I’m Keeping the Overbearing CEO After He Went Bankrupt [Rebirth] 34

Chapter 34: Qingbao’s Little Romance

When Huo Li came to wake Chu Qing, the makeup artists had already arrived at the homestay to do the contestants’ makeup.

“Time to get up. You have to get ready to go on stage.” Chu Qing reluctantly got out of bed, his hair a mess, his face blank.

Huo Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “You still remember what you’re going to sing on stage later, right?”

Chu Qing paused, then asked, puzzled, “What stage?”

Huo Li: “…”

“You go wash your face and wake up first,” he said.

“Oh…”

After washing his face and changing his clothes, Huo Li took him to the makeup room.

“Are you… okay?” An Yize leaned over and asked with a frown. “Everyone knows about what happened last night. You were trapped outside for a day. It’s okay if you really can’t go on stage later.”

“I can,” Chu Qing said. “I’m already prepared. It’s okay.”

An Yize frowned. “Alright then.”

The stage this time was the same as last time, still in a green forest, with fallen leaves deliberately left on the stage.

And this time, Jiao Changxu didn’t deliberately pester him, and even intentionally avoided him.

After all, it could be said that Jiao Changxu’s reputation had been severely damaged because of him. There were too many rumors online about him being a “licking dog,” and Chu Qing had also publicly dissed him, saying he didn’t want to create a ship with him. One wave had not yet settled when another rose, and then Jiao Changxu had also completely fallen out with him over the vote-rigging incident.

Chu Qing didn’t know when the camera was on, so he didn’t dare to speak carelessly now and sat obediently on the side, waiting for it to start.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to practice, but he was really too tired after coming back from the mountains. For him, a lack of rest leading to mental confusion was much more terrifying than a lack of practice. He didn’t want to make any mistakes in front of the camera because of mental problems.

After waiting for a moment, the competition began.

This time, Jiao Changxu had drawn a fairly early number and had created a song with a similar style to last time. After all, he was an idol, and the fact that he could write songs was already being praised to the heavens by his fans. The style of non-professional singers would be more limited, so this time, the song was still a more lyrical love song.

It was neither good nor bad, and his fans were still mindlessly praising it.

An Yize and Wang Shiwei didn’t dare to trouble him this time, and besides, he had been away all along, but their performances were not bad.

“Next, let’s welcome our little genius—Teacher Chu Qing to the stage to bring us his performance!”

The emcee glanced at the song title that Chu Qing had just given him a few minutes ago and read, “The song he is going to bring us is called—’Empty Mountain’.”

In the audience, Huo Li was stunned.

He smiled, guessing what Chu Qing was going to sing, and a hint of a smile couldn’t help but appear in his eyes.

And when it was Chu Qing’s turn, the bullet comments immediately increased.

XXX: So looking forward to it. I don’t know what kind of song Teacher Chu will have this time. It’s so exciting and so scary!! It’s said that he didn’t prepare at all this time, not even a draft!

XXX: Yeah, this time he really cloud-prepared and cloud-wrote the lyrics. I’m so worried, but I believe in him

XXX: I really can’t understand him. Is he really sick in the head? He didn’t do anything for three days, just slacked off everywhere? And if he writes well, his fans will shower him with rainbow farts and say he’s heaven-defying, and if he doesn’t write well, he has an excuse? Is this how you participate in a competition?

XXX: Tsk, he’s just making excuses for his arrogance and pride, or maybe he wants to deliberately show off and get more screen time. In any case, he’s just not honest

The bullet comments were in an uproar, but the scene was completely silent.

On the stage, Chu Qing sat down at the piano under the curious, expectant, and drama-watching gazes of everyone.

The lights dimmed.

He took a deep breath, and his fingers played the first string of notes.

Then, it was as smooth as flowing water, an accompaniment that seemed to have been rehearsed countless times.

The musical style was the same as “Wish” before, warm, clean, and pure, a simple and gentle lyrical piece.

After the new rain in the empty mountain, you come with the moonlight
The small boat carries away the cold, the evening breeze brings your tenderness
On the rocks is the flowing water, under the moonlight is you…
You said you would push away the cover of the night
And wait for a sunrise with me

The audience below was stunned.

This song was as ethereal as “Wish,” but… it had a bit more of a worldly flavor.

If “Wish” was a person who didn’t understand love, blindly and without any distractions, wishing for someone to be well, then this “Empty Mountain” had a bit more of a sense of participation.

And Chu Qing did want to learn to let his music break away from its floating quality and be closer to life.

Although this song was still like a flawless work of art, it was at least much better than before.

He closed his eyes, his expression gentle, his fingers dancing on the black and white keys.

If there is no sunrise after the dark night, I will still look forward to it
Because you said you would push away the night and let the sun rise…

The song slowly ended in that gentle voice. And just as it was about to end, he suddenly changed the rhythm, leaving only a monotonous E-note repeating.

Then, he spoke.

“You are the romance I cannot write with a fountain pen, and the secret I cannot confess on a letter.”

Then the last note fell, and the song ended perfectly.

…

XXX: I don’t know what to say. I feel… I feel my soul has been elevated, washed once again by Teacher Chu

XXX: Ahhhhhh it’s a series with Wish! I always thought I could only hear this one song in my life, that Teacher Chu could only have one in his life, but I didn’t expect 😭😭😭 And this song, how do I say it, it feels like it has more emotion than Wish, but I can’t put my finger on what kind of emotion it is

XXX: I was very sad before, but I don’t know why, after listening to this song, I suddenly feel that there is still hope in life. I cried. Thank you, Teacher Chu. He is so warm

XXX: Such a song… was actually sung impromptu without any preparation… erm, I feel my perception has been refreshed?

XXX: It’s precisely because this song is about mood and feeling, not lyrics and composition, that it’s not surprising that it can be improvised! Because the control and presentation of this mood is innate. If you don’t have it, you don’t have it. If you have it, you have it. It has nothing to do with how many times you practice, so of course Teacher Chu doesn’t need to prepare specifically

Chu Qing received a lot of praise, and many people who had come to hear him sing were successfully converted into fans on the spot.

Of course, there is no first place in literature, and there were still people who didn’t like it. The anti-fans and Jiao Changxu’s fans were also pouring cold water on it, but the good far outweighed the bad.

XXX: erm… not to be that person, but isn’t this just rehashing old stuff? Leeching off of “Wish” again? Does he have nothing else?

XXX: He has nothing else. I can see it. Chu Qing is trying hard to integrate life into his songs, to be more down-to-earth, to have more of a worldly flavor, but he can’t do it. This still sounds like a flawless work of art, doesn’t it? Someone like him who refuses to come out of his ivory tower, has a flawed personality, and is eccentric, will never be able to write anything close to life, okay? Heh

XXX: F*ck you. Don’t you have a heart? Can you really not hear the emotion in this song? I’ve witnessed the growth of a young man qaq Teacher Chu has really grown up. He’s different from the boy who would lose his temper on the show before, and even more different from the boy who didn’t know anything before and sang “Wish”

XXX: Are the anti-fans sick? That’s a work of art. Is there a problem with that?? Our Qingqing is a little fairy. Is there a problem?

XXX: There is no perfect person in the world. Teacher Chu is learning a new musical style. He didn’t learn it all at once, and he didn’t immediately turn from a work of art into a saliva song. That makes me feel that he is very real. He truly loves music, which is why he is willing to come into contact with and try different styles, trying to become one with music

After he finished singing, he let out a sigh of relief, glad that there were no major accidents or mistakes in his first performance of this song.

“That was amazing! So perfect!” the host said with a grin as he came on stage, asking him the prepared questions, asking how he had improvised without any preparation.

And the bullet comments had already started discussing a new topic.

XXX: Am I the only one who cares about that line of dialogue? Don’t you guys think it’s strange? “Empty Mountain” is a landscape piece. If you analyze it deeply, it’s about the revival of all things, and people should also be reborn and full of hope. So… what does it have to do with that line of dialogue?? It doesn’t make any sense

XXX: Heh, maybe it’s to increase the coolness factor. He just recited it randomly

XXX: Teacher Chu wouldn’t add extra elements for no reason. There must be some mystery that we don’t understand

XXX: That line was written by Mr. Roland to his wife, so…? Hmm? The amount of information is a bit large?

XXX: I think… it’s normal that we don’t understand. After all, the object of this line is not us, understand? [doge face]

XXX: Understood. Of course we don’t understand. I just don’t know who can understand it [doge face]

And the person who could understand was at this moment, along with the staff, staring blankly at Chu Qing as he walked off the stage.

Huo Li’s heart was beating very, very fast.

He felt that he was wrong.

In the past, he had said that he didn’t understand the romance of artists, that their points were hard for ordinary people to understand. But now, he felt that the romance of artists was so f*cking…

Deadly.

That line of dialogue was probably Chu Qing’s return gift to him.

In a way that he himself didn’t know, but in Huo Li’s eyes, was incredibly romantic.

Huo Li’s hands were slightly clenched into fists.

Why did Chu Qing do this?

Was it just a simple thank you, so he picked the only line he had and put it in, or did he really think the same as Mr. Roland?

What was his purpose?

Huo Li felt his heart being scratched.

He wanted to know, he desperately wanted to know what Chu Qing was thinking.

Does he have that kind of thought about me…

…

— — — —

At night, the contestants gathered at Angel’s Home again to wait for the results.

“Today’s fifth place…” the host stood at the table with a grin. “Congratulations to Teacher An Yize!”

An Yize was a little surprised.

This was better than he had expected. After all, he considered his skills to be average.

“Congratulations, Teacher An!”
“Teacher An is so amazing. Your results are getting better and better.”

“Thank you, thank you…” An Yize clasped his hands together and said to the camera with a smile, “Thank you, audience masters. I will continue to work hard.”

“Then next… we’re just one person away from this issue’s top three! Who will enter the top three? Let’s announce the fourth…” At present, besides Chu Qing and Jiao Changxu, there were only two other contestants who usually performed well whose rankings had not yet been announced.

Everyone was guessing that Jiao Changxu would be second, and Chu Qing would be first.

The host paused, then said with a smile, “Congratulations to Jiao Changxu, Teacher Jiao.”

…

??

Jiao Changxu might not have been that good today, but he wasn’t fourth, was he?

He was definitely no match for Chu Qing, but those two contestants… he wasn’t so bad that he would lose to them, was he?

Jiao Changxu’s expression was also a little bad.

But after thinking about it, everyone knew. He was a top-tier celebrity who had just become popular this year. His foundation was not stable, and he was at the center of the storm, with his fans fighting with people every day.

And after participating in this show, it was even worse. First, there was the controversy of leeching off others to create a ship, and then there was the vote-rigging.

This shady operation had angered everyone. Now, everyone was trying hard to fight with his fans, deliberately not voting for him to pull down his ranking.

It could be said that he had reaped what he had sown.

After this, unless he could miraculously turn the tide, he would at least be able to secure fourth place this time. But after that, his ranking would only get lower and lower, a true interpretation of karmic retribution and the cycle of heaven.

“Then next is… third.”

The host glanced at everyone’s reactions and said, “Congratulations to Teacher Chu, Chu Qing!”

…

???????????

Now everyone was even more surprised.

What did you say?

Third?

Chu Qing stood up and took the badge from the host. “I’ve improved.”

Last time was fifth, this time was third.

“Mmm, you’ve improved, you’ve improved. This is a good thing!” the host said with a smile. “Teacher Chu is still very amazing!”

After he returned to his seat, everyone was doubting their lives.

How are these rankings so magical?

That night, many big shots on a certain Zhihu and a certain Douban came out to analyze it, and there were also music professionals who were indignant for him.

He sang well, his voice was clear and melodious, and his songs were ethereal, that was true, but… everyone was tired of it.

From the past to the present, “Wish” had become a huge hit, and then he had successively released three piano pieces, and then the Wish 2.0 and Red Gauze Shadow in the competition… and so on. His style had always been otherworldly. Even though this “Empty Mountain” had a bit more emotion, it was still a classic Chu-style.

Not every song could be reposted and become famous like “Waiting.” After “Wish” became popular, everyone already knew his style, and it was basically difficult to surprise them again.

Unless you calmed down and slowly analyzed it, or if your mood happened to match, but now everyone was in a fast-food world. The fact that he could hold on to third place was also because his skills were so solid that they crushed others. Otherwise, if someone else had kept showing off an artistic style, they would have long since disappeared without a trace.

And the top two contestants in this issue were because they had performed exceptionally well, different from their usual style, and had brought out something new and impactful.

Perhaps because he was a “musician,” everyone’s expectations for him were even higher. How could a series of “Wish”-like songs satisfy everyone?

It was a pity, but also inevitable.

And all of this, Chu Qing had seen.

…

“Qingbao? What are you thinking about?”

After the dinner party, he was sitting alone in the practice room in a daze. Huo Li came in with a late-night snack and his medicine and sat down next to him.

“I’m thinking… am I too narrow-minded,” he said, propping up his chin. “They say I live in my own ivory tower.”

Huo Li smiled. “You’re a musician. Why do you care what others say? This song is still very good, and it was improvised. You’re already amazing.”

Now, his Weibo was still gaining fans like a rollercoaster. More and more people were speaking up for him, and he had more and more supporters.

“They say my songs are Chu-style, but you can’t say that about music. They’re all my music,” he said stubbornly. “Because I’m a musician, I have to be able to do everything. No music can be a challenge for me.”

As long as he wrote it, it was his song. He was writing music, not writing a certain style to cater to certain people.

“Good.”

He continued, “Next time… next time I’ll bring out something different.”

“Good,” Huo Li said, his eyes full of doting and approval.

In any case, whatever he does is good.

He paused and lowered his gaze. “Qingbao…”

“?”

“That line of dialogue, why did you want to add it?”

He was stunned.

He lowered his head and said in a small voice, “I just, I just wanted to add it…”

“Why?”

“Just, no reason…” he said with a red face. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Qingbao,” Huo Li said, propping up his face and looking at him. “Do you like me?”

“…”

He was like a cooked shrimp, desperately trying to hide his red parts, and said restlessly, “I, I don’t…”

“Then do you hate me?”

“I don’t hate Mr. Huo!” This answer was very firm.

“Mmm,” he lowered his gaze.

In the small practice room, both of their hearts were beating a little fast.

He couldn’t stay any longer and stood up. “G-Good night! I have to sleep tomorrow. I woke up early.”

Huo Li: “…”

He reminded him, “Silly Qingbao, you have to wake up early tomorrow. I’m going to sleep.”

“…” his face was even redder, and he didn’t know what to do with his hands and feet. He quickly said good night and turned to run away.

“…Silly Qingbao.”

Huo Li looked at the empty practice room, his mind feeling like it was still floating.

This little one, he clearly put in a little easter egg, but when you ask him to admit it, he gets so shy…

Huo Li smiled, and on a whim, he took out his phone and searched for “how to confess to someone you like.”

…

The next day, the contestants did have to get up early for the final charity donation. Then, after lunch with the villagers, they would set off down the mountain.

Next were the semi-finals and finals, which naturally couldn’t be held in the mountains.

These two rounds were very critical and grand. The production team had booked two floors of a five-star hotel next to the TV station for the contestants. And to maintain a sense of mystery, they would not be recorded live. The preparation process would only be broadcast after the performance was broadcast.

“The semi-finals are a duet segment. May I ask who Teacher Chu has invited to be his duet partner?”

“Teacher Chu, it’s rumored online that you’ve invited Yu Weixi to be your duet partner. Is that true?”

“Teacher Chu…”

When the contestants were heading to the hotel, he was stopped at the entrance by reporters.

He paused, then shook his head. “I’m not sure yet… I’ll let everyone know after it’s confirmed.”

He really didn’t have any other friends besides Yu Weixi, unless he had Starry Sky invite someone for him.

But although he had sent the situation to Yu Weixi, he hadn’t asked him to definitely come and help. After all, he was a top-tier celebrity and had his own considerations.

Yu Weixi’s “top-tier celebrity” status was not the same as Jiao Changxu’s. They were two completely different concepts. The former was a big star who had dominated the screen for many years and was a force to be reckoned with. The latter was just a new face who didn’t know when he would be replaced by new traffic.

When someone like that appeared, the production team would have to burn money.

Therefore, everyone online was pessimistic, saying that it was impossible for Yu Weixi to come and help him. After all, he was full of dark spots.

“Will he really not come?”

After returning to his room, Huo Li asked curiously, “I remember you two are on good terms.”

“I don’t know… because Xixi has an ad now and is very busy. He probably can’t find the time,” he said, not minding. “In any case, the production team and Starry Sky will invite a suitable singer for me.”

Huo Li rubbed his chin. Jiao Changxu is probably very proud now. He has invited a very famous veteran singer. Now his fans are all smug and are laughing at Chu Qing for being an orphan in the entertainment industry.

If Yu Weixi doesn’t come, he felt that he had to have Shao Fanxing invite someone even more amazing to hold the fort.

“Then do you have any ideas next?”

After all, this show started with charity, so the theme of the semi-finals was—people with disabilities.

In other words, the contestants had to speak up for and show care for this group, and their creations had to be themed around them.

“I haven’t thought of anything yet…” he paused. “I also don’t know what it feels like to be disabled…”

He had always been closed off, and his empathy was not very good to begin with.

“You can imagine what it feels like to not be able to see, hear, or have one hand,” Huo Li said with a smile, and went over to cover his eyes. “If you were in this state all day, what would you feel?”

“Mmm… very inconvenient.”

He paused, then took a piece of cloth and blindfolded himself. “Then I’ll be like this today, to feel it…”

Huo Li: “…”

He really is a person who is tireless in dedicating himself to art.

It seems he really wants to do well this time.

Huo Li smiled and teased, “Then how about I tie your hands and feet too?”

“Okay.”

“…”

Really?

Huo Li’s heart was beating a little fast.

This, the car speed seems to be getting faster and faster?

But Chu Qing on the other side didn’t think that much and said seriously, “You can try…”

Huo Li cleared his throat, took a piece of clothing, and tied his hands behind his back, and then tied his ankles together.

At this moment, he was tied up and sitting obediently on the sofa. Huo Li’s face was calm, but his mind was a chaotic mosaic.

“Mmm… it feels…” he frowned slightly.

This feeling of being tied up and unable to do anything was very similar to when he was having an episode.

A very helpless feeling.

“I…” Just as he was about to say something, the door was opened.

An Yize cheerfully pushed open the unlocked and half-open door. “Qingqing and the others are here… eh?”

Standing next to him, the great top-tier celebrity—Yu Weixi was also stunned.

…

The worst part was the sudden silence in the air.

Half a minute later.

Yu Weixi threw down his luggage, rolled up his sleeves, and roared, “You shameless canary, I’m going to kill you!”