Chapter 83: All In

Shen Jianxin sat in the front row of the tiered seats, leaning back with an air of resignation. Everyone knew Shen Jianxin was easygoing, always carrying the demeanor of the big brother who didn’t care about much, but losing repeatedly was still rather embarrassing.

During the first stage recording, Shen Jianxin sent in his newcomers, giving them the opportunity, and lost. For the second recording, Shen Jianxin’s team dispatched two people, participating in both projects, only to suffer a complete defeat, resulting in the elimination of one member.

Shen Jianxin truly was carefree. He had come at the invitation of the program team, finding the show’s rules intriguing and thinking it might inject some excitement into the Chinese music scene. According to the discussions online, people said the current Chinese music industry was in its twilight years.

Yet eliminating someone felt truly painful. This program was Penguin Video’s biggest project at the moment—top-tier resources for musicians. If losing just one round meant elimination, that would be easier; whoever participated could simply accept their fate. The key issue was all three lost, and Shen Jianxin had to pick one to eliminate—wasn’t that just putting him in a tough spot?

How did he make the final decision? Drawing lots—whoever picked the losing slip was out, leaving it to fate.

“Mr. Shen, this time we get to bid first. I’ve done my homework. The theme song for the seventh-ranked Three Kingdoms game—I think I have a good chance,” the bald man behind him whispered.

Shen Jianxin paused, then turned to pat the bald man’s knee. “Don’t be nervous, let’s pick our candidate first.”

No sooner had he spoken than the host looked up toward the second floor behind him.

“Now, please welcome the newcomers joining our ‘Original Music Alliance’!”

The BGM played, the upper screen switched scenes, and a name appeared: Tang Zhichu.

Everyone glanced at each other—who was that?

On the big screen, there was a short introduction: champion of the DY Magic Voice Cup, adapted “Wish,” and a clip of Tang Zhichu’s “If I Have You.”

“Who is this? I don’t know him.”

“I know a bit. Xue Lang went to DY to compete in a singing contest and lost to him.”

“A vocalist?”

“Yes, he sings really well, high register, but I don’t know what his songwriting is like.”

...

A few people whispered, the atmosphere tepid.

Upstairs, Tang Zhichu appeared by the railing, gave everyone a polite bow, then quietly stepped aside.

At this moment, Tang Zhichu knew he wasn’t the main focus.

Sure enough, the screen shifted again—Guo Jinglong.

“Whoa, Brother Long is here!”

“Damn, it’s him! Can we bid?”

“No way, our roster is full.”

“Brother Long was my producer once, he’s incredible!”

“Hmph, more than half my songs were arranged by Brother Long!”

...

This time was different—a crowd waved toward the upper floor, Guo Jinglong smiled back, calling out a few old friends.

Guo Jinglong was a renowned producer in the industry, regularly working with top-tier singers—a heavyweight.

Tang Zhichu watched the lively scene below and felt calm. When he met Guo Jinglong’s gaze, he bowed slightly in greeting.

People are only sensitive when they’re weak.

Tang Zhichu had long since stopped caring about such situations.

Guo Jinglong was generous and graceful. After greeting everyone, he purposely stepped back to shake Tang Zhichu’s hand.

Tang Zhichu responded with both hands, saying, “I’ve long admired you, senior.”

Guo Jinglong was a little surprised. He’d worried the scene might isolate the newcomer, but Tang Zhichu was poised and courteous.

Guo Jinglong patted Tang Zhichu’s shoulder. “We have plenty of time ahead. Meeting is fate—let’s find time to have a drink.”

Tang Zhichu smiled and nodded. “Thank you for your guidance, senior. I have many questions I’d like to discuss and learn from you all.”

“Haha, we’ll have the chance.”

This exchange was seen below, and quite a few nodded in approval. Setting aside the unknown, at least this young man seemed pleasant, his appearance agreeable—not like some rookies in the show who lack experience and act aloof.

Friendly as they were, the bidding segment remained.

But it was done tactfully; each alliance wrote their bid for the two newcomers on slips, then handed them to the host.

“Mr. Shen, we have ten thousand points less than Miss Wei’s side,” someone reminded him.

Every alliance had original points—ten thousand per person, meaning each started with sixty thousand points. Losing a round cost ten thousand, eliminating a member cost another ten thousand.

Wildfire Alliance had lost three rounds, deducted thirty thousand, and eliminated one, losing forty thousand in total—only twenty thousand points left.

Sunflower had fewer rounds; they sent only one person each time, so after eliminating one, they had thirty thousand remaining.

Shen Jianxin nodded. “Then we have to give up Guo Jinglong, let them have him. We’ll take the young man, Tang Zhichu.”

After discussing, they realized that was their only option.

Not take anyone? Impossible.

Shen Jianxin would definitely take him—someone had already reached out to him.

The others? They hoped Tang Zhichu would join. If Guo Jinglong came and lost, who would be eliminated?

Winning and losing required different strategies—these unspoken rules were understood by all.

“Mr. Shen, let’s do this. They won’t want Tang Zhichu, so we bid fewer points—even single digits would guarantee it,” someone suggested.

Shen Jianxin glanced at him with a smile, praised him for being clever, though he made no move.

Sig and Yun Miao looked away.

Yun Miao glanced upstairs at Tang Zhichu, thinking Shen Jianxin was kind, wanting to support newcomers—but were all newcomers worthy of support?

If they took the advice and bid single digits for Tang Zhichu, where would that leave his dignity?

Yun Miao shook his head slightly. There were reasons so many struggled in the entertainment industry—some cleverness was best kept hidden.

“Alright, I have the bidding results from Wildfire Alliance and Sunflower Alliance,” the host announced, holding up the slips and speaking loudly into the microphone.

The room quieted.

The host looked at the slips and was surprised.

“Well now, it seems both sides are quite in sync—Sunflower Alliance went all in for Brother Long, and Wildfire Alliance went all in for young Tang!” the host exclaimed.

Everyone was surprised. Betting everything on Guo Jinglong made sense—but Tang Zhichu? Was that necessary?

Some didn’t understand, while others felt even more respect for Shen Jianxin. This was Shen Jianxin, the one who liked to support newcomers—his character, always the same.

Upstairs, Tang Zhichu himself was astonished. Once he realized, he immediately bowed in gratitude to Shen Jianxin’s side, and gave another bow to Sunflower Alliance.

Guo Jinglong whispered to Tang Zhichu, “See? Opportunity comes when you least expect it.”

Tang Zhichu shook his head, sighing. “I feel a bit overwhelmed.”

Guo Jinglong smiled. “That’s just how Mr. Shen is.”

The host announced: Guo Jinglong joined Sunflower Alliance, Tang Zhichu joined Wildfire Alliance.

Both major alliances were reset to zero points, but with the addition of new members, they were back at the starting line, each gaining ten thousand points.