Chapter 82

Yang Yunran himself had held numerous concerts and had been a famous singer since his debut until the unexpected incident occurred.

He knew that being a guest performer for a world-class singer’s concert was a significant leap in terms of exposure to both domestic and international markets. This was especially true for someone who had only debuted a year ago and had spent the first half of the year singing live on the internet.

Even though Yang Yunran was living with memories from his past life, he still felt surprised and honored. In his previous life, he had never had the opportunity to collaborate with a world-class superstar.

So Yang Yunran agreed without hesitation: “I am very honored that you like this album. If there is a chance to perform together, to be a guest at your concert, that would be wonderful!”

Williams replied, “I haven’t heard such touching pop music in a long time, it’s absolutely amazing! I can’t believe this is your first album? … Alright then! Let’s meet in China three months from now!”

Yang Yunran hung up the phone, still thinking about his friend’s rhythmic praise.

Jiang Yi beside him, asked, “Who were you talking to? Are you going abroad for a concert?”

“No, it’s a singer… probably my idol?” Although Yang Yunran had a somewhat arrogant nature, he wasn’t conceited or overbearing. It had to be acknowledged that stars were stars not just because of their looks or ethnicity, but mainly because of their great music.

Yang Yunran specifically searched for his songs to listen to and recognized their excellence. So he was quite looking forward to this collaboration. After coming back to his senses, he said, “He invited me to his concert as a guest… as a guest! Hahaha!”

Yang Yunran cheered happily, catching Jiang Yi off guard. “I… I’m so happy!”

In an instant, his sense of injustice was dispelled.

This kind of program was essentially a show, so when the production team proposed to eliminate him in the next episode and asked him to reshoot scenes, Yang Yunran showed no resistance and didn’t complain about being treated unfairly.

Even if you have a patron, I have my parents!

That’s not it. Yang Yunran took on this job at the time because he needed money. Once he made the money, he wouldn’t need to perform for people who didn’t matter.

The production team probably heard about his connection with the sponsor. When he went to reshoot, the director said helplessly, “There’s nothing we can do… You know how it is. But we can edit some nice footage for you.”

Yang Yunran thanked them and quickly finished reshooting before leaving.

He didn’t know how the production team would edit it, nor was he interested in finding out. Because Williams’ agent wanted to discuss details of their collaboration.

At nine o’clock that night, Yang Liming, along with his son and wife, were chatting at home. He arranged a blind date for his child, but he didn’t go himself. Yang Liming smoked, filling the living room with smoke.

He scrutinized his son and said, “What’s the reason? You don’t like her? Then tell me what kind of person you like, and I’ll find someone for you.”

Zhao Youmo hung his head in silence for a long time before saying, “Dad… actually, I…”

Chen Fangru interrupted him, “Momo told me a few days ago. He’s chatting with someone online, right? He doesn’t want to go on blind dates.”

Chen Fangru held his hand, patted it, and advised him not to say anything for now.

Zhao Youmo endured silently without uttering a word.

Yang Liming asked, “Is that so?”

Chen Fangru said, “Yes, that’s right. Momo told me the same. You shouldn’t arrange blind dates for the child now; he’s still young. Wait until he’s around twenty-five or twenty-six. There’s no rush.”

After much persuasion, Yang Liming was convinced. He thought to himself that at least Zhao Youmo’s sexual orientation was normal, unlike Yang Yang’s. At his age, with a stable career and family life, he was eager to have grandchildren. All his older brothers had already become grandparents, but he hadn’t yet.

Before, regarding Yang Yunran’s sexual orientation matter, he was too embarrassed to bring it up. Every time someone asked him, he would always say, “As a celebrity, it’s not good to date. As for studying, he’s still young, I’m not worried about him. There are many people who like him.”

Once, father and son had a big fight, and he angrily stopped Yang Yunran’s card. Yang Yunran softened in just two months and called him, saying, “Dad… about the blind date, can we discuss it again? I promise you, I’ll come back and get married when I’m twenty-five, okay?”

Later, when Yang Yunran returned to the country, he changed his mind, saying they should cut ties: “I have a boyfriend now, I won’t like girls, let alone get married. I haven’t spent a penny of your money.”

Yang Liming smoked outside, while Chen Fangru followed Zhao Youmo into the room.

“Momo, your father had a physical examination this year, and his health isn’t good. Don’t rush to tell him about your matter. Wait a few more years… think about it carefully.” Chen Fangru said this, putting Zhao Youmo in an awkward position again. He turned on the TV, and it happened to be showing a singing competition.

Chen Fangru glanced at the program name in the lower right corner of the TV and suddenly remembered, “Last time Yang Yunran said he was recording a show out of town, was it this one?”

Zhao Youmo wasn’t sure and didn’t say anything.

The host said, “Unfortunately, as of now, the results of the online voting are out. Hakimi will stop at our top ten competition. Hakimi, do you have anything to say to everyone before revealing your identity?”

“Yes.” Hakimi, with voice modulation that completely didn’t sound like Yang Yunran’s voice, said, “The judging of the show is very fair, and I trust the teachers’ help. I did make mistakes in the last round… Teacher Tang was right, and I learned a lot.”

“Finally, what I want to say… is before revealing my identity, I want to dedicate a song to all my friends who supported me live.”

If Yang Yunran were watching the program, he would realize that this line wasn’t spoken by him but was post-voiced by the production team using a mask and voice modulation.

Immediately, Zhao Youmo saw a singer with a white mask sitting in front of a black grand piano, and the camera slowly zoomed in from afar, rotating around him.

Chen Fangru didn’t recognize him at once and felt his figure somewhat resembled Yang Yunran’s, but she couldn’t be sure.

Zhao Youmo said, “I remember Roy was in Boston… he seemed to be wearing a mask and singing live. This looks a bit like him.”

Chen Fangru said, “Wearing a mask and singing live?” She couldn’t understand for a moment. Did her son really lack money to the point of becoming a host? She and Lao Yang never lacked pocket money for him.

Was it an interest?

But after the accident, Yang Yunran lost all his talents in instruments, singing, and arts.

Later, she watched as he couldn’t develop, tried for many years, and Yang Yunran hadn’t improved a bit and only got worse. Finally, one day she gave up, finally unable to encourage him again.

Chen Fangru knew it wasn’t Yang Yunran’s fault, only blaming the hit-and-run car, and the accident that took away her son’s outstanding talents.

Even later, when Yang Yunran became a star and appeared on the show, she still watched it, watched the TV series he acted in, although the TV series itself wasn’t good, she still watched it to the end, knowing he lip-synced because his singing wasn’t good…

“Is this really Yang Yunran?” Chen Fangru didn’t quite believe it. “He can’t sing. He can’t play the piano either.”

Zhao Youmo recalled, “I think I heard him humming at home… it sounded pretty good.”

But on the TV screen, the masked singer “Hakimi,” who looked like her son, sat in front of the piano.

Chen Fangru froze for a moment as the first piano note sounded. She was sure: “He isn’t Yang Yunran.”

She, too, had learned music since childhood and had some accomplishments in it because she accompanied her son for many years. She knew the depth of his skills.

She could tell from just listening.

Then the singer started singing, and the unmodified voice suddenly resonated through the speakers.

“No, wait,” Chen Fangru froze again, “it’s Yang Yunran’s voice? But he can’t…” He can’t play the piano.

Chen Fangru’s mind was a bit confused.

Zhao Youmo didn’t say anything either, but he heard Yang Yunran’s voice.

He stared at Yang Yunran on the program, shocked and unable to speak.

Mom didn’t know?

Soon, a self-sung and self-played song without accompaniment ended after a minute and a half.

The lights came on.

There was silence in the audience for a long time.

The host said, “I believe everyone is very familiar with his voice and this song. He is—”

Yang Yunran took off the huge headgear. In a thrilling stage sound effect, a large amount of stage dry ice emerged!

Under the cover of smoke, Hakimi revealed a white wolf mask again!

Audience: “???”

Mentor: “Ah…?”

After a brief introduction by the host explaining the origin of his wolf mask, the audience realized, “Oh, this is the very popular online Harry Ye Ye. I often listen to his songs! So this is what he looks like.”

After thanking, Yang Yunran left the stage. A VCR played a segment of him sitting in a car wearing a mask.

At the moment when Chen Fangru saw Yang Yunran’s eyes revealed behind the white mask, she knew without a doubt that it was him.

She hadn’t paid much attention to Yang Yunran’s career for a long time. The performance just now had greatly shocked her. So after the program ended, she went to the balcony to call Yang Yunran.

After seeing her mother leave, Zhao Youmo lay on the bed playing with his phone. A message popped up on the screen: “Baby, are you asleep yet?”

The sender’s name was “Fan.” Zhao Youmo didn’t know his real name; they met on a social app. Recently, they had been chatting often, occasionally exchanging voice messages. Although they hadn’t met in person, this online chat provided him with great emotional support.

Today, Zhao Youmo asked him, “Have you heard of Haliyeh’s songs?”

The reply didn’t come immediately; it took several minutes before Fan responded: “Haha, never heard of him. What’s up with this singer?”

Zhao Youmo said, “Nothing, I just saw him on the show and felt he is much more outstanding and talented than I imagined. He’s excellent, I can’t compare. No matter what I do…”

Fan replied, “Baby, although I don’t know who you’re talking about, I know you’re talented and hardworking. Don’t have such negative thoughts! I…”

They chatted for a long time, and in the end, Zhao Youmo opened a music app and listened to Yang Yunran’s new album.

It seemed to be a song dedicated to his mother, online for a month, with over 200,000 reviews.

“He made me cry, so touching!”

“Ye Ye is awesome! Really amazing!”

“A singer who blows up like this actually got eliminated by a masked singer in the top ten. Isn’t it too exaggerated…??”

Zhou Kai closely monitored public opinion after the show aired.

Some said, “Haliyeh admitted his mistake, don’t blame him anymore. Even though he’s usually great, making a mistake in the competition is just a mistake. He admitted it himself, what else is there to criticize?”

“And his last performance playing and singing was really godly!!! Replaying it over and over!!!”

“In short, his attitude of admitting mistakes and correcting them is commendable. I’m a fan now!”

Doudou also finished watching the show and felt something was wrong. “Kevin, I followed the recording throughout. Ran Ge definitely didn’t say those words admitting a mistake! Because Ran Ge didn’t make any mistakes at all!”

“Are you sure he didn’t say that? Then it’s post-production dubbing…” Zhou Kai repeatedly watched the segment where Yang Yunran spoke in the program. Due to fast camera cuts, there were no clear clues.

Late at night, he called Yang Yunran to confirm that it was indeed post-production dubbed.

Zhou Kai said, “They edited it like this in post-production just to appease those who said it was unfair. Otherwise, if you were unfairly eliminated, ‘Wolf Boy’s’ advancement would also be tainted… To eliminate this stain, they dubbed you to admit a performance mistake.”

Yes, now there weren’t many people criticizing the production team anymore.

Instead, they were saying about him:

“After all, he is a young singer who is just starting out. Making mistakes is normal.”

“Yeah, this is normal behavior for a regular person. On such a big stage with so many viewers, he, an internet singer, made a mistake due to nervousness. It’s too normal!”

“Honestly, Haliyeh’s performance in that segment was just too bad, not even one-tenth the level of his studio version. Makes me doubt if he heavily autotunes his singing normally.”

“He even used a sound card during the live broadcast!”

After watching it, Yang Yunran’s expression changed. He could accept being eliminated from a manipulated show, but he couldn’t accept being dubbed afterward to admit to something he hadn’t done!

He opened the contract for Jiang Yi to read through and had the company’s legal department confirm it. Yang Yunran told Zhou Kai, “I want to livestream to clarify.”

Zhou Kai: “Wait, what did you say? You want to clarify what?”

“That statement was dubbed; it wasn’t me who said it.” Yang Yunran couldn’t accept it. Zhou Kai said, “Think it over, wait a minute! If you clarify this, it’s slapping the station in the face. They might blacklist you! You won’t be able to appear on their shows again!”

Yang Yunran said, “I reviewed the contract. It requires me to accept all edits by the production team, including modifications to my singing voice, but it doesn’t mention dubbing dialogues. This is completely slander and rumor. They can edit me harshly, but they can’t do this. I won’t go on their TV show anymore. I need to clarify.”

Zhou Kai immediately said, “Let me contact the production team first to see if it can be resolved. Don’t rush, let’s talk about it tomorrow. Rest well tonight.”

Yang Yunran was temporarily calmed down, but the next morning, he went to the company. Zhou Kai gave him a reply, “The production team said, if you sign a supplementary agreement, they’ll give you 200,000. Can you accept it? Don’t make trouble.”

“I don’t accept it.” Yang Yunran said without hesitation, “They must admit to maliciously dubbing me. I don’t need their compensation.”

Mr. Lin entered the meeting room.

Mr. Lin said, “Teacher Yunran, in this situation, if you don’t accept and insist on livestreaming to clarify, of course you can, but it may lead to more criticism. Right now, everyone praises you for being modest, and although you were eliminated, the reviews are positive. If you say you didn’t make a mistake and it was the production team dubbing, then… First, you won’t be able to collaborate with them in the future, and second, it may give people the impression that you’re arrogant. After all, those are predecessors who debuted ten or twenty years before you.”

Yang Yunran said, “I understand, Mr. Lin, but I still want to clarify.” He looked at Lin Ye, determined.

Mr. Lin looked at him for a long time. Although he didn’t quite understand his stubbornness in such a small matter, after a while, he nodded in agreement and said, “Okay, I support your decision. If you don’t want to cooperate with this station, there are others. Go live.”

Around three o’clock in the afternoon, Yang Yunran logged into his account and livestreamed to explain.

“In that competition, I didn’t make any mistakes.”

He wasn’t wearing a mask, but he didn’t show his face, livestreaming from the company’s conference room.

In an instant, tens of thousands of people flooded into the livestream room.

The show’s producers who saw his livestream messages were in a frenzy: “What is he doing??”

Haliyeh said, “This is a segment of dialogue from when I was eliminated. What aired was not my original words but a post-production dubbing.”

He looked at the influx of newcomers and barrage in the live stream and continued, “Perhaps the mentors have their standards for judging, and in ordinary times, the show might do pitch corrections to avoid being recognized. But in every competition, I took it seriously. I wasn’t sick, didn’t drink, had a good rest, and every time I stepped on stage, I gave my best performance. Therefore, I didn’t make mistakes. My singing couldn’t go off-key, let alone admitting I made a mistake.”

The show’s marketing team grumbled as they got back to work, saying, “Luckily, he’s not livestreaming at night, or we’d be working overtime.”

“He’s so foolish. Clarifying like this harms others and doesn’t benefit himself. Does he think by saying this, netizens will pity him? Originally, people were quite sympathetic toward him, but now, doesn’t he come off as arrogant and self-important?”

“The production team was wrong. They shouldn’t have dubbed him to salvage his reputation, right? Truly digging their own grave.”

Even though the company was prepared, the barrage overwhelmed them in an instant:

“Teacher Tang has been in the industry for so many years. How many years have you been in it? Arrogant to this extent? I think you’re finished!”

“Young singers can’t hold their temper, still arrogant. I think the production team was trying to be kind, and kindness was taken for granted. Young people should be more low-key.”

“A mistake is a mistake. Even if you want to salvage your reputation, backstabbing the production team? is shameless.”

“So your album sold well, and now you’re flying high?”

“Harry Ye Ye, get out of the entertainment industry!”

“His singing stinks! Get lost!”

“Why doesn’t he take off his mask on the show? How ugly is he?”

Harsh words and insults flooded in.

Yang Yunran felt uncomfortable, but he maintained a calm exterior, glanced at the time again, muted the comments in the livestream, and turned to Zhou Kai, saying, “Time’s up.”

“What’s up?” Zhou Kai was puzzled.

Yang Yunran said, “Look at the news, it should be out now.”

“What’s out? Who had a child?” Zhou Kai was baffled.

Yang Yunran opened his phone and shared the notification in the group, “It’s this.”

Zhou Kai, confused, clicked on it and looked up in shock, “Williams? What’s he holding? Your album?? He’s promoting your song…?”

As a world-renowned superstar, William’s influence was comparable to Taylor Swift’s global fame. In the photo, the superstar smiled, holding Yang Yunran’s album cover, a pure white one with a baby’s small hand, giving a thumbs-up of approval.

“#An incredible album, unique and unparalleled, announcing my collaboration partner, see you in March#”

The two words “collaboration partner” left Zhou Kai utterly bewildered, “You have connections like this? Why didn’t you say earlier??”

“Yes, I have connections. Share them,” Yang Yunran said calmly. He exited the livestream, packed up his phone and microphone, and said, “Alright, I’m heading home now. My boyfriend’s waiting for me in the parking lot.”