The Man Who Swore Never to Partner Up in the Voice Hall Regrets It

Sheng Qing is a college senior and aspiring digital artist who lives off-campus with his roommate, Zhang Zhe, a struggling virtual streamer at the Siji Xianyin Voice Hall. Zhang Zhe, a probationary singer, frequently fails to meet his shift quotas and relies on Sheng Qing to donate virtual gifts to rescue him from embarrassment. Frustrated by his own lack of success and the competitive nature of the streaming industry, Zhang Zhe proposes a bet: if Sheng Qing joins the hall and stops hanging on the tree before Zhang Zhe does, Zhang Zhe will pretend to be his boyfriend to help him navigate pressure from his open-minded but demanding family. Sheng Qing, who has a beautiful singing voice but lacks professional experience, agrees to the challenge.

During his preparation, Sheng Qing discovers the livestream of Zhu Mingxiao, known online as X. Xiao, a top-tier newcomer renowned for his fierce rap performances and sharp tongue. Mesmerized by Xiao’s stage presence, Sheng Qing decides to learn his song list for his own assessment. At the Siji Xianyin evaluation, Sheng Qing performs the same rap song as Xiao, followed by a ballad that Xiao had been struggling to master. His performance, which combines youthful clarity with emotional depth, impresses the judges and secures his acceptance into the hall under the stage name Nan Que. Immediately after, Xiao privately contacts him, demanding to see his recorded clips and eventually commissioning him to draw character artwork for a significant fee.

Sheng Qing accepts the commission, working through the night to create a detailed illustration of Xiao performing on stage. This professional interaction establishes a tentative connection between the two, though Sheng Qing remains cautious of Xiao’s intimidating reputation. Meanwhile, Sheng Qing begins his scheduling shifts in the Training Camp, where he encounters a persistent viewer with a blank username who habitually comments that his singing sounds artificial. Despite the harassment, Sheng Qing’s talent and the viral nature of his edited stream clips begin to attract a genuine fanbase. His first individual broadcast is chaotic; he accidentally becomes the midpoint for a dramatic confrontation between another streamer and his obsessive top fan, leading to an unexpected surge in viewers and followers.

The narrative shifts to reveal Zhu Mingxiao’s perspective, exposing the harsh reality behind his glamorous avatar. Burdened by tens of millions in debt, Xiao maintains an exhausting schedule of six-hour daily broadcasts and constant PK battles. He views his streamers as commodities and his fans as revenue sources, suppressing his own dignity to survive financially. Despite his cold exterior, he notices Sheng Qing’s rapid rise and the quality of the artwork he commissioned, sensing a potential ally or threat in the newcomer. Sheng Qing, unaware of Xiao’s inner turmoil, continues to navigate the cutthroat environment of the voice hall, balancing his art commissions with his streaming duties while trying to establish his own identity separate from the drama surrounding him.

As Sheng Qing gains traction, he forms alliances with other trainees, including the deep-voiced singer Sha Zi, and learns to manipulate the platform’s algorithms through secondary content creation. The story highlights the stark contrast between Sheng Qing’s artistic idealism and Xiao’s cynical survivalism. While Sheng Qing seeks to build a community based on genuine connection, Xiao operates in a world of calculated interactions and hidden debts. Their paths continue to cross through professional commissions and chance encounters in the hall, setting the stage for a complex relationship defined by mutual curiosity and the conflicting demands of their respective careers in the virtual entertainment industry.