Chapter 164: The Rankings Are Revealed
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After stepping offstage, Chen Qi went straight back to the preparation area and greeted the third singer scheduled to perform.
The singer could not help but smile wryly when he saw Chen Qi coming over.
After hearing Song Quqi’s performance, he had had enough time to recover, so Chen Qi’s appearance onstage no longer shocked him as much as it had before.
Even so, he still could not understand why Chen Qi had gone onstage himself.
“I had no choice. I really couldn’t find anyone else.” Chen Qi always gave the same excuse.
The singer shook his head with a laugh and said no more, heading straight toward the stage.
In the auditorium, the audience craned their necks expectantly when they heard footsteps.
After the surprise Song Quqi had given them, their expectations had been raised to the limit.
They were filled with curiosity about the identity of the next singer.
The third singer soon appeared in their line of sight.
Almost instinctively, the audience leaned forward.
Judging by his build, he seemed to be a man.
A few seconds later, the third singer stepped into the light.
“Oh—”
Though the audience tried desperately to restrain themselves after recognizing his face, several people still burst into startled cries.
The third performer was Qin Mengxue, one of the leading figures in middle-generation pop music.
“Whoa! Qin Mengxue!”
“Wow, now there’s some pressure!”
“My God, this lineup is terrifying!”
The singers backstage were equally stunned when they saw Qin Mengxue.
After watching nearly half the show, they had begun to believe Chen Qi.
This program really did seem to have the potential to become a sensation.
Even the managers who had repeatedly advised their singers not to listen to Chen Qi and not to participate in a program like this now looked considerably more solemn.
The quality of the show had far exceeded their expectations, whether in terms of its impact or its lineup of guests.
...
Onstage, Qin Mengxue bowed repeatedly in acknowledgment, without wasting a word on unnecessary remarks.
That was something Chen Qi had specifically required in the contracts.
They were responsible only for singing. Everything else could be left to the production team.
Any extra words they wished to say could be covered in the pre-show and post-show interviews.
Soon, the music began.
It was another familiar song by Qian Qin.
When Qin Mengxue opened his mouth, the audience once again let out a silent gasp of admiration.
When he finished singing, the thunderous cheers nearly blew the roof off the venue!
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Qin Mengxue then bowed deeply, turned around, and walked offstage.
Chen Qi went onstage to invite the fourth singer up.
Then came the fifth, the sixth...
One after another, the seven singers took the stage, performing classic songs that the audience knew by heart. The atmosphere rose higher with every song.
The excited, exhilarated cheers pierced through the recording venue and drifted outside, leaving the staff beyond the doors so anxious they felt as if a hundred claws were scratching at their hearts.
The cheers were driving them nearly insane!
How had Chen Qi managed to create such a frenzied atmosphere?
It simply made no sense.
Never mind everything else—Chen Qi did not even have a host! How was this program supposed to continue?
For the entire television station, these three hours were sheer torture.
The hosts who had been waiting for a chance to win back some ground were suffering terribly. Even Deputy Station Director Wu downstairs was restless and unable to sit still.
In truth, he had very much wanted to go to the venue and see the program for himself, but in the end, he had been unable to bring himself to do it.
Yet after hearing his assistant describe the audience’s reaction, he regretted it immediately.
If he had known it would be this agonizing, he would have gone no matter how much pride he had to swallow!
...
“Oh—”
At the venue, the applause and cheers continued without end.
The audience, having just finished listening to the final singer, had nearly gone wild.
Although six of the seven songs had been old classics, they had still enjoyed themselves immensely.
It had been so long since they had felt this satisfied!
So long since they had watched such an outstanding music program!
What a thrill!
A completely exhilarating thrill!
Their trip had been worth it!
Onstage, Chen Qi stood quietly, allowing the audience to release all their excitement and exhilaration.
This was their affirmation of the program.
After quite some time, the audience finally began to settle down.
Chen Qi picked up the microphone and, as usual, urged the audience to vote for the final contestant.
After finishing his appeal, he did not forget to introduce the band and musicians accompanying the performers to both the audience present and those who would watch the program in the future.
“Finally, please cast your votes!”
The moment he said those words, the staff who had been waiting in the venue sprang into action.
Chen Qi said nothing more. He simply bowed and walked offstage.
The station director, who had somehow managed to watch the entire program, rose from his seat and left thoughtfully.
Deputy Station Director Wang hurried after him, not daring to delay.
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...
Backstage, the six singers who had completed their post-show interviews were gathered in one room.
“Hello.”
“Hello.”
“Hello, hello!”
They greeted one another politely, shaking hands or embracing.
In truth, they were not familiar with one another. Some were even meeting for the first time.
But each of them had a considerable reputation and standing in the industry, and even if they were not acquainted, they knew who the others were. Besides, they were all musicians and had performed on the same stage at one time or another, so they could hardly be called strangers.
“I really didn’t expect a lineup like this. Otherwise, I definitely would have thought it over more carefully!”
“Don’t even say that. When I saw you all come onstage, I was scared half to death!”
“These three hours nearly gave me a heart attack. Each surprise was bigger than the last.”
It was nothing more than the usual mutual flattery between colleagues.
Just then, Chen Qi walked in with a broad smile.
“Director!”
“Director!”
Chen Qi held little standing in the music industry, but fortunately, he was the highest-ranking person on the production team. Moreover, he was the one footing the bill, so everyone treated him with considerable courtesy.
Of course, if their earlier politeness had stemmed merely from their regard for his position as producer, their attitude toward him now was genuine admiration.
Never mind the high-quality original song he had performed at the beginning—even the fact that he had managed to produce a program of this caliber was enough to make them think twice before underestimating him.
They all knew that he had created the show from the ground up.
Chen Qi smiled and greeted everyone before asking, “How did it feel?”
“You still have the nerve to ask? You scared me so badly at the beginning that I nearly decided to quit.” Qin Mengxue teased him, only half joking. “You never said you were going to perform, either!”
“Hahahaha...”
The remark made everyone laugh.
Chen Qi laughed as well and chatted with them in a relaxed manner about this and that.
More than half an hour later, Su Xiaoxiao approached with a set of figures.
They were the voting results from the five hundred audience members present.
For some reason, Su Xiaoxiao seemed a little nervous as she handed them to Chen Qi.
At the sight of yet another opportunity to torment the singers, Chen Qi’s eyes lit up involuntarily. He took the figures with eager anticipation and quickly glanced over them.
Then he froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief. Only after examining the results carefully once more and confirming that he had not misread them did he look up at Su Xiaoxiao in bewilderment.
Meeting his gaze, Su Xiaoxiao nodded lightly and said somewhat timidly, “The figures are correct. We checked them three times.”
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