Chapter 17: That Damn Hater, Speak Up! Speak Up!

A female voice chanted ethereally, like cold moonlight falling upon snowflakes. It was as if a dream had drifted down from the cosmos. Chen Meijing’s sweet smile and poised demeanor made it hard to imagine that she was the mastermind behind the wildly catchy and controversial hit, "Little Chicken Little Chicken."

Boom!

The ethereal voice had just begun to fade away when, amid the string slides of the guzheng, a powerful drumbeat thundered forth. At the moment the brass instruments and electronic rhythms surged together, it became impossible to pin down the genre of the song. What had started as a relatively mainstream chant swiftly transformed into operatic coloratura!

The elastic, rhythmic voice shimmered with crisp, precise notes. The resonant high notes seemed ready to pierce the very crown of the head, yet never harsh or grating. In exaggerated leaps, the seamless glissandos and sharp staccatos played in a dynamic cycle. Just as the title "Dazzling Realm" suggested, virtuosity itself was a realm to master.

“Holy shit! Holy shit!”

A customer who had just spoken rudely about Chen Meijing was utterly shaken. Eyes wide with disbelief, it felt as though his entire understanding was about to be overturned! The impact was no less shocking than if a sneakerhead e-sports guy suddenly picked up a book and blew your mind with a doctoral thesis analysis.

“How the hell… how could she…”

“Damn! So powerful!”

His buddy was clearly dumbfounded, barely touching his food, staring blankly at the screen where Chen Meijing was passionately unleashing her talent. The customers fell silent. From her singing, they seemed to hear a yearning for freedom, an ambition to achieve, a refusal to accept mediocrity. A fierce vitality burst from the depths of her spirit.

If this were merely a viral hit, it would be laughable. But now, the stunned patrons felt that Chen Meijing’s breakthrough performance had turned those who mocked her recently into the real joke.

In a brief daze, Chen Meijing’s vocal style shifted again on the screen. The texture of ethnic folk tones swept over the audience’s attention once more. Then it suddenly changed again, evolving into the intense tension and dramatic conflict of operatic soprano.

When her voice returned to exquisite, ethereal chanting, a whistle cut sharply through the sky like a fine thread descending from the heavens.

“Holy shit! Is that human?!”

Though the diners were shocked, Chen Meijing had not yet raised the microphone. Before they could fully process it, the sound slid downward and they realized—the whistle was produced by a flute!

The seamless transition from voice to flute, bridged by the whistling, could easily fool one into thinking the ethereal whistle was still human singing. This delightful “misunderstanding” left a deeply memorable impression. The unexpected yet flawless connection was unforgettable.

Just how strong was Chen Meijing’s talent? Lin Feng explained, “If this had been two years ago when I first got into graduate school, I would have had to listen on my knees.”

In the realm of coloratura soprano, this song was not particularly difficult—at most, intermediate to advanced. But the challenge lay not in the difficulty of coloratura alone; the real test was mastering vocal control and shifting styles. The composition and arrangement themselves defied clear categorization.

The entire piece contained no lyrics, yet demanded an imaginative and emotionally rich expression amid dazzling technical skill.

“What… what kind of genre is this?!”

Even after Chen Meijing finished singing, the patrons remained stunned, unable to believe what they had witnessed.

“Well…”

Old Wang chuckled. “If I had to classify it, it could be called a crossover song—but even freer than typical crossover. Musically speaking, a better term might be ‘boundaryless music.’”

“Boss, you know about this stuff too?!”

“Haha, naturally. Don’t be fooled by my appearance now—I was into music back in the day.”

The customers were amazed and eagerly began chatting with the owner. But this time, their attitude was completely different. All prejudice against Chen Meijing had vanished, replaced by genuine curiosity.

One even remarked, “You know, Chen Meijing’s smile while singing earlier was actually pretty beautiful.”

“Raising the smile muscles opens up the vocal cavity, making the voice more transparent,” Old Wang explained cheerfully. “Classical vocalists maintain poised posture and natural elegance—not for show, but because good posture enhances singing. The same goes for classical instruments.”

“That sound was terrifying—I almost couldn’t tell if it was an instrument or human. Turns out it was an instrument. Gave me quite a scare.”

“Haha, that’s the level vocalists reach when the human voice becomes instrumental. Chen Meijing’s foundation is truly solid.”

“Boss, impressive!”

The customers gave a thumbs-up as they pulled out their phones to search for the song "Dazzling Realm." The memory was too vivid not to listen again.

If "Little Chicken Little Chicken" was known for its catchy or quirky appeal, "Dazzling Realm" was all about beauty.

The impressions of other viewers were similar. After the show spotlighted Chen Meijing’s involvement with "Little Chicken Little Chicken" and explored her journey, suddenly presenting this piece prompted countless exclamations of astonishment.

Preconceived notions were built up only to be shattered instantly.

Chen Meijing was undeniably trending. Under careful promotion, her new song instantly attracted widespread attention. The stark contrast created an unimaginable impact.

“Holy shit! This is real?!”

“I was laughing at Chen Meijing before. Sorry, I’m the joke.”

“Damn, this morning’s song was something else!”

“This has to be a prank! I seriously suspect it’s a trolling experiment!”

It was clear the netizens’ emotions ran high. The harsher they had been toward Chen Meijing before, the more praise they now lavished upon her. Those who were merely entertained before now focused on her genuine talent.

After her appearance on the program and deliberate hype, it took only five days for a dramatic turnaround. Chen Meijing had finally broken her streak of failure in a meaningful way.

Just as Li Can had hoped.

Though opinions were mixed, everyone was emotionally engaged. Li Can, typing furiously on his computer, was visibly stirred.

Green onions!

Bitter green onions!

Compared to others’ shock and bewilderment, the recent days on the "Melodious Summer Nation" music forum had been a frenzy. No one expected such a swift comeback from the outspoken Li Can.

“Famous music critic Qin Song: @Famous music critic Wang Fusheng, heard you think Li Can isn’t good?”

“Famous music critic Li Jie: @Famous music critic Wang Fusheng, heard you think Chen Meijing is finished?”

“What about ‘Dazzling Realm’? I want to hear Old Wang’s sharp critique!”

“Singer Chen Jin: Haha, tonight’s really fun.”

Li Can wasn’t hiding. Using a large account, he flooded the "Melodious Summer Nation" forum, viciously attacking music critics who had previously criticized him.

“Music producer Volcano Bro: @Famous music critic Wang Fusheng, you little troll, speak up! Say something!”

“Music producer Volcano Bro: @Famous music critic Zhao Jinming, the sadness of the times, huh?! Speak up! Unmute yourself right now!”