Chapter 127: The Fifth Episode of The Good Voice Is on Air

Li Mengya drove her yellow Volkswagen Beetle, ferrying Jiang Yun to the Huaguo Good Voice studio.
“Dream Ya, come in with me!”
“This… Alright, fine!”
Jiang Yun took Li Mengya’s hand and led her backstage to the dressing room, where Zhou Lun, Wang Feng, and Tian Zhen were already waiting.
“Jiang Yun, you’re finally here!”
“Elder Tian, Brother Zhou, Brother Wang, greetings!” Jiang Yun offered warmly.
The three ignored his words entirely, their attention fixed solely on Li Mengya.
“Meng Ya, we meet again!” Tian Zhen said politely.
“Goodbye, Elder Tian!” Li Mengya replied with equal courtesy.
“Hello!”
“Meng Ya, it’s me—Zhou Lun!” Zhou Lun stepped forward and extended his hand.
“Brother Zhou!” Li Mengya answered in the same playful tone Jiang Yun had used.
“Hehe!” Zhou Lun chuckled. “Did you all hear that? Meng Ya just called me Brother Zhou!”
Jiang Yun rolled his eyes. “I said, are you three deliberately forgetting about me?”
“Where’s this sour smell coming from?” Tian Zhen waved her palm in front of her nose.
“Hehe!”
“Haha!”
Zhou Lun delivered a playful punch to Jiang Yun’s chest. “Teasing you on purpose, huh? Jealous?”
Jiang Yun fell silent.
Tian Zhen approached with a smirk. “Wow, you really are jealous!”
“I’m ignoring all of you!” Jiang Yun turned to let the makeup artist work on him.
“Hehe!”
“Haha!”
Wang Feng and the others burst into laughter.

…

“Welcome to the fifth episode of Good Voice of China, sponsored by Shenbao Tablets!” Host Yang Yang stood on stage, broadcasting with enthusiasm.
The camera panned to the mentors’ red chairs, where Jiang Yun and his companions sat.
Yang Yang outlined the rules: “This is the final blind-selection round. If the four mentors still need fourteen more trainees, we’ll choose from those eliminated for a revival competition, where they’ll become disciples of the mentors!”
Jiang Yun and the others listened in silence.
“Next, please have the four mentors turn around!”
The chairs began to rotate slowly, leaving the mentors with their backs to the stage and facing the audience.
“Next, please welcome the first performer!”
The show’s pace quickened after this episode, promising fiercer competition ahead.
Music swelled, and a lively melody filled the air.
“Long ago,
A mighty dragon appeared,
Bringing disaster, stealing the princess and vanishing.
The kingdom trembled with danger,
Who in this world is the bravest…”
“Wow!”
The audience gasped at the fresh, imaginative tune.
“This person sings multiple roles at once!”
“Male or female?”
“Definitely male!”
On stage, the contestant continued.
“Your Majesty, I am… Da La Beng Ba Pan De Bei Di Bu Duo Bi Lu Weng.”
“Slap!”
Jiang Yun turned first.
“Slap slap slap!”
Tian Zhen and the others followed suit.
“Wow! He’s a guy!”

On stage stood a young man in crisp white, his short hair impeccably styled.
The music faded, and he stood poised.
“Hello!” Wang Feng waved.
“Goodbye, Mentor Wang!” The contestant bowed deeply.
“Please introduce yourself!”
“Hello, everyone. My name is Zhou Shen. I’m twenty-two and from the Huaguo Music Academy!”
“Wow!”
The audience erupted in applause.
“No wonder he’s so talented—he’s actually a music student!”
“His voice is rock-solid!”

Zhou Lun lifted the microphone. “Zhou Shen, your singing is indeed impressive. I have a personal question—should I ask?”
Zhou Shen answered courteously, “Please, go ahead, Mentor Zhou Lun.”
“Are you male or female?”
“Hehe!”
“Haha!”
The audience laughed heartily.
Zhou Shen flushed with embarrassment. “I’m a genuine man!”
Zhou Lun pressed on. “You’re certain? Any surgical history?”
Zhou Shen stood awkwardly, smiling awkwardly, at a loss for words.
“Old Zhou, you’re crossing lines!” Wang Feng chided. “Let the contestant show his ID card!”
Tian Zhen interjected, “Wang Feng, you’re too far. Stop giving advice—do your own research!”
Wang Feng chuckled, unfazed. “Exposed, huh?”

Host Yang Yang ascended the stage. “Mentors, let’s wrap this up. Zhou Shen, choose your team.”
Jiang Yun took the microphone. “Zhou Shen, select your team.”
“I choose Mentor Jiang Yun’s!”
“Damn!” Zhou Lun and Wang Feng nearly toppled their chairs in frustration.
Tian Zhen sighed. “Here we go again—Jiang Yun’s little brother!”
“Wow!”
The audience clapped enthusiastically.
Jiang Yun stepped onto the stage and embraced Zhou Shen.
“Congratulations to Mentor Jiang Yun—now with seven trainees!”
“Wow!”
The crowd cheered wildly.
The audience quieted as Yang Yang continued. “Next performer, please!”
The chairs rotated once more.
“Ding ding ding ding ding!”
A flowing melody like “High Mountains and Flowing Water” infused the air with rich Chinese flavor.
“Wow! Jiang Yun’s ‘Qing Hua Ci’ cover!”
“Delicate brushstrokes paint blue flowers,
The peony on the vase blooms as you did at your first blush.”
Tian Zhen sighed on the directors’ table. “Wow! She’s a woman!”
“Gradually the sandalwood drifts through the window, my heart’s secrets clear to me…”
“Wow!”
The audience was stunned, applauding vigorously.
“This young lady’s voice is exquisite—pure classical elegance!”
“Which city is she from? Let’s ship her!”
“You’re the one who should be shipping!”
The thousand spectators remained subdued, mindful of the performer’s focus.
Jiang Yun and the others sat quietly in their red chairs, listening.
The adaptation, while melodic, felt familiar and unremarkable compared to others.
The singer grew impatient when her group failed to turn for what felt like too long.
She drew a breath, steadied herself, and launched into the chorus with operatic flair.
“Sky blue waiting for the rain, and I’m waiting for you,
Where do the travelers seek, the Yangtze River a thousand miles.”
“Wow!”
The audience roared with applause.
“So fiery!”
“The chorus drops like an unbeatable force!”
“Not only the melody changed— the lyrics did too!”
“This young lady’s operatic delivery is pure poetry!”
“Genius—I accept the wall, but the operatic style? I’m sold!”
“Operatic style forever!”
The singer’s confidence soared with the crowd’s response.
She continued.
“Written in the Tengwang Pavilion, pen falling in regret,
Just as I answered your whispered call when we first met.”
“Slap!”
Jiang Yun turned immediately.
“Slap slap slap!”
Tian Zhen and the others followed.
“Jiang old dog—his turning frequency keeps climbing!”
“Ever since Jiang old dog started writing songs on commission and became the big cabbage, he’s been snatching trainees from Tian Zhen and the rest!”

The performer finished and stood still, awaiting the mentors’ words.
Jiang Yun raised the microphone. “Introduce yourself!”
“My name is Jiang Xin. I’m twenty-eight and a Peking Opera dance instructor!”
Zhou Lun remarked, “I see now—you’re a Peking Opera teacher. Who’d have thought you’d transform ‘Qing Hua Ci’ into this?”
Jiang Yun smiled warmly. “Your performance gave the song new life. Your adaptation succeeds beautifully!”
Jiang Xin bowed gracefully. “Thank you, Mentor Jiang Yun!”
“Not at all!”
“Jiang Xin, I have one more personal question…” Zhou Lun began.
“What is it?”
“You wouldn’t choose Jiang Yun, would you?”
“This…” Jiang Xin hesitated, uncomfortable.
“Old Zhou, why do you always pry into others’ private matters?” Wang Feng teased.
Zhou Lun rolled his eyes. “Last question!”
“Please, Mentor Zhou Lun.”
“You wouldn’t like Jiang Yun, would you? He doesn’t have a girlfriend yet!” Zhou Lun said, winking.
“Haha!”
“Goo goo goo!”
The audience erupted in laughter, some even imitating goose calls.
“Mentor Zhou Lun, I’m already married!” Jiang Xin replied.
“So you’re turning us down?”
Jiang Xin looked mortified.
Zhou Lun glanced at Jiang Yun. “Did you hear? You’ve been rejected!”
Jiang Yun rolled his eyes and ignored him.
“Haha!”
“Hehe!”
The audience continued laughing.
“I think I just heard a broken heart shatter…”