Chapter 129: "The Clever Student Zhang Xiaofeng"

Since Zhang Xiaofeng was going to stay in Mingzhou with Zhou Ran for a while, Zhou Ran and Zhang Yuan decided to bring her along when recording the show. Leaving Zhang Xiaofeng alone in the hotel while they worked wouldn’t be appropriate.

Because of Zhang Xiaofeng’s celebrity status, she couldn’t just wander around freely. It was best for her to travel with Zhou Ran and Zhang Yuan. With the support of the “Heavenly Voice” production team, they didn’t have to worry much about paparazzi since the show’s base was there. They could easily prevent any unwanted photos.

When the “Heavenly Voice” team learned that Zhang Xiaofeng wanted to watch the show, they warmly welcomed her. After all, her presence brought free publicity—who wouldn’t appreciate that?

This time, when Zhang Yuan went to record “Heavenly Voice,” she chose to wear a white dress. On one hand, it enhanced the stage effect and matched the song “The Wind Rises.” On the other hand, Zhang Yuan wanted to show off to Zhang Xiaofeng. Even she wasn’t quite sure why she did it—it was a spontaneous urge to compete, a feeling that winning would bring joy. (The damn competitive spirit between women!)

At the moment Zhang Xiaofeng saw Zhang Yuan’s outfit, she was indeed taken aback by her beauty. Though reluctant to admit it, deep down she acknowledged that Zhang Yuan looked stunning at that moment.

Zhang Yuan’s looks weren’t bad to begin with in the entertainment industry. The competition among female singers was fierce now, each striving to outshine the other. Zhang Yuan had spent over an hour carefully applying makeup and paired it with a meticulously chosen outfit. It was hardly surprising that she looked so good.

But Zhang Xiaofeng didn’t admit defeat. It was just a beauty contest, after all. Who was afraid? She silently vowed that next time she would dress prettier than Zhang Yuan and strike back fiercely, making Zhang Yuan boast in front of her.

However, today was not the day for Zhang Xiaofeng to compete. She was attending “Heavenly Voice” as an ordinary audience member, sitting quietly in the crowd to watch the contestants perform. Naturally, she couldn’t dress in a way that would steal the spotlight—it wouldn’t be respectful.

So, Zhang Xiaofeng simply wore a black hoodie, large black-framed glasses, and a mask, covering herself thoroughly, not wanting anyone to recognize her. She also chose the least conspicuous seat, tucked away in a corner.

She was quite experienced with this disguise. The last time she used this method was at Zhou Ran’s “Who Is the King of Singers” recording, and no one had discovered her identity. She was confident in her skillful concealment—Zhang Xiaofeng, the clever master of disguise!

After arranging Zhang Xiaofeng’s seating, Zhou Ran and Zhang Yuan went straight to the dressing room. By the time they arrived, most of the singers were already there. Having gone through the previous recording, these singers were now more familiar with each other. Their conversations flowed much more smoothly than during the first episode, no longer awkward.

Zhou Ran, as before, quietly sat to one side, playing with his phone, creating a stark contrast to Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan was busy responding to greetings from the other singers—chatting with one, then another. Even if she didn’t want to, she had to engage, as this was an unspoken rule in the entertainment industry. One had to maintain appearances. Zhang Yuan wasn’t yet in a position to ignore these unwritten rules.

Zhou Ran was luckier. Backed by the powerful Huayu Company, he didn’t have to care much about such rules. He could be himself, as long as he didn’t give anyone reason to gossip.

Moreover, Zhou Ran’s restraint was also for Zhang Yuan’s benefit. After all, “Heavenly Voice” was primarily a competition for singers, and Zhou Ran and the other music partners were there to assist with their creative work. The hierarchy had to be clear—he could be a supporting figure but must never overshadow the contestants.

Director Wang Chong understood this well. Even though Zhou Ran was a big name and brought traffic to the show, Wang Chong didn’t give him excessive screen time. At most, Zhou Ran received slightly more attention than other music partners, but never more than the competing singers. Wang Chong knew that while giving Zhou Ran too much screen time might spark initial popularity, the show’s appeal would fade soon after, which was not the outcome he wanted.

Wang Chong was relying on this show for a breakthrough; for it to remain popular, the singers’ talent had to shine through. After all, true strength is the foundation.

Today, in the dressing room, Xu Yan was noticeably quieter than in the previous recording. Now, her entire focus was on surpassing Zhang Yuan.

After losing to Zhang Yuan last time, Xu Yan had been reminded by her agency not to waste their effort and to give her best. Though not explicitly stated, Xu Yan knew exactly what they meant.

Filled with determination, Xu Yan watched Zhang Yuan chatting and laughing with others, silently cheering herself on. This time, she was determined to outshine Zhang Yuan and never lose to her again.