Chapter 142
"You" doesn't appear often in the film as a promotional song, but its timing is perfect when it does appear. It provides a moment of respite from this intensely plot-heavy drama.
When the movie ended and the audience wrote their reviews, many of them mentioned that when they heard the melody of this song in the movie, it was a time for them to relax and smile knowingly.
I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, but the song “You” was listed on the performance program of tonight’s “Shanghai Mid-Autumn Festival Feast” as a song to be performed by NINE STAR. I think this is the debut performance of “You”.
As a theme song for a movie packed with big names, Zhou Xiao heard many people leaving the theater praising the theme song "Walking Under the Moon" as they appeared. While no one mentioned NINE STAR directly, a discerning person could tell based on the context whether the praise was directed at NINE STAR.
…
At this time, Zhou Xiao had already followed Wenger. In the somewhat dark space, the two followed the staff who secretly led them into the evening party rehearsal site to prepare for the next rehearsal recording.
Back in the past, Zhou Xiao and Qi Sisi were leaving the cinema when they received a call from Wenger. The first thing she did on the phone was ask Zhou Xiao if they could go to see NINE STAR's live rehearsal together.
Time was pressing, so Zhou Xiao agreed decisively. After parting ways with Qi Sisi, she went to the downstairs of Shanghai TV Station and met Wenger, who had already arrived.
Zhou Xiao and Wenger remained silent the entire way until a TV crew member (a scalper) led them. He gave them temporary work badges and told them to stay silent and follow him. As they made their way to their destination, Zhou Xiao noticed others filming the stage with cameras.
Rehearsing on stage at the time was an actor with a reputation for several hit dramas. Zhou Xiao noticed the man filming didn't look or dress like a staff member. It seemed as if as long as the money was in place, they could discuss filming anywhere they wanted.
After entering the backstage, someone checked their IDs. After Zhou Xiao and Wenger showed their hanging signs to the inspectors, they entered the rehearsal site smoothly with the staff (scalpers).
"NINE STAR's rehearsal is scheduled for 2:30, but it's not even 1 yet. Please wait a moment," the staff member who brought the two people into the venue explained. After watching them take their seats in a secluded area, he said with satisfaction, "Contact me if you need anything."
Looking at the man's back as he left and the staff on the front left stage who were moving back and forth to adjust the camera and equipment, and listening to the rehearsal of the male actor on the stage wearing a hat and speaking affectionately with a somewhat erratic voice, Zhou Xiao felt that everything at the rehearsal was quite novel.
"Wenwen, were those people we saw taking photos earlier also fans?" Zhou Xiao asked Wenger curiously. When she passed by those people earlier, she had inexplicably felt as if they were sizing them up, which was truly baffling.
"Fans?" Wenger grinned in the slightly dark environment. "You never know. Maybe the people who brought cameras here, besides you and me, are all photographers."
Wherever fans demand it, there's evidence of professional photographers. If the price of bringing someone into the Shanghai gala hadn't been slightly higher than usual, even more people would have been able to attend the rehearsal.
For Wenger, if he wants to know whether the other party is a proxy photographer, he just needs to see whether they will continue to hold up the camera and take pictures after the actor who is currently rehearsing finishes.
Wenger told Zhou Xiao that the price for watching rehearsals varied. Their price was considered low among the high prices. NINE STAR's rehearsal was at the tail end of the evening's rehearsals; more high-profile artists had already finished rehearsing a few days earlier.
Zhou Xiao nodded in understanding, and then Wenger beside her suddenly took out a pair of individually wrapped earplugs from his bag and handed them to her. "Keep them for now, just in case you need them later."
The scene was quite noisy, with the actors rehearsing on stage and the staff adjusting details below. Zhou Xiao noticed with his sharp eyes that someone in front of the stage was clearly filming the rehearsals with his phone.
Wenger, who was standing by, noticed Zhou Xiao's gaze and said, "An actor can also be filmed during rehearsal. How luxurious." But then she realized that the prop for filming was a mobile phone, and her attitude immediately calmed down. "Tsk tsk, it's better not to film it. You're asking for criticism by being so unprofessional." Unfortunately, she didn't know that she said this too early.
Only after the next rehearsal artist took the stage did Zhou Xiao realize Wenger's foresight. Watching the loud voice roaring with abandon, she quickly inserted her earplugs. Only then did the world finally quiet down.
Besides the artists rehearsing, the directors also took over the rehearsal. Zhou Xiao found it rather amusing to watch the staff members on stage, with their names on their chests, going through the on-site procedures and recording the scenes from fixed camera positions.
"Nine Stars, come here—"
Zhou Xiao was already feeling sleepy and yawning when the stage speakers blared. Like a long string of potatoes, nine young men, following the director's instructions, took the stage. Each of them wore a bib number with their name on it, and they obediently took their assigned position.
Zhou Xiao, sitting in the audience, nudged Wenger, who had fallen asleep next to her, to remind her that NINE STAR was coming. He glanced at the time on his phone: it was only 2:13 PM. Apparently, the directors had asked the boys to come in early for rehearsal.
Although the boys on stage were all wearing masks, Zhou Xiao still spotted his own boy in the crowd. Raising his camera, he could see Ji Shao's rehearsal look for the day. He was wearing a simple, relaxed black and white plaid shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, black trousers, and a pair of black and white sneakers.
On stage, he had just lowered his black mask to his chin, his slender fingers pointing at the cameras above the stage as he chatted with the staff. Soon after, as if the discussion was over, Ji Shao turned around and gathered the members on stage for an internal group discussion.
Soon, the melody of "Wind," the title song from NINE STAR's new album, began to play. Ji Shao, who had raised his hand and flashed an "OK" sign to the directors, lowered it the moment the music started and quickly got into position. Rehearsal officially began at that moment.
The difficulty and thoroughness of the boy group NINE STAR's rehearsals were unmatched by Zhou Xiao's previous performances. It was during these moments that the difference between professionals and amateurs became so clear. Their clean, sharp dance moves were so effective that even a casual performance would send them flying. Zhou Xiao also watched their debut performance of "You" with rapt attention. Even though the performers on stage were dressed in casual clothes, he could tell they were giving it their all.
NINE STAR was rehearsing relentlessly, performing almost every single scene four or five times. When everyone finally took a break, Ji Shao, still on stage, was still discussing something with the other lead dancers, looking back at the stage footage provided by the director's team. Before long, a few others who were resting nearby gathered around, nodding as they watched Ji Shao and the others demonstrate their movements.
A moment later, Zhou Xiao, sitting in the audience, watched as the newly assembled youngsters began another round of rehearsals. The stage was scorching, the rehearsals were like a perpetual motion machine. Ji Shao wiped the sweat from his forehead with a cloth draped around his elbow countless times. But the youngsters captured on camera seemed incredibly serious and meticulous in every performance.
"Great!" After the final rendition, the directors cheered loudly. The staff, already eagerly watching, rushed over with towels and water when the young man paused. Ji Shao, standing in the center of the stage, also held onto his knees and took small breaths to steady his breathing.
"Too hard..." Zhou Xiao heard Wenger muttering beside him, having already put down his camera, and somehow he sighed too. Each song lasted 4.5 minutes, and the members on stage delivered every rendition with impeccable precision. Although some members clearly fell behind due to exhaustion, they still managed to keep up with the camera's ending pos.
As the young men in the stands left the field one by one, Zhou Xiao lowered her camera just as Ji Shao vanished from view. Wenger, standing nearby, was nearly exhausted. She was responsible for two members of the group, and whenever she switched to one, she couldn't help but snap a photo of the other. It was not only exhausting, but also prone to distraction.
"Haha, this is what you deserve." After a small laugh at Wenger, Zhou Xiao looked down at Ji Shao's stage in the camera, and a smile appeared on her lips. Especially when she saw the few photos she had captured, the corners of her mouth raised even more.
Just as the two of them were chattering about the photos they had taken, a familiar melody suddenly sounded on the stage. Zhou Xiao looked up and saw that the young men on stage had changed their clothes, mostly in black and white with leather rivets.
Ji Shao, the center of attention, wore a white shirt with black diamond-embellished suspenders, which held the shirt in place. The platinum tassels on his shoulders sparkled under the stage lights. He also wore draped black leather trousers and a pair of black studded boots.
Zhou Xiao instinctively raised his camera, thankful he hadn't put it back in his bag, thus capturing the entire final rehearsal. After the rehearsal, the young men on stage, led by their team leader Wu Yanyan, bowed one by one to express their gratitude to the directors and staff.
The staff was quite impressed by this; even from a distance, their laughter could be heard. Soon, two assistants, cell phones in hand, came up from the front of the stage to help clear away the teenagers' belongings.
Wenger nearly let out a sharp roar upon seeing this scene. "Xiaoxiao," she said in disbelief. She held onto the armrest of the seat with one hand and looked at Zhou Xiao with a bewildered expression. "Could those two be holding cell phones?!"
Earlier, the two of them had privately discussed the two assistants in the audience. Although they had their backs to them the entire time, their posture clearly indicated they were filming a rehearsal. Wenger had even told Zhou Xiao that he envied the assistants' positions and wondered how good the videos they could produce. He had never imagined that his initial complaints would backfire like a sword.
Zhou Xiao nodded gravely, thinking about the footage she'd captured on camera and letting out a sigh of relief. She suddenly recalled NINE STAR's first gala performance. She remembered how many fans had complained in the comments section about the lack of rehearsal footage. She hadn't expected Hua Yao to listen, but clearly, he hadn't fully grasped it.
…
——【Forum】——[September 29th afternoon]
【Topic】Have you watched "The General"?
[Main Building] Xiaojiu's ancient style music is really nice! Huayao's promotion is worth it! I saw that the team is the configuration provided by the film. I dream that these behind-the-scenes teachers can continue to cooperate with NINE STAR.
And tonight is the debut stage of "You", I pray that everything goes well, and if possible, let's make a big splash!
1L
I watched it! And when the interlude was online, a young lady watching the movie next to me even praised it in a low voice!
14L
Ji Shao's voice is truly a gift from heaven! Who knows, my friends? The director really gave newcomers a chance, giving Nine Star a song that builds up the drama's emotional foundation. After watching the movie, I was truly moved. Singing "You" tonight was actually a kind of alternative promotion, right?
29L
I declare this song included in my sleep song list, the texture is really great! And it is an effective interlude, dreaming that a member appeared in a big director's movie hahahaha
43L
I'd like to remind everyone that you can go to a blog and search to see the rehearsal pictures of various companies!
69L
I took my family to see the movie because of a NINE STAR promotion. Well, I'd say it's just average, but I definitely felt like a lot of people liked that particular interlude (＿ε＿). It was well worth the money!
…
Even before Zhou Xiao and Wenger even left the rehearsal room, NINE STAR's rehearsal photo packs were already on sale on various celebrity-chasing and proxy-photography chats. They were selling out at an incredible speed, each one commanding a higher price. Almost as soon as someone saw the pack and sent a private message asking about it, the seller would already reply, "Sold Out."
NINE STAR was the last artist group to rehearse. Zhou Xiao and Wenger left the rehearsal site during the final round of interviews, which was led by the director's team. But once they left the venue, a problem arose. Looking at the audience lining up outside, the two ticket holders exchanged bewildered glances.
Finally, it was Zhou Xiao who broke the silence. She pointed to a coffee shop near the TV station building and said to Wenger, "We can go in and wait. We can even go in during the last admission."
Wenger nodded in agreement, and the two of them set off. Along the way, they passed quite a few people going the opposite way. The cafe was initially packed, but as more and more people lined up to get a roll, Zhou Xiao and Wenger managed to find an empty booth.
After ordering coffee, Zhou Xiao quickly screened the photos that had been imported into her phone. Soon, she had narrowed down three of them.
As time passed, the number of fans in the cafe dwindled. Zhou Xiao put his phone down on the table, picked up his coffee, and took a big gulp of the already melted ice.
"Beep—" The alarm clock, which had been set to ring, had barely rang when Zhou Xiao quickly turned it off. She looked at Wenger, who was still scribbling on the wall, and said, "Whether it's fixed or not, we have to get going, otherwise we'll be late."
The Shanghai gala had no restrictions on bringing cameras or other digital devices. Of course, even if there were restrictions, fans would still have a way. So, aside from the necessary security checks, and despite being on time for entry, Zhou Xiao and Wenger had no problem entering the auditorium, which they had already entered once before.
After separating from Wenger, Zhou Xiao followed the seat number on his ticket to the official photo booth for the gala. The auditorium was nearly full, and upon entering the venue, a wave of heat washed over him. Fortunately, the air conditioning in the studio was working relentlessly.
"Hello, little sister—"
Shortly after taking her seat, Zhou Xiao was about to post her edited blog post when a shadow blocked out the light. When she looked up, a staff member wearing a black T-shirt and a work badge around his neck was standing in front of her, smiling and speaking.
Seeing Zhou Xiao looking at her, she pointed to the seats in the front row and said, "Hello, Miss, do you want to sit in the front row? You can see the artists' performances up close!"
Zhou Xiao paused on the "Send" button, then lightly tapped it with his index finger before putting away the phone, apologizing to the other party and indicating that she could find someone else.
Seeing Zhou Xiao's lack of interest, the staff apologized promptly and began searching for their next target. While the front row was nice, the stage for this evening's gala was quite elevated, making it inconvenient for both filming and viewing.
What's more, Zhou Xiao paused and looked at the photographer next to him. This is the best shooting position given by the system! For all the fans, isn't this the golden C position?
Zhou Xiao, who was at the party, didn't know that thanks to the rehearsal photos and subsequent photos she sent of Ji Shao, he jumped to the top of the Mid-Autumn Festival male star appearance ranking voted by netizens on the Tonight Forum, achieving a breakthrough in the "class" of idol and actor.
——A certain blog——
@FlippedBang Ran Xin Dong·Ji Shao: #Ji Shao Super Talk# We have to have a rehearsal shoot~@NINE STAR-Ji Shao V
[Picture][Picture][Picture]
[I declare that Picture 1 is the best tonight! Shao's arm covering his forehead and his sharp eyes are truly charming to the core!]
[Picture 3 really brought me to tears. Even at a rehearsal without an audience, Ji Shao would give it his all! When will rehearsal tickets for the major evening shows be released?!]
[When the light from the stage shone on Ji Shao, I knew why I was captivated by him at first sight.]
[Damn it, I'll send this to my friend right away so she can have some real good food!]
All three pictures are very vivid. I can see Xiao Shao's hard work while sweating on the stage. I really like the teacher's photography.
【……】
on site--
The directors of the evening's show deliberately rescheduled NINE STAR's energetic performance for the second half, hoping the boy band could rekindle the audience's tiredness. However, to everyone's surprise, tonight's show was far worse than expected.
The main force of "unpleasant to listen to" and "ugly to look at" on the hot searches are basically complaining about the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala in Shanghai. As for the audience at the scene, listening to the snoring coming from nowhere, Zhou Xiao began to sympathize with the audience near the source of the snoring.
Of course, compared to the online audience, Zhou Xiao felt that the audience in person was somewhat more fortunate. After all, what you hear online and what you hear in person are two completely different experiences. Some actors and singers who were clearly off-key could still sing reasonably well with reverb and EQ adjustments added to their dry vocals. But those watching the "Shanghai Mid-Autumn Festival Feast" livestream online suffered. The dry vocals, which had been minimally manipulated for clarity, immediately exposed the singer's flaws.
The atmosphere group in the audience was also a little depressed, but soon the magic group came on stage to adjust the atmosphere and finally aroused the emotions of the audience.
Zhou Xiao felt that this was also related to the director team's preference for pursuing "traffic" artists. The entertainment industry is a place with many antagonistic relationships, but the several stars who appeared earlier were obvious competitors. It was obviously difficult for their respective fans to cheer and applaud each other.
…
"The next person to take the stage is from Shanghai," the male host said cheerfully to the female host beside him, who then added, "Don't tell me, I can't help but smile!"
Although Zhou Xiao in the audience already knew that NINE STAR would be the next to perform, he was still amused by the humorous female host on the stage. It was just an ordinary sentence, but it was indescribably cheerful when it came out of her mouth.
"Hahaha, then let's invite our Nine Stars boys to perform two songs for everyone—"
"——"Wind" and their new song "You" debut stage brought to you!"
It seemed that the previous preparations were sufficient. When the young people on the stage appeared from the dry ice smoke sweeping across the stage, the audience below all looked up and watched out of respect.
Just like a gust of wind that blew away the previous fatigue, Ji Shao in Zhou Xiao's lens was passionate and clear. He was a king who grew wildly on the stage and occupied the audience's attention.
…
Late at night, a woman wrapped in a scarf walked to the window and closed it. This was a Chinese-style villa, far from the hustle and bustle of Beijing. On the other side, under the warm light of the living room, several middle-aged men engaged in a heated argument.
The laptop on the irregular coffee table in the living room seemed to be playing a stage on repeat. A middle-aged man with a goatee and a somewhat scruffy look spoke up, "I think he's good. It all comes down to the same points, right? His voice quality will definitely match Sister Qing's!"
Another woman leaning on the sofa shook her head. "She just came out of the talent show. This is still a bit too high-class..."
"We've watched all his videos and photos from beginning to end. If we want to choose him, we don't even need to choose the male lead in the MV," the man with glasses among the three spoke, and then he started playing the video on the computer again.
The young man in the video is none other than Ji Shao, who sang "You" on the stage of the "Shanghai Mid-Autumn Festival Feast" tonight. In the upper right corner of the video, there is a line of faint handwriting - @Flipped 悸然心动·纪韶
Bai Yunqing, slipping on her slippers, returned to the living room and looked at the people who were clearly still struggling. She smiled and said, "There's no rush. Sister Yun, can you help me get a variety show with a stage?" She paused and said, "Ask the production team to invite Ji Shao to participate. We'll see if it's a good fit. Anyway, our plan still has some time to go before it can be implemented."
The big agent, known as Sister Yun, nodded. Arranging a variety show was a simple matter for her. Although she was the only one who objected, this was because Shi Yun was an agent and needed to consider more than just the actual situation.
Bai Yunqing listened to the video still playing on the computer. The team had been following Ji Shao for a while, which was evident from the video's source. She thought for a moment and then said, "Sister Yun, can you arrange an appointment with this photographer for me?"
"Okay, then I'll ask XS PR tomorrow."
Zhou Xiao, who edited tonight's video and posted it online, is still looking at the feedback. In her opinion, NINE STAR's performance tonight saved the show and shifted the label of "ugly" to other satellite TV shows.
What Zhou Xiao didn't expect was that the videos and photos he'd taken of Ji Shao would become his resume in other people's eyes. Of course, this resume was a perfect one, adding a lot of highlights to Ji Shao's image. It also sparked other people's interest in his photography skills.
Whether it was Ji Shao's performance on stage or his breakthrough under Zhou Xiao's lens, tonight was like a display of achievement. The attention he received from being in the spotlight was far more than that.
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