Reply email: [We can contact the production team.]
Chu Zhi agreed to Brother Fei's plan. Using The Masked Singer 7 as a stepping stone, he'd push open the gates of Europe and America. As for the bolder ideas listed at the end of the proposal… well, those could wait.
Ideas like "the highest-altitude performance ever" or "the deepest underground concert" might sound insane, but Western audiences—especially in the US—loved flashy gimmicks like that.
There had already been concerts held more than two thousand meters down in Canadian mines, and even classical performances staged in old catacombs. Creepy enough to disturb the dead? No one knew, but the organizers swore the acoustics were great.
Brother Fei's plan was to arrange the world's highest-altitude concert, so long as safety was guaranteed. Ideally, he wanted Chu Zhi to perform in Lhasa, Tibet.
"In Lhasa, singing 'Back to Lhasa'?" Chu Zhi forced himself to put aside the jumble of thoughts in his head and focused on finishing up company matters before starting his daily routine.
He pulled up the Orang Home app to run his daily fortune draw. The result: [Great Luck Today]. Expected, but still satisfying. The night sky without a moon was perfect for opening a blind box.
He had 39 personality coins. One blind box left him with 34. After a nod to the system brother, the rewards appeared:
[Rare Item: Firefly Candy]
[Rare Item: Tip of the Iceberg Elixir]
[Title: Do You Want to Dance Too?]
[Song Pack: "Dalabengba"]
[Song Pack: "Qinghai-Tibet Plateau"]
[Dialect Compendium]
As the saying goes, the fewer the words, the better the prize. The Dialect Compendium covered the seven major dialect families—Mandarin, Wu, Xiang, Hakka, Min, Cantonese, Gan. Not complete, but it covered most.
The question popped up in his mind: which was harder, mastering all the dialects of China, or learning all of India's dialects? He couldn't figure it out, because two other rewards immediately grabbed his attention.
The Tip of the Iceberg Elixir was fascinating. Drink it, and as long as you kept a straight face without speaking, people would feel an icy chill just standing near you, too intimidated to approach.
The Firefly Candy was even better. Eat it, and you'd instantly stand out in a crowd, like a firefly glowing in the dark.
"A true ice-cold male god. In summer, just stand next to me and you won't even need air conditioning," Chu Zhi muttered. As for the candy, fun as it was, he didn't even need it—his face alone could pull off the same effect.
"Qinghai-Tibet Plateau? Speak of the devil."
Earlier, he'd muttered about 'Back to Lhasa', but Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was an even more famous classic.
The other pack, Dalabengba, leaned into the anime-nerd side of music. Rapid-fire lyrics, constant voice switching, and tongue-twisting delivery—showboating at its finest.
The [Do You Want to Dance Too?] title was legendary. The moment music started, your body would naturally blend into the rhythm. Even if you couldn't dance, you'd move like ancient humans who danced freely during rituals and harvests.
"System brother, how many titles like this do you even have? There are too many to keep up with."
The system replied: [Thousands.]
Still the same beast as always.
"Please, I'm begging, give me the Dialect Compendium or that title." Chu Zhi clasped his hands together. Everything else was fun, but not very useful.
He picked another blind box, opened it… luck wasn't on his side this time.
[Song Pack: "Dalabengba"]
"Eh, not bad, not bad." He quickly adjusted his mood. If he didn't pull what he wanted, he could always try again.
Maybe if he opened one more, something better would show up. He should trust the app's fortune-telling. "System brother, let's try agai—wait. No. Don't get greedy." Chu Zhi slammed the brakes on his own impulses.
The filming schedule was packed. Call time was eight in the morning, which meant washing up, makeup, and breakfast all had to be done before 7:40. Luckily, he was used to appearing barefaced, but Fang Yi and Jiang Zengyue had to get up much earlier to prepare.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. The trip had been tiring, especially with most of the driving done on winding county roads that required full attention. Some nights, their bodies felt like crumpled paper tossed aside. But all three agreed—it had been worth it.
The historian Cheng Yu would explain key events from the Long March along the way. Chu Zhi and Jiang Zengyue often took the initiative to bring up questions.
Fang Yi didn't talk much, but as team leader he always fulfilled his duty. Each of them was supposed to drive four hours a day, but he usually took an extra hour on top.
"I'm an old driver, a little more time at the wheel won't hurt me." He'd say this every day, and his "little more" was always an extra sixty minutes. Chu Zhi and Jiang Zengyue both received plenty of that care.
Luding Bridge, Baozuo, Lazikou Pass…
The more they learned, the harder it was to imagine how the Red Army had ever managed to break through so many layers of encirclement.
What does it mean to be the people's army? On the internet, there's a quote often linked to Chernobyl: "I'll go first, then the commissar, then the Party members and the Young Pioneers. The rest of you follow and stay safe. The Black Sea resort's already been arranged for us."
No one knew if that story was true, but what the Red Army did during the Long March was the real thing. Time and again, instructors—many only about twenty-five years old—became the backbone of the troops, giving their last food to younger soldiers while crossing swamps and snow-covered mountains.
By mid-September, the program crew reached Fengcheng. Their last stop was the site of the Long March armies' reunion. Chu Zhi stood in front of the memorial tower, staring blankly at the calligraphy carved by the lead designer, the strokes strong and resolute.
"We've only experienced one percent of the hardships the Red Army faced…" Cheng Yu's closing words hung in the air as the cameras powered down. A few last drone shots were filmed from the sky.
That night, at the celebration banquet, after two weeks together, everyone felt closer. Drinks flowed, glasses clinked, and people laughed heartily.
As soon as the feast ended, Sun Danfang immediately led the production team back to Beijing. They had to catch a 6 a.m. flight from Qingyang Airport the next day. The show was scheduled to air on National Day, which left only half a month for editing. They couldn't waste a single second.
Chu Zhi was flying back to Shanghai, while Fang Yi and Jiang Zengyue returned to Beijing. The three chatted for a while in the VIP lounge before parting ways.
The first time they met, they only talked about music. This time, the range of conversation was much broader.
Three hours later—
"Chu-ge, it's been so long! You really look thinner." Xiao Zhuzi handed over his red water bottle, his voice full of concern.
"Xiao Zhuzi, Sister Wang." Chu Zhi greeted them with a smile.
"It's only been half a month, why do you sound like it's been six?" Wang Yuan teased. Then she added, "We booked a welcome dinner tonight to celebrate your return."
For an airport pickup, having just the assistant was enough. But Wang Yuan had cleared her schedule to come too.
"Now that's service. Back home and straight into a feast?" Chu Zhi laughed.
Meanwhile, the management team wasn't slacking either. With existing ties to Fox and Chu Zhi's growing international fanbase, it hadn't been hard at all to secure him a premiere spot on The Masked Singer, Season 7.
Back in Shanghai, Chu Zhi had to make up for all the postponed work, spinning like a top again.
Before he knew it, October 1st arrived—China's 74th National Day.