The camera inside the venue focused on Wu Mu, and his face appeared on the stage's big screen.
Huh?
Everyone suddenly felt something was off.
"Is it my illusion? Why does it seem like Wu Mu became more handsome?"
"I thought it was just me feeling this way, did you guys think so too?"
"Did he get plastic surgery? Injections?"
"Like he could transform in just a week, especially with all the cameras filming him every day. Damn, Wu's actually really hot, it's making me feel jealous."
"It's okay, just think about how he's only a sycophant despite being so handsome. Doesn't that make you feel a bit better?"
The audience below the stage whispered among themselves, clearly sensing that Wu Mu looked much more handsome than the last episode.
Last episode, his looks were already top-notch in the industry, but not to the extent of being a stunning revelation.
But just now, when the camera focused on Wu Mu, they truly felt a little dazzled.
Hmm, if this guy weren't so abstract, the impression would be even better.
Standing in the contestant's seat, Wu Mu did not walk onto the stage but stood still, looking at them from below the stage.
It was obvious what he was waiting for.
Can't you just die already!
Do you have to find a scene for yourself every time before going on stage?
People were too lazy to bother with this attention seeker.
They started booing just to embarrass him, to shame him.
But he wasn't embarrassed at all; instead, he looked thrilled by it, so they'd be crazy to keep booing.
Wu Mu waited for a few seconds, seeing that the audience below wasn't paying him any attention, just staring at him indifferently, he knew that he probably couldn't drag this out.
There's no reason to drag it; it wouldn't add any points, and the scene would be cut.
He clicked his tongue regretfully and could only go on stage directly.
However, after going on stage, he didn't forget his old habit.
Smiling, he said to the audience below,
"After the last episode aired, everyone was curious about why I could write songs like the Heavenly Queen's, how my skills seemed so different from before, if the song was bought, and so on."
"In fact, you all misunderstood, I've always been scarily talented! I used to rely on my looks, so I didn't need to use my skills, which made you think I was lacking."
"Now that I can't rely on my looks, naturally my skills stand out."
Wu Mu was cracking jokes.
Yes, he was scarily talented now!
Teaming up with the system, he was an unstoppable force!
Alright, whatever you say is right.
The audience below still wore indifferent faces, unwilling to play along with his performance.
They had already discovered that Wu Mu, after his downfall, acted like a social-terrorist, doing things with no holds barred. Engaging with him even a little would thrill him.
The antics segment ended, and finally, the singing began.
Wu Mu silently recited, "Skill activate."
Then, he signaled the backstage to play the accompaniment.
The stage lights went out, leaving only a strong spotlight on him.
The soothing sound of the piano began, and the song information appeared on the stage screen.
"People Like Me"
Lyrics: Wu Mu
Composer: Wu Mu
Arranger: Wu Mu
Something was wrong.
The audience couldn't help but stir.
Why were the lyrics and composition by Wu Mu?
Wasn't this round supposed to be a song written by a teammate?
Shouldn't the author be Mo Mo instead?
Everyone's expressions were filled with wonder.
But before they could think more, Wu Mu had already begun singing on stage.
The gentle, seemingly emotionless low singing reached everyone's ears.
"People like me who are so outstanding."
"Were supposed to shine throughout life."
"How did it end after more than twenty years."
"Still drifting in the sea of people."
Wu Mu recalled his previous life, back on Earth.
Born in a small-town, bookish household, he loved reading novels, playing games, reading Jin Yong, reading Gu Long, playing Xian Jian, playing World of Warcraft...
In his mind, he dreamed of growing up, fantasizing about living a life like in stories or games, experiencing extraordinary adventures.
He felt he was special, unique, perhaps the world existed only because of his thoughts.
...
The audience below the stage looked at Wu Mu on stage, but their gaze had no focus.
They understood what Wu Mu was singing about.
Who wasn't born feeling extraordinary and thought they were one of a kind?
"People like me who are so smart."
"Said goodbye to innocence long ago."
"How did I still use a relationship."
"To exchange for a body full of scars."
As you grew up, did you realize you weren't that special?
Your studies were average, and you ended up in a regular university.
Your work was mundane, entering an ordinary company.
Your love was mediocre, and the girl you loved was just an ordinary person too, needing to argue over trivialities in life.
Pride in being special, unique, yet why did you fall into every pitfall in life?
"People like me who are lost."
"People like me who search."
"People like me who are mediocre."
"How many people have you seen."
Working tirelessly at a job that seemed meaningless, with rare leisure time spent repeating childhood hobbies, reading novels, playing games.
Those glamorous dreams seemed to exist only by watching videos and seeing others enjoy them.
Gradually accepting mediocrity, yet occasionally still feeling unwilling, lamenting.
Damn it, how did you end up living like this.
You're so kind by nature, with such unique thoughts, how did you end up in this sorry state?
"People like me who are mundane."
"Never like to pretend to be deep."
"How did I suddenly lose focus."
"When hearing an old song."
"People like me who are timid."
"Always leave some room for everything."
Gradually realizing this might just be your life.
Those bright dreams could only exist in his fantasies.
The only thing he could do seemingly was to write them out in the form of text or games, inserting himself in to experience a dream.
His unique thoughts, those self-claimed deep ideas, wouldn't suddenly have someone pop up to tell him they understood it all.
"People like me who are lonely."
"People like me who are foolish."
"People like me who are unwilling to be ordinary."
"How many people are there in the world?"
"People like me who are inexplicable."
"Would anyone feel sympathy?"
Wu Mu slowly put down the microphone and took a bow to thank the audience.
The stage below was silent; the audience was still immersed in the song's emotion.
Unlike the Heavenly Queen, People Like Me didn't have such intense, painful, struggling emotions.
It was only a narrative, carrying a sentiment of self-deprecation and self-pity.
A layer of melancholy enveloped all the audience's hearts.
Wu Mu sang about himself, but wasn't it also about them?
The blows of reality made people recognize their mediocrity.
But who didn't have a trace of unwillingness to be ordinary in their heart?
Who wasn't envious of those bright lives they could only glimpse through their phone screens?