I’m Keeping the Overbearing CEO After He Went Bankrupt [Rebirth] 38

Chapter 38: Qingbao and a New Beginning

After practicing for another two days, Chu Qing’s basic movements were very smooth.

Fortunately, he wouldn’t be doing any major dance moves on stage, just simply moving with Yu Weixi and the dance troupe. As long as his movements weren’t stiff, it would be fine.

He woke up early, sat at the piano, and played, the tempo getting faster and faster.

Huo Li was washing dishes on the side. Seeing him at the piano again, he asked curiously, “Are you a little nervous these past few days?”

He looked up at him, shook his head, and continued to play.

Huo Li frowned slightly.

He had been playing the piano a lot these past few days, but it wasn’t to leisurely pass the time or to find inspiration, but rather to relieve and vent.

Could it be because of the pressure of the competition…?

Because he has to dance and cooperate with others?

He paused. He couldn’t get an answer by asking, so he could only stay with him.

After lunch, Yu Weixi came. The two of them went through the entire routine. Apart from forgetting one or two moves, Chu Qing had achieved everything else perfectly. The effect of his hard practice was very obvious.

Huo Li sat on the side, holding the little Niangao who was reading a storybook. Seeing his good progress, he was also happy.

After putting Niangao to sleep, he went out to buy snacks for the two of them and also bought a few extra skewers of roasted meat for him to celebrate.

The two of them also took a short break. Chu Qing went on Weibo, and the news that Yu Weixi was going to be his duet partner had already spread. All that was missing was an official announcement.

Yu Weixi himself was a top-tier celebrity, so it had caused a very high buzz and had brought some attention to him.

XXX: Did the Jiao fans get slapped in the face today? They did! Hahahaha, and they were talking about the strongest duet partner. Why don’t you look at Yu Weixi next door? He’s basically brought the traffic of the entire circle, okay?

XXX: woc the duet partner is Yu Weixi??? So looking forward to it!! Will Teacher Chu dance!! Ahhh I feel like we’ll be able to see a very different stage. Will it be a dynamic style?

XXX: How is that possible! Hahahaha, isn’t it asking too much for Teacher Chu to dance? His style is completely impossible to match with Xixi’s usual stage

XXX: Hahahaha, although it’s a good thing that Teacher Chu was able to invite Xixi, will the two of them really not clash in style

XXX: Isn’t Chu Qing an artist? What, is he giving up his principles to make commercial music just for the ranking? I don’t believe anything good can come out of this music. Music is all about sincerity

XXX: Didn’t they say Teacher Chu is very aloof, like a lotus flower that grows out of mud but is not stained? Look how happy he is kneeling before traffic /doge face

The internet was in a heated discussion, all curious about his stage this time. Naturally, there were also many who were pessimistic and stirring up trouble.

It was very lively.

He glanced at it for a bit and then quit to play a puzzle game.

Those public opinions and criticisms were all the same few sentences. It was too boring.

He glanced at Yu Weixi and said again, “Xixi… I have a friend who has a question for you…”

Yu Weixi rolled his eyes. “You ask. I have a friend who should know.”

The two of them, taking advantage of the fact that there was no one around, began to communicate by making up friends.

“Um…” he paused, not knowing how to ask.

“Hmm…?”

“Mr. Huo is very good…” he said, his head bowed, rubbing his hands. “Although he’s bankrupt now, he’ll definitely be able to make a comeback and be the same as before. And… he’s a very good person, he can do anything, and he’s very smart. There’s nothing in the world that can stump him.”

Yu Weixi: “…”

I suspect you’re showing off your affection, and I already have the evidence?

He smiled. “Well… I think he’s very good. He glows.”

“Ah…”

He glanced at Yu Weixi. “Best Actor Feng is also very good. He won the Best Actor award at a young age, and his talent and character are well-recognized in the industry. Xixi is too. You two are very good together.”

Yu Weixi’s fur was ruffled. “I’m not with him! Don’t compare us!”

He smiled and said nothing.

Yu Weixi looked at him, his head bowed, not knowing what he was thinking, and frowned. “You’re also very good.”

He roughly knew what he wanted to say.

“You’re not that different from Huo Li. You’re also very outstanding.”

“We’re very different,” he insisted. “Very different.”

He hoped that Huo Li would be bankrupt, and yet he didn’t.

He hoped that Huo Li would pursue him, and yet he didn’t.

“Where are you different?”

“Everywhere.”

“…” Yu Weixi was helpless against him and said, “If you think you’re different, then work hard. You’ll definitely be able to catch up if you work hard. But… I don’t think you’re different.”

He smiled. “Our Qingbao is a musical creation genius, the kind that can make everyone go crazy with one song. You also glow when you touch an instrument.”

“Oh…” he lowered his gaze, unable to help but feel a little happy.

“Then I’ll, continue to practice and do my part well,” he said, taking a deep breath and standing up to play the music.

“Mmm,” Yu Weixi stretched and stood up to be a competent sparring partner. He was actually quite relaxed. His own part was already taken care of, and he was only responsible for teaching Chu Qing, so most of the time, he was just talking. But after each practice, Chu Qing looked like he had just taken a shower.

His stamina had made a leap in improvement.

“By the way… Xixi, I have an idea.”

“Hmm?”

…

A few days later, the competition finally arrived.

This was the semi-finals. Only five of the twelve people could enter the finals. The contestants were very nervous, and the atmosphere was even more tense.

The semi-finals and finals were recorded in a studio. The lighting was dim, and the contestants sat in the front row, with the voting audience separated behind them.

Everyone was gradually entering, and the crowd was getting larger and larger.

Chu Qing and Yu Weixi had already had their makeup done early and were not hiding backstage for a final practice sprint like the other contestants.

The two sat together and quickly attracted a lot of cameras, but they were all stopped by the staff and could not be interviewed.

“Nervous?” Yu Weixi raised an eyebrow.

He shook his head.

When it came to performing music on stage, he had never had anything to be nervous about. He just had to show what he could do.

Huo Li came over and handed him a bottle of water with a smile. “Good luck.”

He paused, took the water bottle, and said, “Mmm…! I will. Thank you, Mr. Huo.”

After he left, he sat for a moment, then turned to Yu Weixi. “I think I’m starting to get nervous.”

Yu Weixi: “…”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Don’t. You have to dance and sing at the same time.”

“Mmm-hmm…”

He glanced at Chu Qing, then at Huo Li, and frowned slightly.

He thought, If the relationship between these two continues like this, it’s not going to work…

Chu Qing’s mentality is still a bit of a problem.

He helplessly took a sip of the juice the sponsor had distributed and scrolled through his phone to pass the waiting time.

“Whoa…” he said, as if he had discovered a new continent. “Qingbao, look. We have a ship super topic.”

Chu Qing: “…”

What the hell.

He also took a look and saw that there really was one.

XXX: The arrogant top-tier celebrity x the soft and cute little singer, I’m here for it! They’re so cute sitting together!

XXX: I’m not! Xixi belongs to Brother Yan! Have you forgotten their mermaid movie?!

XXX: Qingbao belongs to the bodyguard! Awwwww

XXX: Two ukes will not have a good ending. Oh my, but they look so loving in the same frame. I’ll just stand for a second

Chu Qing: “…”

Two ukes will not have a good ending… hmm?

He turned his head and asked in a small voice, “What does ‘uke’ mean?”

Yu Weixi: “…Shut up.”

He directly went on his side account and started fighting with that ID.

Chu Qing: “…”

Why do you seem to know so much.

After this little fuss, he was no longer nervous. A moment later, the host came on stage to explain today’s rules and announced that today’s semi-finals had officially begun.

An Yize was very lucky to have drawn the first number today and was the first to perform.

His duet partner was also Yu Weixi’s teammate, all acquaintances. The two performed a tear-jerking song, and many in the audience were moved to tears. The opening was so exciting that the contestants behind them also became nervous.

Wang Shiwei also achieved the same effect. The bullet comments even laughed that they were most afraid of tough guys singing slow songs. In any case, the emotions in the lyrics had also successfully moved the audience.

Chu Qing had invited Yu Weixi, so after discussing with them, the production team had specially changed their lot to let them be the finale.

When the competition reached the second half, he and Yu Weixi went backstage to change their performance costumes.

Then, after much anticipation, they went on stage.

“Let’s welcome Teacher Chu Qing and his duet partner—the one whose dancing has reached its peak, whose single sales are unmatched, Teacher Yu Weixi!”

All the lights on the stage went dark. Then the props team brought up a white screen. When light was shone on the semi-transparent screen, the shadows behind it could be seen.

The audience was also prepared. After all, most of what they had heard today were slow songs or lyrical pieces. Looking at this stage setup, they couldn’t help but guess that it would be sign language or shadow puppetry, since those also fit today’s theme.

Then a spotlight shone on the piano, and they saw him sitting there as usual, just like every other performance.

Then the first section of music began, and he began to play, his fingers dancing nimbly.

This opening section went from slow to fast, from gentle to urgent. In just a short measure, who knows how much it had accelerated.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

When the intro ended and he began to sing, the entire stage suddenly lit up, and at the same time, the drums and guitar also sounded.

The audience below was startled and a little surprised.

“Waking up on the Saturday night, catching up the city road light…”
“Walking to the bars with nothing in my pocket…”
“She ask my number and I ask her on a date!”

The melody was simple, and the lyrics were also simple, but it was easy to remember.

Behind the screen, a row of dancers sitting on chairs moved their hands and upper bodies, dancing to the light melody.

He sang a verse, and then they saw him… stand on the piano bench, pick up a guitar, and start playing.

Yu Weixi also came on stage from the side and sang the chorus with him.

The chorus was very catchy, the song light and lively. The moment he stood on the bench and started strumming the guitar, the atmosphere was pushed to a climax.

“Teacher Chu—! Teacher Chu!!”
“Yu Weixi!! Xixi, I love you!”

The audience all stood up and moved along with the stage. No one had expected—that he could also handle such a light song!

He also looked like he was enjoying the stage. He stood at the highest point, moving his body as he played the guitar and sang, his high notes still steady.

This time, he was different from before. On stage, he was—lively, bright.

Although this song was in the style of European and American pop, it still had his flavor.

It was originally a simple and bright melody, but those who were careful would notice that classical music had been added to the background music. The melody was indeed catchy, but what was different from other pop songs was that it was lively but not noisy at all, an ethereal and clear music. But with just a guitar, drums, and rhythm, it had ignited the entire venue.

“I waking up in the morning and night…”
“I keep waking up waking up…”
“I wake up in the city at night, and I can’t sleep in the morning…”

He jumped down from the bench, held his guitar, and danced with the same movements as the dancers behind the screen. At the same time, when he jumped down, Yu Weixi went up, did a somersault on the bench, a difficult move, which caused the entire venue to scream.

“I’ll keep waking up, waking up, but I’ll keep falling asleep, falling asleep…”
“The bar on Saturday night, the field on Sunday afternoon, that girl still has a date with me tomorrow…”
“Cause I love you…cause I love you!”

Thump!

The last note fell, and then the screen was torn open by the dancers.

At that moment, everyone who was still moving and screaming along with the song fell silent.

The row of dancers behind the screen were all in wheelchairs.

…No wonder they had only used their upper bodies to dance just now, and the focus of the screen’s light was also on their upper bodies.

The audience stared blankly at the stage, and then, as if they had understood something, the entire venue erupted in even more intense applause.

“Good! Good—!”

Yu Weixi jumped down, and Chu Qing, panting heavily, looked back at him.

Then, he moved his gaze down and found Huo Li standing on the side.

The distance was too far, and he couldn’t see his expression clearly, but he could see that he was clapping like everyone else.

As far as the eye could see, there were the excited shouts and applause of the audience.

“We succeeded,” he said, turning his head to Yu Weixi with a smile.

“Mmm.”

After the host came on stage, his voice was still a little unsteady, and he said excitedly, “That was so beautiful!”

“This song… is called ‘Wake Up,’ right?”

“Yes, wake up,” he said, catching his breath. “The lyrics are about how even though it’s sometimes very painful, you can’t sleep at night, and you can’t sleep during the day, life still goes on as usual.”

Yu Weixi let him catch his breath and continued with a smile, “Yes, we feel that disabled people can also live a good life. They are also very energetic. These dancers…”

He pointed to the dancers who had been led to the front by the staff and said with a smile, “We mainly want to show everyone how amazing they are.”

“Good, very amazing!” the host praised endlessly.

The bullet comments were also shocked.

XXX: My jaw… my jaw dropped… Mommy asked me why I was kneeling and watching

XXX: So this is what it feels like when an artist goes into pop… it’s so good! It’s as catchy as a pop song, but it’s more than just a pop song. It’s amazing, amazing! I don’t know what to say besides praise. Awwwww Teacher Chu is amazing, Xixi is amazing!!!!

XXX: Such a surprise. I’m waking up waking up… ah, why am I singing?

XXX: I’m crying listening to such a happy song qaq The lyrics are amazing. Maybe some people are different from others, but we’re all human… qaq We can also drive to a bar at midnight, live a happy life, just like ordinary people. We’re also working hard… qaq

XXX: Teacher Chu is an all-around musician, really all-around!! He can do anything! [groundhog scream] In the future, if anyone says that Teacher Chu can only write high-end works of art, I’ll tear them apart! Even an idiot can be moved by this song, okay?!

And as expected, without any suspense, he won first place tonight, his votes far exceeding everyone else’s.

A well-deserved victory.

But unlike other singers, he didn’t hold any celebration banquet. He just went home… to sleep after finally finishing his performance.

That’s right. After reveling on stage and winning the championship, the high-spirited and proud Chu Qing… wilted after he came off stage.

When the results were announced and he was waiting, he was about to fall asleep in his seat. His drowsy appearance successfully earned his performance just now the title of a “final burst of energy.”

Yu Weixi also understood his feelings. These past few days of highly concentrated practice, creation, and preparation had been really tiring for him.

And… the most important point was that his mentality and personality were not so lively to begin with. But in order to immerse himself in the song, he had to make himself different, to accept and experience a different mood.

Therefore, Yu Weixi also took the initiative to block interviews and the media for him, letting him go home first after the recording ended.

And as soon as he stepped into his home, he went to bed and slept. No matter how much Huo Li persuaded him, he didn’t want to eat.

“Ngh…”

After sleeping for a while, he started to get restless.

Huo Li frowned slightly, sat down by his side, and took his hand, his voice gentle. “What’s wrong? Where are you uncomfortable?”

He frowned tightly, his hands also clenched into fists.

“My back… hurts, and I’m a little cold.”

Huo Li reached out and touched his forehead. It was burning hot.

“Qingbao, you have a fever,” he said, pulling up the blanket for him and then going to get him a thick quilt.

“Cold…”

He was still muttering.

Huo Li directly hugged him, quilt and all.

“Be good…”

He groggily grabbed his sleeve and said something in a low voice.

“What?”

Huo Li lowered his head and leaned in close to his ear, gently rubbing his hair.

“I can… I can be independent.”

He was stunned.

He was held by Huo Li and looked up at him, dazed, and said in a small voice, “I can also… say goodbye properly.”

He had treated this competition as a turning point and had already quietly prepared himself.

“You…”

Huo Li hugged him even tighter. “You go to sleep first.”