This time Fang Yinnian stayed home for ten days. His parents also took several days off from work, and the family vacationed at a southern island, with expenses naturally covered by Fang Yinnian.
He bought new phones for his parents and grandma, along with lots of new clothes. Everyone was extremely happy.
The 10-day holiday passed quickly. After the five returned to Jiangzhou, they began rushing to scheduled events again.
This year they would participate in Nanxing TV’s Spring Festival Gala on the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, the New Spring Music Festival on the third day of the new year, plus the Lantern Festival gala.
FTM’s collaboration with Nanxing TV would be quite close, as they would also appear on this TV station’s famous music variety show next.
Currently, the top three music variety shows in domestic entertainment by viewership were Dongyang TV’s “King of Songs,” Yuntu TV’s “Soul Singer,” and Nanxing TV’s “Sounds of Nature.”
Among these, “King of Songs” was a full live mic singer competition show held every two years—a battlefield where veteran singers with years of experience battled it out. The music quality was very high with the highest national recognition.
“Soul Singer” was positioned as discovering outstanding folk talent. Both Tao Yizhou and Chen Mian had become well-known to the public through this show. Newcomers with musical dreams could try participating in competitions here.
The music variety show FTM would participate in was the third-ranked “Sounds of Nature.” This variety show had unique characteristics, emphasizing “collaboration” and “different sparks created by diverse voices colliding.”
The show’s rules involved singers collaborating with other singers to cover classic old songs in a team battle format with three mentors leading teams.
Regular guests served as important roles in mentor camps and needed to be ready for battle at all times. Each episode’s flying guests would collaborate with regular guests in performances, with mentors responsible for arrangements and competitive song selections.
This stage had extremely high vocal requirements.
Peer collaboration and team battles meant that singing poorly would not only earn colleagues’ contempt but also trending criticism from netizens.
—That’s right, “Sounds of Nature” was the most criticized music variety show.
Fortunately, netizens watched while criticizing, ensuring solid viewership ratings.
Manager Xu Baichuan had impressively secured them regular guest spots on “Sounds of Nature.”
This music variety show lasted three months per season. For the upcoming March, April, and May, they would frequently fly to Nancheng for variety show recordings.
Since it involved collaborative performances requiring song arrangements and group practice with other singers, they had to stay in Nancheng for several days each recording.
Mo Xun was a senior without classes, so he didn’t need to attend school. Xiao Fei, Junwen, and Fang Yinnian could also easily take leave.
Tang Che’s school had the strictest policies, making long-term leave difficult. After comprehensive consideration, he applied to suspend studies for one semester.
This music variety show was extremely important to them. Compared to gaming or escape room variety shows, music programs could further refine their vocals while letting them meet many music industry peers.
The manager’s booking of this show made all five extremely happy.
They had finally truly made it into the music track!
FTM was domestic entertainment’s first boy group to participate in a proper competitive music variety show, entirely backed by their Golden Song Award and album sales confidence.
***
Saturday, March 5th, for the recording of “Sounds of Nature” Season 5 Episode 1, the five flew to Nancheng and went directly to the recording venue.
The host briefly explained the process.
The first episode was a regular guest team battle.
“Sounds of Nature” only broadcast the first episode live. Later episodes with flying guests involved collaborative performances requiring arrangement, choreography, song selection, and practice preparation time, so they became pre-recorded.
Tonight, this season’s 9 regular guests needed to perform on stage for three mentors to choose from. Each mentor would select 3 regular guests to form their team—essentially choosing their “right-hand men.”
Later team battles made mentor selection of regular guests crucial.
This season’s mentors included Senior Ji Ying.
FTM had quite a connection with this senior—they first met at a New Year’s gala, later saw each other at “Music Billboard,” and exchanged greetings when receiving Golden Song Awards.
Fang Yinnian really liked her song “Thorn Bird”—a penetrating, magnificent piece.
The other two mentors were Luo Liang, the godfather of Chinese rock and a very famous solo rock singer, and Yang Dahong, also a veteran with several hit songs popular across the country who had mentored other music variety shows.
The mentor lineup was extremely luxurious, and regular guests were all quite famous up-and-coming singers in domestic entertainment.
In Nanxing TV’s backstage dressing room, the atmosphere was somewhat tense.
Fu Fei’s lips were slightly trembling: “We have to perform on stage later and wait for mentors to choose us, right? What if no one picks us? Won’t that be embarrassing?”
Tan Junwen rolled his eyes helplessly: “Can’t you imagine a good outcome? Like all three mentors choosing us, then giving us the choice? How great would that be?”
Fu Fei was stunned: “Is that possible?”
Fang Yinnian took a deep breath, trying to stay calm: “I often watch this show. In the first episode’s regular guest battle, if no mentors give green lights, we get ‘left behind.’ Finally, whichever mentor’s team needs people will be forced to take us.”
Tan Junwen couldn’t help complaining: “That’s too embarrassing—like poor students no one wants, forced in as transfer students. The homeroom teacher would definitely hate us.”
Fang Yinnian smiled: “Last season had guests who got ‘left behind.’ It’s fine—everyone just needs thick skin.”
Mo Xun proactively extended his hand: “We’re newcomers, don’t worry. If mentors don’t choose us, we’ll shamelessly join whichever team needs people.”
He smiled slightly, looking at Fang Yinnian: “Come on.”
Fang Yinnian: “…”
Every time FTM cheered up, Mo Xun extended his hand first, then Fang Yinnian would place his hand on top.
With teammates watching, Fang Yinnian had to ignore his racing heart and calmly extend his hand to Mo Xun’s palm.
Other teammates quickly stacked their hands, shouting in unison: “FTM, fighting!”
Walking toward the recording venue, Fang Yinnian took a deep breath to steady himself—this was one of his favorite music shows, and he had to sing well.
Overhead colored lights illuminated the competition stage.
“Sounds of Nature’s” stage was like a giant star chart surrounded by LED screens that could display various lighting effects.
Host: “Please welcome our next regular guest—FTM, bringing their performance piece.”
Lights instantly blazed.
Five people in white suits stood on stage holding custom microphones, beginning to sing with the music’s rhythm.
They sang the ballad “Prayer Under the Moonlight.”
Dense bullet comments flooded the live stream screen.
“Holy crap, FTM actually came to ‘Sounds of Nature’?”
“The little unknown group made it! They can appear on such a major music variety show”
“The first boy group in domestic entertainment to come to ‘Sounds of Nature’?”
“This stage has extremely high vocal requirements—all gods fighting. Bit worried the little group will lose every PK~”
Fang Yinnian’s voice trembled slightly at first. After all, “Sounds of Nature” was a music show he’d followed for years, and being on such a major stage for the first time made nervousness normal.
Fortunately, he quickly steadied himself. The five harmonized well in the chorus, ending cleanly and decisively.
After the performance, the host said: “Please have the three mentors make their choices.”
Three mentors sat in sofas below stage with buttons in front of them. Pressing the button would light up green.
Green lights represented mentors’ willingness to select them for their teams.
The five waited nervously.
However…
No one lit up.
After the 10-second countdown ended, the area below stage remained dark.
Standing there with stiff spines, intense shame and awkwardness spread through their hearts.
No one chose them—didn’t all three mentors like them?
The live stream was flooded with “hahaha” bullet comments.
“Poor little unknown group!”
“All five have [save me.jpg] expressions”
“No mentors chose them? I thought they sang pretty well”
“Mentors probably don’t dare choose idols—they don’t understand music groups”
Some took the opportunity for cold mockery.
“No one choosing means they sang poorly! Fans stop making excuses”
“Where did these idols come from? Coming to such a professional music variety show as a joke?”
“Every season has bottom-place contestants. This season’s last place is obviously our FTM!”
The host smiled to ease the atmosphere: “Oh my, no green lights. May I ask the three mentors, are you unsatisfied with FTM’s performance?”
Lights came up below, revealing the three mentors’ faces.
The senior called Yang Dahong suddenly said rudely: “Isn’t this an idol boy group? You idols now dare to come to ‘Sounds of Nature’ team battles? Your vocals… honestly, quite mediocre.”
The five felt their hearts tighten, not knowing how to respond.
Yang Dahong continued criticizing: “Moreover, your music is too flashy, and your five-person harmonies are also messy. This will make future collaborative competitions very difficult, right?”
Live stream bullet comments: “…”
“Holy crap, Old Yang speaks so rudely!”
“Yang Dahong is like this—extremely sharp-tongued”
“Criticizing them to their faces is a bit hurtful to self-esteem?”
“Competitive stages—singing poorly deserves scolding!”
Just when everyone thought FTM would obediently take the criticism.
Suddenly, Tang Che picked up his microphone and said coldly: “Teacher Yang, flashy and messy—is that your evaluation of us?”
Fang Yinnian was startled and quickly looked at Tang Che.
Tang Che’s expression was very cold as he continued: “But this song of ours has over 5 million saves on music platforms, and our album sales ranked in the annual top three.”
“I believe music is diverse and rich. Music recognized by the public is good music.”
“We FTM are a harmony group. Since forming our team, what we’ve valued most is our five-person harmonies.”
“Yet you use ‘flashy’ and ‘messy’—two negative terms—to completely negate our team’s foundation.”
“I cannot accept such an evaluation.”
“I’d like to ask you, how would you describe your own songs? High-end and elegant, or artistic and refined?”
Host: “…”
Holy crap!! Are today’s newcomers this fierce?!
The live stream instantly exploded.
“My god! This little idol has such nerve”
“Directly confronting the mentor on live TV??”
“Oh my god, Che Che, calm down ahhh!”
“This is getting interesting—sharp-tongued senior meets sharp-tongued newcomer”
“Let’s see who can out-argue whom hahaha”
“The boring show suddenly got interesting!”
Not only was the host stunned, but teammates were also shocked.
Tang Che being sharp-tongued normally was one thing, but this was a live variety show broadcast! Directly confronting a senior—did he not want to live?
Mo Xun gave Tang Che a meaningful look.
Tang Che frowned and didn’t continue speaking.
Mo Xun smiled and smoothed things over: “Sorry, Teacher Yang. We’re a harmony group—there are very few such groups in domestic entertainment, so it’s understandable that seniors might not immediately accept our style. We respect that.”
But immediately after, he added: “However, your criticism of us is overly subjective, and we indeed can’t agree with it.”
The captain’s statement represented the team’s attitude.
Mo Xun said this to tell Tang Che—we’ll support you and stand with you; we won’t let you take the criticism alone.
FTM was a team that shared both glory and shame.
Warmth suddenly filled Fang Yinnian’s heart. The person he liked was indeed responsible, not pushing Tang Che out as cannon fodder but firmly standing by Tang Che’s side.
Yang Dahong’s mouth twitched, his face reddening with suppressed anger.
The host hurriedly continued the process: “Everyone has different preferences, and mentors might have stricter requirements. Since no one chose FTM, they temporarily enter the pending area…”
Variety shows most feared lacking buzz.
Tang Che confronting the mentor on live TV was free topic material the production team naturally wouldn’t waste. Soon, #Sounds of Nature Tang Che Angrily Confronts Mentor# shot up like a rocket to the top of entertainment trending.
Xu Baichuan’s head was about to explode.
Tang Che was usually sharp-tongued and cutting. Yang Dahong’s words were indeed excessive, but Tang Che directly confronting him was indeed impulsive.
Netizens inevitably started arguing.
One side believed: Tang Che, a junior, confronting a senior was very impolite.
The other side believed: Some so-called “seniors” just relied on seniority to bully others, criticizing without understanding—they deserved to be confronted.
Some netizens who enjoyed drama even compared Yang Dahong and FTM’s album sales, then were surprised to discover—
Teacher Yang’s highest-selling album only sold 10 million copies. He only had two hit songs and had been living off past glory.
Meanwhile, FTM’s first album sold 30 million copies.
Onlookers: “…………”
Public opinion quickly began shifting.
“Isn’t Yang Dahong just relying on seniority to bully others?”
“Most annoying are these so-called ‘entertainment industry seniors’ who can’t perform but pressure people with qualifications. Looking down on newcomers—how awesome are you really?”
“Calling people flashy and messy—who was rude first?”
“Why should they just take criticism? Did he give you face?”
“Tang Che 666, I love this kind of personality that dares to confront people”
“Honestly, this wave was the senior lacking grace first, Tang Che fighting back second. At most, both sides get fifty lashes each”
“Post-2000s changing workplace culture series~”
“First time discovering Tang Che is so fierce when confronting people!”
“This group is interesting—daring to confront mentors. Let’s see their future performance. If they lose, it’ll be embarrassing”
Xu Baichuan: “…”
He’d originally wanted to do crisis management.
But now it seemed Tang Che’s confrontation wasn’t necessarily bad.
Variety shows most lacked buzz.
Once Tang Che’s confrontation hashtag trended, praise and criticism, comparisons and analysis, various essay arguments…
Popularity instantly maxed out!
The hashtag got a “boiling” tag with massive netizen flame wars attracting passersby to turn on TVs, causing viewership ratings to exceed the previous season significantly.
The production team was grinning from ear to ear, wanting to send Tang Che flowers.
Xu Baichuan smiled helplessly. FTM’s first episode of “Sounds of Nature” created such a huge scene with trending discussions reaching boiling point.
Even negative popularity was still popularity.
They truly deserved their success!
**
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
