From unemployment in crosstalk to top star in Chinese entertainment

Li Jian's expression was subtle.

It's not that it's unpleasant to listen to, nor is it pleasant to listen to; it's a subtle feeling that makes you think, "I need to think about how to evaluate it."

For some reason, Yu Liang's sudden shout reminded him of Yue Yunpeng singing "The Fifth Ring Road" on "Singer".

"Why don't you choose another one?"

Seeing that Li Jian had become serious.

Yu Liang also sang a song formally.

"Your vocal quality is excellent." He carefully chose his words. "You have depth in your mid and low registers, and your high notes aren't strained. But your singing style... is very 'distinctive'."

"Teacher Li, just say it directly. I know it myself, it's Shang K flavor."

Li Jian smiled, his wrinkles deepening, making him appear much more approachable.

"It's easy to handle once you know it yourself. The core problem with the ShangK singing method isn't that you sing badly, it's that you try too hard to sing well."

"Your attention is on 'how to sing well,' not on 'what the song is about.'"

He asked Yu Liang to read the lyrics of the song he had just sung.

Yu Liang read it aloud. She didn't sing, she just read it, like she was speaking normally.

"You express more emotion when you read the lyrics than when you sing," Li Jian said. "Because when you read the lyrics, you don't have the burden of 'singing well.'"

"Your tone, pauses, and emphasis are all natural. Singing and speaking are essentially the same thing; both are about conveying what's in your heart to another person."

He played a chord.

"Take lyrics as words. Melody is just an extension of tone."

Yu Liang seemed to be deep in thought.

Over the next few days, Li Jian didn't teach him any techniques. There were no vocal exercises, no breath control training, and no guidance on resonance points.

Just have him read the lyrics over and over again, and then try to "read" the lyrics into a melody.

It was awkward at first. Yu Liang's ears had been formatted by those commercial KTV hits, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he automatically switched back to "performance" mode.

Li Jian wasn't in a hurry. He played the piano and guided him line by line, letting him imitate his way of speaking when he sang.

……

---

Two weeks later, the Xiang River.

"The Actor's Singing" uses the stage of "Singer". That is a world-class music variety show stage with top-notch lighting, sound, and stage design.

On the day of the live broadcast, five or six mobile signal vehicles were parked outside the studio.

After Yu Liang finished her makeup, she came out of the dressing room and walked towards the preparation area.

His makeup was light, and the stylist dressed him in a simple black turtleneck sweater paired with dark gray suit pants. His hair was left unstyled, with a natural, slightly parted look.

The stylist looked in the mirror for a long time and said, "With a face like yours, makeup would be superfluous."

The preparation area is an open-plan rest area with several sofas arranged in a semicircle, a coffee table in the middle, and a giant screen on the wall broadcasting the stage footage in real time.

When Yu Liang went in, there were already people inside.

Jia Jialiang leaned against the corner of the sofa, scrolling through his phone. Bai Baihe sat on the other side.

Hua Chenyu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, her back to everyone, with earphones in her ears.

As Yu Liang entered, three pairs of eyes swept over him one after another.

Jia Jialiang looked up, nodded, and then continued scrolling through his phone. Bai Baihe glanced at him in the mirror, her gaze lingering on his face for a couple of seconds before moving away.

Hua Chenyu did not turn around.

Yu Liang found a seat and sat down. He noticed there was another sofa in the corner, where two people were sitting: Zhou Xiao'ou and Zhai Tianlin.

Yu Liang recognized both of them; Zhai Tianlin's portrayal of Yang Xiu in "The Advisors Alliance" left a deep impression on him.

As for Zhou Xiao'ou, Yu Liang not only watched his performances in "Conquest" and "Struggle", but also frequently requested his songs when they went to karaoke.

The two veteran actors were chatting in hushed tones, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents unfolding around them.

Yu Liang had long heard of the hierarchy of disdain in the entertainment industry. Movie actors look down on TV actors, TV actors look down on variety show personalities, and variety show personalities look down on internet celebrities. He currently belongs to none of these categories, stuck in the middle, hanging in the air.

The door was pushed open again.

Dilireba walked in. She wore a white dress, and her hair was loosely braided into a fishtail braid that hung down her shoulders. She was like a moving ray of light, brightening the air wherever she went.

Jia Jialiang put down his phone. Bai Baihe closed the mirror.

Hua Chenyu took off her headphones and turned around.

"It's hot, there's a seat here." Hua Chenyu pointed to the sofa next to her.

Dilireba smiled, said thank you, and then—

He sat down next to Yu Liang.

"Teacher Yu Liang, it's nice to see you again."

Yu Liang was taken aback. They had never met before. But when Dilireba said "We meet again," his tone was so natural, as if they had really met before.

"I've seen your 'Joy of Life' promotional video," she said. "I watched Teng Zijing's eyes before he died several times."

"Thanks."

"When you were filming action scenes with Ruoyun, did you actually fall?"

"real."

Dilireba's eyes lit up, and he was about to ask another question when Hua Chenyu's voice interrupted.

"Hey, I tried that Hunan restaurant you recommended last time, it was pretty good."

His tone was casual, as if he were continuing a conversation that only the two of them knew.

Dilireba politely turned around and replied, "Really? That place makes pretty good chopped chili fish head."

Then she turned back and asked Yu Liang again, "If you really fell, wouldn't it hurt?"

Yu Liang looked at her. Dilireba's eyes were bright, with a brightness unique to Xinjiang girls. Her curiosity seemed genuine, not just politeness or social niceties.

"It hurts," he said, "but if you fall in the right place, it doesn't hurt."

What does it mean to fall correctly?

"that is--"

Before he could explain, the door to the preparation area was pushed open again. Several staff members from Douyin walked in, led by a young woman wearing glasses with a name tag that read "Douyin Operations and Activities Officer".

"Professor Yu Liang, excuse me for bothering you."

All eyes turned to them.

"You are the Douyin recommender for this program, and we need to record a short video of you greeting the Douyin audience. Please come with me for a moment."

Yu Liang stood up and followed her out of the preparation area. The moment the door closed behind him, he felt several gazes pierce him at the same time.

---

At the end of the corridor, Douyin staff had already set up their equipment.

"Teacher Yu, you can just say to the camera, 'I am Yu Liang, I am watching 'The Actor's Singing,' watch exclusive behind-the-scenes footage on Douyin,' and that's it."

Yu Liang recorded it twice. The first time, he spoke too fast, but the second time he passed.

When he returned,

The giant screen in the preparation area lit up.

On stage, lights poured down from the dome, bathing the entire studio in a deep-sea blue. The noise from the audience was absorbed into the microphones, becoming a low, humming background noise.

Wang Han walked out from the side of the stage. He wore a black suit and black-rimmed glasses, and his steps were neither hurried nor slow.

"Not only will there be a great show, but also some great singing!"

As soon as Wang Han entered, he began reading the slogan for the show.

His voice wasn't loud, but every word landed steadily in every corner of the studio. Like a pebble thrown into water, the buzzing from the audience gradually subsided.

"Dear viewers, welcome to the large-scale music competition program 'The Actor's Singing,' co-produced by Hunan TV and Douyin! I am your host, Wang Han."

Applause erupted from the audience.

The camera cuts to the judges' panel. Three high-backed chairs are arranged in an arc, with lights on the backs of the chairs turning on one by one.

Wu Yifan. Black leather jacket, silver chain, a sharp jawline, and a small, handsome face. He nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth displaying that smile that has been imitated countless times across the internet.

The live chat exploded instantly.

【Brother Fan!!!】

Do you have freestyle?

[Kris Wu as a judge? His singing is electrifying!]

[Upstairs, you're incredibly bold]

Kris Wu looks so handsome today!

Yang Mi. Wearing a white suit, her hair was styled in an updo, revealing a clean section of her neck. She wasn't smiling; her gaze was fixed straight ahead, like a sheathed sword.

[Honey looks so cool today!]

I'm a little scared of this woman when she's not smiling.

Why is Yang Mi a judge on a music variety show? She's not even a singer.

[She's a judge, not a contestant, so what's it to you?]

[Honey, look at me!!!]