On Friday, the second episode of ‘I am a Singer’ was released.
At nine in the evening, Qin Baobao was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and hot pants and was fiddling with the crystal television.
“Qin Ze, why isn’t the television ready yet?” Qin Baobao whined.
His sister had meddled for half a day but in vain. She was so tired until her entire body was filled with sweat, but the television did not look any better.
Qin Ze lay on the couch and flipped through the forum. He said nonchalantly, “The repairman said something is burnt.”
“Then, why didn’t he fix it?” Qin Baobao questioned.
“It costs five hundred dollars so I didn’t let him fix it. I just gave him fifty dollars for his outpatient fee and sent him away.”
“Five hundred dollars…”
Five hundred dollars were enough to feed the three of them for a week.
“Okay, okay. When I become a superstar next time, I’ll place more than ten televisions in our house and let it spoil.” His sister flopped onto the couch and placed one of her legs on Wang Zijin’s long legs. She said feebly, “So, we need to watch the Internet version again?”
Wang Zijin said weakly, “Baobao, can I sleep? I’m really tired today.”
Qin Baobao sat up immediately and hugged Wang Zijin sternly. “Tired your head. Today is Friday, tomorrow is the weekend. You can sleep until whatever time you like.”
Wang Zijin looked at Qin Ze helplessly.
Qin Ze knew what she was feeling.
“Hey, since when did you start flirting with your eyes? And you’re doing it in front of me,” Qin Baobao said enigmatically, “Zijin, this brother of mine is outstanding and doesn’t allow benefits created by his work to be accrued to others. I’ll give him to you.”
Qin Ze coughed dryly and changed the topic. “Sister, you’re already on the program. Don’t they give you an appearance fee?”
He felt that Qin Baobao was very cunning. According to Wang Zijin’s character—even though she was not against this type of joke, it did not mean that she was nonchalant about it. In actual fact, this lady was very concerned about her reputation and her image. Mm, it was a common sighting amongst ladies of prominent families. They felt that having rumors with a man would hurt their reputation so they would instinctively be wary and would even keep her distance from Qin Ze. If Qin Ze could tell this, why would Qin Baobao not understand her best friend?
His sister was ‘causing him to fail due to excessive praise’.
She was too scheming.
“What nonsense. What appearance fee? I didn’t get a single cent, okay?” Qin Baobao rolled her eyes, and she looked especially pretty. “It’s already a blessing from heaven that I – a newcomer – could participate in this variety show that was viral all over the country. How can I still expect an appearance fee?
“But, if you use this chance and become famous, you will be a genuine star. By then, bills will come flying towards me.” Qin Baobao smiled from ear to ear, and her eyes sparkled.
“I’ll help you be this season’s champion.”
When Qin Ze’s nonchalant tone landed in Qin Baobao’s ears, it was like a clap of loud thunder.
“Ah Ze!” Qin Baobao screamed. Like a hungry tiger closing on a sheep, she knocked Qin Ze down and kept rubbing her cheeks against his chest. She squealed. “You’re really my biological brother. What to do? What to do? You’re so nice to me, but it’s a pity I can’t marry you to repay you.”
After the resurrection round and using Qin Ze’s song to win the strong opponent again, Qin Baobao totally admired her brother who she always called useless. She was so close to being Qin Ze’s fan.
Qin Ze was caught between laughter and tears. He looked at Wang Zijin with a seemingly laughing gaze. After a moment of awkwardness, he pushed away his sister that was acting like a baby. “That’s enough. I’m doing it for myself, too.”
Qin Baobao clearly got the wrong message and was even happier as she ruffled his head. “That’s right, your sister’s glory is your glory.”
Qin Ze mocked her, “My sister’s trouble is my trouble.”
He always had the bad feeling of needing to be Qin Baobao’s scapegoat.
The program was so famous; the song was so outstanding, and Qin Baobao was so beautiful. Old Master would find out about it sooner or later, and they could not keep it from him.
Wang Zijin giggled. “Talk show.”
“What are you looking at?” Qin Baobao leaned over to spy on Qin Ze’s phone.
” ‘I am a Singer’s official website, forums, and posts.” Qin Ze laughed.
Qin Baobao’s face turned red, and she spat. She sat like a duck on the couch and watched a new love film with Wang Zijin to kill the time. Qin Baobao had also seen the related forums and posts to the program. She was very concerned with her own comments and even searched for news related to ‘Qin Baobao’. However, it was obvious that she thought too much as she had not shown herself to the public for long so she did not have a strong fan base, and no one made posts related to her. However, on forums and official discussion platforms related to the program, she had seen quite a few rude and playful comments like ‘hidden treasures’.
Qin Baobao was angry as she felt that Qin Ze was purposely making fun of her.
“Give me your phone. I’m not allowing you to read it.”
“Stop making a commotion. I’m researching the data.”
After the two played around for a while, Qin Baobao was subdued by her brother’s strength. She watched the movie unhappily and ignored him.
Qin Ze did not say anything fake. Even though he was an experienced old chauffeur on the Internet and loved to roam around posts and forums, he was really researching on data—Qin Baobao’s data. Through the comments, he was seeing the number of times Qin Baobao was mentioned and the number of searches about her compared to the other singers to deduce his sister’s extent of popularity.
He had read a book called ‘Data Generation’ which said that everything could be converted to data in the 21st century, and the importance of it could not be substituted in any industry. Through data, one could discover and research on many things.
Simply speaking, he was comparing the HP, MP, attacking power, and magic abilities between two gaming characters to see how far apart they were; what did he need to improve on to increase the chances of defeating the opponent. The real society genius would know how to use these data.
However, the two parties’ distance was a bit too wide. Qin Baobao was a stubborn bronze while the other party was a starting platinum that had not met the king for now.
Qin Ze felt that he had no way to hide, and he had to help his sister win the championship title of ‘I am a Singer’. If not, he would be killed by the system (there was no difference between being a vegetable and being killed).
At twelve, the program started.
The familiar music started playing, and the special effects signaled the opening.
Then, they entered the main topic. The emcee—Yin Jia—was standing in front of the camera, and the background was the backstage lounge.
All the singers were gathered there and drinking while talking softly. Of course, drinking the drink was a requirement by the program so they symbolically drank a few mouthfuls.
” ‘I am a Singer’ is brought to you by ‘Sheng Ji’ makeup. I’m your emcee—Yin Jia.” Yin Jia smiled sweetly. “Dear teachers, we meet again.”
The few of them giggled and greeted her.
The camera shot Li Rongxing individually, and the popular person said humbly, “When I first accepted this program, my team—including me—thought that there would be no problem; and we were pretty confident about it. However, after the last episode, I’m not so confident anymore. The program team is too powerful.
“Brother Huang, Sister Chen, and Teacher Hong were all big-shots. However, from another perspective, it was a good thing as it’s a challenge. Mm, I just hope to advance. I can’t promise that I won’t be eliminated, but I wish I can stay until I win the championship title.
Then, it was Hong Jingyao, Huang Yuteng, and Chen Xiaotong…
Qin Ze turned his head and said to Wang Zijin. “Sister Tissue, how’s your work? Have you adapted to it yet?”
Wang Zijin was watching the television seriously and was too lazy to correct Qin Ze’s enunciation error. She casually replied, “It’s okay. I just do more work and say less things. It’s quite satisfactory.”
“I don’t even know what job it is.”
“I’m working as an editor at an online media company.”
“UC? The shocking department or the silent department?”
Wang Zijin shifted her gaze away from the screen and looked at him in a daze. “What?”
Obviously, she did not understand Qin Ze’s sentence.
“Wow, you can enter a media company!” Qin Ze was beyond impressed.
“This is nothing. Zijin graduated from Peking University’s Chinese faculty and is a professional at speaking. She’s as beautiful as your sister. Which company won’t fight to have her?” Qin Baobao interrupted.
“I’m not sure who was almost rejected by Star Talent.” Qin Ze exposed his sister’s wound.
Qin Baobao instantly turned her head and puffed up her cheeks. She grunted, “I’m not going to stoop down to your level. Zijin, let’s watch our show and ignore him.”
In the program, it was coincidentally Qin Baobao’s shot. “Teacher Li Rongxing is already very confident. I don’t even have the confidence to pray for a smooth victory.”
Yin Jia’s voice sounded. “I’m very curious. Did Baobao bring another original song over?”
“Yes.” Qin Baobao’s smile was impeccable.
The few singers were slightly jittery.
“Wow, I’m really looking forward to it. I’m sure the audience in front of the television is as well.” Yin Jia’s voice paused. She smiled lightly, “I have a question. A personal question.”
Qin Baobao smiled elegantly and nodded.
“From what I know, you’re a newbie in Star Talent Entertainment Company. According to my experience in this industry for so many years, how can a newbie possibly receive so much resources from a company? You need to know that your previous two songs were all hits. Even a popular singer won’t have so many incredible songs,” Yin Jia asked curiously.
“Like I said, my brother wrote them for me,” Qin Baobao said in all seriousness.
Yin Jia shook her head bitterly. “Honestly, I went home to check, and there was no lyricist named Qin Ze.”
Your brother wrote the song? Who were you kidding? How old was your younger brother? She had seen the growth of a lot of superstars, which included composers. The road to popularity was long and full of twists. Talented people would slowly reveal themselves, and they would become famous with one track before releasing hits gradually over the years.
How could she possibly produce two incredible songs in such a short time? It’s unrealistic. Unless it was a ‘well-thought-out’ plan to make a star, but this needed insurmountable resources. These two incredible songs would cost a ton. She did not believe that Star Talent Entertainment Company would pour in so much resources to make Qin Baobao into a star… unless she was the lover of a key leader in the company.
Yin Jia would never say these words. She asked this not only because she was curious, but it was also for the program effect to stimulate the audience’s curiosity.
Once Qin Baobao appeared on the frame, the live comments were flooded.
“We meet again, my goddess.”
“Qin Baobao, I missed you so much.”
“In my dreams, I’ve seen you in my dreams. Everyone, sing with me.”
“Prepare your tissues.”
“Qin Baobao is a real goddess. I love you to death.”
When Yin Jia asked the question, the live comments went on fire.
“What freaking brother?”
“Why do I not believe her?”
“Younger brother: I’m not being your scapegoat.”
“Yin Jia said that there was not such a person in the circle. Heck, that’s too much information. Was Qin Baobao an expert in some entertainment circle?”
“F*ck, I believed in love just now; but I’m disappointed again.”
In front of the camera, Qin Baobao’s face darkened increasingly as she watched the live comments. Her eyes became watery. “How could they do this? How could they think of me so badly?”
“Because you’re too pretty,” Qin Ze said.
His sister stuck out her chest. “Is it my fault that I’m pretty? I didn’t want to be so pretty.”
“…”
Wang Zijin and Qin Ze both rolled their eyes. Qin Ze said, “Qin Baobao, did you know that you will be easily beaten up over this sentence?”