I’m Keeping the Overbearing CEO After He Went Bankrupt [Rebirth] 21

Chapter 21: Qingbao Unleashes His Power

When Chu Qing said that one word, “No,” there was absolutely no hint of joking or ridicule in it.

He was very, very seriously… stating a fact, his tone as ordinary as if he were asking, “Have you eaten?”

Even the host, who was used to big scenes, was petrified.

XXX: Hahahahaha host are you okay! Calling the host!

XXX: Host says, this is too hard for me

XXX: Hahahahahaha this Chu Qing guy is too funny, is he always this interesting

XXX: ffs why is the whole world bullying my Tian Tian!! My Tian Tian is so pitiful…

“Ha, haha…” The host managed to regain his composure, shaking his head with a smile. “That’s natural. Teacher Chu is so amazing, of course you would be the one teaching Tian Tian when you’re together.”

Li Tian, sitting in the contestants’ area, also picked up his microphone and said with a smile, “Yes, yes… Teacher Chu taught me.”

Seeing that Chu Qing seemed to want to say something more, the host quickly interrupted, praised Chu Qing for a bit, and then hurriedly ushered this great Buddha off the stage to announce the next contestant.

The next contestant was a little-known singer, but his skills were good. And the one after that… was Li Tian.

Li Tian’s performance this time was stunning and excellent. The song was adapted in a way that was a breath of fresh air. Although his singing skills were a bit lacking, his adaptation, apart from Chu Qing’s, had already surpassed most of the others on the scene.

“I didn’t expect our Tian Tian to be so amazing! That was really great!” the host said with a smile. “Tian Tian has improved so much since coming on this show! Is it because you had Teacher Chu’s guidance?”

“It was alright. When I was creating with Teacher Chu, I felt like I had more inspiration! Teacher Chu is really my lucky charm,” Li Tian said with a grin. “Thank you, Teacher Chu, for your guidance and inspiration! I really hope to continue creating with Teacher Chu next time.”

The livestream room was filled with support and praise from Li Tian’s fans.

Things like “Brother is the best,” “Always support brother’s work,” and so on.

XXX: Our brother is different from certain A-listers. Tian Tian really has talent

The “A-lister” here referred to Jiao Changxu.

XXX: Yes, our brother has talent too, and unlike some who claim to have talent, he doesn’t get a big head just because he can write songs

This referred to Chu Qing.

Stepping on others to rise, throwing tantrums as a foundation.

*Awesome.*

And An Yize, sitting next to Chu Qing, raised an eyebrow slightly.

Oh-ho.

This Li Tian, he really is shameless.

Indeed, during the livestream that day, Li Tian had mostly been working on his own and observing Chu Qing’s creation process, not relying on him too much. But after the livestream ended, at night, Li Tian had directly whined and pestered Chu Qing to write it for him.

So, this song was actually entirely adapted by Chu Qing. Li Tian was even too lazy to understand and rearrange it himself, and just used it directly.

It seemed Li Tian had calculated that Chu Qing, being always non-confrontational and submissive in front of the camera, would not say anything, so he boldly took all the credit for himself.

“Our lucky charm Chu is really amazing!” The host looked at Chu Qing and said with a smile, “Would Teacher Chu like to comment on this song?”

An ordinary contestant would probably offer a few words of praise. As for Chu Qing, he would usually give a perfunctory reply. Everyone knew this.

Then, Chu Qing once again replied in that “have you eaten” tone, “No comment.”

“…?”

The air froze again.

Chu Qing smiled. “I can’t comment on a song I wrote myself.”

…

In the livestream room, those who had been cursing Chu Qing for being arrogant and conceited suddenly fell silent.

“T-Teacher Chu is joking…” Li Tian panicked and said with a dry laugh, “It’s my song…”

Chu Qing paused, then said, “Why does the intro suddenly change to A minor?”

Li Tian was stunned.

What?

“I, I don’t understand music theory… I just wrote it simply…”

Chu Qing frowned, not bothering to remind him that he was asking something even a layman might know, and just moved on to a simpler question.

Chu Qing spoke again. “Why was the first chorus deleted?”

Li Tian searched his memory and tried to find a plausible reason. “B-Because it flows better without it…”

Chu Qing frowned. “The first chorus of the original song was not deleted. The second one was deleted because you couldn’t sing it along with the connecting bridge.”

The whole venue was silent. Li Tian’s face instantly turned pale.

“I, I forgot…”

“Why was the second pre-chorus raised in key?”

“The second…” Li Tian opened his mouth, his hands trembling a little.

What’s gotten into Chu Qing?!

Chu Qing sighed and shook his head. “You didn’t even try to understand.”

“The original song, ‘Dancing with You,’ is a disco song from the last century. It has a strong rhythm, so I simply added a section of the famous piano piece ‘Baron’s Dance’ in the middle. ‘Baron’s Dance’…”

Chu Qing began to speak eloquently.

Actually, Chu Qing had never planned to do this.

But Li Tian had gone too far.

First, Li Tian had offended the concept of depression. Second, Li Tian had offended music.

For Chu Qing, music was his bottom line. Disrespecting music, and even directly denying his contribution after the performance, not giving him a single bit of credit, made Chu Qing feel that the musical ideas he had given him, a precious gift, had been trampled on. Music and creation were never something Li Tian could casually present on stage just to become famous and then casually define.

Chu Qing had always been meticulous and respectful of his own work, and he considered music to be sacred.

But Li Tian’s attitude made Chu Qing feel disgusted.

In front of the camera, Chu Qing’s face was a little cold.

Li Tian’s face was pale. He held the microphone and looked at Chu Qing, bewildered, his eyes immediately turning red.

And the bullet comments in the livestream room nearly crashed the server.

XXX: F*ck, Li Tian is so disgusting! Plagiarizing others’ work, using others and not even acknowledging their contribution! Is he trying to claim it as his own? I hate this kind of shameless person the most!

XXX: Li Tian, get out of the entertainment industry! You come on the show knowing nothing, just expecting others to do everything for you, and you’re not even grateful. What’s with the pitiful act now? Others are not your mother, ok?

XXX: Li Tian is a giant baby! Quit the show!

XXX: Am I the only one whose focus is on the fact that Teacher Chu was able to adapt two songs this time? Amazing…! As expected of a musical genius??

Li Tian was being cursed to hell and back. After all, apart from his die-hard fans or those who stubbornly refused to believe it, no one else would accept this kind of behavior.

XXX: Tian Tian is so pitiful… sisters, we have to protect Tian Tian… such a cute and clean boy, he’s been driven to depression by all these scheming demons and monsters…

XXX: Brother, you have to be strong… I’m crying in front of the screen. Chu Qing is publicly bullying Tian Tian on the show just because he has a backer. Isn’t the production team going to do anything?!

Li Tian’s fans gathered, saying they were going to start a war with the production team and Chu Qing.

After all, Chu Qing had no fans. Wouldn’t they be able to tear him apart until he quit the industry?

The bullet comments were a bloody storm, and the atmosphere on set was frosty.

No one had expected Chu Qing to suddenly… react?

An Yize’s eyes were full of gratification. He felt that the thin-skinned Li Tian might withdraw from the competition because of this, and he would never have to face the little drama queen again. He couldn’t help but feel a little relieved.

Wang Shiwei, on the side, was also relieved.

And Jiao Changxu, on the other side, was even more relieved.

The expressions of the few of them were accidentally captured by the camera, sparking another argument.

XXX: Hahahahahaha sorry hahahahaha Li Tian, fare thee well!

XXX: Seriously, to be a person like this, Li Tian is truly one of a kind.

XXX: Tian Tian is a depression patient! Do you people have no heart?!

Li Tian’s fans clung to the depression card and began to attack Chu Qing and the production team in droves.

They were now focused on topics like “Chu Qing ruins a classic” and “Chu Qing desecrates Teacher An Zuo,” trying to create a rivalry between An Zuo and Chu Qing.

And that poor host, after being stunned for a long moment, finally said with a laugh, “Teacher Chu is really amazing.”

Then, he laughed it off and smoothed things over, sending Li Tian off the stage.

That night, Li Tian temporarily left the show’s villa, citing illness.

And after the recording ended, while waiting for the results to be announced, Chu Qing was surrounded by people asking him all sorts of questions, all praising him for being amazing.

Chu Qing’s ears were buzzing, and he was faced with a sea of people. He looked to Huo Li, who was standing to the side, for help.

“Alright, alright.”

Huo Li stepped forward and put an arm around Chu Qing’s shoulders. “Teacher Chu is tired.”

With that, he led Chu Qing away.

The other contestants were a little surprised.

“Wow… Teacher Chu’s bodyguard is so tall.”

“Yeah… and his voice is nice too.”

“Although I can’t see his face clearly, he seems very handsome…”

On the side, the very handsome bodyguard escorted Chu Qing all the way to the contestants’ individual waiting room.

Huo Li looked at Chu Qing, who was in his arms. The young man’s features were clean, and even with heavy makeup and a red gauze, he still looked obedient. Huo Li’s heart couldn’t help but soften.

“Qingbao.”

“Hmm…?”

Huo Li’s lips curved. “You did very well.”

Chu Qing was stunned and turned his head slightly.

“Oh…”

W-Why are you suddenly praising me…

“Do you want any reward?” Huo Li said in a low voice with a laugh. “A reward from your canary.”

“…”

“No…”

“Really?”

“Mmm.”

Huo Li didn’t believe him and whispered something in his ear.

“…”

“No…!”

Chu Qing shook off Huo Li and walked away on his own.

Huo Li looked at Chu Qing’s retreating back, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.