Chapter 8: It Is Necessary to Meet This Grassroots ‘Hero’
After Su Bai left, Song Liang looked at the caller ID in his hand, his expression turning dark. The name displayed was Li Xiguang, the chief director of this talent show.
After much hesitation, he finally pressed the answer button.
"Director Song, what's going on over there? Was that food delivery guy arranged by you?"
Song Liang sighed inwardly: What must come, has come. But he steeled himself and replied, "I thought his song was good, so I arranged it at the last minute."
"Nonsense. Song Liang, did you get my approval before making such arrangements?"
"Why was Xu Mingkun placed in your group? You know perfectly well why, don't you?"
"You know full well what kind of influence Sister Yan has. If you offend her, you'll have to shoulder the consequences yourself. When the time comes, don't come looking for me."
After hanging up, Song Liang couldn't help but laugh bitterly. Why are so many great songs in the Chinese music scene buried and overlooked? With people like this meddling, how could things possibly improve?
How to handle this matter left Song Liang at a loss.
In a hospital ward in the City of Magic.
"Xiao Ke, quickly, here’s the second dose!"
Yang Mengke looked at her brother Su Bai with some confusion.
Had he really developed the second dose so quickly?
Though she wondered, she didn't want her brother to worry. Yang Mengke swallowed the entire vial in one go.
"Brother, how did you come up with a second dose so soon?"
Su Bai realized that after everything that happened today, there was no way he could hide things any longer. In any case, there was no reason to keep things from Yang Mengke.
He smiled and said, "Xiao Ke, take a look at Douyin."
After finishing the second dose, the familiar rush of energy surged through Yang Mengke. Having experienced it once before, she knew that for the next few hours, until the effects wore off, she would remain in this state.
She took out her phone and opened Douyin. At first, nothing seemed unusual. But when she reached the third video, she saw a clip of a food delivery guy singing on stage.
The melodious voice captivated her instantly.
Suddenly, she felt the voice was somehow familiar.
Just then, the person filming zoomed in on the singer. Yang Mengke's eyes widened in disbelief. She looked at her brother, then back at her phone. The delivery guy was her brother?
She knew Su Bai worked as a delivery man, but she had no idea he sang so beautifully. He had never sung in front of her before.
Su Bai knew she was waiting for an explanation.
"The investor in the research institute also owns an entertainment company. We made an agreement that if I became popular, I’d become the spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company under their institute."
Spokesperson? Famous?
These words sounded both familiar and dreamlike to Yang Mengke. Once, these had all been her own dreams. Now, seeing herself in her current state, was fate arranging for her brother to fulfill her dreams in her stead?
Seeing that just a few hours after posting, the video already had tens of thousands of likes, she thought, maybe he really could become famous—but only as an internet celebrity, perhaps.
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Song Liang glanced once more at his phone, his expression complex, tinged with excitement. This time, the call was from Zhang Mingke, the head of Forbidden City Cultural Promotion.
He didn't know if Zhang Mingke was calling to criticize him, or for something else.
Song Liang was aware that, although Li Xiguang was the chief director, final approval for the song rested with Zhang Mingke. In other words, as long as he could win Zhang Mingke over, everything would work out.
"Xiao Song, Xiguang said you had a surprise for me. Your performance should be over by now—so, where's my surprise? Hehe..."
Hearing Zhang Mingke's words, Song Liang immediately knew that the "surprise" Li Xiguang had mentioned was Xu Mingkun, not Su Bai.
But Xu Mingkun's song was simply...
Besides, Su Bai's song could not be left to obscurity!
With that thought, Song Liang said directly, "Yes, Director Zhang! It's already gone viral on Douyin! You can see for yourself!"
"I’ll send you the program’s recorded video in a moment as well."
"This is a grassroots singer, but he sang out the faith of Great Xia!"
"Oh? Now I’m interested. I trust your judgment, Song Liang!"
A hearty laugh came from the other end of the line.
Song Liang breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness!
After hanging up, Zhang Mingke immediately opened Douyin to see if things were as Song Liang had said.
“These dragon scales once clattered to the ground like shattered ice,
Each scale a piece of my heart,
I firmly believe in greatness born of little things,
Carrying the fate of the nation,
We raise our heads to seek revival once more,
Traversing the world to search for dragon scales,
Until the dragon’s bloodline flourishes as a forest.”
The moment the video began, it was a bombshell.
Zhang Mingke was stunned.
These dragon scales once clattered to the ground like shattered ice.
Traversing the world, seeking dragon scales,
Until the dragon’s bloodline flourishes as a forest!
"Good! Excellent! Truly excellent!"
Three exclamations in a row—such powerful lyrics made Zhang Mingke applaud in delight.
At the same time, his curiosity was thoroughly piqued.
How breathtaking would the full version be?
He was now looking forward to it.
He kept swiping through video after video, each just a fragment.
Yet even these fragments had Zhang Mingke applauding again and again.
Piece by piece, these snippets shook Zhang Mingke’s long-stilled heart, stirring it to life.
Zhang Mingke had a feeling that this song was exactly the vibe he had been searching for.
He couldn't wait any longer.
He called Song Liang immediately, his voice charged with excitement: "Song Liang, send me the full version! Right now, immediately!"
Song Liang was momentarily taken aback, then smiled knowingly. He was now almost certain this would succeed.
With Zhang Mingke’s support, even if Liu Siyan kept up the pressure, and even if Li Xiguang wielded great power, they wouldn’t dare to act too brazenly.
They might not care about Song Liang, but they would never dare offend Zhang Mingke, the head of Forbidden City Cultural Promotion.
His position might not appear high, but because of its unique nature, Zhang Mingke had connections beyond imagination.
To offend Zhang Mingke was to sever one's path in the capital.
No matter how powerful Liu Siyan was, her reach couldn’t extend that far.
Zhang Mingke opened the full video Song Liang sent.
“This landscape I set down in ink,
The bloodline of the nation stretches for thousands of miles...
Traversing the world to search for dragon scales,
Until the dragon’s bloodline flourishes as a forest.”
Astonishing. Absolutely electrifying.
Zhang Mingke felt his entire body awash with passion.
How many years had it been since he’d heard a song that could stir his soul like this?
As the head of Forbidden City Cultural Promotion, no one understood the culture of the Forbidden City better than Zhang Mingke.
Because he understood it so well, and because he deeply understood the culture and history of Great Xia, Zhang Mingke found a point of resonance in this song.
Every word, every line, seemed to recount the stories of Great Xia.
Since the Forbidden City was built in the Ming Dynasty, it had borne witness to too many stories, witnessing the rise and fall of Great Xia civilization.
Traversing the world, seeking dragon scales,
Until the dragon’s bloodline flourishes as a forest,
Until the dragon’s bloodline flourishes as a forest.
This line echoed endlessly in Zhang Mingke’s mind.
His whole body trembled slightly.
"The backbone of Great Xia, the faith of Great Xia, the soul of Great Xia! The very spirit of our people! Excellent, truly excellent!"
“It is necessary to meet this grassroots hero!”
In Zhang Mingke’s eyes, anyone who could sing out the spirit of Great Xia was a hero.