Sheng Qing was also a stubborn person.
After listening for half an hour in X. Xiao’s livestream, he decided to learn this person’s song list.
The reason was probably that he sang well?
Zhang Zhe expressed confusion but respected the decision.
“If you’re learning from Brother Xiao, then I can’t teach you. You’d better learn directly from the recordings.”
Zhang Zhe was truly impressed by him.
Sheng Qing’s voice was the standard clear and bright young male tone, the type that could make any pop song sound good and could charm girls with just a few words.
Yet he went straight for the high difficulty.
Sheng Qing could only pull up the recent screen recording and learn it line by line.
Tsk, why did it sound better and more addictive the more he listened?
Saturday, 5:00 PM.
The Siji Xianyin Assessment Hall opened.
Sheng Qing took out his newly registered alternate account and joined the queue.
Zhang Zhe urged earnestly, “Although there are many people taking the assessment on Saturday, the traffic is high. Even if you gain just a few more fans by joining the hall, it’s good.”
As if he hadn’t heard, Sheng Qing pointed at X. Xiao who had just taken the Mic in the assessment hall and asked strangely, “Is he also an examiner?”
“Eh?” Zhang Zhe was also stunned. “Oh! No wonder the assessment hall has nearly five thousand people right after opening. It seems Brother Xiao is a special guest examiner today.”
On the Mic stood the chief examiner X. Miracle, with X. Xiao in the second spot. Both were in Little Electric Man avatars, casually bantering to create some entertainment while waiting for participants to take the Mic.
With so many people today, Sheng Qing quickly clicked to join the Mic, but still ended up last in line.
Last was fine—he could use the time to review the song again.
He wasn’t nervous originally, but when “Dong Shi” met “Xi Shi,” even without nerves, the situation made him tense.
Siji Xianyin’s assessments were always strict. Chief examiner X. Miracle was a graduate student from a music conservatory with extremely sharp ears. Rumor had it that usually, fewer than one in ten passed the assessment.
Teacher X. Xiao seemed to play a supporting role today, occasionally offering comments that were ruthlessly sharp.
“This student, you’re eating your Mic. You need to change that habit.” This was directed at a candidate who had breath pops.
“This student, you can’t hit the high notes and you can’t reach the low notes. Maybe you should consider a different path—forcing your way into the request hall isn’t a good choice.” This was for a candidate taking the test for the fifth time.
“This student, sinking your voice and harassing the audience are two different things. Sorry, you’re out.” This was for a candidate who attempted an overly edgy S-song.
“This student…”
Sheng Qing looked at the smiling Little Electric Man and couldn’t help shivering. He was starting to fear the phrase “this student” now.
How could this person speak so poisonously without worrying about poisoning himself?
“Student Nan Que, are you there?” X. Miracle called him.
Sheng Qing quickly turned on his Mic. “Yes, I’m here!”
All dozen or so candidates before him had failed. Zhang Zhe, sitting beside him, was sweating nervously.
“Alright, you may begin.”
“Okay,” Sheng Qing nervously gulped. “Hello, Teacher Miracle, Hello, Brother Xiao… I mean, Teacher Xiao!”
Sheng Qing was so embarrassed he wanted to slap himself!
It was all Zhang Zhe’s fault for constantly saying “Brother Xiao” in his ear—he’d been influenced.
X. Miracle: “Hahaha, Brother Xiao, your reputation precedes you!”
X. Xiao chuckled lightly. “Student Nan Que, no need to be nervous. Begin your performance.”
Sheng Qing took a deep breath and started the accompaniment. “One song—’RESTART.’ Please guide me.”
“Let’s go…”
When the dynamic drumbeat accompaniment started playing, Zhu Mingxiao, also known as X. Xiao, muted his mic and slightly raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting.”
He didn’t usually rap much, being a standard pop vocalist with good control over both low and high notes. He had only recently started learning rap because his older sister had requested it during karaoke sessions at home.
He never expected this new examinee to choose the exact same song he just performed.
What was even more intriguing was that the phrasing style was very similar to his—no, it was practically identical.
Though this Nan Que’s voice lacked the depth to fully ground the delivery.
Yet this gave it a more youthful quality, with clear articulation and steady breath control.
There was a certain edgy charm to it.
The public chat was scrolling rapidly:
【This newcomer’s pretty good, might have potential】
【Invest now! Place your bets!】
【Teacher! Teacher! Please sing a couple more songs before they start charging!】
【Hao Chi Hao Chi: Damn, I just heard the boss sing this, but I like this softer version too haha】
【Hao Chi Hao Chi gifted Nan Que a Rose Bouquet (299 coins)】
【Bie Chao gifted Nan Que Cool Boxing Gloves (599 coins)】
【Hao Chi Hao Chi gifted Nan Que a Rose Bouquet (299 coins)】
Private chat—
X. Miracle: Wow, I think this one shows promise
X. Xiao: Passable
X. Miracle: Didn’t you sing this song before? Want to take over later?
X. Xiao didn’t reply, instead suddenly unmuting: “Add numbers.”
Sheng Qing hesitated upon hearing this, missing two beats before focusing to incorporate numbers into the already rapid-fire lyrics.
“You treat 123 as a side hustle and are reluctant to allocate a production budget. I’ll nurture 456 even if albums end up on street stalls.” Miracle: “Ok ok, that works.”
X. Miracle: “Not bad at all. Boss, want to give some feedback?”
X. Xiao: “Just learned rap? From me?”
Sheng Qing’s face instantly flushed bright red!
Had the original performer actually noticed?
Stammering, Sheng Qing replied, “Ah… yes, I heard you singing it the other day and liked it so much I tried to learn it.”
“Hmm.”
“Learned well.”
X. Xiao’s Little Electric Man avatar seemed to lean closer to the screen, a approving smile curling at the corners of its mouth.
【This newcomer’s too smooth!】
【Xiao Ge, stop being so captivating! Screenshotting for wallpaper!】
【The singing’s just average though】
【This can pass?】
【Bie Chao gifted Nan Que Cool Boxing Gloves (599 coins) x10】
Sheng Qing practically felt like kowtowing to him.
This was terrifying!
X. Xiao: “Your vocal qualities suit pop better. Do you have anything else prepared?”
Sheng Qing choked up again—the other song was also…
“…Yes, teacher. ‘Rain Love’.”
X. Miracle burst out laughing.
‘Rain Love’ was a major track from their recent project plan. X. Xiao kept being told his recordings sounded too masculine and needed to soften up, so he’d been practicing it at home these days.
Sheng Qing felt darkness clouding their vision twice over.
In the end, they had no choice but to go all out!
‘Rain Love’ carried a bittersweet quality that perfectly matched Sheng Qing’s vocal tone.
Having likely listened to X. Xiao’s version countless times, Sheng Qing even managed to achieve the softer, lighter yet more resilient breath control that X. Xiao hadn’t quite mastered, brilliantly interpreting the song’s nervous, aching undertones.
“Hearing the sound of rain, each drop so clear Your breath seeps into my love like raindrops I truly wish the rain would never cease …”
Zhang Zhe was frantically giving thumbs-up and cheering gestures from the side.
As the song ended, Sheng Qing quickly muted the mic and sat there catching their breath.
“I regret this,” he wailed at Zhang Zhe, “Your terrible idea – why did I agree to this assessment? This is so embarrassing.”
Zhang Zhe laughed heartily, “You sang great! You’ll definitely pass!”
X. Miracle remained completely unaware of Sheng Qing’s internal meltdown, cheerfully asking X. Xiao over the mic, “Brother Xiao, what do you think? Can we recruit this fresh sprout?”
X. Xiao: “Mm, acceptable.”
X. Miracle: “Alright then! Student Nan Que, congratulations – unanimous approval! Follow Big Head and send ‘pass’ in private chat, an admin will contact you!”
X. Miracle: “Ah, finally not coming up empty-handed today!”
X. Xiao chimed in: “Teacher Miracle has high standards as a strict mentor.”
X. Miracle: “Not at all, not at all! It’s all thanks to Brother Xiao’s leadership, haha!”
[GoodEatsGoodEats gifted Nan Que Rose Garden (666 coins)]
[StopArguing gifted Nan Que Cool Boxing (599 coins)]
[ForMyPeanuts gifted Nan Que Heart Hands (99 coins)]
[LockedHeartNoMoreShippingOrIDie gifted Nan Que Heart Hands (99 coins)]
[GoodEatsGoodEats: Honestly, I’m kind of falling in love]
[StopArguing: Not bad singing]
[LockedHeartNoMoreShippingOrIDie: I think this newcomer is a sweet bean hehe, following]
[Amazing singing! I think your pop singing is better than your rap]
[The judges are really professional, such sharp ears]
[Looks like this newcomer is about to blow up. Zero followers before assessment, two songs later, gained over 200 followers]
[Refresh the page – it’s already 300]
[Damn, rising faster than my stock portfolio]
[LOL, when has your stock portfolio ever been in the green?]
Sheng Qing thanked everyone and left the mic.
The two judges exchanged more compliments before wrapping up the day’s assessments.
Sheng Qing privately messaged Big Head, added Hall Admin Pao Pao, then returned the equipment to Zhang Zhe.
“Your debut went smoother than mine. I’m starting to think I might lose our bet?” Zhang Zhe said while following Nan Que’s account with his own, his tone slightly sour.
But Sheng Qing wasn’t listening.
[X. Xiao followed you]
[X. Xiao: Student, how many songs have you recorded? Send them to me.]