Chapter 38: Mengmeng’s Pricey Rates Part 2

But Li Tingzhou still felt this was a big chess game played by the production team.

A good competitive music variety show couldn’t only have high-quality stages.

Songs, one eventually tires of hearing them. To truly break out and gain widespread recognition, leaving behind labels and impressions like “classic” and “interesting,” one absolutely couldn’t naively filter out 100% of negative feedback. Overly perfect word-of-mouth could actually seem a little dull. Setting up some sudden conflicts in the middle, manufacturing a bit of drama, creating topics that sparked discussion—it also served to highlight the core Premiers’ sincerity and reverence for the stage…

No matter how much everyone complained, this farce finally came to an end.

To let Feng Mo save face, the final vote difference was even controlled to single digits.

Li Tingzhou pursed his lips and clapped along with everyone else’s rhythm. After the camera crew exited the waiting room, he immediately asked Liu Lusi, “Sis, do you have any more cigarettes?”

Mao Maoyu’s taste was too strong, and Liu Lusi’s too bland.

But during periods of intense vocal use, if truly annoyed beyond measure, he could only choose the bland, low-tar option.

After the menthol burst bead was broken, it barely stimulated his senses. Someone approached from behind. It was Ren Shiyu opening the smoking room door. In her hand was a high-tar cigarette that even Mao Maoyu rarely smoked.

“Alright, I guarantee it won’t affect my condition.”

Li Tingzhou nodded, understanding.

The two of them looked at the night view by the window, chatting for the duration of a cigarette, then each finished work.

Li Tingzhou shook off his burdens and slept soundly. Liu Lusi was still in a midnight video meeting with Qu Yanni dealing with a sudden exposé: It wasn’t leaked by paparazzi, but by a hotel guest staying less than two kilometers from the studio complex.

The blogger claimed they were testing their lens shooting night scenes and “accidentally” captured two celebrities on a certain floor with a scenic window at Wave Tower.

The melon-eating public was astonished but still diligently got to work.

Through a series of precise, strict silhouette and body shape comparisons, they eventually confirmed this atmospheric night shot had captured First Sister and Mengmeng. Savvy smoking connoisseurs even listed possible brand and flavor choices for the two.

It wasn’t that the public wanted to judge the habits of a 35-year-old and a 25-year-old adult.

First, adults smoking to relieve stress wasn’t unusual.

Second, plenty of evidence already supported this: The spot where they were chatting and smoking was actually a designated smoking room on a floor in Area A of Wave Tower. It was completely unrelated to polluting the indoor environment or creating secondhand smoke.

Finally, even the casually snapped silhouette of the “siblings” looked so artistic. Punish them by skipping one less pack of Konjac Delight!

[Rebuilt Public Opinion Observation Room | Old Mo’s Sins Are Grave]

————

[Mengmeng and First Sister enjoying a smoke and night view] x2

Ultimately, blame Old Mo. Look how much he tormented Mengmeng and First Sister…

If I remember correctly, the last time First Sister was photographed smoking was four years ago when her 9th album slightly underperformed. That time, she was also smoking high-tar. You can tell Sister has been under a lot of pressure these past few years. But miraculously, since Night Heart Seven started, her vocal cords and resonance feel completely unaffected—she even seems more effortless and skilled.

As for Mengmeng, you’re smoking ladies’ cigarettes, so we won’t say anything.

His fingers holding a cigarette are practically artwork-level in any random shot.

If anyone wants to curse, curse Old Mo. If that’s not enough, curse Qu Lang. But whatever you do, don’t curse Mengmeng and First Sister. These two really have given more than enough face.

1L: Our group’s progress has fallen behind. Fake Singer Fake Player has already been exposed as an Mo fan sockpuppet.

6L: [Blogger’s May reply to Yao Ling picking up a leftover spot on Walking on the Road screenshot] x4

9L: This is so sharp and arrogant. Cut from the same cloth as Old Mo.

14L: I now fully believe Old Mo was jealous of Mengmeng’s popularity, snatched a Raid Singer spot to directly steal the fruit, forced his way in, and when that failed, his fans resorted to a poisonous scheme—exposing Mengmeng and First Sister smoking to ruin their image…

19L: Who would actually believe that was shot by a photography enthusiast? (eye roll emoji)

27L: At least they smoked in a smoking room. Can Old Mo’s thing about spitting everywhere on the curb just be forgotten?

…

121L: Mo fans can’t fight back and are starting to fold comments again.

129L: Retrieved them.

135L: Music Village’s first victorious battle! Congratulations, iHappyBoys!

140L: Over so quickly?

146L: Actually, Crispy Shark contributed too. Mo fans, like Old Mo, love starting group fights without understanding the situation. Someone with Mengmeng’s level of professional capability wouldn’t even dare to take on the Lead Singer position right away, yet Old Mo had the confidence to beat Qu Lang (not hyping anyone). How is this not a two-way rush between the idol and his fans?

152L: Shark Sister verbally scolds “won’t acknowledge the nickname given by Band guy fans,” but quietly digested the nickname Vinegar in reality.

155L: Seriously, it’s kind of cute. Shark Sister, say it more often and it’ll roll off the tongue.

Two harmless photos, not only failing to damage the individuals involved one bit, but also indirectly confirming that the occasional loss of control within the Night Heart Seven production team truly put immense pressure on the guests—

Look, it made First Sister so frustrated, otherwise would she smoke something that strong?

Mengmeng was even more obvious. Young people are indeed very useful.

One person doing the work of several, busy with his own tasks and still having to deal with Qu Lang’s side.

After this incident, many musicians and writers who had worked with Qu Lang came out to complain, saying this man, a decade after the old-school talent show, was doing worse than his former teammates entirely due to his own doing.

Qu Lang’s public reputation reversed so quickly, just as the production team had anticipated.

Anyway, the evil dragon, Feng Mo, had already been eliminated. His role was over.

The 4th Public Performance rehearsal was postponed to Friday. The official public performance was subsequently delayed to Saturday. Such an arrangement was torturous for the lowest-ranked Premier groups: The 3rd Public Performance was still airing the night before. Although many fansite videos of the Spirit Confluence Hall’s stage had already spread across various platforms, official cam footage was official cam footage, after all.

Their own 3rd Public Performance was actually quite good, and the audience and fans were enjoying it.

But the next day, the 4th Public Performance might eliminate them tragically.

Ancient Style King was very anxious; only by staying with the three Heartbreak members and basking in sufficient masculine energy could he feel slightly better.

“‘The Verdict’—wasn’t that song originally a female chorus? My voice can actually sing falsetto all the way through, but Zhuang Yifan disagreed and insisted on lowering the key and slowing the tempo. I really want to anonymously submit to the Night Heart Seven confessions page. How can someone be this stubborn?”

Mao Maoyu consoled him: “It’s okay, you’ll be free soon.”

Dai Jier swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue. “Mm…”

“Then you can leave right after these two days of recording?” Li Tingzhou emerged in his pajamas, a head of spiky wet hair. Although he’d only caught a snippet of the conversation, what he said also pierced Ancient Style King’s heart.

“Let’s talk about something happy. When I hold my concert, you guys will come, right?”

“Of course! Definitely!” Mao Maoyu was the first to respond.

Wang Chao sniffled. “What if I want to sing ‘Endless Summer’ with Mengmeng?”

“That won’t work. First Sister has booked the debut performance.”

Ancient Style King actually looked even happier hearing this. “Then I’ll wait until First Sister sings it, and then I’ll sing it!”

He didn’t dare be as straightforward as Ren Shiyu in asking Mengmeng for songs—one not enough, wanting two, three more. But Wang Chao thought, everything could be taken slowly. They’d already come this far; there was no need to rush.

The late-night chat ended. The next day, Friday, the atmosphere among the Premier groups was more tense than the last.

“Who invited a symphony orchestra this time?”

“Zhao Chenmin’s group, I think. They rearranged it to be very grand and sweeping.”

A staff member glanced over and asked, “Which orchestra did they hire?”

“Not Central Arts Troupe anyway, haha.”

The First Sister/Mengmeng group still used their own band + a four-person backing vocal team.

Additionally, considering the unshakeable soul of “A Courtyard of Fragrance” no matter how it was rearranged, a violin soloist was added.

Having learned from past experience, this time, from the director team down to his partner Ren Shiyu, no one dared to casually step on a landmine. After going around in circles, they ultimately invited Mengmeng’s former junior apprentice sister, Zhong Peiyao.

Mao Maoyu, gauging Mengmeng’s expression, smoothed things over: “It’s all acquaintances, it’s fine!”

Zhong Peiyao arrived very early. She hadn’t even informed her senior apprentice brother in advance.

“I wanted to surprise you!”

Li Tingzhou was indeed surprised. “Oh, really?”

Where was the joy, then?

“The joy is—it’s only 35 degrees today, not that hot~”

Mao Maoyu was clearly charmed by the girl’s cuteness, but Li Tingzhou had absolutely no attention to spare right now. He led her off to find First Sister for a joint rehearsal. Because Zhong Peiyao was his junior apprentice sister, his impression of her included both her skilled professionalism after starting work and her pitiful, adorable self in Affiliated High School, tearfully smashing rosin to drive people away.

Whichever aspect, Zhong Peiyao showed considerable resilience.

First Sister also really liked her. Even with a photographer recording beside them, it didn’t stop First Sister from digging up old stories about Mengmeng from Zhong Peiyao.

Li Tingzhou said helplessly, “You two jump topics too fast.”

One second they were talking about the rising price of rosin; the next, they pivoted to how Mengmeng was frequently fought over during midterms and finals, leading to a “Mengmeng’s Pricey Rates” rumor at Affiliated High School.

“Asking him to accompany: half a block of rosin.”

“Playing a concerto was a bit cheaper.”

Ren Shiyu was shocked. “That could work?”

Zhong Peiyao nodded. “Why not? But after my senior brother decided to study abroad, he left all the rosin he had saved to me.”