AFVSIBS Chapter 189 Wu Heng Turns "The Dream of the Sword" into a Nightmare

Faced with such high viewership ratings, Zhao Liang would normally be happy and excited. But at this moment, he couldn't help but shake his head with regret.

He knew very well that everyone's attention to "Our Music" was simply due to curiosity and anticipation. If Wu Heng didn't sing well later, the viewership ratings would start to decline.

If Wu Heng hadn't insisted on singing "The Dream of the Sword," and instead sang his usual bubblegum songs, this situation wouldn't have occurred. The viewership ratings would not only have stabilized but might even have broken the terrifying 5.0 mark.

"Director Zhao, why do you seem unhappy? We've already broken through 4.5 in viewership ratings even though they've just stepped onto the stage and haven't started singing yet. Isn't that a good thing?" a staff member asked with a puzzled expression.

"Although that's true, there's still a bit of regret. If it weren't for Wu Heng insisting on singing 'The Dream of the Sword,' perhaps we could have pursued the myth of reaching 5.0 in ratings. Sigh," Zhao Liang sighed helplessly.

"Is Wu Heng's singing really that bad?"

"It's true. I've already looked into it. His ability to participate in the program with Zhou Chen is purely a stroke of luck. Unfortunately, he doesn't appreciate it and even quarreled with Zhou Chen. Moreover, he insists on singing good songs. Perhaps after tonight, his reputation in the industry will also suffer."

Zhao Liang knew very well that Wu Heng had come this far solely on the three marketable bubblegum songs Zhou Chen had written for him. If he had continued to sing bubblegum songs, he could have maintained his position as a second-tier star in the industry. But once he sang excellent songs, songs with high difficulty, he would be exposed. His abilities would be criticized across the internet, and it would be difficult for him to continue in the industry.

On the other hand, Wu Heng completely failed to recognize this.

At this moment, he still looked confident and eager to prove himself.

"Thank you, Zhou Chen, please take a seat in the artist guest area."

The host seemed to sense Wu Heng's eagerness and, after a brief interaction, asked Zhou Chen to sit down and signaled that Wu Heng could begin singing.

"Next, I'm going to bring you a song called 'The Dream of the Sword.' Unlike before, this song will no longer be a bubblegum song but an excellent and content-rich one. I hope you all will like it."

Before starting to sing, Wu Heng emphasized once again that "The Dream of the Sword" was not a bubblegum song. He cared too much about being criticized for always singing bubblegum songs and about the label of Bubblegum Song King.

Applause erupted again in the audience.

To Wu Heng, this applause was an encouragement to himself.

So, he turned to the staff and nodded, indicating that he was ready to start.

Soon, the melody of "The Dream of the Sword" filled the venue.

As the melody progressed, Wu Heng began to sing:

"My sword, where to go, love and hate, feelings are hard to understand;

My knife, cutting through the sky, knowing or not knowing right from wrong;

I'm drunk, in a misty haze, kindness and resentment, are they illusions or emptiness;

I'm awake, in a spring dream, life and death, all becomes nothingness..."

In just the first verse, Wu Heng broke several notes directly and changed Zhou Chen's melody. The melody that should have risen was changed to descend, and the rhythm was completely disrupted.

The most exaggerated part was that the originally tight modulation was now torn apart and flattened by him. Lines, blocks, and surfaces, all vulgar and unbearable.

The entire musical fabric presented a nonsensical tendency, completely unrelated to the original heroic and tender atmosphere.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen couldn't help but furrow his brow, feeling an impulse to go up and punch him.

Damn it, turning a perfectly good classic martial arts song into this.

You really have some nerve, changing wherever it's excellent, and deliberately changing it to the worst possible state.

"What the heck? Wu Heng went off-key as soon as he opened his mouth this time. Did he ever take any professional music lessons?"

"Yeah! The lyrics of 'The Dream of the Sword' seem pretty good, but Wu Heng's singing is really terrible. I don't know what he's thinking, singing with this kind of melody."

"Wasn't the melody written by Zhou Chen for him? Is it possible that, although Zhou Chen wrote the lyrics well, the melody he composed wasn't that good?"

"Putting aside the lyrics and melody for now, let's talk about Wu Heng's singing. What's going on? Off-key, broken notes, can't hit the high notes, a bunch of problems. Didn't he realize this himself?"

"I've heard him sing 'Little Apple' and 'Desert Camel' before, and they were pretty good. Why is he struggling with 'The Dream of the Sword' this time? It's really strange."

"Is there a possibility that Wu Heng is only suitable for singing bubblegum songs? He seems destined to be the Bubblegum Song King."

...

Online, people began to criticize Wu Heng's singing ability.

Some netizens were very disappointed and even turned off the live broadcast before he finished singing, leaving.

This caused the previously 4.5 viewership rating to start declining, and it seemed like it wouldn't stop.

Fortunately, Zhao Liang had already anticipated this situation and was mentally prepared for it.

Coming and going in haste, wishing for a meeting;

Love and hate, all fleeting, swept away by the wind;

A laugh, a sigh, living a carefree life;

Sorrow, who will share life and death with me...

At this moment, Wu Heng's singing reached the chorus.

Upon hearing the chorus, Zhou Chen furrowed his brow again.

What the hell is he singing? What the hell did he change it into?

He couldn't bear it anymore. He stood up directly and left the artist guest seat in front of everyone.

Zhou Chen's departure immediately caused shock among the people present and online.

After all, no one expected Zhou Chen to suddenly get up and leave at this moment.

"What's going on? Zhou Chen left halfway through listening? Could it be that he saw that it was getting late and left early to rest?"

"This reason is unlikely because he usually waits for Wu Heng to finish singing before leaving. Now, Wu Heng is just one or two minutes away from finishing. He wouldn't be unable to wait for even one or two minutes."

"In my opinion, he couldn't bear Wu Heng's singing. 'The Dream of the Sword' is a song he wrote, and he would have a standard in his mind for how this song should sound. Obviously, Wu Heng's singing was too unbearable, so he couldn't stand it and left."

"I have to say, Wu Heng's singing was just too awful. And I seriously suspect that he might have tampered with Zhou Chen's melody, otherwise, how could the melody be so bad?"

...

Some netizens were quite clever and quickly guessed that Zhou Chen might have left because he couldn't stand Wu Heng's rendition of "The Dream of the Sword."

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