CEO's Sweetheart is a Super Idol
Chapter 89 - 87: Vocal Music Master

Chapter 89: Chapter 87: Vocal Music Master

After the performance, Jiang Mengqi stood there with a smile on her face.

She knew where her greatest strengths lay. Her most powerful weapons were her smile that shone like a rainbow under the sun, and her face, which could charm audiences of nearly all ages.

At this moment, her mood was extremely tense. This could be her last gig.

The company’s small theater could no longer stay afloat; apart from keeping the top-tier artists, everyone else would be dismissed.

She was already 25. If she lost her job, she really wouldn’t know where to go.

To support herself, she had worked many jobs, but what she yearned for most was still the chance to stand on stage, dancing and singing for those who loved her.

"Jiang Mengqi, show your best side and give yourself a beautiful memory." She felt an urge to cry—the bitterness deep in her heart was something only she could truly understand.

Within the group, she ranked higher than Gao Ziyi, but for this song and dance performance, the C-position was given to Gao Ziyi. It was obvious that the younger Gao Ziyi was the company’s favored one this time.

It was unfair, but apart from doing her best, there was nothing else she could do.

"Your name is Jiang Mengqi. Did you start learning dance as a child? Your dancing has a lot of explosiveness," Wang Junhe said.

He had received a message from Yang Xiaoyue, asking him to subtly highlight Jiang Mengqi’s abilities.

Jiang Mengqi hadn’t expected the first question from the mentors after the performance to be directed at her.

"I really love dancing. I’ve been learning pop dance for about two to three years," she replied formally.

Beside her, Gao Ziyi felt extremely displeased. Wasn’t she the C-position in this group? Why wasn’t she the first to speak?

From over there, Zhang Wei also spoke, "Who among you used to be an athlete?"

Actually, the information in their hands already made this clear. Asking like this was obviously a way for the show to build some anticipation for the audience.

At this moment, Jiang Mengqi had steadied herself. "I used to be an athlete."

"You specialized in sprinting?" Zhang Wei continued.

"Yes, I guess I developed my explosiveness from those days," Jiang Mengqi said, flashing her signature smile.

Beside her, Gao Ziyi grew even more upset, tilting her head and glaring coldly at her teammate.

At this point, Long Zitao also picked up the microphone. Perhaps he was somewhat influenced by her smile because he accidentally bumped the microphone against his mouth, causing him to awkwardly laugh.

Everyone else started laughing as well, thinking to themselves, is Senior Long nervous or what?

"Actually, I have a question. How do you move your hands when sprinting?" Long Zitao quickly tried to diffuse his embarrassment.

Jiang Mengqi immediately began swinging her arms, imitating her usual running posture.

Off to the side, Luo Junxiang chimed in with a joke: "This is how they run, right?"

He raised both hands, making a ridiculous face and letting out exaggerated "ying-ying-ying" sounds.

The entire room erupted in laughter. Jiang Mengqi also found it impossibly awkward but still couldn’t help laughing along.

Meanwhile, Long Zitao felt utterly embarrassed. He instinctively shook his head, silently scolding himself—how did I end up sitting next to this clown as a mentor?

Jiang Mengqi never imagined they’d talk to her this much. After all, when she entered the stage earlier, it was clearly Gao Ziyi who dominated the group.

Next, the mentor Zhang Wei began rating their performance.

"Your performance was excellent, the choreography was very synchronized, so the A-level ranking goes to..."

As soon as he said this, the three girls couldn’t hold back their excitement. Being placed in A-Class essentially meant landing a debut spot.

The expressions on their faces were rich with emotions, shifting from nervousness to anticipation, and finally to excitement.

Sitting in his chair, Luo Junxiang stared intently at Jiang Mengqi with his slightly swollen eyes, scrutinizing her from head to toe as if trying to see through her.

"...After thorough discussion among us, no one is moving up to A-Class," Zhang Wei continued.

Upon hearing those words, the three of them nearly fainted. Why had he been so serious just now?

Gao Ziyi’s expression was particularly amusing. With her round face, round eyes, and full lips, her shocked look resembled a penguin’s.

To make matters worse, they ended up with one in C-Class and two in D-Class.

Next came the three foreign contestants—Chen Afen, Wu Yingxiang, and Li Zimeng—known for their strong vocal skills. These three had delivered the most outstanding performance among all the groups so far.

The difficulty of their song selection was high, yet their execution was flawless, and their stage presence was steady and poised.

From the spectator seats, everyone stared at them with envy. For many among them, this performance was an overwhelming blow.

Jiang Mengqi also watched enviously, knowing that if her singing skills were at this level, she’d undoubtedly make it into A-Class.

The mentors were equally delighted; this group truly showcased professionalism.

Next was a group from Vitality Era. Their seven members chose a youthful and cute concept, but their overall performance felt mediocre, with nothing particularly standout.

Liu Feiyu secured a solo performance opportunity. While her vocals weren’t strong, her performance featured an original song, which was well-written. Combined with the stage backdrop, she managed to earn an A.

Following that was Liu Shuangmeng from New Bamboo Culture. With her bold makeup, ripped denim jacket, and red stiletto heels, she exuded a commanding "queen" aura.

She had studied Latin dance and chose a difficult song, layering deep squats onto high notes, yet her execution remained impeccable.

Just as the girls thought that all the professional-level singers had already performed...

Xu Qianhua from Emperor Entertainment appeared onstage, bringing her piano with her.

This performance could only be described as stunning.

Because she played her own piano accompaniment, the singing was entirely unprocessed.

But she didn’t just play the piano well—her singing was extraordinary.

Her enunciation was clear, her vocal range expansive, with excellent resonance. Her control over both high and low notes was exceptional.

Compared to Liu Feiyu, who had just earned an A, she was even more deserving of the rating.

After all, Liu Feiyu had failed her instrumental performance during her solo.

Of course, most of those present could only sense that Xu Qianhua’s singing was incredible without understanding exactly why.

For the majority of people, judging a singer often falls between the range of understanding "great" at 90 points to "passable" at 60 points.

Ninety points undoubtedly sounds amazing, like Xu Qianhua.

Sixty points is merely acceptable, something you can listen to without discomfort, like Fu Xiaoyu and her peers.

But distinguishing nuances within this range is challenging, even for someone trained in vocal techniques but lacking exceptional talent. Only those with extreme aptitude can do so.

It’s like how in the movie "The Message," ordinary people can’t discern subtle differences in sound, but someone with a sharp musical sense can.

"I feel like your whole body is breathing," Zhang Wei opened, a statement of utmost respect for a singer.

The others didn’t critique her; there was more admiration than anything else, as their own vocal skills were nowhere near qualified to assess Xu Qianhua.

Backstage, Ye Yuwei and Lu Bingbing had started feeling immense pressure.

They hadn’t expected the program to schedule them right after these three powerhouse groups.

Especially following Xu Qianhua’s performance, the previous acts were far too formidable. Any slip-ups on their part would almost certainly be condemned by the audience.

When it comes to performance, both personal skill and the comparative context matter.

But since they were there, there was no room for hesitation.

After being cued by the stage manager, the two of them, dressed in "Falling Rain Sakura" gowns, stepped onto the stage.