Chapter 127: Hua Xingyu’s Scathing Criticism

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As everyone listened to Zhou Buyi announce the song titles, they couldn’t help but chuckle quietly. At the same time, curiosity stirred—what did it mean to “become very rich”? Just by reading the song titles, their anticipation immediately heightened. Only Hua Xingyu’s face showed a faint trace of disdain upon hearing the name, though he concealed it well enough that no one noticed. Inwardly, he thought, “Hmph, just from the title, this sounds like something a loser would come up with.”

“If one day I become very rich,
My first choice wouldn’t be to travel the world,
But to lie on the biggest, softest sofa in the world,
Eating, then sleeping, waking up to eat again—just to live that way for a year.

If one day I become very rich,
I could keep all my loved ones close,
Happily eating, drinking, and chatting every day,
Without worrying about tomorrow or farewells.”

After hearing the first verse, the three mentors couldn’t help but laugh! To lie comfortably on a sofa and live that way for a year—that truly was a “grand dream.” Eat, sleep, sleep, eat… cough, cough, how was that different from a pig? Not to be disrespectful, but that was the question lingering in everyone’s minds.

From the audience, someone couldn’t hold back and shouted, “What is this? Get off the stage!”
“What’s the mentors thinking? Stop him and make him leave!”
“Is this even a song?”
“Isn’t this just destroying our values?”
…
There were all sorts of remarks from the audience, but none were kind.

Zhou Buyi seemed to have anticipated this scene long ago. Yet he showed no reaction, continuing to strum his guitar quietly.

“If I become rich, I become rich,
How many people waste their time day and night?
Become rich, I become rich,
Then pretend modesty by saying money isn’t everything.

If one day I become very rich,
I will buy all the rare smiles,
So that all the pitiful children won’t be afraid anymore,
And no wicked person will hold the power to speak.”

By the time this was heard, those who had been smirking gradually reined in their ridicule. This song wasn’t as ostentatious as it had seemed at the start. It felt like there was something meaningful behind it.

Hua Xingyu, however, still wore his usual scornful expression. Xue Qianqian and Yang Xiaomi, on the other hand, became a bit more serious.

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They could sense Zhou Buyi’s attitude toward the lyrics. The line about buying all the rare smiles revealed that this big boy before them had lived through some stories—not just some boy who spent his days eating and drinking. The phrase about making all the pitiful children no longer timid seemed to refer to himself. He looked like a shy, timid boy, curled up alone in some corner, looking pitiful. And the final line, about no longer letting evil people hold the power of speech, elevated the song completely, transcending its initially crude impression.

Xue Qianqian began to understand the feelings this big boy named Zhou Buyi wanted to express. It seemed he was using a form of self-mockery to reveal an inner strength. She found herself even more eager to hear if the following lyrics would bring something stunning.

“If one day I become very rich,
I will try every way to turn back time,
Not to contribute to mankind’s ideals,
But just to say to her, ‘I’m sorry.’

Become rich, I become rich,
How many people waste their time day and night?
Become rich, I become rich,
Then pretend modesty by saying money isn’t everything.

I become rich,
All troubles are left far away,
Become rich, I become rich,
Then sincerely say that money isn’t everything.”

When the song ended, the audience fell silent. At first, they thought it was a joke, but after hearing it through, they realized it was something else entirely. How many people could calmly and honestly say that money isn’t everything? Probably very few. And how many wished to become wealthy, only to then casually say, “Money isn’t everything”?

Yet, it was only a wish.

“Next, let’s hear from the three mentors’ critiques!”
“First, let’s start with Teacher Hua Xingyu!”

Hua Xingyu’s face remained cold and indifferent from beginning to end, without a hint of change, even at the very end. Expressionless, he asked a question:

“I want to know if the performer has any formal music training?”

Zhou Buyi looked a bit nervous, anxiously awaiting the mentors’ feedback. Upon hearing Hua Xingyu’s question, his heart tightened, and he cautiously replied, “I studied nursing; music is something I taught myself online.”

Hua Xingyu nodded expressionlessly, then continued, “Did you write the lyrics yourself?”

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Zhou Buyi cautiously nodded again.

“Since you studied nursing, then go back and focus on your nursing.”
“Young people shouldn’t be overly ambitious; the grass always looks greener on the other side.”
“From your lyrics, it seems you want to make a lot of money through singing!”
“Let me be clear: there’s no chance of that!”
“Also, music is something to be respected, not something you casually write lyrics for and dare to sing on stage!”
“In your eyes, what has music become?”
“Is it a tool for grabbing wealth?”
“Putting aside your mediocre musical skills, your mindset has serious problems!”
“That’s all I have to say.”

A ripple of uproar followed Hua Xingyu’s words. No one expected his criticism to be so sharp, striking right at the core of this contestant’s soul. But was such a ruthless critique a bit excessive?

Zhou Buyi’s face instantly turned pale. Although he had mentally prepared—Su Bai had warned him the song might receive mixed reviews—he still felt deeply defeated upon hearing such harsh judgment.

Yet, Zhou Buyi was also filled with frustration. He felt Hua Xingyu had gone too far. He was truly serious about music. Hua Xingyu could say his singing was poor, but he couldn’t question his attitude toward music. Just because the song’s title was “If One Day I Become Very Rich,” did that mean his purpose was to use music as a tool to chase wealth? Wasn’t that conclusion too hasty?

After Hua Xingyu finished speaking, many voices in the audience immediately voiced support for him.

“Yes, I think the lyrics convey a somewhat negative message!”
“This is not the attitude of a serious musician!”
“It inevitably makes people think singing is just about making money!”
“I agree with Teacher Hua’s criticism!”
“If this platform is taken over by people with such negative mindsets, what will this show become?”
“When you encounter this, you have to criticize harshly to set an example and prevent others from messing around!”

Hearing the crowd’s reaction, Zhou Buyi’s expression darkened further.

At this moment, the host smiled and asked, “What about the other two mentors? What are your thoughts?”

Xue Qianqian was the first to speak: “My feelings are completely the opposite of Teacher Hua Xingyu’s!”

The audience erupted in astonishment—was this an open challenge?