Entertainment: A song that brought his deceased wife back to life.

Binhai Olympic Sports Center.

This is the recording site of the semi-finals of "The Rising Star".

The stadium, which can hold 50,000 people, was packed to capacity.

Tickets scalped outside the venue have been sold for five figures, yet they are still extremely difficult to obtain.

There is no other reason.

The man who sang a cappella on stage and moved the entire nation to tears is coming back today.

The level of security is unprecedented.

There's a guard every three steps and a sentry every five steps.

Even the audience members had to go through three security checks to enter, and even nail clippers were not allowed to be brought in.

After all, no one can guarantee that Xu Qing, whose mental state is worrying, won't put on some earth-shattering performance on stage again.

The main control room.

The newly appointed chief director, Zhou Yan, sat in front of a wall full of monitors, twirling a pen in his hand.

He's not in good condition.

He couldn't swallow the insult of being thrown out of the parking lot like trash by that bodyguard yesterday.

"Is all the equipment ready?" Zhou Yan asked coldly.

The technical director next to him wiped his sweat and pointed to several complex waveforms on the screen.

"Director Zhou, everything is ready."

"This is the latest audio spectrum analyzer, which connects directly to the main microphone on stage."

"The red light will illuminate if the contestant's total pitch is below C5, which is High C."

"The system will automatically determine that the skill level is 'not up to standard' and deduct points on the big screen."

Zhou Yan nodded in satisfaction.

This is the "coffin" he prepared for Xu Qing.

Xu Qing is a folk singer.

What are the characteristics of folk singers?

His voice is deep and resonant; he tells stories with heartfelt emotion.

However, most folk singers have a fatal weakness—they can't sing high notes.

Moreover, Xu Qing looks incredibly weak; he probably can't even muster the strength to poop, let alone sing C5.

"very good."

Zhou Yan slammed his pen on the table, his face covered in a disgusting grin.

"Add this rule to the scrolling text on the big screen."

Use the largest font size.

"I want the entire audience to stare at that red light."

"The moment Xu Qing opens his mouth and the red light flashes, he's finished."

……

The front panel of judges.

Ke Min was dressed in a black business suit today, but the expression on her face was even darker than her clothes.

She looked at the newly updated competition rules on the teleprompter in front of her, her brows furrowing into a deep frown.

"This is utter nonsense!"

Ke Min slammed the pen in her hand onto the table.

"Music is for expressing emotions, when did it become a sporting event?"

"Is it a strict rule that you have to sing up to C5?"

"Even Luciano Pavarotti would curse them if he came!"

The chubby judge and the long-haired judge next to him exchanged a glance, neither daring to speak.

They've taken the money, so naturally they have to keep quiet.

Sitting on the far right, "Teacher Luo" pushed up the huge sunglasses on his nose.

Behind the glasses, her almond-shaped eyes were now radiating a chilling light.

Luo Qianyu stared at the glaring "C5" standard on the big screen.

She knows Xu Qing too well.

Xu Qing actually has a wide vocal range, but he doesn't like to show off his skills.

He always sings however he feels comfortable.

These rigid standards are like putting heavy shackles on an eagle that is flying freely in the sky.

Zhou Yan.

Luo Qianyu silently recited the name in her heart.

well.

Since you want to play by the rules, then I'll play along to the end.

After this game is over, I'll show you what the rules of capital really mean.

Ke Min turned her head and glanced at the taciturn "Teacher Luo".

"Teacher Luo, what do you think?"

Ke Min lowered her voice.

"This is clearly aimed at Xu Qing."

"If that kid really can't hit the high notes later, we'll have to find a way to protect him."

Luo Qianyu turned her head, a slight smile playing on her lips behind her sunglasses.

"Protect him?"

"Teacher Ke, you underestimate him."

Ke Min was taken aback.

She sensed a blind confidence in the tone of this mysterious teacher, Mr. Luo.

There was also a hint of... a protective, murderous intent.

……

The athletes' preparation area.

This place is divided into two worlds by a screen.

On one side is the brightly lit "Royal Zone," where makeup artists are constantly on their side.

On the other side is a "slum" with only a few folding chairs and not even a mirror.

Zhang Ye, dressed in a sequined costume, swayed in front of Ye Zhi Qiu like a peacock.

"Brother Ye, this time it's a sure thing."

Zhang Ye handed over a bottle of water with a fawning expression.

"I just read the rules, and I have to sing High C."

"Isn't this tailor-made for you?"

"Who doesn't know you're the 'High Note King'? When you open your throat, you can shatter glass."

Ye Zhi Qiu leaned back on the leather sofa, closing his eyes as he practiced warming up his voice.

He didn't take the water, but just gave a faint hum.

"Just a C5."

"For me, that's the starting price."

Ye Zhi Qiu opened his eyes and glanced contemptuously at the other side of the screen.

Although he couldn't see anyone, he could smell the scent of cheap chewing gum wafting over from that direction.

"Where is Xu Qing?"

Still chewing gum?

Zhang Ye chuckled.

"you do not say."

"He's probably terrified."

"I overheard them talking when I passed by just now, saying they didn't even bring their guitars."

"I think he's ready to give up and do whatever he wants."

"Does a novelist really think he can stay lucky forever?"

"Let's expose his true colors today."

Ye Zhi Qiu closed his eyes again.

"Don't be careless."

"When a lion hunts a rabbit, it uses its full strength."

"When I go on stage later, I'll use the high notes of my G5 to send him home."

On the other side of the screen.

Xu Qing was indeed chewing gum.

He sat on a folding chair, his long legs casually stretched out, and closed his eyes to rest.

Wang Dazhu, Li Ergou, and Zhang Tiedan were squatting on the ground, adjusting each other's collars.

They weren't wearing those fancy wedding and funeral outfits today.

They also did not wear the cheap costumes provided by the production team.

Instead, everyone wore a white shirt.

The simplest white shirt.

It was washed clean and ironed perfectly flat.

He even buttoned the top button up.

They don't look like they're here for a competition; they look more like they're going to attend some solemn ceremony.

"elder brother……"

Wang Dazhu tugged at his slightly tight collar, looking nervous.

"I heard that Ye Zhi Qiu has a really loud voice."

"He can roar and shatter a teacup."

"Are we really not going to bring any equipment?"

He was referring to the suona.

In the last match, the suona was unstoppable.

That thing is practically a nuclear weapon.

But today, Xu Qing told them to go up empty-handed.

They brought nothing but people.

Xu Qing opened her eyes.

He spat the tasteless chewing gum into a tissue and wrapped it up.

"Need not."

Xu Qing stood up and straightened her white shirt.

"The suona is used to send people off on their journeys."

"We won't be seeing you off today."

"Let's go pick them up."

Picking someone up?

Wang Dazhu and the other two looked at each other in bewilderment.

Who to pick up?

Xu Qing did not explain.

He subconsciously touched his wrist.

It was deserted there.

In the past, when he went on stage, he had to hold that broken guitar in his hand.

Because it was given to me by a little fish.

That was his courage.

But today, he doesn't need it anymore.

Because the little fish was right there in the audience.

Right there on the judges' panel, someone wearing sunglasses was watching him.

As long as she's there.

He is invincible.

……

"Now we will proceed with the lottery!"

The host's voice rang out from the front.

The numbers on the big screen began to scroll.

The hearts of the entire audience were in their throats.

In this 1v1 match, the order of appearance is crucial.

If you're the last to appear, the psychological pressure will be immense.

However, if you go first and don't sing well, you can easily be overshadowed by the high scores from those who come later.

"stop!"

The screen freezes.

A large "1" appeared after Xu Qing's name.

Attack first.

Moreover, it was a battle against Ye Zhi Qiu.

This is what is known as a "death draw".

"It's all over, it's all over..."

"This is such bad luck."

"The first one to go on stage is going to hit a high note? How can you hit a high note when your voice hasn't even warmed up?"

"This is a sign that Heaven is going to kill my great Azure Fish God!"

The live stream chat was instantly flooded with negative comments.

In the back-end control room.

Zhou Yan snapped his fingers in satisfaction upon seeing the result.

"Heaven is helping me!"