Chapter Seventy: Program Selection

Inside the Min University auditorium.

This grand auditorium could seat up to four thousand people and served as the venue for most of the university’s major cultural events—such as the Freshman Welcome Gala and the various departments’ Spring Festival galas.

At 6:50 in the evening, the entire Literary and Arts Department of the university’s Youth League Committee had taken their seats, along with the committee’s secretary and deputy secretary. The secretary was a faculty member, while the deputy secretary was a student.

“Most of the programs submitted by the departments are singing or dancing. There are only five in the language category—three skits and two comic dialogues.”

“Still, the language programs usually have more highlights. I hope they give a good performance; let’s not eliminate them unless we must.”

“Exactly. The singing and dancing programs are all much the same. Out of fifty, more than half will have to go.”

“We probably can’t finish the selection tonight. We’ll have to continue tomorrow.”

“No worries, there’s still time. Once the programs are chosen, we’ll have another rehearsal, and then wait for the night of the 25th. Tonight, let’s just review forty acts.”

“…”

A dozen or so students and teachers sat in the front row, speaking in low voices.

They would decide which programs made it to the Freshman Welcome Gala.

“Ding Wei, I heard your rival in love is performing tonight?” asked a bespectacled boy, turning to Ding Wei.

Ding Wei crossed his arms. “Lu Liang, you’re my brother—you know what to do, right?”

Lu Liang grinned slyly. “Of course. He’s from the School of Management, isn’t he? Singing ‘I Believe.’ That song’s tough. If his voice is even a little off, it’ll flop. Even if he sings well, as a judge, I have to be responsible for the gala. Can’t take risks.”

“Don’t worry, Ding Wei. He wants to show off and dares to challenge us in the Literary and Arts Department? We’re here to serve the students, but that doesn’t mean we’re saints. If we don’t teach him a lesson, he’ll think we’re pushovers.” Another boy from the department snickered.

“Yeah, no matter how good he is, he’s not better than the downloadable version. Who cares,” another chimed in with a laugh.

Ding Wei was quite pleased. These three boys from the department were on his side. The five girls, though, weren’t so easily swayed.

Twelve judges in all: three teachers, nine students.

Already, four would oppose Su Tong’s act, no matter how well he sang.

If just one more teacher or two students voted against him, Su Tong’s performance would be dropped.

Outside the auditorium.

“Su Tong, you really think you’re a star, showing up at quarter past seven?” Tang Yan, in black chiffon skirt and white blouse, sandal-clad, stood at the entrance with obvious displeasure at Su Tong’s tardiness.

“It’s your effort that got our act on the list, not mine. Why should I rush?” Su Tong laughed. While he did want to perform—after all, every chance was an opportunity to win more faith—he knew the Literary and Arts Department had the final say, so he wasn’t particularly keen.

He recalled how, on the basketball court that day, Ding Wei had been thoroughly outplayed. If it had been him in Ding Wei’s shoes, he’d have lost his temper on the spot.

“Our department’s got five acts: two dances, one instrumental solo, one comic dialogue, and you—the only singer. Yours is the riskiest,” said Tang Yan. The School of Management was large and had secured five slots.

Though five had been submitted, it was unclear how many would make the cut.

“Singing’s all right if you pick a good song. Those people—they don’t really know music. To outsiders, it’s just a show. If I’m not chosen, it just means they don’t appreciate real music,” Su Tong said carelessly.

“Of course you know best,” Tang Yan rolled her eyes at him. But she’d heard Su Tong sing before—he truly was outstanding, the kind whose singing could give you goosebumps.

There are two reasons for goosebumps: either it’s terrible, or it’s sublime.

Su Tong clearly belonged to the latter.

By the time Su Tong and Tang Yan entered, several acts had already been reviewed.

Su Tong was passionate about music, and didn’t mind dance performances either, but the student acts on stage were hard to watch. Only when students from the Conservatory performed did he feel their skill was up to par.

It seemed the Freshman Welcome Gala would once again become a showcase for the Conservatory.

A piano duet from the Conservatory especially caught Su Tong’s eye. The piece would have been perfect for a song he had in mind, but the two performers only played—there was no singing.

It was not until around eight o’clock that Su Tong’s turn came.

Only the ten judges and a few others were present. Su Tong found it all rather dull, as if he was a monkey performing for them, but he still sang with full dedication.

When he finished, the hall fell utterly silent, everyone stunned.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

“Wait—was that lip-synced?”

“Did the music teacher play the wrong track?”

“It sounded just like the original…”

“…”

Ding Wei’s face darkened. “The music teacher must have played the wrong track.” He and his friends had agreed to vote against Su Tong no matter how well he sang, but with a performance like that, wouldn’t opposing it be ridiculous?

His fellow department members were at a loss as well—should they vote against their conscience or vote honestly?

“Let’s hold off for now. I’ll ask the teacher who runs the sound,” said the head of the Literary and Arts Department, a female student who got up and went to the sound booth.

The show went on. A while later, she returned.

“Mr. Xu said he didn’t make a mistake. He was puzzled at first, but checked several times—it was definitely just the instrumental track,” she said regretfully.

Her regret was personal—Su Tong had sung too well, and her own boyfriend was about to sing “I Believe” next. Now what was she to do?

“Su Tong, not bad, as always,” Tang Yan said happily. Su Tong hadn’t dropped the ball, and with his skill and song choice, it was impossible he’d be eliminated.

Su Tong was about to leave the hall when he heard “I Believe” play again.

“Another singer picked this song?” he laughed, feeling like the fake Li Kui meeting the real one.

Tang Yan was surprised—she was from the department, not the university level, and didn’t know. “Wait, let me see who it is.”

Su Tong didn’t wait for her, and left the auditorium.

He hadn’t gone far when Tang Yan caught up with him.

“Aren’t we still waiting to see if our department’s acts make the cut? Why are you leaving?” Su Tong asked.

Tang Yan replied anxiously, “This is bad. The boy singing ‘I Believe’ is the head of the Literary and Arts Department’s boyfriend. He’s good, but nowhere near as good as you.”

“Haha, now you can relax—just don’t get your hopes up,” Su Tong laughed, waving his hand as he walked on.

Tang Yan followed, annoyed. “Why are you so nonchalant? Don’t you have a competitive bone in your body? Something that should be yours gets snatched away, and you look happy about it.”

“If they want it, let them have it. Sometimes, talent and ability aren’t enough. The most important thing is to keep the right attitude—there’s too much unfairness in the world,” Su Tong replied, unconcerned about this stage.

After a while, Su Tong stopped. “Hey, why are you following me like this, looking all aggrieved? People might think you’re my girlfriend and I’ve been bullying you.”