Volume 1, Chapter 24: The Mission is to Have Shen Qi Teach the Heavenly Queen to Sing "Beat the Monkey"?

Li Lei added, "The other three members of the observation group can also vote, and each of your votes will count for 100,000! As for Diva Huange's vote, it will count for 200,000. Once the task is confirmed, we will air the behind-the-scenes footage of the completed task before the next livestream at the Diva's home to see if it was fulfilled. If it isn't completed, the Diva will face a severe penalty."

Bai Qinghe and Lin Xiaolu were instantly amused. They couldn't help but ponder, and even they hadn't expected that what they wanted to see most was... Shen Qi playing the guitar and singing "Diva" in his boxers? Both of them felt a sudden surge of heat and chose not to look at Li Huange’s face.

Zhuo Yiyi, however, shouted excitedly and boisterously, "Awoooo! Singing 'Diva' in little boxers!"

The live audience burst into laughter, and the live comments became incredibly dense.

"Is 'little boxers' a bit... can't he just go without them?"
"Why wasn't there an option to make Shen Qi swap wives?"
"Rigged! We want to see Huange whip Shen Qi with a little lash!"
"We want to see Shen Qi in a maid outfit singing 'Picking Manure' and 'Beating Monkeys'!"
"A-Kei-Ku-Lei-Hou-Ya-Hou-Hei!"
"Shut up upstairs!"

Throughout the day, Li Huange found this moment to be the most nerve-wracking. At the beginning, she had noticed Shen Qi acting differently and hadn't been this nervous. Later, she worried that Shen Qi might target Shen Xiaokun, but she hadn't been this anxious either. Facing the difficulties posed by two fellow top-tier actresses, Li Huange had handled them with ease. But now, bearing the weight of the summary vote at the end of a full day of programming, Li Huange was truly tense.

She silently clicked on one of the options before her: Make Shen Xiaokun call Shen Qi "Daddy"! She thought to herself: If it really comes to that, I'll just bring out my authoritative motherly side; Xiaokun will likely be sensible.

Then, the nationwide vote began in full swing.

...

Backstage, Assistant Director Zhang Wei looked at Hong Tao, who was sitting in an executive chair sipping tea with a calm expression, his eyes filled with admiration. How could he come up with so many stunning ideas? Is this the capability required of a chief director for an S-tier variety show?

"Zhang Wei, give me today's data."
"Peak concurrent viewers: 14.65 million... average concurrent viewers: 9.21 million..."

Hong Tao was very satisfied. This data could even rank in the top five of all variety show livestreams in Chinese history! What were the top five? The CCTV Spring Festival Gala... It was a bona fide phenomenon!

...

The task options on the big screen chased each other like a race, and Li Huange’s heart pounded, unable to settle for a long time. She felt as anxious as when she first debuted and performed on stage. She wanted to close her eyes, clasp her hands, and pray fervently: Please, do not let the most embarrassing option be chosen! Otherwise, I really won't be able to show my face!

"Five seconds remaining!"

Following a crisp announcement, an option appeared on the big screen! Zhuo Yiyi, Bai Qinghe, and Lin Xiaolu stared with their beautiful, wide eyes... then clutched their stomachs and burst into laughter, tears streaming from their eyes.

"Hahahaha..."
"I'm dying of laughter, it really is this one! Hahaha..."
"Diva Huange, this is really... pfft hahahahaha..."

Li Huange opened her red lips, looking at the task option on the screen with a look of utter hopelessness. Her suspended heart had finally died—the kind that even CPR couldn't revive! It was completely dead!

Shen Qi's harmless, innocent face appeared in her mind, and she couldn't help but curse under her breath: Are you bored out of your mind? If you have talent, can't you write more songs like "Diva"? Why do you have to sing about "Beating Monkeys"? Where am I supposed to put my face now?

Fang Qian finally managed to compose herself after laughing. "I announce that Diva Huange's task is: Have Shen Qi teach Li Huange how to sing 'A-Kei-Ku-Lei-Hou-Ya-Hou-Hei'!"

"Why wasn't it Shen Qi singing 'Diva' in his boxers?"
"Why wasn't it Shen Qi singing 'Picking Manure' and 'Beating Monkeys' in his boxers?"
"Rigged! Why wasn't it Huange singing 'Diva' in her boxers?"
"This is the first time I've seen a look of despair on the face of the national goddess, Li Huange!"
"The goddess's persona is collapsing!"

...

"Diva Huange, please be aware that we will be recording the video of you learning to sing 'Beating Monkeys.' Please ensure you are in the living room or another place where our cameras can capture you," said Li Lei.

Li Huange looked bitter. "Can I change it?"

Lin Xiaolu immediately laughed out loud. "That's not allowed! This is the voice of the masses."

"The show has rules; wouldn't this be inappropriate?" Bai Qinghe asked with a look of righteousness, then turned to the audience and asked, "Does everyone want to see Diva Huange sing 'Beating Monkeys'?"

The live audience was instantly stirred up and shouted in unison:
"Diva Huange, sing 'Beating Monkeys'!"
"Diva Huange, sing 'Beating Monkeys'!"

The sound was thunderous and overwhelming. Bai Qinghe was very satisfied, a faint smile remaining on her face. National goddess, music diva, icy female executive—the persona was solid. Exceptionally talented, peerlessly beautiful, brilliant vocal skills, unapproachable. Aren't these the labels all of China has given you? Sing "Beating Monkeys"? Heh... I want to see how this solid persona turns into a clown!

Li Huange sighed. This matter was irreversible. She had won all day, only to lose at the very end. Zhuo Yiyi felt some sympathy for Li Huange; she reached out and held Li Huange’s hand, giving her a small sense of comfort.

"Sister Huange..."
"Thank you, Yiyi!"
"I think 'Beating Monkeys' is in a foreign language..."
"..."

"Pfft hahahahaha, Yiyi's follow-up strike was beautiful!"
"It's hilarious to see Diva Huange looking so thwarted."
"You have to say, Diva Huange is actually quite cute like this."
"I'm already A-Kei-Ku-Lei-Hou-Ya-Hou-Hei-ing!"
"Stop sending voice messages upstairs!"