The performance on stage had concluded.
The dancers dressed in ethnic costumes had also withdrawn.
But the audience's minds were filled with "Stay," a lingering, enchanting melody.
Ting Yu's fans, having danced with abandon, sat catching their breath.
Meanwhile, the group of aunties appeared somewhat embarrassed.
They had come to support Teacher Liu Qiliang, but Ting Yu's performance had struck a chord, making them unconsciously dance along.
In that moment, a wave of remorse washed over them after the exhilaration.
It caused them to lower their heads.
"Sorry, Teacher Liu, we were tempted by the enemy..."
"It's over, my mind is filled with 'Stay! Stay!'"
"Damn it, who isn't?"
"Feng Ling Chuan Qi truly lives up to being the most down-to-earth group. Only they could handle this style of music."
"Shen Qingling has truly stunned me. How can such a cute girl sing so wildly and powerfully?"
"Haha, contrast creates character."
"Love it, love it. This duo could obviously go for a traffic-driven route, yet they chose this path. Their visuals are top-notch, and their singing is so unpretentious. It's really captivating!"
"Haha, at the extreme of unpretentiousness lies trendiness. And this song can't be described as unpretentious; it's down-to-earth. I've only heard it once and can already sing along!"
"Indeed, the new generation of singers in the Chinese music scene finally has an interesting duo."
Many young people disliked square dance music.
They found it tacky and lacking class.
However, Ting Yu's "Most Dazzling National Style" was surprisingly acceptable to them, and not only that, it was incredibly catchy.
...
On stage.
Liu Qiliang's expression was a study in mixed emotions.
The smugness on his face had vanished.
His supporters betraying him was more upsetting than losing the competition.
Although the audience had been supportive of his song "Dancing Nation," they had merely swayed their fan boards with the rhythm.
Ting Yu's "Most Dazzling National Style," on the other hand, had the entire venue dancing to a square dance beat, culminating in a breathtaking, thunderous sing-along.
Even he found himself nodding along to the rhythm.
When the camera turned towards him, Liu Qiliang quickly composed himself, restoring his previous confident demeanor.
The competition wasn't over yet; he couldn't admit defeat now.
"Haha, as expected of Teacher Ting Yu, to be able to effortlessly master this type of song."
The host returned to the stage.
A sheen of sweat graced his forehead.
His breathing was slightly labored.
This was because he, too, had been dancing along with the crowd by the stage.
He paused, then continued, "Next, we invite the Song God Teacher Jiang Qian to give us her song review."
After the host finished speaking,
Jiang Qian, seated at the review table, nodded with a smile.
She pondered for a couple of seconds before stating, "I give Ting Yu's song a 9."
As soon as she finished speaking,
A commotion erupted from the audience.
Liu Qiliang's eyes widened, looking at her in disbelief.
Jiang Qian calmly continued, "Heh, I know you think my score is too high, but my scores consider market factors in addition to professionalism. Ting Yu's 'Most Dazzling National Style,' while the lyrics are direct and simple, has an arrangement that perfectly suits the mass market. Not just for square dances, I believe this song will soon be active on streets and in television programs everywhere."
After speaking, Jiang Qian offered no further explanation.
What she said were market predictions for the future. This approach was clearly not entirely appropriate, but it was her personality; as long as she approved of something, she wasn't afraid of being proven wrong.
The implication of her review was quite direct.
It also shocked many.
Jiang Qian remained unfazed.
If you think the score is too high, just wait and see the market reaction.
See if this song becomes a nationwide hit.
But for now, as long as I am in the judge's seat, I am the authority.
"Giving it a nine straight away, isn't that too exaggerated?"
"Teacher Jiang Qian really dares to speak her mind. She's directly predicting this song will be a hit across the country."
"Actually, Teacher Jiang Qian praised Ting Yu's talent on Weibo a long time ago, back when Ting Yu wasn't as popular as he is now."
"I know, Teacher Jiang Qian often praises Ting Yu on Weibo, sometimes even posting lengthy analyses of his new songs."
"No way, really?"
"If that's the case, and Ting Yu's song doesn't become a hit, Teacher Jiang Qian will likely be criticized for not being strict with her scoring and letting personal feelings get involved."
In the live stream, comments scrolled wildly.
The main reason was Jiang Qian's overly confident assessment of Ting Yu.
Her certainty that the song's market response would be excellent.
But the market, that's something hard to predict.
"Next, we invite the judging panel to vote!"
The host moved on to the next segment.
He knew that if the audience continued to discuss, it could lead to major issues.
The production team quickly urged him to speed up the process.
As soon as he finished speaking,
The names of Ting Yu and Liu Qiliang appeared on the large screen on stage.
Because of Jiang Qian's score,
They already had a base score next to their names.
Liu Qiliang was at 700 points.
Ting Yu was at 900 points.
A starting difference of two hundred points was quite substantial, especially since the judging panel only had two thousand people. This was the formal competition, and score differences wouldn't be as vast as in regional qualifiers.
Just then,
The scores next to their names on the big screen began to roll.
Everyone looked at the big screen, awaiting the competition results.
Finally,
Liu Qiliang's score stopped at 1300 points.
His expression changed drastically, and then his face fell.
Ting Yu's votes continued to climb.
The group score solidified.
Liu Qiliang: 1330
Ting Yu: 2270
Wow!!!
Once the scores were finalized, there was no need for the host to announce.
The venue erupted with a thunderous roar of cheers.
Among them were not only Ting Yu's fans but also many from the square dance association who excitedly waved their fan boards.
Some aunties, initially reserved and feeling it might be inappropriate to cheer for the opponent after their idol had lost,
Joined in the cheers as they saw those around them celebrating.
"Sorry, Teacher Liu, this is truly the last time!"
"Teacher Liu, we love you, but love isn't everything. Please allow me to be willful this once!"
"Hypocrisy! I'll be direct: Ting Yu, Auntie loves you!!"
Before long,
The thousands of people in the auntie group had collectively defected...
This scene was captured by the cameras.
The live stream exploded.
The director playfully gave Liu Qiliang a close-up.
He was looking towards the audience, his left cheek twitching uncontrollably.
"Haha, Liu Qiliang is dumbfounded."
"This time, I don't even need the 'Divine Concealer' to find a ton of meme-worthy reactions."
"Boasting before the competition, saying no one understands square dance better than him. After the competition, his expression clearly tells the audience he's shattered."
"I study psychology, and Liu Qiliang's expression suggests he's questioning life."
It was a killing blow!
Not only did he lose,
But even his own fan base defected.
The clown was himself?
Liu Qiliang shook his head.
"So what if his song is amazing? Once people get tired of it, they'll go back to my songs."
That's right, he lost this time, but within the square dance community, I, Liu Qiliang, still hold the majority market share!
After all, no one understands square dance better than me!