Chapter 36: Pei Zhixuan
Chi Xiasheng’s competition was on Friday night.
But because of makeup and rehearsals, he went to the competition venue early in the morning.
His agent, Li Ge, also drove over and was backstage cheering him on, telling him not to be nervous.
Chi Xiasheng looked at Li Ge, who was pacing back and forth in the dressing room, and couldn’t help but smile. “I think you’re the one who’s more nervous, Li Ge.”
Li Ge scratched his head. “Hey, I’m nervous too. After all, it’s your first time singing on stage. Whether you can successfully transition or not depends on this.”
“He’ll definitely be fine!” Feng Xiaoxiao, who was eating fried chicken on the side, said while gnawing on a chicken leg.
Feng Xiaoxiao was also an artist under Li Ge. She had a cute and sweet appearance, but in reality, she was just a simple-minded foodie.
Li Ge had also worried himself sick trying to keep her in shape.
“Oh, that’s enough. Xiaoxiao, you should go for a walk. I get a headache just watching you eat.”
Feng Xiaoxiao put down the chicken leg with an unhappy expression and went to the corridor to walk off the calories.
She was a straightforward person. When she said she was going to exercise, she would just walk back and forth in the corridor with her head down until she bumped into someone and was forced to stop.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Are you okay?”
Feng Xiaoxiao quickly apologized. But when she looked up and saw the other person’s face, she almost drooled with infatuation.
Pei Zhixuan had a tall and straight posture, his appearance as elegant as bamboo. He was wearing a light blue denim jacket, his soft hair falling in front of his eyes, and a perfect smile on his lips as he shook his head and said it was nothing.
Hearing his clear voice, like a stream, Feng Xiaoxiao’s face flushed, and she quickly lowered her head again.
Pei Zhixuan had seen too many people with this expression and didn’t bother with the little girl anymore, walking straight into the dressing room.
Chi Xiasheng’s styling had also just been completed. When he saw the person who came in, their eyes met.
When Pei Zhixuan saw Chi Xiasheng’s face, his pupils widened slightly. He was about to say something when he heard a “what a coincidence” from behind.
“Brother Pei, you’re here too. I thought you’d be a little later.”
The other contestant in this variety competition, Cheng Yue, smiled and pushed open the door.
Seeing this, Pei Zhixuan couldn’t talk to Chi Xiasheng anymore. He acknowledged her and sat down in a chair.
Seeing that Pei Zhixuan was clearly not interested in her, Cheng Yue bit her lip in frustration.
But the next moment, she cheered up and proactively walked towards Chi Xiasheng. “You’re Chi Xiasheng, right? I’m going to do a sound check on stage. You should come along!”
Chi Xiasheng looked at Cheng Yue with a strange expression.
This seems to be… our first time meeting, right?
Isn’t this girl a little too enthusiastic?
But Chi Xiasheng did indeed need to do a sound check, so he nodded in agreement.
“Then we’ll go first, Brother Pei.”
Before she left, Cheng Yue still winked at Pei Zhixuan, not giving up.
Unfortunately, Pei Zhixuan was looking down at his phone and showed no signs of responding.
“Goodbye, Brother Pei.”
After all, Pei Zhixuan was a senior in the industry, so Chi Xiasheng also said something, not expecting a response.
But Pei Zhixuan looked up, a smile on his handsome face, and nodded at Chi Xiasheng.
“Good luck with the competition.”
Chi Xiasheng was a little dazed and let out a small “ah.” Seeing that he was indeed talking to him, he quickly lowered his head and thanked him.
“Yes, I will.”
Cheng Yue, who was standing on the side, looked at Chi Xiasheng with a suspicious expression, then frowned, her face clearly not looking good.
So what if Chi Xiasheng’s face is a little prettier? On what grounds does he get special treatment from Pei Zhixuan?
And when it’s her turn, he doesn’t even give her a good look!
Cheng Yue was filled with resentment. When it was her turn for the sound check, she directly took out her anger on the staff member who brought her the earpiece.
“What’s wrong with you?! This earpiece doesn’t even have any sound. Are you trying to make me lose face on stage?!”
The staff member was only responsible for bringing it over and didn’t know there was a problem with the earpiece. Hearing her accusation, he didn’t even know how to explain.
It was Cheng Yue’s agent who acted as the peacemaker, telling everyone to calm down.
“Forget it, Yueyue. Don’t bother with such people. The sound check is more important.”
Only then did Cheng Yue say “what bad luck” and started her sound check with the microphone herself.
Li Ge, who was on the side, just shook his head. He saw that Chi Xiasheng wanted to speak up for the staff member but quickly pulled his sleeve.
“Don’t go. Cheng Yue has this kind of temper. If you go, you’ll just offend her. The main task today is to sing. Don’t worry about anything else for now.”
Only then did Chi Xiasheng hold back and continue to wait on the side.
But Cheng Yue hogged the stage and wouldn’t let go. She went through the song from beginning to end, either saying there was a problem with the mic or that the microphone volume was too low.
She kept testing until the next singer came over, and only then did she reluctantly give up the microphone.
Chi Xiasheng was a guest singer and was only participating in one episode. But these singers had all signed on for a full season of the competition. The director, seeing that there wasn’t enough time, let the singers do their sound checks first.
It wasn’t until it was dark and the stage was almost set up that it was finally Chi Xiasheng’s turn to rehearse.
At this time, Cheng Yue was still sitting on the chair her agent had brought, complaining that her nails weren’t done well enough.
Seeing that Chi Xiasheng hadn’t started his sound check yet, Cheng Yue smiled and clicked her tongue. “You haven’t done your sound check yet? I don’t think you need to. After all, you’re only here for one episode. You should leave the time for us singers. It’s not like you rely on this for a living.”
Chi Xiasheng felt that Cheng Yue was definitely doing this on purpose.
Although he didn’t know how he had offended her, her malice was so obvious it was almost written on her face.
Chi Xiasheng glanced at her lightly and smiled softly. “You, rely on singing for a living?”
Cheng Yue immediately pressed down on the armrest of the chair and stood up, saying angrily, “What do you mean?! Are you saying I sing badly? You can’t even act properly, what right do you have to say anything about me?”
Chi Xiasheng met her gaze. “Cheng Yue, you should shout a little less. Don’t singers have to protect their voices? Aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to make a sound on stage?”
Cheng Yue had had no scruples at all before, but when she saw Chi Xiasheng’s cold eyes, for some reason, her heart suddenly panicked for a moment.
But she was not one to easily admit defeat. She still held on and said stubbornly, “I’ve been on stage so many times, it’s impossible for me to make a mistake like not being able to sing! On the contrary, it would be good if your singing isn’t as embarrassing as your acting!”
At this moment, the director quickly ran up from below the stage and mediated. “Don’t argue, you two. The audience is about to enter. Can’t you save some energy?”
Chi Xiasheng looked at the director and asked politely, “Director, can I still get a sound check today?”
The director sighed. “There are a lot of problems with the equipment today. The singers are all busy with their sound checks. You’re only here once, so please be considerate of us.”
Chi Xiasheng understood. It meant he couldn’t.
“I see. After this competition, we will not have any more collaborations.” Chi Xiasheng’s face turned cold as he stated his attitude.
The director just pouted indifferently.
If we don’t collaborate, then we don’t collaborate. As if you could get famous from singing.
The director had done many music-related shows before and didn’t care about Chi Xiasheng’s attitude. After all, the chances of him becoming famous from singing were lower than the chances of Cheng Yue kneeling down and apologizing!
The director was a practical person. It was better to do Cheng Yue a favor so that he could invite her to his shows in the future.
Cheng Yue naturally knew what the director was thinking. She glared at Chi Xiasheng triumphantly and continued to look at her nails.
Seeing their dismissive attitude, Li Ge was so angry he almost started a fight with them.
But Chi Xiasheng pulled him back. “It’s fine. If they’re like this, the show won’t last long.”
As soon as he finished speaking, someone laughed in agreement. “Indeed. Judging a book by its cover, they’re really something.”
Chi Xiasheng turned his head and saw Pei Zhixuan, who had already finished his makeup and styling, walking over.
The director was directing the lighting with a walkie-talkie. When he saw Pei Zhixuan, he quickly went up to him.
“Zhixuan, you’re here so early.”
Pei Zhixuan stood under the lights, like a handsome young master from ancient times, refined and elegant, standing out from the crowd.
He still had a smile on his face, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “The director’s arrangements are very good.”
The director thought he was praising him and said with a laugh, scratching his head, “Of course. We can’t make mistakes and become a laughingstock.”
Pei Zhixuan shook his head with a light laugh. “I didn’t mean to praise you. I also think it’s better for us to terminate our collaboration in the future.”
The director’s smile instantly froze on his face. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but was stopped by Pei Zhixuan’s agent.
“Pei Zhixuan has something else to do. Director, you can go ahead with your work.”
Just like that, watching Pei Zhixuan leave, the expressions on the director’s and Cheng Yue’s faces were both stiff.
“Mr. Chi… Mr. Chi, do you know Mr. Pei?”
The director could only think of this reason and quickly went up to Chi Xiasheng with a fawning smile.
He had gone to great lengths to invite Pei Zhixuan to be a judge, all to boost the show’s ratings. And he had not disappointed him. Eighty percent of the show’s ratings were contributed by Pei Zhixuan’s fans.
So, when the director heard that Pei Zhixuan didn’t want to collaborate anymore, his heart instantly turned cold.
Why had he never heard that Pei Zhixuan and Chi Xiasheng were related? If he had known, how could he have given Chi Xiasheng the cold shoulder for so long!
Chi Xiasheng’s eyes were half-closed, and he didn’t answer.
Firstly, he didn’t want to answer. He wasn’t a saint who would immediately smile back when the director showed goodwill. Secondly, he didn’t know how to answer.
After all, he was also strange. Why would Pei Zhixuan step up to help him? Or was it just that he had a sense of justice and simply couldn’t stand the director bullying a minor celebrity?
Li Ge, on the other hand, snorted at the director. “Don’t call us ‘Mr.’ We’re just unpopular little celebrities, not worthy of your respect.”
Hearing Chi Xiasheng’s agent’s sarcastic words, the director’s face turned pale, and he was filled with regret.
If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have looked down on them. Who knew they had such a connection behind them.
“Then, Mr. Chi, how about you do a sound check?”
The director still wanted to make amends and quickly said in a gentle tone.
Chi Xiasheng glanced at the time and lifted his chin, signaling the director to look as well.
“No need. There’s no time.”
The director saw that the audience was already starting to enter and closed his eyes in despair.
It’s over. This time, I’ve completely offended Chi Xiasheng.
Cheng Yue, who was on the side, watched as Pei Zhixuan stood up for Chi Xiasheng and was so jealous she broke her nails.
She had filmed so many episodes with Pei Zhixuan, but it was difficult to even say a word to him in private. But Chi Xiasheng had only met him once, and he was already backing him up!
Have all my flirtatious glances been wasted on a blind man!
Or does Pei Zhixuan actually like men?!
Cheng Yue didn’t want to admit that she wasn’t charming enough. Thinking of this reason, she immediately put all the blame on Pei Zhixuan.
He’s really blind. What’s so good about a hard-bodied man!
Cheng Yue glared at Chi Xiasheng resentfully.
Chi Xiasheng saw her glare and the corner of his mouth curled up.
Cheng Yue looked into his eyes, and the feeling of unease she had felt before returned. She had a feeling that something would go wrong on her stage.
No, he’s just trying to scare me. I’ve sung so many times, how can I not be as good as a rookie?
Moreover, Chi Xiasheng doesn’t even have time for a sound check. The one who messes up definitely won’t be me!
Stepping in her high heels, Cheng Yue took a breath and stood backstage, waiting to go on.
