Reborn, I choose to register my marriage with the diva.

Chapter 519 Music Should Come from the Soul

On the terrace, the evening breeze, carrying a hint of chill, swept freely through the air.

Yu Huan looked at her father-in-law's profile and listened quietly.

Unexpectedly, the father-in-law abruptly stopped speaking, turned around, and started walking into the house...

Yu Huan quickly caught up with him, her feet barely touching the ground, and asked in a low voice, "Dad, what are you thinking? Just give me a straight answer."

Old Lin stopped abruptly, but did not turn around immediately, seemingly deep in thought.

The dim light shone on him, casting a long shadow of his figure.

After a long while, Old Lin turned around, looked at Yu Huan with deep eyes, and slowly said, "Let's talk about it next time. Calm down first, sort out your thoughts, and it would be best if you could come up with a complete plan. Then come and talk to me about it."

Upon hearing this, Yu Huan's eyes lit up with undisguised joy.

With a solemn expression and his back ramrod straight, he nodded earnestly and said, "Dad, I understand. I'll focus all my efforts on sorting out my ideas these next few days and drafting a detailed business plan as soon as possible. I'll report back to you immediately when it's ready."

The voice was firm and powerful, each word piercing through the howling wind on the terrace.

Old Lin nodded slightly and said, "Okay, I'll be waiting for your plan."

Yu welcomed Old Lin's gaze, his expression filled with gratitude towards his father-in-law, and said, "Dad, thank you so much for your understanding and support."

There's a hidden meaning in his words. Right now, my father-in-law only understands to some extent. If he can offer more support in the future, that would be even better!

Old Lin's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile. He gave Yu Huan a deep look, said nothing more, and turned to walk towards the living room.

Yu Huan gazed at his father-in-law's back. Under the dim light, the figure seemed to be pulled by an invisible pressure, appearing somewhat heavy.

A gust of cold wind swept in with a sharp whistling sound.

Yu Huan couldn't help but shudder before she regained her composure.

He pulled his collar tighter, strode forward, and turned off the terrace light. In an instant, darkness, like a surging tide, completely enveloped him.

Yu Huan closed the door behind him and followed his father-in-law into the living room.

In the living room, a lively atmosphere washed over us like a warm wave.

The TV commercials were still going on and on. Ji Meng was excitedly telling Lin Yourong some funny story, while Zhang Ye and his mother-in-law also burst into laughter from time to time.

Yu Huan looked up and saw that the wall clock showed 9:58, and the broadcast time was just around the corner.

The mother-in-law looked up and saw her son-in-law and father-in-law walking in one after the other. She smiled and teased in a lighthearted tone, "You two went out for a while and chatted for so long. What did you talk about?"

"Nothing much, just chatting," Old Lin replied casually with a smile.

Ji Meng was putting potato chips into her mouth, with crumbs still stuck to the corners of her lips.

Her eyes darted around, and she was about to chime in with a smile, but when her gaze fell on Old Lin's face, she noticed that although he was smiling, his eyes held a thoughtful look, and the teasing words she was about to say were instantly swallowed back.

After observing her expression, she wisely shut her mouth, picked up a tissue, and gently wiped the corner of her mouth.

Old Lin walked straight to the sofa and sat down steadily.

Yu Huan felt her bladder was a little bloated, so she kept walking towards the bathroom and quickly relieved herself.

When he came out again, the TV commercials had just changed, and "I Am a Singer" was officially starting to air.

The living room fell silent instantly. Everyone stopped chatting and stared intently at the television screen.

Seeing this, Yu Huan quickly quickened her pace, carefully walked past the television, and sat down on a small stool on the other side of the coffee table.

He grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and ate them while watching the show.

The program officially began with a recap of previous events.

In the video, Yu Hongtao, with his signature, impatient, punctuated announcement style, slowly and deliberately announces that the singer ranked last is Yang Zongwei.

The slow, deliberate tone, coupled with the serious expression, added an unexpected touch of drama to what should have been a concise announcement.

In short, this talented singer was eliminated in the first round.

The scene shifts to Qi Zhen sitting alone to the side, gazing intently at the camera, seemingly lost in thought. He then slowly speaks, "Director, may I make a request? It's possible that I... won't be able to participate in the next episode..."

Qi Zhen's voice, tinged with melancholy, echoed softly in the living room through the television speakers.

He explained that his elderly mother was nearing the end of her life, and he planned to go to the United States to spend the Spring Festival with her.

Old Lin looked at the TV screen, a wise smile playing on his lips. He shook his head slightly and sighed, "In the end, it really does prove the saying 'youth has the upper hand'!"

Old Lin doesn't usually pay much attention to online information, so he didn't know about Qi Zhen's withdrawal from the competition at all.

However, with his experience and keen insight, he had already glimpsed some clues.

Upon hearing Lao Lin's remarks, the mother-in-law gently waved her hand, her gaze remaining firmly fixed on the television screen.

At this moment, footage is playing of the program team and expert advisory group holding an emergency meeting regarding Qi Zhen's withdrawal from the competition.

Everyone put themselves in each other's shoes and empathized with each other...

The mother-in-law smoothly picked up where Old Lin left off and began to analyze the situation methodically.

"I don't think Qi Zhen's decision to retire at the peak of his career was wrong. He's been in the music industry for most of his life, what kind of storms hasn't he weathered? The competition in music programs these days is fierce, with new singers emerging one after another, and the recording intensity is high. At his age, his physical strength and energy really can't keep up. If he continues to push himself, and his performance falters, it could ruin the reputation he's built up over the years. Choosing to withdraw from the competition now allows him to spend time with his family and preserve his dignity. Isn't that a wise move?"

While listening to her mother-in-law's analysis, Ji Meng leaned forward and deftly bent down to throw the empty potato chip bag into the trash can.

She stared intently at the television screen, and when she saw Hong Tao announce on camera that the production team had decided to retain Qi Qin's eligibility to continue participating in the competition, but this required the unanimous consent of every singer present.

Ji Meng couldn't help but purse her lips, feeling that this was clearly a false proposition.

As expected, the singers on site all raised their hands without hesitation to agree. Ji Meng thought for a moment and joined the discussion: "I think Aunt Fang is absolutely right. The pressure Qi Zhen is under on the show is obvious. His previous stage performances clearly showed that he was not up to the task. Rather than struggling here, he should leave gracefully and enjoy life."

With a smile on his face, Zhang Ye turned to look at his mother-in-law and asked, "Sister Fang, I remember when you were young, you especially liked listening to Qi Zhen's songs, right?"

A hint of mockery flashed in Lao Lin's eyes as he immediately chimed in, "It's more than just liking! Back then, she was a die-hard fan of Qi Zhen! I still remember the first time I went to her house. When I opened the door, wow, the walls were covered with Qi Zhen's posters—concert photos, album covers, all sorts of things, a veritable mini-exhibition."

The mother-in-law felt a little embarrassed after hearing Lao Lin's teasing.

She quickly glanced at everyone's expressions, waved her hand, and said, "That's all from when we were young. Everyone has a fangirl phase. Qi Zhen's songs back then were really good and meaningful. Every song can be appreciated carefully. Unlike some songs nowadays, which sound lively at first but have no substance at all."

"Come on!" Old Lin said, laughing out loud. "The song is secondary; the main reason is that Qi Zhen was handsome when he was young."

Upon hearing this, a hint of anger flashed across the mother-in-law's face.

Without saying a word, he reached out and grabbed Lao Lin's arm, pinched it hard, and scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about in front of the children! I simply admire his talent!"

Seeing this, Ji Meng covered her mouth and laughed so hard she almost fell over. She quickly chimed in, "That's right, Aunt Fang is definitely not such a superficial person."

The mother-in-law coughed lightly, trying to cover her embarrassment, and turned her gaze back to the television screen, saying in a serious tone, "Who doesn't yearn for beautiful things when they're young? That's perfectly normal."

“That’s only human nature,” Old Lin said with a broad smile, nodding eagerly in agreement.

While leisurely cracking sunflower seeds, Yu Huan joined the discussion with a smile: "I searched for Qi Zhen's early performance videos online before. He was incredibly charismatic on stage, completely different from his current calm and reserved style. After all, he was once a superstar who captivated countless young girls."

As soon as he finished speaking, the television screen suddenly changed.

After several episodes, the familiar interview room setting appeared on the screen.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Su, dressed in a black suit, walked lightly to the red chair in the middle.

The female interviewer's voice came through the screen as a voice-over: "Hello, Lin Su."

"Hello," Lin Su replied politely with a formulaic smile.

At the same time, a striking slogan appeared on the screen: "Singer 1 added, Lin Su".

When Lin Suyi appeared on television, the living room, which had been filled with laughter, instantly fell silent, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the television screen.

Lin Yourong stared at her exquisitely made-up self in the picture and subconsciously pursed her lips.

She was poised and confident in front of the camera. Bright lights shone on her jet-black hair, giving it a soft sheen. Her black suit accentuated her slender figure and outstanding temperament.

Ji Meng's eyes widened, and she was stunned for a long time before she came to her senses. She excitedly exclaimed, "Rongrong, you look absolutely stunning on camera! Your aura is so powerful it's like you're two meters and eighty centimeters tall!"

As she spoke, she excitedly nudged Lin Yourong, who was standing next to her without makeup.

On the television, Lin Su gracefully bowed and sat down.

The program then transitioned into an introductory segment, during which several of her hit songs were briefly played on the screen, with subtitles introducing her as a rising female singer in the Chinese pop music scene.

The scene quickly cuts back to the interview room.

The interviewer asked with a smile, "Lin Su, you've only been in the industry for a year, yet you've already made a name for yourself in the Chinese music scene and achieved remarkable success. There are many senior artists on the show now; do you feel any pressure facing them?"

Lin Su's eyes brightened slightly, and she wore a humble yet confident smile as she calmly replied, "Of course there is pressure. Being able to compete on the same stage with so many senior figures in the music industry is a rare opportunity for me, and also a huge challenge. But what I want to say more is—"

The words paused.

She slightly raised her chin, her lips moved gently, and her clear, melodious voice came through the television speakers: "Music should come from the soul, not from age and seniority!"

"Lin Su, it's clear you have a very high pursuit of music. What are your expectations for yourself on the stage of 'I Am a Singer'?" the interviewer asked.

Lin Su took a deep breath, her face serious, and slowly said, "On the stage of 'The Singer,' I will try my best to sing every song well. Thank you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the scene switched again like flowing water.

The clapper sounded crisply, and the camera shifted to show an interview clip with the second singer to be added, Lin Zhixuan.

In the living room, everyone was engrossed in Lin Su's answer.

Old Lin was the first to come to his senses, raising his hand to clap lightly, his face full of approval as he remarked, "Although the phrase 'music should come from the soul' wasn't very tactful and was a bit too blunt, the principle is sound, and those who are truly accomplished come first!"

The mother-in-law rolled her eyes at Old Lin and scolded him, "You always think your daughter is right!"

Zhang Ye smiled gently and agreed, "You Rong's words are indeed reasonable. Not only in the music industry, but throughout the entire entertainment industry, there is a prevailing atmosphere of seniority-based hierarchy."

Ji Meng put her hands behind her head, leaned back slightly, and glanced sideways at the TV screen, saying, "Rongrong's interview clip was maliciously taken out of context online before. Those marketing accounts deliberately manipulated public opinion to grab attention, and it even made it to the trending topics, causing quite a bit of controversy."

Yu Huan stood up slightly, reached for a handful of melon seeds from the coffee table, and analyzed with a smile: "Anyone with eyes can see that this is a tactic used by the production team to generate buzz. In the days leading up to the show's broadcast, related keywords appeared one after another, and clicking on them revealed only snippets of information. Isn't this a common marketing tactic used by the production team?"

“That’s true.” Old Lin nodded slightly in agreement.

While everyone was chatting, the introductions of the two new singers came to an end.

The program then cuts to a segment where the manager picks up the singer and they set off.

A man strode quickly toward Shen Ling and Shen Mengchen, who were waiting in front of the background wall.

The camera then focused on the two Mango TV agents.

The man gestured with his hands in the air and said in a gentle voice, "Gentlemen, today we are going to welcome our new singer. There are two cars going to different places. Whichever car you get into determines your fate today."

The voice just fell.

Shen Mengchen's eyes widened instantly, her mouth slightly open, as if she had just learned this rule, and she gasped in surprise.

In short, the acting was somewhat exaggerated. (End of Chapter)