The director's room was in chaos.
Director Chen had heard about what happened in the recording hall and was completely stunned.
This Miss Rong really handled things decisively, without any hesitation.
If it were him, he would have probably waited until Jiang Shuang's performance was over before dealing with the situation.
This group's song arrangement was designed for the original eight members. With one person missing, the stage positions would be problematic, and in such a short time, it would be hard to coordinate the singing and dancing seamlessly.
The Assistant Director sighed: "The audience was most looking forward to this group's performance. The final effect will definitely be compromised..."
Director Chen spoke up: "Let's just watch first."
The seven members took the stage, standing at the center as the music gradually swelled.
"Five thousand years of character, carved into the bloodline's totem."
"Not the keyboard warriors' frenzy, but the inheritance of a spine held straight."
"We measure heaven and earth with technology, converse with the world through culture."
"This prosperous age is as you wished, but our footsteps never cease!"
"..."
Rong Yu and the other members' harmonies were perfect, the rhythm explosive, and the stage presence was absolutely maxed out.
The audience below was first shocked, then erupted into wild cheers. Some even had tears in their eyes, holding up their phones to record the screen.
Earlier in the live stream, people kept asking why someone was missing.
"Isn't anyone curious about why Jiang Shuang dropped out?"
"If it weren't for you fans asking non-stop, no one would bother. I just went and asked around. Turns out Jiang Shuang was causing trouble backstage, got caught red-handed, and was terminated by Ji's Entertainment."
"All of Jiang Shuang's scenes from the earlier aired episodes have been cut. She really knows how to dig her own grave."
But once the lyrics started, everyone completely forgot about it.
"Oh my god! I got chills! How can rap be so soul-stirring!"
"Missing a person last minute, and they still delivered such an amazing performance! Idols in the entertainment industry, take a look at this! This is how you slay the stage even when short-handed!"
"I absolutely love this group! I want to see them debut!"
"Vote, everyone vote!"
"Ahhhh—"
Standing backstage watching the show, Rong Ruoyao clenched her hands together, damp with fine beads of sweat.
Her previous performance scored 919 votes, surpassing Lisa's group. She thought she was secure, but after watching Rong Yu's group's live performance, a strong sense of unease grew within her.
She had to admit, Rong Yu was too strong.
The host's voice rang out: "Rong Yu's group, the final vote count is 932! Congratulations!"
Rong Ruoyao's hanging heart finally sank and died.
She lowered her head, her bangs hiding the emotions in her eyes, and silently took her seat.
The performances of the next few groups were average. Su Tian's group was somewhat impressive, scoring 899 votes, ranking fourth in the team competition, which was a very good result.
After the public performance ended, all the contestants waited for the final ranking announcement.
At the center of the stage, a dazzling stream of golden light poured down like data.
Ji Yanting and Chi Fangfei, as award presenters, were already on stage. As soon as they stepped up, the audience went wild.
"Ahhhh, Yanting, I love you!"
"Fangfei, Fangfei, my wife, you're so beautiful!"
After greeting the audience, they began the proceedings.
Ji Yanting: "First to announce is ninth place. I won't deliberately keep you in suspense. She is, Li Ying'er!"
Li Ying'er looked utterly disbelief.
Back when she decided to go her own way with Su Tian instead of following Rong Yu, her family had nearly scolded her to death over it.
She thought she had no chance at a debut spot.
She never expected that in the final round, she would rise to ninth place and make it into the debut lineup.
The camera had just cut to Li Ying'er's face for a second.
Ji Yanting continued announcing: "Next is—"
Director Chen looked annoyed: "In survival competition shows, the ranking announcement segment usually has the highest ratings. The whole point is to build suspense, to hook people. Why is Yanting acting like he's just completing a task?"
The Assistant Director said: "Yanting basically never participates in any variety shows, and you can't even spot him at red carpet events. We should be grateful he agreed to come. Look, the live stream is exploding, and the hot searches are all about the show."
An assistant ran over: "Director, several brands want to pay more for mid-roll ads..."
In short, the show was making a killing.
Ji Yanting held the cue cards and read off a string of names one after another. Each time he read a name, the control room hurriedly cut to the debut member's camera. Luckily, Chi Fangfei took turns with him announcing the ranks, otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to switch cameras fast enough.
Ji Yanting: "Fifth place, Su Tian."
Chi Fangfei: "Fourth place, the beautiful and sweet-voiced little princess. Even more outstanding than her singing is her ability to write great lyrics. She forges her thoughts into poetic lines, tempers her cries into rhymes. When her pen touches down, flowers bloom in the barrenness... She is Tian Tian!"
Ji Yanting: "Third place, Lisa."
Chi Fangfei: "Second place, the singer who is also a human metronome, a storm under the spotlight. Every beat of hers is as precise as a heartbeat, every spin stirs a wave, even the air trembles for her... She is Rong Ruoyao!"
The live stream audience was dying of laughter.
"Yanting is just an emotionless line-reading machine."
"Sister Fangfei's voice is so gentle, and the award speeches are especially elegant. I love my wife so much."
"One is aloof, the other is gentle. A perfect match."
"..."
When announcing the final ranking.
Ji Yanting stood even straighter. He even cleared his throat before speaking: "This season's overall champion, the stage queen who commands the whole scene. She can be as mighty as a mountain, yet as resilient as a blade's edge. When the stage focuses on her, even breathing becomes art. When the lights go out, the afterglow still burns in people's hearts."
"She paints the most magnificent life with the grandest dance steps!"
"She is, Rong Yu!"
The live stream audience was completely shocked.
"I already knew Rong Yu was the champion, but isn't the Film Emperor being a bit too biased here?"
"Why does everyone else get not a single descriptive word, but Rong Yu gets such a beautiful, long award speech? Is that fair to the others?"
"The award speech is written by the presenter. He can write if he wants to, and not if he doesn't. What's it to you?"
"Besides, Yanting presenting awards to these newcomers is already a huge honor for them. How dare they expect the Film Emperor to personally write award speeches for them?"
"..."
The ranking announcements concluded. The top nine contestants stepped onto the stage one by one.
Rong Yu walked at the very front, the first to go up. The stage was high, requiring steps.
Ji Yanting watched from the side and frowned. The staff at Ji's Entertainment, how did they set up this stage? They didn't consider the girls at all.
He quickly walked over, reached out, and very naturally supported Rong Yu's arm.
Old Master Ji kept nodding: "Good, good. That boy A-Yan is quite filial. Doesn't waste his great-grandmother's daily worries for him."
Old Master Hai crouched on the ground, snapping great photos.
Old Master Si coached him on the angle from the side.
Rong Wangtian, who had been observing the three of them, felt his eyelid twitch at this scene.
The helmsmen of three of the four great families of Haicheng were here... fan-girling? And over his eldest daughter?
It felt utterly surreal.
