"Welcome to the eighth episode of 'Era Music King's' grand finals. Now is the pre-match interview segment. Please follow me as we interview the producers about their current situations!"
'Era Music King's' most classic interview segment.
It's also the segment where producers trash-talk before the match.
However, after Ting Yu won so many matches, the pre-match segment transformed from trash-talking to interviewing the "victims."
The host, microphone in hand, led the camera to the first "victim's" dressing room.
"Why me?" Jin Chengxian said grumpily as the host entered.
"Heh heh, our interview order is random," the host said with a smile.
"Alright, ask your questions quickly," Jin Chengxian sighed.
"So, Mr. Jin Chengxian, is there anything you'd like to say to your fans who support you for this final?"
"There's nothing to say. It's not my stage anymore. I think you should give more interview time to Ting Yu, as he's the protagonist of the grand finals. We supporting characters can be glossed over."
Jin Chengxian's answer, coupled with his expression, made many viewers unable to hold back their laughter.
After all, he was a world-class producer, yet when he mentioned Ting Yu, his brows were filled with helplessness.
"Jin Chengxian is also the strongest producer in Han Country. His personal style is very distinct, but unfortunately, he encountered the all-around player, Ting Yu."
"Why do I feel sympathetic towards him when I watch his interview?"
"I still remember the arrogance on their faces in the first episode. Now they've all been thoroughly handled by Ting Yu!"
"Haha, who told them their opponent was Ting Yu!"
The host asked a few more questions.
Jin Chengxian's interest was clearly low, and he kept blaming the host for making him the first to be interviewed.
Finally, the host could only leave Jin Chengxian's dressing room with an awkward yet polite smile.
"Please welcome the next victim!"
For this pre-match interview, Ting Yu's fans were naturally the happiest. Seeing the once arrogant producers all subdued by Ting Yu filled them with immense joy and satisfaction.
Miyamoto Ze, Lauren, Losov, Roman – these producers had the same reactions as Jin Chengxian.
They all expressed their sincere disdain for the program's segment of adding fuel to the fire.
As for Sean.
He was still the proud Sean.
"A failure or two doesn't matter to me. As long as I get the highest votes in the finals, there's still hope for me to win!"
He had only lost to Ting Yu once, so theoretically, there was indeed hope.
However, that was merely theoretical.
Let alone the number of Sean's fans Ting Yu had gained after defeating him, Ting Yu's position at the top of the Era Points leaderboard, held for so long, had already surpassed Sean's popularity. The momentum and support rate after his dark horse comeback were not something Sean could compare to now.
If the finals were in the United States, and the voters were all American, Sean might have had a chance to make a comeback. But this time, the finals were voted on by netizens worldwide.
And China's population of over a billion was a terrifying voting base.
The number of people in the United States couldn't even match one-tenth of China's.
How could he compare to Ting Yu?
...
Finally.
The host arrived at Ting Yu's dressing room.
"Mr. Ting Yu, it's your turn for the interview." When facing Ting Yu, the host's tone clearly became respectful, lacking the previous teasing.
"It seems they didn't say much?" Su Yu glanced at the time. It had only been twenty minutes since the interview started, while they usually interviewed for nearly an hour.
"They all said they are here to be supporting characters in the finals and are all looking forward to your new song," the host said with a smile.
"Comparatively, I still prefer them being arrogant like before." Su Yu had always been arrogant, or rather, boastful, on the stage of 'Era Music King.'
Even in the first episode, he had said, "If the competition isn't for winning the championship, then what's the difference between that and being a salted fish?"
However, no one expected that what was initially considered an arrogant remark would actually be fulfilled by him.
"Haha, Mr. Ting Yu is as humorous as ever. It seems you're in great shape today, completely without pressure." The host actually disliked interviewing Su Yu the most, because he never knew what arrogant things Su Yu might blurt out.
"There is some pressure," Su Yu replied with a smile.
"Oh?" The host raised an eyebrow and followed Su Yu's lead, "So Mr. Ting Yu also feels pressure. But you always seem so calm..."
"I saw the championship trophy on stage just now, and it looks very heavy. Can the program team help with transportation? Otherwise, the pressure is too great."
Su Yu's words stunned the host, and even the photographer froze.
So your pressure is that the trophy is too heavy?
Is that even human language?
"Arrogant!"
"Holy crap, such a massive brag!"
"Humility has always been a traditional virtue of us Chinese people. It seems improper for him to be so arrogant."
"What's improper about it? If it were Sean and the others, they would have been showing off long ago!"
"When someone with ability boasts, it's justifiable. The problem is when someone boasts without ability and gets slapped in the face. Ting Yu is clearly the former."
"I think he's incredibly cool. Boasting in front of the whole world also boosts the confidence of the Chinese music scene!"
Ting Yu's performance could only be described as "arrogant."
This was completely different from his "slight understanding" or "knows a little" statements back home.
While some Chinese netizens felt that Ting Yu's arrogance was somewhat inappropriate, considering humility as a Chinese traditional virtue, a larger number of netizens believed that Ting Yu had the capital to be arrogant due to his strength.
If he were to force humility, it would seem hypocritical.
Moreover, doing so could boost the confidence of the domestic entertainment industry internationally, which was a good thing.
After all, no matter how arrogant he was, his opponents couldn't stand up and refute him because they had all lost to Ting Yu, some by an overwhelming margin.
"Oh... hahaha... The weight of this trophy is indeed significant, but I believe in Mr. Ting Yu's strength to carry it." The host's forehead was covered in black lines, a forced smile on his face, while he cursed inwardly.
Although he had prepared himself mentally, he still couldn't get used to it when it actually happened.
After a few more questions, the host and the photographer quickly got up and hurried out of Ting Yu's dressing room.
Then, the program entered the commercial break.
Many viewers took this opportunity to use the restroom, knowing that this epic showdown, which had lasted eight months, was about to commence in a few minutes!
...