Chapter 98: Brutal Elimination

Back in the waiting area, Lin Qihua heard Guan Shengjie's words and chuckled as well. Though Guan Shengjie was poking fun at himself, the fierce fighting spirit in his voice was unmistakable—none of these comrades were to be taken lightly.

"Qihua, your stage was incredible." Cai Yuting embraced Lin Qihua and smiled. "It's impossible not to get lost in it."

"Thank you. Yours was wonderful too." Lin Qihua sat down nearby, expressing his gratitude.

"That was everything I had," Cai Yuting said candidly. "I have no regrets, but after seeing your performance, I don't want to leave. I want to keep battling it out with all of you. I can't wait to see what surprises each of your performances brings. Only as your opponent can you feel that thrill that makes your whole body tingle."

"It'll happen, for sure. Keep it up!"

Guan Shengjie did not disappoint. The song he brought blended his ethnic heritage flawlessly, delivering a refreshing novelty. His voice seemed to echo out from deep within the mountains—carrying both the majesty of towering peaks and the mystery of dense forests—and it won thunderous applause from the audience.

"Brother Guan is truly amazing," Cai Yuting praised enthusiastically. "The ethnic elements were blended to perfection."

Lin Qihua nodded in agreement. Everyone seemed to be in top form tonight, and that was exactly what made it fun. He could feel his own fighting spirit blazing.

"I really want to get back up there and sing one more," he murmured to himself.

"Right? Such a shame—only one song a week. It's a bit unsatisfying," Cai Yuting agreed.

Behind them, Su Jianhao and Zhang Zeyang exchanged speechless glances. These two actually felt it wasn't enough. Other singers were usually exhausted after one song, but these two were still craving more.

Next up were Lu Zhixuan, Wang Yalin, Zhang Yuxun, and Wen Weizhe. The latter two had struck gold in the draw, landing the sixth and seventh slots, which gave them a certain advantage performing later. But the final outcome would still depend on their performances.

Perhaps the earlier performers had ignited everyone's energy—all of them unleashed their full power with soaring momentum, delivering one brand-new musical experience after another to the audience.

Tonight, Zhang Yuxun was the formidable talent everyone had imagined. At full throttle, she erupted with astonishing energy. A song of extreme difficulty seemed effortless in her hands. The high notes were already beyond what most singers could reach, yet she raised the key another notch as if the challenge still wasn't enough. The explosive waves of sound swept through the entire venue, sending every audience member into raptures.

There was no denying that high-note singers were hugely popular in live competition settings. As long as they had their own distinctive style and didn't overextend their stamina, they could always achieve good results. Zhang Yuxun conquered the entire audience with her performance.

Wen Weizhe, meanwhile, delivered a pure, authentic Hong Kong song—deeply affectionate and gracefully composed. A particularly challenging segment of humming without taking a single breath was an absolute delight to hear.

"What incredible skill. That move was genius." The group in the waiting area knew quality when they heard it and cheered immediately.

"It's a bit of a shame, though," Lu Zhixuan suddenly remarked.

"Yeah, a real shame," Wang Yalin sighed.

The others fell silent. Everyone knew Wen Weizhe was in trouble. He hadn't lost on talent, but he'd lost on luck. In the first round, he performed right after Lin Qihua, the ultimate dark horse, and suffered greatly from that—even with a normal performance, he hadn't managed a good score. In the second round, he ran into Zhang Yuxun's explosive performance and Lin Qihua's stunning stage presence. Even with the final performance slot, he couldn't secure a great result. And Zhang Yuxun's performance was undeniably better, likely earning her a high ranking. That put Wen Weizhe closest to the elimination zone.

For a moment, the atmosphere turned heavy. No one wanted to be eliminated, but seeing someone else on the verge of elimination felt just as painful. Such was the tangled emotion of it all. Perhaps this was "The Singer"—the music itself had no winners or losers; it was only the competition that demanded one.

Wen Weizhe returned to the waiting area together with Guan Shengjie, his expression calm. A seasoned veteran of countless battles, he was well aware of his precarious position, yet not a trace of discouragement showed on his face.

"That was a fantastic performance—especially that humming section in the middle. Absolutely brilliant." Lu Zhixuan was the first to step forward and embrace him.

"Yes, we were all stunned. How did you even do that?" Zhang Yuxun said in admiration.

"It's actually just a matter of breath control," Wen Weizhe said with a smile, generously sharing his technique with everyone. "With more practice, it comes easily."

"That's the real fundamentals. We're not worthy." The others were in awe, and even more moved by his selfless willingness to teach. Everyone learned a great deal from his sharing.

"Qihua's performance was my favorite," Wen Weizhe found Lin Qihua and grinned. "It felt like a full concert."

"Right? It was so beautiful. Yuxun was in her room going wild—screaming with hearts in her eyes." Zhang Yuxun's co-manager, Pan Zhenyu, mimicked Zhang Yuxun's reaction at the time, putting on a thoroughly lovestruck look that made everyone laugh.

Zhang Yuxun laughed too. "I just love it, okay? It was super romantic and absolutely gorgeous. If I were the heroine in that story, I'd be heartbroken right now—knowing she can never go back to how things were."

"Uh, it's just a song, really." Lin Qihua laughed awkwardly.

Lu Zhixuan and Wang Yalin didn't ask about Lian Yuling. They knew the backstory from before and understood it wasn't the right moment to bring it up. When others asked about her, Lin Qihua answered frankly—she was a training instructor at his company. Because he'd changed songs at the last minute and needed someone who could play the flute, he'd reached out to her, never expecting such a remarkable result.

"Your company is incredible." Guan Shengjie gave a thumbs-up. "A training instructor with that level of first-tier talent? Unbelievable."

Lin Qihua could only smile and let it go. Lu Zhixuan and Wang Yalin exchanged bitter smiles. The "Beauty of Purgatory" they once had to look up to, a celebrity they could only admire from afar, was now just a humble training instructor. What a cruel twist of fate.

Though the mood was warm, the competition's format meant someone would inevitably be leaving tonight. When a staff member came to call them on stage for the results announcement, everyone fell silent.

"Why so quiet?" Wen Weizhe was the first to laugh. "No matter who goes, it's not a big deal. Let's all relax—this is just a show."

"Right, just a show." Lu Zhixuan smiled too. "Come on, let's all seven of us hold hands and walk up there together. No matter what happens tonight, we're brothers and sisters. To have made friends like these—even if I'm the one leaving, it's been more than worth it."

"Well said." Wang Yalin was the first to take Zhang Yuxun's hand. "Come on, one by one, let's hold hands and go up together."

Seven hands linked as one, and their hearts grew much calmer.

Warm emotion swelled in Lin Qihua's chest. Who said there were no friends in the entertainment industry? Who said the competition was too cruel? Between singers, there was still genuine feeling—a bond forged through shared battles.

P.S. Writing this chapter, let me share why I love writing about Hunan Satellite TV. Their variety shows, besides always leading trends, have one most prominent characteristic: positive energy. In their shows, you rarely find blatantly arranged, obvious conflict or infighting—no relying on off-stage drama to attract viewers. Even if the trailers make things look tense, what you actually see on air is still harmonious, warm, and natural. I think that's the biggest reason I enjoy watching their programs. Maybe there's a bit of it in "Flower and Youth," but some friction between women is inevitable—like between Sister Ning and Sister Xu. They're two completely different types of people; putting them together without any friction would be stranger than having some. It's not surprising at all. So I think it's fine—after the moment passes, everything's good. Overall, the shows are full of positive energy. No off-stage antics, no manufactured conflicts. In those early episodes of "Singer," it was all so enjoyable—everyone just exchanged ideas, learned from one another, and worked together to bring the audience a musical feast. Even in elimination, they left with a smile. That's what a normal artist's life should look like. Honestly, sometimes people just overthink things.