Chapter 49: Composing a Song on the Spot?

Beside him, Sun Na couldn’t help but feel a bit of admiration for Xu Ze. Rumor had it that Zhang Yingjing was not known for her patience, and if it had been her, she’d never have dared interrupt Zhang Yingjing at a time like this.

Meanwhile, the cameraman quickly turned his lens toward Xu Ze, finally able to give him some screen time. He silently hoped Xu Ze would say a few more words; otherwise, if the footage ended up too short, the director would have his head.

Zhang Yingjing looked at Xu Ze, her beautiful eyes tinged with a hint of puzzlement, but then she nodded and said, “Go ahead.”

With her permission, Xu Ze frowned, looking uncertainly at Zhu Zhengting. “Why are you suppressing your voice?”

Both Zhang Yingjing and Sun Na exchanged puzzled glances. Suppressing his voice?

Zhu Zhengting, on the other hand, looked shocked. “You… you noticed?”

Xu Ze absentmindedly stroked the cat’s tail as he sized Zhu Zhengting up. His gaze grew sharp and he said seriously, “I want to hear your true voice.”

Meeting Xu Ze’s eyes, Zhu Zhengting felt as if his innermost self had been completely seen through. He hesitated, lips slightly parted, and it seemed only after making a firm decision did he finally reply with some uncertainty, “But this song doesn’t suit that kind of voice.”

“That’s easy to solve—I have one,” Xu Ze replied, then looked over to Zhang Yingjing, pointing at the piano in the corner. “May I use the piano?”

Zhang Yingjing nodded her consent.

Sun Na was completely lost. She had no idea what Xu Ze and Zhu Zhengting were talking about, and moreover, why did Zhang Yingjing seem so agreeable all of a sudden?

Xu Ze gently placed the little white cat on the sofa, then rose and walked toward the piano. He sat down, tried a few notes at random, and then placed his fingers slowly on the keys, beginning to play.

A clear, ethereal prelude rang out.

Everyone present was startled; this prelude was utterly captivating.

Xu Ze had played as if it was nothing, yet it sounded so beautiful.

Then Xu Ze began to sing:

“The silent waves drown the night so deep,
Flooding every corner of the sky’s far reach.”

After singing these lines, Xu Ze stopped and turned to Zhu Zhengting. “Did you catch that? I’ll play for you—repeat those lines.”

Everyone in the room was thinking the same thing: What kind of genius is this Xu Ze? Even a casual line from him was explosive.

Just the first lyric made them feel as though they stood on the vast shore, the sound of waves brushing their ears.

Such a magical sensation.

Zhu Zhengting snapped back to reality and nodded eagerly. “Yes, I heard it clearly!”

Xu Ze started the prelude again. “Go!”

At the cue, Zhu Zhengting opened his mouth and sang:

“The silent waves drown the night so deep,
Flooding every corner of the sky’s far reach.”

Afterward, Zhang Yingjing and Sun Na doubted their own ears. What had they just heard?

How could Zhu Zhengting make such a sound?

In fact, Xu Ze had been suspicious ever since he heard Zhu Zhengting sing in the earlier competition. It was only just now that he became certain: Zhu Zhengting, just like Zhou Shen in his previous life, possessed a unique, androgynous voice—ethereal, pure.

And such a voice needed the right song to shine.

Back then, Zhou Shen had been eliminated early from “The Voice” due to song choice. It wasn’t until he found the right path with “Big Fish” that he made a comeback and soared into popularity.

Netizens back then had a favorite saying:

“Sorry, Zhou Shen, I preferred Li Wei!”

That was what Na Ying had said when eliminating him on stage—a real-life twist of fate.

Now, Xu Ze frowned, “Not enough. You’re still holding back.”

He gave Zhu Zhengting an encouraging look. “Let your voice go, completely. Believe in yourself.”

“Okay!” Zhu Zhengting took a deep breath and nodded firmly.

Zhang Yingjing and Sun Na looked utterly stunned. Not enough? They’d already been shocked by Zhu Zhengting’s voice—how much more could there be?

The prelude began again. This time, Zhu Zhengting chose to let go, holding nothing back.

For years, he’d deliberately hidden his voice—afraid of ridicule, and because there were so few songs suited to it. The path was too difficult, so he chose to conceal it.

But listening to Xu Ze’s song now, he suddenly felt as if it had been written just for him. He couldn’t help but want to sing with all his heart.

“The silent waves drown the night so deep,
Flooding every corner of the sky’s far reach.”

Zhu Zhengting’s voice was pure and sacred, ethereal to the extreme.

Even the little white cat napping on the sofa was startled awake.

The cameraman in the corner nearly lost his grip on the camera.

Sun Na’s jaw dropped wider and wider in disbelief.

In Zhang Yingjing’s cool, clear eyes, shock was evident as well. In all her years in the industry, she’d never encountered a voice as unique as Zhu Zhengting’s.

She hadn’t noticed this quality in either of his previous performances, nor in this song until now.

She couldn’t help but wonder: how had Xu Ze discovered it?

After singing, Zhu Zhengting felt as if every pore in his body had opened.

Relief—utter relief. After suppressing himself for so many years, he was finally released.

Only now did he feel that he had truly found himself.

Xu Ze smiled. “You sang beautifully. You don’t need to suppress your voice—it’s a gift from above. Use it well.”

“Thank you, Xu Ze,” Zhu Zhengting said sincerely.

Just then, a robotic voice echoed in Xu Ze’s mind.

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have triggered a mission. Please help your team member advance to the next round. Completion will earn you a special reward!”

Xu Ze paused—just how special was this reward? Would it grant him a superpower? Something that could grow or shrink at will?

After thanking Xu Ze, Zhu Zhengting returned to the sofa.

He could tell that Xu Ze’s song suited him perfectly, and he was curious about the complete version, but he didn’t ask. After all, it was Xu Ze’s own song.

“Why are you sitting down? You haven’t finished singing,” Xu Ze said with a laugh.

“Ah?” Zhu Zhengting was surprised. Was Xu Ze really planning to teach him the full version?

He glanced at Zhang Yingjing, and only after seeing her nod did he rise and walk back to Xu Ze.

On the other side, Sun Na wore a strange expression. How had it come to this—Xu Ze acting like a mentor? And Zhang Yingjing didn’t seem to mind at all.

Zhang Yingjing truly didn’t mind. Now, she was simply eager to see what further surprises Xu Ze could bring.

“Hand me your notebook and pen,” Xu Ze said, extending a hand toward Zhu Zhengting.

Zhu Zhengting quickly handed them over, watching as Xu Ze opened the notebook and began to write.

What was he doing? Was he really about to compose lyrics on the spot?