Three Kingdoms: Start by marrying Cai Yan, then vie for supremacy.

48

"This championship is well-deserved!"

......

"It truly is a phoenix myth!"

"Teacher Mo is amazing!"

The other singers offered their congratulations, but Li Shengjie did not step forward.

Mo and Linghua smiled sincerely.

Winning a championship in a professional competition like "I Am a Singer" is a joy that needs no hiding.

Suzuka's reaction was much more straightforward than Mo's; she laughed heartily and said, "Winning first place finally relieved my worries!"

A knot in my heart?

Everyone was puzzled by Linghua's "heart knot," but she didn't explain further, and others didn't feel comfortable asking about her private affairs, so the mystery remained unsolved.

Han Lei looked at Mo and Linghua, who were attracting much attention, and felt a mix of emotions.

This wasn't jealousy—his magnanimity far surpassed that of Li Shengjie. It was just that, as a senior figure in the music industry, he even brought his treasured song "Borrow Five Hundred Years from Heaven" to the stage, yet he still missed out on the championship.

Time flies, and new talents emerge in droves. This result acted like a powerful stimulant, instantly igniting Han Lei's fighting spirit. He hadn't given his all in the first episode, so the loss was acceptable; but this defeat after going all out made him determined to break through his own limitations.

He wants to prove to the world that even veterans can move mountains and rivers!

"Phew—" Han Lei let out a long sigh of relief. Noticing something was wrong, Wang Feng leaned closer and asked, "Teacher Han Lei, are you alright?"

"It's alright," Han Lei waved his hand. Wang Feng understood and remained silent—how could he not understand Wang Feng's feelings at this moment? Among the singers present, besides Han Lei, he was the most senior.

But surpassing these rising stars is an incredibly difficult task!

unless......

Wang Feng stared intently at the stage, a crazy idea exploding in his mind: It's just creating a new song, right? Anyone can do that! He's going to make a name for himself in the next competition!

......

Inside the live stream room.

Zhou Jielun and Lin Junjie had already left. The final ranking was meaningless to them—their goal for the day had been achieved. Mo Na's breathtaking high notes had completely captivated these two musical giants.

The echoes of music lingered in the villa.

A cool night breeze swirled fallen leaves through the air. In the courtyard, Zhou Jielun and Lin Junjie sat facing each other, the aroma of tea wafting through the air.

"JJ, I'm considering participating in 'I Am a Singer'," Zhou Jielun suddenly said.

Lin Junjie nearly dropped his teacup: "What? You're going to 'I Am a Singer'?" He jumped up abruptly. "Are you kidding me! With your status, would the show even dare to invite you?"

"They never invited me," Zhou Jielun sighed.

"That's right!" Lin Junjie waved his arms excitedly. "If you went, would there still be any suspense about the championship? In the entire Chinese music scene, who has more fans than you?"

Zhou Jielun muttered resentfully, "How come Phoenix Myth and Deng Ziqi were allowed to go?"

"Can you even compare them?" Lin Junjie said, both amused and exasperated. "They're still in their rising phase and need exposure, while you've already hit rock bottom, okay?"

Seeing that Zhou Jielun was still persistent, Lin Junjie asked helplessly, "What exactly are you after?"

"What a challenge!" Zhou Jielun's eyes lit up. "The ranking competition is fierce, and what I lack most right now is motivation."

Lin Junjie rolled his eyes: "I think you just drink too much bubble tea and don't get enough exercise!"

As is well known, Zhou Jielun has a special fondness for milk tea and is also a game enthusiast.

Zhou Jielun said with a hint of shyness, "I just wanted to find some excitement through the competition, so that I could inspire my creative ideas!"

"Fans have been waiting six years for this new album. Although several songs have been completed, it's still a long way from the full 12 tracks!"

"If I didn't participate in the competition, I really don't know when I would have finished writing the new song!"

Faced with Zhou Jielun's candor, Lin Junjie sighed softly, "I understand your thoughts, but participating in the competition is indeed unrealistic."

"Hong Tao definitely won't agree to you participating."

"He knows that once you step onto the stage, most of the other contestants will back down!"

Zhou Jielun scoffed, "I don't believe it!"

"If that's the case, then Phoenix Myth always comes in first place, so why don't we see other singers quitting?"

"Because Mo's popularity hasn't reached its peak yet!" Lin Junjie explained, "But you're different. Everyone recognizes your strength and creative talent, and no one wants to compete with you head-on."

"But I don't think that kid, Mo, will be intimidated."

Zhou Jielun said, "That settles it. Someone will always stay. If someone really quits, we can just find a replacement."

"If you really want to be on variety shows, I suggest you consider being a mentor on a talent show. Lots of shows would be vying to invite you," Lin Junjie suggested. "The currently popular 'The Voice of China' is recruiting mentors. Do you want me to help you apply?"

"No need," Zhou Jielun politely declined. "Those kinds of shows are too... sensational, and the behind-the-scenes relationships are complicated. Going will only cause more trouble."

"Then there's nothing we can do," Lin Junjie said, shrugging.

Zhou Jielun's gaze was resolute: "I really want to compete against Mo and the others on the same stage."

Lin Junjie chuckled helplessly, "I really can't do anything with you. Why don't you just call Hong Tao and ask?"

As he spoke, Lin Junjie pulled up a phone number and handed it to Zhou Jielun: "Here, this is his contact information."

Zhou Jielun asked疑惑地问道, "How did you get Hong Tao's phone number?"

"Oh, this," Lin Junjie smiled slightly, "He asked me to contact a singer before, and I saved his number."

Zhou Jielun didn't think much of it. He took the phone, hesitated for a moment, and finally dialed the number.

beep-

The phone rang quickly, but Hong Tao did not answer it immediately.

Zhou Jielun and Lin Junjie were completely unaware that this was the moment when Hong Tao would reveal the results of the competition.

If they watched "I Am a Singer," they would understand why Hung Tao hadn't answered the phone for so long.

……

Backstage at "I Am a Singer".

Hong Tao had just announced that Phoenix Myth had won first place, and the other singers came forward to congratulate him, but he noticed that his silent phone in his pocket was vibrating incessantly.

He initially didn't want to pay attention, but seeing that the group's pleasantries would take some time, he took out his phone to check. If it wasn't important, he planned to hang up immediately.

however.

The words "Lin Junjie" were clearly displayed on the screen.

Hong Tao didn't understand for a moment, and after hesitating for a while, she finally pressed the answer button.

"Teacher Lin Junjie, I'm a bit busy right now..." Before he could finish speaking, a voice that was both unfamiliar and familiar came from the receiver—it wasn't Lin Junjie, but Zhou Jielun!

"I am Zhou Jielun!" In just two short sentences, the other party directly stated his identity.

"Ah! It's Teacher Jielun!" Hong Tao unconsciously raised her voice, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Suddenly, all around became silent!

Zhou Jielun? Why did he contact Hong Tao?

Suppressing their curiosity, everyone held their breath and stared intently at Hong Tao.

He had intended to answer the phone away from the crowd, but since he was already the center of attention, he could only cough lightly, sit down, and ask, "Teacher Jielun, what can I do for you?"

Zhou Jielun didn't mince words and went straight to the point: "Director Hong, can I participate in 'I Am a Singer'? I just need to fill a singer's spot."

……

Even Hong Tao was stunned by these words.

Is Zhou Jielun going to be on "I Am a Singer"?

Hong Tao asked incredulously, "Teacher Jielun, are you serious?"

"Of course," Zhou Jielun said firmly, "I'm not joking."

Hong Tao immediately fell into deep thought.

This matter is of great importance, and Hong Tao cannot make a decision on her own; she must consider all aspects.

As Hong Tao pondered, the audience erupted in cheers!

"***! ***! ***! Even three swear words can't describe the shock I felt!"

"Is Zhou Jielun possessed by something? He actually volunteered to go on 'I Am a Singer'?"

"For someone of Zhou Jielun's status, participating in this kind of competition is like a game-changer!"

"It would be pointless if he actually came; the other singers aren't even worth watching."

"Let's see if Hong Tao dares to accept the challenge!"

"The Phoenix Myth isn't afraid! Whoever it is, we'll fight back without hesitation!"

"Exactly! The Phoenix Myth is amazing! Even if the Heavenly King comes, we'll still beat it!"

"Director Hong Tao's CPU must be about to burn out by now, right?"

"This is the first time Zhou Jielun has actively requested to appear on a variety show; he used to beg for these kinds of offers!"

What is the magic behind "I Am a Singer"?

"You'd be lucky if you could guess it!"

……

The viewers in the live stream were in an uproar—they were just listening to Zhou Jielun and Lin Junjie comment on the songs, and now this guy is going to compete?

This turn of events was so sudden!

"Zhou Jielun is indeed willful!"

"I guess he was silenced by the veiled criticism; the Heavenly King can't save face."

"Unfortunately, the production team definitely wouldn't dare take on this hot potato."

"What if? Maybe Hong Tao will make an exception?"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"If it really comes, Mona's fiery temper won't care about who's the king or queen; he'll still snatch first place!"

"Keep bragging! Mo doesn't even dare compare himself to Zhou Jielun!"

The comments section instantly split into several factions: supporters, defenders of Zhou, and rational analysts... and the arguments became fierce.

After a long while, Hong Tao finally looked up: "Teacher Jielun..."

The entire room fell silent. Deng Ziqi, Zhang Jie, and the others all held their breath.

Hong Tao said, enunciating each word clearly, "I'm sorry, I cannot agree."

"Your style doesn't fit our program, and you're not suitable to participate in 'I Am a Singer'."

"I'm sorry!"

Hong Tao actually rejected Zhou Jielun?

**!

The crowd erupted in chaos!

Zhang Jie repeated in a low voice, "They...they refused?"

Deng Ziqi's eyes widened: "Director Hong is so tough!"

"Director Hong's composure is amazing!" Zhang Liangying shook his head and exclaimed.

……

Zhou Jielun calmly replied, "Understood."

The call abruptly ended.

He returned the phone to Lin Junjie, his brow furrowed with an unyielding sense of desolation.

Lin Junjie patted his shoulder lightly: "Do you believe me now? Why would I lie to you?"

Zhou Jielun suddenly clenched his fist: "Wait! There's still a chance!"

"JJ, maybe you can get on too!"

"What?" Lin Junjie frowned and looked him over. "What other way do you have?"

"Hong Tao personally refused!"

A burning light flashed in Zhou Jielun's eyes: "He must have forgotten that agreement!"

"If that happens, we can get on stage!"

These cryptic words left Lin Junjie completely bewildered: "What exactly do I need to do?"

Zhou Jielun mysteriously raised his index finger:

"Keep it a secret for now. Answer me first—"

"If the opportunity presents itself, JJ..."

Would you like to go on stage?

……

Would you like to go on stage?

This soul-searching question made Lin Junjie fall into deep thought.

To participate?

give up?

It was not an obsession for him.

But looking at Zhou Jielun's expectant eyes—

"Okay, I'll go with you." Lin Junjie finally nodded.

He knew all too well his old friend's stubbornness.

"That's great!" Zhou Jielun smiled, a smile he hadn't shown in a long time. "Actually, the plan is..."

As they whispered, Lin Junjie suddenly realized—Zhou Jielun had his eye on the performance slots for various diplomatic delegations!

During the preparation stage of "I Am a Singer," Mo met with representatives of various foreign missions. The head of the delegation proposed inviting top singers from around the world to participate in this musical extravaganza.

This is clearly a battle between strong opponents!

Those who will take the stage will undoubtedly be music industry giants, not ordinary people.

Looking at the current lineup, while it boasts many talented singers, most of them have influence limited to the domestic market. Opening the competition to international audiences would undoubtedly attract a global audience. To compete, they must unleash their true trump cards—like Zhou Jielun! Or Lin Junjie!

Zhou Jielun once graced the cover of Time magazine, and at the beginning of the century, his song "In the Name of the Father" set a record of being listened to simultaneously by 800 million people, demonstrating his immense influence. In comparison, Wang Feng, Zhang Jie, and others are somewhat inferior, and Han Lei's peak has passed.

"This is the moment to go to war for our country!" Zhou Jielun's eyes were burning with determination.

Lin Junjie was shocked upon hearing this: "If that's true, I will definitely join the war!" This international event captivated him.

"The opportunity is right in front of us!" Zhou Jielun exclaimed excitedly. "JJ, our fate rests on this!"

This could become a world-renowned music extravaganza.