91. Ji Rufeng’s world was turned upside down

In the live stream, the barrage of comments suddenly turned on a dime. People were shocked to discover that the goddess Ji Shengxue, so flawless and so inspiring in everyone’s eyes, did not seem quite so perfect after all.

Seeing the screen flooded with doubt, Ji Shengxue’s fans felt deeply wronged. They wanted to argue back, but no matter what they said, it only sounded as though they were smearing their own idol.

The fighting power of the three fan groups was not to be underestimated. One voice after another rose in succession, and public opinion became increasingly unfavorable to Ji Shengxue.

Ever since they had become fans of Ji Shengxue, they had followed their sister in peaceful bliss, never once having suffered such indignity. As expected, the fans took after the star. Ji Fanxing, Chu Hao, and Hai Lan’s fans were all villains!

In the end, Ji Shengxue’s fans could only comfort themselves with the thought that decent people did not brawl with the wicked, and they retreated in sullen silence.

The fan war in the comments did not affect the live event itself.

In the contestants’ seats, Ji Rufeng, after hearing Hai Lan’s words, was thrown into utter disarray.

“How is that possible...! That song was actually written by that brute-strong Ji Fanxing!!”

In an instant, many things he had once deliberately ignored began to come into focus.

At some point, the conversations among his classmates had all started revolving around Ji Fanxing.

On the way home from school, the songs playing from roadside shops, the faint music drifting from passersby’s phones, all carried that familiar yet strangely distant voice.

And there was his own wooden, slow-witted deskmate, who treated Ji Fanxing like his lifelong idol...

In the past, Ji Rufeng had always dismissed it all. From childhood to now, Ji Fanxing had been nothing more than a moth in the towering radiance of their eldest sister.

Ordinary, unremarkable, not worth mentioning—that was Ji Fanxing’s name in his mind.

To his recollection, the most outrageous thing she had ever done was, out of jealousy, intentionally step on their eldest sister’s skirt on set, making her fall and get injured, and still refuse to admit it.

She had even insisted on chasing after the variety show their eldest sister was on, just to compare herself with her.

Ji Rufeng had always thought that Ji Fanxing’s participation in All-Round Song King was meant to interfere with their eldest sister, to borrow her fame and force her way into the spotlight...

Only just now had he heard a song that struck straight at the soul, a song that awakened a longing for rock music in his heart.

And yet the lead singer had said that this song was written by Ji Fanxing!

“Could it be... she really is a genius?!”

Ji Rufeng felt as though his entire world had been overturned. He suddenly realized that he might never have truly known this elder sister at all.

He whirled around and looked toward the high platform behind him, wanting to catch a glimpse of Ji Fanxing, but her figure could not be found anywhere.

At the judges’ table, Fang Zhijing unconsciously sat up straighter. To face the strongest opponent in the finals and still bring out such a stunning piece of work—

Was this girl really, as Ji Changming had said, some “ill-mannered, unpresentable nobody”?

Fang Zhijing stroked his chin, his gaze deep. In the end he made up his mind: one must trust one’s own eyes. Even parents had their moments of favoritism.

It had not been easy for the Dragon Nation’s music scene to produce such a genius. She must absolutely not be buried.

Whether Ji Changming truly had no eye for talent and knew nothing of Ji Fanxing’s gifts, or whether he was simply biased to the end, Fang Zhijing intended to nurture her properly and help her become the Dragon Nation music world’s rising star of tomorrow.

When it came time for scoring, the Crimson Flame band was invited onto the stage by Brother Du.

Fang Zhijing, unsurprisingly, gave this “extraordinary” song a perfect score.

Xie Huai followed right behind him.

In the end, Hai Lan received a full 98 points.

The moment the score was revealed, the entire venue erupted in celebration.

The audience rose to their feet, cheering wildly for the Crimson Flame band and shouting themselves hoarse for Hai Lan.

By this point, the top three of All-Round Song King were already clear.

The instant the rankings were announced, Ji Fanxing, Chu Hao, and Hai Lan’s fans all screamed in delight over their idols’ achievements.

Ji Shengxue’s fans were screaming too, because their supposedly perfect sister had actually only come in fourth.

The host, Brother Du, had long since noticed Ji Fanxing lingering at the back of the stage.

Looking as though he had caught her in the act, he led Ji Fanxing out.

“Fanxing, really now. Why aren’t you sitting properly in your seat? What are you sneaking around backstage to look at?”

Ji Fanxing complied smoothly, looking nothing like someone who had been caught red-handed.

“Of course I was helping my good friend Hai Lan cheer on.”

At that moment, Hai Lan and the Crimson Flame band were still onstage. The late-arriving A Li had already taken his place; he wore a baseball cap and one of He Hongjing’s jackets, his figure thin and small.

If no one had said anything, no one would have noticed any difference between him and the keyboard player from the performance.

Only then did the audience understand that Ji Fanxing, who had never appeared in the live stream, had actually been backstage all along, cheering for Hai Lan.

The haters from earlier, get out here now!

What an absolutely beautiful sisterly bond. I’m crying for real. Who exactly did my Divine Ji offend? Why is someone always trying to smear her?

They’re just forcing the issue. Isn’t this kind of thing common in the entertainment industry? For the sake of suppressing someone, they’ll do anything.

The people Divine Ji probably offended were those with no talent of their own who fear her talent, like Lu Yi, for example.

I’ve noticed something very interesting: among the contestants ranked fifth through twentieth in All-Round Song King, all of them have announced contracts with various entertainment companies, big and small, but none of the top four have announced any agency at all.

Good heavens, these four are amazing. In the entertainment industry, if you don’t sign with a company, how are you supposed to survive?

Chu Hao has a powerful background, so he doesn’t need to worry at all. Ji Fanxing and Ji Shengxue have a director for a father and an actress for a mother, so they probably won’t be short on resources either. But Hai Lan, who came from nowhere and had no professional backing, is in danger. Still, Fang the Master personally shielded her just now and even said he would introduce her to a teacher. Her future path definitely won’t be bad.

Exactly. Those entertainment companies are all the same. Aside from Jiangshan Entertainment, none of them treat artists like people.

Hai Lan once replied to a fan on Weibo, saying that she hadn’t signed because every company wanted her to change careers and give up rock music, and that left her in a dilemma. Ji Fanxing is practically my sister’s savior on her rock-and-roll journey!

Divine Ji is the savior of the entire entertainment music scene. I had already lost all hope in Dragon Nation songs, but her music has rekindled my hope. If she doesn’t sign with a company, is she going to leave the industry in the future...? I want to lock her in a little black room and have her write songs every day...

The person above, are you insane? How could you lock up my Divine Ji? She should be worshiped! Write songs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, hold concerts on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and I’ll keep her company and let her rest on Sunday. That’s the right arrangement!

You people are terrifying! I’m willing to trade my boyfriend for my Divine Ji to soar straight into the sky, so no one will ever dare to covet her again, and nobody will be able to smear her.

Divine Ji absolutely cannot leave the industry! Her songs are my spiritual nourishment. Right now, apart from her music, everything else I listen to feels like I’m listening to filth. Hurry up, Master Fang, and give my Divine Ji the invitation so she can keep shining in the world of music.

Whether in singing ability or music production, Ji Fanxing is absolutely qualified to attend the National Music Exchange Convention!

This comment opened everyone’s eyes to a new line of thought. They truly feared that Ji Fanxing might quit the industry and that they would never again hear good songs, so they all rushed to support her attending the convention and continuing to shine in the music world.

In an instant, the comments began to flood the screen.

Support Ji Fanxing in attending the National Exchange Convention!

Support Ji Fanxing in attending the National Exchange Convention!

...

Facing the screen and the barrage of comments that were utterly contrary to what he had imagined, Ji Changming could not help but sink into thought.