Chapter Ninety-Nine: Let Me Give It a Try

After the host's introduction, everyone finally noticed another project listed lower down—a theme song for a historical, mainstream documentary, with a labor fee of two hundred thousand. Upon closer inspection, the group realized its importance: it was a documentary with historical significance. Though the payment was meager, the opportunity for building credentials was as valuable as the big director’s project.

Shen Jianxin leaned back and whispered, “This proves our show’s influence is rising; future tasks will only get better.” Tang Zhichu nodded in agreement—it was indeed so.

Zhang Ansheng was a renowned director. In this world, the biggest film award in the country was the Huaying Award, held every two years. Zhang Ansheng had won the Best Director honor, making him a bona fide master. Clearly, his purpose here was to promote his film. The price for the end credits song was a million—a hefty sum, given that end credits songs are not crucial; the main goal was publicity.

After all, spending a million for such massive promotion was a bargain.

Tang Zhichu gazed at the mainstream documentary project, thoughtful. It seemed the producers were under pressure, perhaps fearing the show was becoming too commercial, so they brought in a project like this.

“Mr. Liu, please make your choice,” the host said, turning to the Star Alliance after introducing the projects.

Liu Xingyun hesitated for a long while before speaking.

“Mr. Liu…” The host was about to prompt him when Liu Xingyun finally said, “Alright, let’s make things interesting. I choose the third-ranked project—Director Zhang Ansheng’s end credits song for ‘Good and Evil.’”

A collective gasp swept through the crowd.

“Whoa!”

“Is he really going for it?”

So bold—selecting a freshly updated task without hesitation? Such confidence!

Letting everyone preview the task list was an open secret among the show’s producers. The tasks not yet released were a mystery to everyone, even the producers themselves, since sponsors could insert projects at any time.

To accept a new project right away without preparation was to rely entirely on skill. It was as if he declared: “Come on, let’s fight a battle without preparation.”

Behind Sun Zhe, Pu Jingstone shook his head and murmured, “Liu Xingyun is still the same as ever.” Sun Zhe grunted in agreement. Despite Liu Xingyun’s plump, easygoing appearance, he was truly a warrior at heart—a fact Sun Zhe had experienced firsthand.

The host widened his eyes, “Mr. Liu, are you sure? Do you really want to take on the third-ranked project, ‘Good and Evil’ end credits song?”

Liu Xingyun nodded, “Yes.”

“Excellent! The pressure is now on the winners’ group. Is anyone ready to respond?” The host immediately looked toward the Vanguard Alliance and Wildfire Alliance, himself growing excited. This would be another blood-soaked episode—how thrilling!

The Star Alliance, now in the losers’ bracket, had accepted the ‘Good and Evil’ end credits song project; the winners’ group would have to choose whether to respond. If no alliance accepted the challenge, the project stage would not be established. While there was no tangible reward, the show of dominance would be complete.

It was a difficult choice.

With a new project and no prior preparation, declining meant facing issues of pride.

Liu Xingyun smiled at Sun Zhe and Shen Jianxin, his expression saying, “It’s up to you.”

If they declined, they’d be branded as cowards.

Sun Zhe, the idol godfather of the Chinese music scene, held the highest position in the mainland’s idol market. The Heavenly Trio had all performed at the Spring Festival Gala; their digital sales consistently topped the charts.

Shen Jianxin needed no introduction—he was a figure recorded in the history of the nation’s rock music.

How interesting was this?

If they chose to compete, it would be a fair contest, and Liu Xingyun was not afraid.

Shen Jianxin remarked, “See, this is a true smiling tiger. Always so amiable, but when the critical moment comes, he strikes with lethal moves.”

Yun Miao hesitated, gritted her teeth, and said, “Mr. Shen, let me take this one.”

On the Wildfire Alliance side, only Xige and Tang Zhichu had just performed. Yun Miao felt she and Shen Jianxin were the only ones capable of competing at this level. Even without preparation, she felt compelled to step up.

Shen Jianxin whispered, “No rush. According to the rules, it’s their turn to decide first.”

Over at Vanguard Alliance, Sun Zhe’s expression was grave; he cursed Liu Xingyun internally for his recklessness. According to the rules, the alliance with the higher points would choose whether to accept the challenge first. Wildfire Alliance had won one round, but only had five hundred thousand points; Vanguard Alliance was approaching a million.

This was a tough situation. Sun Zhe hesitated.

Liu Xingyun’s move was, in Sun Zhe’s eyes, reckless. What if… what if he lost? He couldn’t eliminate a team member, could he? Would he really let himself be eliminated in the fourth round?

Liu Xingyun could play this way, but Sun Zhe could not. His name represented more than just himself.

Behind him, Pu Jingstone smiled and was about to stand, but Sun Zhe quickly stopped him, saying, “Host, our Vanguard Alliance will not accept this project. We won’t fight a battle without preparation.”

Sun Zhe’s reasoning was simple: he would not accept. If Pu Jingstone went up and lost, he’d really have to leave. Pu Jingstone was the mainstay of Vanguard Alliance, and Sun Zhe wouldn’t risk him.

Choosing someone else would be unfair.

Better to be straightforward and decline—at worst, attract a few sarcastic remarks, but it served the greater good. Besides, by not accepting, the pressure shifted to Wildfire Alliance.

If Wildfire Alliance also declined, they would be blamed for the project stage failing, and criticism would fall on them.

Shen Jianxin squinted at Sun Zhe, pondering his motives, which only he himself knew.

The host, like everyone else, turned to Wildfire Alliance. “Mr. Shen, will you respond?”

Liu Xingyun’s smile grew even broader as he looked at Shen Jianxin, thinking his last-minute strategy had succeeded.

In fact, he didn’t want Sun Zhe to accept. Pu Jingstone had experience in movie scores and theme songs, was strong and seasoned. Last round, Pu Jingstone lost to Tang Zhichu, but Liu Xingyun felt it was because he didn’t understand youth culture.

If the project had been a Three Kingdoms film, Pu Jingstone would have won.

Liu Xingyun debuted at the same time as Sun Zhe and understood him too well. Sun Zhe cherished his reputation, thought carefully, carried heavy burdens—he wouldn’t gamble.

Of course, Liu Xingyun feared surprises, but thankfully Sun Zhe didn’t accept.

On the contrary, Liu Xingyun hoped Wildfire Alliance would take up the challenge.

Shen Jianxin was a rocker, Yun Miao wrote niche pop songs, Xige played hip-hop, and Tang Zhichu? A newcomer who had just delivered a high-quality work—he was probably in sage mode.

Wildfire Alliance’s fighting force was these four; as long as they accepted, Liu Xingyun was confident of victory.

He hadn’t dealt with Shen Jianxin much, so he didn’t know how much pride mattered to him.

Everyone watched Wildfire Alliance. The Star Alliance members were excited—this was their founder, so domineering, forcing two major alliances into silence.

Yun Miao bit her lip, about to stand, but Shen Jianxin stopped her, shaking his head.

If this were an elimination round, Shen Jianxin would refuse outright—he was already over fifty, no longer concerned with pride.

But this wasn’t an elimination round, and as the alliance founder, he represented their honor. Why not step up?

These people had both confidence and nonchalance.

Moreover, Shen Jianxin thought he could annoy Sun Zhe—“You don’t dare, but I do!”

Just as Shen Jianxin was about to rise, another figure was faster.

“Mr. Liu, let me give it a try. If I cause any offense, please forgive me!” Tang Zhichu wore his signature smile, revealing three pearly teeth, looking utterly unthreatening.

The room erupted in chaos!

“Wait—what!?”

“He really dares!”

“Again, it’s him!”

“Doesn’t this guy ever cool down? He’s still ready to go?”

“This is going to be great! I really love his ‘Drunken Red Cliff’—this Xiao Tang is so fierce, truly courageous!”