I Became an All-round Artist

There's nothing new under the sun. The industry quickly caught wind of the coordinated attack by Shining Silver and Sand Sea against Starmoon Entertainment. The reason behind it? Anyone with half a brain could figure it out—it’s all about Zhao Yingguo!

Previously, all three of the top entertainment companies were vying for Zhao Yingguo, pulling out all the stops to win her over. In the end, she chose Starmoon. No way were Shining Silver and Sand Sea going to just swallow that defeat. So, the retaliation began.

In this industry, a lot of people have a nose like a bloodhound. The slightest stir in the circle, and they can smell the gunpowder in the air.

That said, watching the three major entertainment companies in Qinzhou clash has long been a favorite pastime for industry insiders. If there was ever peace between the big three, people would find it odd.

November was about the Newcomer Chart. December? It’s all about besieging Zhao Yingguo. The big three have consistently proven that they never disappoint the onlookers.

Stirring up trouble, that’s the name of the game!

As for Shining Silver and Sand Sea joining forces, it’s nothing new. Similar alliances among the big three are pretty common. Sometimes it’s Shining Silver and Sand Sea teaming up; other times, it’s Sand Sea and Starmoon. The rule of thumb is that if any one of the three tries to outshine the others, the remaining two will join forces to drag them down.

Naturally, the industry gossip mill is in full swing:

“This time, the alliance between Shining Silver and Sand Sea is hitting Starmoon right where it hurts.”

“They really nailed the timing.”

“Zhao Yingguo is stuck between a rock and a hard place—there’s no way to change the release date. If she tries, it’ll push her into March.”

“By March, the buzz will have died down.”

“Exactly. Zhao Yingguo’s Bloom championship hype won’t last until March, so she’s got no choice but to go all in now.”

“She’s in for a tough fight.”

“Deploying two first-tier singers—Shining Silver and Sand Sea are really pulling out the big guns against her.”

Meanwhile, the media isn’t sitting idle either. Countless reports are circulating, all focusing on one question: “In January, who will claim the crown—Shining Silver or Sand Sea?”

Starmoon is already being written off as collateral damage. Hardly anyone believes Zhao Yingguo can pull off an upset—going up against first-tier singers with top-notch composers isn’t something to be taken lightly.

At this moment, within Shining Silver...

Chen Zhiyu was feeling a bit disgruntled. He complained to his manager, “I was planning to release my new song in March, and now the company’s suddenly moved it to next month just to suppress some rookie singer. Did they even bother asking me?”

Chen Zhiyu was the first-tier singer Shining Silver had dispatched to take down Zhao Yingguo.

His manager tried to console him, “You can’t fight the system. This is the company’s decision, and we have no choice but to go along with it. But Queen Xi assured me you won’t be shortchanged. They’re going to make it up to you with a concert at the Qinzhou Grand Theater next year.”

“I get it, but it still doesn’t sit right with me.”

Chen Zhiyu snorted coldly. "After all, Zhao Yingguo is the Bloom champion. It feels like a cheap shot to suppress her like this. Her fans will definitely hold a grudge against me."

His manager chuckled awkwardly. "Her fanbase is nothing compared to yours."

Chen Zhiyu smirked. "This better not become a habit. Also, make sure the company ramps up the promotion. Sand Sea's Zheng Liang is also releasing a song in January—I have no intention of losing to him."

His manager quickly agreed, "Of course, that goes without saying."

From the moment Shining Silver and Sand Sea sent out their top-tier singers, it was clear that next month's competition for the chart-topping song had nothing to do with Starmoon.

The only ones more frustrated than Zhao Yingguo herself were her fans. After seeing the media reports, many of Zhao Yingguo's supporters furiously criticized Sand Sea and Shining Silver for teaming up against a newcomer, calling their tactics underhanded. But for companies as seasoned as Sand Sea and Shining Silver, the outcry from Zhao Yingguo's small fanbase was nothing more than a drop in the ocean. In their public responses, they casually dismissed the situation as a "coincidence" and moved on.

As the controversy brewed, time ticked away. With the entire industry watching closely, January finally arrived, marking the official start of the battle for the top song of the month.

On the first day of the month, both Sand Sea and Shining Silver released their songs. Zhao Yingguo’s new song, "Flammable and Explosive," also dropped as scheduled.

That morning, in his hotel room, Chen Zhiyu immediately opened his favorite music app and searched for his competitor, Zheng Liang's, new song.

For Chen Zhiyu, as long as he could beat Sand Sea's Zheng Liang, the top spot for January would be as good as his.

Zheng Liang’s new song was titled “Caramel.” Like his own song, it was featured prominently on the app's homepage.

Chen Zhiyu put on his headphones and listened to Zheng Liang’s song from start to finish. His mood grew uneasy.

He had to admit, it wasn’t bad.

Given that his and Zheng Liang’s popularity was almost neck-and-neck, the deciding factor in this battle would come down to the audience’s taste and the marketing push behind the songs.

As he was about to close the app, Chen Zhiyu noticed that “Flammable and Explosive” was also being promoted on the homepage. He couldn’t help but laugh. “They’re actually giving it prime placement. Looks like Starmoon hasn’t given up yet, huh?”

With his headphones still on, he casually clicked on “Flammable and Explosive.”

The intro began with a haunting violin ensemble, instantly creating a vast and lonely atmosphere. Then, the vocals came in, slightly lazy and tinged with resignation:

"Hope for my madness, hope that I won’t die alone. Wish me icy elegance, but also want me frivolous and base. Need me to be sunny, yet desire me to sway with allure. Toy with my tears and laughter, then toy with my heart like deadwood..."

A sense of unease crept over Chen Zhiyu, his earlier relaxed expression gradually fading.

Something felt off.

The song continued in his ears, the modulated vocals resonating more deeply as the instrumentals swelled:

"Grant me dreams, yet make me awaken quickly. Lull me into sleep, yet waste my time without mercy. Love me purely, yet love me naked and unashamed. Watch me play my own tune, then watch me break my own heart..."

The unsettling feeling intensified.

Chen Zhiyu stared at the screen, his body slowly tensing. The modulation in the song abruptly vanished, replaced by a raspy voice that pierced straight to his core:

"Wish me to be as smoke, yet wish me graceful and weary. See me madly obsessed, yet see me elegant and poised. Need me beautiful, yet need me to kill without flinching. Bless me with happiness, yet curse me with a life of withered despair..."

It was as if Chen Zhiyu had been jolted awake. He clenched his fists tightly, then tried to relax them, only to clench them again.

Suddenly, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

The lyrics, the melody, the arrangement—it all came together seamlessly. The violins danced wildly, the piano solo was both sorrowful and grandiose. The entire song was stunningly beautiful.

"It's over."

After what felt like a long breathless pause, this thought flashed through Chen Zhiyu’s mind, and he couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

The final seconds of the song played out.

That raspy voice seemed resigned: "Enchant me yet, make my charms seethe. Like me in full bloom, yet like me gasping for breath. See me beautiful, yet see me deeply infatuated. Curse me with a century of peace, yet curse me with tears alone."

The song ended.

Chen Zhiyu sat frozen in front of his computer.

Just then, his manager walked in, noticing Chen Zhiyu’s dazed expression. He asked curiously, “What’s wrong with you?”

"…"

Chen Zhiyu didn’t respond. Instead, he let out a hollow laugh, then glanced at Zheng Liang’s song. Somehow, a strange sense of connection formed in his mind, and suddenly, his face twisted with anger as he muttered:

"They’re all going down!!"