Chapter 114: A Bloody Love Story (Mega Chapter)-Starting From a Dating Show(Ai Ziyan)

Min Min's creative approach was centered on the concept of extreme love.

She had a line of lyrics that ran through the entire theme: *My very birth was solely to love you.*

The audience's response was decent, though it felt slightly discordant with the promotional video they had seen.

Clearly, given the yandere theme and the dark style of the promo, Min Min's angle was far too idealized.

After finishing her performance, Min Min left the stage to the audience's applause, and Yun Miao, who had been waiting backstage, stepped up.

Yun Miao's perspective was a dream—a sweet dream.

A sweet dream created by a girl for a boy.

Backstage, Tang Zhichu nodded slowly. Yun Miao possessed a typically delicate, soft vocal style, somewhat reminiscent of Huang Ling in his past life.

The verse was a gentle melody, and the chorus was even somewhat lighthearted. It wasn't until the second verse that the style shifted.

*We are each other's angels. Kill me before I wake from this dream. My love cannot be shunned; if you can't do it, I'll be the bad child.*

Whether in its slightly eerie melody or its lyrics, it all pointed to one thing: dying at the peak of love.

Compared to Min Min, Yun Miao's song was distinctly darker, and her singing style carried more character.

147 to 160.

By audience vote, Yun Miao won.

"This project is too twisted. Why did four people choose it?" Xige rubbed his bald head and complained.

"It really is hard. The lyrics are one thing, but the arrangement is incredibly difficult. I wouldn't even know how to express a dark style like this."

"Min Min wrote about extreme love in a relatively subtle way, and the quality was already very high. Then Sister Miao came in with a stark, dark contrast. I can't even imagine how the next two songs will follow that up."

It wasn't just the Wildfire Alliance discussing this; the other alliances were doing the same.

Not only were they clashing on the same project type, but there were six people writing for it. It was simply too difficult.

Tang Zhichu stood up. Qiu Zhen was already on stage, and it was time for him to prepare.

Xige was a bit nervous, rubbing his hands together.

On stage, Qiu Zhen stood in a pillar of light.

He was highly experienced, having done over a dozen concerts. He was incredibly stable.

The piano began to play.

However, everyone quickly frowned.

It wasn't a traditional chord progression; it felt a bit awkward and jarring.

But as soon as Qiu Zhen started singing, everyone understood—it was intentional.

*Sucrose with lemon, sea salt with honey, black tea jam scented with almonds—hurry, come into my kitchen.*

Hearing the first verse, everyone frowned. *That's it?*

*Is this all the Tianhe Trio has to offer?*

By the second verse, they realized.

It was meant to be jarring. This song was deliberately awkward, and that was the theme. Just like the female lead's affection, it was a spoiled love.

Qiu Zhen didn't address the characters' perspectives directly; it was entirely metaphorical.

*A little blue bird,*
*Its feathers gorgeously plucked inside a cage.*
*Sharing a piece of sweet chocolate with you,*
*Let me tuck you into my pocket,*
*To become my agate stone.*
*Let me see who else in my castle has yet to be locked away...*

Qiu Zhen's vocal mechanics might not have been as strong as He Shuyuan's, but his high notes were by no means low. Under the influence of this bizarre style, it actually sounded rather mesmerizing.

The audience grew more and more excited.

By now, there had been five songs about love, from five different angles.

Backstage, Bai Xiwei glanced at Shen Jianxin, who sat quite steadily.

"For explosive power, we have He Shuyuan; for delicacy, Yun Miao. Qiu Zhen's metaphorical piece is also of extremely high quality, leaning toward the hypnotic style popular online. This episode is truly spectacular," Guo Jinglong suddenly remarked from behind Bai Xiwei.

The others chimed in agreement.

However, only Bai Xiwei understood that Guo Jinglong was implying Tang Zhichu was in a difficult position.

Bai Xiwei shook his head. He felt Tang Zhichu was still a bit too young. Performance points shouldn't be wasted just to buy a later slot.

In a highly homogenized project like this, the earlier you performed, the better.

"Let's wait and see. I'm actually quite looking forward to it," Bai Xiwei replied.

On stage, Qiu Zhen finished singing. Clearly, he understood He Shuyuan's strength, so he also delivered a powerful climax at the end, hitting a C5.

Qiu Zhen panted. Although they weren't openly competing, he felt he hadn't lost to He Shuyuan in this round—something he cared about deeply.

As for Tang Zhichu, who was up next, Qiu Zhen doubted he could find yet another angle to interpret this theme any better.

There had already been five songs, three of them under this exact project. Not only would the audience experience aesthetic fatigue, but the project team would too.

Would the project team get fatigued?

The answer was no. They had access to more behind-the-scenes information; they knew Tang Zhichu had not only beaten Pu Jingshi but had also defeated Liu Xingyun to secure the project from these two industry giants.

The audience might get tired, but the project team wouldn't. Instead, their anticipation only grew.

If Qiu Zhen was already this formidable, and there was still a grand finale? Wouldn't it be mind-blowing?

However, if Tang Zhichu couldn't live up to the project team's high expectations, it would be dangerous for him.

Under the spotlight, Tang Zhichu appeared.

The audience was somewhat startled—not by his appearance, but by what stood behind him.

Five cellos stood there, flanked by two violins, and three backing vocalists were in position.

The lineup seemed no less grand than the string orchestra Liu Xingyun had brought last time.

Backstage, quite a few people stood up.

Before he even sang, someone sighed, "Tang Zhichu is still Tang Zhichu. He just keeps going bigger."

The venue fell silent. The giant screen flickered, and the subtitles appeared.

Lyrics: Tang Zhichu
Composer: Tang Zhichu
Song Title: *Bloody Love Story*

Just seeing the name gave some audience members goosebumps.

Was he really going to be this direct?

The same reaction occurred backstage. Xige hadn't seen Tang Zhichu's rehearsal, but he knew the song's title.

Judging by the name alone, he had already won. It was raw, visceral, and oppressive.

He Shuyuan's explosive track was only named *Taboo*.

This one went straight for the blood.

Bai Xiwei and Guo Jinglong exchanged glances, both standing up.

The song title set an incredibly high bar!

Like Qiu Zhen, Tang Zhichu's intro began with a piano solo.

However, Tang Zhichu's verse arrangement was simpler. After the piano, a drumbeat entered to set the rhythm, followed immediately by his vocals.

*Those sweet tastes you once sampled*
*Are all the fruits of loneliness.*
*That was me, raw and bleeding,*
*Carved straight from my heart.*

On stage, Tang Zhichu seemed like a changed man. His gaze was sharp as he looked at the audience, and at the project team.

Backstage, Xige held his head in his hands, his scalp already tingling.

It seemed that under the provocation of He Shuyuan and Qiu Zhen, Tang Zhichu had entered full combat mode.

Shen Jianxin's expression also grew more solemn.

Under these circumstances, Tang Zhichu's decision to enter with such a simple arrangement showed a confidence others lacked—he was using his raw vocals to overpower everyone.

*A piece of flesh offered like a free gift,*
*Given without a second thought.*
*If you are sharp and cutting,*
*I will unleash a storm of blood.*
*Drafting it all down, playing the writer.*

"Ho... holy crap! Look at my arm, it's covered in goosebumps! Is this the power of God Tang?"

"His writing is incredible! *If you are sharp and cutting, I will unleash a storm of blood.* Damn, that is so fitting."

"Shh, just listen!"

Backstage was already buzzing, with almost everyone's eyes glued to the lyrics.

This was one of Tang Zhichu's defining traits. He rarely relied on vague atmospheres or beat around the bush in his lyrics; he went straight for the jugular with high-caliber writing that commanded undivided attention.

On the second floor, Yu Hua appeared in that small room once again.

He wanted to see what kind of performance Tang Zhichu would deliver after He Shuyuan and Qiu Zhen.

It was only at this moment that the strings finally joined in.

*So let me follow your twists and turns,*
*Let me write a horror story for you.*
*Who is suspicious, who is pitiful, who is innocent, who barely survives?*
*I have already seen the final outcome.*

With the entry of the strings, the arrangement grew heavy and rich. Yet, Tang Zhichu actually dropped his key, while keeping his vocal pressure intact. Far from being overshadowed by the instrumentation, his voice gained an indescribable sense of power.

*So let me take over and bridge the past to the future,*
*Etched in the bones like a romance novel.*
*The more the blood flows, the tireder the hands, the emptier the heart, the more painful the flesh—*
*Only a love cut by a thousand knives is truly vivid.*
*Don't give it back to me.*
*Don't give it back to me.*

The ones who felt this most deeply were neither the audience nor those backstage.

The audience was somewhat stunned by the visceral nature of the lyrics, staring wide-eyed, many still in shock.

Backstage, almost everyone had stood up. What was most mind-blowing? This was a song Tang Zhichu had written in less than a day. Not only was the arrangement brilliant, but the lyrics in the second verse changed to fit the theme even better, representing a massive workload.

This was exactly what one of the screenwriters sitting in the project team's section was feeling.

Every line of the lyrics described the protagonist he had created. Incredibly, it felt even deeper and more poignant than his own writing.

*If you are sharp and cutting,*
*I will unleash a storm of blood.*
*Drafting it all down, playing the writer...*

When Tang Zhichu reached this part in the second verse, he went from bowing his head to looking directly at the project team.

*So let me follow your twists and turns,*
*Let me write a horror story for you.*
*Who is suspicious, who is pitiful, who is innocent, who barely survives?*
*I have already seen the final outcome.*

Tang Zhichu did not lower the key; he sang in the original key, which was originally written for a female voice.

What did that mean?

He was maintaining high-quality pronunciation with full vocal pressure, dominated by powerful mixed voice on C5 and D5.

In his past life, the original key of *Loving Even in Death*—a song everyone wanted to challenge at KTV—was at this level.

Backstage, at least a third of the musicians instinctively covered their ears, grimacing.

Xige held his head and had already stepped right up to the screen to watch.

Shen Jianxin pumped his fist, a trace of excitement showing even on his face.

Is this Tang Zhichu in combat mode?

Liu Xingyun was also standing, shaking his head in continuous marvel. Bai Xiwei and Guo Jinglong looked at each other, letting out a bitter, helpless laugh.

It was... a bit of a dimensional strike.

This time, Tang Zhichu was playing for keeps.

When he hit the very last word of this section, his trailing note rose by another half-step. The singers backstage felt their scalps go entirely numb.

On stage, Tang Zhichu lowered the microphone.

Behind him, the low notes of the five cellos began to dance, rapid and tempestuous, with the violins weaving in to add layers of texture.

Never mind Xige—even Shen Jianxin and Liu Xingyun now held their heads in their hands.

Following Tang Zhichu's fierce high notes, the arrangement transitioned seamlessly, pushing the atmosphere directly to its absolute peak.

From Yu Hua's vantage point, not only had the audience stood up, but the members of the project team had also risen to their feet.

Yu Hua wiped the sweat from his forehead. He felt he couldn't listen any longer; if he did, he would turn into a fan of Tang Zhichu.

Yet, his body remained stubbornly in place, refusing to move.

Just when everyone thought it had to be over—since it was already absurdly impressive—Tang Zhichu's voice rang out once more.

*It is too late to ponder any further.*
*The bond of flesh between our palms*
*Has long since lost its use.*
*Watching the empty shells that have lost their souls,*
*Two bodies with departed spirits.*
*To write any more would be excessive.*
*No matter how intense, the story would turn cliché.*
*Just write to the perfect point,*
*To make it a matter of life and death,*
*And love a matter of life and death.*

Yet another two-part section with non-repeating lyrics. Backstage, led by who knows whom, at least five or six people made bowing gestures of worship.

Guo Jinglong stared with his mouth open, asking in disbelief, "Just now... did his pronunciation on that line hit an F5?"

Bai Xiwei had to nod, also filled with disbelief. "It must have."

Bai Xiwei could hit an F5 too, but it would be strained, lacking quality—something used only as a vocal stunt. Tang Zhichu had managed to pronounce his words clearly while maintaining a solid tone at that pitch.

The vocal mechanics he demonstrated were terrifying. As top-tier figures in the industry, Guo Jinglong and Bai Xiwei knew exactly what this implied.

In terms of singing technique and expressive power, if Tang Zhichu was serious, there were probably fewer than five male singers in the entire country who could surpass him, even when looking across the entire history of the Chinese music scene.

While Bai Xiwei and Guo Jinglong were still in shock, the song reached its conclusion.

*The more the blood flows, the tireder the hands, the emptier the heart, the more painful the flesh—*
*Only a love cut by a thousand knives is truly vivid.*
*Don't give it back to me.*
*Don't give it back to me.*

During these last two lines, the backstage area collectively erupted.

For *Don't give it back to me*, Tang Zhichu used his head voice to shift up yet another key.

If Yu Hua had been looking at the backstage cameras, he would have known this episode would require a lot of bleeping.

Many musicians were so excited they started swearing, openly declaring that the game was over, that it was too terrifying.

Below the stage, waves of audience members covered their ears.

The shock of a human voice reaching its absolute limit was like watching a sprinter push the boundaries of human speed in a hundred-meter dash.

Of course, there were singers who could go higher, but you would lose the beauty, the vocal pressure, and the listenability.

Tang Zhichu had achieved the pinnacle of this realm. Calling it an auditory feast was no exaggeration.

When the song ended, the screams below were endless. Tang Zhichu dropped to one knee, utterly exhausted, drenched in sweat.

If a professional listened closely, they would discover that the number of times he sang above a D5 in this song was around ninety, and he hit F5 more than five times.

Compared to He Shuyuan's song, it was a complete blowout.

If He Shuyuan's brute-force miracle was like forcing the project team to listen by grabbing them by the head, then Tang Zhichu's performance was like peeling open their skulls and singing directly into their brains.

The amateurs watched the spectacle, while the professionals appreciated the craft.

After hearing a song like this, the deepest impression left might not even be Tang Zhichu's high notes, but the content and the arrangement of the song itself.

This was the primary reason the backstage musicians had collectively lost their minds.

It was simply absurd!