Chapter Sixty-Nine: Setting the Tone (Part Two)

“Perhaps everyone finds this unbelievable,” Ge Shengyang said with a smile, unfazed. “At first, I thought the same, but I have several reasons: First, if we all think it’s incredible, what about the live audience? What about viewers across the nation? What about the media?”

“It’ll blow up instantly,” Han Jialin murmured.

“Exactly, chaos will erupt. That’s the contrast, the sense of conflict he brings, completely defying everyone’s expectations. As long as he has the talent, I can guarantee that by the next day, every entertainment headline will be about this. Our show will have the biggest publicity. And since when did our program become so timid? Afraid to put even a fifth-tier singer on this stage? We believe in only one thing: talent. Does he have it? I can tell you, responsibly, yes, and in great measure. He’s bound to bring us the greatest surprise.”

“Even if he’s truly talented, so what? Can he actually deliver under pressure?” Guo Muzhe worried. “It’s a lot to take.”

“Before answering that, let me play you a demo. This is one of the songs he submitted for the competition.” Ge Shengyang nodded at Yu Hezhi, who quickly found the file on his smart device. He clicked play, and a melody floated through the conference room.

Guo Muzhe and the others listened quietly, their expressions shifting from disbelief to gradual emotion and acceptance as the song went on.

“This is one of the songs he prepared,” Ge Shengyang said earnestly once the music ended. “He gave us two songs, both of top quality. Just for this alone, we have reason to take a risk, because he can bring us exactly what we need: something new. Innovation for the program, fresh music, and a novel experience for the audience.”

“That’s true,” Han Jialin acknowledged.

“Alright,” Ge Shengyang continued, “to answer the previous question: I’ve met this young man. He’s young, but remarkably composed. Facing Director Wei and me, he didn’t show a shred of nervousness, sold himself successfully, and even managed to take a bit of control over the meeting. Do you really think someone who can do that in front of the two of us has a weak mindset?”

“That’s for sure,” Guo Muzhe nodded, knowing full well how intimidating Wei Hongzhang could be—most couldn’t handle it, let alone secure a spot in the competition. “But why not just let him fill in or take the challenger spot? That would be less risky.”

“If he’s going to compete, we should maximize the impact of his surprise appearance,” Wei Hongzhang finally spoke. “Let him debut in the first episode, amid nationwide anticipation. That way, we can make the most of the shock factor. If he can deliver a stunning performance, I believe the legendary ratings of our second season’s return could be repeated this season.”

“If Director Wei says so, I agree to let him take the opening slot,” Guo Muzhe finally relented. “I trust Director Wei’s judgment. He’s never been wrong about spotting talent; the benefits outweigh the risks. Even if something goes wrong, I think we can handle it.”

“I have no objections anymore. In fact, I’m looking forward to it,” Han Jialin added.

One by one, the others voiced their agreement, and so the decision for Lin Qihua to debut as the opening singer was finalized.

“Now, this singer has also prepared a small gift for us,” Wei Hongzhang’s stern face relaxed into a slight smile as he remembered receiving it. “Hezhi, play it for us.”

“Of course.” Yu Hezhi quickly played the prepared audio file. Amidst a symphony of strings, a rousing piece of instrumental music filled the room. The energetic rhythm drew everyone in, stirring memories from deep within, and a sense of being understood brought satisfied smiles to their faces.

“Well?” Wei Hongzhang asked after the music faded. “This is the piece he gave us as a gift. I think it’s perfect for our ending theme, don’t you?”

“With talent like this, all I can do is admire him,” said Gao Rui, the most professional among them and the one with the greatest authority. He swayed his head, still lost in the music. “This piece reminds me of everything we went through when we started reviving this program—so many emotions, so many words, all resolved in this music. It’s a perfect tribute to the work of everyone behind the scenes. As an ending theme, it couldn’t be more fitting.”

“You should have played this earlier, Director Wei,” Zeng Hao complained. “If I’d heard this from the start, I would have agreed to let him open the show on the spot. We must accept this gesture.”

“Haha, didn’t I say this young man is brimming with talent? Any doubts left?” Zhong Zhiguo laughed heartily. “I’m certain, just with this piece, even when our show ends, the audience will be reluctant to change the channel. This music will resonate with them, and then they’ll tune into ‘Our Singing Stars’—a seamless transition.”

“Enough, the decision is made. It’s getting late, let’s finalize the rest of the lineup,” Wei Hongzhang cut off their musings. “I can hardly wait for the show to begin. This young man is sure to bring us immense surprises.”

Everyone laughed, shook off their emotions, and returned to work, finally finishing all the arrangements for the team.

The day after the meeting ended, a mysterious email arrived in Lin Qihua’s private inbox at Galaxy Entertainment.

“Yes!” Upon receiving it, Lin Qihua punched the air in triumph. The opening slot—this was the best possible outcome.

The others, who rushed over after hearing the news, burst into cheers. “This is fantastic!”

“We were hoping for success but never expected it to be this big,” He Li said excitedly. “The opening singer! Do you know what that means? It means the production team is taking a huge gamble on Qihua and will spare no effort to support him. With this opportunity, as long as he delivers, we’re sure to set off a media and online frenzy.”

“That’s right,” Yu Fengqin’s lips trembled with excitement, salty tears streaming down her cheeks before she realized. “Galaxy Entertainment’s greatest opportunity is finally here. Once we get through this, the sky’s the limit. Starshine Entertainment will never be able to hold us down again.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Lin Qihua was the first to regain his composure. “For now, we’ve only secured the qualification. The day after the competition, the media will be in an uproar. But will it be unanimous amazement and praise, or universal criticism and slander? That depends on the performance. A single step could mean heaven or hell—there’s no room for carelessness.”

“Right,” Yu Fengqin nodded emphatically, then suddenly reached out and hugged Lin Qihua tightly. “I believe in you, Qihua. You can do it—go for it.”

“Uh, I will.” Lin Qihua stiffened instantly, a strange sensation washing over him. The delicate fragrance at the tip of his nose made his face flush red.