Finally.
The defeated contestant Mi Lu achieved victory.
After the votes were tallied, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
She almost had a one-day trip.
It was too close for comfort.
As for Jin Ji, after his mask was revealed, there wasn't much surprise among the audience.
In fact, many people had assumed Jin Ji was a singer from Guang Nian Entertainment, but he wasn't, and no one recognized him.
"Hello everyone, my name is Du Jun, and I'm a bar singer."
When Jin Ji introduced himself, everyone was instantly astonished.
To think he was a bar singer, and possessed such incredible vocal talent. Truly, the greatest talents were often found among ordinary people.
The show had previously stated that this season would feature not only top singing kings but also amateur contestants. Jin Ji, entering as a bar singer, had already done remarkably well to last for two episodes.
Next up was the unmasking of another singer, Hua Lian Mao.
The moment her mask came off, the audience erupted in fervent cheers and applause.
Si Qi, the queen of singing and dancing, who enjoyed immense popularity overseas, had actually returned to the country and joined the King of Singers competition.
"An Ye Tu, I'm waiting for you to reveal yourself. I'll come find you for your WeChat later."
She winked at the camera, it was unclear if she was joking.
However, it still drew a burst of laughter from the audience.
They still remembered the famous scene where Si Qi had asked An Ye Tu for his WeChat, only to be directly refused.
The camera, obligingly, switched to An Ye Tu waiting backstage.
He didn't make any gestures, and with his mask on, his expression couldn't be seen.
Next.
It was time for the main event: the King of Singers showdown.
The only familiar faces remaining were An Ye Tu and the perennial runner-up Wu Mian Qi Shi, joined by Lang Ya, who had won their spot in this round.
The draw.
When An Ye Tu drew the last spot, the other two breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Finally, they wouldn't have to sing after An Ye Tu!
"He sang 'Life Like Summer Flowers.' Is there any song more fitting to win the King of Singers?" Lang Ya struggled internally.
He debated whether to try and snatch the King of Singers title.
Although everyone acknowledged An Ye Tu's prowess and was reluctant to perform after him, no one on this stage wouldn't want to contend for the King of Singers title.
The temptation to end An Ye Tu's reign as King of Singers was undeniably immense.
After all, at this stage, if An Ye Tu were to be dethroned, the impact would be colossal. The heat and attention readily available were something no one could ignore.
However, contending for the title might expose his identity, and that would cause trouble in the subsequent episodes.
"I'll try, and I'll do my best not to reveal my identity!" Lang Ya ultimately couldn't resist the allure of the King of Singers title.
He then called for a staff member.
Normally, the production team didn't support last-minute song changes, as many arrangements involved live band accompaniment. However, if the song had its own copyright, it was acceptable. The band accompaniment could be removed, and the backing track could be played directly. Since it wasn't a live broadcast, it wouldn't affect the show's progress.
Performance segment.
After Wu Mian Qi Shi finished his song.
Lang Ya took the stage.
The moment the prelude began, the venue erupted in thunderous cheers.
Yin Na, sitting in the judges' panel, shot up from her seat!
"It's this song!"
A deep look of astonishment flashed in her eyes.
"Arrogance"
A song renowned for its terrifyingly high notes, one that even the God of Singers was reluctant to perform.
This song was an explosive display of high notes, capable of making one's scalp tingle with exhilaration.
"Countless mortals exist in this world, nurtured in suffering by the divine..."
The producer of "Arrogance" had passed away. This was his magnum opus, a ceiling-setting work for vocalists seeking to show off their skills.
The difficulty was such that it could be used in a final round.
No one had expected Lang Ya to go all out this episode!
"Holy crap, is he going for the King of Singers title?"
"Amazing, he actually dared to choose this song. An Ye Tu is in danger!"
"Lang Ya was hiding his strength. He was singing emotional, nostalgic songs earlier, and now he's baring his fangs."
"What should we do? I haven't seen any news online about An Ye Tu being dethroned."
"If Lang Ya doesn't make any minor mistakes in this song, it will undoubtedly be of God of Singers caliber."
"I think he's deliberately making small mistakes because I can feel he's not using his original vocal timbre, but rather altering his resonance placement and vocal techniques."
"Yikes... You mean, even in this situation, he hasn't used his full power?"
As the barrage of comments scrolled across the screen.
Lang Ya's song concluded.
Despite a few minor flaws in his performance, his powerful high notes still sent the entire audience into a frenzy.
Yin Na, in particular, cheered without regard for her image.
However, there was one person in the audience who remained seated quietly, a smile playing on his lips.
Mo Yan.
He stared intently at Lang Ya, his expression placid, his thoughts unreadable.
Lang Ya bowed to the judges' panel and the audience, then stepped off the stage.
"I don't know how much I've revealed. Judging by Mo Yan's expression, he's probably guessed something. But to be able to dethrone An Ye Tu as King of Singers, it's worth it even if he guesses."
He mused inwardly, a faint smile curving his lips beneath the mask.
That's right, Lang Ya was a singer from Guang Nian Entertainment.
His company had sent him this time with strict instructions to try and conceal his identity. With Mo Yan on the judging panel, Lang Ya's exposure would create significant complications due to the past grievances between Guang Nian Entertainment and Mo Yan.
However, there was one circumstance where revealing his identity was permissible: winning the King of Singers title and dethroning An Ye Tu.
For a large company like his, any buzz could be leveraged to create major trending topics.
Dethroning An Ye Tu as King of Singers was the biggest topic right now.
It was worth the risk.
"Next, please welcome An Ye Tu to the stage!"
This time, the audience's enthusiasm had diminished slightly.
It was as if An Ye Tu had drawn the audience into his song, and they were now savoring the memory, their minds still buzzing from the previous performance.
"The tables have turned?"
"Hahaha, you have your day too!"
"I have to say, Lang Ya is amazing!"
"I can't imagine any other legendary performance that could surpass Lang Ya's."
"So, if Lang Ya wins this time, he's definitely going to blow up!"
"Ahhh! An Ye Tu has been crowned for so many consecutive rounds, is he going to be dethroned here? What a shame!"
"He truly lives up to his name, Lang Ya. Such ambition!"
Amidst the audience's murmurs.
The curtain slowly opened.
The stage lights were dim.
Snap!
A spotlight hit the stage.
In the spotlight.
An Ye Tu stood still.
There was no elaborate stage set.
Only a microphone stand, with the microphone placed quietly before him.
And as many people saw this scene.
Their hearts gave a sudden jolt!
This setup?
That familiar feeling surged back instantly.
"Standing still and singing!!!"
...
ps: There's one more chapter coming, I'm continuing to write it!