The female host looked up and saw that Nan Ming had buzzed in, her brow contracting imperceptibly, but she smiled and said, "He Nan's team is really quick, they've already guessed what this instrument is called, but is it correct?"
The host raised her hand towards them, "Come on, please say your answer out loud——"
Nan Ming gave the camera a slight smile and said, "I'm not very well-versed in musical instruments, it's Jinxia who's amazing. She told me the answer, this instrument is called——Pipa."
"Congratulations for getting it right!" flashed on the screen. The female host stirred up the atmosphere and said, "The next questions are all related to music, and Jinxia is also a singer. Is their group starting to make a move?"
"Applause, applause, applause!" A round of applause erupted from the crowd, and the audience's faces were filled with anticipation, fully invested in the competition.
In a certain area below, the on-site executive director looked at the chief director beside him and whispered, "Should we switch the camera angle?"
The chief director considered for a moment and shook his head, "After all, it's a competition, what we want is rivalry. If He Jinxia and her team can fight back, let's give them some camera time."
On the stage, a new round of questions began. The female host said, "This is a war song, it narrates a story from the ancient times, and has been included in Hua Country's first collection of ancient poetry——"
"Beep beep beep!" The buzzer suddenly rang, and it was Zhang You who had pressed it.
The microphone was passed to Zhang You, who smiled slightly and said, "It's 'Guo Feng • Wu Yi'."
"Congratulations, you got it right!" the big screen announced the answer. Sitting beside Zhang You, Ji Jiawen was thrilled, extending her hand to high-five Zhang You, nearly unable to stop herself from embracing him in excitement.
Curiously, the female host asked, "How did Zhang You know the answer so quickly, do you usually study ancient Hua Country poetry?"
Zhang You took the microphone, "Our country's ancient culture is profound and extensive. I thought, although rock music is a product of modern times, why can't it be fused with ancient culture to create a brand-new rock Hua Country style? So, I've been deeply researching ancient culture lately."
The female host wanted to ask more, but suddenly received a signal from the director outside. Her eyes flickered, and she turned her head toward He Nan's team, asking cheerfully, "What are your thoughts right now?"
The microphone was handed to Nan Ming, who jokingly said, "Can I switch teams now? I want to be in a team with Zhang the Great."
He Jinxia glared, raising a fist in mock threat, "Thinking of switching teams? Sure, but you'll have to ask my fist first."
Nan Ming immediately surrendered with hands clasped, "Heroine, I was wrong! I definitely can't beat you!"
Seeing him like this, He Jinxia snorted and grandiosely waved her hand, "I know you're not convinced. I'll give you three chances. Weight, face shape, clothing size - if you surpass me in any of these, I'll let you switch!"
Weight? Face shape? Clothing size?
Just ask yourself, are you convinced or not?
Nan Ming's mouth twitched, and with a look of sorrow, he gazed up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, "No, I choose the third path—run away with my tail between my legs!"
"Hahaha..." Their banter provided a wave of laughter for the audience below.
After the laughter, Nan Ming quickly said the enemy was too strong and that he needed to consult with He Jinxia for a strategy.
The two huddled together, whispering with hands covering their mouths.
To others, it seemed like a serious discussion, but for the parties involved, it was quite a different sentiment.
Nan Ming took this opportunity to whisper to He Jinxia, "You and I are in the same boat now; are you really content to let Zhang You and Ji Jiawen steal all the limelight?"
He Jinxia's eyes flickered but she said nothing.
Anxious, Nan Ming said, "He Jinxia, this is a second-tier variety show, with weekly viewership capable of reaching tens of millions, you might not care about this opportunity, but I do, consider it a favor for me!"
In a low voice, He Jinxia replied, "Zhang You obviously got answers from the production team privately. What he knows, I'd probably know, and what I don't know, he'd still know. How can I compete with that?"
Nan Ming's eyes darted uncertainly, finally he gritted his teeth and said, "Even if the production team is biased, they wouldn't go too far. If Zhang You gets all the answers right, it would look too fake. There will definitely be opportunities for us; you have to help me when that comes."
He Jinxia hummed an acknowledgment, "Fine."
Nan Ming breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing her words, as he wasn't afraid of competing for the spotlight with He Jinxia, but he did fear that He Jinxia would knowingly withhold the answers.
He had just seen it, the paper she held carried the answers to the previous few questions, all correct, yet He Jinxia did not buzz in. What was up with that?
Unable to figure it out, Nan Ming categorized He Jinxia as an oddity in his mind.
If He Jinxia knew what he was thinking, she definitely would have cried out in protest.
The real reason was simply... He Jinxia had the habit of writing down the answers on paper first, and just as she finished, Zhang You would give the answer.
Next, Nan Ming and He Jinxia's team went all out, catching up with vigor. The show's production team was happy to see this situation unfold because a fierce battle was more exciting. Even if Zhang You's team was cheating, it wasn't too excessive.
To ensure prompt responses, He Jinxia simply gave up on her pen and paper and forced herself to change her habit, diving into the intense game.
"Next, we'll proceed to the five-second free answer segment where there are no standard answers. The audience will judge whether the answers are good or not. A full approval earns one point, disapproval leads to a point deducted, and the question won't be offered to others, moving directly to the next one."
The host finished reading the rules, smiled at the two teams, and without further ado, asked the question.
"What is your favorite musical instrument, and why—"
"Beep!"—It was He Jinxia.
"Pipa!"
"Reason."
"The thick strings clamor like a downpour, the thin strings whisper like private chats. The clamoring and whispering blend in a mixed melody, like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate!"
"Wow! Passed, passed, passed!" the audience spontaneously shouted, approving He Jinxia's answer.
Host: "Your favorite star is—"
"Beep!"—Again, He Jinxia.
"Hua Mulan!"
Just as the female host began to ask why, out of habit, she suddenly halted mid-sentence, braking abruptly, "Wait, what star?"
He Jinxia playfully winked, her face innocent as she said, "Hua Mulan, she's my idol. I love her the most. So what, can't she be a star?"
She turned to the audience below, who very obligingly said, "Sure, sure, sure!"
The audience was also intrigued by this novel answer. In modern times, a star refers to someone in the entertainment circle, an artist, but the role of a star isn't just to entertain the public; it's also about positively guiding society.
If we simplify the term star, it means—a bright star.
Could ancient people become modern celebrities?
Well... that's a profound question.
The answer varies from person to person, and now wasn't the time to discuss such a matter. Since the audience seemed to approve, the female host had no grounds to argue otherwise.
The reaction of the live audience also reflected, to some extent, how online viewers would respond to the show after it aired.
The female host smiled slightly: "Reason?"
He Jinxia's expression became serious as she raised her hand and bowed with a fist to everyone, solemnly declaring, "A heroine among women, she is a match for any man!"
"Clap, clap, clap!" The audience spontaneously applauded, cheering for He Jinxia.
The overall director nodded in approval and instructed the associate director to give more screen time to He Jinxia.