Chapter Fifty-Six: The Outcome

Lei Jing withdrew backstage, and her group also rose to head there. When they saw Lei Jing coming down from the stage, excitement filled them all.

"That was an amazing performance," they applauded, offering their sincerest congratulations. The girls, including Xiao Xiao, rushed forward to embrace her, overjoyed by her successful show.

"Thank you!" Lei Jing finally managed to compose herself. "I’ve been in this business for so long, and yet I still get so emotional—how embarrassing!"

"Haha, that's because this performance isn’t just important for you—it’s crucial for the company as well. An auspicious start, coupled with a great result, sets an example for your juniors. No wonder you’re excited," He Li teased with a broad smile.

The backstage area of Music Bank was highly professional. Besides the waiting hall, every artist had a small private room for their team to work in—changing outfits, doing makeup, preparing for the stage—everything could be handled there. Compared to the chaotic backstages of the past, it was a remarkable improvement. Surrounded by her group, Lei Jing made her way back to the dressing room. Many artists greeted her along the way, congratulating her on her successful performance, and Lei Jing responded to each with gratitude.

"What a difference in treatment," the manager complained indignantly. "We used to be ignored backstage, met only with cold stares. Now, everyone’s greeting us."

"It’s only natural," He Li replied calmly. "Everyone’s heard about our company’s situation. It’s not surprising—this industry has always been like this. Which means, we can only rely on ourselves."

"Alright, I should get to the waiting area," said Lei Jing, removing her equipment and hurrying out. "There’s a top-tier artist performing tonight as well. I need to get there quickly, greet him with everyone else, and wait for the final results together. You all can watch the broadcast here."

"Go on then."

The wait for results was agonizing. Fortunately, Lei Jing was among the last to perform, so the show ended soon after her turn. All the artists returned to the stage for the final announcement.

"We have to get a good result," Xiao Xiao and the others whispered, clenching their fists as they watched the live broadcast, silently praying.

Lin Qihua couldn’t help but smile, moved by the scene. Lei Jing, as the company’s leading artist, received everyone’s concern and support—a wonderful thing. All the artists got along harmoniously, working together for the company’s success. This unity, perhaps the only upside of Xinghui Entertainment’s recent suppression, was a rare blessing. Lin hoped it would last a bit longer. Once they moved up to the top tier, conflicts were bound to arise, but at least for now, they stood united.

On stage, the host interviewed every artist with wit and charm. Lei Jing’s new look naturally became a highlight. She responded with flair, candidly sharing her thoughts, and even improvised a short rap, earning a wave of cheers from the crowd. Her confident, charismatic demeanor seemed to win over a whole new legion of fans.

When the results were finally announced, the presence of the top-tier artist—whose strength and popularity far surpassed Lei Jing’s—proved decisive. His performance was no less brilliant than hers, so in the end, he took this week’s Music Bank championship. Lei Jing, to the anticipation of many, claimed second place—a well-deserved honor, every bit as valuable as first.

"Outstanding!" Cheers erupted in the dressing room as everyone celebrated Lei Jing’s achievement.

Watching her bask in the thunderous applause on stage, the other artists brimmed with anticipation and determination. They too longed to stand on that stage and savor victory, silently vowing to practice harder and strive for great results. For the two newcomers in particular—unlike the others who had debuted before and experienced similar moments—it was their first real taste of longing for the stage.

After the show, Lei Jing ran back to the dressing room, barely through the door before embracing everyone in excitement. This time, she couldn’t hold back her tears of joy.

"Alright, that’s enough," Lin Qihua said with a laugh, seeing the girls in a lively uproar. "This is just the beginning. When the show airs tomorrow and the chart battle starts, that’s the real test. Isn’t it a bit early to celebrate? Besides Music Bank, there are several more stages—Music Center, Popular Song, and so on—where you’ll have to compete. The long march has only just begun."

"A good start is half the battle," Tian Yuwei exclaimed, balling her fists with energy. "Let’s keep it up!"

"Let’s do it!" the girls shouted in unison, brimming with confidence.

That evening, the results of the show spread rapidly across the internet. While detailed media reports and analyses would only appear the next day, several songs from the night quickly became familiar to the public. Aside from the champion’s track, Lei Jing’s "Endless Summer" was the hottest, along with her striking new image. Fans shared her stage photos and her song widely, making them the most popular topics online. In fact, the buzz around her even outshone the top-tier champion.

The next day, as the show aired and viewers witnessed Lei Jing’s performance firsthand, they were even more enthralled. Countless people became her fans overnight. Her personal media platform, which had just under a million followers, skyrocketed to ten million in a single day, leaving Lei Jing in disbelief. Downloads of "Endless Summer" surged as more and more listeners fell in love with the electrifying song and eagerly added it to their own playlists.

The online reaction was equally intense:

"This is absolutely stunning—I was moved to tears."

"I was at the live show and was blown away. Is that really a girl? Yes, it’s a girl—but how could a girl have such a look? So captivating, so eye-catching, and most importantly, how can she sing like that? Her voice cuts right to the heart. I just want to protect her—what has she been through?"

"I didn’t care for her before, but after last night, I’m a total convert. Wild, untamed—she makes it look perfect. There’s such a powerful beauty about her. And this look—one hundred thumbs up!"

"I haven’t heard her sing in ages, and she comes back with such a huge surprise. No words—she’s won me over."

"Congratulations from the official fan group 'Thunderbolt' to our Jingjing for making a splash! We always knew you were the best. We’ll always support you!"

Entertainment media, naturally, wouldn’t let such a hot topic slip by. The next day’s news focused heavily on Lei Jing’s new image and her performance, with reviews pouring in and her profile soaring to the top of the day’s trending headlines—a most unexpected delight.

"This is the power of innovation," Lin Qihua said with a satisfied smile, reading the heated commentary. "Her styling drew attention, and her stunning live presence was another highlight. Put together, the impact is more than doubled. The media and netizens always love something fresh. If Lei Jing keeps this up, all this attention will consolidate into fame. Her new look will become her signature, and these netizens will turn into loyal fans."

"Are you just praising yourself?" Shen Manni teased, laughing. In fact, some reporters had noticed the composer of "Endless Summer" carried Lin Qihua’s name, and speculated whether the singer who had caused such a stir recently had joined Galaxy Entertainment to craft this dazzling song for Lei Jing. But among the flood of reports, this article didn’t gain much traction—a small regret.

"Don’t worry about it," Lin Qihua replied lightly. "Lying low for a while is just preparation for a bigger breakthrough in the future. It’s all good."

Lei Jing left the company early to embark on a grueling nationwide promotional tour. In a month, she would travel to the five major entertainment centers across the country, spreading her music far and wide. It was tough work, but necessary. No success comes without hardship, and Lei Jing was more than willing—being able to sing on stage was a source of great happiness.

After circling the country, she would begin promoting her second song. For the next few months, rest would be a luxury, but all this hard work would lay a solid foundation for her. Regardless of whether she made it to the top tier by year’s end, her future was already bright.

Back at the company, the remaining artists trained even harder. Xiao Xiao kept practicing "Little Fortune"—next month, she would perform it at a film launch, and then begin her own promotional journey. The group Vivi would take the spotlight the following week. Soon after, Li Yaohui and Song Yujia would debut on the same stage, performing their first singles and officially starting their showbiz careers.

Crash—a teacup shattered on the floor.

"It’s all been for nothing," a middle-aged man’s eyes blazed with fury as he unleashed a torrent of curses at his subordinates. "Why couldn’t you stop it? What did we spend all that money for?"

"There was nothing we could do," the PR and artist department heads of Xinghui Entertainment stammered, terrified. "We couldn’t stop Lei Jing from releasing her single or going on Music Bank. The Pop Music Association ignored us, Huaxia Music Network didn’t care, and as for Music Bank—that’s the flagship show of the national broadcaster. Our lobbying meant nothing to them. For them, maintaining quality and fairness is the lifeblood of the program. No one dares to manipulate results—or rather, we simply don’t have that kind of power."