In a five-star hotel, Zhang Rui, the chief director of The Singer, was chatting with several singers.
Zhang Rui: "Everyone, do your best tomorrow! I won't treat you seniors to drinks today to avoid affecting your performance."
Yang Rongjun: "Director Zhang is too courteous. May I ask the identities of the other three singers?"
Wu Sisi: "Yes! The seniors are all here. I'm so nervous being the most junior with the least seniority and youngest."
Zhang Rui: "Don't worry. There's an even younger newcomer!"
Quan Yu: "Who? A newcomer straight into this? What a bold calf!"
Zhang Rui: "Prominent background. You'll know tomorrow."
Zhao Xianying: "Prominent background? I see!"
Zhang Rui: "Hehe, yes. I haven't seen her rehearse either. As an idol debut, her skills definitely aren't great."
Zhou Hanfei: "An idol? Very popular? That's troublesome. The competition is based on audience votes!"
Zhang Rui: "No use. The program team has directly filtered out votes from those under 18 to prevent fans from overly influencing the seniors' performance."
Yang Rongjun: "Thank Director Zhang! My fans are older and may not understand voting. I really fear losing to the youngsters!"
Zhang Rui: "The planning considered fairness! Minors should have protections yet also limitations. Adults naturally have higher self-discipline and fairness."
The singers all gave a thumbs up. But they were secretly competing!
After Zhang Rui left, everyone dispersed to their rooms.
-----------------------
Elsewhere.
After being kicked off set, Tan Shen was sent directly back to Shang Hai. He pretended nothing had happened and had his assistant Xiao Chen drive him back to his apartment.
Xiao Chen felt uneasy enroute: "Teacher Tan Shen, you're not going back to the villa?"
Was it because of the incident with the stray dog that made Teacher Tan Shen uncomfortable about returning to the villa?
Xiao Chen started feeling guilty and regretful again, driving extra carefully.
Tan Shen: "The apartment is closer to downtown. Faster please, Xiao Chen. I'm in a rush."
Xiao Chen: "Ok, ok!"
He drove faster but remained vigilant.
After returning to the apartment, Xiao Chen left.
Tan Shen went upstairs alone, entered, and turned on the lights.
The next second -
Bang!
He kicked the dining chair!
The chair toppled over.
He took off his coat and tore it forcefully before throwing it violently onto the floor.
After venting his anger, Tan Shen took a deep breath and smoothed his messy hair.
Then he started searching online.
About Gu Beihuai. About Nan XiangWan...
--------------
At midnight.
The Singer program team released a 9-picture weibo post.
The new Singer King competition begins!
Live broadcast tomorrow night 8PM sharp!
8 pictures showed the singers participating in the first round, with the program logo in the center.
The sudden late-night announcement shocked many.
Rumors of a new Singer season have been circulating but the program team kept details of invited singers and broadcast schedule confidential.
Unexpectedly, they dropped the bomb with a live broadcast pre-warning in 20 hours!
OMG!
The 8 singers in the first round of the new season are: Yang Rongjun, Wu Sisi, Quan Yu, Zhou Hanfei, Zhao Xianying, Zhong Lingfei, Wei Sha, Nan XiangWan.
They were ranked by seniority, with the oldest Yang Rongjun already in his 50s.
The youngest Nan XiangWan is still a couple months shy of 18.
With a large age range of contestants spanning newcomers, seniors, big-shots and an idol, it looked very promising!
Despite the midnight timing, the post topped trending searches, firmly at #1.
Many people flocked to weibo with all sorts of discussions.
【Nan XiangWan Bricks Fan Group】
'QingXiu: [Link] Singer new season first round lineup! Our WanWan is participating!!!'
'TianTian: ???'
'TianTian: Fans desperately searching for her while she secretly cooked up this surprise!'
'KanKanWo: Looking forward to it! Singer has huge influence in the music industry. Making it to the finals would be hugely beneficial! Hope more people get to know WanWan and hear her sing!'
'TianTian: Wait! WTH I can't vote because I'm underage?'
'QingXiu: @Leader @Leader @Leader Bricks Leader quickly come guide us!'
'TianTian: Bricks Leader has been MIA with WanWan for days...'
'Nan Nannuan: Minors can't vote on Singer. Everyone spread the word for underage bricks to do online promotions while adult bricks quickly register to vote online tomorrow 8PM! '
'KanKanWo: Why can't minors vote? Most of WanWan's fans are minors! Doesn't that mean we'll lose?'
'Nan Nannuan: Real strength showdown! We won't lose! Believe in WanWan!'
'QingXiu: Yes! Nan XiangWan forever awesome! Go Nan Wang!!!'
(...)
After rehearsals, Nan XiangWan returned to Ji Mansion Apartment 2202.
As her agent, Cheng Xue had to manage not just Nan XiangWan but also Zhu Sha and other company artists, thus was very busy.
So after rehearsals ended, Cheng Xue had left.
Chauffeur Xiao Dong first dropped Nan XiangWan off at the basement carpark.
Xiao Dong: "Boss Nan, please go up first. I'll grab the stuff."
Nan XiangWan peered at the trunk: "What stuff? Food?"
Xiao Dong: "Yes, vegetables and meat for your breakfast and lunch tomorrow."
Nan XiangWan: "Let me help."
She was about to carry them when Xiao Dong swiftly brought out a mini trolley to neatly place the big basket of ingredients. So easy.
Nan XiangWan's hands paused mid-air. She silently put them down.
What a clever Xiao Dong!
Up in apartment 2202, Xiao Dong busied himself storing things - fridge items in the fridge, prepping items to be prepared.
Despite the late hour, he was a tiny whirlwind.
Nan XiangWan went to grab a cola from the fridge...
Pa!
Xiao Dong slapped her hand away and glared angrily!
Nan XiangWan: "......"
Xiao Dong: "You're competing tomorrow! Do you still care about your voice? Drinking something so cold will affect your vocal condition!"
Nan XiangWan: "No, it won't affect me."
Silly boy, her voice talent's specialization makes her very resilient!
Xiao Dong: "I'm staying over tonight to watch you and stop you eating rubbish."
Nan XiangWan suddenly said: "The way you manage me is very reminiscent of someone."
Xiao Dong didn't even lift his head: "Who? Your mum?"
Nan XiangWan: "No, not her."
She then turned and headed to the master bedroom to sleep.
It was fine for Xiao Dong to stay since there were plenty of rooms. Furthermore, he seemed far from done with his frantic prep.
