Chapter Twenty-One: Another Unfamiliar Song

[3.7...]

The entire studio fell into a long, heavy silence. Whether in front of the cameras or behind the scenes, everyone was stunned by Wei Yu’s score.

They knew this guy was merciless and hypercritical when it came to judging, but they hadn't expected him to be this cold-blooded even in such a situation.

The young girl in the center of the stage looked lost, the light in her eyes dimming once more; she seemed deeply shaken by the 3.7.

The other three mentors exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to smooth things over. It would have been one thing to give a low score to the obvious clowns who came before her, but she certainly didn't deserve a three-point-something...

They knew Wei Yu was unafraid of power—hadn't he given low scores to seasoned veterans of the entertainment industry before?

But this was different. The subject of his critique wasn't a powerful figure, but a blind girl who had overcome immense hardships just to get on the show. A 3.7 felt profoundly heartless.

In truth, Wei Yu was struggling, too. He didn't want to hurt a child who had lost her sight, nor did he want to crush her passion for music.

But shouldn't judging be objective?

***

Clearing his thoughts, Yu Wei was writing furiously at his computer. It was only after learning about Zhou Mumu’s situation that he found inspiration for the new plot.

In the first arc, the protagonist had provided an objective evaluation of industry bigwigs, turning his blade against the powerful.

If the second story continued to challenge authority, the plot would become too monotonous, and the protagonist would merely seem like a troublemaker looking for fights.

Many of the "Explosive Entertainment Industry" novels Yu Wei had read were like that—the protagonist just stirs up trouble until everything is in chaos. It might be satisfying to watch, but it eventually grows tiresome.

When authority is challenged too often, it ceases to be authoritative.

Yu Wei didn't want to write it that way.

Someone who speaks the truth in the entertainment world shouldn't just be full of hostility and aggression; they should also have a steadfast heart.

Speaking the truth is not merely a weapon.

And so, Yu Wei wrote this segment. The protagonist’s target was not some powerful figure, but a blind girl.

In this moment, he didn't need to draw his blade against everyone, but he had to ask himself: would he still score objectively?

No one forced him. A white lie would be harmless, and no one was pressuring him; the power to decide the score was entirely in his hands.

Yet, he still gave a 3.7. Not because he lacked kindness, but because he knew what he was doing.

If he gave a high score out of pity, how would he be any different from those who inflate scores for their favorite idols?

He had the courage to grade the powerful, so he must also have the resolve to grade the vulnerable.

"It might not be perfectly written, but I feel like the protagonist has more depth now..."

Writing it this way didn't just show the protagonist’s growth; it added dramatic conflict to the show. Everyone on set knew he was technically right, yet they all hoped for mercy.

***

"Moral kidnapping" was the inspiration behind this section for Yu Wei.

But up to this point, the protagonist only displayed cold impartiality. That wasn't enough; a "savior who overturns the entertainment industry" cannot be defined by reason alone.

["Brother Wei, I know you’re impartial, but this song wasn't bad. Even Teacher Han, who values musicality so much, approved of it."]

The "Cult Leader" Huang didn't forget to butter up Wei Yu while trying to resolve the tension. It wasn't too late to change the score...

Even though they all knew Wei Yu’s score was technically sound, they couldn't bear to watch the light fade from the girl's eyes.

Even the production team hadn't expected Wei Yu to be so ruthless. Last time, when he criticized industry veterans, people praised his courage, but towards a visually impaired girl, it seemed truly unfeeling.

"I know..." Wei Yu sighed. "But what she displayed in this song was truly only a 3.7."

These words nailed the coffin shut on the performance and dragged the atmosphere in the studio to a new low.

The other three guests looked at Wei Yu. Honestly, they admired his ability to remain objective under such circumstances.

But that didn't stop them from feeling he was heartless. Water that is too clear has no fish; a person who is too critical has no friends.

Most importantly, could he withstand the public backlash after the episode aired? The audience wouldn't be objective. If a few malicious people started stirring the pot, his harshness and coldness would be nailed to a pillar of shame.

A simple "I thought it sounded pretty good" would be enough to put Wei Yu in the eye of the storm.

On stage, the girl who had lost her chance was crying, her tearful expression unbearable to witness.

The audience was starting to get restless. They didn't care about the scoring; they only knew this contestant deserved recognition.

To those with a sympathetic heart, Wei Yu’s actions were clearly a "rigged setup."

Seeing that the audience was about to erupt, Wei Yu remained unbothered and offered a few words of comfort to the girl.

In the eyes of the audience, this breezy consolation was nothing more than crocodile tears. You were the one who eliminated her—what was the point of saying this now?

"A temporary setback doesn't mean anything. Keep chasing your musical dreams," Wei Yu said, smiling at the sobbing girl. "How about this? I’ll gift you a song."

Giving a low score represented his adherence to his principles, but gifting a song showed he was tough on the outside but soft on the inside.

***

Only by writing this did the plot come full circle. The protagonist could be impartial, but he couldn't be unfeeling. This paved the way for his opportunity to sing.

It was a classic trope of "showing off" in entertainment novels, yes, but with this arrangement, the audience would not only think the protagonist was impressive but also see his gentle side.

It’s hard for a biting, venomous person to be liked by many, so Yu Wei wanted to write the protagonist as someone with "thunderous methods but a bodhisattva’s heart."

The more "upright and righteous" a protagonist is, the more human they need to be. Why was Hou Liangping in *In the Name of the People* criticized? Because he was aloof.

Though also righteous, Hai Rui in *Ming Dynasty 1566* was well-liked because he was truly a man of the people.

***

So, Yu Wei’s consideration was that while the protagonist bombarded the entertainment industry, he must also show humanistic care.

As for which song to write, Yu Wei had originally intended to use *Far Away*, but the plan changed.

Singing "I'll send you away, far, far away" to someone else—especially someone from a vulnerable group—would be too hellish. That definitely wouldn't do.

After thinking it over, Yu Wei chose another Jay Chou song: *Listening to the Sound of Rain*.

Compared to seeing, someone with a visual impairment needs to hear. This song uses the sound of rain as a natural medium, expressing things through sound instead of sight, making it easier for the audience to empathize.

More importantly, the lyrics were evocative and cinematic; even if she couldn't see, it would allow the girl to "feel" the scenery.

There were other songs better suited for the blind, but the protagonist wasn't blind—being too "in sync" would seem unreasonable. Getting the meaning across was enough.

"I wonder how much the data exchange for this song will cost..."

Since he hadn't finished the plot, Yu Wei couldn't guess. Having nothing better to do, he clicked on the backend to check the reader comments.

"Another song I haven't heard of. It can't be that this song will actually exist in a few days, right?"

"Marking this. I came late last time, but I'm watching the whole thing this time."

"*Listening to the Sound of Rain*—wonder what it's about."

"If you can be a prophet this time, I'll become a 'League Master' for you!"

There was such a good thing?

Whether he became a League Master or not didn't matter, but he did love playing the prophet.

While Yu Wei was daydreaming, the avatar of "This Is An Shi," who hadn't messaged him in a long time, popped up, asking if he was writing a new song.

This little fan was quick—had she already read the newly posted chapter?

Qi Luo'an was a bit surprised to see the new song. It seemed Yu Wei really intended to release the songs in sync with the novel. What kind of weird hobby was this?

And at the novel's update frequency, he would have to write a new song every few weeks to keep them synced. The creative pressure would be immense.

"Can you really keep this up?"

Qi Luo'an paused after sending the message. Well, she already knew how Yu Wei would answer.

If you ask a man, he'll never admit he can't...