"Lu Mingzhe! Lu Mingzhe! Lu Mingzhe!"
After Lu Mingzhe finished singing, the five hundred audience members below the stage chanted his name in unison, even forgetting that there were still other contestants waiting to perform.
"Shh—"
Lu Mingzhe raised a finger to his lips, signaling his fans to quiet down.
"Ahhhhhh!!!"
"Mingzhe, I love you!"
The screams from below grew even more frenzied.
"He's not even debuted yet, but it feels like Lu Mingzhe is already a superstar," remarked the male judge on the right, sighing at the sight of the wild audience.
"Can't be helped. Girls nowadays all like handsome guys. Lu Mingzhe is indeed good-looking and sings quite well too," the female judge beside him laughed. "If I were ten years younger, I'd probably be chasing after Lu Mingzhe too."
In the center seat, Xie Xi leaned lazily back in his chair, spinning a pen on the table, not joining the conversation.
Instead, the judge on the right took the initiative to address him: "We almost forgot, Xie Xi has way more fans. It must have been even crazier back then, right, Xie Xi?"
The female judge's face twitched slightly, but she didn't respond.
The two were simply not on the same level; this comment clearly belittled Xie Xi while elevating Lu Mingzhe.
Xie Xi glanced at him, flicking open the cap of a black ballpoint pen with his thumb: "Among male singers in the industry right now, is there anyone who can surpass me? You?"
No one, the female judge beside him mentally finished the sentence.
The smile on the male judge's face almost faltered; he didn't know how to reply. Could he surpass him? Of course not.
"I was joking," Xie Xi suddenly laughed, asking with feigned sincerity, "You're not angry, are you?"
"No, haha," the male judge felt his insides twist with irritation, yet he couldn't show it, because he was the one who had started this exchange.
Fortunately, the next contestant came on stage, interrupting their conversation, and everyone quieted down to listen to the performance.
This contestant, whether due to lack of confidence or some other reason, chose a slow ballad, sung without much technique—a suicidal choice for a competition.
"All the way to this point, I've been very nervous. Today, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Even if I leave, I won't have regrets. I was here, I sang, I cried, I met all of you." After singing, it should have been the vote-pulling segment, but the contestant sounded like he was giving a farewell speech.
Among the five contestants, the one with the highest online votes would advance directly to the top three. The remaining four would compete in pairs, with the winners staying to enter the top three.
After this contestant finished, Lu Mingzhe returned to the stage. The two stood waiting for the judges' critique.
"What's really admirable is that the contestant who came on later actually had the courage to sing a slow song," the male judge said with emotion. "Everyone knows slow songs aren't as explosive live; it's hard to captivate the audience. That really deserves respect."
"Thank you, judge. With this song today, I just wanted to give my best to everyone," the contestant's eyes were moist, and he took several deep breaths.
"It's okay," Lu Mingzhe stood beside him, patting his shoulder in comfort. "We all understand you."
"Everyone has been very brave today. I hope no matter who leaves, you will all continue to sing well in the future," the female judge said sincerely. "You're still young; you have a long road ahead."
For this competition to enter the top three, the director required every judge to give comments. As per convention, critiques in the later stages tended to lean towards sentimentality, with fewer pointed out flaws.
"Xie Xi, do you have anything to say?" the female judge asked.
Xie Xi put down his pen: "If your vote count is lower than Lu Mingzhe's, it's not because you sang a slow song. It's because you didn't sing it well."
The tears that had been shimmering in the contestant's eyes froze upon hearing Xie Xi's words.
Competing here required strategy. He had intended to take this emotionally manipulative path, had just been fishing for sympathy votes. It would be great if he could unexpectedly surpass Lu Mingzhe; if not, he could still generate buzz and attention.
"A slow song isn't the crime; singing poorly is."
Xie Xi truly disliked a certain sentiment prevalent in singing competition shows nowadays—the idea that upbeat songs are more explosive live and more pleasing to the audience. Good singing is good singing. A slow song can equally touch hearts and earn respect.
Having come this far, yet among the top five there were hardly any who truly loved music and fought for it. Instead, all kinds of tactics kept emerging. No wonder the music scene was declining, with people so impatient and superficial.
Xie Xi pulled off his earpiece, finally free from the director's incessant voice demanding he smooth things over.
"Your rendition of this song was superficial and weak. I didn't hear any technique or emotion in it." Xie Xi didn't like Lu Mingzhe, but that didn't mean he could tolerate other contestants lying through their teeth right in front of him.
"Ahem." The female judge covered the mic on her clothes, using the motion of brushing her hair to whisper a reminder to Xie Xi beside her. "Don't be too harsh. What if the contestant is psychologically affected?"
These days, part of the reason judges on shows weren't sharp enough in their critiques was due to the general environment. If a contestant had issues, it might easily be blamed on the judge.
Xie Xi had said what he wanted to say and naturally didn't continue.
"Xie Xi, you might have misunderstood. Everyone's understanding and conveyance of emotion is different. The fact that the contestant chose this song for such an important competition is proof enough of his sincerity. I think I could hear emotion in his singing," the female judge quickly steered the topic back, wanting to comfort the contestant.
"I also heard very strong emotion in it," the male judge, having been put in his place earlier, deliberately agreed with the female judge this time.
The two contestants were still standing together on stage. Lu Mingzhe turned his face slightly towards the backstage, a flash of impatience in his eyes: Because of Xie Xi's few sentences, the other two judges had instead started speaking up for his opponent.
Having both judges agree with him and refute Xie Xi—this was unprecedented in the competition so far. The contestant felt a surge of confidence like never before.
"Judge, perhaps our expressions of emotion are just different. Regardless of win or lose today, maybe you could demonstrate live what it means to be 'full of emotion'?"
Xie Xi saw the contestant staring at him and after a moment asked, "Me?"
"Yes. Before I leave, I'd like to receive some guidance from the judge," the contestant said, thinking himself clever.
The female judge raised a hand to cover most of her face, hiding the helplessness in her eyes. "Actually wants to compete with Xie Xi?" she thought. This contestant had completely given up his chance of entering the top three.
Xie Xi let out a short laugh. Before anyone could react, he lifted the mic on his clothes and began singing a cappella right there on the spot—no backing track, no accompaniment.
Even so, the moment he opened his mouth, the entire venue fell silent. Everyone's gaze was involuntarily drawn to Xie Xi. As he sang, some closed their eyes to listen, while others had tears glistening in their eyes.
That voice seemed capable of piercing through the defenses that wrapped around everyone's hearts.
The difference was immediately clear.
After finishing the song a cappella, Xie Xi lowered his hand, meticulously and casually reattaching the mic to his clothes. Only then did the audience below suddenly erupt in screams, beginning to chant Xie Xi's name.
Even the male judge beside him had a flicker of apprehension in his eyes.
Once the mic was properly secured, Xie Xi finally looked up at the contestant. "What do you think?"
The contestant was left speechless, his face burning with shame. The gazes from the audience below suddenly felt piercing.
Lu Mingzhe's mood improved considerably. After Xie Xi's performance like that, the guy next to him was undoubtedly getting eliminated.
Comparing the two, even a fool would know how to vote.
Sure enough, in both the live audience and the mentor votes, that contestant's tally was pitifully low.
Xie Xi didn't feel the slightest bit of happiness.
He had hoped to see contestants who truly loved music.
...
"Bro Xi, don't be angry. There was still one pretty good contestant, right? The first one to make it into the top three, what's his name... Guo something," Zhang Dong carefully probed, trying to gauge his idol's mood.
"Guo Yuan," Xie Xi said, turning to look out the car window.
"Right, him. Actually, based on my years of watching talent shows, it's pretty good if one person gets really popular from a single program."
"You have an early schedule tomorrow, so you need to rest early tonight," He Feng, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to tell Xie Xi. "After finishing recording this show, you can ask Sister Wei for some time off."
"We'll see."
In the blink of an eye, a week passed, and "Star of Tomorrow" aired its top three competition.
Unsurprisingly, the highlights of this episode focused on Xie Xi and that contestant. The editing deliberately juxtaposed the two, giving them plenty of screen time.
[I also thought that contestant was kind of weird. It's like he'd already lost before the competition even started.]
[This song really isn't that good. Even if you pick a slow song, don't pick this one. What was he thinking?]
[Damn, Xie Xi really dares to speak his mind. The contestant's tears were still welling up.]
[I think Xie Xi is right. I didn't feel any emotion from it at all. Am I deaf?]
[You can't really blame the contestant. The song itself isn't appealing; it's too ordinary.]
[They already said it's not about the song, and you're still talking about appeal? Good singing is what makes it appealing.]
[Easier said than done. If you have the skill, sing this song well yourself. No one could make this song appealing.]
Comments were flying from all sides, with some even starting to say Xie Xi was just putting on airs. The moment the contestant said he wanted to hear Xie Xi sing, the barrage exploded with exclamations.
[This kid has guts! Xie Xi is called the Siren for a reason. Crushing him would be a piece of cake, right?]
[Um, I think the contestant has a point. We always see the mentors being dissatisfied with this and that. At least give us, the audience, a demonstration.]
While the barrage was still arguing, Xie Xi had already picked up the mic.
[Ooooh! Xi Xi's moving, he's moving!]
[Ahhhhhhh! Is this what heavenly music sounds like?!]
[My mom asked me why I'm crying. I said I fell in love with a man.]
[Holy crap, this song can actually be sung like this? Is Xie Xi even human?]
After hearing Xie Xi's rendition, the contestant's earlier performance was instantly made to sound like a duck's harsh quacking, devoid of any gentle, melodic nuance.
[Xi Xi's killer gaze is here! Ahhhhhh, what kind of divine creature is this!!!]
It has to be said, with Xie Xi's talent on full display, even the gossip accounts couldn't find a way to hate. His earlier comments were perfect for stirring up drama, but after his performance, netizens had only one thought: Winning or losing really has nothing to do with the song, only with the person singing it.
"Wuwuwu, Qiusuo, have you seen the latest episode of 'Star of Tomorrow'?! Our Zai Zai's singing was absolutely incredible!" Rong Shiyun called from the other side of the planet. "And that killer gaze! Without even realizing it, our Zai Zai has grown into such a charismatic man."
Professor Ye had the call on speakerphone while checking some materials. She could only grasp about a third of what Rong Shiyun was saying, something about Xie Xi being amazing.
"That killer gaze GIF, I sent it to your WeChat. You have to look at our Zai Zai! Look right now!"
Hearing Rong Shiyun's desperate, impassioned fangirling, Ye Qiusuo frowned and picked up her phone. She opened WeChat, and sure enough, there was a GIF: Xie Xi sat in a deep red mentor's chair, a white table in front of him, his fingers still resting on the mic clipped to his clothes. Suddenly, he looked up, his gaze meeting the camera.
For a split second, you'd think Xie Xi was looking right at you.
"Well? Did you see it? Isn't it amazing?" Rong Shiyun continued her frantic promotion.
Ye Qiusuo exited the chat and returned to the call screen. "Are you very free lately?"
She asked seriously. Normally, it was fine if Rong Shiyun didn't contact her for months. Recently, they'd been in touch a bit too frequently.
Rong Shiyun's voice seemed to be suddenly cut off. After a moment, it returned: "Qiusuo, saying that hurts my feelings a little. There are no fellow fans here. Those foreigners only care about muscular men; seeing them is annoying. Besides, aren't you Teacher Xie Xi's professor? Can't I even talk to you about him?"
"That's not it," Ye Qiusuo said suddenly. "Xie Xi has muscles too."
Rong Shiyun: "???"
"Ah—" A scream came from the other end of the line. "How do YOU know our Zai Zai has muscles!!!"
"I just happened to see them, that's all." Professor Ye's voice was completely flat.
