**Chapter 2: Talent Show**
Today was the day Li Qing would make his comeback after a year of being sidelined. Through Han Han’s relentless efforts, the company finally relented and allowed Li Qing to participate in "Star of Music"!
This meant that today was Li Qing’s first public appearance after being away from the entertainment industry for a whole year. Of course, it could also be his last…
If Li Qing’s performance was as disappointing as it was a year ago, he would continue to be sidelined indefinitely until his contract with the company expired. However, this opportunity was more of a desperate measure than a real chance to boost his popularity. Unless he could stun the audience and create a significant impact, his comeback would be short-lived.
Given his previous abilities, the likelihood of Li Qing astonishing everyone was slim to none. Moreover, one of the judges this time was Zhao Wendi, a member of the former Fire Boy duo. This was a setup; the company had no intention of letting Li Qing make a comeback.
But, not only had Zhao Wendi changed significantly, no one could anticipate that the current Li Qing was also a different person.
Having somewhat clarified the situation, Li Qing sat at the makeup table, rubbing his chin and showing a thoughtful expression as he looked at himself in the mirror.
“A superstar, huh…” Li Qing murmured ambiguously.
Although he was an online writer in his previous life, Li Qing considered himself somewhat skilled in music. During his university days, he was quite popular on campus. In his free time, he loved playing guitar and singing in public. However, his voice was not particularly pleasant, so he mostly provided accompaniment for those willing to pay him to play while they sang. Over time, he earned the nickname “the walking jukebox” because of his ability to play almost any song requested.
Li Qing’s lips curled into a smile, and he began to recall the countless classic songs in his memory, thinking that now might be the time for them to shine.
“Next, contestant number 06, Li Qing, please prepare to go on stage.”
At that moment, a voice came from the rest area’s loudspeaker.
As the voice faded, Han Han quickly walked in from outside. She seemed even more nervous than Li Qing, her small face excited, “It’s your turn.”
Li Qing raised his head and looked at Han Han seriously. His focused gaze was as if he were examining a piece of art. Under his intense stare, Han Han blushed and whispered, “Why… why are you looking at me like that?”
Li Qing chuckled, then stood up, shaking off his thoughts. He knew that participating in "Star of Music" was an opportunity but also a battle—a battle to determine whether he could live a good life in this new world!
If he succeeded, the road ahead would be smooth, and he would have the qualification to embark on this path. If he failed, though he wouldn’t be utterly defeated, life would become much more difficult from then on…
The humiliations and isolation this body had endured over the past year flashed through his mind, and his expression became resolute.
Seeing the confidence and seriousness in Li Qing’s eyes, Han Han was momentarily moved. He… he seemed much more mature than before.
After ensuring there were no mistakes in Li Qing’s appearance, Han Han nervously led him to the backstage area. The host of "Star of Music" was already waiting there.
The host was a young man in his thirties, wearing glasses and reading his cue cards. When he noticed Li Qing and Han Han approaching, he glanced at them with disdain before quickly looking away, not bothering to get closer.
Han Han’s eyes flashed with anger but she quickly suppressed it. Li Qing sighed, knowing that according to the show’s format, the host should interview the new contestant to understand their background, skills, and reasons for participating. However, this host clearly had no intention of doing so.
The situation was delicate. Li Qing pondered over it.
At that moment, there was thunderous applause from the stage as contestant number 05 finished their performance. The host immediately put on a smile and enthusiastically spoke into the camera, “Contestant number 05 has a heavenly voice and excellent singing skills. We wish them the best of luck! Next, let’s welcome contestant number 06!”
“What kind of performance will contestant number 06 bring? Let’s find out!”
Li Qing had to admire the host’s eloquence. From a professional standpoint, this host was competent, delivering his speech clearly and quickly in about six to seven seconds—an impressive feat in the hosting industry.
However, this had nothing to do with Li Qing. Amidst the applause, Li Qing took the microphone from the host and prepared to step onto the stage. Suddenly, he felt someone tug his arm. Turning around, he saw Han Han’s slightly pale face, showing a hint of worry, “Just do your best, don’t push yourself.”
Li Qing looked at her seriously again, then reached out and ruffled her bangs, smiling, “Don’t worry, I won’t let you down.”
With that, he turned and strode onto the stage. Watching his back as he walked into the spotlight, Han Han felt a strange sensation growing in her heart. He… he wouldn’t let her down?
Looking at his figure, Han Han found herself lost in thought.
As Li Qing stepped onto the stage, the studio erupted in applause. There were about one or two thousand people in the audience, and the stage was spacious and lavishly decorated. It was clear that "Star of Music" was well-funded, capable of offering a grand prize of 100,000 yuan—a significant sum in 1997, equivalent to a million in later years.
In front of the stage sat four judges—three men and one woman—all renowned artists in the industry. In formal settings, singers and actors alike held the title of artist, their prestige varying by reputation. Although "Star of Music" wasn’t a top-tier show nationwide, it was certainly among the best of the second tier. Therefore, the judges were mostly esteemed figures who had once been very popular but had since faded from the limelight.
As Li Qing stood in the center of the stage, he felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny of numerous eyes. Some gazes were filled with doubt, admiration, astonishment, and disdain. This was an unfamiliar experience for him, making his legs tremble slightly. He was genuinely a bit scared.
However, when he saw the familiar figure with a faint smile on the judges' panel, his restless heart suddenly calmed down.
Zhao Wendi…
The other member of the Fire Boy duo, a talented singer who, after the group disbanded, launched a solo career and won numerous awards, becoming a leading figure in the new generation of singers.
At the sight of Zhao Wendi, Li Qing’s mind cleared instantly, though a flame of humiliation burned within him. This emotion didn’t cloud his judgment, but it was undeniably present—a subconscious reaction from this body.
Li Qing squinted his eyes.
As Li Qing took the stage with the microphone, murmurs arose from the audience. Conversations buzzed around him.
“He’s so handsome!”
“Indeed, but he looks familiar.”
“Ah, look at his badge, his name is Li Qing.”
“Who’s Li Qing?”
“Fire Boy, Li Qing!”
The audience gasped, their discussions growing louder. Some eyes shone with excitement, others with disdain, and some remained indifferent, not recognizing the name Li Qing.
On the judges’ panel, film star Xu Wensheng, hearing the audience’s reactions, glanced at Zhao Wendi sitting quietly beside him and smiled, “Wendi, is this Li Qing? He’s indeed handsome and seems polite, unlike the rumors.”
“He seems shy, but appearances can be deceiving,” said Han Wenya, the only female judge, shaking her head as if she knew some inside stories.
Zhao Wendi, with his shoulder-length hair, smiled, “Qingzi is just a bit hot-tempered; otherwise, he’s fine.”
Fine?
The other three judges exchanged glances and remained silent. They were well aware of Li Qing’s reputation and the feud between him and Zhao Wendi. When Fire Boy debuted, their album sales were impressive, and they were frequently invited to radio and TV shows. However, rumors of discord between the members and Li Qing’s diva-like behavior soon emerged, causing the promising group to disband prematurely.
Now, one had been sidelined for a year, his fame dwindling, while the other had flourished in the music industry, reaching a status comparable to the judges themselves. The choice was clear.
As Li Qing stood calmly on stage, the judges quickly made their decision.
NEXT