Chapter 40 Your Mother Is Truly Blessed

Backstage.

Su Chen was wearing headphones, listening to some classic tracks from this world, hoping that the collision between two worlds might spark new inspiration within him.

The others were mostly pacing nervously or quietly rehearsing their pieces under their breath.

Just then, a staff member entered backstage, calling for the next contestant to get ready.

"Next up, Meng Xiaotian, please prepare!"

Meng Xiaotian was taken aback, but quickly understood what was happening. He glanced at Su Chen, the corners of his mouth lifting, then stood and headed toward the passage leading to the stage.

Everyone's order of appearance had already been decided. Meng Xiaotian picked up his phone, opened the livestream, and saw that the "Tomorrow's Star" broadcast was at an unprecedented peak. This was undoubtedly the best possible timing!

And at this prime moment, he had been switched in to replace Su Chen. The director's intentions were obvious, especially after the director had called him aside to say those things, leaving Meng Xiaotian feeling immensely satisfied.

He was being fully promoted; everyone else was just a backdrop!

Hahaha!

Passing by Su Chen, Meng Xiaotian couldn't help himself. In a low voice, he taunted, "Heh, why are you so quiet now? Weren't you swaggering at the door just moments ago? The director told me you prepared six original songs—why not say sixty? What a joke!"

"Look at you, barely grown, let me kindly remind you: the entertainment industry is all about connections and savvy, boasting alone won't get you far. Adults pay for every word they speak."

"Let me be honest, because of that mouth of yours, I've already taken all your resources in this show. Feels pretty awful, doesn't it? Hahaha!"

Only then did Meng Xiaotian notice Su Chen's innocent, wide eyes fixed on him.

Su Chen took off his headphones, looking puzzled. "Tianbao, what were you just saying? I had my headphones on and didn't hear. Could you repeat it?"

Meng Xiaotian: "......"

Seeing Su Chen's expression, Meng Xiaotian felt as if he'd punched a pillow—frustrated to the point of coughing blood!

His face twisted, and he dropped all pretense.

"I said your mother—"

Halfway through, he saw Su Chen holding his phone, the recording app open and pointed right at him.

"Every word Tianbao says, I have to record. It will definitely be useful to me!"

Su Chen spoke with a faint, indifferent smile as he looked at Meng Xiaotian, "So, Tianbao, what exactly did you want to say? What about my mother?"

"Your mother... is truly blessed! With a son like you, she must be very happy! Wishing Auntie good health and all the best!"

Meng Xiaotian was desperate for Su Chen to drop dead on the spot, but because of the recording, he had to force himself to speak politely, terrified that any harshness would be caught.

Of course, Su Chen had no idea what Meng Xiaotian was really thinking.

Su Chen smiled sweetly. "I'll thank Tianbao on behalf of my mother. Actually, I really envy Tianbao's parents too. With a son like him, they're surely just as happy."

"So I've decided that my own son will be called Tianbao someday. He'll definitely stand out when he grows up!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Xiaotian clenched his fists tightly, unable to hide the fury in his eyes.

Yet Su Chen seemed not to notice, continuing with a smile.

"By the way, Tianbao, you're up next, right? Be sure to give it your best!"

Su Chen's words were light as a feather, but they nearly made Meng Xiaotian explode!

He had heard everything just now—

He had pretended not to hear—

He was deliberately making me feel sick!!!

"...Alright! Thank you!" Meng Xiaotian, afraid he might lose control, forced himself to say this as gently as possible, then hurried into the passageway.

He feared that a single delay would make him lose all composure!

On stage, the previous contestant had regretfully been eliminated and left with a heavy heart.

In truth, his singing wasn't bad at all; compared to the first contestant, there was hardly any difference.

But this round was a cut from one hundred to thirty-two, and each mentor's team only had eight spots.

Now that the competition had progressed, the mentors realized their slots were much scarcer than expected. Even if they still had a few spots left, their standards were now far higher than at the beginning.

Wu Tong had placed Su Chen at the very end—a hellish starting point for most contestants!

"What a pity. If the last contestant had appeared earlier, I might have chosen him."

Han Hong sighed, "As the competition goes on, our standards rise. That's bad news for those coming later—someone who could have been picked earlier might not get chosen now."

"He was just a bit unlucky, but luck is part of one's strength," Zhou Zhiqian commented.

Yan Mi smiled beside them, "Speaking of which, Old Zhou was unlucky back in the day too! But he still made it big, which just proves that if you have the talent, you'll always find your opportunity. I hope we'll see this contestant again next season!"

"Alright, let's welcome the next contestant!" Liu Shaoyan said succinctly, inviting the next participant.

The camera shifted, and Meng Xiaotian's VCR appeared on the big screen.

"Hello everyone, I am Meng Xiaotian..."

As soon as Meng Xiaotian spoke, the audience and the livestream erupted.

"Meng Xiaotian! It's Meng Xiaotian! Ahhh!"

Optimists had long become a symbol of youth for a generation. Those who had been teenagers back then were now the fresh blood of society, able to pursue their dreams and happiness.

So even today, the name "Optimists" carried more market value than at its peak!

Riding the wave of the group's legacy, Meng Xiaotian confidently performed their hit song, "Smile Through Everything."

"The mirror looks at me every day, it says I don’t understand myself."

"I laugh and it cries, I cry and it laughs, like a mischievous child without a care."

"Every day, we live behind masks."

"Unhappy, we pretend to be happy; not happy, we say we’re happy."

"Aside from the mirror, it seems no one cares how interesting I am."

"......"

When the song ended, all four mentors pressed their approval buttons, and Meng Xiaotian bowed deeply, the cheers surging through the venue!