Chapter 54: Musical Talent

The staff had already warmed up the studio. The so-called warm-up involved sending a temporary host from the production team to tell a few jokes and play some amusing video clips. Then, the audience would laugh foolishly for ten minutes or enthusiastically applaud for another ten. Meanwhile, the production crew would record these scenes of uproarious laughter and thunderous applause. There was a reason for this. On one hand, the applause and laughter recorded before the show started were the most passionate and best at eliciting resonance from viewers at home. On the other, the entire program recording would last over four hours; by the end, the audience would be exhausted, unwilling to clap, and might even stare blankly at the hosts on stage. The recording effect at that point would be far from ideal.

The production team would never tolerate such lackluster moments being broadcast. So, the unremarkable parts would be ruthlessly cut, and those energetic laughter and applause clips recorded earlier would be seamlessly edited in. That’s why, during a hundred-minute program, the audience seems to be laughing from start to finish.

But back to the main story.

The official recording began. The “Day Day Brothers” took the stage amidst dazzling opening animations, as usual lingering for a few minutes to plug “One Leaf” with some advertising. Soon after, Wang Han introduced the topic, “Has everyone watched the recently popular TV drama ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’?”

Ou Di responded, waggling his eyebrows, “Ah, this is a show not to be missed! All the sisters in it are so beautiful, hehehe... I like it.” The audience burst into laughter at Ou Di’s drooling, pig-like expression.

“You really have no ambition,” Qian Feng added from behind, prompting another round of wild laughter. In such public settings, people’s threshold for humor lowers significantly, though nobody knows exactly why.

“To fulfill everyone’s wish to see handsome men and beautiful women, tonight the Day Day Up crew has invited the entire cast of ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’! You’ll get your fill!” Wang Han waved grandly, and the hosts retreated to the sides of the stage. The audience erupted in applause.

A gentle female voice began to sing, as if drawing the audience into the pages of “Dream of the Red Chamber.” Then, under the spotlight, a girl stepped onto the stage, poetic and picturesque, her brows like ink, eyes sparkling, lips rosy, her ethereal voice enchanting all. This was Lin Yuzhu, the actress playing Lin Daiyu.

The crowd’s cheers soared.

“Welcome, welcome—truly a girl like a fairy,” the hosts gathered Lin Yuzhu at the front. “What a lovely name, Yuzhu. Come, tell everyone—how old are you?” Wang Han pulled the bewildered Lin Yuzhu over for a bit of lighthearted interrogation.

“Hey, Han, that’s too conventional. You should ask, ‘Miss, what is your age?’” Ou Di added, tossing Lin Yuzhu a flirtatious wink. But Lin Yuzhu merely glanced at him coolly, then looked away.

“I’m twenty-two this year…” she replied, neither warmly nor coldly.

“Have you noticed? Yuzhu’s temperament is just like Lin Daiyu in the novel—aloof and serene. She ignored me just now!” Despite the blow, Ou Di wasn’t about to give up, still trying to attract Lin Daiyu’s attention.

“It’s not that she’s cold—it’s just that your stature doesn’t reach her line of sight!” Wang Han mercilessly jabbed him, then turned to ask Lin Yuzhu about her hobbies.

Lin Daiyu wasn’t talkative, only answering the hosts’ questions, so the atmosphere became a little awkward.

Noticing this, the Day Day Brothers quickly moved on from “Lin Daiyu,” inviting Baoyu, Wang Xifeng, the director, and the producer to take the stage one by one. They were asked about their ages and interests, and this group was clearly much livelier, making the atmosphere more vibrant.

“Now I want to introduce a very special guest,” Wang Han pushed up his black-rimmed glasses, adopting an air of introducing an important figure. The audience immediately quieted, since Wang Han rarely appeared this serious.

“He has many virtues—talented, knowledgeable, humble, and handsome…” Wang Han counted Ren Qian’s strengths on his fingers.

“Wow, this person must be extraordinary to earn such praise from Han!” Ou Di quickly chimed in.

“Yes, I seldom praise juniors, but with him, I don’t fear making him arrogant! Let’s welcome him to the stage.” As Wang Han finished speaking, backstage staff signaled Ren Qian to come out. The spotlight shone on him, revealing his upright posture and handsome face.

Wang Han handed him the microphone, and Ren Qian greeted everyone.

“I just saw the girls over there screaming. Handsome, right? But there’s more. All the music for ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’—he produced it alone! The wildly popular ‘Stone Record’—he composed and wrote the lyrics! The new album by Ruwan features ‘Heart of a Wanderer’ and ‘Rogue’—he composed and wrote those too! On the Golden Song chart, his songs alone hold the top ten spots for the month! Isn’t that impressive?”

The audience, amazed by his prowess, gave a round of applause.

Ren Qian composed himself, straightened his suit, and bowed elegantly, like a true gentleman. Although it was his first time on such a grand television stage, years of experience at weddings and celebrations had prepared him to handle the spotlight.

Wow... The female audience in front couldn’t help but scream.

“Quick, someone get security to drag him away—he’s stealing all the spotlight, and we Day Day Brothers can barely stand our ground!” joked Qian Feng, as the Day Day Brothers crowded around.

The hosts, ever eager for camera time, racked their brains for jokes, sometimes even interrupting each other—the competition among peers was fierce.

But Wang Han remained the main anchor, the backbone, and the rhythm had to be set by him. The others could only add embellishment.

“Where does Ren Qian live?”

“Hmm… I’m from Lingnan.”

“Oh, Lingnan is a wonderful place. The great writer Su Dongpo went there and never wanted to leave: ‘Three hundred lychees a day, I’d gladly be a Lingnan man forever.’ One of the Four Beauties, Yang Guifei, loved Lingnan lychees most: ‘A single ride beyond the dust, the consort smiles; none know it’s the lychee arriving.’ With looks like Ren Qian’s, I bet he ate plenty of lychees growing up!”

Wang Han’s poetic references instantly elevated the show’s sophistication.

“Han, if lychees make you handsome, I’ll go to Lingnan and eat them for two months straight!” Ou Di joked weakly from behind.

Ren Qian chuckled, turned, and patted Ou Di’s shoulder, “Forget it—you’d bankrupt the place.”

The audience burst into laughter at Ren Qian’s quip, while Ou Di, wearing a bitter expression, quietly walked away. He had hoped for a bit of camera time, only to walk right into a self-inflicted embarrassment.

The other hosts also smiled mischievously.

“See how sincere Ren Qian is! That’s what I like about him.” Wang Han pulled Ren Qian closer, not missing the chance to jab Ou Di again, prompting another round of hearty laughter from the audience.

Ren Qian: “……”

The audience’s sense of humor was truly low, especially those dozens in the front rows, laughing non-stop as if afflicted with hysteria.

“I hear Ren Qian is multi-talented—how about a performance for the audience?”

“Play the piano! Play the piano! Play the piano!” The audience clamored for a piano performance, clearly having seen videos of Ren Qian playing under cherry blossoms.

“Actually, I don’t play piano much, but there’s one instrument I’ve practiced for fifteen years. My skill now is nearly at a master’s level.”

Hmm?

The hosts’ pupils contracted, faces showing keen interest. The audience, excited by Ren Qian’s words, screamed and applauded even more.

Practicing an instrument for fifteen years and reaching master level—impressive. If they didn’t see him perform on his specialty instrument, they’d probably lose sleep tonight.

Applause erupted, relentless.

Seeing the atmosphere explode, Ren Qian covered his mouth with his hand. When the first note came through the microphone, both hosts and audience burst out laughing.

They had expected something truly remarkable—turns out it was whistling! And not just any whistling, but a serious, earnest performance.

“In thirty years, I finally realize I’ve mastered an instrument too!” Ou Di, the clown of the stage, made faces, pretending to be a gorilla while whistling with exaggerated expressions as the camera focused on him.

“Stop it—Ren Qian is a real musician; you’re just coaxing children to use the bathroom,” Qian Feng mocked Ou Di from the side.

Ren Qian merely smiled wordlessly—it was just a casual joke, yet the audience doubled over, holding their stomachs, faces splitting with laughter. He could only sigh at their response.

“Does Ren Qian play any other instruments?” Wang Han probed, hoping to have Ren Qian showcase a few more.

“What instruments are here?”

“Wow, that’s bold—we’ve got plenty of instruments, we’ll bring them all!” Wang Han waved, and the backstage staff started hauling out instruments: dongxiao, guzheng, pipa, konghou, big gong, erhu, piano, violin...

“You said it—so we brought them all!” Qian Feng teased, obviously hoping to see Ren Qian slip up, since he was shining too brightly.

Ren Qian laughed, picked up the dongxiao first. He played a couple of notes without pressing the holes, then with all the holes covered.

“Look, he’s so professional—the moment he picks up an instrument, his whole aura changes.”

“He’s demonstrating the basics of playing the dongxiao.”

The hosts chatted among themselves.

Soon, the sound of the dongxiao spread throughout the studio.

“A guest plays the dongxiao, harmonizing with the singer. Its sound is mournful and longing, like weeping and lamenting, lingering endlessly like threads of silk. It stirs the hidden dragons of deep valleys and makes lonely widows cry on drifting boats.”

Hearing Wang Han recite ancient prose, the audience applauded even more.

Ren Qian put down the dongxiao and moved to the guzheng.

“He’s starting with the most difficult guzheng technique—suspended wrist and shaking fingers! Listen to the evenness of his tone, no pressure at all!”

Wang Han was amazed, and the audience watched in stunned silence as Ren Qian performed. Some female students who had learned guzheng gazed at him starry-eyed.

Ren Qian continued with pipa, konghou, big gong, and erhu, demonstrating each instrument and playing beautiful melodies.

The audience was nearly numb—is he even human? He knows far too much!

“Han, I refuse to believe it—Ren Qian can play Western instruments too!”