"Ji Xiaonian!" Jiang Zhe said through gritted teeth, his face darkened with anger. "I want the words 'Ji Nian' in this song, and it must also be about breaking up!"
This made her angry? What a little brat. Ji Nian smiled wryly. Wasn't he jumping and dancing excitedly just now?
"What's wrong? Can't get over the breakup? Want to keep reminding me that my fame came from a romance?" Ji Nian asked with a smirk.
"Just keep going," Jiang Zhe told her to sing first.
Ji Nian knew the man was angry and wanted to make things difficult for her. She had already guessed that as the son of an investor, the song was likely written by someone else, and he was just pretending it was his own for the talent show.
"On the theme of 'Ji Nian'." Ji Nian gently tapped the surface, considering for a moment. It seemed the only song she could recall was the once popular idol drama theme song 'Our Memorial'.
"Is there a piano here?" Ji Nian asked with a smile.
The show's director was frantically pacing backstage. The investor's son was about to lose, but the woman demanded a piano, so they had no choice but to bring one out, despite the embarrassment.
There were cheers from the audience as a black grand piano rose from beneath the stage.
Ji Nian smiled, stood up, and strode confidently with her long legs to the center of the stage, standing before the man with a cold expression. She then turned and sat at the piano.
A pleasant melody began to play, and everyone listened intently.
When the song ended, the audience was stunned before erupting into thunderous applause and cheers that resonated throughout the live venue.
"Oh my god!"
"No way! If that 'Breakup Happiness' before was a coincidence, what about this one?!"
"Isn't this song awesome? It's too good!"
"I don't believe she composed this on the spot!"
"She looked so elegant playing the piano!"
"What's the name of this song?!"
"So beautiful!"
"I have a bold idea! The mysterious one = Ji Xiaonian!"
"I'm thinking the same thing, sister!"
Even the judge mentors were stunned, with one male mentor applauding and looking admiringly at her.
After playing, Ji Nian did not say anything. She simply bowed to the audience and slowly walked back to the mentor's position.
Picking up the microphone, she looked down at the people on stage with a nonchalant expression and asked coolly, "Do I have the right to sit in this mentor's position now?"
Jiang Zhe was dumbfounded. He hadn't expected the woman to actually compose a melodious song that fit the theme.
Seeing that he did not respond, Ji Nian firmly pressed the red button and looked at him seriously. "I was originally going to give you the green light."
Jiang Zhe was shaken, his eyes filled with bewilderment.
"I said that song was not suitable for you, and you struggled with the high notes. I didn't say you were bad; I was just suggesting you sing something more suited to your vocal range," Ji Nian explained.
"Let me explain why I gave you the red light," Ji Nian said with a smile.
"First, as a contestant, you can choose not to listen to the mentor's advice, but you cannot disrespect the mentor. Since I was invited here as a mentor, although I am also an audience member."
"Second, in my advice to you, I used phrases like 'in my personal opinion,' meaning I don't represent anyone else. I was just giving my perspective. But you immediately lashed out and insulted me. From a man's point of view, you were terribly rude. Do your fans know how bad your temper is? Do you realize that as a public figure, you could negatively influence many people?"
"Third, I want to ask you: are you really the original creator? This stage is for genuinely talented people. As an original singer-songwriter, would you compose a song that you can't even perform properly for a competition? Your singing and interpretation weren't as good as mine, an outsider. So I have to ask, did you really write this song?"
"Fourth!" Ji Nian stressed, looking around coldly. "I really doubt the authenticity of this stage."
Her words caused an uproar among the audience and online fans!
The show's director was already regretting inviting Ji Xiaonian, hastily instructing the staff to turn off her microphone.
Ji Nian wanted to continue speaking, but her microphone was muted. A staff member rushed over, trying to invite her to leave.
Ji Nian sneered and looked directly at the camera. "Turn my microphone back on."
The audience erupted in discussion, aware that the show was trying to remove her from the stage.
Ji Nian was truly angry now. Looking coldly at the camera, she said, "I'll say it again, turn my microphone back on!"
Fearing further escalation from cutting the live broadcast, the director had no choice but to turn Ji Nian's microphone back on, despite the show being ruined for that episode.
Ji Nian was furious. She had intended to earn some money, but not only was she provoked, she was also being insulted. She didn't want this money anymore!
"What are you afraid of?" Ji Nian said coldly into the microphone. "I haven't finished speaking yet."
Her cold words as the microphone turned on immediately impressed those watching the live broadcast.
"I'm sure I'm not the only one who noticed that many good singers were eliminated earlier, while Jiang Zhe, who is so ordinary, kept advancing. What's the reason for that?"
"At first, I thought it was just a difference in taste, but then I realized I was wrong."
Ji Nian sneered. "I know there are some unwritten rules in this society, but at least put on a decent act! To let someone without any talent succeed just because of connections is shameful. This show shouldn't even call itself a talent competition anymore. Just cancel it since you're not judging based on the contestants' abilities but on their backgrounds."
The director was so frightened by her words that he nearly fainted, regretting having invited such a fierce woman.
"Exactly! So many good singers were eliminated for some reason."
"Sisters and online fans, good job! They dug up that Jiang Zhe's father is an investor!"
"No wonder the show favored him!"
"Oh my god, Ji Xiaonian is so bold! I love her, what should I do?"
"I'm a little worried she might get blacklisted by the industry for revealing these secrets!"
"I'm concerned about that too, the capitalists might try to suppress her!"
