This Star Only Wants More Money - Chapter 9

Translator: Diviner

Not only did the people on-site lose their composure, but the live broadcast’s chat feed also exploded with comments.

“I thought this guy was just trying to create some hype, but he’s actually serious? Just a moment ago, when he said he was going to sing a love song, I thought there was going to be another cliché drama scene.”

“Damn, for a moment there, I almost believed he was playing the role of a sentimental fool trying to make up with his ex. I mean, someone who would sing a ‘civilized song’ in front of a live concert audience would never be a simp.”

“Hahaha, did you see the shocked expression on Sister Huan’s face? The last time we saw that look was during her concert.”

“Don’t forget, the last time it was also because of Xu Feng!”

“Even the song title is explosive. To be honest, if he can maintain his performance, I think he has a real shot at winning the championship.”

“Xu Feng is so ruthless. I like him a lot.”

“High looks, good singing, and he’s pretty funny too. He’s definitely better than those other people dancing like madmen.”

“My sister is already becoming his die-hard fan!”

“Even if the song is mediocre, I already like Xu Feng. I just appreciate someone who is straightforward and doesn’t mess around. I hate simps, especially those who try to go back to their exes.”

“He better sing well. I still don’t have much faith in original songs. The title is impressive, but what about the quality?”

“Same here… These singers’ originals often end up being rubbish.”

“…”

Both the judges in the venue and the audience watching online were intrigued by Xu Feng’s original song.

To many people, the words “celebrity” and “semi-illiterate” often go hand in hand, especially in today’s entertainment industry where this issue has become even more prevalent.

The show Tomorrow’s God of Song had been running for several years, and every year there would be a few hot-headed newcomers who thought their work was unparalleled, only to end up becoming laughingstocks.

Many contestants had even been turned into memes and were repeatedly mocked online.

Although the song title was intriguing this time, the majority still felt that Xu Feng was in for a rough time.

Xu Feng, holding his bass, strolled to the center of the stage. Unlike other singers who wore either formal attire or bizarre costumes, Xu Feng was in casual athletic wear, which didn’t stand out and even seemed a bit lackadaisical. This outfit made him look more like a street performer than a contestant in a competition.

But the way he casually held that instrument resembling a guitar, and the way he slipped into his performance mode, gave him an indescribable aura of nonchalance and freedom.

For high-appearance contestants like him, there was already a bias from the audience, causing many other participants to secretly envy his natural advantage.

Many people tried to use unique clothing and styles to highlight their personalities, emphasizing how different they were and how they didn’t care about ordinary judgments. Yet, they couldn’t help but be jealous of contestants like Xu Feng who had such broad appeal.

He stood there, not looking noble or wealthy, but with a roguish charm that seemed to invite people to drop everything and run away with him on an adventure.

“Dun~”

As Xu Feng began to pluck the strings, the first note resonated through the speakers, reaching everyone’s ears. Lin Shenghuan, who had been watching him closely, finally breathed a sigh of relief. With her exceptional musical ear, she could tell just from the prelude whether a song was going to sound good or not.

From this short intro alone, it was clear this song wouldn’t sound bad. For an original piece to sound even halfway decent was already a major success.

Lin Shenghuan’s beautiful eyes swept over the other three judges as she crossed her arms and a barely noticeable smile tugged at her lips, clearly feeling quite pleased with herself.

—Look, this is the contestant I picked!

Xiao Yue, who hated seeing Lin Shenghuan look this smug, snorted coldly: “There are plenty of songs with great intros that fall apart later on. Isn’t it a bit early to feel proud?”

“…”

No matter what the judges said or what the chat was buzzing about, none of it could disrupt Xu Feng’s state of mind.

Several days of practice had made him incredibly familiar with the instrument in his hands and the song he was about to perform.

After the prelude, Xu Feng gently swayed his head and began to sing.

“If the world is dark, actually, I’m quite beautiful.
What does it matter if it’s trivial or not, is there really anything wrong with that…”

The mellow, slightly magnetic voice fused perfectly with the instrument he was playing, echoing throughout the entire venue.

On his former world, Earth, this song was one of a certain superstar’s signature hits and was immensely popular in its day.

“Hm?” After hearing the first few lines, those who were expecting Xu Feng to pull off some kind of stunt suddenly had their expressions change.

They may not have been professionals, but their ears couldn’t lie. It wasn’t hard to distinguish between “good” and “bad.”

This song was surprisingly good.

The lyrics seemed ordinary at first glance, but when connected to the events surrounding Xu Feng, they took on a strangely fitting quality.

Compared to Xu Feng’s looks, that girl with her ordinary figure and appearance certainly could be called an “ugly monster.”

“This is good!” Lin Shenghuan’s gaze was fixed on Xu Feng. “Not only is the song good, but he also sings it well! His tone, breath control, articulation, and even emotion are all perfect.”

For songs with a more melancholic mood, performing them live was significantly harder than any energetic rap song!

Another judge immediately added, “His playing is excellent too! The bass is easy to pick up but incredibly hard to master, and Xu Feng is definitely a top-notch player. Impressive.”

“Hmph… just lucky, I guess.”

Meanwhile, the comments during the livestream were coming in at breakneck speed!

“Wow, this song is actually good? Did he really write this by himself?”

“Help, the lyrics make me want to laugh, but the song itself is so seriously romantic—what’s with this weird mix of feelings?”

“Look at how absorbed he is in his performance. The way he stays so serious—you think he’s just messing around, but he’s not—it’s hitting me right in the feels!”

“I have a hunch that if this guy keeps up his performance, he’s going to win the championship. If he releases this song to debut, it’s bound to blow up. If he comes out with a second high-quality piece during that time, his fanbase will solidify, and a new top-tier singer will emerge!”

“Even if he doesn’t, just with this song alone, he could secure a spot as a solid second-tier singer.”

“…”

On stage, Xu Feng strummed his bass effortlessly as he sang the chorus.

“Ugly monster… could you not turn the lights on?”
“The love I want only appears on a pitch-black stage…”

By the end of the chorus, the expressions of the judges onstage had already become deeply impressed.

Stable, very stable! The lyrics and composition were flawless, his singing was flawless, and even his playing was flawless!

How does Lin Shenghuan just randomly find such a talented contestant at her concert?

This kind of original song in a music competition was basically a form of dimensional attack against the other contestants.

Meng Guang’s performance had been good, right? But compared to Xu Feng’s performance, it was like elementary math versus advanced calculus. Even a layman could easily judge which was better.

Many well-dressed people in the audience were staring at Xu Feng’s information on the screen, which had “Independent” written brightly. Their eyes were wide with astonishment.

No one had signed this guy yet?!

Compared to those singers and trainees they had poured countless resources into with no results, Xu Feng, with his looks and talent, was on another level!

Several heads of talent agencies were already making plans.

In the waiting room, the remaining contestants stared at the large screen with complex expressions—now they had only one thought in mind: what kind of performance could they deliver to secure one of the remaining four qualifying spots?

Those who had previously been gloating over Xu Feng’s decision to reject the creative team and go for an original piece now had flushed faces.

A creative team?

No creative team could compete with Xu Feng’s song!

Especially Meng Guang, who had been so smug just moments ago. Now, his face was pale, his eyes fixed on the screen, his hands trembling slightly.

Appearance and charisma—he was outclassed. Popularity—outclassed. Singing skills—outclassed. He couldn’t even win in a verbal spat. Was he just going to end up as Xu Feng’s stepping stone?

Once the footage of their confrontation in the waiting room was aired, how would the netizens mock him, and what punishment would his agency impose?

He couldn’t even begin to imagine it!

Maybe even his mentor, Xiao Yue, would be implicated.

Xu Feng’s performance left the judges and the other contestants speechless, forcing them to raise white flags.

For the rest of the time, it was purely Xu Feng’s moment to shine, providing a feast of pure artistic enjoyment.

“Step on that fragile purity with all your might…”
“…I only exist by accident.”

As the final word was sung, Xu Feng stood up, bowed to the audience, and the venue erupted into prolonged applause.

“Thank you, everyone, thank you!”