Chapter 110: The Decision

Wu Junhao faced the outcome of the competition with calm acceptance. He had already gained what he truly desired and what mattered most: the chance to stand on the stage. Tonight, his performance of the song "Existence" fully displayed his talent. Coupled with his handsome appearance, he was sure to become a rising star.

The audience understood the results. The top four—Lin Qihua, Yuan Xiaolai, Zhang Yuxin, and Wang Yalin—each possessed undeniable skill, far beyond what Wu Junhao could match.

As the contest concluded and the singers continued to grant interviews, public opinion outside had already exploded. The media eagerly released their press reports and reviews without delay, delivering the first wave of coverage. For them, the night was brimming with news, the most significant being Lin Qihua’s stunning performance that clinched his second championship. The other singers all performed admirably, making this arguably the most flawless episode of the season.

After witnessing the competition, the audience found their overwhelming emotions spilling over. They flooded the internet, reading media reports and reviews, freely sharing their thoughts. Within a mere hour, entertainment headlines were monopolized by this event, with commentaries rising one after another—a truly lively scene.

The word “explosive” became the most frequently uttered. Both media and netizens agreed that this was an explosive contest, highlighted by an explosive performance.

The headline “Stage on Fire: Lin Qihua Astonishes All Again in ‘The Vocalist’” became the hottest news. It described the evening’s overview: Tonight’s grand variety show, "The Vocalist," witnessed an extraordinary night as eight singers united to deliver a dazzling competition for the nation. Yuan Xiaolai joined as a powerful substitute, evoking deep emotion. Wu Junhao challenged veteran singers with an impressive display. Yet all these moments paled in comparison to one person—Lin Qihua. Though he opened the show, he captivated the audience with “Existence,” a breathtaking performance that soared beyond limits, delivering a soul-stirring masterpiece and easily clinching the night’s championship with overwhelming dominance.

Renowned musician Chen Weiqi, who commands a vast following of music lovers, promptly updated his commentary on his personal media platform: “Tonight’s episode of ‘The Vocalist’ stirred my heart profoundly. Without hesitation, I felt compelled to write this review. Others may not say much, but I must speak about Lin Qihua’s ‘Existence.’”

Lin Qihua infused the piece with a classical poet’s humanistic spirit, endowing the entire work with an Eastern sense of vastness and melancholy, imbuing it with an epic musical aura. The open-ended musical arrangement lent the song an uplifting power reminiscent of American road music, evoking strength and hope amid doubt, steering listeners without losing direction. It was the music’s character—not merely the inspirational tone of the lyrics—that rendered “Existence” a work of positivity rather than despair or nihilism.

In my view, director Wei Hongzhang made an extraordinarily precise judgment: this is an epic song, an epic performance. I doubt even Lin Qihua performing it again could replicate the magic of that night. The performance was a near-perfect storm of brilliance, relying heavily on being in the right state of mind. I suspect he was utterly immersed, delivering a superlative rendition that forged this classic. Thanks to his exceptional form, we were gifted this surprise. Even setting aside the live atmosphere, the song itself stands as an epic piece destined to leave its mark on music history.

I praise it so highly because it transcends a mere pop song. It embodies a profound compassion for the world’s sorrows—a song that questions the heart. Through relentless probing, doubt, and interrogation, it rekindles the capacity for reflection that contemporary society has gradually lost. It reveals the harsh, often negative realities of our world and era, yet it is precisely this unflinching exposure of wounds that evokes a genuine, raw feeling, making the work especially moving. Beyond awakening the sense of existence, it also positively motivates people to fight for their being, transforming negative energy into positive through music.

A classic work must be like this: through artistic critique, it kindles positive energy in people’s hearts, inspiring them to strive upward rather than merely venting dark emotions. This is the kind of empathy a singer should possess. Fortunately, Lin Qihua achieved this—this song achieved this.

Ancient times had Qu Yuan’s “Heavenly Questions,” and now we have Lin Qihua’s “Existence.” As a devout disciple of music, I consider myself fortunate.

Chen Weiqi, as a prominent music critic, wields immense influence. Once his review was published, it was swiftly shared and became the most profound commentary on the song “Existence.”

Though some netizens found Chen Weiqi a bit excessive, they widely acknowledged the song’s deeply stirring effect. This undoubtedly elevated both “The Vocalist” and Lin Qihua to even greater heights. Wei Hongzhang’s vision of a nationwide phenomenon was finally realized. Everyone who followed “The Vocalist,” or even those indifferent to entertainment, found themselves drawn to the perpetual stream of updates and reviews online, discovering the astonishing performance of that night. On video platforms, Lin Qihua’s stage clip soared to the top of the homepage, becoming the most popular video with millions of views ticking up by the second.

Lin Qihua had ignited a blaze—a roaring fire.

At the Liu Junxi household, the woman sat dazed, staring blankly at the television screen.

In Liu Junxi’s mind, Lin Qihua’s radiant figure on stage played on repeat—his soaring dominance continually shaking his young spirit.

Gazing at his quietly sleeping sister Liu Tingting, he understood why Lin Qihua had insisted he watch the program. It was not to show off how impressive he was, but to reveal to him what kind of life he truly wanted, the life he wished to give his sister.

Having seen Lin Qihua’s stage presence, Liu Junxi could accept a lifetime of mediocrity for himself, but he could not bear the thought of his sister facing a future without support. He yearned to change their fate—for survival, for existence.

At that moment, his gaze hardened with determination. He knew what decision he must make.

The next day, the professional review magazine Voice of Music, amid great anticipation, published their commentary and scores for the evening’s competition:

Initially, the third episode seemed unlikely to offer many highlights, with the only points of interest being the substitute singer and the challengers’ performances. Yet unexpectedly, a spectacular breakthrough occurred, propelling “The Vocalist” into a phenomenon-level variety show, capturing the nation’s attention. All singers performed well, but it all stemmed from one person’s sudden—or rather habitual—eruption: Lin Qihua, once more stunning the world with “Existence,” a performance that set the stage ablaze and shocked the entire nation.

Lin Qihua received a score of nine. The intention had been to award a perfect ten, given his near-flawless delivery, but the editor-in-chief remarked that there remained too many unknown factors about him. Granting ten would leave no room for growth, so nine was deemed appropriate. For that night’s performance alone, it was a perfect ten.

Yuan Xiaolai earned an eight. A former king of love ballads and a symbol of a generation’s memories, his romantic, warm presence was enough to make a strong impact. He had a chance to claim the top spot but was overshadowed by Lin Qihua’s explosive performance. His singing skills were solid, the live show flawless, and the song well chosen, but lacking surprise—only sentimentality remained, hence the eight.

Wang Yalin also scored eight. Steadfast as ever, she delivered a perfect performance under immense pressure. Though not dazzling, her steadiness and progress earned her a well-deserved eight.

Zhang Yuxin, after earlier fluctuations, again demonstrated her strength, surpassing veteran Lu Zhixuan, illustrating her formidable talent. Alongside Lin Qihua, she was considered the season’s greatest discovery.

Lu Zhixuan received seven points. By previous standards, an eight would be fair, as his performance was outstanding, though lacking breakthrough or surprise. To advance further in future contests, he must seek more change. Seven felt somewhat low.

Guan Shengjie also scored seven. For similar reasons, lack of change on this stage means losing the audience. Though his performance was strong, he lost his edge in the face of Lin Qihua’s impact.

Cai Yuting earned six. By the third episode, a downturn was evident. This did not reflect her true talent but she had struggled to fully showcase her strengths here, which was unfortunate. Since she made it this far, she must deliver a major breakthrough next time, or risk elimination.

Wu Junhao scored seven. A very impressive performance, placing him reasonably sixth. His song was pleasant and he was handsome, but compared to others, he still had much to learn. This journey should be a great gain. The future holds promise—keep striving!

The media erupted in celebration. Naturally, stars from the entertainment industry seized the opportunity. Artists from Galaxy Entertainment promptly updated their social platforms to show strong support for their company’s own Lin Qihua.

Xiao Xiao posted a photo of herself with Lin Qihua—him at the piano, her singing—and wrote: “Utter worship. Senior brother is incredibly powerful. I’m completely blown away!”

Lei Jing shared her thoughts: “What kind of soul stirs a person to compose such a song? Brother Lin Qihua is majestic and commanding.”

Other artists chimed in with their reflections.

Ding Yuxuan wrote: “Words like ‘survival,’ ‘pain,’ ‘guilt,’ and ‘existence’ reveal the creator’s profound compassion for the world—this is the soul of the song. Amid the dazzling sense of existence, such compassion is undoubtedly an awakening salve that restores feeling.”

Chai Deyong quoted Lu Xun: “True heroes dare to face a bleak life head-on.” He added, “Concern for changing the world, confronting life’s challenges—‘Existence’ is both a song of reflection and insight. Busy people really ought to pause and ponder life’s meaning, lest they lose their sense of being in self-numbness.”

Jiang Shaohan said: “A song that voices society’s and the nation’s confusion—truly a divine work! After hearing it, I must seriously think about my life, my existence, and what meaning and way of being it holds for my soul. In other words, how to live? Everyone should reflect—it’s their own matter.”

Thus, the ripples of that extraordinary night continued to spread, awakening hearts and minds far beyond the stage.