Chapter Ninety-Five: The Second Round Begins

“Haha, Qihua, you didn’t know? This was once a very famous story,” Gao Rui said with a laugh. “Only, for some reason, everyone kept silent about it, and Yuling’s affair was buried. Many people no longer know what happened to her. Come to think of it, it has been ten years.”

“Mr. Gao, you seem to be talking a lot today,” Lian Yuling said coolly. “Aren’t we supposed to be rehearsing?”

“Uh.” Gao Rui gave an awkward smile. “Just a sudden impulse, haha. Let’s start rehearsal right away.”

With that, he stepped back, leaving Lin Qihua staring at Lian Yuling with an expression of unfulfilled curiosity.

“My affairs, you will understand in time,” Lian Yuling said softly. “Compared with that, what you need most right now is to practice hard and focus on the competition. Don’t be distracted. When the time is right, I’ll explain everything to you.”

“I understand.” Lin Qihua knew this was not the moment for gossip, so he nodded and began practicing.

Because this arrangement was special, Gao Rui and the others had little to do. They simply watched Lin Qihua and Lian Yuling rehearse again and again, matching each other’s timing, while the stagecraft staff adjusted the lighting to ensure everything met the requirements of the contest.

“What a pity,” Gao Rui murmured as he looked at the graceful figure onstage. “Ten years have passed, and that person probably no longer cares. If nothing had happened back then, you would have been the one standing upon that throne, looking down upon all beneath you. How could you have ended up on such a small stage, merely providing support for a minor singer? Fate truly toys with people.”

“They say you are Lian Nishang; if you dyed your hair white, you would be a perfect ‘White-Haired Witch,’ a beauty from hell,” Gao Rui’s voice grew lower, his mood a little heavy. “You were always meant to belong to the stage, meant to be admired by the whole world. And now, even people in the industry have forgotten who you are. How tragic. Was the persistence back then truly worth it? Still, if you had not done it that way, you would not have been you. Yes… how vexing.”

Lian Yuling did not know of Gao Rui’s sighs below the stage. Even if she had known, she would not have cared. Every rehearsal filled her with delight. The familiar sensation surged through her heart again and again like a tide, making her look forward to tonight’s competition with unbounded anticipation. Even if it was only once, only one performance, only a few short minutes, only a little stage time, it was enough to satisfy her. She had finally stood on this stage again, and once more felt the long-lost sensation. That was enough. She was content.

Lin Qihua, standing nearby, was also astonished by Lian Yuling’s strength. Perhaps there had been a touch of stiffness at first, but it vanished almost immediately. She revealed her formidable ability; not only was their coordination seamless, but she even seemed to press down on him faintly, making it difficult for him to dominate the performance as a whole. No matter how much he raised his own condition and gave everything he had, he could still feel the invisible pressure coming from her side. Especially when it came to her own part, the effect was even more pronounced. With Lian Yuling at full presence, her aura was terrifying, almost despair-inducing. He had never felt this way, not even when facing Lu Zhixuan or Wang Yalin.

“So this is the strength of the woman once hailed as the next diva?” Lin Qihua muttered to himself, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. “How exciting. It makes me want to work harder so that I can be worthy of this partner.”

Once Lin Qihua grew excited, he finally managed to contend, albeit with difficulty, against Lian Yuling’s momentum. She clearly sensed the change on his side as well, reining in her sharpness and becoming more rounded and fluid in her coordination with him, instead of continuing to suppress him. In doing so, she pushed Lin Qihua’s condition toward something even better.

“That should be the best state needed for tonight,” Gao Rui said from the side, equal parts excited and regretful. In his view, although this was the most suitable condition, it was not the Lian Yuling he most wanted to see. “What a shame. The audience won’t get to see the true power of the ‘beauty of hell.’ There’s nothing to be done about it—Lin Qihua still isn’t at that level. Perhaps there will be a chance in the future.”

As expected, after this rehearsal the two had reached a state of perfect harmony. They practiced two more times to consolidate it, and then the rehearsal ended.

“I’m looking forward even more to tonight’s performance,” Gao Rui said generously with his applause.

“Thank you.” The two thanked him, then after confirming some of the onstage effects with the stagecraft staff, left the stage and returned to the dressing room.

“An old admirer of yours?” Lin Qihua asked with a smile once they were back.

“Maybe. I don’t know.” After giving a brief reply, Lian Yuling closed her eyes to rest. Having been away from the stage for so long, she needed some time to let her body remember the feeling of the stage and the sensation of being at her best, so she could summon that peak state again when the time came to compete.

In her mind, there was no compromise, no excuses. Only total commitment. Even if she was not the lead, even if all she needed to do was perform a brief segment, she would still give it everything she had.

“It seems this song choice really suits her tastes. Ten years—just how long is that? What exactly happened to her back then? Even Sister Qin and Sister Li probably only know a little. Only she herself knows why she chose to leave the stage she loved so deeply.” Lin Qihua rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought. “Her expression can’t fool anyone. She didn’t leave this stage of her own accord. There must have been some unavoidable reason. Right now I may not have the ability, but someday I will make her tell me everything, exactly as it happened, and accept my help.”

At last, night fell, and the second round of Singing Champion was about to begin.

The host, Guan Shengjie, was already on his way to the stage.

In the various dressing rooms, the singers were making their most intense preparations, watching the televisions while staff members gave them last-minute adjustments to ensure they were in the best possible condition.

In the audience seats and in front of their television screens, all the viewers were fixed on the stage, waiting for the night’s competition to begin, waiting to once again wander through the ocean of music and enjoy a wonderful evening.

“Three, two, one, go.” With the director’s command, the second round of Singing Champion officially began.

“Good evening, everyone, and welcome to Singing Champion, the large-scale live competition variety show presented by Changfeng Dairy,” Guan Shengjie said with a smile as he stepped onto the stage. “Tonight is our second round of competition, and also our first elimination match. Tonight, one singer will leave this beloved stage. Such a cruel format will surely force all our singers to bring out their finest weapons and present the most dazzling performances for everyone. Now, let us welcome our first singer.”

In Lin Qihua’s dressing room, the makeup artist opened the door, and Lian Yuling stepped out with elegant grace.

“Wow!” Lin Qihua and Su Jianhao both exclaimed in unison. “So beautiful.”

“Is that so?” Lian Yuling smiled faintly. Even though he had seen that smile many times before, Lin Qihua still felt shaken by it.

“Yes, a heartfelt compliment,” Lin Qihua said with a grin. “Ready?”

“Of course. I’m already a little impatient.”

“Let’s go. The second slot is ours.”

“Okay! Good luck!”

“Good luck!”