Chapter 108: Is That Polite?

The video began to play, and a solitary guitar melody echoed through the quiet courtyard.

The production team, aiming to withhold enough information to maintain mystery while still providing enough to serve as a promotional hook, had crafted the teaser carefully. On screen, the young man playing the guitar occupied half the frame, with the rustic courtyard serving as the perfect backdrop.

Onlookers watched as the fans of the various singers were lured into the trap, delighted to see the chaos unfold. After all, healing things are meant to be shared, and joy is best when it is collective. As fans watched the video, their fingers danced across their keyboards, unwilling to cede any ground in the discourse surrounding their idols.

"Who is this in the video? I don't recognize him at all."

"The production team is so annoying! Why only show his back? Where's his face? Is he too ugly to be seen? Don't worry, Auntie won't mind."

"Auntie, look at me!"

"Auntie, look at me!"

"Auntie, look at me!"

Human nature is universal; everyone has dreams, and surprisingly, many people share the exact same one: falling for an older, wealthy woman.

"Are you all blind? Just look at his back—it's clearly a young man in his twenties. It's obviously that shameless guy!"

"Exactly! Teacher Jia Bei always favors that shameless guy."

"The shameless guy is the god of all time."

"Jia Bei has finally remembered the first concubine he ever favored. It wasn't easy, the shameless guy has been waiting so miserably, but thankfully, he waited."

"Damn! The person above is toxic."

"Concubine? Is this really a case of 'man on man'?"

"He Luoluo: Are you being polite?"

"Jia Bei: Are you being polite?"

"As much as I want this to be the shameless guy, the voice doesn't sound quite like him. Besides, he reposted this video himself; if it were him, there’d be no need to deny it."

These were the fans of He Luoluo, who had been waiting far too long for his new song. Ever since "Sorrow," He Luoluo had vanished, save for that one instance when he reposted Jia Bei’s song in response to the collaborative timeline. Fans had never encountered such a willful idol before.

Most of He Luoluo’s fans were convinced the guitarist was indeed He Luoluo. Their reasons were threefold: first, the guitar; the initial snippet of "Sorrow" had also been a guitar solo. Second, He Xi’er had been particularly enthusiastic, reposting it twice with a worshipful emoji—a sister’s devotion to her brother. It was settled: it was him.

Who would support this? Who would oppose it?

He Luoluo’s fans were arrogant. He Xi’er’s fans were envious. Jiang Qi’s fans were in revolt. Yin Mengna’s fans were regretful. An Chuxia’s fans were worried. The rest of the netizens were simply grabbing popcorn to watch the show.

Under Li He’s deliberate guidance, the video was filled with traps and subtle clues. During the recording, Li He had changed his orientation three times, but the footage always kept his back to the camera. There were a few fleeting, shadowy glimpses of his profile—nearly impossible to catch without pausing—but they revealed a handsome young man in his twenties.

The key was that he was young and handsome. This led He Luoluo’s fans to assume it was their idol; after all, who else would be so cheap and shameless? The back profile, the truncated song—it was a style that matched He Luoluo perfectly. By the time the truth was unveiled, his close friend would help him shoulder the incoming fire. After all, that’s what best friends are for—to be used as shields.

Once sharp-eyed netizens unearthed those side-profile shots, the other fanbases could no longer sit still.

"This can't be true..."

"I don't believe it. Teacher Jia Bei is loyal to Jiang Qi, to Qiqi-zi. He Luoluo is just a third wheel."

"Damn, Jia Bei gave his 'first time' to the shameless guy, alright? If we're talking about third wheels, it's Jiang Qi."

"Then what about He Xi’er? Is she the fourth?"

Jiang Qi’s fans flooded the comment section, followed by He Xi’er’s fans. Just as they joined forces to fight off He Luoluo’s faction, the video ended. The screen faded to black, and in the center, two lines of white text appeared:

"Jia Bei, meeting you in 'The Life We Yearn For.'"

"《Ordinary Road》"
"Lyrics: Jia Bei"
"Composer: Jia Bei"
"Guitar: Jia Bei"
"Vocals: Jia Bei"

Boom! The sky collapsed.

Jia Bei. It was all Jia Bei. The entire list was Jia Bei. People could understand the first few lines—Jia Bei had done this before, and everyone was used to him taking on every role. But this time, something strange had slipped in. The vocalist was Jia Bei. It was actually Jia Bei!

The comment section caught its breath for a fleeting second. The fans had left too many marks on it, and the section was struggling to hold up.

"The person singing... is Teacher Jia Bei?" a fan asked, struggling to process the inconceivable. How could it be? Jia Bei was just a songwriter; what did he know about singing?

"Is Teacher Jia Bei’s singing actually this good?"

"Is it really him? I don’t believe it."

"Damn, his vocal technique doesn't lose to professional singers!"

"The singer industry is getting harder to survive in. Songwriters are coming for our rice bowls now. This is ridiculous."

"Haven't you noticed how impossibly young Jia Bei is?"

"The person above me is right; I didn't notice until now. Damn, how can someone in their twenties write a song as deep as 'Sorrow'? And 'Bubble'—you couldn't write lyrics like that without being dumped a dozen times."

The comments refreshed rapidly. He Luoluo’s fans, Jiang Qi’s fans, and He Xi’er’s fans were all stunned. The handsome young guitarist was actually Teacher Jia Bei himself. It felt like science fiction!

Everyone hit the replay button in unison. They listened again. All eyes were fixed on the young man in the video. This time, no one was typing or arguing. Their attention was entirely on the footage itself. Because of those two white lines at the end—*Vocals: Jia Bei*—it had captured everyone's attention. Whether those gazes held anticipation, anxiety, or mockery, no one could tell.

Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, the video played slowly. Everyone listened intently to the opening guitar solo.

The young man sang the first line: "Wandering, on the road, are you going to leave? Via, via..."

"The voice is perfect."

"With this vocal technique, he could debut right now!"

"I feel like this voice could totally handle 'Sorrow.' He Luoluo really is still Teacher Jia Bei’s favorite."

"Damn... what do I do? I can no longer view Teacher Jia Bei as just a songwriter."

"What songwriter? Jia Bei is a singer."

"Don't talk nonsense; Teacher Jia Bei’s main job is a songwriter, singing is just his side hustle."

"A side hustle that's actually good."

The fan wars between Jiang Qi, He Xi’er, and He Luoluo had been intense, but that was just the inner circle of the harem fighting for favor. But the Emperor himself was singing! Naturally, the fans of the concubines had to show their support. The fighting stopped.

At this moment, An Chuxia’s fans could no longer sit still. Brothers Entertainment and Brilliant Entertainment had been promoting for days that An Chuxia was joining the variety show "Slow Pace" and singing its theme song. Without a doubt, that song was intended to compete for the August charts. July and August were usually quiet for major releases, but theme songs for films, dramas, and variety shows were fair game. Those two months belonged to them.

But on the first day of August, Jia Bei released a new song, and he sang it himself. This meant that the "metaphysical power" had returned to the entertainment industry.

"Does Xiaxia still have a chance to top the August charts?"

"Maybe second place?"

"Human effort cannot defy heaven’s will. This is the power of metaphysics; this is the will of 'Two'."

"Jia Bei did this on purpose, didn't he?"

"Definitely. He knew Xiaxia was releasing a song to top the charts in August. Releasing a new song now is just meant to snipe her."

"Poor Xiaxia, destined to miss out on the top spot again."

The young guitarist had only sung a few lines, and An Chuxia’s fans were already mourning their idol’s chances. Most were joking, but a small fraction of extreme fans felt Jia Bei was intentionally making things difficult for her. They believed that no matter how talented Jia Bei was at writing, he was no match for An Chuxia when it came to singing.

However, the assault from the extreme fans had only just begun. The young man in the video stood up and turned. It was still his back. From that angle, he looked carefree and uninhibited. He stood loosely, playing the guitar with such ease that it felt as if the sound wasn't coming from his hands, but was dubbed later. It was too loose, too casual, too indifferent.

As he stood, the guitar strings became frantic, and Jia Bei’s voice grew powerful. The loose youth was gone; in his place stood a king breaking through darkness, crossing mountains and seas.

"I have crossed mountains and seas, and I have crossed crowds of people..."

There were no high notes piercing the sky, yet it felt incredibly oppressive. Jia Bei’s lyrical talent was obvious, but this time, his voice shocked everyone. It was filled with emotion that brought tears to one's eyes, without a single trace of showy technique. People seemed to see a young man facing misfortune, refusing to yield, refusing to give up, struggling tenaciously. That young man walked through mountains and rivers, swam through oceans, and waded through the vast, mundane human sea.

In the end, he saw through everything and found the answer in his heart: Ordinariness is the only truth.

People in front of their screens fell silent. Some had moist eyes; their hearts were rising and falling. The song was deeply moving. The person singing it must have a story, a hidden, tragic history. A voice has emotion; it can tell a story. Through that voice, people found resonance.

And now, they had found it. The onlookers fell silent. The fans of the three concubines went quiet. An Chuxia’s extreme fans were dumbfounded.

"Is something wrong with my ears? Why do I think Jia Bei sounds really good?"

"Mine too. I think I need to see a doctor. My ears are sick, very sick."

Of course, it wasn't their ears that were sick, but the mindset of these extreme fans—their way of chasing stars.

Boom! The comment section exploded.

"Damn!"

"I give up. I'm truly convinced. I don't bow to anyone, but I bow to Jia Bei."

"Jia Bei, my treasure!"

"Damn, this is ridiculous!"

"Handsome, young, can write lyrics, compose, sing, play guitar, play piano... I just want to ask, who else? Who else!"

"I say Jia Bei is awesome. Who supports me? Who opposes me?"

"Jia Bei, do you still want to work hard?"

"I’m literally cracking up; that line almost made me cry."

"My wife cheated on me and I didn't cry. My son isn't mine and I didn't cry. But that line, 'I once owned everything, and in the blink of an eye, it all drifted away like smoke,' made me cry."

"Damn, is he cheating?"

An Chuxia’s extreme fans didn't dare to show their faces. If they did, they were instantly hammered by everyone else.

Shock! Shock! Shock! Beyond shock, there was only more shock. The faces in front of the screens formed a complete answer to the song.

Vocalist: Jia Bei.

No one dared to mock, to show disdain, or to suggest that Jia Bei would ruin the song. Now, Jia Bei had given everyone an answer—the most unexpected and delightful answer. This song with such deep meaning, this controversial vocalist, this transcendent performance. The video had caught everyone off guard. No one was prepared; no one had received advance notice. It was like a surprise attack on the battlefield, and no company could organize an effective counterattack in time. They could only watch it spread rapidly.

The onlookers in front of their screens were conquered. From this moment on, Jia Bei gained a new group of followers: fans. They were moved and captivated by his singing. Some people even clapped with red-rimmed eyes, though Jia Bei couldn't see them. Scattered applause echoed across the country.

Awesome. It could only be said that he was worthy of being Jia Bei.

In front of another phone screen, An Chuxia was stunned. Traces of tears remained on her face, her eyes slightly red, her exquisite makeup ruined. She finally understood why the company valued Jia Bei so much—so much that they didn't hesitate to let Ding Zhong issue a song challenge. Brilliant Entertainment valued him highly, or they wouldn't have let Ding Zhong team up with a top-tier composer to create a song for the challenge.

But An Chuxia felt they had still underestimated him. No one knew Jia Bei could sing; no one knew his voice was so uniquely gifted; no one knew he had vocal techniques that didn't lose to professional singers. The previous snippet of "Friends" hadn't fully showcased his singing, just the song's quality. This time, it perfectly demonstrated his vocal prowess.

It was strong. Ridiculously strong!

An Chuxia took a deep breath and asked herself: Was August really stable? Could she really take the top spot? Could her song really go head-to-head with this "Ordinary Road"? She felt uneasy, lacking confidence.

She continued listening. The singing stopped, but the guitar strings lingered. After the climax, it entered a transition period—a common structure for songs. An Chuxia wasn't in a hurry and listened quietly. But the next moment, she was dumbfounded. With a final "twang" of the guitar, the young man in the video disappeared, the courtyard vanished, and the screen turned completely black.

Black screen. Then, a few lines of white text popped up.

"Jia Bei, meeting you in 'The Life We Yearn For.'"
"Lyrics: Jia Bei"
"Composer: Jia Bei"
"Guitar: Jia Bei"
"Vocals: Jia Bei"

It was gone. It was over. An Chuxia widened her eyes in disbelief. After the climax, what about the second half?

It was gone. Everything was gone. An Chuxia watched it repeatedly, but the result was the same. The song was incomplete.

"A truncated version?"

An Chuxia was about to go crazy. How could Teacher Jia Bei release a truncated song? It was impossible. Such an annoying tactic was something only He Luoluo would do. A truncated version shouldn't be Jia Bei’s style. An Chuxia backed out and searched, only to find the original video was released by Shengshi Entertainment’s official account. Jia Bei’s own Douyin account had no activity—not even a repost.

This... was this hardcore resistance to promotion? "I have the resources, but I just won't promote it. Hey, I'm just playing around?"

An Chuxia was stunned. She couldn't understand this move. Shengshi Entertainment was promoting it with all their heart, and even all their singers had reposted the video, yet the man himself hadn't moved a muscle.

"Worthy of Teacher Jia Bei, he doesn't even give the company face," An Chuxia sighed in admiration. She wouldn't dare pull a stunt like that. She sent a message to her plain-looking manager, attaching the video.

Soon, Zheng Ming replied: "Xiaxia, I've already seen this video."

Seen it. An Chuxia felt a bit disappointed. Why had he already seen it? If her manager had seen it, who could she share it with?

An Chuxia was devastated, and so were the netizens.

"Shengshi is not acting like humans, releasing a truncated version. They didn't learn the good stuff, but they learned from He Luoluo to release truncated versions!"

"Life You Yearn For, what is this? Is this song an Easter egg for 'The Life We Yearn For'?"

"Isn't 'The Life We Yearn For' the variety show Shengshi is planning? Did Teacher Jia Bei guest star? Is he a guest in the first episode?"

"For this song, I’m definitely watching the show."

"Even though I know this is a routine move to promote the show, it’s still so annoying! I want to get angry, I want to curse!"

"To the person above, if you want to vent, I found a good place. I just came back from there and I feel much better. Go to He Luoluo’s Douyin account, it will definitely restore your good mood."

"Damn, you're really something. He Luoluo has been so low-key lately, don't keep dragging him into this. But then again, cursing He Luoluo does make me feel better."

"He Luoluo: Are you being polite?"

In the process, He Luoluo became a hot topic once again. Without a doubt, the video was a hit, Jia Bei was a hit, Shengshi was scolded, and He Luoluo was roasted. The discussions about Jia Bei’s new song, his professional-grade vocals, and Shengshi’s "He Luoluo-fication" made the video even more popular, attracting a massive wave of onlookers.

The popularity of the video ensured that everyone remembered five words: *The Life We Yearn For*. If you wanted to hear the full version, you could only hear it in the show. As for whether the show would also feature a truncated version, how could that be possible? It was unthinkable.

Immediately after, Shengshi began pushing *The Life We Yearn For*, using the heat from the video to promote the show.

"One of the permanent guests: Teacher He."

The focus began to shift from the video to the show, driven by Shengshi’s marketing and the netizens’ desperate desire to hear the full song. Discussions about *The Life We Yearn For* gradually increased, and with Shengshi’s earlier promotion, the hype was building.

With the reveal of Teacher He as a permanent guest, it caused quite a stir online.

"Teacher He is actually a permanent guest? He’s the pillar of Xiangnan TV. If Shengshi managed to invite him, this show is going to be something."

"With Teacher He there, the show won't have any dead air. I’m definitely watching it when it airs."

"Shengshi is going big this time. Jia Bei, Teacher He..."

"Is Shuai Leilei there? If he is, I’m watching. If not, I’ll ask again next time."

Teacher He’s seat was confirmed, but there was no news about the others. At this point, the official account of *The Life We Yearn For* started playing coy. They announced one guest per day, and only after the permanent guests were revealed would they announce the guests for the first episode. The anticipation was maxed out, but it also brought a lot of complaints.

"Is the production team sick? Being so sluggish with the guest list."

"My blade is already thirsty."

"Ever since He Luoluo signed with Shengshi, their operations have become so 'He Luoluo-like'."

"They only do shady stuff."

"Hey production team, take some advice from your uncle. You can't handle the suspense. Be good and release the rest of the list, and uncle won't blame you."

"I have the full guest list here. Private message me if you want it, only 99.8."

Regardless of how the netizens complained or begged, the official Douyin account of the show remained unmoved, very stubborn. The next day, the account updated on time with the second permanent guest: Jiang You. He was a rising star and a very popular new singer.

"Jiang You, I love you, I want to have your babies!"

"Brother Jiang You is there too! I’m definitely watching this show, even summer homework can't stop me, I said it!"

The netizens complained even more. However, despite the complaints, the anticipation was high. It was clear from the first two guests that the quality of the guests invited by *The Life We Yearn For* was top-tier. To put it simply, the production team wasn't short on money. Both Teacher He and Jiang You commanded very high fees. Now, the netizens were even more curious about the next guest. Who could be listed after Teacher He and Jiang You?

"Could it be a King or Queen of Pop?"

"I guess it’s Pop King Liu Feng."

"It has to be Pop Queen Wang Fei. If it’s not her, I’ll livestream eating... you-know-what."

"Another scammer trying to get a free meal. Drag him away, next."

The speculation was endless, and the show’s heat continued to rise. Finally, the result came out: Top-tier composer, Xie Shun.

"Damn, a top-tier composer is appearing in person? Shengshi is really throwing money at this."

"Damn, Teacher Xie Shun alone is worth a whole platoon of Pop Kings."

"Where is that brother from yesterday who was trying to scam a free meal? My eyes are ready."

"Awesome!"

"I was just struggling with whether it would be better if Liu Feng came or Wang Fei, since I love both their songs, but they just went and invited the person who wrote the songs!"

"This lineup totally crushes the neighboring 'Slow Pace'."

"Honestly, the guest lineup for 'The Life We Yearn For' is truly awesome, while the neighboring 'Slow Pace' is just weak—all new generation singers and actors, not a single veteran."

The netizens were all commenting, all looking forward to the official broadcast. The internet was boiling. The audience was very satisfied with this lineup. Perhaps a small portion wasn't, but it didn't matter; it wouldn't change the big picture. With a top-tier composer holding down the fort, it was enough.

People like top-tier composers only existed in legends, only on the internet. Rarely did anyone see them appear in public. Many people only knew their names, not their faces. Songwriters were meant to sit behind the scenes and write songs; public appearances were for the singers, and the songwriters got paid just the same.

External distractions could disrupt a songwriter's creative flow, but Jia Bei was an outlier in the industry. He went to film a variety show, and before the first episode was even finished, a new song had already leaked out. But more people hoped there wouldn't be any more leaks. If he could just finish writing it before releasing it, that would be fine. The truncated version was too cruel—the kind that could kill a person.

The netizens knew it wasn't over. After the permanent guests, there were the flying guests. With the permanent guests already so luxurious, what about the flying guests? Would there be Pop Kings, Queens, or another top-tier composer?

The production team didn't make them wait long. Soon, the list of flying guests was announced: Jiang Qi and He Xi’er.

They were announced together. This time, the production team didn't play any more tricks. It wasn't necessary. The audience's anticipation was already high. Announcing the flying guests together wouldn't lower expectations; instead, it would make the audience feel the team had regained their conscience and support them. In terms of promotion, the Shengshi publicity department was professional.

With Jiang Qi and He Xi’er as flying guests, the list was complete. The subsequent impact of this list spread explosively. On Doupu, a warm-hearted netizen created a poll comparing the anticipation for *The Life We Yearn For* and *Slow Pace*.

The conclusion of the poll shocked everyone: a 6:4 ratio in favor of the newcomer, *The Life We Yearn For*, which had actually surpassed the long-planned *Slow Pace* from Brothers Entertainment. It was unbelievable. It was simply inconceivable.

Beneath the post, there were countless comments:

"Looking forward to *The Life We Yearn For*, looking forward to Jiang You’s performance."

"The lineup for *The Life We Yearn For* is too strong, must look forward to it."

"Looking forward to Xiaxia, supporting 'Slow Pace'."

"I thought Shengshi was just a makeshift troupe, but it turns out to be a luxury stage."

"Teacher Jia Bei is too fierce. For this song, I must rush to 'The Life We Yearn For', 'Slow Pace' can get lost."

"I’m curious, Teacher Jia Bei is neither on the permanent guest list nor the flying guest list. Is Teacher Jia Bei a secret guest?"

Shengshi Entertainment’s promotional campaign had achieved massive results, directly blowing the competition away. It was a hit before it even aired. Shengshi had given the show a good start, but whether it could maintain this momentum would depend on the quality of the show. Being a hit before airing was one thing, but whether it would be a huge hit after airing was another. If *The Life We Yearn For* didn't meet the audience's expectations, the praise now would turn into fierce criticism later. Often, those who hype things up the most are the ones who criticize them the hardest later.

Ultimately, it depended on the quality of the show and the variety sense of the guests. A top-tier composer’s status was high, which brought plenty of anticipation, but that didn't mean Xie Shun had a strong variety sense. Maybe he was just a dull, wooden person! Anything was possible.

If the show didn't air, any variable could occur. Until the dust settled, no one could say who would win or lose. Just like when you have a girlfriend, until you've gone all the way, no one can be sure how many ex-boyfriends she had.

Whether the show would be a huge hit after airing, no one could say—not even Li He. But for now, the show’s heat was very high, and the discussion was intense.

Discussion. It was everywhere. Weibo, Douyin, and other platforms' hot searches were directly occupied.

#Jia Bei’s First Performance#
#Teacher Jia Bei working a side hustle because Shengshi’s salary is too low#
#Ordinary Road#
#The Life We Yearn For vs Slow Pace#
#Metaphysical power descends again on the entertainment industry#
#Guest list for The Life We Yearn For revealed, top-tier composer spotted#
#The abandoned He Luoluo#

The top of the hot searches was occupied by Jia Bei and *The Life We Yearn For*. In particular, the news of the songwriter Jia Bei singing was the most shocking. Without a doubt, Jia Bei was the darling of the hot searches. Once onlookers were attracted by the searches and watched the video of Jia Bei singing, they instantly joined the ranks of the sharers.

The audience and netizens discussed Jia Bei so heatedly not because he wrote good songs—there were plenty of people who wrote good songs—but because not a single one of them could sing better than him. The people who wrote good songs couldn't sing, and the people who could sing couldn't write songs. Jia Bei just kept jumping back and forth between the two.

At the beginning, there were voices online that didn't favor Jia Bei’s singing, but with the appearance of "Ordinary Road," those voices instantly vanished. It reached an almost unanimous state of anticipation and liking. Netizens' hearts were like the weather in June—changing in an instant, with no warning.

"Phew!"

After watching the feedback online regarding Jia Bei’s singing, the cold and elegant Zhang Yang couldn't help but let out a breath. Even she, who had anticipated the explosion of this event, was amazed by the heat it generated online. For a songwriter to show professional-grade vocal technique was a world-shattering shock to the audience. At first, she had been a bit angry at the brainless hate from An Chuxia’s extreme fans and had wanted to move her fingers to teach them how to behave, but later, Jia Bei’s overwhelming vocal strength and the tear-jerking power of the song forced those brainless fans to retreat.

This also made Zhang Yang give up on the idea of educating the singers of other companies. The extreme fans were too cowardly; they retreated, otherwise, she would have definitely taught their idol how to be an idol... Zhang Yang lifted her arrogant, pointed chin.

The internet continued to discuss and debate. Amidst all the heat and discussion, Li He, who had finished filming the first episode, returned to the company, back to the Seventh Group. Li He didn't yet know what was waiting for him.