After the program ended.
It was the sponsors' segment for introducing new artists.
Of course, it had nothing to do with Su Yu and the others.
Live broadcast programs, unlike traditional satellite TV recordings, allowed advertisers to decide their sponsorship budgets based on the show's popularity.
As the popularity and buzz surrounding the Ace City Competition grew, various entertainment companies began to flock to ride the wave of attention.
The program team was more than happy to see this trend. Previously, they had to pay for guests to participate in the show, but now, others were willing to pay to be on stage and gain exposure. These new trainees had considerable influence among young audiences, making it a mutually beneficial collaboration.
Backstage.
As Su Yu finished changing and stepped out of the lounge, he encountered Jiang Xiao'e, who had been waiting outside the door.
"Teacher Ting Yu," she said, standing there somewhat awkwardly.
"What's wrong?" Su Yu asked, looking at her with confusion.
Jiang Xiao'e gritted her teeth, finally bowed to Su Yu, and said tearfully, "Thank you!"
Her voice was sincere, tinged with the faint hint of a girl's grievance.
She had debuted with Su Yu's song "Later" and was his first collaborator.
However, Gong Ju Ren, who came after her, had already sung three of Su Yu's songs, while she still only had the very first one.
Of course, she didn't blame Su Yu. From the very beginning, she had been the most respectful of Su Yu among his collaborators.
She had always addressed him as "Teacher," and that had never changed, nor would it.
However, as time went by, the confidence gained from working with Su Yu gradually diminished. She began to wonder if she was too mediocre for Su Yu to write more songs for her. Thus, while continuously improving herself, she also longed to sing a song written by Su Yu again.
Finally, she got another chance. When Su Yu chose her on stage, she knew that Su Yu hadn't forgotten her!
"Thank you, thank you, Teacher Ting Yu!" Jiang Xiao'e looked up, her eyes already moist.
With that, she turned and ran off without waiting for Su Yu's reply.
Su Yu stood there, completely bewildered.
"Can't this girl have a little more confidence..."
After a long while, he rubbed his nose and shook his head with a wry smile.
Jiang Xiao'e was the first person to sing his song.
He still remembered when he first met her. She was an unknown newcomer then, and like most newcomers, she lacked confidence, even feeling a bit self-conscious. It was only after gaining more stage experience that she gradually improved.
Su Yu had given her an opportunity back then, and she had seized it.
Jiang Xiao'e's vocal prowess was not exceptional among Su Yu's collaborators, but it wasn't bad either.
She was blessed with natural talent. Her vocal range was wide, and her voice possessed an ethereal quality.
Moreover, she was young and highly moldable.
The song chosen for this occasion had a beginning section that perfectly suited Jiang Xiao'e's vocal timbre. The later vocalizations would be a bit challenging for her, but that was not a problem, as Su Yu decided to handle those parts himself.
...
After the program aired.
"Xiao Chou" sparked widespread discussion among netizens.
The expert judges, who hadn't fully elaborated their opinions on the show, took to their Weibo accounts to analyze the song.
#Eight cups of wine, a toast to a lifetime, Ting Yu has struck again!#
#Resonating with countless ordinary people, Ting Yu once again embodies talent!#
#A toast to freedom, a toast to death#
A barrage of trending topics.
"This song, Xiao Chou, doesn't hit you with an immediate explosion; it's like aged wine, growing more profound with every sip."
"Youth without worries, ambition in young adulthood, hesitation in middle age, reflection in old age. This song spans a lifetime; perhaps the older one gets, the more they can truly appreciate it."
"I initially thought Ting Yu would face a tough competition this time. After this song was released, I realized the other three folk songs in this competition were mere 'brothers' compared to Xiao Chou!"
"More than brothers, they were beaten like sons..."
"However, for the next song, Ting Yu chose Jiang Xiao'e. Her vocal skills don't seem to be top-notch. She might be at a disadvantage against Li Xiao Rui."
"Ting Yu has his own reasons for his choices. At least the singers he has chosen so far have performed very well."
"Let's hope so. It would be a shame if the competition was lost due to the singer."
When discussing Jiang Xiao'e, many netizens began to express their concerns.
However, many of Ting Yu's fans remained unfazed. Ting Yu wasn't foolish; he had his reasons for making such a choice. As Ting Yu fans, they should have the basic understanding to cheer "666" when Ting Yu secured first place and not worry about anything else.
Amidst the joy of victory, many fans started playing with the lyrics of "Xiao Chou" to create memes.
"A toast to my ex-wife, a toast to Old Wang. Take away my love, leave behind the sorrow. So with my child, my face full of uncertainty, unafraid of regret, or loss of face..."
"Holy cow, brother, you're awesome!"
"Stay strong!"
...
As the popularity continued to surge.
Within an hour of its broadcast, "Xiao Chou" climbed into the top ten of the folk new song chart.
Then, at a visible pace, it steadily advanced, eventually securing the first position.
Furthermore, even after reaching number one, the number of trial listening and downloads continued to grow rapidly.
Following closely behind "Xiao Chou" were "Guang Jie" led by Liu Quan Lin, and two other folk songs from different competition regions.
Their charting speed was considerably slower than "Xiao Chou."
However, they also garnered significant attention.
In a short time, the four folk songs from the Ace City Competition, led by Ting Yu, dominated the top four spots on the new song chart.
This was the immense popularity brought about by a major competition.
When everyone assumed that Ting Yu would take first place, Liu Quan Lin second, and the other two third and fourth,
Another song appeared in the top ten of the new song chart.
"Ta Xiang Gu Li," Chen Shu Hao's latest folk song!
This song, without any promotion and with its singer being an ordinary A-list artist, quietly climbed onto the chart.
Once it reached the top ten and gained substantial exposure,
It unexpectedly received widespread acclaim.
As its popularity increased, its charting speed accelerated.
In just one day,
He had surpassed the ace producers from the city competition, reaching second place on the new song chart, closely following Ting Yu.
However, given Ting Yu's growth rate, it was unlikely he would have a chance to snatch the first place.
Even without winning first place,
Chen Shu Hao had demonstrated his chart-topping ability to everyone this time.
He hadn't lost his touch; he was still the "God of Song"!
"Holy crap, isn't Chen Shu Hao past his prime? How is he so strong?"
"I can't accept this..."
"I just listened to his song, and it's written quite well. It still has that old chart-topping folk vibe."
"Well, it's just that Ting Yu's 'Xiao Chou' is too invincible. Otherwise, Chen Shu Hao could have really taken first place and reclaimed his lost dignity."
"Actually, if you think about it carefully, Chen Shu Hao has only lost to Ting Yu since his comeback. His charting speed remains terrifying every time."
"Exactly, it's not that Chen Shu Hao is too weak, but that Ting Yu is too strong!"
At this point, netizens finally realized.
It wasn't that Chen Shu Hao had become past his prime; he still possessed terrifying chart-topping capabilities. It was simply that Ting Yu was even stronger, more formidable than Chen Shu Hao!
Gradually, the netizens' mindsets began to shift.
Those who mindlessly criticized Ting Yu were starting to decrease.
More were eager to see how far he could go.
Whether his next song could maintain such exaggerated dominance.
Whether he could achieve twelve consecutive championships, become the fifth "God of Song" in the Chinese music industry, and become the youngest "God of Song" in the history of Chinese music!