Chapter 70 The Broadcast of "A Discourse on Young China"

“How was it? Didn’t I say it was good? Do you want to watch the latest episode now?” Ning Xiaoyun wore a look of triumph, thoroughly pleased with her successful recommendation.

Finally, it was eight o’clock in the evening.

The sixth episode, part two, of “Tomorrow’s Star” officially went online. The number of reservations for “Tomorrow’s Star” on Penguin Video had surpassed six million, breaking the platform’s all-time record for show reservations.

Unable to wait any longer, Ning Xiaoyun clicked open the video, grumbling as it began to load, “Xiangxiang, your internet is way too slow.”

“Really? Isn’t it the same everywhere? I think it’s faster than the school’s,” Lu Xiang’er replied uncertainly.

“What? We’ve sunk so low as to compare speeds with the school now?” Ning Xiaoyun rolled her eyes as she opened the computer’s task manager. “Lu Xiangxiang, just how many junk programs have you installed?”

“Have I?” Lu Xiang’er looked bewildered.

“Forget it, there’s no point arguing with a tech-illiterate. Let’s just make do.” Ning Xiaoyun closed the task manager and continued watching, as long as the show didn’t freeze.

Onscreen, the host, He Hao, began announcing the rules for the PK round, then turned to ask Wu Junchen from the lower zone which group he wanted to challenge.

Since Lu Xiang’er hadn’t seen the earlier episodes, Ning Xiaoyun took on the role of commentator. “Wu Junchen is the most popular trainee right now. His fan numbers are insane, really scary.

“And the guy with him, Liu Yichen, is second in popularity, also has a ton of fans.

“They’re both from TideSound Entertainment. You know that company, right? The one specializing in idol groups? Sky Girls are under them.”

Lu Xiang’er asked curiously, “Then why are they in the lower zone?”

Any reasonable person would think such a strong team belonged in the upper zone.

Ning Xiaoyun giggled, “Because in the first half, they went up against ‘The Wind Rises.’ So you get the idea, right?”

Lu Xiang’er immediately understood, not needing to ask about scoring. “Then it makes sense they lost. That ‘Wind Rises’ group—their harmonies are incredible. Two of them are outrageously good.”

Their major was orchestral music, so their musical literacy was far above average. Their ears could pick apart every vocal part with clarity.

That’s why she could tell—the previous performance of “The Wind Rises” had already far exceeded what’s normal for a talent show.

Ning Xiaoyun introduced, “The two who sang most of the harmonies are Fang Xing and Shao Yu. Both are from our school, so they’re our seniors.

“Shao Yu graduated two years ago; Fang Xing, I heard, just graduated this June.”

Lu Xiang’er pointed at the screen, “That’s Fang Xing?”

“Yes, that’s him.”

“I feel like he looks familiar.” Lu Xiang’er pointed at the barrage of comments, “What do these mean? Are people saying Fang Xing hit someone?”

Ning Xiaoyun waved her hand carelessly, “Apparently, there was some drama today—something about Fang Xing hitting someone. But it was cleared up: he was being heroic, helping catch a thief.

“But I was so busy today, didn’t have time to check Weibo, so I missed the gossip. Once the story flipped, the rumor-mongering accounts deleted their posts and disappeared. Hard to even find them now.”

Hearing this, Lu Xiang’er’s eyes widened. She suddenly realized why Fang Xing looked familiar.

Her face fell, a hint of gloominess settling in.

The two of them chatted back and forth, sharing their thoughts on the show.

Onscreen, Wu Junchen chose to challenge Fang Xing’s group once again.

Ning Xiaoyun was thrilled, “Here we go! Wu Junchen’s challenging Fang Xing again—so stubborn! I love watching stubborn contestants.”

Next, the host asked Wu Junchen, “Anything you’d like to say to your opponents?”

Wu Junchen replied, “Where I fell, I will rise again.”

The host turned to Fang Xing, “Fang Xing, do you have anything you’d like to say to your opponents?”

Fang Xing answered, “I’d advise him not to pick me. Otherwise, he’ll fall again, right where he fell before.”

The moment he said this, the show’s entertainment effect was at its peak.

Thunderous cheers erupted from the audience.

Lu Xiang’er and Ning Xiaoyun, watching the show, both stared wide-eyed.

Ning Xiaoyun, unable to contain her laughter, pointed at the screen, “He’s got such a mouth! How did he survive this long without getting beaten up? This is exactly what makes the show so entertaining.”

After this segment aired, the comment barrage on Penguin Video’s “Tomorrow’s Star” zone exploded:

[Unbelievable!]
[How can he talk like that?]
[Never seen someone so outrageous.]
[Could he be any more provocative?]
[Wow, your villain card just got renewed.]
[That’s it—I’ll keep trashing him from now on.]
[He’s insufferable, but honestly, he’s not wrong. Why’s Wu Junchen so stubborn? Keeps running into a wall, getting bloodied.]
[It’s not Wu Junchen who gets bloodied, so what’s he afraid of?]
[Wow, that actually makes sense. The one eliminated last time was Liu Yichen.]
[This is what they call courting disaster: Wu Junchen creates the drama, Liu Yichen pays the price.]
[Three seconds of sympathy for Liu Yichen.]
[Sympathy for Liu Yichen +1]

Not everyone doubted Wu Junchen’s team, though.

Especially Wu Junchen and Liu Yichen’s fans, who kept up their own commentary:

[Don’t be so sure—if Fang Xing loses, you’ll be eating your words.]
[Exactly. Junchen’s stage is produced by the Hanfang team. No way he loses twice.]
[Junchen’s number one in popularity. Who’d dare let him lose twice?]
[Just wait—you’ll be the ones eating crow!]

[The rap lyrics in Junchen and Yichen’s duet were written by themselves. No way they’re worse than Fang Xing’s.]

The PK stage hadn’t even begun, and the barrage was already in chaos.

Soon after, the host announced the official start of the PK stage.

Liu Yichen represented his team, and with the captain’s help, he and Wu Junchen performed their new song, “Here We Come.”

Both appeared on screen at once, sending CP fans into a frenzy. A flood of strange comments took over, scaring off casual viewers, who quickly closed the barrage.

On screen, Wu Junchen and Liu Yichen faced their dedicated cameras, rapping away.

Fans responded enthusiastically, and the atmosphere at the venue was electric.

After watching Wu Junchen and Liu Yichen’s PK stage, many viewers sensed Fang Xing was in trouble.

Because the song was indeed high quality, and the rap lyrics were well-written—at least a step above Hashim’s.

Then came Fang Xing and Shao Yu’s turn to perform their PK song.

Before they began, the host explained some background about the song.

The audience learned that the lyrics were adapted from Mr. Liang Qichao’s prose, “A Young China,” and their interest was immediately piqued.

The music began, and the children’s choir recited:

“If the youth are wise, the nation is wise; if the youth are rich, the nation is rich; if the youth are strong, the nation is strong; if the youth are free, the nation is free…”

The main melody hadn’t started—just the first recitation by the children’s choir.

The barrage was already scrolling fast:

[This theme is on another level compared to the previous song.]
[As long as they don’t mess up the vocals, this could be a powerhouse.]
[Yup, their song and their opponents’ aren’t even in the same league.]
[Wu Junchen and Liu Yichen’s song seems so narrow in scope compared to this one!]

After the children’s recitation, Fang Xing took up the melody and sang the main verse:

“The rising sun shines brightly. The river bursts forth, pouring endlessly.
The hidden dragon leaps from the depths, scales and claws flying.
The tiger cub roars in the valley, all beasts tremble in terror…”

The barrage didn’t explode, because the audience was listening intently.

The ambition of this song far surpassed any previous stage.

The viewers could feel, through the song, the accumulated power of five thousand years of civilization, entrusted to the youth.

The road to a strong nation depends on generations of young people, bearing it on their shoulders.

Determined and resilient, forging ahead through thorns—daring to test their mettle against the world, undaunted by any obstacle.