven’t had it easy at all. They’ve been practicing their songs until early in the morning every day, so much so that the dark circles under their eyes are getting more and more pronounced. Hardworking artists who are willing to suffer like them are decreasing these days.”

Five!

Ten!

Twenty!

The fresh meat celebrities were all calling for support and pulling votes for their friends. There was really a good sense of team spirit going on.

The netizens were talking about this as well.

“Yan Han is pulling votes for Qi Liang?”

“Little Xuan has spoken as well?”

“There are so many big names canvassing for votes for them?”

“Qu Dong and Qi Liang have so many friends.”

“Yeah, they’re both extremely popular big names, so of course they’d have a lot of friends.”

“Isn’t this against the rules? The competition hasn’t even started yet and they haven’t even performed their songs, so how can they be campaigning for votes now? Are they still competing in singing this way? Isn’t this more like a popularity contest?”

“Yeah, it’s a little too much to do it like this.”

“This is where Zhang Ye loses out.”

“Yeah, that guy’s social relations have always been terrible.”

“Didn’t Zhang Ye’s friends help him canvass for votes?”

“His friends are all from the previous generation of artists and are either has-beens or retired. Even if they were to canvass for votes on his behalf, how great of an effect would it have?”

“The finals are too dependent on one’s popularity.”

“Then Zhang Ye doesn’t stand a chance.”

“I wonder how many people are still willing to accompany him on his journey.”

…

At night.

At the recording venue of I Am a Singer.

The audience had already arrived and gotten seated.

“Eh, Chen Guang is here?”

“Zhang Xia too?”

“And there’s also Zhao Wuliu? He Huan? Xue Kaiqi? There are so many contestants from the first season of I Am a Singer here today. Ah, over there! The contestants from the fourth and fifth seasons are here as well.”

“Beijing TV must’ve invited them to cheer the contestants on.”

“This is gonna be interesting.”

…

In the front row.

Chen Guang, Zhang Xia, and a few others were chatting.

“Did you all see what’s happening on Weibo?”

“Yeah, Little Zhang is at a huge disadvantage.”

“They’re campaigning for votes so fiercely on there. I wonder if Little Zhang can hold on if it carries on.”

“Should we help him to get votes too?”

“Forget that. Don’t you guys know Zhang Ye’s temper? He would never want us to do something like that.”

“That’s true.”

…

At Old Wu’s house.

In the villa.

The entire family had gathered here today.

Wu Zeqing, Zhang Ye’s parents, Wu Changhe, Li Qinqin, and the rest of the family were all sitting around the television, watching as they waited for the event to begin. They all knew how important this day was for Zhang Ye.

“Mommy, Mommy, where’s Daddy?”

“Daddy will be appearing very soon.”

“There are only three contestants left. Let’s see which spot he manages to pick.”

“The further behind, the better.”

“Yeah, the situation is very unfavorable to Little Ye.”

…

In the music industry.

At a party.

“Has it started yet?”

“Soon.”

“Let’s talk while we watch.”

“Who does everyone think will win?”

“Teacher Zhang should’ve been eliminated already.”

“That might not be true. Those two male idols can’t compare when it comes to singing.”

“But the problem is that Zhang Ye isn’t popular enough, isn’t it?”

“The real competition today will be on their popularities.”

…

At a media outlet.

It was past working hours, but several reporters had gathered together in the office to watch the show.

“It is the final battle today.”

“Do you all think that Zhang Ye can still call the shots like he used to?”

“Who knows!”

“I think this is where it ends for Zhang Ye. I do feel some sympathy for him as well. Leaving the industry for so many years and coming back to find out that it is no longer the same is such a terrible feeling for anyone.”

…

Online.

“It’s starting!”

“They’re about starting drawing lots.”

“Let’s see what order they will perform in.”

“Ah, Qu Dong is going third.”

“Qi Liang is second?”

“Zhang Ye is going first again?”

“This fellow is so unlucky.”

“Looks like it’s truly over for Zhang Ye then.”

…

The live broadcast began.

The first segment was drawing lots to decide the order of appearances in the third round.

Zhang Ye did not even move and just left it to the two youngsters to go ahead with picking their lots. Whatever remained would be his lot, and unfortunately, he was going to be the first to perform again.

The order was determined.

Zhang Ye smiled and got up to head to the holding area.

Over at the live broadcast stage, the host was interviewing the various groups of guests. “Everyone, do you have any words of encouragement or something that you’d like to say to the contestants?”

Season Five’s class of singers.

“Come on, Ququ!”

“You must win as the champion!”

“Bring the trophy back for our class of season five!”

Season Four’s class of singers.

“Qiqi, don’t be nervous and sing well.”

“Of course we hope that it will be Qi Liang who takes the title of greatest champion.”

“Qiqi is the representative of our season four singers. We are all very confident in him!”

At this moment, the microphone was handed over to season one’s class of singers.

Chen Guang did not know what to say and handed the microphone to the next person.

Xue Kaiqi shrugged and passed it on again.

Zhao Wuliu didn’t even take the microphone and pretended not to have noticed.

Eventually, the microphone came into Grandma Zhang’s hands.

Grandma Zhang Xia laughed for a bit, took the microphone, and said, “I don’t think there’s much for us to say. Little Zhang knows what he needs to do, so there’s no need for us to say anything.”

There was no canvassing for votes.

There was no unnecessary banter.

Cui Na gave an awkward cough before taking the microphone back and handing it to the fourth and fifth seasons’ singers. They were unlike the class of singers from the first season and were more fond of showmanship and talking. When the microphone was in their hands, they couldn’t stop chattering.

“Brother Qi, win it and treat us to a meal!”

“Ququ, prepare yourself well. We’re all here to cheer for you.”

“It’s all up to you today.”

“The title of the greatest champion will definitely be won by our season four representative.”

“Go away, it will be our season five representative who wins it.”

“Everyone, please remember to vote.”

Both of the groups’ guests were happily bickering with one another. Their groups mainly consisted of other male idols who were also very young. They had a very strong sense of variety and knew how to speak well.

A few minutes later.

Cui Na announced, “Next up, the third round of performances will begin. Let’s welcome the first singer onto the stage!”

The crowd fell quiet.

The TV viewers also hushed up.

The spotlights focused onto the moon gate.

Zhang Ye had been waiting there for a long time and heard everything that was being said onstage from where he was standing. Without saying anything, he slowly walked up onto the stage.

Everyone was looking at Zhang Ye.

They wanted to know what song he would be performing today.

There are all kinds of unfavorable news about you online.

Your opponents have also been canvassing for votes from everywhere.

This is no longer your era, so how can you still compete with them on popularity?

The entertainment circle is no longer the entertainment circle where you used to call the shots!

So what more can you do?

Zhang Ye nodded at the band.

The band members nodded back in acknowledgment.

In the next moment, the sounded.

The audience’s eyes were all on him.

The guests were looking at him.

The executive director, Xiao Lu, had her fists clenched.

The TV viewers did not blink at all.

Zhang Ye raised his microphone and sang ¹ in a low voice.

“When did my childhood friends distance themselves from me?

“When did the people close to me become unfamiliar?

“The push and pull of the crowd increased the distance between us.

“In the land of silence, I silently weep into the quiet night.”

The class of Season Four was stunned.

The class of Season Five was shocked.

Zhang Ye averted his gaze from them.

He continued singing in a low voice.

“When did the croaking frogs and buzzing cicadas become memories?

“When did our hometowns turn into these crowded places?

“Skyscrapers tower over everything.

“Rainbows of neon have sullied the night sky with blemishes.”

It had been four years.

Everything was different.

A lot of the old alleys had disappeared.

A lot of old friends had left.

Zhang Ye did not like the current crop of celebrities.

Zhang Ye did not like the current state of show business.

He sang.

“Who can tell me?

“Who can tell me?

“Is it we who changed the world,

“Or is it the world that changed you and me?

“Who can tell me?

“Who can tell me?

“Is it we who changed the world,

“Or is it the world that changed you and me?

“The same moonlight,

“Shines upon the lands as usual.

“The same winter,

“Brings icy rain as usual.

“The same dust clouds,

“Accumulate in the wind as usual.”

Inhibited.

Low spirited.

Melancholic.

A lot of people were affected by the mood of the song.

All of a sudden, the audience transformed!

Many audience members reached up and held out LED light boards spelling out Zhang Ye’s name. This instantly lit up the area where the audience was!

One!

Ten!

A hundred!

Everyone was on their feet!

Everyone was proudly holding up their LED light boards with Zhang Ye’s name!

The expressions on those faces were spelling out either determination, calmness, tearfulness, or excitement—

The cameras quickly panned over!

This scene was earthshaking!

Xiao Lu was stunned!

Chen Guang was dumbfounded!

Qi Liang was shocked silly!

Qu Dong was also startled!

The contestants from seasons four and five all looked back in surprise!

Zhang Ye!

Zhang Ye!

Zhang Ye!

Zhang Ye!

Behind them, there was an incredibly dense showcase of Zhang Ye’s name!

Zhang Ye also saw it.

He smiled.

His eyes reddened.

He sang with even more might.

“The same smiles!

“The same tears!

“The same days!

“The same you and me!”

Qi Liang and Qu Dong’s fans were sitting in the audience as well. But when they saw the crazed crowd of people holding up Zhang Ye’s name, they also felt very shocked!

Oh my God!

Why are there so many of them?

Why?

Just what is with all of these!

Zhang Ye sang loudly.

“The same smiles!

“The same tears!

“The same days!

“The same you and me!”

Chen Guang was smiling.

Zhang Xia was smiling.

He Huan and Xue Kaiqi looked at each other in astonishment and also broke into smiles.

They had not expected to see something like this!

Nobody had expected this!

Four years had passed, but this fellow still had so many fans around?!