The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: I'll Tell You Who's the Boss

Shi Si didn't hesitate for a moment before agreeing to his request. Immediately, his attention fixated on the rehearsal stage in the studio, his gaze always tracing Nie Jia's figure.

After a quick run-through, the rehearsal concluded. Shi Yan, intending to invite Nie Fei for lunch, found himself at a loss when he couldn't locate him anywhere, eventually giving up the search.

"Shi Yan." Xie Yihang called out to Shi Yan as he was about to leave, his voice soft, tinged with a hint of caution. "Where did you go today?"

Shi Yan glanced at Xie Yihang's sunny and adorable face, hesitated for a moment, then replied, "My brother needed me."

Though he saw through some facades, Shi Yan didn't dislike Xie Yihang. Deep down, he might even harbor a slight fondness for him, but this sentiment was clouded by guilt toward Nie Fei, making it hard for him to face Xie Yihang.

"Want to grab a meal together?" Xie Yihang nodded without pressing further, just inviting him casually. Normally, Shi Yan was the one initiating such invitations, and today's indifference was a first.

"Sure." Shi Yan smiled, but the warmth didn't quite reach his eyes.

Walking side by side, an awkward tension lingered between them.

Time flew by, and by 1 PM, the audience had begun filing into the studio. Shi Si didn't show up when he escorted Nie Jia back, merely watching him enter the backstage dressing room before heading back to the control room.

The studio used by the production team was the largest at this opulent TV station, accommodating nearly four thousand people. The screams of the live audience, there to support their favorite singers, threatened to bring down the ceiling.

In such a vast setting, the audience's reactions alone could starkly differentiate the singers' abilities.

"Go lighter on the eye makeup." Nie Jia instructed the makeup artist in the dressing room. Nie Fei and Nie Jia had a similar taste in dressing—mostly black or white. However, Nie Fei often sported heavier eye makeup during concerts and music videos, exuding a vibe of a cold-hearted assassin, a point frequently criticized by Mu Wei.

The makeup artist immediately acknowledged but struggled to make alterations. Those eyes were just too captivating; anything added around them seemed unnecessary.

While not a fan of Nie Fei, the makeup artist had heard of the "Eyes of an Angel." Initially, from a distance on the computer screen, it was merely a lighter iris color, nothing too astonishing. However, up close, the artist understood why so many were enchanted by these eyes.

It wasn't the eyes themselves but the light that danced within them, akin to a vast expanse of starlit skies—his innate advantage that no contact lens could replicate.

Ultimately, the makeup artist made no changes, merely tidying the eyebrows before Nie Jia sent a text to Shi Si and, prompted by the director, reluctantly returned to the contestants' lounge. The other three were already present. Xie Yihang's makeup was exquisite, with a faint hint of red eyeshadow at the corners, resembling a shy blush, utterly adorable.

"We're about to start. I just drew lots, and we're the last ones." Shi Yan informed Nie Jia as he entered.

In this scenario, both the first and the last were disadvantaged. The first faced the pressure, while the last needed to detach the audience from the emotions stirred by the previous performances. Although the judges didn't vote based on the audience's reactions, the audience held voting power, while the judges lacked a veto.

This was just a variety show, but if the most popular group gained complete audience support, they could bypass the judges and directly enter the finals.

The audience held a decisive power, a disadvantage for the last performing group.

Yet, Nie Jia merely murmured an indifferent acknowledgment, buried in his phone, hardly lifting his head. He found a solitary couch and continued texting.

At 2 PM, the new episode of "Battle of the Stars" finally commenced its official recording.

Today's semi-finals would eliminate two male groups. Unlike the previous formats of teaming up or one-on-one competitions, today would involve a round-robin, eliminating two groups while directly advancing one to the finals after the first round.

The contestants who had made it through various rounds to reach the semi-finals, except for the new entry, Box, were all internet sensations.

Being able to bring together DDD, Galaxy, and Hertz Era, three top-tier male groups on one stage, only the wealthy station could pull off such a lineup. Just this semi-final lineup alone made audiences marvel at the extravagant budget of the network, how much money did they pour into this!

Since its debut, this show had been a hot topic. From devilish editing techniques to conflicts between contestants, coupled with the sudden return of musical genius Nie Fei, the complete DDD confronting Galaxy—it had already sparked heated debates among fans of the two groups even before the competition began.

Everyone knew DDD and Galaxy had always been in competition. The respective aces, Nie Fei and Yu Jingwei, had a tense relationship. Now, with Nie Fei's return, a showdown between the aces of the two groups in the finals was highly anticipated!

The thought alone was enough to ignite passions. Countless people were eagerly awaiting this moment.

Apart from Nie Fei's variety show debut, there was also the showdown of the highest-traffic male group. For a while, the popularity this program garnered was estimated to remain unmatched by any news for the next two years.

In the rest area, other contestants could catch glimpses of the live scenes through the TV monitor. The sparking music had already begun, and it was the five young men of Box, whose average age was merely 21, taking the stage for the first round. A newly formed group, only a little over a year into their debut, aiming to secure a place among the top three male groups in the entire online traffic—it was a feat close to impossible.

They were fortunate in the previous round to eliminate DDD, whose lead vocalist had a bad cold. Now that DDD's ace had returned, it was practically impossible for Box to win.

The five boys understood this reality well. Merely reaching this stage was the highest commendation for them. They didn't feel discouraged or disheartened by the prospect of an inevitable elimination; instead, they seized this chance to confidently showcase their talent.

Though the audience in the venue primarily consisted of fans of the other three groups, at the end of their performance, they still received an enthusiastic round of applause.

"This group's potential is solid. It's just that since their debut is recent, their fan base isn't as established. You didn't lose to them unjustly," Nie Jia casually commented after watching Box's performance.

His implication was that D Group's subunit losing to a new group meant a lack of skill. However, now, instead of impulsively reacting, Nie Fei, who would have retorted in the past, surprisingly found Nie Jia's words somewhat reasonable. Indeed, Box's talent was quite substantial; otherwise, they wouldn't have fought their way into the semifinals.

Chen Tian, with a hint of annoyance, said, "We lost because Xiaohang had a bad cold."

Xie Yihang added, "Shi Yanshen and Chen Tian are amazing. You shouldn't say it like that."

Nie Jia apathetically stated, "Proud of catching a cold on the eve of the match?"

Xie Yihang blushed, pressing his lips together, and stopped talking. On the eve of the last recording, due to DDD's high vote count in the previous round, Xie Yihang was happy. He was interacting with fans on Weibo late into the night, only to catch a cold the next day.

"Sorry," Xie Yihang apologized softly.

Nie Jia, like a rigid bone, slouched on the couch, completely ignoring him. At that moment, a deafening wave of sound emanated from the TV. The dazzling Galaxy, a group of eight handsome men, stepped onto the stage in succession.

Even before they began singing, the fans in the audience screamed, completely washing away any lingering emotions from Box's performance! The entire arena resonated with passionate cheers. The hosts struggled to speak until Yu Jingwei stepped forward, smiling and gesturing with his hand to calm down the excited fans.

The disparity in strength and popularity between the top male groups and the newcomers was instantly evident—a clear distinction!

Galaxy was undoubtedly today's formidable opponent, possessing the capability to compete head-to-head with D Group in terms of both strength and popularity.

Xie Yihang nervously rubbed his knees as he watched the TV. Despite recovering from his cold, his mental state wasn't great. He began to show symptoms of shallow breathing. However, Galaxy was their main competitor. Shi Yanshen and Chen Tian were glued to the TV, while Nie Jia was engrossed in texting, and no one noticed him.

Galaxy's performance for the day was their signature song, a metal-rock piece that could set the crowd on fire. As soon as the lead vocalist began, the entire audience was immediately drawn in, almost all the fans chanting along in unison, releasing their heightened emotions to the fullest.

"What rubbish, DDD! What a joke, the Hertz Era and the CBC Company! Galaxy is the true champion! If Galaxy doesn't get the top spot today, it's definitely rigged!"

"Yu Jingwei! Yu Jingwei! I'll support you forever!"

"Galaxy's performance today was stunning! It's unfair if they don't get the first place!"

As the song ended and the background music slowly faded, there were still fans screaming wildly in the audience.

Galaxy was evidently satisfied with their performance's effect. Before leaving the stage, they waved to the fans, initiating another round of cheering. To defeat D Group, Galaxy had indeed put in a lot of effort in preparing for the competition. In the semifinals, they exhibited an extraordinary performance. Even the judges couldn't help but sway to the rhythm while they sang. One could say this was Galaxy's best performance since joining the competition.

With overflowing confidence, Yu Jingwei even made a mocking gesture towards the camera, his eyes fierce, "DDD, get ready to lose!"

During the morning rehearsal, they learned that DDD had last-minute changes to their "War Song." Feeling disdainful, they thought DDD wanted to win through fan sentiment? Well, that depended on whether the judges bought into it.

Nie Jia yawned backstage, casually teasing with Shi Si. Seeing the opponent's provocation, he just scornfully scoffed, "A drama queen."

Watching his proud and confident partner in the control room, Shi Yanshen immediately recalled the sweet moments of kissing him in the car at noon. He couldn't get enough of his current demeanor.

Between the two nearly evenly matched groups, with Galaxy's exceptional performance, D Group truly had reason to feel the pressure.

After Galaxy left the stage, the host had to recite a long series of advertisements to somewhat calm the restless mood of the fans in the venue.

The third group to take the stage was the Hertz Era, a band that debuted slightly earlier than Galaxy and boasted immense popularity as an idol group. However, they stood just a notch below DDD and Galaxy, positioning themselves as the least prominent among the three giants. Despite Hertz Era's impressive capabilities that could easily overshadow other male groups, today's competition involved two top-tier bands. Moreover, given Galaxy's sensational performance in the previous round, the cheers for Hertz Era seemed notably subdued.

"Let's go, it's our turn," Shi Yanshen stood up, adjusting his attire.

Chen Tian took a deep breath and, following Xie Yihang, stood up in succession, waiting for the director's signal. Meanwhile, Nie Jia leisurely finished sending a final message before rising to his feet alongside Shi Si.

As the host bid farewell to Hertz Era and the judges conveyed their evaluations of the preceding performance, it finally reached the highly anticipated moment for all.

"Next up, presenting the phenomenal top-tier group, DDD"

The words had barely faded when, before the four individuals even stepped onto the stage, the fans of DDD erupted in excitement. They fervently waved their lightsticks, chanting the group's support slogans at the top of their lungs, competing fervently with the adjacent Galaxy fans, creating a cacophony of support for DDD.

"Xie Yihang! He Chen Tian! Shi Yanshen! Forever DDD!"

Oddly, there was no mention of Nie Fei in the cheers. The few individual lightsticks bearing Nie Fei's name were engulfed amidst those displaying the names of the other three and the group's title.

It wasn't due to Nie Fei lacking admirers; rather, news of Nie Fei's return to the team was only released the day before the show. Despite Nie Fei's fans wanting to support their idol, they had no means of obtaining tickets as they had long been sold out. Some fans managed to purchase tickets at exorbitant prices from scalpers, only to find themselves surrounded by fans of the other three members, rendering their vocal support futile.

The fan section for DDD was predominantly filled with fans of the other three members, loudly chanting their names while entirely disregarding Nie Fei. The neighboring Galaxy fans found the situation ludicrous. A battle within a group? They felt DDD should have resolved their internal issues before competing, rather than embarrassing themselves on stage.

Just as the four individuals stepped onto the platform, before they could even make their appearance, the Galaxy fan section collectively started to boo!

This was an unprecedented incident. Fortunately, it wasn't live, and it could be edited out later. However, the act of booing before the contestants appeared was deeply disrespectful, making the three judges visibly displeased.

In the control room, Shi Si's eyes darkened as she turned to her secretary and whispered, "Summon the producer for me."

"Sure, right away," the secretary nodded and promptly went to find the person.

Outside, amidst the fans' cries of support and the Galaxy fans' jeers, the tension was palpable. Xie Yihang was visibly nervous, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Suddenly, with a click, all the lights in the arena went out, leaving only the scattered glow of audience members' lightsticks and glow sticks.

The platform slowly ascended in the darkness.

The sudden darkness abruptly silenced the fervent voices of the fans. As the audience speculated whether it was a stage mishap, a low hum emanated from the venue.

That prelude! It was DDD's battle anthem! The song that once dominated the entire music scene with its power, "Battle Hymn"!

The fans were almost teary-eyed, gritting their teeth in excitement as they vigorously waved their lightsticks, erupting into passionate cheers.

The frenzy of the fans didn't interrupt the singer's humming. As the rhythm intensified, the stage lights gradually brightened, revealing the four members of DDD standing on a stage that had been empty just moments ago. Some fans were astonished to see Nie Fei in the spotlight instead of Xie Yihang, but most were completely absorbed in the vocalist's voice, paying no attention to anything beyond the song.

The song ignited the fans' collective spirit, prompting them to sway their lightsticks to the rhythm. However, unlike Galaxy's fans, none of them joined the performers on stage in raucous singing. This song was incredibly challenging, with limited popular appeal; while many loved the battle anthem, very few could sing along.

The tension rose as the melody gradually deviated, showcasing a more intense emotional depth than the original, evoking a heightened emotion that struck straight to the core. Even the Galaxy fans, who had previously booed, now stared dumbfounded at the lead singer on stage.

The voice of this person, clearer than the original lead singer Xie Yihang's, carried a subtle metallic quality, amplifying the grandeur of the "Battle Hymn" to its fullest. Each note resonated profoundly. Bathed in the stage lights, this person possessed an almost flawless countenance, blessed with eyes that seemed divinely gifted.

That person was Nie Fei, standing on stage as if on a throne.

His performance wasn't as emotionally charged as Galaxy's; however, every note stirred the audience's senses.

The song had a rapid tempo, the dance moves were intense, yet it wasn't bombastic; it exuded a profound and silent atmosphere. Through his vocals, he painted a picture of a daring assault amid a hail of bullets, creating a tension akin to the night before a storm. It was majestic, sorrowful yet uplifting, compelling people to grab their guns and rush to battle.

In comparison, Galaxy's performance seemed shallow, relying solely on shouting.

Nie Jia's voice carried through the entire song. Apart from Shi Yanshen's brief solo chorus and Chen Tian's rap segment, Xie Yihang was completely overshadowed. He was the darling of DDDs popularity, yet at this moment, not a single person noticed his absence even from his designated part.

As the background music gradually faded, the venue fell into a long silence. There were no cheers or support chants; all the audience members were silently captivated by what they had witnessed.

What is the essence of being shaken? This was it!

As the music faded entirely, the four individuals, like warriors whose inner fires had burned out, slowly converged back-to-back, requiring the lead singer to deliver the final line acapella, marking the definitive end of the performance.

The tension brought about by "Battle Hymn" was no joke. Xie Yihang had been hyperventilating even before taking the stage, immersed in the song for too long, coupled with the intense dance routine. In the final moments, his energy gave way, stumbling and falling directly in front of Nie Jia.

This fall snapped many people back to reality, except for Nie Jia. Shi Yanshen instinctively moved forward to help Xie Yihang up, who had turned red-faced.

Nie Jia, however, completely ignored the visibly embarrassed Xie Yihang, calmly and softly sang the final line as if a flickering candle extinguished, dissipating the overwhelming atmosphere that had enveloped the entire venue.

The performance by DDD came to an end.

The most seasoned musician among the judges, Chen Huanyin, immediately stood up, leading the entire audience to shower D Group with thunderous applause. It wasn't just the fans' support; it was the applause of the audience, the camera even capturing several teary-eyed spectators.

Even in the contestants' resting room, the boys from Box and the Hertz Era couldn't resist rising to applaud this breathtaking performance. However, in the Galaxy lounge, a few members clapped strangely, with Yu Jingwei not even bothering to show any expression, his arms crossed, eyes fixed on the TV screen, predatory.

The host called up the remaining three boy groups onto the stage. One group was about to advance directly to the finals, leaving the other three to perform again, competing for the last finals slot.

"DDD, were you here to compete? You weren't here to compete!" The music maestro on the judging panel glared seriously at Nie Jia and his group, speaking through gritted teeth, "You're already champions! This performance has far exceeded the highest standards of this stage. Sitting here today, listening to your live performance, I feel sorry for you all. Especially you, Nie Fei, you've been wronged."

Coming from the maestro of the music industry, this praise would've sufficed for a decade for others. Yet, when it came to Nie Fei, it seemed so natural. Singling out Nie Fei from D Group for praise would've caused an uproar before, especially among Wei San's fans. However, after witnessing the young man's effortless control on stage, even Mu Wei wouldn't find words to refute.

"Thank you, teacher," Nie Jia smiled faintly, seemingly unfazed by the praise.

"Xie Yihang, are your feet okay?" After Chen Huanyin's mood settled, he politely smiled at Xie Yihang and inquired.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Xie Yihang hastily waved his hand, somewhat embarrassed.

At this moment, the fans below couldn't help but encourage, "Little angel, go for it!"

"Little angel is amazing!"

"It's okay if the little angel falls; we'll keep loving you."

Xie Yihang's cheeks flushed slightly as he waved the microphone in his hand to acknowledge them.

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