Forced to Act out a Strange Script with a Rival - Chapter 8

The first person notified to leave the dressing room and prepare was Si Xiaoxiao. With two variety shows starting their live broadcasts at the same time, and both contestants having the same order, singing was still inherently faster than acting.

She was like a proud peacock; even though she was about to face a completely unfamiliar field, she wasn’t anxious at all.

Although she had crammed the song at the last minute, her face was truly beautiful, so she had confidence in herself!

With a mask on her face and wearing a shimmering little dress, she ascended on the stage’s lift.

She had originally come to participate in the acting variety show, and her makeup and styling were very opulent, preparing for a role as a certain country’s princess. Now, facing a group of mentors whose backs were turned to her, it was simply casting pearls before swine.

As the prelude to “Wildfire Burns the Stele” began to play, familiar memories surged in her mind, seemingly transporting her back to that period of time.

Si Xiaoxiao had never loved a character this much—loved her so much that she became her, and the character, in turn, shaped her.

That character was once her very flesh and blood, but in order to escape typecasting and to move forward, she resolutely peeled that flesh and blood away from her body.

Therefore, since then, she no longer possessed a soul, because her entire soul had been dedicated to Cao Xueliao.

And at this very moment, the love she had forsaken was poured back into her body.

“History is stained with the blood of heroes, they are intertwining threads.”

“Through the revolutions of the Seven Stars, the cycle repeats ten thousand times.”

“All here are youths, capable of boundless passion.”

The moment this song was performed, Si Xiaoxiao was certainly not the only one transported back to that summer.

The live stream’s bullet screen comments instantly exploded—

[Who is it! Who is singing? Has this old man’s youth returned!?]

[Didn’t Li Ting stop singing this song seven years ago? Whose audacity is it to sing a song that the original singer and author won’t allow? Who is planning to offend the Connection King?!]

Due to Li Ting’s prodigious track record of helping cover singers become popular, many netizens jokingly called Li Ting the “Connection King”—even though she wasn’t famous herself, everyone she was connected to became famous!

Singing one of Li Ting’s songs was more effective than praying to gods or raising an imp!

There are always many capable people online. By the time the song reached the middle section, a netizen quickly relayed a tip-off—

[Report—my relative who works on the show said the Connection King is participating in the program, so it’s her! Our first love is back!]

[Is Sister Ting wearing something so youthful? And an off-the-shoulder style? Her cool, cinematic face suits black, white, and gray, doesn’t it!]

But subsequently, another group of ridiculous netizens announced with absolute certainty—Si Xiaoxiao is also participating in this show!

[No wonder they pulled out the ‘Wildfire Burns the Stele,’ their most treasured track. The photo in the dressing room that just trended was just marketing.]

[Are the two great ladies starting to market their relationship? I’m so unaccustomed to this! Please, two great ladies, continue your cold war; we only want to root for pure hatred.]

[What kind of masochist is the person above? I’m different; I want to see them on the same show and then fight!]

[I originally thought Xiao Ting and those other seductive vamps were different, but I didn’t expect it to just be a disguise.]

Two-thirds of the way through the song, the comments’ reception took another turn. Netizens, fed up with various marketing ploys, immediately began to speculate with the utmost malice.

And at this moment, the mentors who had their backs turned to the singer were also squirming uncomfortably, feeling like they had daggers at their backs.

Li Ting’s connections permeate the entertainment industry; anyone who sings will give her some face.

Although her singing is mediocre and she hasn’t become famous in ten years, her ability to select and create songs is excellent. Coupled with her special ability to make cover singers famous, no one wants to offend her.

Due to a universally known reason, Li Ting basically never touches any songs related to the Bronze Sparrow Keep.

As a result, others implicitly agreed not to touch them either. After all, Li Ting does have something strangely powerful about her, and if she got angry and stopped shielding cover singers, what would they do?!

And now, someone is actually singing “Wildfire Burns the Stele”!

Huh?? Aren’t they afraid of the Connection King getting enraged?

But, this terrible singing technique, full of emotion, an incredibly moving performance—is it really not Li Ting herself?

The mentors who were relatively well-informed and had heard which guests were participating in the show were somewhat less anxious (only relatively well-informed, of course).

That’s right, this is Li Ting herself. In this circle, isn’t she the only one who dares to sing “Wildfire Burns the Stele”!!

The clever mentors immediately pressed their buzzers during the song’s climax and put on expressions of immense appreciation.

It’s all emotion! All of it! No technique needed! It’s too pure! This buzzer must be pressed!

Of course, what they were thinking was that since the show’s producers released an ancient weapon like “Wildfire Burns the Stele,” they had to grab onto this wave of trending topics! Massive wealth, I’m coming!

Si Xiaoxiao, who was singing so immersed that she almost cracked her voice, even found time to check the mentors’ buzzer status. Good, about half of them pressed it. It seems she really has talent!

How many buzzers are needed to advance?

It seems like one-third is enough.

Wait, doesn’t that mean… she advanced?? An actress who couldn’t even advance in an acting variety show actually advanced in a singing variety show???

Si Xiaoxiao was quite worried about this—

Doesn’t that mean she has to sing another song later?!

Si Xiaoxiao finished her song and was about to remove her mask when news came from the front lines of the netizens—

[Good news, that great lady is on the acting variety show next door! The one singing ‘Wildfire Burns the Stele’ is not her! That’s wonderful! These two still hate each other, we are saved!]

[What master is daring to court disaster here? Are they really not afraid of being assassinated by the Connection King!!]

Si Xiaoxiao, unable to see the comments, naturally did not know that the ridiculous netizens had already written a script where she was being hunted. Under the direction of the program’s PD, she removed her mask.

The mentors were dumbfounded, and of course, so were the live audience and the comment section—

[??? Huh? Not that great lady, it’s THIS great lady!]

[Cao Xueliao sang Xun Ye’s song. Strange, why am I having this dream? My brain: Wake up quickly. My eyes: No, I want to watch the fun.]

[As expected, only Si Xiaoxiao isn’t afraid of being assassinated. It’s sugar, the sugar of the Xiao Ting Grand Battle!]

Meanwhile, the mentors were all trembling, thinking to themselves, I didn’t think this buzzer-pressing job would be so dangerous!

Hand, why did you press it! Do you want to be assassinated!

So, the mentors carefully weighed their words and, prompted by the program team’s hints, braced themselves and asked, “Why did you choose this song?”

Si Xiaoxiao’s tone was very calm, making her feel like the one who should be the mentor, and she was even blunt: “I only know this one song, and I sing it terribly. I hope the mentors will bear with me.”

Mentor Two, who had uncorked a bottle of champagne and praised her repeatedly while she was singing, turned green in the face and tried to save face: “I think your emotion was very rich when you sang.”

Si Xiaoxiao, putting the drama right on the table without any regard for propriety, said: “Oh, I sang it with hatred. I hope people who like this song… will stop liking it in the future.”

Ridiculous netizens: Are you calling us out? Believe me, we can ship this too!

Mentor Three, afraid that Si Xiaoxiao would continue to say shocking things, quickly jumped to the next segment: “Aiya, although we all pressed the buzzer, the netizen voting segment later will also affect whether you ultimately advance. Campaign for yourself!”

According to the regular process, this is where they should comment thoroughly on the contestant, evaluating them comprehensively from song choice to singing technique.

However, “Wildfire Burns the Stele” was a hot potato, and Si Xiaoxiao was equally one.

So, all that nonsense about evaluation could be tossed aside; they would move directly to the next segment.

Si Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up when she heard that she hadn’t fully advanced, and she immediately said, “Oh, then please don’t vote for me. I really don’t have any more songs to sing.”

Wicked netizens: Heh heh heh, you said it! I’m voting for you! I’ll mobilize my friends and family to vote too! I want to see what other “forbidden songs” you can sing. [Dominant CEO smirk].jpg

Then, the online live voting timer started—Si Xiaoxiao advanced to the next round without any suspense, reaching the advancing threshold in almost five seconds, breaking the record for the fastest advancement of several previous seasons’ contestants.

Si Xiaoxiao was simply too young and had overestimated the bottom line of the wicked netizens.

They clearly have!! No bottom line!!

You want to market yourself and hype a fictional couple? No way, die for us! Oh? Now you don’t want to advance? That’s not up to you now, heh heh heh.

If it were Li Ting instead, she would also—hmm, she probably couldn’t escape the wicked netizens’ grasp either.

[Report!!!! That great lady next door is acting as Xun Ye!! Quick, vote for her to advance! Don’t let her run away!!]

[Are you sure it’s Xun Ye? Huh? Oh my God, I’ve lived to see the day, my youth is back.]

[What strange role-play are these two up to now? Are we all part of it??]

[The big event is coming, the big event is truly coming. Is today New Year’s Day? Are they treating us like monkeys?]

So, the ridiculous netizens immediately clicked on the other live stream. On the stage, a black-haired woman sat in a wheelchair, wearing a white shirt and black-rimmed glasses.

Fortunately, Bronze Sparrow Keep was a modern urban drama, so special costume preparation wasn’t necessary. Li Ting took off her jacket and, wearing a white shirt, was completely ready to go on stage.

And that little assistant was also amazing, somehow managing to get a wheelchair for her. The moment Li Ting sat there, she instantly transported people through time, completely embodying the spirit of Xun Ye, though an adult version.

Bronze Sparrow Keep has many classic scenes worth revisiting.

The segment Li Ting chose to perform was precisely their coordinated teamwork during a battle.

Facing an absolutely unbeatable monster, Cao Xueliao forcibly broke through her body’s limits. The spirit of Wen Yang within her went berserk, transforming her into a “Metal Asura” that attacked everything indiscriminately.

So, Xun Ye went crazy with her, allowing herself to also enter a state of spirit-berserk.

Bronze Sparrow Keep is not a story where gaining power leads to satisfying, effortless victories; it is actually a tragedy.

The name hints at this: Bronze Sparrow is taken from the Bronze Sparrow Platform built by Cao Cao, and Keep, Wujian) is derived from the Buddhist concept of “Avīci Hell.”

The youths gained the power of the spirits but also had to bear the spirits’ resentment and regret. Protecting the world requires a price.

Xun Ye sacrificed her mobility to gain the “Heaven’s Calculation” ability, allowing her to manipulate everything in the world. Although Cao Xueliao’s combat power was formidable, the more she fought, the more she lost her sanity.

“Cao Xueliao, I don’t mind if you continue to go crazy. It just means I’ll go crazy with you.”

Li Ting’s hand trembled on the wheelchair, but a nearly manic smile played on her lips. At this moment, she was Xun Ye.

Using the chessboard as her guide, she decisively commanded Cao Xueliao to attack.

With the addition of Xun Ye’s “Chessboard Deduction,” Cao Xueliao awoke from her state of madness.

She chuckled: “You really are crazier than me in my awakened state.”

Xun Ye, enduring immense pain, also smiled: “Of course. I told you, I don’t tolerate mad dogs here. Even if I go mad, I will pull you back.”

Cao Xueliao, allowing the blood to spray from her arm, did not lessen her attack and asked through their mental link: “To what extent is my body collapsing?”

From a tall building a hundred meters away, Xun Ye tapped on her keyboard and replied: “Tendon rupture rate 87%. The suggestion here is a direct amputation.”

“Amputation? Don’t! Good sister, help me out. Didn’t you agree to this reckless plan with me?”

“Calling me ‘sister’ won’t work. I want the new bag from Brand A.”

They casually chatted on the battlefield; this was their daily life—a life gradually falling, gradually collapsing—and also a daily life of embracing each other and entrusting their backs to one another.

The lights dimmed. In the original series, the story ended here, and all the audience members thought Xun Ye’s performance was over.

Because the lights went out so abruptly, the entire short scene was very brief, and the mentors hadn’t even had time to press the buzzer.

That’s the Connection King; shouldn’t we at least give her some face and symbolically press a buzzer?

One of the mentors pondered and finally decided to press the buzzer.

However, the moment she pressed it, the stage lights came back on.

Xun Ye was seen slowly moving her wheelchair, slightly raising her head, and smiling like a spring breeze, seemingly speaking to the person pushing the wheelchair behind her.

She said: “Why are you still so childish, even in college?”

Upon hearing the word ‘college,’ the audience and mentors all widened their eyes.

Because… this line had never appeared in the original work!!

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